America’s Chaplain’s Lunch Hour of Power turns 40!
Where do Wall Street execs, mayors, and police brass gather for 30 minutes, returning to their workplaces inspired and refreshed, helping to build and rebuild their city? The Lunch Hour of Power.
40 years ago, the Mariners Temple Baptist Church, a Black church in New York’s Chinatown, elected the first Black, female, senior pastor in its 200-year history. The 26-year-old pastor had a daunting task as the church’s membership had dwindled to 15 in a building built for over 1,100. They prayed for help and found it in Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook.
Cook said she learned about engaging local communities while working on her brother’s campaign for election to the New York State Assembly. She used that experience handing out flyers; meeting people at subway stops; and in their workplaces—on Wall Street, at City Hall, and at Police Headquarters to promote her concept for Mariner Temple. The Lunch Hour of Power and Wonderful Wall Street Wednesday worship services—complete with box lunches—became standing room-only services frequented by participants from throughout the city. I was one of those who trekked downtown weekly to hear her uplifting, hopeful, and inspiring messages.
After her 13-year tenure at Mariner’s Temple, Cook founded and served as senior pastor of the Bronx Fellowship Christian Church. Several career moves and firsts followed. In 1990, David Dinkins appointed her chaplain to the New York Police Department—the first woman; elected president of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference—the first woman; US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom in the Obama administration—first faith leader and woman to hold that position; and first cover of The Positive Community magazine in September, 2000.
Pastor Cook taught, ordained, and installed Rev. Herietta Carter as her successor, a capacity in which Rev. Carter still serves.
Cook is CEO of Women on the World stage (WoW) Inc, and the REAL Black Women in Ministry Initiative for The Lilly Endowment. Next month, 30 of the women she mentored (who are now mentoring others) will be inducted into the MLK International Chapel at Morehouse College, and Rev. Johnson Cook’s portrait will be hung alongside the many luminaries represented in the Hall of Portraits at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. A well-deserved honor, indeed.
On August 28, Roseville Community Charter School opened its doors to welcome parents and scholars to visit their new classrooms...
Mayor Ted R. Green, the East Orange City Council, and staff from various municipal departments participated in the city’s annual...
Qualified New Jersey residents can enroll in a fulltime Associate’s degree program without incurring any loans for tuition and fees...
Roseville Community Charter School was honored to welcome as a special guest, Dr. Christopher Irving, NJ Department of Education Assistant...
Bloomfield College and Montclair State University Become OneCulturemusic By Glenda Cadogan When it came time to navigate and negotiate the...
Johnny E. Parham, Jr. began his career as a community organizer with the Urban League of Essex County. Other Urban...
Public safety is our administration’s top priority, and keeping New Yorkers safe from the growing...
Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson is Senior Pastor Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, NY Our...
It’s the question business owners once asked when they considered relocating to the city of...
Lakeland Bank has announced that it will serve as the Title Sponsor for the 30th...
Johnny E. Parham, Jr. began his career as a community organizer with the Urban League...
We are one from the very start/We are one deep down in your heart We...
Teaching African History to Children St. Paul Community Baptist Church (SPCBC) in Brooklyn geared up in September for the return...
Read MoreBy Wanda Croudy For Roger Tucker, a graduate of Arts High School in Newark where he studied commercial design, art...
Read MoreThe preeminent industry event for affordable housing and economic development professionals in New Jersey took place Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29. Held at the Waterfront Conference Center at...
Read MoreSonja D. Gracy, author, playwright, and NYC public school teacher is currently working on her next book God and the...
Read MoreThe Last Word BY R.L. Witter We’ve been doing our annual Newark issue for several years now. And ever year...
Read MoreMount Zion Baptist Church of South Hackensack, NJ celebrated its monumental 100th church anniversary on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at...
Read MoreHundreds of guests and neighbors gathered in Irvington for a celebration of freedom, commemorating Juneteenth. President of the People’s Organization...
Read MoreEvery second Friday hundreds gather at The Terrace Ballroom in Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) for a fun night of soul...
Read MoreThe Bergen County (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated recently held its sold-out 15th Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon at The...
Read More
By Barry Carter In a spirited competition among first responders, Newark and Essex County police...
Adrienne Phillips, MD, MPH, begins role at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas...
By Leslie Nash The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available and the...
Tuesday, August 29,2023, was a great day in Harlem for Michael Walker. The dream he...
Whether in-person or via live stream, participants at the Black Health Matters (BHM) HARLEM WEEK...
RWJBarnabas Health children’s hospitals were named among the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals for 2023 –...