OLD ST. JAMES MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 4512 S. Ohio St., will celebrate the 29th anniversary of the pastor and wife, the Rev. David M. Smith and Arbradella Smith, at 10 a.m. Sunday. The featured speaker will be the Rev. Aaron Johnson of St. Mark Baptist Church. The community is invited to attend. Old St. James also has Sunday School at 9 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m. Sundays.
ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, 1117 W. Pullen St., will conduct the installation ceremony of the 2025 Pioneer Wall inductees at 3 p.m. Sunday. In 2014, St. John introduced the permanent “Pioneer Wall” in the fellowship hall, featuring photographs and biographical profiles of key individuals who contributed to the church’s development and sustainability. Each year, additional pioneers are recognized. The 2025 Pioneers are Maxine Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cone, Opal Jean Ferguson Richmond, Vhaness Williams, and Juanita D. Edwards. The blessing and dedication of the new feeding ministry building will also take place. The Rev. Charlene N. Boone, pastor, the officers and members of St. John, and Sharon Fletcher, chairperson, invites the public to attend.
CITY WIDE MISSION will meet at 1 p.m. Monday at Bethany Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 1923 S. Olive St. The guest speaker will be Karres Manning-Center of Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or canned goods for the Thanksgiving outreach. The Rev. Renice Davis is pastor of Bethany Chapel.
PILGRIM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 2507 Hill St., will host its Women’s Day Program at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest minister will be Brittany Dodson of Freedom Missionary Baptist Church in Altheimer. Music will be provided by Women United for Christ, directed by Bessie Lancelin. A Paint and Praise Brunch will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Sandrel Johnson, an evangelist with Canaan Christian Center. The painting activity will be $20 and conducted by Greg Newson. The theme is Women of Faith Walking in Purpose (1 Cor. 2:5-7.) The Rev. Kevin L. Crumpton Sr. is Pilgrim’s pastor.
PLEASANT VIEW MINISTRIES CHURCH, 1117 N. Palm St., will celebrate its 100th Anniversary at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. This service will include historical insights, special recognition, music, and praise dancers. The guest speaker will be Greg Smith, pastor of The City of Love Outreach & Restoration (C.O.L.O.R.) Church in Pine Bluff. The theme is: “Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future, Moving Forward with Purpose” (Phil. 3:13.) “All former members and friends of Pleasant View Ministries are invited to join us for this homecoming! All former choir members are asked to come back to be a member of the mass choir for that day,” according to StuffinTheBluff.com. The Rev. William A. Shaw Jr. is the pastor of Pleasant View.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
BARRAQUE STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1800 W. Pullen St., will present “A Night of Thanks” concert Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Featured choirs will include Old St. James Voices of Victory, Kings Highway Baptist Church Choir and Barraque Street Sanctuary Choir. Also featured will be Nora Celestine, a psalmist; Keenon Coleman, a minister; and Elder Maurice Tatum, Minister of Music at Barraque Street. Barraque Street’s interim pastor is Gary Noble.
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH, 3703 Ryburn Road, in the Watson Chapel community, will hold its Christmas bazaar from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The bazaar will include handmade crafts, decorations, baked goods, candies, frozen casseroles, soups, wreaths and other items, according to a flyer.
ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, 1117 W. Pullen St., will give away food boxes to those who are in need, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. until all food is gone. Pickup will be in front of the church on Cherry Street. For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family, according to a news release.
NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH, 321 N. Birch St., will give away food Nov. 22 from 8-9:30 a.m. The community is invited to participate.
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.