Youth day

JULY 23—Triedstone Baptist Church, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host their Annual Youth Day at 7 p.m. The evening will include praise, worship, mimes, gospel rap, singing and preaching. The guest preacher will be Rev. William Baker. He will also bring the message on July 25 at 11 a.m. For more information, call 412-271-3000 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Men’s breakfast

JULY 24—Macedonia Baptist Church, 2225 Bedford Ave., Hill District, will host a Men’s Breakfast at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to all men. For more information, call 412-281-8437.

Family and friends day

JULY 24—New Jerusalem Holiness Church, 111 Auburn St., Larimer, will host their Family and Friends Day Celebration from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The picnic will be in the church parking lot. On July 25 at 3:30 p.m. Pastor Keith Clark Sr. will be the guest speaker. For more information, call 412-441-9495.

Church anniversary

JULY 25—Second Baptist Church of Penn Hills, 49 Banfield St., Penn Hills, will host an 85th Church Anniversary Celebration at 10 a.m. There will also be a banquet following the service at 4 p.m. at Churchill Valley Country Club, 800 Beulah St., Churchill. For more information, call Pat Lawyer at 412-242-8044.

Vacation Bible school

JULY 26—New Zion Baptist Church, 1434 Juniata St., North Side, will host a Vacation Bible School from 6-8 p.m. The school will run through July 30. All are welcome to come and fellowship and be blessed. For more information, call 412-322-3838.

Celebration of praise

JULY 31—The Center for Organ Recovery and Education will host the Celebration of Praise Gospel Fest at 6 p.m. at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. The evening will feature master of ceremonies, Rev. Dr. Loran E. Mann, and Phillip Carter and the Sounds of Victory along with local gospel artists and choirs. This is a benefit for National Minority Donor Awareness Month. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 1-800-366-6777 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Back to school

explosion

AUG. 14—Unity Baptist Church, 1023 Talbot Ave., Braddock, will host its Annual “Back to School Explosion” at 2 p.m. The theme this year is “Unity in the Community.”  This event will feature some of the areas most talented vocalists, mime ministries, and gospel rappers in the area. Free hot dogs will be given out during the event. The event will take place at the Braddock Avenue and Library Street parking lot. Come out and support our youths as we lift up the name of Jesus. For more information, call 412-271-2667 or visit www.my­space.com/ubcyouth1023.

One of the great events of the summer is an evening of hot jazz, mingling, dining and silent auctions known as the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter Jazz­fest.

On June 19 there was no need to travel far to hear the smooth sounds of Rodney McBride, the Roger Humphries Jr. Quartet and a guest performance from one of their own sorors, K.J. Rose, out of New York City. Rose introduced the crowd to her debut album “All Heart, No Regrets.” Geri Abrams and Gail Jackson were event chairs and were happy to return to the popular Churchill Valley Country Club. Jazz singer and national co-chair of Arts & Letters for Delta Sigma Theta, Yolanda Rodgers Howsie, served as emcee.

ANOTHER SUCCESS—Event chairs Gail Jackson and Geri Abrams.

The mission of the evening was to raise funds for various Delta programs which includes Delta Academy which serves elementary and middle school girls with an emphasis on science, math and computer skills, self-esteem, character building and an exposure to various social venues.

Let me be the first to give a big Pittsburgh thank you to ReShonda Tate Billingsley, No. 1 best-selling author of “The Devil Is a Lie.” Bil­ling­sley selected Pittsburgh to launch her latest book, “Holy Rollers” (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books; $15).

“Holy Rollers” is a compelling tale of friendship, faith and going after what you want as three lifelong friends—Coco, Nita and Audra—give up their quest for pro athletes and get their chase on for preachers.

AUTHOR OF ‘HOLY ROLLERS’ WITH FANS—ReShonda Tate Billingsley with Laura Fuller and Charlotte Robinson at Joseph Beth Booksellers.

This is the 20th title for the author. Her first was self-published back in 2000 and was titled “My Brother’s Keeper.” She got her hustle on and sold 13,000 copies of her first book and in 2003 Simon and Schuster picked her up and re-released “My Brother’s Keeper.” As far as selling 13,000 copies it didn’t hurt that Billingsley disguised her voice and called bookstores looking for her own titles. Many of the stores thought, “Wow, a lot of people are asking for that book, we better get it in.” The book launch for “Holy Rollers” was a delight held at the new location of Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the SouthSide Works. The store has moved to the old Z Gallery location.

Establishing a relationship with current church members, growing the membership of the church and giving a voice to its youth members are just a few of the goals Rev. Crawford L. James, Jr. hopes to accomplish for Zion Baptist Church in McKeesport.

“I anticipate visiting every member of the church either in person at their homes or to be in contact with them on the phone by the end of July. Some of the people that have been away need the opportunity to come back to the church. My initial plan is to let people meet me personally and get to know me,” said Rev. James, 42.

RECEIVING CHURCH BIBLE—Presenting the church Bible to Rev. Crawford L. James, left, is Rev. Sylvester Holmes, associate minister of Zion Baptist Church.

As the newly installed pastor of the church, Rev. James will be able to do just that. His installation services were held during the week of June 10. Clergy from many of the Mon Valley’s churches turned out to support him.