Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 11-7-17

Local
98th Birthday
Adoption Sunday:
Over 600 Churches Across Florida Partner To Help Find Homes For Children In Foster Care
Celebrated
TALLAHASSEE – The Second Sunday in November is recognized as One Church One Child Adoption Sunday across the state of Florida. This special day, November 12, 2017 pastors and churches are asked to recog- nize families in local commu- nities who have adopted children and to bring special attention to the children still waiting by calling aloud the names of some of the 800+ children in Florida still wait- ing for a family to adopt them.
One Church One Child of
Florida, a statewide non-profit adoption-related agency cur- rently has over 600 churches from Pensacola to Key West that have agreed to partner in efforts to help find permanent homes and families for chil- dren waiting in the state’s fos- ter care system.
Efforts also include finding families or individuals to fos- ter or provide temporary par- enting, care, support and love to children while they wait for their families to complete re- quirements to have the chil- dren returned home.
Since 1990, the nation has officially proclaimed Novem- ber as National Adoption Month to focus attention on the increasing number of chil- dren in the foster care system
waiting for placement with families.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, there are approxi- mately 800 children currently in foster care with no identi- fied family to adopt them. African American children represent 52 percent of those children and 72 percent are over the age of five. Many of these children will reach their 18th birthday without ever knowing what it is like to have a loving, forever family.
For information about Na- tional Adoption Month or One Church One Child of Florida, visit the website at www.ococfl.org or contact Paulette Glover at 850-414- 5620.
Bronner Edwards, Sr. celebrated his 98th birthday at the Brandon home of his daughter, Taylor Edwards.
Many family members and friends joined him and enjoyed some of the outdoor games, including Horseshoes, that he en- joyed playing. (Photos by Julia Jackson)
Birthday honoree, Bron- nerEdwards,Sr.celebrated
New Pastoral Assignments Made In Tampa Area
Cora Yolanda
Reynolds and Donalds at the birthday party for Bronner
Edwards, Sr.
REV. KAREN J. SIMS ...Moves from New St. Paul A. M. E. Church to Bethel
A. M. E. Church
BYGWENHAYES Sentinel Editor
The General Conference for the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A. M. E.) was held recently at Mt. Zion AME Church, St. Petersburg. During the session, Bishop Adam James (A. J.) Richardson made 2 new appointments, transferred 2 other pastors and accepted the retirement of another.
Any additional changes will be made during the Plan- ning Meeting, which will be held later this month in Or- lando.
Rev. Cheryl Ferrell will assume the appointment of Pastor at New Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Rev. Bryon Pressley
has been appointed to his second pastoral charge at New St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
REV. BOBBY JACOBS ...Moves from Bethel
A. M. E. Church to Mt. Zion A. M. E., Riverview
Rev. Karen Jackson- Sims, former Pastor at New St. Paul A. M. E. Church, has been moved to Bethel A. M. E. Church on Cumberland Dr., Tampa.
Rev. Bobby Jacobs
moved to Mount Zion A. M. E. Church, from Bethel A. M. E. Church.
Rev. Delores Wash- ington retired after serving as Pastor at New Bethel.
Rev. Ferrell and Rev. Pressley served on the Min- isterial Staff at St. James A. M. E. Church under Rev. Michael Price, I.
Rev. Pressley received his first pastoral charge in 2011 as pastor of Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church, Plant City. His journey in the ministry began in 2001. He is studying for his Master’s degree in Divin- ity from Payne Theological Seminary at Interdenomina- tional Theological Center in
REV. CHERYL FERRELL ...New Pastor at New Bethel AME Church
REV. BYRON PRESSLEY ...Pastor, New St. Paul A. M. E. Church
Ohio.
A Tampa native and
FAMU grad, Rev. Pressley is employed with Eckerd as a Program Supervisor with the Friends of the Children Pro- gram. He and his wife, Wendy, are parents to 3 children and 1 grandchild.
All other pastors in the conference remained in their current positions.
Denise Sowers, Taylor Edwards, honoree’s daughter; Brianna Stellers, and Bronner Edwards, Jr., son of hon- oree.
Enjoying the bean bag toss: Bronner Edwards, III, hon- oree’s grandson, and Bronner Edwards, Jr.
his 98
th
natal day.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9