When George Floyd, the 46-year-old Black man who died after a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in May, sparking protests across the country, the pastor participated in several peaceful protests for equity and inclusion. McClure has been active in the fight against social injustice, as well. Also, in cooperation with the City of Birmingham, the church gave away several thousand masks. “I made a promise to God at a young age: … ‘If you bless me, I will never forget where I come from, and I will always be a blessing,’” McClure said.ĭuring the pandemic Rock City Church, one of the first congregations to cancel in-person worship services, on March 15, has organized several grocery deliveries across the Greater Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas and offered financial assistance to families facing job losses and other hardships due to COVID-19. He partnered with the medical debt collection agency, RIP Medical Debt, and used profits from album sales to pay off nearly $1 million of medical debt for Birmingham-area residents. Nonetheless, McClure found another way to celebrate his success-by giving back. The event, which was originally scheduled for March 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis and has been rescheduled for later this year. In January, McClure was nominated for five Stellar Awards, a recognition of achievements in the gospel music industry, and was set to be a featured performer at the 35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards program. “In the midst of a global pandemic, systematic oppression, protests, and civil unrest, what better year to declare freedom?” “I am extremely humbled and thankful that the city of Birmingham thought enough of me to include me in ,” McClure said. Thanks to the success of his debut album “Live Free” and his hit single “Big,” McClure, 36, is not only a pastor but also a chart-topping recording artist-and he is slated to perform at Freedom Fest, the City of Birmingham’s music and empowerment celebration, on Saturday, July 25.īecause of the pandemic, this year’s event will be held virtually instead of in person, as it was in 2019, the inaugural year, but that hasn’t dampened McClure’s excitement about this weekend’s showcase. Even amid the pandemic, he remains as busy as ever. Mike McClure Jr., senior pastor of Birmingham’s Rock City Church. The COVID-19 crisis may have slowed down many people, but not the Rev. (Photo by Mark Almond) By Javacia Harris Bowser preaches at Rock City Church in Forestdale, Ala.
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