Black History Celebration Set for February 4

Cleveland, TN–Church of God African Descent Ministries & Education (ADMECOG.ORG), in collaboration with the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) Center for African Descent Studies (CADS), has announced this year’s Black History celebration set for Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Dr. Ken Hill, director of African Descent Ministries and Education for the Church of God said, “In 1994, the Church of God Executive Committee officially established February as a time to celebrate the rich history and enduring contributions of leaders of African Descent, dating back to the ministry of Bishop Edmond (Bahamas) and Evangelist Rebecca Barr of Florida in 1909.”

The celebration will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the PTS Chapel, located at 900 Walker Street NE, Cleveland, TN, followed by a luncheon in the PTS Curtsinger Ministry Center, Knight Hall Room. The evening worship service will be held at North Cleveland Church of God Dixon Chapel, located at 335 11th Street in Cleveland, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday morning chapel speaker will be Dr. Tamika Ledbetter, an ordained minister in the Church of God. Dr. Ledbetter and her husband, Bishop Fred Ledbetter, pastor Mat-Su Christian Center Church of God in Wasilla, Alaska. She also serves as President of the Church of God Western Pentecostal Regional Fellowship. Additionally, Dr. Ledbetter is employed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) as the Regional Administrator (Senior Executive Service) for Region 6, San Francisco, where she provides leadership and administrative oversight on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of Labor to 13 Western states and the U.S. Pacific territories.

Immediately following the morning chapel service, lunch will be provided at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Knight Center, sponsored by PTS. Luncheon speaker will be Dr. Kwame Frimpong, a Church of God ordained bishop from Atlanta. Dr. Frimpong is a speaker, counselor, and pastor with extensive expertise in mental health, trauma care, and marriage counseling. He is committed to educating and guiding individuals, families, and youth toward wholeness and transformation. Dr. Frimpong serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at PTS and is an adjunct professor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, the author of several books and lesson plans, and founder of Breakthrough Today TV Ministry and KF Life Coaching.

The Wednesday evening worship service will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the North Cleveland Church of God Dixon Chapel. Speaker for the evening will be Dr. William Jason Stubbs, a Church of God ordained bishop from Memphis, Tennessee, who holds two earned doctoral degrees. Dr. Stubbs and his wife, Lynsey, have served in leadership roles for more than 30 years across ministry, secular business, and nonprofit sectors. Their service includes roles as executive pastor, therapist, leadership development leader, and young adult pastor. Together, they planted Oak City Church of God in Memphis, and have also provided pastoral leadership at Faith Promise Church and Redemption Point Church of God in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Currently, Dr. Stubbs serves on the Church of God International Church Planting Board, the Lee University School of Theology and Ministry Council, and as an adjunct faculty professor at several institutions, including Southeastern University (FL), Visible Music College (TN), and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (TN).

Traditionally, the second Sunday of February is recognized as Black History Sunday within the Church of God. On this day, February 8, 2026, churches across the Church of God are encouraged to receive a special offering in support of African Descent Ministries & Education and forward contributions to P.O. Box 2430, Cleveland, TN 37320.

“We invite individuals to partner with us by making a donation through our website at www.admecog.org by selecting ‘Partnership,’” Hill stated. For more information about the Black History Celebration, call 423-478-7332 or email [email protected].

Black History Week in the U.S. was founded by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson of New Canton, Virginia, as Negro History Week. The inaugural observance took place in February 1926 as a way of remembering and honoring the significant people, events, and contributions African Americans made in shaping the nation’s history. In 1976, Negro History Week was expanded to Black History Month by President Gerald Ford, who urged Americans to fully participate in its national observance.