More than 1,800 Sabbath-keepers filled the auditorium of the Oakland Mormon Temple on Oct. 14 and 15 to celebrate the 28th Annual African-American Convocation in Northern California.

Although the attendees’ initial reactions to using the temple were concern and confusion, their perspective changed as they began to fill the auditorium on Friday. Rather than worrying about the location, they focused more on the weekend’s motto of “It Is the Lord’s Battle.”

The location—the Oakland Mormon Temple—was chosen because it was the only available facility that could host the meetings both on Friday and Saturday, including separate services for the youth/young adults and a luncheon serving more than 1,500.

Throughout the meetings, one or two Mormon elders listened intently to the messages delivered from the podium. The elders gave smiles and nods of approval as the youth presented the evening program on Friday. On Sabbath, Virgil Childs, coordinator of the African-American Ministries at the Northern California Conference, personally thanked Richard Fince, the facilities director, for the hospitality of the Mormons.

“It’s a blessing to have you here this weekend,” said Fince. “We have been talking for a long time about opening our doors to the community. What a wonderful opportunity this has been for us. As I have listened to the presentations this weekend, I am convinced that we have more in common than we realize. I can truly say I’ve been enjoying everything.”

What was it that Fince considered the two denominations to have in common? Could it have been the music of the Mt. Rubidoux Choir from Rialto, Calif., or the contemporary drama of the prodigal son presented by the Youth Federation? Perhaps it was the message that Reginald Horton, associate pastor of Capitol City–Sacramento, gave of the four men who lowered their friend down to Jesus that touched on a common thread on friendship, prayer and getting into God’s presence.

Perhaps it was the presentation that Ganoune Diop, Ph.D., associate professor of Bible languages, exegesis and theology at Oakwood College, gave on the Sabbath? Walter Pearson spoke of two families of the Old Testament who were both privileged to live with the Ark of the Covenant. Pearson, speaker/director of Breath of Life Television Ministries, spoke with urgency about not taking one’s faith for granted.

Whatever it was that Fince found to be similar may remain a mystery. However, at the end of two days, the praise, thanksgiving, singing, spoken Word, worship and fellowship shared at the Mormon Temple and the invitation to use their facility again in the future was the beginning of a connection, a way to reach out to the Oakland community.