Forged By Fire

Black History Month speakers & events

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Andrews University invites the campus and community to participate in any or all of this year’s Black History Month celebration events. (See full events list below.) The special guest speaker for 2016 is Damian Chandler, senior pastor of Capitol City Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sacramento, California.

On Saturday, February 6, the Pioneer Memorial Church worship service will feature the J.N. Andrews Honors Program presenting “Songs of Freedom: 150 Years After the 13th Amendment,” a program of readings, poetry, Negro spirituals and the spoken word compiled under the direction of Monique Pittman, director of the Honors Program, and the student officers and members of the program. For those looking for the traditional African American worship service that has historically been a part of this Sabbath celebration, you are invited to join the New Life Fellowship worshiping at the Seminary Chapel as they do each Sabbath throughout the school year.  

Raised on the island of Barbados, Chandler’s ministry journey began in a small church housed in the basement of his home. With only nine members, the burden of the ministry fell equally on the shoulders of all, including Chandler, at the time a 16-year-old. That small church made a large impact on Chandler and stands as a turning point in his life and a foundation for his call to ministry.

Chandler attended Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he received a bachelor’s degree in theology. He then attained a Master of Divinity from the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.

In 2001 Chandler was appointed youth pastor of Emerald City Adventist Church in Seattle, Washington, where he founded Impact Youth Ministries, an urban youth ministry focused on developing teens with a contagious and fearless faith. Later he led both the Maranatha and Love of Life churches in Seattle before accepting a call to serve at his current location.

God has also used Chandler in the music area of worship; he has served as choir director, composer and worship leader, and has led Voices of Triumph in Huntsville and Deliverance Mass Choir at Andrews University.

Chandler will speak at Andrews University three times during Black History Month. For the full schedule of events, see below. All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, February 2

A Celebration of Black History

Jannel Monroe, Shenika McDonald, Jonathan Doram and Robert Bailey

11:30 a.m., Howard Performing Arts Center

Thursday, February 4

Black History Chapel

Damian Chandler, with Esther Battle leading “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

11:30 a.m., Pioneer Memorial Church

Friday, February 5

Lighthouse Vespers

Damian Chandler

7:30 p.m., Pioneer Memorial Church

Saturday, February 6

Worship Services

“Songs of Freedom” presented by the J.N. Andrews Honors Program

9 & 11:45 a.m., Pioneer Memorial Church

New Life Fellowship

Damian Chandler, “Overcomers, Pt. I”

11:45 a.m., Seminary Chapel

“Women: The Black Experience”

4 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall

Friday, February 12

Impact Vespers

“Forged by Fire I”

8:45 p.m., Burman Hall Chapel

Saturday, February 13

New Life Fellowship

“Overcomers, Pt. II”

11:45 a.m., Seminary Chapel

“Men: The Black Experience”

4 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall

Friday, February 19

Impact Vespers

“Forged by Fire II”

8:45 p.m., Burman Hall Chapel

Sabbath, February 20

New Life Fellowship

“Overcomers, Pt. III”

11:45 a.m., Seminary Chapel

“Black on Black Love”

4 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall

“Black Like Me: A Comedic Story Slam Event”

7 p.m. Howard Performing Arts Center Lobby

Friday, February 26

Impact Vespers

“Forged by Fire III”

8:45 p.m., Burman Hall Auditorium

Saturday, February 27

New Life Fellowship

“Overcomers, Pt. IV”

11:45 a.m. Seminary Chapel

Movie Night: “The Wiz”

7 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall