Pastor powerhouses. I switched my social outing game plan completely up for Ash Wednesday and put off a networking event to attend Friendly Temple. It was a good thing I did because everybody in the city was there for 40 Days a Fire.
A collation of over 20 pastors and churches was formed with the leadership of pastors Mike Jones (Friendly Temple), James Clark (Shalom Church City of Peace), Ronald Bobo (Westside), Rodney Francis (Washington Tabernacle) and Robert C. Scott of Central Baptist Church. Anytime you can’t find parking 30 minutes before an event is to start, you know the turn-up is about to be real. Yes, they were turned all the way up. What? You can turn up for Jesus … I’m sure of it.
Had a chance to see some of my favorite people in the city, including Tiffany Nashville (who was too busy praising to notice me trying to wave and chat), and anytime I can see Rev. Traci Blackmon take hold of a mic you know you about to hear a sermon. Even if her assignment was to lead us in prayer, she did that and more with such ease.
Rev. Starksy Wilson is officially on my radar for preachers to watch. This brother came with it for his prayer for children. Had me almost shed a tear, but I pulled it together real quick.
For my 40 days of Lent I gave up frivolous spending, so please don’t call me asking to buy anything. Although I did have one slip-up already and purchase a special edition Brunch & Bible edition from B. Marcell, which I’m thinking the Lord is ok with.
Showing out with Young Leaders. I have absolutely nothing to do with the planning (I tip my hat to the lovely Kate Daniel), but I’m going to just put it out there and say next year this event will need the entire floor at the Four Seasons for the 6th Annual Salute to Young Leaders.
Last Thursday’s annual reception was packed with the true movers and shakers in the region as the St. Louis American Foundation and Wells Fargo Advisors honored 20 under 40 who have made major moves for 2014.
This event inspired me and really got me excited about things in my professional career like never before. Being in a room full of young professionals who are at the top of their game – and they all like look you or your ancestors – is an indescribable feeling we should all strive to achieve.
Good seeing some familiar faces, including every member of the Emerging 100. They could have called a meeting right in the lobby. Keith Turner, Charles Brown, Gary Gunther and Sharon Reed of KMOV-TV (who never has a hair out of place) were just a few of the folks I chatted it up with as we congratulated the awardees.
Perfect Pocket Square Holder. Who needs “Shark Tank” to launch the next greatest business idea when you’re Cedric Cobb. When you have a great idea or product it’s one thing to finalize the details, but it’s another thing to sell and market it. Cedric Cobb has done just that with his line of the Perfect Pocket Square Holder. Cobb came to the Young Leaders Reception with a bag ready, though I couldn’t help but notice that tangerine and white hand-knitted square Cobb was rocking. Only Cedric could pull that one off.
Tea & Crumpets: Celebrate your mate every chance you can get. But let’s think twice about doing so by the snapping of your little fingers during a professional event especially when that man is just the person you started dating a few weeks ago. Let’s stay calm and await the ring and the pre-nup. Take two seats in and call your doctor in the morning please.
Save The Date. The annual Chums masquerade ball and the City Garden Gala are both in a few weeks which means its time go shopping for new gowns and clear my handy dandy notebook out because the note taking will be plentiful. The Chums host an event like no other.
