Good morning Epworth.  You are probably surprised to see me here at the pulpit.  I have to tell you that I am surprised to be here.  I am usually at the lectern speaking to you about the Black Wealth Builder’s Fund.  And I will speak to you about the BWBF in a minute, but I want to tell a larger story today about how Epworth arrived in its third year of pairing our annual Stewardship Drive with the Black Wealth Builder’s Campaign.  How did we get here?

When I was eight my single mom and I moved from Monterey to Berkeley.  She was a social worker, working full time and needed someone to be home after school for me. She hired a young Black woman named Judy Robison who had just moved to Berkeley from Pine Bluff Arkansas to live with her older sisters, Idene and Bertha.

Epwort is co-sponsoring the Many Berkeley event. Come ready to sing. Come ready to be moved. Come ready to reclaim hope - together. 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley