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Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church building up Atlanta’s Black community

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Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church building up Atlanta’s Black community


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is known for being the first Black church in Atlanta.

But it doesn’t always get credit for its role in shaping the civil rights movement, Black education, social change, and even political influence.

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For over a century, Big Bethel has been lifting up Black voices when others tried to silence them.

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“There wasn’t a bigger Black-held facility in the city of Atlanta than this place. Us and Wheat Street were it for Black congregations meeting over a thousand people,” said Pastor John Foster.

For the past 11 years, Pastor Foster has been a testament to the true power of what ministry can do.

“We support a halfway house for men dealing with substance abuse two blocks away. Right behind us is this 180-unit affordable housing complex called Bethel Towers that gives subsidized housing to the community,” Pastor Foster said. “We have young people that work really diligently with the homeless.”

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The work didn’t start there. Turn the page back to the late 1700s and head north to Pennsylvania where former slave Richard Allen was forbidden from praying at St. George’s Church.

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Determined to worship, Allen formed the original Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. His voice eventually spread all the way to the south, leading to Atlanta’s first Methodist Episcopal Church — Bethel Tabernacle.

“During the 1960s, Big Bethel was one of the four pillars civil rights churches. It was on this strip here — Wheat Street, then Big Bethel, and then Ebenezer and Butler Street,” Pastor Foster said.

The church became the Black city hall for prominent civil rights leaders and politicians to meet.

In 1881, the church decided to establish a space for higher learning.

“Eventually we started having some classes held here at Big Bethel,” said Historian Ernest Tate. “There were other sites as well.”

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Born out of the basement of Big Bethel, it would be called Morris Brown College.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Morris Brown College graduate Charles Moore.

At 100 years old, Moore still remembers his time on campus after fighting in World War II. He majored in business and graduated with honors. He returned later to run business operations for the HBCU.

“I ended up staying there 15 years at Morris Brown. Could you imagine that?” Moore said.

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The walls of Big Bethel have borne witness to success stories like Brother Moore, offering a platform for Black folks to stand on.

“You have everything from the first NAACP conference in the south that was held at Big Bethel in 1920,” Tate said.

“This area just holds a great amount of pride and history about what God has done through the African-American community,” Pastor Foster said.



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Atlanta, GA

Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more

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Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more


The offseason continues to move on as the Braves stay quiet for now. Today was the flurry of first base movement, which fortunately didn’t impact the Braves, who have no opening at first base or designated hitter. It is hard not to get antsy watching players move all over the place in the offseason where the Braves opened up a bunch of money to do something but have yet to do anything of note. I do maintain that something (probably multiple things) of note will happen, but it is frustrating to see options dwindle and players move. All of that said, my preference coming into the offseason was signing Ha-Seong Kim, a viable starter, and a viable outfielder. I have begun to suspect that a trade is going to be the pathway to at least one of those holes and Kim is still out there. Time will tell and all we can do is try to remain patient. Plenty of time remains before Spring Training and the season begin.

Braves News

Demetrius reviewed Austin Riley’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season, that featured underperformance, quality production, and injury at various times.

Gaurav took a look at prospect Mitch Farris’ impressive 2024 season, as the 13th round pick of the Braves’ 2023 draft.

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MLB News

Baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 65.

Cleveland traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the D-Backs for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance round B pick.

The Guardians signed Carlos Santana, just after dumping a different first baseman in Naylor to Arizona.

Negotiations between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez do not appear to be moving and the Dodgers are reportedly looking into alternatives.

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The Yankees signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal worth $12.5 million to fill their hole at first base.



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Man shot, robbed in Atlanta on his way to work says he still has nightmares about it

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Man shot, robbed in Atlanta on his way to work says he still has nightmares about it


FOX 5 Atlanta heard from the man who was shot when robbers took his electric bike and backpack. It happened early Monday morning near Hiawassee Drive in Southwest Atlanta, and police say the suspects haven’t been caught.

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“I have nightmares and stuff like that. I can’t sleep,” Renard Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he is still trying to figure out how to move forward after he was shot and robbed while heading to work.

“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the car came up behind me just saying, ‘Stop. Give me everything you want,’” Sullivan explained.

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Just before 6 a.m. Monday morning, two masked men in a sedan approached Sullivan and took his electric bike and backpack, according to Atlanta police. Afterward, Sullivan said one of the men shot him in his leg.

“It’s like I looked down, and I got shot. Then, I called 911,” he explained.

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Sullivan said the route he took on Monday was a common way for him to get to work, and he doesn’t know who could be behind this.

“I don’t mess with nobody. I just go and do what I got to do. Work, you know what I’m saying? Do a little work out there at the gas station,” he said.

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Sullivan’s siblings said the electric bike was his main form of transportation. This was also not the first time something like this has happened to him. Sullivan said someone tried to take his e-bike from him a few months ago before his son intervened.

Atlanta police have not yet named any suspects nor have they announced arrests in Sullivan’s case. He said he wants the men who did this behind bars.

“Get them off the street, so they don’t do it to nobody else,” Sullivan said.

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Sullivan’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help him get back on his feet.

The Source: FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Kim Leoffler spoke to Renard Sullivan for this article which follows up on a previous FOX 5 Atlanta report.

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How to Watch Michael Penix Jr.’s First Start in Falcons vs. Giants

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How to Watch Michael Penix Jr.’s First Start in Falcons vs. Giants


The future is now for the Atlanta Falcons (7-7), who will start first-round rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants (2-12).

Atlanta benched veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on Tuesday evening, citing turnovers and decision making. So, in steps Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in April’s draft who’s played in two games — both blowout loss — and gone 3-for-5 passing for 38 yards. Cousins will be the team’s backup.

“We’ve been digging as much as we can in order to make things work and try to get things going,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday. “We wanted to play better at quarterback, and we felt like we got a chance to play a little bit better.

“And if we can go out there and play better at quarterback, who knows what can happen?”

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The Falcons are one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South lead with three games remaining, and Atlanta owns the tiebreaker. The Giants, meanwhile, are trudging through a dismal season and will be starting Drew Lock at quarterback with hopes of snapping a nine-game losing streak.

Here’s what to know before the Falcons face the Giants at 1 p.m. Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on FOX, with Kevin Kugler handling play-by-play duties alongside analyst Daryl Johnston. Laura Okmin will be the sideline reporter.

On the radio, Wes Durham and Dave Archer will have the call on 92.9TheGame.

The Falcons ruled out rookie receiver Casey Washington due to a concussion, marking the third consecutive game he’s missed. Receiver KhaDarel Hodge (ribs) and outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter (groin) are questionable.

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New York will be without three players: linebacker Patrick Johnson (knee), linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) and offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie (concussion). Cornerback Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) is doubtful and did not practice this week.

The Giants have players questionable, headlined by outside linebacker Brian Burns (ankle/neck), who didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday and was limited Friday. The other four are Deonte Banks (ribs), running back Tyrone Tracy (ankle) and a pair of week-long full participants in offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann (fibula) and inside linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle).

The Falcons are 8.5-point favorites and have a 63.4% chance of victory, according to ESPN, which puts the over/under at 42.5 points. Atlanta’s money line is set at -450.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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The Falcons lead the all-time series 14-12 and have won each of the past three meetings. Atlanta has won four of the last five games dating back to the 2012 regular season, a span that followed New York winning four consecutive contests from 2006 through the 2011 postseason.

The two teams last played in Week 3 of the 2021 season, during which the Falcons won 20-17 on a last-second field goal by kicker Younghoe Koo.



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