Seven churches, seven pastors all met at Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. in Bessemer, to share in the second anniversary celebration of the S.T.R.A.P Foundation. This multi-organizational event to help stop the violence amongst our youth participated in the S.T.R.A.P Foundation “Motorcade of Praise.” Several local Law Enforcement Agencies such as: Bessemer Police Department; Birmingham Police Department and Hueytown Police Department came together to support the efforts of such a movement for our young people. This motorcade was lead by Hon. Judge Patricia Stephens and Councilor David Vance of Bessemer. We are deeply thankful for the sponsorship of Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. and Home Depot (Fairfield).
The “Motorcade of praise departed Chambers Funeral Home in Bessemer promptly at 3:15 p.m., traveling down the Bessemer Super Highway going to Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church in Ensley to share in their Annual Youth Day Explosion. Several months ago, the STRAP Commander (Elder Cedric L. King) had spoken with Dr. R.L. Patterson at Abyssinia Baptist Church and asked if the Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church Youth Department would host their second anniversary celebration.
The S.T.R.A.P Foundation immediately started to networking with several churches and other organizations and asked for their support in this movement for our youth. The supporting organizations includes: HON. JUDGE PATRICIA STEPHENS, PARENTS AGAINST VIOLENCE,
CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME, JOYFUL NEWS CHRISTIAN CHURCH with APOSTLE B. HOGAN, SAVED BY GRACE MINISTRIES with ELDER DARRON HURST, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH KINGSTON YOUTH CHOIR, DOERS OF THE WORD OUTREACH MINISTRIES, BORN 2 WIN, ANGELS OF PRAISE, PASTOR JOHN THEDFORD, NEW DIRECTIONS MINISTRIES OF BRIGHTON with ELDER MICHAEL WREN, MIN. LIONEL BALDWIN, MIN. ROBERT L. OPERTON, MIN. ERRICK GRAY, KARAR PERFORMING SCHOOL OF ARTS,
BROTHER-IN-CHRIST, BESSEMER POLICE DEPARTMENT, BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT, HUEYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, POOLE FUNERAL CHAPEL, GRAY’S PEST CONTROL and SIS. KRISTIEN KELLY.
All these organization and groups were there to celebrate the second anniversary of the STRAP Foundation. Donald R. Shepherd has served over 15 years in prison. He’s a recovering addict and a 28 year cancer survivor. He has shared his story and presented his play-skit-musical “stop throwing rocks in the Penitentiary” to over 20 schools in the Birmingham and Bessemer area.
this program has traveled to over 15 churches in the last two years and has partnered with over seven other organizations, that want the violence to stop.
Several members of the city governments has participated in an official STRAP event, such as: Councilors J. Roberson, L. Scales, S. Hoyt, J. Austin, David Vance, Cleo King, C. Chesterfield, Mayor William Bell, May Gulley, Judge Patricia Stephens, Chief A.C. Roper, Chief Michael Roper of Bessemer and the City of Hueytown. We came together in the mighty name of Jesus, proclaiming that God will intervene the lives of our youth. For more information about The S.T.R.A.P Foundation call Sylvia Watkins (Executive Secretary) at 205-566-0368.
The STRAP Foundation will be officially retiring our coffin after two years of service to our cause. We will no longer speak death upon our youth but rather speak life. And on March 16, the STRAP swore in its Board of Directors and Officers. Hon. Judge Patricia Stephens swore in: Robert L. Operton as President, Clifford Watkins as Vice President, Sylvia Watkins as Executive Secretary, T. Watkins as Secretary, Regina Gray as Treasurer, Errick Gray as Asst. Treasurer, Jovita Operton as a Board Officer. Cedric L. King and L. Quita will be sworn in at STRAP next event.
We all came together in unity, touching and agreeing that God will intervene in the lives of our youth. So on March 16, we joined the “motorcade of praise” and we went to Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church in Ensley, going in the mighty name of Jesus, reclaiming the city and community. Celebrating the second anniversary of the S.T.R.A.P Foundation.
During this event, the S.T.R.A.P Foundation presented four awards to several people. The STRAP Foundation recognized Elliott Gray as best S.T.R.A.P member. The STRAP Foundation recognized Brothers-In-Christ as “best supportive youth group”. The STRAP Foundation recognized the Birmingham Jobs Corps as “best supportive organization”, The STRAP Foundation presented their 2014 Humanitarian Award to Randy L. Dinkins and finally, the STRAP Foundation recognized the Birmingham and Bessemer Police Departments for their consistent support with the motorcade of praise. Parents Against Violence, a long time supporter of STRAP, had presented the founder with a crystal plaque that states “Outstanding Community Service.”
We will not stop until every youth has the opportunity to experience a STRAP presentation. STOP THROWING ROCKS AT THE PENITENTIARY….the founder of the STRAP Foundation is a member of Saved By Grace Ministries with Elder Darron Hurst, the place where God lead him to be poured into.
“…..It was God that made the sole decision to place such a vision upon me. When I thought that I could not be used in such a way….it was God that told me that I had to endure through those storms, in order to be able to fight, protect and lead this vision accordingly to his will. He used all the darkness of my life and it became a beacon of light to salvage the souls of others and I’m not made.”
So let’s stop talking and be the hammer that breaks the rock into pieces.
