• COVID-19 Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Promotions
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • July 5, 2025

Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

"THE NEWSPAPER YOU CAN TRUST SINCE 1964"

  • News
  • Editorials
  • Education
  • Urban Business
  • Health
  • Religion
  • Upcoming Events
  • Classifieds

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis on ‘The Faith That Strengthens’

March 3, 2018

By Lynette Monroe
(NNPA Newswire Contributor)

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA, delivers remarks during a Black History Month celebration at the Twelfth Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Washington, D.C. (Claudette Perry/NNPA)

During a recent service celebrating Black History Month at the Twelfth Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), expressed gratitude and reverence for the church’s rich history. He also highlighted the importance of the Black Press in 2018.

“There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this church,” said Chavis, greeting the congregation.

Located in the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the congregation, led by Rev. Dr. Paul H. Saddler, boasts a professional, eclectic crowd of the best of the district’s “Chocolate City” past. From a Superior Court Judge as the First Lady to one of the first African American drag racers as a third pew member, the Twelfth Street Christian Church represents the diversity of Black excellence, distinctive of the nation’s capital.

Dr. Chavis presented a timely sermon titled “The Faith That Strengthens” from Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

The message was extremely relevant for an African American congregation working to keep their traditional values rooted in a gentrifying neighborhood.

Concluding a Black History Month series of distinguished special guests, Dr. Chavis challenged the crowd to remember that, “God has been good to Black people.” Reflecting on his expansive history on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, or as he likes to call it, the “Freedom Movement,” Dr. Chavis wove seamlessly through a timeline of Black history and its relationship to the familiar text.

Encouraging the audience to both vote and pray, Dr. Chavis explained that waiting on the Lord was no excuse for complacency. He wrapped up his remarks by reminding the crowd of a traditional question asked by every civil rights activist that followed Martin Luther King Jr.: “What would Martin do?”

“We live in the wealthiest nation in the world. There should be no poverty. There should be no homelessness. There should be no inadequate education for our children. It shouldn’t be an absence of healthcare for those that need healthcare,” Dr. Chavis said. “Dr. King would be disturbing our consciousness, making us uncomfortable in the name of Jesus, in the name of the gospel and the application of righteousness.”

The congregation shared their appreciation for Dr. Chavis’ message of motivation through their open arms and wide smiles, during a reception after the service.

Dr. Chavis said that we must choose community over chaos, “a beloved community where we treat each other fairly, treat each other justly and look after not only the least of these, but all of these in our community.”

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: Black History Month, Dr Benjamin F Chavis Jr, Lynette Monroe

Read More - Related Articles

  • Target CEO Attempts Damage Control After Weeks of Silence and Mounting Backlash
  • MATC Celebrates Black History Month
  • The Hyatt Place & Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce Presented A Cultural & Culinary Celebration
  • Celebrating Black History Month
  • Honoring Black History Month
Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On X
Follow Us On X

Editorials

Lakeshia Myers
Michelle Bryant
Dr. Kweku Akyirefi Amoasi formerly known as Dr. Ramel Smith

Journalists

Karen Stokes

Topics

Health Care & Wellness
Climate Change
Upcoming Events
Obituaries
Milwaukee NAACP

Politicians

David Crowley
Cavalier Johnson
Marcelia Nicholson
Governor Tony Evers
President Joe Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris
Former President Barack Obama
Gwen Moore
Milele A. Coggs
Spencer Coggs

Classifieds

Job Openings
Bid Requests
Req Proposals
Req Quotations
Apts For Rent

Contact Us

Milwaukee Courier
2003 W. Capitol Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53206
Ph: 414.449.4860
Fax: 414.906.5383

Copyright © 2025 · Courier Communications | View Privacy Policy | Site built and maintained by Farrell Marketing Technology LLC
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.