2p Afas Church

SURNAME OF WRITER 1
STUDENT’S NAME
PROFESSOR’S NAME
COURSE NUMBER
DATE (DD/MM/YYYY)
AFAS CHURCH: MT. CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH
Mt. Calvary missionary Baptist church, located in Tucson, Arizona was founded in 1900 by the
Baptist missionary Rev. John B. Bell. It was targeted at the African American Christian
population located in the city. As part of its outreach to the African American community, it
focused on providing religious services, youth outreach, civic activities, socially motivated
engagements as well as overall organizational leadership for the African American community in
Tucson. By 1956, The church had experienced such rapid growth that it became necessary for it
to relocate to its current address at 210 E. Lester street. (blackpast.org, n.p) The church went
through some changes as a result of the civil rights movement in the sixties which resulted from
the disintegration of segregation laws in Tucson. This resulted in a major outreach aimed at the
youth and young adults from different social divides which became part of the church’s values
and core objectives. (blackpast.org, n.p)
The church is headed by Pastor Labryant friend, who has been the senior pastor at the church
since April 2011. (faithstreet.com, n.p) He holds a Master’s in divinity degree from oral Roberts
university. The pastor is a family man and has three daughters with his wife Phineka.
SURNAME OF WRITER 2
ATTENDING A SERVICE: PALM SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2017
I attended the Palm Sunday service on 9th April 2017. The service commenced at 10am and took
approximately two hours. The church was well lit, with a large roomy ceiling that gave a sense
of expanded space to the place. The white colored walls were scantily decorated, giving a sense
of austere serenity to the church. Upfront the pupil was elevated with a clear pulpit for the
preacher and the choir. Three rows of purple chairs were arranged upfront at the head of the
church. At the central part of the wall upfront there was a video screen where announcements
were screened to the audience.
BREAKDOWN OF THE SERVICE
The church service was carried out in four main segments. First came the praise and worship
session, led by the worship pastor and a few choir members. The choir did not have any uniform
or a dress code. They sang a variety of heartfelt, soulful songs to the tune of an accompanying
piano. The choir members could be seen swaying from side to side and using spontaneous
gestures and hand movements to signify their connection with the music. Interspaced within the
songs were inspirational pronouncements delivered by the worship pastors. After some time the
praise and worship segment was replaced by the announcements segments. The key
announcements were delivered on the screen placed upfront, although some announcements were
made by various church leaders as well as some teens that were called upfront to share insights
on youth camps that were being prepared by the church. The announcement segment ended with
a call for offerings. A pastor stepped up to the pulpit and gave a moving sermon on the
importance of giving, to the accompaniment of piano music and a final song by the choir.
SURNAME OF WRITER 3
The third segment involved the sermon proper, delivered by one of the pastors, pastor June. The
theme of the sermon was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem since it was Palm Sunday.
The service was delivered in a casual manner, with the pastor sometimes breaking into song
when appropriate, as well as engaging the congregation once in a while. The congregation would
sometimes participate in the sermon but in a conservative manner, sometimes shouting a phrase
or clapping when appropriate. The pastor would use illustrations and anecdotes whenever
appropriate during the sermon. The church seemed to value music a lot. The piano also
accompanied the emotional parts of the sermon.
The last part of the service was the altar call. After the sermon the pastor invited members of the
congregation to step forward in case they required prayers. The piano music added a somber and
serene atmosphere to this segment. Some members of the congregation proceeded to the front
and were prayed for, culminating in a group prayer by all the church leaders around a woman
who said she required prayers for her mother who had been diagnosed with cancer.
Given the history of the church as catering to a segregated minority group, it makes sense that
the service is seen as a community event where different people are able to participate, from
choir members, church leaders to the youth as well as the general congregation. Music plays a
key role in such a community since it allows the members to express emotional sentiments
within the confines of the church in a socially acceptable manner.

SURNAME OF WRITER 4
Works cited
Blackpast.org “Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Tucson, Arizona (1900- )”
Blackpast.org: An Online Reference Guide to African American History. N.d. web.
12/04/2017
Faithstreet. “mount calvary M.B Church-tucson. Faithstreet, inc. N.d. Web. 12/04/2017
SURNAME OF WRITER 5
Works cited
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title. City where published: Publisher, copyright date. Print.
Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title volume number.issue number
(year): page number range of entire article. Print.

2p Afas Church

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2p Afas Church

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

2p Afas Church

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SURNAME OF WRITER 1

AFAS CHURCH: MT. CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH

and core objectives. (blackpast.org, n.p)

ATTENDING A SERVICE: PALM SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2017

were screened to the audience.

BREAKDOWN OF THE SERVICE

accompanied the emotional parts of the sermon.

within the confines of the church in a socially acceptable manner.

Blackpast.org “Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Tucson, Arizona (1900- )”

Blackpast.org: An Online Reference Guide to African American History. N.d. web.

(year): page number range of entire article. Print.

You might also like