Religion & Spirituality
2024 Elections for AME Zion Church Bishop Highlights the Significance of the Role and the Room for
February 5th, 2023
Editorial Staff
2024 is a big year for elections! Not only will U.S. citizens cast their vote for the President of Unites States, but also members of the AME Zion Church will vote for new Bishops of the Denomination. Candidates have already begun campaigning to influence church members.
The AME Zion Church has over one million members, church homes that span the continental United States, as well as church homes on the African Continent. The title and role of “Bishop” holds tremendous authority and responsibility, both physically and spiritually. Unlike the President of the United States, Bishops hold a spiritual responsibility to not only church members, but to God himself! Bishops are responsible for assigning Pastors to churches and determining the overall direction of the denomination.
To further express the gravity of the role, it was just a year ago that former AME Zion Bishop Staccato Powell and Sheila Quintana were arrested and appeared in federal court to face conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud charges related to congregations of the AME Zion Church in California.
Here at the Lunar Visitor, we took strong notice of the happenings and losses of the California churches. Our founder, the 15th consecrated Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church Rev. J.J. Moore was the first to build AME Zion Churches west of the Mississippi river, specifically in California.
The role of Bishop requires one to have high moral standards. According to the Daily Beast news outlet “As bishop of the Western Episcopal District—which stretches from Washington to California, and includes Arizona, Alaska, and Colorado—Powell was one of the most powerful AME Zion figures; as a pastor of more than 30 years, he was one of its most trusted.”
Members of the AME Zion Church and it’s Lay Council have a great task in selecting new Bishops to lead our beloved AME Zion Church. This is no small decision and there is a lot at stake.
In the United States of America there is a battle going on around religious rights and freedoms, which are to be protected by United States Constitution. From the forcing of covid shots, the forcing of church and religious house closures, the inclusion of lesbian gay bisexual transgender and queer books in elementary school level curriculum, to the right to have abortions- the battle to protect religious rights is a current and major issue. These are all issues that newly elected AME Zion Bishops will be forced to deal with, as well as the President of the United States.
While the Lunar Visitor does not have the “official list” of 2024 candidates for Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church, we can share a few persons that we have found campaigning for the position.
In the future, we hope that you will continued to follow the Lunar Visitor for information related to the 2024 election for the office of Bishop, as well as for all thing related to our mission “to be devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Movement of the Race”. You call follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Or tune into Lunar Visitor Radio on Live 365.
Mary, Mary & The Inception of Pop Gospel Music
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
Sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell make up the female American urban contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary. Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single "Shackles (Praise You)." Incredible (2002), their follow-up album, debuted at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart.
Erica Monique and Trecina Evette Atkins grew up in a large family with seven siblings in Inglewood, California. Thomasina Atkins, their mother, is an evangelist and choir director at the Church of God in Christ. Before his death in 2013, Eddie A. Atkins was a member of the Church of God in Christ and a youth counselor. Erica and Trecina later became involved in church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and television productions. They toured with Michael Matthews' traveling gospel shows, Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky, in 1995. Following that, each sister toured as a backup singer for various R&B acts, including Brandy.
Mary Mary's music can be heard on Lunar Visitor Radio
A Look at AME Zion First Leaders: Reverend Sharon Creek, Part 1
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
The Reverend Sharon Cheek is the former Senior Pastor of one of the most influential and historic African-American churches in the Bay Area -AME Zion First Church. She was also the first woman to hold that post!
Reverend Sharon Sanderlin Cheek grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and has been an active member of the AME Zion Church for many years, most recently as co-pastor of Metropolitan Wesley AME Zion in Washington, DC, where she served nine years.
She is the first woman to serve in this capacity in the history of this historic black church. Rev. Cheeks is a licensed clinical professional counselor with 28 years of experience. She is also a clinical supervisor who has been approved.
During her tenure at AME Zion First Church, she hosted the 168th anniversary celebration and reached out to the church founder’s (Bishop J.J. Moore’s) family to be a part of the service. The event was an international extravaganza, despite the coronavirus pandemic that was occurring.
The online event included internationally known author and lecturer Tony Browder, the benediction was by H.A., Jabar, City Councilman Jecorey Arthur, and California history author Brian McGinty. The Moore family was so moved that they wrote a personal letter of pleasure regarding Rev Cheek to the AME Zion Bishops.
Currently, she is studying a Ph.D. in Naturopathic Medicine toward realizing her dream of becoming a Naturopathic doctor and writes an inspirational blog entitled "Discovering Your Divine Destiny" at www.sharoncheek.com.
Pastor Cheek is married to the Rev. Dr. Heath LaVon Cheek, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.
Religion & Spirituality
A Look at AME Zion First Leaders: Reverend Dr. Christopher Zacharias, Part 2
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
Reverend Christopher Lee Zacharias was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to Fred and Helene Zacharias. In 1998, Rev. Zacharias accepted the call to be a Minister of the Gospel and was ordained in the A.M.E. Zion Church.
Several months later, his bishop assigned him to Bedford, Pennsylvania. He was then transferred to the A.M.E. Zion churches of St. Paul, St. Mark, Metropolitan, Rock Hill, Mount Pisgah, and the First A.M.E. Zion Church of San Francisco. In 2016, Bishop Darin Moore appointed Rev. Zacharias as the Presiding Elder of the Bay Cities District of the California Conference.
Rev. Zacharias is currently the pastor of John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church in Washington, D.C. Dr. Zacharias has a reputation as a powerful preacher and devoted pastor who cares deeply about God's people. In 2019, he was among a group of pastors given a tour of the Vatican, where he was able to cultivate friendships with several Catholic leaders and view "the marriage sealing room," he said, "where Apostle Rasband prayed for all of us and all souls in marriage and relationship with God. That was exceedingly awesome."
Rev. Zacharias is a Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Interfaith Council and advises the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Mayor's Director for Religious Affairs, and the Mayor's Cabinet, on various matters, especially and including those that affect the spiritual, faith and religious well-being of all the residents of the District of Columbia.
Dr. Zacharias is the father to two sons Marcus and Elijah. He is blessed to be married to his lovely wife and soul-mate, Kim.
Religion & Spirituality
Lecrae & The Inception of Rap Gospel Music
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
Lecrae is one of the most popular and well-known Christian rappers in the world today. Lecrae Devaughn Moore, better known as Lecrae, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur from the United States.
He was the co-founder and president of the now-defunct non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries, an investor and co-owner of the audio production software MD and a co-founder of the film production studio 3 Strand Films.
As a solo artist, he has released ten studio albums and three mixtapes, and as the leader of the hip-hop group 116 Clique, he has released three studio albums, a remix album, one EP, and numerous singles.
Lecrae was born and raised in south Houston, Texas, by his single mother and frequently moved as a child, living in San Diego, Denver, and Dallas. He stated that he would attend church with his Christian grandmother but that it was for "older people" and "wasn't for me."
Lecrae later founded Reach Records with Ben Washer in 2004, five years after his conversion, and at the age of 25, he released his first album, Real Talk. Since then, he has sold over five million albums worldwide and has become one of the most prominent voices in the rap community as a Christian.
Lacrae's music can be heard on Lunar Visitor Radio
Religion & Spirituality
Kirk Franklin Pushes the Boundaries of the Gospel with His Unconventional Music
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
Kirk Franklin is one of the world's most sought-after and respected gospel performers. It's difficult to describe what Kirk Franklin does for a living. He's a true artist who combines soul, pop, R&B, and gospel elements to create a unique sound that resonates with millions of fans worldwide.
Franklin, 52, is his generation's most successful contemporary gospel artist, but he does not sing. He plays the piano onstage only infrequently, more to add to the pageantry than to showcase his modest abilities. Above all, he is a songwriter, but in performance and on his albums, he takes on the role of a hip-hop stock character: the hype man.
Franklin, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, was raised by his aunt, Gertrude after his mother abandoned him as a baby. Gertrude recycled aluminum cans to fund Kirk's piano lessons beginning at the age of four. Kirk excelled and could read and write music and play by ear.
Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir recorded Franklin's song "Joy" in 1996. The composition, produced by Houston and Mervyn Warren, was included on the best-selling gospel album of all time, the soundtrack to The Preacher's Wife.
Kirk Franklins music can be heard on Lunar Visitor Radio
Religion & Spirituality
Lunar Visitor Spotlight: Black Liberation Theology & Dr. James Hal Cone
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
James Hal Cone (1938-2018) was a proponent of Black liberation theology based on African American experience and related to other Christian liberation theologies. His book Black Theology and Black Power, published in 1969, provided a new way of articulating the distinctiveness of theology in the black Church. From the time of his first publication, James Cone's work was influential and political and still is today.
The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis is one of Prof. Cone's most telling references. Similarly, White Europeans and their descendants have been responsible for the oppression, enslavement, and deaths of millions of Black Africans and their descendants over the last four centuries. And, like Cain in the Genesis story, the White response to centuries of pain has been a fog of lies, evasions, muddled theologizing, and changing the subject. We are never more bound than when we refuse to admit our mistakes. Prof. Cone's life work is about facing a painful truth, a painful truth that can free us to start over and make amends, a painful truth that can free us to follow the plain meaning of what Jesus asks of us.
Dr. Cone later became the Charles Augustus Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at New York's Union Theological Seminar.
Religion & Spirituality
Honor thy Father and Mother: A Look at The Historic AME Zion Mother Church
January 7, 2023
by Lunar Visitor Staff Writer
Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME) Church, founded in 1796, is a historic religious institution that has played an essential role in the history and culture of New York City. Located in the heart of Harlem, this prominent religious institution has been a source of inspiration and support for generations of New Yorkers. It is the oldest African American church in New York and was established when black parishioners left John Street Methodist Church in that city.
Originally known as "African Chapel," the church later changed its name to "Zion" due to its biblical significance. The first Zion Church services were held in a rental property in what is now downtown Manhattan. The congregation raised enough funds within four years to construct its first structure. This building became known as Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in 1848.
The church was known as the "Freedom Church" because it served as a station for the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman and other notable figures helped fugitive slaves escape to freedom in Canada through this church during the mid-19th century. Reverend Gregory Robeson Smith, the grandson of Reverend Benjamin Robeson, is currently the 40th pastor of Mother Zion. He has been the leader of Mother Zion since 1995.
