Stirring Celebration At Interchurch Center

L–R: Franciscan Friars of the Atonement Vicar General Father James Loughran, SA,; Bishop Johnny Ray Youngblood; Evangelist Tyrone Pittman; Rev. Dr. Forbes; Rev. Sylvia Kinard; Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond; Rev. Dionne Bosissiere; Rev. Dr. Cheryl Dudley; and Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah.

Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. delivered a stirring sermon during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month commemoration at the Interchurch Center in New York City. “There Is Power in the Problem!” was the title of the homily the distinguished Senior Pastor Emeritus of Riverside Church gave in his inimitable style, bringing the audience to its feet several times.

Dr. Forbes is the founder and president of the Healing of the Nations Foundation, which addresses the ever increasing incivility, self centeredness, and intolerance in our society through the spiritual healing of America. He is quoted as stating “…I’m excited for this opportunity to give the value of my past experience to the nation, to take my country to heart, to love her, to diagnose her malaise and possibilities, and to listen for a word from the Lord and find skillful ways to transmit what is needed to
transform the nation.”

Rev. Dionne Bosissere gave the Call to Worship. Special Performances and musical tributes were performed by soprano Heather Hill and The Interchurch Center Gospel Choir. A part of the celebration, The Galleries at the Interchurch Center featured photographs from the Civil Rights era from The Ken Thompson Collection and “Sacred, Images of Africans, Jamaicans and Haitians” by Bob Gore.