Pastor Shep Crawford is launching The Apology Tour through a collective of 40 faith-based organizations looking to engage communities beginning Saturday, May 27.
The Apology Tour will begin with a press conference outside of Experience Christian Ministries in the heart of South Los Angeles at 326 E. 47th Place at 12 p.m.
“The Church is striving to strike a balance between having a church within the building and being the church within the community. The building serves as a gas station, but the ultimate destination is to create a healthy community,” said Crawford.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 28th, participating ministries from around California, including Compton, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Watts will engage with the community by walking out of their buildings and into the neighborhoods offering services tailored to the community’s needs like providing court support, local school engagement, gang intervention advocacy, healing spaces, community meetings, resources, and giveaways.
“The Apology Tour has my total approbation. I am sorry for failing to provide more wonderful alternatives for our community’s sons and daughters.” Bishop Noel Jones, senior pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California.
Services are available to the public. Those in the community are not required to be a member of any church or community organization to receive services.
“Every successful Black liberation movement has had spirituality at its core. The recommendation of Pastor Shep Crawford and other religious leaders to move the church into the streets is precisely the kind of infusion that we need to win in this justice struggle. Black Lives Matter – Los Angeles plans to be fully engaged partners.” Dr. Melina Abdullah – co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter Grassroots.
To further the engagement, LiveFreeCA personnel, volunteers from Experience Christian Ministries (ECM), community stakeholders, and engaged faith leaders will host post-monthly training sessions starting in June and lasting for one year. The training aims to achieve several objectives, including addressing othering and belonging, promoting seeker sensitivity, and fostering community development and cooperation.
Pastor Shep is a Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, and record producer best known for Whitney Houston’s “Same Script, Different Cast”, Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here”, Tamia’s “Stranger in My House”, Sisqó’s “Incomplete”, and Kelly Price “As We Lay”.
For more information about The Experience Christian Ministries and The Apology Tour, please visit www.theEcm.org.