GOSPEL TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1100 Oakwood Road, will host An Afternoon with the Lady, honoring Joyce Murry, Gospel Temple’s first lady, at 1 p.m. Saturday. Cassandra Shaw, first lady at New Faith Baptist Church, will present From One Sister to Another. The event is part of the pastoral anniversary celebration for the Rev. James and Joyce Murry.
MT. CARMEL MISIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 900 S. Grant St., will host the Youth Talent Fun Without Guns Extravaganza Roundup from 3-5 p.m. Sunday. All youth are invited to use their talents in a positive manner. Speakers include Kymara Seals, founder of D’Andre Seals Suicide Prevention Outreach Project Inc., and youth presenters Jarius Higgins of Old St. James Missionary Baptist Church, and Sydney Green of Fayetteville High School. Talent will also include singers Tianna Rucker, the Shaw Boyz, Mt. Carmel Youth Choir, Greater Battle Chapel Youth Choir, as well as a puppet ministry and Fresh Wind Creative Arts. Sponsors include Dr. Kenneth Lambert, Dr. Rontae Graham, and lawyer Efrem Neely. Refreshments will be served, according to a flier.
WORD OF FAITH FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH, 1108 S. Poplar St., invites the community to its Family and Friends Day on Sunday. Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. and worship service at 10:45 a.m. The message will be by the pastor, Henry Land Jr. “Thank you for coming. May God richly bless you,” the pastor said.
MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH in Gould will host the seventh anniversary of its pastor and wife, the Rev. Phillip and Jurmicka Puckett, April 6. At 11 a.m., the guest preacher will be the Rev. Travis Harden, pastor of Greater Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. At 3 p.m., the guest preacher will be the Rev. Walter Witherspoon, pastor of True Harvest Missionary Baptist Church in Dumas.
GOSPEL TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1100 Oakwood Road, will celebrate the 31st pastoral anniversary of the Rev. James and Joyce Murry at 2 p.m. April 6. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Charles Helloms Jr., pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, U.S. 425 South.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
BETHLEHEM WORSHIP CENTER CHURCH in Dumas invites the community to its 2025 Women’s Conference April 5-6. The theme is Women Pursuing Holiness and Righteousness in These Unstable Times. The Prayer Brunch will be held April 5 at 9 a.m. featuring speakers Lakesha Hilson, Arie Holley, Patrice Holley, and Aleshal McIntyre, a missionary. On April 6, 10:30 a.m. services feature a district missionary, Linda Jones. At 2 p.m., the speaker will be a district missionary, Rosie Marks, of Rehoboth Temple Church of God in Christ of Bryant.
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.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, West Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street, will host the Knights of Columbus annual Lenten Fish Fry from 5-7 p.m. every Friday through the first two weeks of April. People can dine in for the all-you-can-eat dinner or get carry-out plates, according to a news release. Dinners for adults are $16 and $10 for children.
MINISTRY LEADER AND AUTHOR GAIL STITH will present The Encounter 3 Women’s Conference April 25-26. Encounter 3 is free and open to the public. On April 25, the conference will be held at First Trinity Church of God in Christ, 800 S. Catalpa St. Prayer will be led by Saint Mary Harris, an apostle, from 6-6:45 p.m. The 7 p.m. service will feature Carolyn Traylor as the guest artist and Brenda Jefferson, an apostle, as the guest speaker. The conference will feature a “Back To The Altar Choir” directed by Kimberly Clay, executive pastor at Anointed Praise & Worship Ministries. Area singers are invited to participate. Rehearsal is one hour before service. The host is the pastor of First Trinity, Aaron Withers, and the theme is “Back to the Altar,” according to Stuff in The Bluff.com. On April 26, Stith’s book signing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The guest artist will be Richard “88 Fingers” Turner Jr. Details: Gail Stith at (870) 872-3899 or prieststith@yahoo.com.
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.