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by Lott Carey | Aug 1, 2020 | News
A Message from the Convention President
Rev. Gregory J. Jackson
August 2020
Dear Lott Carey Partners,
I recently read an article in Men’s Health entitled, “The Heroes and Healers in COVID 19 HOT ZONE”. Although this article was about the first responders working in hospitals in “hot spots” in the United States, it occurred to me that this title could apply to what Lott Carey has been doing for over one hundred years in various “hot spots” around the world. Our mission partners, supporting pastors and laypersons have indeed been our Heroes and Sheroes, healers and helpers, on the battlefield against both natural and spiritual foes around the world, as we served on the front lines.
Lott Carey, because of your prayer support and financial support, we have been engaged on
the front lines in 2020, in the same manner we were in past years. We joined hands with our
mission partners to fight the Ebola pandemic and the HIV/AIDS pandemic; water-borne diseases that continue to kill God’s people around the world. While the world rightly is concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, this is just one among many global crises that Lott Carey and our mission partners struggle with every day. We are fighting for millions of people around the world that struggle daily with human trafficking, extreme poverty, malaria, and other incurable life-threatening diseases.
No one could have predicted that we would have started this year confronted by a global pandemic. No one could have predicted that our churches would be worshipping virtually throughout our nation. No one could have predicted that our economy would be virtually shut down for months. And, no one could have predicted the tremendous hardship that many of our churches are experiencing. As has been said by others in years gone by, “when the Black Church gets a cold, Lott Carey gets pneumonia.”
The fourth quarter was extremely difficult for Lott Carey. Financially, we were operating in a
danger zone – struggling to keep our doors open and to be faithful in our commitment to our mission partners. Thanks to the strong leadership of our Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Rev. Emmett L. Dunn, our Executive Committee and Board of Directors, our firm faith in God, and the mission of Lott Carey, we managed to pull through. Countless hours were spent on the phone with hundreds of pastors around the country informing them of our plight. They, like you are our HEROES AND SHEROES. They heard our Macedonian call and came to our rescue. They not only received our telephone calls, but they prayed for us as we attempted to navigate this “OLD SHIP OF ZION” through turbulent times. Thank you so much for your help and commitment to Lott Carey: you are indeed our Heroes and Sheroes, healers and helpers! You strengthened our organization with your financial resources, and more importantly, you reinforced our HOPE in what was at times, an almost hopeless situation, through your prayers.
For the health and safety of our constituents, we will not gather in-person in Washington, DC for the 123rd Lott Carey Annual Session. Instead, we will convene August 11-13, 2020 for Lott Carey’s FIRST Virtual Annual Session Experience! Morning Prayer, Plenary Sessions, Mission Education Classes and Evening Worship Services have been planned not only to inform and inspire investment in foreign missions, but also for your spiritual growth and development. Information on “How to Connect” appears inside this letter.
The all familiar President’s Night, where the Lott Carey family gathers to hear the President’s Report, Vision for the Lott Carey Convention, and Evening Message, will be LIVE STREAMED Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to attend! Pastors, delegates, and other attendees are each challenged to give a special offering towards the work of foreign missions via Givelify, PayPal or Check. That is right! I am issuing a challenge – a Macedonian call for your support. 300 Pastors/Churches are challenged to give $1,000.00 each, while 1,000 individuals are challenged to give $250.00 (e.g. the equivalent of, AND/OR a portion of the monies you would have spent for an in-person meeting). These expenditures include personal registration fees, ticketed events, accommodations, meals, travel and of course the “must-haves” you would have purchased to stimulate the economy in the Nation’s Capital! Our goal is $550,000.00. Please prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift.
As of this writing, we closed our fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 in a much better financial position, however, we are still very far from where we should be at the start of a new fiscal year. Collectively, we have power! Please help me to fulfill our obligations to staff and our mission partners around the world.
I am sure that God can turn our “midnights into day” even during these trying times. Thank you for your anticipated support.
The Reverend Gregory J. Jackson
President
Lott Carey Convention |
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by Lott Carey | Jun 29, 2020 | News
A Courageous Conversation
With Dr. Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. on “Race, Politics and The Church”
Dr. Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. is a distinguished Adjunct Professor at Columbia University in New York City and former President of Payne Theological Seminary, the oldest African American Theological Institution in Wilberforce, OH. Dr. Hendricks is also the author of “The Politics of Jesus,” a publication described by the Washington Post as, “Essential Reading for Americans.”
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by Lott Carey | Jun 10, 2020 | News
Friends,
A few weeks ago, I spoke with several of our international partners about the challenges confronting each of them in this season of COVID-19. It was no surprise to me to hear of the impact their governments’ stay at home mandates were having on their individual communities, especially those living on the African Continent. These individuals do not have the luxury or the means of stocking up their cupboards or refrigerators. Instead, a daily visit to the markets or peddling their trade on the streets to earn a day’s wage, enabling them to feed their household is the norm. Now that they must stay at home presents an even more significant challenge, HUNGER!
Dr. Henry Mugabe, Consultant and Professor, Zimbabwe Theological Seminary, Gweru, Zimbabwe, remarked, “I do not know what will get us first, the virus or hunger. Our people will die either from the virus or from hunger”. Dr. Mugabe’s sentiments were like others on the call. For more than seven decades now, we have heard at every Annual Session that, “Everybody is somebody at Lott Carey.” I do not know who started the saying, but it is true. It is just not a saying but an expression of how we respect and care for each other.
The Pandemic has affected all of us, some, more than others. The value of belonging to the Lott Carey family is in knowing that in moments like these, we come together for the greater good. Every preacher will tell you that one of the high points in African American preaching tradition is the call and response. Lott Carey has heard
the calls and is responding.
Here’s how-
- In Zimbabwe, we assisted with the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment and food.
- In Guyana, we provided academic support for Guyanese school children; especially those in rural communities with little or no access to modern technology.
- In Haiti, we provided financial assistance for both the orphanage and elderly home at Mission of Grace. And, we are providing assistance through, Strategic Union of Baptist Churches of Haiti, a conglomerate of Churches, in assisting children whose parents died due to the Coronavirus.
- In Liberia, we provided food assistance for faculty and staff at the Lott Carey Mission Schools in Bopolu and Brewerville.
- In Jamaica, we helped fund programs offering psycho-social support to leaders and congregations experiencing enormous challenges directly related to the virus.
- In Nigeria, we made a capital investment in preparation for the reopening of schools after the COVID-19 lockdown concludes.
- In South Africa, we provided financial assistance to the Mamelodi Baptist Church soup kitchen to help serve the poor and homeless communities and provide food parcels to pastors.
- In Kenya, we provided financial assistance to Kipsitet Baptist Church Clinic for the purchase of COVID-19 test kits.
Lott Carey wants to do more but we need your help. Please mail your gift to:
Lott Carey
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1245
Landover, Maryland 20785
OR share your gift online by clicking on the DONATE button below:
We recognize that economically, these are challenging times and some may not be in the position to give, but for those who are able, I invite you to help us do what we do best; that is, Touching Lives with the Transforming Love of Christ.
Thank you for your support.
Walking Together, Making a Difference!
Emmett L. Dunn
by Lott Carey | Jun 5, 2020 | News
The Call for Justice and Change
| As the largest African American global missional community, Lott Carey has watched with horror the events unfolding across the United States and the world as people of all age groups, racial backgrounds, and ethnicities take to the streets to protest the killing of yet again, another Black man by a police officer. Regrettably, this scene continues to play out all too often on the streets of American cities and especially in Black neighborhoods. We are at a crossroad, confronted by the Coronavirus on one hand and gross violence and abuse by some members of Law Enforcement on the other. We condemn these acts of racial injustice and stand with those on the frontlines championing the cause for freedom and equality and with the protesters in exercising their rights to engage in peaceful demonstrations. It is unthinkable that in 2020, the United States, a nation that prides itself as a beacon of democracy, is seen as an oppressive authoritarian regime that seeks to stifle the freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution. America has lost all sense of moral authority and respect and is no longer considered a country where others will turn in moments of crisis. This inhumane act by law enforcement reminds us that after 400 years of struggling for fundamental human rights for which our fore-parents fought, bled, and died, we are still subjects to abuse by those in positions of power. The horrific scene captured on video as George Floyd cried for help is reminiscent of other Black men and women who were caught in the web of a system plagued with racist tendencies that have snuffed out the lives of too many of our sons and daughters. George Floyd now joins the chorus of voices of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, and many others crying out from the grave. These reprehensible acts against Blacks and people of color must stop. The dehumanization of African Americans and all people of color must come to an end.
We are appalled by the political posturing and lament the exploitation of the Holy Bible.
We reject the systemic racism that is embedded in the soul of this nation.
We call for a national dialogue to address the root cause of racial injustice and suppression of freedom.
We call for law enforcement to apply the same standards of policing to all, recognizing that in God’s economy, all of humanity is created equal.
We call upon policy makers to account to enact policies to address pervasive injustices and systemic inequalities.
We remind the establishment that being Black should not be a crime in America or anywhere else in the world.
We call on the President of the United States to unite the country and cease with the rhetoric of division.
We call on provocateurs and agitators to refrain from acts of destruction and violence.
We call on all peace-loving people to join forces and fight to eradicate decades of institutionalized racism.
We call on our white brothers and sisters to add their voices in advocating for immediate change.
We call on the faith community to join us in praying for the family of George Floyd in their hour of grief and for the healing of America.
We reaffirm our faith in the God of Justice.
We affirm the teachings of Jesus, who calls us to love one another.
We pray in the words of Amos 5:24, …”Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” |
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