February 7, 2017

Hackettstown, N.J. February 7, 2017 – Reverend Jerry Michael Sanders will speak on the topic of “Social Justice” at 7 p.m. on February 27, 2017 at the George H. Whitney Chapel in the Edward W. Seay Administration Building at Centenary University. His talk will include music from the Silvertones, an a cappella group, with the invocation by Centenary Chaplain Reverend Don Gebhard and remarks by members of the President of Alpha Theta Psi Sorority. This event is free and open to the public, and was made possible through the efforts of the Centenary Alumni Association.

Reverend Jerry Michael Sanders is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. At present, he is Pastor of Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, New Jersey. He has held this position since December 1983. Prior to this, Reverend Sanders served as Pastor of the Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Lake Lure, North Carolina.

Pastor Sanders is a graduate of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree. He received the Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University School of Divinity in Durham, North Carolina. Pastor Sanders was awarded The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Benedict College, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Florida Memorial University and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

Pastor Sanders is a Life Member of the NAACP and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. He is also a member of American Baptist Churches, the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Summit Interfaith Clergy Association and the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention.

Pastor Sanders has led Fountain to be a strong supporter of mission. Over four hundred thousand dollars has been given to the United Negro College Fund. Fountain gave a grant of thirty thousand dollars to aid churches in Haiti.

Fountain has purchased a three hundred thousand dollar office building in Johannesburg, South Africa. The building was donated to the Baptist Convention of South Africa to serve as National Headquarters for the Convention. Fountain in 2006, made a two year commitment for a 1 million dollar donation to help with relief efforts in the Gulf Coast; this donation was realized in 2007.

Pastor Sanders is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the New Brunswick Theological Seminary where he led Fountain Baptist Church to make a $300,000 donation to the Seminary which is one of the largest ever given by an African American Church. He is former Moderator for the Middlesex Central Baptist Association and former President of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention.

“It is a pleasure to provide members from the community and beyond with opportunities such as these during Black History Month,” says Devon Vialva, Director of Educational Opportunity Program at Centenary University. “I hope many people from the Centenary community and beyond attend.”

For more information, please call (908) 852-1400, ext. 2253 or e-mail freemane@centenaryuniversity.edu.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey. The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.

 

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