Senior Pastor
New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ
Distinguished Journalist, Bankole Thompson will host a live town hall in Grand Rapids next week on police reform at the New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, one block away from the site of the April 4 killing of 26-year-old Black man, Patrick Lyoya by a White Grand Rapids police officer, Christopher Schurr.
The special two-hour broadcast will air on 910AM Super Station on Wednesday, May 11, 11am to 1pm from the New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, 1701 Kalamazoo Ave, SE Grand Rapids. The forum which is open to the public, will explore issues at the center of the demand for racial justice and constitutional and equitable policing in the wake of the gruesome death of George Floyd.
It’s only appropriate that this live town hall is hosted at the neighborhood church. It’s a fitting venue symbolic of the sacredness of justice for the holy Bible says in Amos 5:24 ”But let judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream”. On April 4, 2022 Grand Rapids Michigan, lake many other cities before her became a dry place for justice. It was on this day that Mr. Lyoya was gunned down by a Grand Rapids Police Officer. The New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, being just 1 block away from where the tragedy transpired is ground zero.
Reflecting on the event, Rev. Deidric Tupper said: ”Like most pastors, Mondays are my off days. I remember grabbing breakfast with my wife and stopping by the church on our way home. The police tape was out and the community was abuzz with shock, anger and fear. My wife pulled out her phone to see what had happened just before uttering those heart dropping words. “Honey I think there was a police shooting around the corner.” I’ve been forever changed because of it. We all are. That’s why this live broadcast town hall is so important.”
Rev. Deidric understands that Pastoring a community church goes far beyond a thought provoking and life changing message delivered across a pulpit on Sundays. It means wrapping one’s arms around a broken and hurting community experiencing a justice drought. It means asking hard questions of community leaders. It means standing against injustice anywhere, as it becomes a threat everywhere.
Bankole Thompson, the host is the immediate past editor of the Michigan Chronicle. He is the host of “Redline with Bankole Thompson,” Thursdays 11am-12noon on WDET- 101.9FM Detroit NPR Affiliate Station. The Eisenhower Foundation dubbed him “a courageous voice and an example of journalism for the public good.” The Detroit Jewish News called him “one of the most influential and independent African American voices.”
Rev. Deidric Tupper has epitomized what it means to give with his invaluable community work. 2 years ago, he hosted The 2020 Hope Christmas, a charity campaign geared at cushioning the harsh economic impact of Covid pandemic on children, on Saturday, December 19, 2020. In March this year, he hosted the NFTGives, a community wide philanthropic outreach where neighbors can come and shop for all sorts of new items and leave their money at home.
Media Contact
Company Name: New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ
Contact Person: Rev. Deidric I. Tupper
Email: Send Email
Phone: 6162456378
Address:1701 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
City: Grand Rapids
State: MI
Country: United States
Website: https://www.nftcogicgr.com