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Revival, spiritual awakening NAAF aim


COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) — Revival for the church and spiritual awakening for the U.S. culture are the focus of the National African American Fellowship as it holds its annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, June 14–15, according to NAAF President K. Marshall Williams Sr.

The group encourages Christians to pray and fast to that end, said Williams, pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

“We are praying that God will pour out His Spirit, like a mighty purifying fire, of deep conviction, confession, spiritual brokenness with genuine fruits of repentance from the sins of immorality, abortion, crime, racism, injustice etc. that have been systemic satanic strongholds in our nation and our world,” Williams told Baptist Press, “so that we will see loving unity in the Body of Christ which will usher in an unprecedented revival, spiritual awakening and healing in our land!”

NAAF will meet in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, will participate in the Crossover community outreach, worship, conduct business and hold its annual banquet.

“We are seeking the Lord for His power and wisdom, so that His love, mercy and justice will rule in polity and practicum,” Williams said, “so we can be used as instruments of righteousness to push back darkness in this sin sick secular society!”

Mark Croston, preaching pastor of the Living Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., will deliver the message at NAAF’s annual worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 14, at New Antioch Bible Fellowship, 1415 Lancaster Ave. in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a Columbus suburb. Croston is national director of black church partnerships at LifeWay Christian Resources. Trent Hayes is host pastor. NAAF is also encouraging its membership to attend the June 14th Pastor’s Conference at 6 p.m. at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Ray Gaffney, pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Defiance, Ohio, will preach the devotion during NAAF’s business meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, June 15, in Room C226 of the convention center. Gaffney is president of the African American Fellowship of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

During the business meeting, NAAF plans to focus on better serving and strengthening the approximately 3,500 African American Southern Baptist churches and missions. Additional priorities are holding conferences, symposiums and webinars for equipping churches in all areas of ministry, and maximizing the participation of NAAF churches in SBC Life.

NAAF will elect officers during the meeting, and plans to continue with the current slate of officials. In addition to Williams, they are vice president Byron Day, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Laurel, Md.; treasurer Frank Williams, pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church in Bronx, N.Y.; secretary Erik Cummings, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Miami; parliamentarian Michael Pigg, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Lithonia, Ga., and historian Robert Wilson, pastor of The Word Baptist Church in Atlanta. All presidents of state African American fellowships serve as vice presidents at large.

K. Marshall Williams will deliver the annual presidential address at the NAAF banquet, Monday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. in convention center Rooms C223–C225. Tickets are $60 and should be purchased in advance through [email protected], [email protected], or through “E-Giving” at naafsbc.org.

Black Denominational Servants Network

The Black Denominational Servants Network, composed of African American employees of Southern Baptist Convention entities and the Executive Committee, will hold its annual meeting July 22 during the LifeWay Black Church Week and Family Conference in Ridgecrest, N.C. The group voted in 2014 to affirm the Ridgecrest meeting as its future annual business gathering.