Community Church of Boston
Virtual Program:
watch on Youtube
Sunday, July 26 at 11:00 am
“An American Baptist in Cuba”
with Rev. Allan McClendon
Our new friend Rev. Allan McClendon joins us. Allan preaches and provides warmth of hospitality in the form of delicious meals to all at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain
My first time ever traveling outside of the USA, takes me on an exiting missionary trip to CUBA with the pastor and members of the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain (FBCJP). Our social justice mission is to interview the staff and members of three churches within the Cuban Baptist Alliance (CBA) as we fellowship and worship with them during their 2019 Christmas season. The Cuban church that we decide best matches our church’s core values and goals will be chosen as our ongoing partner church in connection with the American Baptist Alliance (ABC).
About Rev. McClendon:
After a life of hardship as an orphan in the Illinois foster care system, I survived a devastating fire in my apartment building in 1987, only to receive an HIV diagnosis while being treated in the emergency room that night. Having lost my home, my possessions, and being newly diagnosed with what was, essentially, a death sentence, I believed God was punishing me for being gay. I then slid into substance abuse addiction and reckless behavior, which was further fueled by the loss of many loved ones to HIV/AIDS.
I eventually reached recovery in 2007 and joined the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Chicago where I was inspired to use my experiences as a gay, Christian, HIV-positive man to help others. I relocated to Boston in 2013 and am now a Masters of Pastoral Studies (MAPS) graduate of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS 2018) and I’m furthering my academic studies to become licensed and ordained as a community pastor within the MCC and the American Baptist Church (ABC) traditions. Currently, I am the Minister of Hospitality/Kitchen Coordinator at FBCJP and a lay worship leader at MCC Boston.
july26.org 