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The 12th
annual African American Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the
Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, was held last week at the
First Church of God and, this year especially, there was a
lot for members of the credit union to celebrate – a new
building, a 20th anniversary, an increase in
membership and, above all, 13 honorees who have all been
instrumental to the credit union’s success.
The 8:00 a.m. Prayer
Breakfast opened with a worship in song by Darius Coleman
and was followed by an opening prayer offered by Bishop
Robert Culp of First Church, a welcome by Fran Smith, board
president of TUFCU, a prayer for the city and its leaders by
Bishop Randall Parker, III of Canaan Manifested Word Church
and a prayer for churches by Bishop Duane Tisdale of
Friendship Baptist Church.
After another worship in
song by Coleman, TUFCU CEO Suzette Cowell presented this
year’s honorees, starting with a special award – The
People’s Choice Award – for Carnel Smith, Ed.D. Smith, a
Toledo native and graduate of Scott High School, is the
founder of Mentoring, Education & Leadership, Inc, a
non-profit that is committed to ensuring success of youth
and families in urban and rural communities. Smith has
hosted an annual free youth football camp for young boys for
the past 14 years, providing leadership and instruction to
more than 2,000 boys during that time.
Smith assumed the duties
of principal of Scott High School last week.
The other honorees were:
Minister Christopher Arnett, former pastor of the House of
Praise Ministry; Mary Beal-Thomas, founder of the Isaiah
Thomas Giving Foundation; Rev. Cedric Brock, pastor of Mt.
Nebo Baptist Church and president of the Interdenominational
Ministerial Alliance; Dedra Brown, founder of the David
Davis Youth Center; Ernestine Carter, long-time strong
supporter of the credit union; Ruth Cowell, volunteer,
teacher’s aide and businesswoman; Lisa Hess, advisor with
Lourdes University’s TRiO Upward Bound Program; Alisa Key,
co-pastor of People’s MBC; Rev. Robert Lyons, pastor of
Greater St. Mary’s MBC; Montrice Terry, community activist
and organizer; Mwalimu Triplett, entrepreneur and Jane
Chinneth Williamson, former director of the Early Childhood
Developmental Daycare Center.
After the awards ceremony,
Pastor Jerry Boose of Second Baptist offered a prayer for
the festival; Pastor Timothy Pettaway offered a prayer for
the youth and Pastor Lyons offered a prayer for the credit
union.
Bishop M.C. McGhee
provided the closing prayer before breakfast was served to
the more than 200 attendees.
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