By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF MT. AIRY COGIC IN PHILADELPHIA, PA
Sunday July 7, 2024 was an auspicious day in Philadelphia – especially for some 600+ members of the Mr. Airy Church of God in Christ who had a surprise visit from none other than President Joe Biden.
President Joe Biden make surprise visit to Mt Airy Church of God In Christ Church - 07/07/2024
Seated next to Church Founder Bishop Ernest Morris on their 58th Anniversary
I sat in the audience to get a better sense of the congregation's reaction - and they were both excited and reverent. Some felt it was too good to be true. Others said it had to do with the mystical numbers of the 7th day of the 7th month. Still others felt the President and his staff were aware of their involvement in, and support of, expanding the Black vote in Philadelphia. Even people in the community were caught off guard by his visit, and incredulous that he was really in their neighborhood, they nevertheless were totally pleased and honored to host him.
NOTE: NO ONE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENTLY HELD DEBATE - THEY WERE ALL THERE FOR ONE REASON - TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN!
On hand to welcome the President were The Hon. Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia's 100th mayor, State Senator Sharif Street, US Senator Bob Casey, City Council member Cindy Bass, and Bishop Morris, the church's founder. As he entered the sanctuary, the congregation stood and cheers went up to chants of “Four more years!” “Four More Years!”
SPOILER ALERT! I AM ALSO A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS - SO I WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE YOU GET A LOT MORE DETAIL OF HIS VISIT THAN YOU NORMALLY GET ON THE MEANSTREAM MEDIA!!! SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR "JOE BASHING" YOU'RE IN THE WRONG PLACE - IJS!
That said, I would be doing you an extreme disservice if I did not give you the fullness of Servant Minister Felton's remarks! Food for thought during an era of acrimony and hostility leveled against President Biden by a predominantly rightwingnut meanstream media, who spend more time trying to undermine him, and distort his message, than to tell America the truth and give credit where credit is due.
BTW: Kudos to Mt. Airy and their leadership for such a dynamic service! (GDW)
Senior Pastor and Servant Leader Louis Felton presided over the services, which, coincidentally, was the church's 58th anniversary. It was founded by Bishop Ernest Morris, who, seated next to President Biden, is now an active 91 years old. Per minister Felton, “You have an Octogenerian next to a Nanogenerian! In Bishop Morris' eyes, President Biden was no more than a young whippersnapper!”
He continued, "We have come together today because America needs to see some LOVE for a change, stated the Minister. I believe that's why God is in charge of everything! He interfered with the President's schedule! He was previously scheduled to speak at a conference today. God knew that President Biden needed some LOVE. And we wanted you to know that we love you President Biden! You are not only among friends, you're among family! You are here because we love you! We love you President Biden!! He is the manifestation of that love.”
Though there is a Constitutional issue about the separation of church and state according to the Minister, “While we are firm believers in the separation of church and state, and we're separated, but we're not divorced! And since we are not divorced, we still have visitation rights. The President has a right to be here!”
We did not come here to beat upon you; to put you down, or to expose you to criticism. The President has a right to be here! He needs to be here today because nine months ago today there was a terrorist attack against Israel – where 1200 innocent people were killed. Many of them their bodies paraded in the streets! Women were raped and abused; hostages are still being held. We want the world to know that we stand with our president as he seeks to negotiate peace in Israel. We need to pray for them that are under conflict. We need to be here because the Bible says pray for them that are in authority.
THIS PRESIDENT DOESN'T SELL BIBLES – HE ACTUALLY READS THEM! stated Rev. Felton emphatically, to wild applause. “That is why I need to submit to you today that we must challenge the so called notion that there are individuals on the conservative wing of the political spectrum who are 'right.' We need to change that, because you can't be 'right' and kill police officers on January 6th - You are not right, you are dead wrong.
Our president is a man of love and compassion. Even on the eve of his taking the oath of office, he had a vigil to remember over one million people in America who died because of the pandemic! It is this man who brought us back to health! It is this man who got the innoculations, taught us to wear masks, had us keep safe distances, provided for salaries for those who lost their jobs during the business closings; it is this man who helped businesses maintain incomes and salaries!
DON'T GET AMNESIA AND FORGET THAT IT WAS THIS MAN THAT TOOK AN ECONOMY THAT WAS ON THE ROAD TO RUIN AND BROUGHT US BACK TO PROSPERITY, WAS WITH US THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES
We respect you President Biden; we thank you President Biden – we encourage you to keep up the good work! Great Britain just held elections for a new prime minister. Elections are being held in France. California is burning, Texas is being soaked with hurricaine Beryl! We are responsible for the world, the freedome of the world, to lead the world. Our President is a man of vision and integrity. And so, since our president is right, let us correct the notion that a few days ago, during a debate, he was accused of never having fired anyone. LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THE ELECTION OF 2020 WAS NOT STOLEN. It was fair and free! If the election had been stolen, as court cases were presented before Republican judges, even to the Supreme Court, the outcome would be surely different. But every court said BIDEN WON, and there was no significant fraud in the election. Though they did call Atlanta's governor and told the to find him 11,000 votes!
Let's understand something: I don't know why it is that you want to make an issue of the president and his condition of stammering and not be able, at certain times, to bring forth words - while another person (a/k/a T-rump) lies fluently:
You hear this other person say Charlottesville never happened! IT DID HAPPEN -
He said January 6 (2021) never happened IT DID HAPPEN! WE SAW IT!
You are not the party of laws. We (Democrats) are the party of laws – and in this instance, and so many more, we are clearly “right!”
We are the party of laws! We are the party of hope! We are the party of reconciliation!
We have genuine love for everybody.
So, my Brothers and Sisters, the Lord brought the President here on this Anniversary! The Lord brought our president here on this anniversary of our founding.
You know us – we've been here for centuries.
We declare a rebirthing in America – in the City of Philadelphia. The birthplace of democracy. We are born again now. LET US BE BORN AGAIN!! God loves America! I love America!
I know the media is saying that President Biden is visiting a BLACK Church. There is nothing wrong with our program. They cannot get past our 1% melanin; of skin color – so today we do not apologize for being BLACK. We do not apologize for Kamala Harris.
NEVER COUNT JOSEPH OUT!!
There was a man in the Bible by the name of Joseph. He was the favorite of his father Jacob. He gave his son a coat of many colors. But, because of jealousy – and that's what's going on Mr, President – they're jealous of you! Today he declared a revival in America. There is a renaissance right here in the City of Philadelphia – where America was born. Now it's being born again! It's love come back to America – freedom and justice coming back to America.
CAN WE DO IT??!!
YES WE CAN! – the crowd responded enthusiastically!
GOD loves America, and I love America!
So I know what the media says, President Biden, about our Black Church in Philadelphia! But we don't apologize for being Black. For clapping our hands. We don't apologize our love for one another!
NEVER COUNT JOE OUT! People are jealous of your sticktooitiveness; jealous of your favor; jealous of GOD's hand on your life! You've been through trouble before – you've lost a wife and children! But God has never left you alone!
DON'T YOU EVER COUNT JOE OUT! Even when Joseph is in the pit, don't count him out! Sold him into Potifer's house where he was accused by his wife and went to jail. But God didn't forget about him in jail. God gave him an interpretation called the Pharoah's dream. But the Pharoah didn't know that God gave him the dream just so he could get Joseph out of jail. God knows how to bring things together!
The President has a dream of keeping America safe for four more years! A dream of keeping your mothers safe, of reducing hatred, and keeping us safe!
I remember a bumper sticker on a senior citizen car that said, “I may be slow, but I'm in front of you!” The audience stood up and chanted four more years!!
Go Joe! Four more years!!
And as President Biden was invited to the stage amidst the shouts of FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! President Joe Biden approached the podium.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: "Thanks you so much! Now, sit down! I got my start in public life as a public defender – and I would go to 7:30AM mass, and then I would show up at Rev. Stevens – now Bishop Stevens AME Church in Wilmington.
Thank you to this incredible congregation. I've always felt the power of our faith in good times and tough times. The pact is, as the scripture says, “Al things work together for good; and it's all according to His purpose.” My purpose is to serve others. That's our purpose for others to be treated with dignity and respect. You know that faith without works is dead. We're all called to be doers of the word and this means keeping our eyes on the Northstar!
The very idea in America that we are all created equal – that means God means you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
We never have lived up to that level, but we've never fully walked away from it either. And that's because of you, and generations before you – men and women who went from slavery to freedom. Always praying, always believing. My life – and as your president – I tried to walk my faith.
Got us through a pandemic that claimed over a million lives, and left eight million people with an empty chair at dinner.
To ensure that the economy has the lowest Black unemployment in history. We are working to ensure that Black Americans have the benefits of the economy, education, training so that you can follow your dreams, without the burden of student debt. And for those who want to erase your history, Kamala and I are going to make sure that Black history is American History. Before we do so, we have to make sure the rights are secure for all Black Americans.
I
know with every fibre of my being – and I mean that because I of 40
years old - but I'm not that old! The audience cracked up with laughter a this attempt of self deprecation.
All kidding aside, I've done this for a while - and I've never been more optimistic about America's future in my life! If we all stick together!
Many of you have learned there's no perfect life – but we can be a light of hope!
As President Biden returned to his seat, Bishop Felton stated:
"ALWAYS REMEMBER –WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN! AND WE THAT GOD THAT HE IS NOT A QUITTER!!" FOUR MORE YEARS!!!"
I want to pay high compliments to the Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ for standing with our President. I challenge our other churches - BLACK, WHITE, BAPTIST, AME, OR OTHERWISE - TO DO LIKEWISE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR CONGREGATION TO GET BEHIND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I also want to chastise the so called evangelical churches who have aligned themselves with a known felon, molester, liar, mendicant, who has disgraced the role of the presidency, deprived children of their parents, attempted to overthrow the government, desecrated the Bible you purport to represent stop supporting an individual whose actions could surely mean the destruction of our country - one you profess to love.
To us all, WE THE PEOPLE - THE VOTERS - WE cannot afford to sit idly by, on the fence, or turn a blind eye to the negative trajectory this country is being pushed into via the maga menials - While America is the leader of the free world, it is still our responsibility to save ourselves and look out for each other.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THIS FROM ME BEFORE, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND AND ENCOURAGE AND DEMAND THAT YOU VOTE BLUE - NO MATTER WHO - OUR PRESIDENT NEEDS TO BE RE-ELECTED, BUT WE ALSO NEED A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE!!! IF BIDEN DOESN'T WIN - IT'S OUR FAULT, NOT HIS!
There have been insipid statements thrown around over the past couple of weeks that President Biden doesn't have what it takes to win the upcoming election. How stupid. How disloyal it is on the part of the Democrats to try and discourage him from running and wining the 2024 election. And how embarrassing it must be for the rest of the world to see how easily intimidated they are at the slightest gaff.
Additionally, I wonder what the rest of our youth must be thinking when looking at seemingly intelligent people running around like Chicken Little instead of rallying around a world leader. They obviously forgot that they are not the voters, the people are. The people are the ones who have to make a determination. And, if they used all this time to shore up the President, and make sure he has their backing, and getting out there in the communities comparing his virtues and accomplishments to a liar, authoritarian, treacherous demented ersatz president (because we all know he was never elected) all this would have dissipated by now.
President Biden just completed a very successful week with NATO, where, as the leader of the free world, he laid out some very specific ways forward. Since when did actors have more information than the President - how many times did he make a gaff off camera before he got his role together - yet George Clooney thinks he has the insight into whether or not President Biden can continue to do the great job he's doing and will continue to do.
So, this is my message to America - President Joseph R. Biden IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PRESIDENTS WE'VE HAD IN MODERN TIMES! He is a great president who has accomplished much, and has much more to do - the PEOPLE - THE VOTERS - ARE THE FINAL ARBITERS OF HOW THIS TURNS OUT - DO YOUR EFFING JOB AND GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY VOTE AND RE-ELECT JOE BIDEN ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.
Between the meanstream mediocre media and individuals who have an opinion about everything and knowledge about very little, there are those of us who know that the best candidate is the one we have now - and that is President Joseph Biden.
Remember all you who are reading this that the final say is up to you to VOTE BLUE - NO MATTER WHO!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
