BARRAQUE STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1800 W. Pullen St., will host its annual Men’s Day at 11 a.m. Sunday. Music will be provided by a Men’s Day Choir, directed by Elder Maurice Tatum, minister of music at Barraque Street. The Rev. Sidney D. Milton Sr. is pastor of Barraque Street. The guest speaker will be Judge John Kearney, Jefferson-Lincoln County District Court judge, Division 2. He has served four terms, has been a law instructor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff more than 20 years, a member and church officer at Faith Presbyterian Church, and was a recipient of the Justice Robin Wynne Judicial Service Award as the first Access to Justice Month Honoree in October 2023, according to a news release.
ST. ANDREW MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH,5810 W. Malcomb St., will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the pastor and wife, the Rev. Richard and Dorothy “Dot” Hart, on Sunday. The Rev. A. Dale Watkins Sr, associate pastor at St. Andrew, will deliver the 11 a.m. message. The Rev. Christopher Briggs, pastor of the Newbirth Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, will be the guest preacher for the anniversary observance at 3 p.m. The community is invited to attend.
ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, 1117 W. Pullen St., will host its annual Women’s Day celebration at 3 p.m. Sunday. The theme is: “Stepping into Our Season” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV.) The Rev. Cleandrea Daisy Bates Gatson will be the guest speaker. She is the author of “Living Behind the Shadow,” the life story of the niece of Daisy Gatson Bates. She is pastor of the Allen Chapel AME Church in Atkins and works at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, according to a news release. Gatson earned a degree in Christian leadership at Shorter College, where she was the 2023-2024 Miss Shorter College. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies at Jackson Theological Seminary. The public is invited to attend St. John’s Women’s Day. The Rev. Charlene N. Boone is the pastor and Charneise Turner-Mills is the Women’s Day chairman. Music will be provided by Women United for Christ.
NEW JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, 1317 S. Texas St., will observe Friends and Family Day at 11 a.m. Sunday. The theme is “Showcasing Spiritual Growth of Youth through Bible Stories,” and the scripture reference is Matthew 19:14. The community is invited to attend these services. The chairman for Friends and Family Day is Joann Johnson. The co-chairman is Shirley Watkins. The Rev. M. Kriston Wilson is the pastor of New Jerusalem.
PRAYER WORKS GOSPEL CHURCH of Pine Bluff will celebrate Family and Friends Day at 11 a.m. Sunday at Amos Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 1307 W. 16th Ave. The speaker will be the Rev.. Robert Willis Jr., pastor of Amos Chapel. Featured vocalists will be Darnell Jordan and Irish Pickett-Frazier. Prayer Works’ pastor, the Rev. Laydell Jordan, along with the Prayer Works family, invites the community to attend.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
PLEASANT GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1801 Indiana St., invites the community to its annual spring revival at 6 p.m. April 29 through May 1. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Don Hawkins, pastor of Barnett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Wilson is the pastor of Pleasant Grove.
HOLLY SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH in Star City will host a free concert featuring the spring tour 2025 of Joseph Habedank. The concert will be held at 6 p.m. May 4. Although admission is free, a love offering will be accepted, according to a news release. Details: JosephHabedank.com.
BETHLEHEM WORSHIP CENTER CHURCH in Dumas invites the community to its 30th pastor’s and wife’s anniversary service in honor of Superintendent Timothy Jones and District Missionary Linda Jones. Service will be held at 3 p.m. May 4. The Rev. Willie Gordon of Revival Time Christian Church in Pine Bluff will present the message. “Join us as we celebrate their unwavering service to the church and wider community. All are welcome to attend,” according to a news release.
NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH in Moscow will hold its spring concert at 6 p.m. May 4. The concert is in memory of JoAnne Jones, a long time choir member. Practice dates are April 29, 6 p.m.; May 1, 6 p.m.; and May 3, noon. “Come lend your voice in support,” a sp0kesman said. The Rev. Stanley Blair Sr. is pastor of New Hope church.
WOMEN OF FAITH will charter a bus to Branson, Mo., July 11 to see the live performance of “David” on the Sight & Sound Theatre stage. Men, women, couples and children (accompanied by an adult) are encouraged to attend. This is a turnaround trip with transportation and reserved seating included in the cost of the ticket, according to a news release. For details or ticket information contact Jessie Clemmons at (870) 692-2194.
MINISTRY LEADER AND AUTHOR GAIL STITH will present The Encounter 3 Women’s Conference Friday at First Trinity Church of God in Christ, 800 S. Catalpa St., at 7 p.m. with Carolyn Traylor as the guest artist and Brenda Jefferson, an apostle, as the guest speaker. On Saturday, Stith’s book signing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center. Her book is called “The Untapped Power of the Believer — Is It a Spirit, Demon or Personality Trait Disorder.” Details: Gail Stith at (870) 872-3899 or prieststith@yahoo.com.
AARON AND KAE SPENCER of 424 Ministries will host “Built For This” (Luke 24:49) praise and worship at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St. Due to construction on Main Street, the entrance and parking will be in the rear of the building on State Street. The worship leader will be Alicia Rose. “We are creating an atmosphere for worship for those who desire it,” Kae Spencer said on Stuff in The Bluff.com. Details: (501) 503-1777 or admin@424ministries.org.
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Fridays. The deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesdays. Pastors, ministers or others interested in writing for the Devotional Page may also submit columns for consideration. Column writers should have connections to southeast Arkansas. Articles are accepted by email to Sandra Hope at shope@adgnewsroom.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5
