EIGHTH AVENUE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1200 W. Eighth Ave., will celebrate the 13th anniversary of the pastor and wife, the Rev. Kirby L. Gulley and Neshia Gulley, at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Christopher Jackson of Davis Creek Missionary Baptist in Prattsville. “Come help us celebrate this glorious occasion,” a spokesman said.
UNION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 609 E. 24th Ave., will celebrate its 93rd anniversary on Sunday at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. S.E. Shaw of New Faith Missionary Baptist Church. The public is invited to attend. The Rev. Leroy Spears Jr. is pastor at Union church.
RAVEN’S NEST FOOD PANTRY at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St., will give away food Saturday from 8-10 a.m. or until all the food has been handed out. Food will be given away on a first come, first-served basis. Participants must bring a picture identification. The pantry is a U.S. Department of Agriculture distribution site and an equal opportunity provider, according to a news release.
CITY WIDE MISSION will meet at 1 p.m. Nov. 17 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 Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. 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 Nov. 15 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.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
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. Nov. 16. The featured speaker will be the Rev. Aaron Johnson of St. Mark Baptist Church.
PLEASANT VIEW MINISTRIES CHURCH, 1117 N. Palm St., will celebrate its 100th Anniversary at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16. 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 Stuff in The Bluff.com. The Rev. William A. Shaw Jr. is the pastor of Pleasant View.
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.
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.