We pray during this season of COVID-19 alongside…
Alliance-endorsed chaplains
serving in healthcare and who serve on the front lines every day during this pandemic. We also pray for healthcare workers and all of those who are risking their health for the safety and health of the whole.
Alliance-affiliated pastors
who serve and lead congregations through this pandemic. We pray for those who are offering pastoral care and providing spiritual engagement while adhering to the advice of doctors to prioritize social distancing.
We pray in gratitude for those
essential workers
who have kept grocery stores, pharmacies, and essential businesses running.
And we fervently pray for the will to make needed systemic changes that this pandemic has even further illuminated, for as William Barber II has written
, "With its broad sweep, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us into an unprecedented national emergency. This emergency, however, results from a deeper and much longer term crisis—that of poverty and inequality, and of a society that ignores the needs of 140 million people who are poor."
We pray alongside…
Jeff Hood
, Denton, Texas, who was released from the hospital after being treated for COVID-19. Jeff is an activist and writer who supports of the Alliance of Baptists.
Amanda Miller Gregg
, Dallas, Texas, who is currently hospitalized and on inpatient bed rest due to complications during pregnancy. Amanda is the wife of Mike Gregg, pastor of congregational partner Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas.
The family of
Marcus Gulley
, Winston-Salem, N.C., who died Wednesday, April 15. The long-time Alliance supporter is the brother of Sheila Plott, another long-time Alliance supporter. Marcus and his wife, Sally, have a long history of being members of congregational partner Wake Forest Baptist Church, Winston-Salem. He turned 96 on April 11 and enjoyed a 55-year career as an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Wake Forest University Medical School.
Paulo César Periera
, Recife, Brazil, who is improving after having been hospitalized and treated for hypertension and diabetes in April. He serves as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Bultrins, and has recently relinquished his duties as president of Active Hope ministry partner
Aliança de Batistas do Brasil
for the interim to Nivia Dias.
The family of
Paul Rosstead
, Washington, D.C., who died Monday, April 13. Paul was church administrator for 15 years at congregational partner Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Pastors Sally Sarratt and Maria Swearingen shared in an email to the congregation after his passing that Paul was a ‘connector’ of people, connecting members to the work of the church and connecting with members in deep relationships. In 2019, he added tremendous leadership for the Alliance annual gathering and helped resource and provide hospitality for the staff, organizers, and attendees. He loved Calvary dearly and will be missed by his family, friends, and church community.
We celebrate alongside…
We celebrate the birth of
George Eden Brummet-Wudel
, Durham, N.C., who was born April 29 to parents
Molly Brummet-Wudel and James George Brummet-Wudel
. In the hours following her birth, George underwent open-heart surgery to correct a coarctation of her aortic arch. The Brummet-Wudel family is now home while George recovers from surgery. Molly is a supporter of the Alliance and serves as co-pastor of Emmaus Way.
Lynn Casteel Harper
, New York City, N.Y., on the publication of her book On
Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What it Means to Disappear
on April 14, 2020. The book was reviewed by the
New York Times
on April 21, 2020. Lynn is an Alliance supporter and serves as minister of older adults at The Riverside Church in New York City.
Faith Tapestry Community Church
, New Haven, Conn., the Alliance’s newest congregational partner, as they celebrate 5 years of ministry with
Daniel Rodriguez Schlorff
as their pastor. We’re grateful for their partnership and offer blessings on the years to come!
Colin Holtz and Colleen DeGraff
, Cleveland, Ga. who were married on April 25. Both are 2019 graduates of McAfee School of Theology and both serve on the ministerial team of the Church at Ponce and Highlands, Atlanta, Ga. where Colin is associate pastor of administration and communications, and Colleen is minister of families and children.
Courtney Pace and Michael Owen
, Memphis, Tenn., on the birth of their daughter,
Seren Foster Pace-Owen
, who arrived on April 21. Older brother Stanley and his parents are smitten.
We celebrate May graduates…
Ashley Ash
, Oakland, Calif., upon the completion of the MBA degree from Holy Names University in Oakland. Ashley serves as a member of the Alliance of Baptists board of directors.
Ben Boswell
, Charlotte, N.C., pastor of congregational partner Myers Park Baptist Church, on the completion of the D.Min. degree from St. Paul School of Theology, Leawood, Ks. His thesis is titled "Identifying Whiteness: Discerning Race through Spiritual Practice in the White Dominant Church.”
Andrew Gardner
, Yorktown, Va., who was awarded a Ph.D. at Florida State University in Church History. His dissertation is titled "'To Awaken the Song of Transport': The Development of Theological Seminaries and Divinity Schools in Antebellum America."
Ezra Fairley-Collins
, Charlotte, N.C., upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Ezra is a supporter of the Alliance of Baptists and the spouse of Malu Fairley-Collins, the vice-president of the Alliance board of directors.
Tarvick Linder
, Durham, N.C. upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at the Divinity School at Duke University. Tarvick served as pastoral intern at congregational partner Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, Cary, N.C.
Austin Maynor
, Asheville, N.C., upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at Duke University Divinity School. Austin is a member of congregational partner First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C.
Christian McIvor
, Greensboro, N.C. upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Christian serves as minister of music and worship at congregational partner College Park Baptist Church, Greensboro.
Karla Nelson
, Atlanta, Ga., upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Brittany Riddle
, Paducah, Ky., upon the completion of the D.Min. degree at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Her project is titled “The Art of Finding Home: Creative Pilgrimage and Placemaking at Immanuel Baptist Church, Paducah, Ky.” Brittany serves as associate minister at Immanuel Baptist Church, Paducah.
Anna Strickland
, Austin, Texas, upon the completion of the M.Div. degree at Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colo. Anna is a member of congregational partner University Baptist Church in Austin.
Ross Tarpley
, Austin, Texas, upon the completion of his M.Div. degree at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Ross is the minister of music at congregational partner First Baptist Church of Austin.
