Walla Walla University has been celebrating Black History Month every year since 1992. This year, during the first weekend in February, the main events will include a special church service with guest speaker Hyveth Williams, professor of homiletics at Andrews University, as well as a mass gospel choir from throughout the Pacific Northwest. On Sabbath afternoon, a Festival of Choirs concert will feature the Portland Adventist Academy Gospel Choir.

Williams served as pastor at the Campus Hill Church in Loma Linda, California, for 13 years. She is the first female pastor and the first black female pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She has a bachelor of arts degree in theology from Columbia Union College, a master of divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Boston University School of Theology. Williams is the author of four books: “Will I Ever Learn?: One Woman’s Life of Miracles and Ministry,” “Anticipation: Waiting on Tiptoes for the Lord,” “Secrets of a Happy Heart: A Fresh Look at the Sermon on the Mount,” and “The Celt & the Christ: Another Look at the Letter to the Galatians.” Walla Walla University is pleased to welcome her to our campus for the weekend.

“America is rich with a diversity of cultures, and black history celebrates a colorful dimension of our rich culture,” said Pedrito Maynard-Reid, WWU professor of biblical studies and missiology, and assistant to the president for diversity.

Weekend events:

Thursday, Feb. 1
African American Dinner and Open Mic
6 p.m., Kellogg Hall, 32 S.E. Ash St., College Place

Friday, Feb. 2
Vespers | Black Student Christian Forum
8 p.m., University Church

Sabbath, Feb. 3
First Serve | Speaker: Hyveth Williams
9:30 a.m., University Church

Sabbath School | Speaker: Gerald Craigg
10:40 a.m., University Church, Heubach Chapel

Second Service | Speaker: Hyveth Williams
11:45 a.m., University Church

Festival of Choirs Concert | Portland Adventist Academy Gospel Choir
4 p.m., University Church

The University Church is located at 212 S.W. Fourth St., College Place, Wash.

Posted Jan. 31, 2018