Brothers and Sisters:

It is indeed March of 2021. We have just come through a paralyzing 2020 and a turbulent winter of 2021 for some.  However, God is still on the Thrown. I am again aware that gentrification is real and that many from the great generation who sojourned here and moved now from life to life....

When our district started, men like Rev. Huey Watson and Rev. Frederick Haynes Sr. were ushering in relatives and friends to the west. They came by train, plane and automobile. They came to Third Baptist and Allen Temple, and Beth Eden, and Zion Hill, and Pilgrim Rest. They worked in the shipyard, and in the canary and at the post office. They purchased homes and drove back south in Cadillac's. 

Yes these were great times and this was a great generation. However, time has marched on and today we struggle in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Alameda counties to pay outstanding rents and to purchase homes at astronomical prices. We are yet committed to Christ and to our communities. Some of our congregations are fairing well and others are struggling like Mills College in Oakland, to keep the doors open after the pandemic. What I am trying to say is that like never before we need one another. 

HFMDA brings us together for best practices for hard conversations around what it means to be a black church serving all people in now integrated communities where people are not moving in to go the church. How will our choirs sing, what is the role of the ushers, how will our children grow and flourish, who shall we preach? All of these questions and more we must struggle with. 

Our churches are dealing with the fall out of gentrification. Many individuals are moving to different cities and our fellowship is not what it once was. This however, is a time for great innovation. We are and always have been a very resilient people. We will always Rise!

HFMDA for 75 year has been a teaching arm of the church. We ask that you consider joining as dues paying members of the district. Please take the time to check our our membership page and see if you might contribute as low as $10 per month to this work or see if sharing with the scholarship fund is something that you would rather do. In 2020 our young people graduated without ceremony and started college, some without ever going to a class. We want to continue to support our college students but we also want to support those who stay home and learn skills and trades...All Boats Must Rise!

Listen family, I am honored to serve as your moderator and I pray for every pastor, preacher and leader of every congregation. I take my hat off to you for leading in the mdist of this storm. We are here for you and for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ! 

May God Bless You

Rev. Dr. Ambrose F. Carroll Sr. 
Home & Foreign Mission District Association 
Moderator

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