Adventists Rally, Volunteer in Baltimore

Dozens of Seventh-day Adventist volunteers rallied in Baltimore last Sabbath and this week to encourage the residents of West Baltimore, an area impacted by the recent riots after the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Baltimore man who died in police custody.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Photograph courtesy Allegheny East Conference

Maurice Taylor, pastor of Berea Temple; Minnie McNeil, AEC and Columbia Union ACS Director; and Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president, volunteering in Baltimore. Photo courtesy Allegheny East Conference

The Allegheny East Conference (AEC) Adventist Community Services (ACS) and Berea Temple ACS leaders, with support from the North American Division Adventist Community Services, the Columbia Union Conference, the Chesapeake Conference and members, worked to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community.

On Sabbath Barry Black, U.S. Senate chaplain and Baltimore native, and many other members met near AEC’s Berea Temple to pray with and distribute more than $10,000 in supplies to residents.

Youth from Miracle Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church promote peace and pass out water at Baltimore City Hall. Photo by V. Michelle Bernard

Groups from AEC’s Miracle Temple in Baltimore and Potomac Conference’s Sligo church in Takoma Park, Md., also passed out water and encouragement to participants at the Victory Rally in front of Baltimore City Hall. Many later attended a meeting at Miracle Temple to help organize social media activists that will help tell an accurate and cohesive story about what is happening in Baltimore. That group continues to meet and plan.

David Franklin, pastor of Miracle Temple, entertains questions/comments from the audience at a meeting to organize social media activists. Photograph by LaTasha Hewitt

Volunteers, including a group from Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Md., continued to minister in the neighborhood throughout the week. Several media outlets covered the church’s work in the neighborhood.

Volunteers are still needed to help on Sunday, May 10, 2- 5 p.m. at Berea Temple.

Sean Robinson, director of Disaster Response for NAD ACS and Minnie McNeil. Photo courtesy Allegheny East Conference

Eli Rojas, ACS coordinator for the Chesapeake Conference, with other volunteers at Berea Temple

Feature photo courtesy Allegheny East Conference