October 14, 2026

YOU ARE INVITED to check out our Anniversary Month digital magazine! It was created to provide a convenient and easy way to stay connected with the many activities, events, and celebrations taking place in our churches across the country during this special month. Feel free to share it with family, friends, and fellow members via email or text, or download it for future reference. You can also access the magazine anytime through our Linktree. As Anniversary Month unfolds, information may be updated and new details added. Be sure to check back often! We hope you enjoy the journey as we celebrate, reflect, and look toward the future together.

ONLINE EXPERIENCE

Taking Back What Is Ours

Pastor Aswad Walker

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

The Cardinal Aminifu Community Service Award recognizes and celebrates individuals whose dedication, commitment, and service reflect the mission

and values exhibited by Cardinal Aminifu Waganga (Dr. Woodrow Smith Jr.).

This recognition honors those who give generously of their time, talents, and energy to strengthen our church, uplift our communities, and advance

our sacred mission of self-determination.

A Note: The Cardinal Aminifu Service Award was observed differently across three locations. Detroit and Atlanta recognized individual honorees. Houston chose a collective expression of service instead of individual awards, inviting the entire congregation to participate in a Community Service Affirmation (see link below). Individual recipients will be recognized at the 50th Anniversary celebration of Shrine Houston in 2027. Although the presentations differ in format, each reflects a shared commitment to honoring service, strengthening community, and carrying our mission forward.

PHOTO GALLERY

NOTEWORTHY

Johnny Venus: The 11th Hour

For Johnny Venus, best known as one half of the Grammy nominated duo EARTHGANG, music is more than a form of artistic expression—it is an opportunity to celebrate his roots, honor the people who helped shape him, and create space for others to shine. By including voices and talents from his community in his solo album, he demonstrates the power of collective creativity and the importance of remembering where you come from.

His approach reflects a powerful principle: success is even more meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. Rather than allowing his musical journey to be his alone, Johnny Venus uses his platform to recognize the talent, experiences, and cultural richness of the community that helped shape his identity.

His debut solo album, The 11th Hour, released October 9, 2026, includes collabs with fellow artists such as 6LACK, Ink, Alissia, Asha Imuno, the Spillage Village collective, and members from his Shrine Atlanta church family singing background. These collaborations reflect the collective spirit that has been central to his musical journey.

There is an especially meaningful connection to the Shrines of the Black Madonna. Johnny Venus, born Olu Fann, grew up in the Atlanta Shrine, where his mother (Rev. Maia) and father, ancestor (Bishop Ahdwele) served as ministers, choir members, and leaders at Shrine #9. He credits his upbringing and Pan-African values with helping shape his creative freedom and artistic identity. Click Here or on the image below for the playlist.

CHECK REGISTRATION DEADLINES WHERE YOU LIVE

A NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

The webinar, “National State of Emergency: A Call to Action,” was held on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The event was organized in response to the feedback and discussion generated on social media following the Shrine's declaration of a National State of Emergency concerning the lynchings occurring across America.

Our objective was to move beyond the initial declaration and begin a meaningful conversation about the collective action required to develop a disciplined, coordinated national program focused on awareness, investigation, prevention, protection, healing, and institution-building. To initiate this conversation, we wanted to assemble a virtual panel of individuals who could offer insight, perspective, and direction on the critical issues before us. These efforts generated some encouraging responses. Notably, Dr. Greg Carr announced the webinar during his In Class with Carr morning program on SiriusXM radio, extending our reach to a broader audience.

The planning and promotional efforts were intended not simply to attract attendees to a single event, but to begin building the awareness, relationships, and momentum necessary to move this national call to action toward an organized and sustained effort.

The participants left the meeting with 3 action items:

1.   Download and Subscribe - https://www.grow4care.org/subscribe-to-g4c-and-download

2.   Download and Read - https://www.julianfreedom.org/press-releases/new-crimson-record-chronicles-over-70-recent-lynchings-in-deep-south-reveals-new-evidence-in-cases

3.   Organize an event in your community (home, family, friends, civic groups, etc.) to discuss the details of this first meeting.

A thank-you email was sent to all participants, along with a link to the webinar video.

Stay Tuned for the NEXT Steps and the NEXT Meeting

ALL ABOUT ALKEBULAN

Virtual Prayer Line

Nightly 8:00 PM CT | 9:00 PM ET

ZOOM ID: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88639534968 Passcode: 904167

Sunday Morning Health Corner is updated weekly and is an online Health Resource Center to educate and inform you about health issues and concerns related to African American men, women, and children. Sunday Morning is the ideal time to distribute health information and educate members and their families.

DETROIT | ATLANTA | HOUSTON | BEULAH LAND | LIBERIA | NIGERIA | BILA KUTA

Detroit - P.O. Box 2487, Detroit, MI 48202

Atlanta - 944 R.D. Abernathy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Houston - 5151 M.L.King Blvd. Houston, TX 77021

Virtual Office Phone: 833.833.0755