Prominent Pastor’s Acceptance Speech Receives Standing Ovation
Visionary, social activist and influential religious leader Bishop Victor T. Curry, was presented the Reverend Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker award at the 16th annual Keepers of the Dream Awards held at the 16th annual National Action Network Convention (NAN) in New York City. The event is held each April to mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s death and, honor those who have committed themselves to fairness, racial harmony while advocating for the principles which Dr. Martin Luther King fought for.
The event was co-hosted by Reverend Al Sharpton and talk show host Wendy Williams. The guest speaker of the night was Secretary Arne Duncan, United States Department of Education. Curry is the Founder/ Senior Pastor of the New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International, Miami, Florida and the Pastor of the St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church in Dania Beach, Florida which has over 13,000 members and 80 ministries collectively. The award was established in recognition of pastor/theologian, civil rights leader, and cultural historian Dr. Wyatt T. Walker, often called “Harlem’s Renaissance Man” for his multiple gifts and varied careers.
The highlight of the evening came after Reverend Doctor W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of NAN presented Bishop Curry his award. Curry started with “To God Be the Glory” and shared a personal story of when he worked at Denny’s as a dishwasher. His boss told him that he was the best dishwasher Denny’s ever had. Curry shared that he was inspired be the best dishwasher, because of what he had heard Dr. King say about facing challenges in life. He encouraged the audience to set out to do their work so well that nobody can do it better. Bishop Curry closed with direct quotes from Dr. King’s Street Sweeper speech which was received with a standing ovation.
Bishop Curry’s extended ministerial portfolio includes; The New Birth Broad Casting Corporation/and the stellar award winning WMBM/AM 1490 the only 24/hour gospel media outlet in South Florida, that reaches more that 1.5 million listeners in the Keys, South Florida and The Bahamas. President and Founder of the National Action Network, Reverend Al Sharpton appointed Bishop Curry as the Southeast Regional Director in 2013.
As the President/General Manager of WMBM, Curry’s station and his “Tuesday Talk” has become the “go to” radio station that keeps people informed on such issues that include: politics, youth, the Stand Your Ground Law and challenges that affect the African American community. As the architect of “Operation Lemonade,” the initiative to increase voting during the 2012 election, as well as championing the causes of children, the poor and the underrepresented, Bishop Curry’s leadership has set the bar for navigating the social justice landscape.
Bishop Curry is also the author of the newly released autobiography “A Charge to Keep I Have” .
