On Sunday, Oct. 27, Kingslawn United Presbyterian Church honored four outstanding community figures as it celebrated 87 glorious years in the Mill Basin community in Brooklyn.
Guyanese-born pastor Peter Parris, CRE, told Caribbean Life that the church, located at 2368 Ralph Ave., between Avenue M and N, honored the Rev. Henry G. Fury, who has served as Kingslawn’s moderator for the past 25 years; Alex Levenkov, Food Pantry volunteer for over six years; Dr. Ionie Pierce, Jamaican-born professor at Brooklyn College, former president, and current treasurer of the Brooklyn-based West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA); and Eugene Pursoo, former Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, and founder and president of the Caribbean Diaspora United (CDU), who holds several titles at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College.
“We are recognizing these individuals today not only because of who they are but because of the remarkable contributions they have made, and continue to make, in the community,” said Pastor Parris, who has Grenadian and Barbadian ancestry, and has been affiliated with Kingslawn United Presbyterian Church since 1998.
“Their commitment to going above and beyond the call of duty is not only a testament to their humanitarian efforts, but it speaks volumes to their dedication and willingness to help and serve others,” added Pastor Parris, the first Ruling Elder to be commissioned (CRE) within the Presbytery of New York City, marking a historic day, when it occurred on Aug. 30, 2009.
Pastor Parris said he shepherds a “multicultural flock” from the United States and all parts of the Caribbean, including Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born representative for the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, also presented proclamations to the honorees.
“The recipients were gracious in their acceptance speeches, particularly Mr. Pursoo, who accepted his award, dedicating it to women whom he mentioned play such an important role, and Dr. Pierce, who credited her parents with paving the way for her achievements and also the people she has worked with,” Judy Selman, the Barbadian-born Clerk of Session at Kingslawn United Presbyterian Church, told Caribbean Life.
Selman said that in addition to being an honoree, Rev. Fury delivered “a thought-provoking and inspirational message, titled ‘We Are the Other,’ taken from the gospel of Matthew 25.”
“Not only did he highlight the scriptures, but he spoke very candidly about his life as ‘the other’ in a society where bigotry, racism, and prejudice prevail, and what we as Christians are called to do for the ‘least of these,'” she added, stating that Rev. Fury concluded his message with, “We are the Other.”
Selman said Elder Phillippa Humes gave a brief history of the church, from its humble beginnings as a storefront church to its current place of worship.
Working in collaboration with Cayman Islands-born James Conolly, Selman that the church has also instituted an annual “Shirley Chisholm Award,” presented to “an accomplished individual.”
She said this year’s recipient was the Rev. Diane Lacey from the Church of Gethsemane.
“We also recognize members of the community who are making a significant influence and impact in the community,” she said, stating that past recipients included New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants; Assembly Member Jaime Williams, the Trinidadian-born representative for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn; Sen. Roxanne Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District, also in Brooklyn; and others, including Police officer Thalia Conolly, James Conolly’s daughter.
Selman said that, on Aug. 30, 2009, the church commissioned Elder Peter Parris.
Founded in 1929 as a storefront church at 1416 Ralph Avenue in the Mill Basin community of Brooklyn, Selman said, “This small establishment was the beginning of what would become a ‘Beacon of Hope.'”
She said the original 90 worshipers quickly grew to 100, stating that “the growth fueled the cry, ‘We need a church.'”
Consequently, in July 1929, Selman said a Certificate of Incorporation was recorded, and in September 1929, a grand rally was held at the church to raise funds for the new church building.
“$20,000 was raised, but when the stock market crashed in October of 1929, followed by the Great Depression, pledges were canceled, and the remaining pledges were greatly reduced,” she said. “Although spirits were dampened, and hopes for a new building seemed dim, the resiliency, perseverance, and faith of the members stood the test and led them to the purchase of the church’s new building, which was erected in November of 1937, at 2368 Ralph Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11234.”
Selman said Kingslawn United Presbyterian Church has “come a long way from a storefront church to its current melting pot of faithful believers from many different cultures and backgrounds.”
Over the years, she said many pastors have graced the pulpit, with Parris, CRE, currently serving as the shepherd.
Selman said that, on Sept. 30, 2009, “history was made in the Presbytery of New York City when Pastor Parris was installed as the first Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) in the Presbytery to pastor a church.
“He has continued to serve in this capacity and, in spite of the challenges the church has faced over the years, our motto has been, and continues to be, ‘We’ve come this far by Faith,'” she said.
“Today, we are a small church, with a great big faith in God, and we have continued many of the old traditions and have added some of our own,” Selman said.
She said the church currently recognizes Youth Sunday, whereby the youth of the church lead in the Worship Service; Cultural Day on the lawn, with nationals from several Caribbean islands coming together for fellowship, food, and fun; Harvest/Thanksgiving; Candlelight Christmas Service; Watch Night Service; Friday Night Bible Studies “to deepen our knowledge of God’s Holy Word”; and Online morning devotions “to nourish us spiritually.”
In addition, Selman said the church conducts Friday Morning Fast and Noon Day prayers, a Food Pantry to serve the community in need, a Planning Committee to orchestrate fundraising
events; an outreach committee to partner with other churches; and a relief committee to send assistance with clothing, food, and toiletries to hurricane-ravaged islands, among other things.
Selman disclosed that Kingslawn United Presbyterian Church recently dispatched six barrels of relief supplies to Grenada (NADMA) and, over the years, has sent similar donations to Haiti, Belize, Honduras, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Additionally, she said her church has partnered with the Church of Gethsemane in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn in offering assistance to the formerly incarcerated “by donating
clothing (suits, ties, shirts, belts) and Metrocards to assist them in their reentry into society.”
On Sunday, Selman said over 150 people, including members, family, and friends, gathered in the sanctuary and on the church’s call-in line for the worship service and celebration.
She said the Praise and Worship team set the tone with songs of praise, including “Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior,” “You Are Alpha and Omega,” “Halleluia, Praise the Lamb,” “Fill My Cup Lord,” and “Your Grace and Mercy,” concluding with “Oh How He [Jesus] Loves Me”.
“As is customary, the young people of the church were active participants in the service, assisting in readings and also the collection of tithes and offerings,” Selman said. “Additionally, many of the young adults who grew up in the church showed up in big numbers to celebrate the goodness of God and to give thanks.”
