[act-ma] 7/26 An American Baptist in Cuba with Rev. Allan McClendon

[Charlie Welch]

    An American Baptist in Cuba with Rev. Allan McClendon

    SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 AT 11 AM – 12:30 PM

    Facebook Live


                My first time ever traveling outside of the USA, takes
                me on an exiting missionary trip to CUBA with the pastor
                and members of the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain
                (FBCJP). Our social justice mission is to interview the
                staff and members of three churches within the Cuban
                Baptist Alliance (CBA) as we fellowship and worship with
                them during their 2019 Christmas season. The Cuban
                church that we decide best matches our church's core
                values and goals will be chosen as our ongoing partner
                church in connection with the American Baptist Alliance
                (ABC).



                About Rev. McClendon:
                After a life of hardship as an orphan in the Illinois
                foster care system, I survived a devastating fire in my
                apartment building in 1987, only to receive an HIV
                diagnosis while being treated in the emergency room that
                night. Having lost my home, my possessions, and being
                newly diagnosed with what was, essentially, a death
                sentence, I believed God was punishing me for being gay.
                I then slid into substance abuse addiction and reckless
                behavior, which was further fueled by the loss of many
                loved ones to HIV/AIDS.
                I eventually reached recovery in 2007 and joined the
                Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Chicago where I
                was inspired to use my experiences as a gay, Christian,
                HIV-positive man to help others. I relocated to Boston
                in 2013 and am now a Masters of Pastoral Studies (MAPS)
                graduate of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS
                2018) and I'm furthering my academic studies to become
                licensed and ordained as a community pastor within the
                MCC and the American Baptist Church (ABC) traditions.
                Currently, I am the Minister of Hospitality/Kitchen
                Coordinator at FBCJP and a lay worship leader at MCC Boston.


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                Due to Corvid-19 Community Church of Boston is closed.
                Community Church of Boston is located at
                565 Boylston Street, 2nd fl., Boston, MA 02116
                web: www.communitychurchofboston.org;
                email: info at communitychurchofboston.org; tel: 617-266-6710