Center of Hope Community Baptist Church:
Thursday, April 25, 2024

"Futures Not Funerals" Service (9/20/09)

The "Pastors United for Social Empowerment"* organized a special service to pray for peace and safety of young people and halt gun violence while holding the local, state and federal governments accountable for their role in preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future.  Bishop J. Douglas Wiley (Pastor/Founder of The Life Center Cathedral, New Orleans, LA) was the guest preacher.  The service, which was held at United Missionary Baptist Church, received media coverage from Toledo News 11, FOX Toledo News 36 and the Toledo Blade Newspaper. 

*The United Pastors for Social Empowerment is an independent ecumencial group of senior pastors working to mobilize and empower the Toledo Metropolitan Christian community to challenge the crises in the community of color through public policy, community development and political empowerment.


Dr. Perryman

 with the guest preacher, Bishop J. Douglas Wiley, Pastor/Founder of The Life Center Cathedral (New Orleans, LA)

Dr. Perryman

The United Pastors for Social Empowerment

 with Bishop Wiley (center).  (l-r) Rev. Dr. Derek Arnold (Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church), Pastor Gerald Fletcher (New Light Missionary Baptist Church), Pastor Benjamin L. Green (Church of the New Covenant Baptist of Toledo), Bishop Marjorie Holt (Bethesda Christian Center), Rev. Dr. D.L. Perryman (Center of Hope Community Baptist Church), Pastor Arlene Coles (Amazing Grace A.M.E. Zion Church), Rev. Robert Bass (United Missionary Baptist Church) and Pastor Timothy Clark (Harvest Christian Center).

The United Pastors for Social Empowerment

A Special Prayer

Bishop J. Wiley says a special prayer for members of the congregation who either were victims of gun violence and/or know victims of gun violence.

A Special Prayer