Celebrating 184 Years of Serving God

Today, we’re celebrating the 184^th anniversary of the church’s founding on August 29, 1839, and we welcome a former pastor, Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins, as our guest speaker. Dr. Harkins served at Nineteenth Street for 17 years, leaving in 2015 to become senior vice president of Union Theological Seminary in New York. He recently completed a tenure as director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Biden Administration. He is a principal in the Issue Campaigns practice area of The Raben Group, a consulting firm, and serves as chair of Public Missions for the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York.

After the worship service, a reception with refreshments will feature a slide presentation on early Nineteenth Street members Rev. Leonard Grimes and Octavia J. Grimes and their lifelong battle against slavery, illiteracy, poverty, and discrimination. It will be led by researcher Stephen Wyman, who has nominated Rev. Grimes for induction into the National Abolition Hall of Fame. Members of the Nineteenth Street and First Baptist Church History Group will facilitate a conversation with Wyman. All are welcome.