Daily Walking, Working, and Winning by God's Word by Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr.

Sunday, October 3, 2010 will be a special day in the life of the Union Baptist Church family.

If the planning for the proposed $104 Million youth detention center commenced under the administration of then Governor Ehrlich and has now continued under the administration of Governor O'Malley, what is the difference in their public policy towards our youth?

How can you have so much vacant property within a community? This is Bethel and Lansing Streets in East Baltimore. Apparently it is ready for demolition. My question is when will the demolition take place? Beyond being an eyesore, this is not healthy to have decaying property which is a haven for rodents and disease in the midst of any city. Tear this mess down!

This Sunday, September 26th Union Baptist Church will celebrate Head Start Sunday. For the past 42 years, Union Baptist Church - School, Inc. has managed the Union Baptist / Harvey Johnson Head Start Program. It has provided childhood education to over 7, 000 students during that period. Currently there are 214 students enrolled. We have a staff of over 40 persons. As we prepare for this glorious day, our congregation will recommit themselves to providing safe, learning environments for families and youth. We will strengthen the bond between the congregation and the families we serve. We will provide a worship experience for children 3 - 5 years old in our historic church. God is in the miracle business. It is a miracle indeed that a idea begun during the Johnson Administration has proven to be a wise investment of federal funds over many administration, both Democratic and Republica. A head start is the best start for the children of our community.

A local publication has asked me to contribute an op ed article on the importance of work for individuals, families and communities.

After applying the principles of "trickle down" economics, the Obama Administration recognizes that now is the time to pump money into the United States economy from the bottom up.

The Obama Administration listened to the cries of Wall Street and funded an historic bail-out for corporations. The bail-out operated on reasoned assumption (theory) that once those corporations reduced their toxic debt and improved their balance sheets, they would hire new employees and increase production.

Friday, September 17th from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. as a component of The Congressional Black Caucus weekend, selected clergy from across the country will be privy to a briefing by President Obama's senior staff. My invitation and attendance demonstrate how far The Obama Administration has drilled down into communities across the country to provide access to indigenous leadership. I have been honored to develop relationships with his senior advisory team throughout every agency of government, including the White House. What does this mean on the local level? It allows me on the grassroots level to have access to the same information that is available to Senate, Congressional, State and Local Government leadership. It creates a true partnership with the Federal Government that is invaluable when dealing with local political leaders who insulate themselves from the local community. In the mind of the Obama Administration, "place matters." The zip code that ones lives in is as valuable as the State in which you reside. One's efforts on within a local community merit the same support that State Government receives as it seeks to carry out is state-wide objectives. This Administration understands that there has been a long history of local neighborhoods left out and left behind. Through senior level interaction bureaucratic barriers are broken down and access to information is in "real time." While the conversations within the room are confidential, the ability to raise salient questions and advocate for change within my local neighborhood is buttressed by knowing that you have a friend in the White House and Jesus. Now, that's good news.

You must be old school if you remember Laurel and Hardy. As I'm working on Sunday's sermon, I remember one of their famous lines when Hardy would say to Laurel, "what a fine mess you have gotten me into."

The race for Baltimore City State's Attorney between Patrica Jessamy and Gregg Berstein can best be characterized by saying that an organized group will beat an unorganized group any day.

Decision time is Tuesday, September 14th in our local Baltimore City elections. Everyone should exercise their right to vote. The campaign that has captured the imagination of people city-wide is the race for The Baltimore City State's Attorney.

I learned something after experiencing the feeding program conducted by 5 Churches in Upton. We were able to feed over 1,400 persons at a cost of $5.00 per person. Each family received two large brown grocery bags of fresh produce and dry goods.

Dr. Ron Walters has joined our ancestral chorus of faithful servants who showed us through his living commitment to excellence and dedication. He used his intellectual prowess to challenge the power system to respond to the needs of those who needed an advocate. He was a member of the academy, but used that position to teach the community the true meaning of political engagement, involvement and participation. In public interviews he made us proud as he articulated the meaning and effects of public policy. Now it is his time for his eternal reward. We will forever pour libations to his memory and spirit. RIP!

In the middle of West Baltimore along Route 70 you will find the road that is called, "The Highway to Nowhere." This disaster of an urban renewal plan terminated in the middle of a community and thus disrupted the lives of untold people. It turned homeowners into renters. It sapped the legacy wealth from a group of people of people struggling to buy homes. It turned communities into a wasteland. It caused the lost of three churches. The failed plan was adopted by the City of Baltimore from the infamous Robert Moses. His track record of disrupting New York neighborhoods should have been enough to have left him alone. But entwined in his rational was an insidious plan to tear apart the emerging political power of the African American community by ripping apart homogeneous neighborhoods. He succeeded in this portion of West Baltimore and many of the people who were displaced moved into Park Heights and thus overpopulated that community. "The Highway to Nowhere" was a disaster all the way around. The political winds have shifted and occupying the White House is President Obama. The African American political leadership is more astute than when this plan was concocted. Governor O'Malley and Mayor Rawlings-Blake are to be complemented, along with the persistent community leaders remaining in that community for seeing this day come to fruition. Federal stimulus money played a key role in having the resources allocated to tear down the eyesore and reconnect these communities once again. Hip Hip Hooray!

I rarely pay attention to social events unless they serve some community or religious purpose. I became aware of the Black MBA Classic because of the involvement of two aggressive and accomplished young businessmen from Baltimore. These young men both well under 30 have already distinguished themselves in the academy. Each having earned respectively four degrees: one has earned degrees in finance, economics, integrated marketing and business administration, the other has earned degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering, business and law. As African American males they are setting the standard for academic achievement. Both work for major corporations and hold positions within those organizations of responsibility. What caught my attention is their willingness to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in this case, Howard University. Beginning September 22nd the National Black MBA Association, Inc. will hold its conference in Los Angeles. These entrepreneurs are assisting Howard University with event planning and corporation relations. The Black MBA Classic is designed to bring emerging MBA students into relationship with corporate recruiters and into a national relationship with each other. These lofty goals are being achieved through hosting what will be in premier event in Los Angeles. I commend Howard University and 220 Productions for staying true to the mission of educating the next generation of leadership and for opening doors for them to walk through.

Our prayers go out the Rev. Marvin Sapp and his family in the lost of his wife, Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp.

Reading Acts 27 the story about Paul and his shipwreck experience. As I prepare Sunday's sermon which is entitled, "Staying True to Your Mission." The question in my mind is how many times do we allow distractions, disinterest, disengagement, disillusionment, and despair counteract our God given dreams, goals and aspirations? The evil one is always seeking to deny, to deter, or deflect us from what God has intended for us. The good news of the story is that if you stay true to your mission you will find that through the storm, through the rain, through the sickness, and through the pain you can depend on God. Since we can depend on God, then we should live in such a way that God can depend on us. In the midst of all that you are going through, "stay true to your mission."

The Performing Arts School at Booker T. Washington in Baltimore, Maryland opened its door for students this morning. They walked into a renovated and refurbished school that was brightly painted, floors polished, with renovated classrooms, health suites, and offices. As an aspect of our commitment from the church community to attend 5 schools during the first week. Members of the church and I were following through on our commitment. We arrive at 7:45 a.m. and stood with the hall monitors welcoming students to their first day of school. We met with the exciting new principal, Dr. McGruner and offered her the support of our church and collaborative during this coming school year. The students responded positively to our greetings. All appeared eager for school's on opening day. I look forward to a fruitful and successful year at this school. I know that working together will bring success to our students careers and a positive environment to this school. "Together is Better!"

I commend Drs. Lester A. McCorn, Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, Douglas Summers, Providence Baptist Church, and S. Todd Yeary, Douglas Memorial Community Church for standing with me on Pennsylvania Avenue to signal to the powers that be that the faith community is engaged and involved in the redevelopment process promised long ago. Our beloved brother Rev. Dr. Frank Madison Reid, III, Bethel A.M.E. is also apart of the collective and sent an able representative, Minister Michael, as well as, members of his church to share in the experience yesterday.

Union Baptist Church receives its historic designation marker that will signify its place on the Pennsylvania Avenue Historic Trail. Our church is one of twenty sites that will make up this new tourist attraction in West Baltimore. Many thanks to the Preservation Office of the City and Pennsylvania Avenue Revitalization Collaborative for its efforts in bringing this to fruition. The Labor Day weekend will forever be a time of celebration that will highlight the rich culture and vibrancy of the Upton Community. The weekend came to a conclusion with a worship experience hosted by Bethel A.M.E., Douglas Memorial CC. Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion, Providence Baptist and Union Baptist Church. Music was provided by The Singing Sensations. Approximately 100 Bibles were distributed to participants.

In 1949 there was no question that Pennsylvania Avenue was the cultural and social center of the African American community in Baltimore City. The Royal Theater was its crown jewel. This Labor Day weekend the restoration effort begins in earnest as a series of activities will take place.

Tonight is the night for the 44th District State Delegates Candidates Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

There are moments in your life when you are in the deepest, loneliest, and most isolated place. Even in a crowd, you feel that you are by yourself. It's being in the abyss were you struggle to make your way out without knowing how to get out. I'm working on Sunday's sermon from the 2nd Chapter of Jonah to see if this story provides us any incite into what to do when you find yourself in the deep. When you are in the deep there is only one thing you can do and that is wait for your deliverance. The Good News is that your help is on the way!