Reverend
Dr. William H. Curtis is the Senior Pastor of
Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, located in urban Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
A
native of Baltimore, Maryland, Reverend Curtis accepted
a call to ministry at the age of 17. He possesses a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies and Philosophy
from Morgan State University, a Master of Divinity Degree
from the Howard University School of Divinity, and a
Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological
Seminary in Dayton, OH. Dr. Curtis' commitment to excellence
through education is directly attributable to his capabilities,
not only as an anointed preacher of the gospel, but
also an effective teacher in practical instruction.
In
1997, Reverend Curtis was called to Mt. Ararat Baptist
Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since Dr. Curtis'
arrival at Mt. Ararat, the church has grown from 400
to over 7500 with four worship services each weekend....read
more
The
Spirit of Pittsburgh
CHURCH OF THE
WEEK
August 7, 2023 BACK
TO HOME PAGE
Mount
Ararat Baptist Church was organized in 1906 at a meeting
held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Marshall of
156 Everett Street (now Hamilton Avenue) in East Liberty.
As a result of this meeting, a one-story building at Penn
Avenue and Beatty Street was secured. The first service
was conducted the second Sunday in October, 1906 by Interim
Pastor, Dr. C. W. McCall. Eight people were in attendance
and the collection was $7.00. The church was named by
Margaret McDonald Moore. The church was formally organized
by a council of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association, with
Reverend Stanton of the Shady Avenue Baptist Church as
moderator, with eighty people in the organization. Reverend
McCall was impelled to resume his traveling Bible Institute
work and resigned as Interim Pastor........read
more
PITTSBURGH'S
CHURCH
DIRECTORY
Rev. Marie Kelly celebrates first anniversary at Calvary Baptist
By Ashley G. Woodson for the New Pittsburgh Courier
Calvary elects first female senior pastor By Ashley G. Woodson for the New Pittsburgh Courier
Reverend Marie Kelly has been elected by Calvary Baptist Church, in the Hill District, as the first female Baptist senior pastor in the Hill District.
Reverend Kelly, senior pastor elect, has been a part of Calvary for more than 30 years. She was a part of the Prison Ministry for 20 years, the Women’s Ministry for three years, as well as being a Deaconess, choir member and Sunday School Adult teacher. She comes from a family that owned Perry’s Barbeque Place located at Webster Avenue and Somers Street. It was sold to her father and they had lines from Somers Street around to Bedford Avenue. It opened in the 1960s and closed in the early 1980s.
SAVOY RESTAURANT PRESENTED
CECE WINANS AND J. MOSS
AT THE BENEDUM CENTER IN DOWNTOWN, PITTSBURGH.
I HAVE TO SHOUTOUT CHUCK SANDERS AND JOHN BETTIS OF SAVOY RESTAURANT AND JOHN WALKER OF GROOVE PRODUCTIONS
FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A GREAT EVENT.
Gospel
singer Fred Hammond really
knows how to put on a concert. We also had church at
the same time which was a blessing. I have to shoutout
my cousin Chuck Sanders
of Savoy Restaurant for bringing Fred Hammond to the
'Burgh. For those of you who attended, you know we had
a great time in the Lord. If you missed it, check out
the exclusive photos and video below.
CHRISTIAN
HIP-HOP ARTIST DEVOTES LIFE MUSIC TO GOD Written by Ashley G. Woodson For
the New Pittsburgh Courier
Melvin
Jones aka Mele Mel, the Poet Prophet, won a national contest
that featured the hottest gospel artists from across the
country. The contest is called Holy Culture
Radio and is the foundation of Christian hip-hop
music. It is the equivalent of Source Magazine for secular
music. Jones
heard about the contest called the “Break Out.”
They were searching for the next Christian hip-hop star
with potential to break out and do big things. A lot of
the details about the contest are promotional, but they
also give you a distribution deal. The person who entered
a particular song will get to distribute that song through
a promotional company.
BROTHA
ASH PRODUCTIONS FEATURED
ARTIST
ERIC BLACKWELL AND FAITHFUL
APRIL
2008
Eric
Blackwell is saved by his belief in Jesus Christ
as his personal Lord & savior and has spent over five
years as the Minister of Music at Second Baptist Church
of Penn Hills under Pastor Mac Gray. He spent several
years developing his directing skills as Youth Choir director
at Deliverance Baptist Church and also as backup organist
and drummer. The scriptures have developed a passion in
him to try and meet the spiritual needs of the communities
that surround him. Eric has spearheaded this effort
to impact the area by organizing a benefit concert for
Sickle Cell in May 2005, participating in several outreach
services, Founding Faithful Ministries, and encouraging
people to Christ through his gift of music ministry.
He has been playing drums for over twenty years and has
been playing keyboards in Music Ministry for over ten
years. He is currently working on his first gospel
recording project with his group Eric
Blackwell & Faithful.
READ
MORE ABOUT ERIC BLACKWELL
& FAITHFUL RIGHT
HERE
THE
GOSPEL REMIX
REACHING
THE HIP HOP GENERATION
by Ralph C. Watkins
Sagging
pants, blaring car stereos and nonchalant attitudes are
just a few stereotypes of the hip hop generation. In
reality, it's a world filled with eclectic language, colorful
characters and misguided energy. With such harsh criticism
coming from the African American church, many hip-hoppers
have sought out separate vehicles of spirituality. The
gap is growing farther apart every moment, and question
now becomes, what are Christians prepared to do to win
these souls?
The
Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation
(Judson Press) is an in-depth look into the mind of a
hip-hopper. This book is the answer to all ministries
that seek to understand and help young people in this
chaotic era. The
Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation (0-8170-1507-8)
is available for $14.00, www.judsonpress.com.
To
schedule an interview with any of the co-authors, contact
Pam Perry 248-426-2300.
Meet
the Authors: Ralph C. Watkins, DMin, PhD, Jason
A. Barr Jr., Jamal-Harrison Byrant, PhD, William H. Curtis,
DMin, and Otis Moss III
BASKING
IN HIS PRESENCE
by Author Victoria Lynndale Pratt
Combines
the power of God's wisdom and inspirational truths to
encourage us to reach for God's highest good, and challenges
us to go to the deep depths within to find the place of
true everlasting faith, and love, basking in His Presence.
Available online at Dpg.imagine.comLlumina.com, Amazon.com,
BN.com, (Barnes &
Noble Online) and other Online Booksellers
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: Victoria Lynndale Pratt is the mother
of four daughters and one son; Theresa, Michelle, Nakiah,
Jhenea, and Raymond. She lives with her three youngest
daughters in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. Victoria is a born-again
Christian, who loves God immeasurably. She lives to
do His will, to be love in the earth....read
more here in our "Books and
Poetry Section".
Have a
Book or Poetry
you would like to submit to BAP?
Please send info to readings@BrothaAshProductions.co
CALLED
TO RELATIONSHIP
Music review by Ashley G. Woodson
Pastor
William H. Curtis does it again with this powerful and
uplifting CD. This is the perfect gospel CD for your
music collection. The first single "Just Praise"
featuring gospel artist Anita Levels is a song of praise
that inspires you to always put Jesus first by lifting
his name on high. Reverend Curtis takes you to church
as he brings you in and out of songs throughout the whole
CD. There is definitely alot of teaching from Rev. Curtis'
interludes as you get to enjoy the best that gospel has
to offer. My favorites are the slower gospel songs "You
Can Count On It", with lead vocals by Anthony "Pops"
Mitchell and "Forever" with lead vocals from
Trini Massie. The surprise song for me was the reggae
mid-tempo song with Curtis Lewis Jr. This song is fantastic
and different from what you are used to hearing from a
gospel artist. Producer Dwayne Fulton did his thing
throughout the CD. He is and has always been one of
the best producers in the city of Pittsburgh. By the time
you are finished listening to the CD, you will definitely
have a better understanding of praise and worship for
the Lord.
The
"FREE @ LAST " Addiction & Recovery Ministry
was birthed in the Summer of 2002 at Macedonia Church
in the Hill District of Pittsburgh through a vision Pastor
Velva Jean Tucker & Carol Bibbens shared with Pastor
Jason A. Barr, Jr. The desire to share experience,
strength and hope to a dying world of active drug and
alcohol addiction that God is truly able to deliver you
back to wholeness through the saving grace of Jesus Christ,
was received, accepted and embraced by Pastor Barr.....read
more
For
more information call Carol Bibbens at (412) 537-4215
Jireh
Fashions is
a Holy Hop-Hop clothing line located in Pittsburgh,
PA. We carry a variety of Christian clothing from T-Shirts
to hard to find denim jeans & shorts. Jireh Fashions
was conceived in 1996 by Curtis and Cassandra Brown. God
placed Christian clothing on our hearts to not only provide
a way to minister but to provide God's people with a line
of clothing that is not only fashionable and inexpensive
but with a powerful message. Why walk around wearing clothing
made from someone who lives for this world, who's lifestyle
is not one that represents Christ? Everytime we wear clothing
from these type of designers we are in essence saying
we believe in them and what they do. We are in agreement
with the lifestyle they live.
Spread
The Message With Holy Hip Hop Ringtones!
Exclusive, Real Music Ringtones From
JirehMobile
ALL
NATIONS DANCE PRESENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT FREEDOM
ALL
NATIONS DANCE, a ministry of Judah
Ministries will be kicking off a women’s Friday
Night Freedom Dance Workshop! The Workshop will be
conducted every
1st and 3rd Friday Evening from 7:00 - 9:00pm
in various Churches in the surrounding Pittsburgh area.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FREE TO THE
PUBLIC.
Maximillion
Elliott-Quinerly of All Nations Dance will be facilitating
the Workshops. If your church or organization is interested
in hosting a Dance Workshop, contact
us today!
FOR
INFORMATION & LARGER
VERSION OF THE FLYER CLICK
HERE
EXCLUSIVE
BAP
PHOTOS 
Eric
Blackwell is saved by his belief in Jesus Christ
as his personal Lord & savior and has spent over five
years as the Minister of Music at Second Baptist Church
of Penn Hills under Pastor Mac Gray. He spent several
years developing his directing skills as Youth Choir director
at Deliverance Baptist Church and also as backup organist
and drummer. The scriptures have developed a passion in
him to try and meet the spiritual needs of the communities
that surround him. Eric has spearheaded this effort
to impact the area by organizing a benefit concert for
Sickle Cell in May 2005, participating in several outreach
services, Founding Faithful Ministries, and encouraging
people to Christ through his gift of music ministry.
He has been playing drums for over twenty years and has
been playing keyboards in Music Ministry for over ten
years. He is currently working on his first gospel
recording project with his group Eric
Blackwell & Faithful.
Sagging
pants, blaring car stereos and nonchalant attitudes are
just a few stereotypes of the hip hop generation. In
reality, it's a world filled with eclectic language, colorful
characters and misguided energy. With such harsh criticism
coming from the African American church, many hip-hoppers
have sought out separate vehicles of spirituality. The
gap is growing farther apart every moment, and question
now becomes, what are Christians prepared to do to win
these souls? 
The
Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation
(Judson Press) is an in-depth look into the mind of a
hip-hopper. This book is the answer to all ministries
that seek to understand and help young people in this
chaotic era. The
Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop Generation (0-8170-1507-8)
is available for $14.00, 
FOR
COMPLETE DETAILS & CONTEST
INFO 
Combines
the power of God's wisdom and inspirational truths to
encourage us to reach for God's highest good, and challenges
us to go to the deep depths within to find the place of
true everlasting faith, and love, basking in His Presence.
Available online at 
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: Victoria Lynndale Pratt is the mother
of four daughters and one son; Theresa, Michelle, Nakiah,
Jhenea, and Raymond. She lives with her three youngest
daughters in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. Victoria is a born-again
Christian, who loves God immeasurably. She lives to
do His will, to be love in the earth....
ALL
NATIONS DANCE, a ministry of 
Maximillion
Elliott-Quinerly of All Nations Dance will be facilitating
the Workshops. If your church or organization is interested
in hosting a Dance Workshop, 
