GRITGRINDGRIZZ: Did I just witness the last home Grizzlies game of the season? Sports, Page 12
Anyone can have great soil to grow in – if you follow a few simple principles. Lifestyle & Culture, Page 6
March 12 - 18, 2020
VOL. 69, No. 11
COMMENTARY
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Churches adjust amid COVID-19 concerns by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
During a tour of Pursuit of God’s new campus in Frayser, Pastor Rickey Floyd discovered a puppet theatre in the children’s church area. (Photos: Lee Eric Smith)
Feeling the Love at Pursuit of God’s new Frayser campus Pastor Rickey Floyd: ‘It’s like we moved from an aquarium to an ocean’
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
While precautions are being taken in local church bodies and denominational organizations, the spiritual community largely is choosing to continue assembling in corporate worship. At least that was the case Wednesday night as The New Tri-State Defender went to press amid multiple cancellations of events and gatherings in myriad parts of the city,
state, country and world. “We must continue to assemble,” said CME Presiding Bishop Henry M. Williamson. “We will come together and pray for God to heal and deliver, just as we did for small pox, measles and every other communicable disease. “We encourage our people to following the recommendations of the experts. Wash hands often and thoroughly, and seek medical professionals if they suffer any symptoms.
SEE VIRUS ON PAGE 11
by Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com
Last Sunday was not my first time attending service at Pursuit of God in Frayser. Nor was it my first time attending services at 3759 N. Watkins, the former Bellevue Baptist Church. The few times I went to Bellvue-Frayser, the crowds were sparse and on a couple of occasions, I remember viewing a feed of the service at the main Bellevue campus. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose – but I do distinctly remember feeling, “If I’m gonna watch a pastor on TV, I could do that at home.” Just being real. Contrast to Pursuit of God Transformation Center, affectionately known in Frayser as POG. In my visits there, I was always struck not just by Floyd’s real-talk ministerial style, or the emotional performances of the choir. What struck me most were some of the people who came: single moms, ex-felons, the poor, the recovering addicts – basically what Jesus called “the least of these.” There are many ministries that preach about serving “the least of these.” Some of them even
“Sometimes, I’m asked if we ever could have imagined this. And you know what our answer is? Yes,” said Sheila Floyd. “It was always in our heart. I mean don’t get me wrong, there’s no pride at all. We’re overjoyed, but yes, we imagined it. We dare to believe that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all else.” have outreach programs to feed or clothe them – but for whatever reasons, you seldom see “the
SEE POG ON PAGE 2
A growing issue: grooming standards for police
by John Semien
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
In a struggle to remain competitive, a growing number of police departments are relaxing grooming standards to allow officers to wear beards and tattoos, staples of the millennial generation and younger people. In a recent telephone interview with The New Tri-State Defender, Memphis Police Association President Mike Williams said his organization for two years has pushed for relaxed grooming standards as a
good recruitment tool. The issue recently was discussed during a Memphis City Council Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting. Councilman Martavius Jones and others discussed whether Memphis is not passing over potential recruits because they are not clean-shaven, have tattoos or Afro-centric hairstyles. The MPA’s Williams said, “A lot of departments are going to it (relaxing grooming standards) because it’s a sign of the times. We (recently) stated to the command staff that they need to get in compliance with police
departments across the country (by relaxing standards).” Williams said relaxed standards would broaden the pool of potential recruits and help the department retain officers. “There is a major push to recruit individuals and a lot of these young people, they have beards, they have tattoos,” he said. A spokesman for the Memphis Police Department said the issue is under review by the command staff, including Police Director Michael Rallings.
SEE POLICE ON PAGE 3
Dr. Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department, conducted another in a series of community health briefings on Wednesday. Shelby County Schools Supt. Joris Ray (seated) also gave an updated account of precautions being taken to keep students and school staff safe. (Photo: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)
Memphis in May plans for ‘the show to go on’ amid concerns by Dena L. Owens
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Memphis in May International Festival officials said ‘the show will go on’ for 2020, despite nationwide coronavirus concerns. MIM events, including the famous Beale Street Music Festival, May 1-3 in Tom Lee Park, are planned as scheduled. Meanwhile, MIM officials will monitor changes in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Memphis/Shelby County, which was one at The New Tri-State Defender’s print deadline. “Local health officials report that the coronavirus threat is low in Memphis,” said Charles Ewing,
MIM 2020 board chair and president and founder of Ewing Moving & Storage. “Memphis in May is seven weeks away … a lot can change in that time. “We have well-planned, well-thought-out policies if there’s a threat to our constituents. Safety is number one, so we’ll exhaust all opportunities to secure their safety.” World Health Organization officials Wednesday, because the virus as spread to more than 100 countries, qualified it as a global pandemic. The first COVID-19 case in Memphis was identified this week. Actions were immediately taken to
SEE MIM ON PAGE 3
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