JUNETEENTH TO BE OBSERVED WITH PRAYERS ON JUNE 22


JUNETEENTH TO BE OBSERVED WITH PRAYERS ON JUNE 22


With the focus on the Great Commission, unity, and progress, African, African-American, and Caribbean Christians will assemble in Chicago for the first in-person Black World Prayer Day on Saturday, June 22nd, from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. The event will be held at the New Hope C.M. Baptist Church, 1033 E. 95th Street, with a Facebook screening. Organized as part of Juneteenth celebrations, the event theme is, "Lord, Hear Our Cry."


This year's event, sponsored by the U.S.- Africa Christians Organization and the Africa Resurrection & Restoration Ministries, is the fifth annual Black World Prayer Day. Previous events were held on Zoom due to COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, the United Nations estimated that up to ten million Africans would die prompting the holding of the first Zoom prayer day to avert it.

Event spokesperson Dr. Nicholas Okaijah-Thompson stated, "It is now time to come out in person to glorify God and praise Him for saving us when others predicted the pandemic would destroy us. We are grateful to God for the spirit of resilience."

He said this year's event "will be the coming together of Black World Christians to seek God's face, direction, and guidance as to what lies ahead. We must stop foreign plundering of the rich resources God has bestowed on African peoples, amid the struggle to control the souls of Black people.

"There are also signs that the end of time is approaching. With the Lord's imminent coming, we must be prepared for what he has called us to do in the world."

Okaijah-Thompson, Minister-Director of the Africa Resurrection and Restoration Ministries, noted that Jesus Christ came to save the lost and liberate the oppressed, adding that black people today are the world's torchbearers for liberation, freedom, equality, and justice. He cited the acclaimed U.S. Civil Rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both Nobel Prize Winners, as leaving rich legacies in these areas.

"We must commemorate Juneteenth in the light of their legacies, to reactivate and carry on the legacies for the true well-being of the struggling Black race," he added.

Event highlights will include speeches, singing of songs, and praise and worship. Keynote speakers will be Rev. James Sheldou of Liberia, pastor of the Living Sacrifice Ministries and interim co-president of the U.S. - Africa Christians Organization, and Rev. Ernest Baker, senior pastor of the New Hope C.M. Baptist Church, and Trustees' board chair of the Africa Resurrection and Restoration Ministries.


Officiating ministers will include Rev. Douglas Mandere, pastor of the Kisii Church and Orphanage, Kenya, Sister Abiola of Nigeria, Rev. James Acquaah, pastor of the Ghanaian Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Rev. Emmanuel Amonoo, and Rev. Nana Owusu Bempah, pastor and associate pastor, respectively of the First United Ghana Church Chicago, Evangelist Kwamena Sam, and Min. Dr. Dorothy Thompson. Past participants included Rev. Dr. Kofi-Noonoo, president of the Council of Ghanaian Churches, Chicago, Rev. Jonathan Codjoe, a presiding elder of the Apostolic Church, and Rev. Charlene Joy Johnson of Ohio..

Sponsors of the event include the Christ Church of Nigeria and the Grace Community Church of Uganda. Light refreshments will be served at the event. All are welcome. Register at Blackworldprayer.eventbrite.com for the event.


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