Little Flock Missionary Baptist Church uses their faith to motivate its members and the community they serve
Special Report by Sherlene Shanklin, WHAS11 Television, ABC Louisville
In Today’s ‘Your Story’ organizations and churches are starting to help get the COVID-19 vaccines to those in need. Even though, Little Flock Baptist Church has faced some setbacks due to their unwavering faith they press on.
In the Smoketown community sits the church on South Hancock. It’s pastor Rev. Bernard Crayton tells me of their beginnings which dates back to 1867.
Rev. Bernard Crayton “By newly freed slaves. The church was originally on Ormsby back in that time. They actually put the building on trees and rolled it here to the site on Hancock Street. It’s been a fixture in this community every since. It has a rich, rich, history.”
Growing up in Cleveland Ohio. Being a part of a family of ministers. Rev. Crayton in April 1999 moved to Louisville in hopes of becoming a pastor of his own church.
Crayton says “I never been to Louisville, I’ve been through Louisville but applied for the church Little Flock Baptist Church and when I got here, I knew this was the place I was supposed to be. It’s been a great blessing for the past 22 years.”
With COVID-19, he tells me how he’s been keeping up with his members to see how they are doing? Crayton: “People call in on the prayer line. I have anywhere from 60 something people that will call in. It’s not only my members but people from all over. I mean all over the United States.”
Dealing with the pandemic and protests in the city last summer. The pastor takes a call in the middle of the night that tried to break his spirit. He tells me what was said, “Well, that was just unbelievable. One our members passed by the church and said the church doors had been shot out and I was going, WHAT!. That was right during the time when tensions were high in the city. I just couldn’t believe, I don’t know why but I just couldn’t believe it happened to our church. When I saw where the front door windows had been shot out and bullet holes in the foyer. It really took me back. I had a lot of people not only the black community but the white community in this city. That came and wanted to do whatever they could.”
Turning to his faith, the pastor took a call from a company that wanted to fix their doors free of charge. Whichh renewed his faith. Crayton said, “Even in spite of that there are still a lot of good people in this world.”
So even though the doors of the church remain closed for services. Little Flock wanted to find a way to help. So, they will open their doors Saturday to help its members and the community. Crayton says, “Saturday we are having our own pop up clinic. We have partnered with Norton Healthcare. We have been talking reservations but walk ins will be available. Anyone who wants to come.”
Rev Crayton is trying to reassure people of color to get vaccinated. He says “It comes from those who are just not trusting the govt. Historical things that have happened. It comes from misinformation. It comes from lies. It comes from conspiracy. And we’re trying to break all that down to make sure that people of color understand how important it is especially African Americans understand how important it is to get your shot.”
People of faith have been asking for a sign and the pastor believes this is it. “If you’ve been praying to God about a healing praying this will go away. God has given us the answer. Its right there in front of us. And what you need to do is just trust him. Call in and get your shot. That’s how I see it. That’s how I really see it.”
The church is working on renewed faith that you should never give up regardless of your situation.
Crayton says “What I have tried to preach every single Sunday is HOPE.”
Ending Covid-19 ONE SHOT at a time vaccine clinic“ will be on Saturday, March 20th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Little Flock Missionary Baptist Church located at 1030 S. Hancock Street. Walk ups are welcomed but if you would like to schedule an appointment call Delane at 502-381-2354 or Charlotte at 502-494-8411.
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I received these photos from Nicole Hayden. The Louisville activist has been participating in protests for weeks asking for justice in the Breonna Taylor case.
Chef Pasch, a native of Yellow Springs, Ohio who currently lives in Louisville says “As a chef I let the food speak to me. When my creative juices flow, I can turn simple dishes into masterpieces.” The Sullivan University culinary graduate goes on to say, “It’s about teaching the new generation of chefs that it not only takes skill but passion it can be seen through from every dish that comes out of my kitchen.”
Louisville found his passion for food at an early age but never getting the break he needed to extend his career. The Sullivan University culinary graduate followed his dream and kept his faith even through the hard times. The tough times brought him to this moment. He says “He wants to live a life that shows all others that the best blessings are when we become one to others. Food is my therapy and its healing to soul and the stomach. My time is now, I’m getting the opportunity to showcase my skills.”
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Rev. Alex C. Shanklin, retired pastor as pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church located in the Smoketown neighborhood in Louisville, KY. Prior to retiring Shanklin and members of the congregation paid off their mortgage and held a mortgage burning ceremony on February 28, 2016. Shanklin served as pastor for 35 years.
The awards ceremony will honor community unsung heroes and community leaders in their various fields from service workers, educators to youth who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist those in need. Several Jefferson County Public Schools, (JCPS) students and faculty will be honored.
will get the opportunity to meet high ranking federal agency representatives and discuss the expansion of contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses and the creation of more mentorship programs for minority entrepreneurs to collaborate with the private sector.
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Here’s some of the events I profiled in the inaugural show:
The Miss Kentucky and Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen programs empower young women across Kentucky through pageantry. The participants develop leadership skills and confidence as they work to achieve their biggest goals in life. The Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization continues to develop role models for communities not only in Kentucky, but the world.
The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (Heritage Center) is embarking on the expansion of a new Media Arts Center in a vacant 14,000 square foot wing on the campus. The proposed media arts center will be a state-of-the-art facility serving as the communication arm of one of the primary heritage centers in the state of Kentucky. The Media Arts Center will house a 40′ x 50′ “black-box” with a maximum seating capacity of 200, providing a unique and versatile space where artists of all disciplines showcase their creative work. The center’s layout will also include a lower and upper level. The lower level will include a dressing room with sink and toilets, green rooms, options for loading in and out, public restrooms, office and storage spaces. The upper level will include editing suites, sound booths, meeting rooms and access to the control room and lighting grid over-looking the “black-box” theatre. This venue will offer local artist and media producers a platform to produce video, theatre, music, dance, literary, public lectures, community forums and more.
The VIPP Report 