In the News ... "Abilene church history sought during Black History Month"

• Photos/documents/artifacts for special event, this week

By Loretta Fulton, Reporter
• Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - The Rev. R.F. Bonner, seated and looking straight into the camera lens, obviously is the man in charge.

A boy hands him books as deacons and another pastor stand in the background, dressed in their Sunday best for the photo shoot.The photo was taken in the 1940s outside New Light Baptist Church, which today, as in the ‘40s, is a predominantly black congregation.

It is the only photo of its type on display at Curtis House Cultural Center, a former funeral home transformed into a place to honor black Abilenians who have contributed to the city’s history. Andrew Penns, director of the center and a pastor himself, would like to see more photos, documents and artifacts from early black congregations in Abilene because of the role the church historically has played in the lives of black Americans ...

• read the rest of this ARN report ...