Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. – Isaiah 8:12
On this day in 1794, the first African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas was dedicated in Philadelphia. This church, founded by formerly enslaved Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, was the first African American Episcopal (AME) church in the U.S. In attendance were prominent individuals, such as Benjamin Rush, Robert Morris, and Bishop William White. Bishop White of the Episcopal Church of the U.S. and U.S. Senate Chaplain not only helped Allen and Jones establish the church but gave the sermon for the ceremony, as he was also an active supporter in the Black community. The event was significant not only because it was a positive step toward racial equality, but the site had been one of the stops on the Underground Railroad, which played a momentous role in the abolitionist movement. As you pray today, ask the Lord to continue to draw people’s hearts toward Him and unify His church.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For the president and his Cabinet secretaries as they place emphasis on diversity and equity.
- For members of the federal judiciary as they issue rulings on cases involving discrimination.
