Community Activities

According to the will of God, the holy scriptures, the church constitution and benevolent guidelines, Allen Temple Baptist Church aims to provide assistance to the membership when in need and to the community where it is appropriate. The Benevolence Application can be completed online by clicking here . Once completed in full and submitted, a member of the Benevolence Ministry will be in touch with you.

We provide professional counseling and assessment services to the community at large. Counseling can have a spiritual or non-spiritual focus. Everyone who comes through our door is treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect. Appointments are available weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays. All services are confidential and on a sliding scale basis. What We Offer • Counseling for individuals of all ages, for couples, and for families • Referrals to Parenting, Anger Management, and Twelve-Step Groups • Referrals to other local resources • Psychological Testing/Assessment • Assistance in applying for Victims of Crime funds We Can Help With... • Relationship problems • Grief and loss • Financial stress • Recovery from trauma • Anxiety • Depression • Addictions • Health and wellness Who We Are Our clinical team utilizes best practices to work with individuals and families who are experiencing stressors in their lives. We use a holistic approach to treatment that recognizes the connections between physical, mental, and spiritual health. We also know the importance of collaborating with family members and other professionals. Our staff includes both licensed counselors and supervised interns. To learn more about our center and our staff members, please visit our website at www.allen-temple.org/bethsaida How To Contact Us By phone: Call (510) 544-8945 and leave us a confidential message. Let us know whether we can leave a detailed message for you if we don't reach you in person. We normally return calls within 24 hours. By email: Write to us at [email protected] and we will reply within 24 hours. Other Services Offered by Allen Temple Health and Social Services Ministry If specific number not listed, call 510-544-8945 Anger Management / Domestic Violence groups, "Celebrate Recovery" spiritually-based 12-step groups Parenting classes / groups Dr. Robert C. Scott Wellness Center AIDS Ministry, providing HIV & HepC testing and support, 510-544-3342 The Enrollment Hub, assistance in getting signed up for health insurance and benefits, 510-544-8975 Active Duty Military / Veterans Services, 510-544-3914

Allen Temple is honored to host three food distribution services: The Allen Temple Food Pantry, The Mercy Brown Bag Program & The Commmodities-Alameda County Program The Allen Temple Food Pantry provides basic food commodities such as rice, dry beans, pasta, cereal, macaroni and cheese, canned meat and fish, tomato sauce, cooking oil, fish, poultry, meats, and assorted breads as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. The Food Pantry distribution is held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 AM to 12 Noon at the J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Training Academy building; enter from the 86th Avenue side. You must bring identification. The Mercy Brown Bag Program provides many of the same food commodities as the Food Pantry for Alameda County seniors age 60 and up. Mercy Brown Bag requires a registration fee of $10 per year; you must provide proof of age, income and identification. Distribution is held in the J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Fellowship Hall on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Register by calling Krista at (510) 534-8540, ext. 369. The Commodities-Alameda County Program is supported by the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the USDA. This program provides basic food commodities such as canned goods, juices, rice, dry beans, pasta, meats (pork, beef and poultry) and assorted breads. The Commodities-Alameda County Program distribution is free to the public and is held on the fourth Monday of every month from 9:00 AM. to 12:00 PM. in the J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Fellowship Hall. Identification must be provided.

Global Ministries promotes Allen Temple Baptist Church’s awareness of and involvement with issues that concern people globally, and especially Africans and people of African descent. The Ministry provides opportunities for service and education, and for cultural, religious, and economic exchange. Global Ministries Website: https://www.atbc-globalministries.org "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 Our Activities: Global Ministries facilitates cultural, economic, and religious exchange, in part, by sponsoring sojourns globally, and particularly to the African continent. Global Ministries provides experiences that help participants affirm their personal connection to Africa as her sons and daughters. What We Believe: Our Pastor Emeritus, Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., often said, “just as those of Jewish heritage advocate on behalf of the State of Israel, and those of Irish heritage advocate on behalf of Ireland, and those of Italian heritage advocate on behalf of Italy, so we of African descent must advocate on behalf of African people worldwide.” We believe that the African American Church should heed Pan-Africanist calls for African economic cooperation, and Black historical and cultural awareness. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has said that one of the principles undergirding South African society is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu is an Nguni word that describes a particular African worldview in which people can only find fulfillment through interacting with other people. Thus, it represents a spirit of kinship across both race and creed that unites humankind to a common purpose. Bishop Tutu has said: " Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language…It is to say: 'My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours ”. People who embrace this principle are known for their generosity. We believe there are many ways that African people can help one another, and help people worldwide. In our modern western society, people think of themselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another. However, we have come to understand that we cannot live isolated from one another in this country or in the world. We believe that going on spiritual sojourns and sharing with others will cause a deeper expression of our humanity. Ultimately, what motivates us is our desire to answer God’s call to ‘do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. We will do our part to bring about global justice, to show love and compassion, and to eliminate human suffering. We will strive to remain humble remembering that God has called us to this work, and that it is God, who enables us to accomplish it.

The goal of the Health Education Ministry Committee is to increase the health, mental and spiritual well-being of the Allen Temple Church Family and East Oakland Community. This will be accomplished by emphasizing positive attitudes towards health, increasing knowledge of preventive health practices and providing biblically based tools that will assist in comprehensive self-care. The Health Education Ministry accomplishes its mission by providing programs in collaboration with community-based organizations, health care and social services agencies throughout the Bay Area. The objective of our Ministry is to educate and empower the community with positive health maintenance attitudes. Health Education Ministry Resources

• March 2023 - Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
• April 2023 - Stress Awareness Month

The Prayer Warriors Ministry (PWM) seeks to cover the vision, mission, ministries, leaders and members of Allen Temple Baptist Church in prayer. First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others), and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) The Prayer Warriors Ministry (PWM) seeks to cover the vision, mission, ministries, leaders, members, and our surrounding communities in prayer. The PMW also creates opportunities for ATBC Members to grow and develop in prayer through workshops, seminars, and other events. We always need more people to participate in this important work! Prayerfully consider being part of the Prayer Warriors Ministry if: You sense God calling you to deepen your prayer relationship with Him. You are willing to put the prayer needs of our church and community ahead of your own. You are open to learning how to lead intercessory prayer in a safe, vulnerable space within our ministry. You can devote consistent time each week to praying. You would like to help plan events and initiatives to help our community deepen our knowledge of prayer. To learn more or submit a prayer request contact the Prayer Warriors Ministry by email {field 13} or call {field 14}

The Public Ministry understands the socio-political impact of Jesus’ ministry, as stated in Isaiah 61. We are therefore called to be in this present world, what Jesus was in His, and that is always challenging the status quo. About Us Meets: 1st Tuesday Location: Zoom Meeting Leader: Dr. Allie Whitehurst Leader: {field 12} Mission Statement The mission of the Public Ministry is to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic, educational, and environmental equity through political action, seeking to promote Jesus’ ministry of justice to the least, left out and forgotten, and provide community leadership in the public sphere, inviting all to join us. Vision Statement The vision of the Public Ministry is to transform communities into mature, empowered decision-makers who, locally, nationally, and internationally practice Jesus’ ministry of justice so that Christ’s redemptive purpose can be accomplished in the world. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” - Micah 6:8 (NKJV) How to join Email {field 13} or call {field 14}

The Streets Disciples take their name from a song called, “Just A Moment” which was recorded by New York City hip-hop artist, Nas. The group has formed to offer support and aid to the victims of human trafficking. The ministry networks with other churches and social service agencies to provide legal services, housing assistance, advocacy and spiritual counseling to those in the need. The ministry also seeks to offer support to the parents and grandparents of commercially sexually exploited people. The Streets Disciples plan to offer educational services to at-risk youth. The Streets Disciples welcomes members who would like to participate in our fight to bring freedom and dignity to brothers and sisters trapped in the new American slave trade. Opportunities for service range from clerical work to street level evangelistic ministry. Not everyone is called to be a frontline soldier. If you can help with correspondence or help us prepare lunches for the folks whom we serve, we can use your help. We need new volunteers from 21 years old on with a special appeal to young women age 21-40. The Ministry is deeply grateful to our church family for your generous donations of toiletries and clothing; we are genuinely blessed by your giving. We are in need again, so of course, we come to you first. We need your physical presence! Please prayerfully consider volunteering with us as a social worker to partner with us in trying to better meet the needs of our marginalized sisters and brothers; The Closet (sorting, hanging and folding clothing donations - time can be arranged); technology support and teaching classes. For generations, the scourge of human trafficking has been synonymous with Oakland, California. The 1972, Blaxploitation film, “The Mack” introduced Oakland’s flesh trade to the world. The Hughes Brothers 1999 documentary, “American Pimp” merely served to update the city’s tragic problem. Human trafficking has quietly risen to become the second most prevalent criminal enterprise on the planet. Locally, both the pimps and the people that they exploit have become younger. Today, there are children, some as young as ten years old being sexually exploited on the streets of Oakland. We look forward to hearing from you! For more information on how you can join with the Streets Disciples to serve our community, please contact any member for more information: Sis. Mattie Johnson (Co-Leader), Deaconess Tonia Pugh (Co-Leader), Sis. Joyce Allen, Sis. Bennie Banks, Sis. Petrina Perteet, Rev. Dorothy Shanks, Sis. Judie Ware, Dr. Lani Wilson, or, contact the ministry via the Church Office at (510) 544-8910.

The Women’s Mission Society (WMS) provides opportunities for personal development, spiritual growth and commitment to missions, through worshipping, working and witnessing in all areas of life; the home, the community, the nation and the world. The Women’s Mission Society remains faithful to our church, while aligned with commitments to the American Baptist Women’s Ministries and to the Progressive Baptist National conventions and their components. The General Body of the WMS supports the scholarship funds of American Baptist Ministries of the West, Progressive National Baptist Convention and the Allen Temple Scholarship Fund. We supply Love Gifts in support of the American Baptist Women’s Missions (ABWM), the Blanket Fund and Least Coin Fund donations to Church Women United. We also contribute to the White Cross funds in support of global ministries. Our Circles Ministry provides support to our communities such as the AIDS Ministry, Project Pride, Allen Temple Arms, Garden and Manor, Alameda County Black Infants Program, Providence House, Casa Vincentia, Paradise adolescent home, visitation ministries, care packages to college students, A Safe Place – a shelter for battered women and many, many more. American Baptist Women's Ministries Executive Director: Rev. Gina Jacobs-Strain P.O. Box 851 Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 1 (601)768-2288 http://www.abwomensministries.org

The vision of the Prophetic Justice Ministry at Allen Temple is to expose and equip the members of Allen Temple Baptist Church around issues of Prophetic Justice – i.e. understanding that the witness of the church is rooted in equity and liberation for all of God’s creation, through legislation, social and direct action, and communal-faith based learning. The mission of the Prophetic Justice Ministry at Allen Temple is to offer practical, effective, and efficient practices that will lead to personal and communal social transformation, that speaks against and tears down social, environmental, and economic injustices. Firstly, within our own communities, then nationally and overall, globally. We understand that evangelizing is both a spiritual and physical manifestation and through prophetic justice, we want people to know that we are concerned about their humanity as well as their spirituality.