Norma Adams-Wade
Special Contributor for the Dallas News
Storms are forces of nature that often are destructive, terrifying and costly. Emotional storms in a person’s life can be equally damaging and traumatic.
Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, also known simply as The Park, is reaching out to help black men going through a societal upheaval that the church says could defile a new generation of young black men.
The free series “Brothers Standing Strong in the Storms” will present different male speakers at the Dallas church’s 10 a.m. service each Sunday in June, which the congregation celebrates as Men’s Month. The series addresses “storms” in the form of police brutality, gang violence, prison sentences, life after prison, and mental and physical health issues.
“We are reaching a state of emergency regarding the conditions of our men and the conditions that they find themselves in in our society,” Dr. Sheron Patterson, senior pastor at Hamilton Park UMC since last July, said in a prepared statement. “Someone must begin to unpack the problems and strategize the answers. We are that someone here at The Park.”
Dr. Patterson, who is also a popular author, journalist, community leader and cancer survivor-activist, said speakers will provide advice and strategies to help men cope and find way “to stand strong, no matter what the storm.” Church leaders will urge women to find ways to be supportive, she said. Following each morning service, females will leave and men only will stay to interact briefly with each speaker during a Men’s Chat.
The Rev. Christopher O’Riley, an associate pastor at Hamilton Park UMC, has helped coordinate the church’s Men’s Month activities.
Speakers during Hamilton Park United Methodist Church’s June series “Brothers Standing Strong in the Storms” will include (from left) former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Ellis; Robert Patterson, husband of the Rev. Sheron Patterson, senior pastor at Hamilton Park UMC; Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price; and Dr. Michael Waters, pastor at Joy Tabernacle AME Church in Dallas.
Speakers include:
June 3: Greg Ellis, a college All-American and former Dallas Cowboys defensive end. Ellis has since worked in film and theater, serving as executive producer of the film Carter High, about Carter High School’s highly troubled 1988 football season.
June 10: Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price will give his views on manhood, coping and surviving.
June 17: Dr. Michael Waters, educator, media and social commentator, author and pastor of Joy Tabernacle AME Church in Dallas. Waters is past recipient of Southern Methodist University’s Distinguished Alumni Emerging Leader Award.
June 24: Robert Patterson, a retired banker, husband of Dr. Patterson, and a member of United Methodist Men, a men’s ministry of the denomination. He will give his views on standing strong professionally and in faith service.
ABOUT TOWN: Orange is the color that will unite landmarks and the clothing of people taking part in National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Various buildings and art exhibits will display orange lighting. More than 350 events nationwide are scheduled as part of Wear Orange Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
Friends of Hadiya Pendleton chose the color orange to launch a national movement after the 15-year-old Chicago girl was fatally shot in the back while taking shelter from rain in a Chicago park in 2013.
In Dallas, a rally is planned on Saturday, June 2, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Oak Highlands Brewery, 10484 Brockwood Road.
To learn more, visit WearOrange.org or search for #WearOrange on Twitter.