From the Heart of Pastor Jacqueline A. Thompson

July 11, 2025

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Yesterday, a video featuring a young barber cutting hair outside the gates of our church has circulated widely across social media platforms. The footage has generated significant attention and, in some cases, confusion and criticism directed at Allen Temple Baptist Church.

Let me be clear: social media never tells the whole story - not of a person, not of a church, and not of a community.

At Allen Temple, we have served Oakland for over a century with a deep commitment to justice, compassion, and restoration. We are a church that believes in grace, and we are a church that supports entrepreneurship, especially among our young people.

Please see the video response below.

This is a moment to model the values we preach: love over judgment, community over chaos, and healing over hostility.

With your prayers and understanding, we move forward with integrity and humility. Not driven by viral content, but led by the enduring power of our faith and commitment to Christ and one another.

For those of you active on social media, please reshare and regram the post on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Blessings to You!