Published on January 20, 2020 by Kristen Padilla  
Cokiesha Bailey Robinson
Cokiesha Bailey Robinson

Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School will host its first annual African-American Ministry Emphasis Month in conjunction with Black History Month beginning Feb. 4. 

The emphasis will bring to campus African-American alumni and friends who are engaged in ministry to share with the Beeson and greater Samford- and Birmingham-community during chapel on Tuesdays and to meet with divinity students at special events being planned. 

“We are excited to inaugurate an annual African-American Ministry Emphasis Month in conjunction with Black History Month in February,” said Beeson Dean Douglas Sweeney. “Of course, we will feature African Americans at other times as well, but during February we’ll celebrate in a very special way what God is doing in and through black churches in America, especially those connected to Beeson and Samford.” 

The emphasis will include the following public events on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in Hodges Chapel: 

Feb. 4: Rev. Dr. Ronald Sterling, pastor of Saint John AME Church, Birmingham, and lecturer in Pastoral Studies and director of Student Services at Beeson Divinity

Feb. 18: Rev. Cokiesha Bailey Robinson, founder of Cross Spring Ministries, Dallas

Feb. 25: Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church, Chicago

Learn more about these events at beesondivinity.com/events.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The Wall Street Journal ranks Samford 1st nationally for student engagement and U.S. News & World Report ranks Samford 66th in the nation for best undergraduate teaching and 104th nationally for best value. Samford enrolls 5,683 students from 47 states and 19 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference, and ranks 3rd nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.