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Family Focus
This month, we focus on the Black family and investigate the building blocks
of HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE as we HEAL, BUILD, and WAR for this God-given institution.
Of course, the Black family is threatened as African Americans experience many disparities, including physical and mental health and socioeconomic well-being. These disparities are magnified in the Southeastern, which, as a region, is home to 58% of the nation’s Black population. According to UGA’s Center for Family Research (CFR), approximately 29% of Black children in Georgia live in poverty. The challenge of overcoming the environmental obstacles associated with poverty and chronic economic stress is exacerbated by oppressive social structures and racial discrimination. Many Black families in Georgia thus live with chronic economic and social stress that undermines their physical and mental health and personal development.
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Despite all of these problems, the Black family endures. Let’s examine why together!
"A revolutionary woman can't have no reactionary man. If he's not about liberation, if he's not about struggle, if he ain't about building a strong Black family, if he ain't about building a strong Black nation, then he ain't about nothing."
-Assata Olugbala Shakur
FEATURED ARTIST | This month's Bulletin features limited edition works by Larry "Poncho" Brown. On the front cover, Soul Survivors is a testimony to how the love and the strength of family can be a healing force in the lives of its members.
Above, Love, Links & Lineage is an offset lithograph. It is a testimony to the ability of the family to show love and strength in the face of adversity and endure. A native of Baltimore, MD. He started his first business at the age of 17 as a signwriter and he has since been a full-time artist.
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What do Strong Black Families Do? There are things we know from research that caregivers do to raise strong kids who do not fall prey to negative influences and seek out positive goals for their lives (the science). Learn More.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY | This month, our ministry turns to the heart of our survival and flourishing — the family. In a world that has tried everything to destroy the Black family, we boldly refuse to participate in its destruction. Instead, we realign our faith and actions to protect, strengthen, and uplift this sacred institution. Family is not only God’s design, but also our community’s anchor and our children’s inheritance.
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On the First Sunday, we lift up the Afrocentric value of honoring our Elders. Senior Day reminds us that wisdom, grace, and history live in those who have walked before us. Scripture commands us to “honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), and we recognize that our survival as a people has always been tied to respecting and learning from our elders across generations.​
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The Second Sunday turns our attention to the young and their flourishing. “Children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3), and we affirm that our youth are more than the church of tomorrow — they are God’s testimony today. In a society that too often disregards their gifts and burdens them with inequity, we declare that the church will be their sanctuary, their springboard, and their place of hope and growth.​
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On the Third Sunday, we gather around our shared rituals, especially the Lord’s Table. Communion is more than bread and cup; it is an intergenerational courageous conversation, a moment when children, youth, adults, and elders are bound together in Christ’s love. In remembering Him, we remember each other, walking hand in hand across generations. These shared practices strengthen us to endure, to celebrate, and to pass down faith and resilience as a living legacy.
HEALING OUR FAMILIES | Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do "healthy boundaries" really mean - and how can we successfully express our needs, say "no", and be assertive without offending others?
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Licensed counselor, sought-after relationship expert, and one of the most influential therapists on Instagram Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies this complex topic for today's world. In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple yet powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Rooted in the latest research and best practices used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), these techniques help us identify and express our needs clearly and without apology - and unravel a root problem behind codependency, power struggles, anxiety, depression, burnout, and more.Learn More
