The Black Church Rises: Uplifting Communities of Color During the Pandemic
February 02, 2023
Reverend Dr. D. Gregory Ceres
During the coronavirus pandemic, places of worship had to rethink and retool how they connected with members outside of the physical building. As a result, Reverend Dr. D. Gregory Ceres, Pastor of Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina, worked diligently with other clergy members to teach their communities about relevant health issues as it relates to faith, and embrace the new role of the church.
Along with educating communities on health issues, local clergy members also provided vaccine and testing accessibility with free public health sponsored pop-up community health centers. Keeping communities of color safe, informed, and providing credible information are just some of the Black Church’s duties, that are essential on providing a safe space for holistic healing.