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Media on the 30 Years after LA’s 1992 Civil Unrest

As the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture reflected on the 1992 Civil Unrest, the words and efforts of the Rev. Dr. Cecil Murray following the unrest continued to be highlighted in media stories. CRCC's Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard, the spiritual daughter of Rev. Murray, was interviewed for multiple stories. FOX 11 LA looked back at 1992 and highlighted the way that Rev. Murray has passed along his legacy of community development and civic engagement work to others at the University of Southern California. Read More

Why the Black Church Should Support Asian Lives Matter

Some remember the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins in Los Angeles on March 16, 1991, by convenience store owner Soon Ja Du, a Korean immigrant. This senseless killing laid the foundation of anger and resentment that would eventually explode into the worst civil unrest in America after the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King. Read More

When a Pastor Shows Up at a Black Lives Matter Protest

Yet, there was even more significance to my prayer. I was a representative of the AME Church, a mainline denomination, endorsing Black Lives Matter. An old civil rights organization was partnering with a new method of civic engagement. It was a moment of healing for BLM and the Black Church. And it was, for me, confirmation that I need to stay involved with BLM. Read More

A New Pitch for God’s Resources – Church Finance Series

Church Stewardship is raising, expending, and managing God’s funds and property. This is the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship. Too many church leaders use the same pitch for money every week, but expect better results. Church leaders must keep up with the times by perfecting a new pitch for raising resources Read More

Online Giving Works – Church Finance Series

Online giving is a safe, secure, easy and a swift method of tithing and giving offerings to God’s church. And it works. Many church members are addicted to writing checks, touching cash, lifting coins and filling out donation envelopes. The church may consider starting a 12-step program for people afraid of giving online. Read More

Words of the Week – Empowering Poor People

The church may consider empowering people with tools to take charge of their financial destiny. At the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, our new Financial Fitness Workshops aim to help churches do just that, bringing financial literacy trainings into the communities where they are needed most. Read More

Could Churches Help Solve the Payday Loan Crisis?

Churches in low-income communities must be involved in these discussions of financial policies and regulations because they affect their members, Whitlock says. Currently, payday lenders process small loans in a matter of minutes, often with triple digit interest rates. If borrowers can’t repay the loans, they can fall into what financial experts term, “debt traps" Read More