On Friday, February 28, 2020 Royal Temple Holiness Church in Guyton, Ga wrapped up Black History Month with an outstanding evening of non-stop education, entertainment, and spiritual enlightenment.
 
Royal Temple was the place to be as this event delivered in the most powerful way. The program titled I Am...Our Story was well planned and put together by Minister Sonja Northcutt who assembled a bouquet of artists, speakers, musicians, singers, poets, story-tellers, historians of all age groups. There was, truly, something there for everyone.  The unified message was clear--how Black History is also a spiritual journey as seen when we recognize the guidance by our Heavenly Fathers unwavering hand that brought us from slavery to freedom. This power from on-high continues to lead us, even today, as we continue our struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

 The undying spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood was definitely in the house at Royal Temple as the community came out to support this moving event. What really stood out was the Glory Train skit (pictured above). This was a timeless performance that spoke to the hearts of all who witnessed the truth of this Gospel message--that Heaven and Hell are both real and we must do all we can, right now, to secure eternal life. 

 The Program:
Mistress of Ceremonies, Minister Ruby Andrews; Historical Facts, Evangelist Sonja Harris; Solo, Missionary Cilvetta Garvin; Prayer, Deacon David Clanton; Scripture, Brother Dock Holmes; Welcome Address, Pastor Walter & Lady Gail Ross; Solo, Gianna Dorman; Presentation, Servant Emannuel Branch; Recitation of Sojourner Truth, Missionary Lizzie Hicklen; Narration Echoes of The Past, Deacon Rodell Nixon; Black Female Pioneer, Sister Lula Seabrooks; Solo A Change Gonna Come National Recording Artist, VonSeddrick Williams; Recitation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: I Have a Dream, Elder John Andrews; Soothing Sounds, Saxaphonist Thomas Duncan; Poem, Evangelist Willie Ruth Brown; Selection, Greater Loves Young Male Ensemble; Poem, Fatima Dixon; Royal Temple Presents...The Glory Train; Anointed Word by Pastor Brock Taylor (United Fellowship Worship Center in Statesboro, Ga); Presentation, Minister Sonja Northcutt. Benediction, Pastor Apostle Dr. Walter Ross.
 
 
Article and photo submitted by Servant Emannuel Branch--minister, journalist, speaker, historical documentarian at www.bhbpnews.com www.yahshuauniversity.com contact at [email protected]

On Saturday, February 22, 2020 a historic event was held behind the gated New Jerusalem Cemetery to honor the enslaved African Americans buried in unmarked graves recently discovered. This was the fourth Annual Day of Remembrance and Wreath Laying Ceremony held in Effingham County. The nameless, faceless, countless but not forgotten souls are situated about 28ft outside of the manicured and well kept cemetery.
 
At the event libations were poured for the oppressed, enslaved and discarded after going through the Maafa, which means “a terrible ordeal”—Black Holocaust.

A mixed crowd of the Effingham community attended the thought-provoking ceremony. Prayers were given not only for those who had suffered and passed on but for a better future in race relations.
 
Community and church leaders from Savannah to Atlanta traveled to Effingham to be a part of this historic event.
 

Also remembered were the hundreds of nameless African American men, women and children who drowned in the icy waters of Ebenezer Creek on December 9, 1864 after the Union Army removed the pontoon bridge preventing the formerly enslaved from crossing. As Confederate troops approached panic set in among those who fled the plantation emancipating themselves without asking for permission—self determination. Fearing the Confederates, hundreds of African Americans jumped into the freezing Ebenezer Creek attempting to swim to the other side where the Union soldiers were. Many drowned. Many were killed by Confederate troops while others were rounded up and returned to their plantation prison work farms.

 There was the annual wreath laying ceremony to honor those African Americans who had been so abused, oppressed, robbed of their dreams, lives used up in toil and then buried in unmarked graves.
 
In the final analysis, this event was well-needed, very positive for all communities and a breath of fresh air. As stated during the ceremony, “You can’t fix what you won’t face.”
 
The organizer of the event was Mr. Leroy Lloyd, Chair of the Effingham branch of the NAACP.
 

 Article and photo submitted by Servant Emannu’el Branch—Minister, Cultural Documentarian, Speaker, Author, and leading authority on Black History Bible Prophecy.
See www.yahshuauniversity.com and www.bhbpnews.com