Arkansas church emboldens youth by teaching them Black history

HENSLEY, Ark. — Arkansas Stop the Violence held their annual Black history service on Sunday at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church to educate the local youth.

In the Black community, the church has played a significant role in providing hope and strength for centuries as well as the songs that are echoed amongst those in the congregation.

The Church of the Living God Youth Choir sang songs that brought everyone out of their seats and smiles to children’s faces.

Sunday’s service was intended to impact and encourage the youth.

“We just don’t want our kids to go backwards from where they are now. We intend for the future to go forward,” Church of the Living God Mother Temple Pastor Albert Pointer said.

Knowledge is an important influence for children.

Children learned and took part in Sunday’s Black history service, which presented Black history readings and included a selective praise dance.

“We need to be telling them about our history, our local history,” Historian Macy V. Butler said. 

Butler has been a part of many African American historical moments in the natural state. 

Butler is a member of Dignity, an organization that opened up doors for African American children and communities to thrive.

“We started the first youth prevention program, violence prevention programs in Little Rock. We started the first neighborhood service center. So now you got neighborhood service centers all over the city,” Butler said.

That work has carried on to organizations such as Arkansas Stop the Violence — opening doors to continue traditions and teaching children the importance of history for years to come.

“If you forget about the past, you don’t have a future. And we want our children to have a future. Our children are our future,” Pointer said.