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Preacher was part of
Seminary's
(March 2002)--Noted Brooklyn, NY, Preacher Johnny Ray Youngblood told 1,600 worshipers in Philadelphia that he sees a tragedy behind the New Testament miracle of Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. In an electric sermon preached the evening of March 12 at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in South Philadelphia Youngblood remarked, "The Bible says that 12 baskets of fish and bread were left (for the disciples). That means the church didn't participate in the miracle….Jesus performed this miracle, but he stepped over the church," Youngblood said in a booming voice. I don't want Jesus stepping over me to bless somebody." Youngblood entitled his message "Jesus over the Church." And in his riveting, evocative style teeming with energy, he repeatedly underscored the tendency church leaders have to place the preservation of the church over the mission of Jesus Christ. "How many times have you heard leaders say about an idea, 'We can't do that. That isn't what the people want. Those leaders aren't talking about other people. They are talking about themselves." Believers, he suggested, always need to be ready to question the motives behind an action or decision not to act. Jesus needs to be at the center of those motivations. Youngblood, pastor of the 11,000-member St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, was the best-known preacher of seven appearing in this year's "Preaching with Power" program offered by the Seminary's Urban Theological Institute (UTI). The 22-year-old UTI initiative has an Afro-Centric theological focus. Its students study part-time on evenings and weekends. Most work toward a master of divinity degree, which qualifies them for ordination as pastors. Some study to earn credentials to serve as outreach coordinators, counselors or directors of Christian education. Many of the students study in the rigorous program for six years or more. Many have jobs in the church. But some second-career students come from fields such as the teaching, legal or corporate professions. The UTI has graduated nearly 100 students over its history and 70 students are currently enrolled in the program. Seven preachers in all are appearing in this 20th annual edition of Preaching with Power, which brings noted African American preachers to the Seminary and various community pulpits each March. Other preachers this year were Bishop Thomas Wesley Weeks of New Destiny Fellowship, Wilmington, DE; the Rev. Dr. G. Daniel Jones of Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, NJ; the Rev. Dr. Dorothy Watson-Tatem, director of the United Methodist Church's Office of Urban Ministries in Philadelphia; the Rev. Dr. Carolyn Ann Knightof "Can Do!" Ministries, an Atlanta, GA, youth advocacy program; the Rev. Dr. Albert D. Tyson of St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church, Chicago, IL; and the Rev. Craig J. Lewis, pastor of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. Congregations opening their doors to this year's preaching services were the Pentecostal Bridegroom Temple, 6425 Wister Street, Bishop Ronald L. Young, pastor; Grace Baptist Church, 24 West Johnson Street, the Rev. Dr. G. Daniel Jones, pastor; Tindley TempleUnited Methodist Church, 750 South Broad Street, the Rev. Dr. William B. McClain, pastor; Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, 6401 Ogontz Avenue, the Rev. Dr. Ernest C. Morris, Sr., pastor; St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, 215 N. 57th Street, the Rev. Ellis Washington, pastor, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Broad and Chelten, the Rev. Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor.
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