Launching Las Vegas Abundant Life’s African-American History Month celebration, guest speaker Dr. Walter Arties presented The Anatomy of the Spiritual.

“One of the few things slave owners allowed their slaves, to do,” he stated, “was to have church. Little did they know that those gatherings were the hub of slave communication. Elderly speakers would rejoice in the knowledge that justice would not sleep forever and there would be deliverance. From that heritage, and the prayers of a people, the spiritual is now a song for all.” The presentation was interspersed with music by Arties and pianist/vocalist Myrna Matthews-Haynes.

Featured each week during Sabbath school was Black History in Adventist History. Throughout February, the celebration was accentuated by the wearing of African-inspired clothing and feasting on Haitian, Jamaican and American vegetarian soul food lunches. The celebration wrapped up with a unity banquet at the Alexis Park Resort and a Black History Museum displaying heirloom photos, art, quilts, books, clothing, sculptures, machinery and appliances belonging to members, some dating back to the late 1800s.

Additional guest speakers during the month included former Pastor William Penick, Dr. Melvyn Warren and Pastor David Richardson.