Hi toric econd Sapti t
Church to celebrate
156th anniversary
DET OIT - The historic
Second Baptist Church of Detroit,
located at 441 Monroe, will celebrate
i 156 year of continuous ervice to
the community. The celebration will
begin with a pre-anniversary orship
service Sunday, March 8 at 10:30
a.m. The guest speaker ill be
Reverend Jnhn H. P yne, P tor of
Mount Vemon Baptist Church,
On Sunday, March 15, the guest
peaker for the morning orship will
be the Executive Director of the
Progressive National Baptist Con­
vention, Tyrone Pius of Washington
D.C. Mr. PiUS will peak at the An­
niversary Banquet immediately fol­
lowing worship service. The banquet
will be held at the Intern tiona!
Marketplace, 400 Monroe in Detroit,
Rev. James Cleveland
gave AIDS to 'Foster'
Son, Lawsuit Claims
A man who said he was a
foster child of the late Rev.
James Cleveland filed a multi­
million-dollar suit against the
Grammy-winning gospel
singer's estate, claiming the
minister sexually abused him
and infected him with the AIDS
virus.
According to the suit, during
the three years Christopher B.
Harris lived wi th Cleveland as
a foster child, the gospel singer
sodomized him about two times
a month and '�did not wear a
condom or �e any other type of
protection to prevent the trans­
mi ion of sexual disease."
The suit names Cleveland's
estate and he James Cleveland
Trust, set up to he help fund the
Cornerstone Institutional
Church and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. rounded by the
late minister.
A spokesman for Cleveland's estate could not be reached for
comment.
The D ath
Certificate
located In the
first volume of
Probate File 'No.
BP11054, liThe
Estate of James
Cleveland", lists
cause of death
as AIDS
-Atty. B. Cochran .
IN THE SUPERIOR Court lawsuit, the Los Angeles resident
claims that between 1985 and 1988, Cleveland "knew or should have
known that he was afflicted with AIDS."
"As a practicing homosexual, James Cleveland knew ... that un­
protected anal intercourse was the highest risk sexual activity in which
he could engage that could result in the transmission of the Hlv
virus/AIDS," according to the suit.
Harris, now 22, tested Hlv positive last April, according to the court
papers.
Attorney Bruce W. Cochran said his client, as a teen, began attend­
ing Cleveland's church "and went to Rev. Cleveland basically for
advice and counsel." '
Cochran said the minister "took it upon himself to have the (foster
home) placement made .... Regular procedures were not followed as far.
as licensing a foster home."
He said when Harris turned 18, he left Cleveland's home. "He
wasn't asked to stay," Cochran said.
CLEVEI..AND, who was known as the "King of Gospel," died Feb.
8, 1991, of what was reponed as congestive heart failure. He was 59.
At his peak, the gospel singer recorded music with Aretha Franklin
and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Since Cleveland's death, his e tate, estimated at S6 million, has
been contested by a man who claims to be the minister's adopted on.
Last October, Andre. M. Cleveland challenged the validi ty of a trust
agreement that had been authorized by the gopel singer's longtime
business manager shortly before his death.
Annette May Thomas, who had held power of attorney, authorized
the creation of a trust and named herself trustee the night before
Cleveland's death.
Andre M. Cleveland contends he is entitled to a share of his father's
fortune.
SEND US YOUR CHURCH EVENTS
RELIGION
Local C.O.G.I.C. Jurisdiction
to launch scholarship fund
Th orth t Michigan Juri -
dici ton of the Church of God in
Christ (COGIC) will ho t the first
annual Scholarship F ir on Saturday,
M reh 7th, 2 p.m. t th Cathedral
Conference Center, Ideated at 10325
East Jefferson Avenue.
Th Scholarship Fair' part of the
Juri diction's Schola hip/Mentor­
ship Program which eeks to provide
funding to caGlC tudents entering
two- or four-year accredited colleges
and universities. Furthermore, th
programs h a built in tutorial com­
ponent which help the student com­
pete for merit scholarship which
oftentimes provide funding for up to
four years.
The Scholarship Fair w con­
ceived by Derron Simon, a medical
student at Wayne State University
and Executive Director of the
Scholarship/Mentorship Program.
Under the direction of Bishop P .A.
Brooks, Simon has succeeded in
securing funding from churches
within the Jurisdiction.
According to Bishop Brooks.
many de erving students are denied
the opportunity to get an university
education because of limited resour­
ces and too little input by churches
ill equipped to m t th education
demand of the committee they
serve. In addition, the program
a built-in tutorial component en -
bling the tudent to compete for
academic cholarship providing
four year funding.
EVERAL EDUC TIONAL
ervices will have information
booths available for students to learn
more about acquiring cholarship
and how to appl y for them in a timely
manner. Also students will have an
opportunity to learn about many
obscure scholarship which are
. available to many tudents who
simply demonstrate a need or meet
basic criteria.
If you have any questions con­
cerning the Scholarship Fair, please
call Harold E. Sullivan at (313) 835-
5329 or (313) 861-9155. All mail
inquiries should be sent to New St.
Paul Tabernacle Church of God in
Christ" 15340 Southfield Drive,
Detroit, Michigan 48235.
Al 0, media kits and additional
information about program par­
ticipants will be made available to all
working press.
EYE ON GOSPEL
Hollywood Fashion '
Gospel Hours
W.C.H.B. 1200 AM -7:00 a.m. - 11 :00 a.m.
Every Sunday Morning
894-8774
298-6333
298-6334
298-6335
Rev. Wilmore Allen
Rev. A.J. Rogers
Joe Ella Likely
Catherine Robinson
Gloria Parker
Lorraine Walker
Bro. Dunkin
Henry Ruff Rd.
Inkster, Mich.
We want you
- Send the history of your church along
with photo (If possible).
- Send all church announcements and
information about activities.
- 'Send information about
accomplishments of members and church
groups.
Send to: Michigan Citizen, P.O. Box
03560, Highland Park, MI 48203 or
Call 869-0033.
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you work. And they will keep earning interest for up to 30 years. Make an investment in your future
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