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Consecration of Bishop Damon Bridges Affirms Mission of Restoration for Life Ministries

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“It is the Lord’s doing…and I happen to agree with him…it is marvelous in our eyes,” said Pastor Damon Bridges in his office moments before his consecration as Bishop on April 9.

The consecration service was held at Restoration for Life Ministries at 1234 E. Anderson St. in Stockton. In attendance were members of the local community, elected officials, over 90 family members and friends from all over California.

A standing-room-only event, the consecration by the College of Bishops included Ernestine C. Reems, Center of Hope Community Church, Ross Garrison, Jr., Judah the Gathering Place Ministries, Easley Simmons, South Sacramento Christian Center and Rufus K. Turner, Victory in Praise Church.

In a clear, strong voice at 88 years of age, Bishop Ernestine Reems said, “I have been doing this over fifty years…and I am here today to encourage Barbara and Damon. God sent them to labor in the ministry and do the work of the Lord with pure hearts.”

An Oakland native, Bishop Damon Bridges, came “up off the streets” to commit his life to ministry in 1989, under Bishop E. C. Reems at Center of Hope Community Church. He was called to move to Stockton in 1999.

Surviving cancer twice, Bishop Bridges has ministered faithfully to the Stockton community, and five churches have started under his leadership, one of which is in Sydney, Australia.

His work includes serving as Community Liaison for the San Joaquin County Courts, as one of the captains of the Stockton Police Department Chaplaincy Program, and he is founder and Chief Executive Director of Georgia Adams Adult and Youth Services, Inc.

The bishop is described as one of the great spiritual leaders of our time, showing “willingness to talk about the tough subjects often left unaddressed.”

Tributes, proclamations, and words of personal encouragement reflected the reality of his culturally diverse congregation from all socio-economic backgrounds, and his commitment to “unreserved outreach, the economic empowerment of the impoverished and the holistic improvement of the determined.”

Publicly demonstrating their sincere appreciation of Bishop Bridges’ work, public officials attended the service.

Officials included Supervisor Kelly Placeres, CA Adult Parole Division; Judge Richard Valvianos, San Joaquin County Superior Court; Sr. Chaplain Jessie Kenyon, Stockton Police Chaplaincy; Michael Gothchaek, BI/GEO Corporation; NACCP Stockton Branch President Bobby Bivens; and Senators Jerry McNerney and Cathleen Galgiani.

Pastors honoring Bishop Bridges included Pastor Adonte Clayton, Communion Christian Fellowship; Bishop Marcus McIntosh, Sovereign Move of God Ministries, Inc.; Rev. Derrell Williams, Hillard Chapel A.M.E.; and Oakland’s Center of Hope Community Church Pastors Brondon and Maria Reems.

Minister Alfreda Mitchell, Deliverance Full Gospel MBC, worshipped in song, accompanied by the Restoration praise team and praise dancers; church musicians James Austin, Jr., drums; Steven Turner, Jr. on keyboard; Derick Gordon, guitar; and honored guest, Allen Temple Minister of Music Derrick Hall.

Attendees cheered when Chief Consecrator Bishop Rufus K. Turner recited, “Your Grace, by the Will of God, we present this candidate to you for public consecration to the sacred Office of Bishop.”

 

Bay Area

ICAC to Host Benefit Concert Jan. 20 to Keep Safe Car Park for Unhoused Open

It was chilly Monday evening at the reopening of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County’s (ICAC) Safe Car Park Program in West Oakland – a stark reminder of just how cold the night would be for those in the community without shelter. The safe car park has been temporarily closed due to lack of funding, and ICAC needs money to bridge the gap during these cold months until additional financial support from the city kicks in several months from now. To help bridge that gap, ICAC is sponsoring a concert at the Oakland Temple Hill Auditorium at 4780 Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The whole Bay Area community is invited to join this cause.

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Lena Byrd Miles will perform at a concert to help keep the Safe Car Park open this winter. Courtesy photo.
Lena Byrd Miles will perform at a concert to help keep the Safe Car Park open this winter. Courtesy photo.

By Debbie Bromley

Special to The Post

It was chilly Monday evening at the reopening of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County’s (ICAC) Safe Car Park Program in West Oakland – a stark reminder of just how cold the night would be for those in the community without shelter.

The safe car park has been temporarily closed due to lack of funding, and ICAC needs money to bridge the gap during these cold months until additional financial support from the city kicks in several months from now.

To help bridge that gap, ICAC is sponsoring a concert at the Oakland Temple Hill Auditorium at 4780 Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The whole Bay Area community is invited to join this cause.

This special evening of top-notch entertainment will feature Billboard artist Lena Byrd Miles, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and Destined2Dance.

Attendance will help support the ICAC in their charitable efforts in the community, especially their work to improve community health and safety and to feed and care for those in need of food and shelter.

Tickets are $20-35 and are available online at TempleHill.org.

At the Safe Car event on Monday, Miles stepped to the mic to share a song with the poignant lyrics, “If I can help somebody, as I travel along, if I can help somebody, with a word or song…my living shall not be in vain.”

Miles said she is honored to lend her gift to this effort. “We are to do as much as we can to help the needy and God repays us. And as we give to them it’s as if we are giving unto the Lord.”

As the cars began to roll in for the night, warmth began to emerge from all the service being rendered, making the chilly evening more bearable.

The portable trailer from WeHope was standing ready to offer showers, laundry facilities and a caseworker.

Paul Bains, CEO of Project WeHope and pastor of St. Samuel Church of God in Christ commented, “WE ALL help make this happen, as it truly does take a village to positively impact a community!”

LaMel A. Smith, director of the nonprofit Helping Others Win was also on hand. Smith helps provide a food distribution service at the site that serves about 3,000 people per week.

Dr. Kenneth Anderson William, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, added, “It was with joy to see families living in their cars return back to a Safe Car parking site. Safe car parking is needed in every city to provide resources for more sites.”

Dr. Michelle Myles Chambers, assistant pastor of West Side Missionary Baptist Church and director of the San Francisco Foundation’s FAITHS program, has been there from the beginning. “The San Francisco Foundation was excited to be on the ground floor with ICAC,” she said. “We’re all in on housing and fully support innovative supportive housing models.”

ICAC is grateful to the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Kapor Center for funding support, along with The San Francisco Foundation for supporting the reopening.

Other supporters attending were Natalie Walker of WeHope, Lena Byrd Miles’ manager Tina Carter, representatives from the office of Oakland City Council members Rebecca Kaplan and Nikki Fortunato Bas, and CBS News reporter Itay Hod.

As Dr. Ken Chambers, founding president of the ICAC and pastor of West Side M.B.C. and often reminds us, “Working together works!”

Attending a concert is an easy way to show support for these efforts.

Debbie Bromley is the Oakland Temple Hill communication co-director of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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Bay Area

FAME Oakland Observes Fire Disaster Anniversary with Gospel Artist Zacardi Cortez

A year after a fire destroyed its edifice, First AME Church of Oakland (FAME) will commemorate that tragic event with a three-day weekend of praise and worship. FAME, the East Bay’s oldest operating Black Church, will honor its 150-year history and officially launch the church’s vision for the future.

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Dr. Rodney Smith and Rabbi Mark Bloom. Photos courtesy of FAME Oakland.
Dr. Rodney Smith and Rabbi Mark Bloom. Photos courtesy of FAME Oakland.

By Post Staff

A year after a fire destroyed its edifice, First AME Church of Oakland (FAME) will commemorate that tragic event with a three-day weekend of praise and worship.

FAME, the East Bay’s oldest operating Black Church, will honor its 150-year history and officially launch the church’s vision for the future.

Themed “Up From the Ashes,” the commemoration will be a three-day celebration of service, praise and gratefulness from Feb. 17 to 19.

“I have always believed that this was an opportunity to build back bigger and better, and to embrace FAME’s rich legacy of service and spiritual empowerment in Oakland,” said the Rev. Dr. Rodney Smith, Senior Pastor of FAME. I am overwhelmingly proud of FAME’s resilience and steadfastness to lean on God in this season.”

On Feb. 17, FAME will host a health-focused Community Day at Prescott Elementary featuring award-winning actor Delroy Lindo, local radio personality Cuzzin Dre and other special guests. On Sunday, Feb.18, there will be a commemorative worship service featuring guest preacher Rev. Greg Hunter (Olivet Oakland) to mark the last service before the fire.

At 7 p.m., the weekend will conclude with a musical performance by Grammy Award-nominated artist Zacardi Cortez, who has graced the stage with John P. Kee, James Fortune, Tye Tribbet, and more. Cortez is known for hits such as “Lord Do It for Me” and “You’ve Been Good to Me.”

In addition, the Rev. Jeffery Williams will minister. The evening will also feature a musical debut from Pastor Rodney.

“Despite what it looks like, we know God will give us joy instead of mourning and beauty for ashes! This is a major opportunity to reflect and remember that God always turns everything in your favor when He is in control,” said FAME First Lady, the Rev. Amittia Smith.

Tickets are $65. Limited VIP packages remain. To purchase or for more information, go to www.fameoakland.org

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Bay Area

Illegal Dumping Plagues Glad Tidings Community Church

For more than two years, Glad Tidings Community Church Pastor Jeremiah Captain has been fighting a losing battle with illegal dumping. As soon as Captain and church members clean up one illegal dump in front of the church at 18th avenue and E. 12th street, another follows almost daily.

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Photos courtesy of Pastor Jeremiah Captain.
Photos courtesy of Pastor Jeremiah Captain.

By Post Staff

For more than two years, Glad Tidings Community Church Pastor Jeremiah Captain has been fighting a losing battle with illegal dumping. As soon as Captain and church members clean up one illegal dump in front of the church at 18th avenue and E. 12th street, another follows almost daily.

He believes that individuals and businesses charged with clean-up see the illegal dump on the property and, instead of taking the trip to the junkyard, just follow suit and leave all manner of things on his doorstep: clothing, shoes, trash, used needles and condoms, mattresses, a refrigerator, paint, and other toxic fluids.

Captain says the problem has become so pervasive that it discourages members of the small congregation from attending Sunday service and impedes his ability to conduct his business as an insurance agent which is also located at that address. Besides the dumping, Captain has had to contend with vandalism to the building exterior, including splashed paint and other toxic wastes. He has had to repair four broken windows costing $300 each in the past few months.

There have also been break-ins, some averted and one where their drum set had been stolen but recovered a few blocks away. Despite repeatedly reporting the issue to Oak311 for clean-up and appealing to Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato-Bas, there has been no response so far.

Captain says his next step is to seek funding for motion detector lighting, security cameras and ground-level signage making it obvious that the site is a church. For more information, please call the church at 510-532-5743.

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