Some studies show college students often opt out of worship also come on Wednesday night for prayer and
church when they’re away from the imposed require- Bible study. It’s a requirement for all leaders in all our
ment at home. The Rev. Claveron Burston had some groups.”
thoughts on the subject, especially since 70 percent of He said they also have a thriving fine arts ministry
his congregation at Mt. Hattin Baptist Church is under including dance and full theatrical productions with the
30. “Young people are always looking for innova- assistance of Morgan State University and Mergenthaler
tion so it’s a challenge to hold their attention,” he said. Vocational High School.
“They’re constantly looking for something new and so I The choir at the East Baltimore church is well known.
have to be creative and keep their minds working all the They previously recorded a CD and just recently com-
time.” pleted a tour with New Kids on the Block.
With the country facing the advent of the first A little farther east, on Oliver Street, is Greater
African-American presidency, the young pastor says this Paradise Christian Center, under the pastorate of Elder
is just one instance in which he Shawn. Although he’s only 33, he’s
has to be intentional about mak- been a pastor for 10 years and,
ing connections between the past, before that, served as minister of
the present and the future, for fear music under his father’s pastorate.
some might miss the true import And so he understands the attrac-
of the election of former sena- tion music has for young people.
tor, now President-elect Barack Greater Paradise also has a fine arts
Obama. department with a full music staff
“So we teach the same basic – eight in the band – with a choir,
foundational principles our par- drama and mime ministries.
ents taught, but find more palat- All this easily captures the atten-
able ways of teaching and impart- tion of young people.
ing them,” Rev. Burston said. “We bring in two vanloads of
“Young people want immediate Morgan students every Sunday and
answers and results. They want it have really seen a good response,”
basic and simple – one plus one
Pastor Shawn and First Lady Althea Bell of Greater
he said, giving much of the credit
equals two. Every Sunday they Paradise Christian Center for the strength of their youth pro-
want to hear something different.” gram to Minister Brandon Harris,
His father, and former pastor of Mt. Hattin, Rev. who’s finishing the last year of a music degree at
Claveron Burston Sr., reminds him all the time that the Morgan State University.
new generation is more intelligent, quick, smart, witty “While we try to keep them busy because we under-
and conversant with technology through the Internet, but, stand the need for activity at that age, we also look to
“they lack the same strength as the elder’s generation.” present a relevant message they can identify with,” Elder
“So we try to be as outside the box as possible while Bell said. “But we make sure they’re not in church every
maintaining core values,” the young pastor said. day. People need to be home with their families.”
“The same people who come on Sunday morning for
A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers Trends 7
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