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It's people. Women rose to the challenge of their day for such a time as this. Dr. Maudie B. Fuller, a missionary rose to the challenge of her time through leadership positions at Ebenezer and nationally as president of the Women's Auxiliary of the National Baptist

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Convention for 40 years. She rose to the challenge internationally by carrying out mission work in Africa and raising enough money to build a mission in Liberia, Africa. She served as school teacher, publisher of a national newspaper, the woman's helper,

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and organized the YWA, Girls Auxiliary, Shepard Boys League, and the Circle Plan for the Missionary Society at Ebenezer. Moving on the sum of life for Mrs. Aldrine M. Aikens Craig was we serve God by serving our fellow man.

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Mrs. Smith today mentioned service and her love for service. Mrs. Craig was a member of Ebenezer for 75 years. She served a fellow man in numerous capacities at Ebenezer including organizing circles in the Junior Missionary Society and it's later known as Missionary Society II and the Church

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clothing bank during her time she was the phenomenal woman. These esters have gone before us but then again there are some Ebenezer esters who are among us now. There's something about the ageless beauty of Ebenezer women.

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From pew to pew in this church and on this day we can go down the line indicating how each of us have risen to the challenge in our own way and for such a time as this. There was Miss Bula Thompson who was a librarian here. She was instrumental in keeping the George Washington Carver Library for Blacks in Austin

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where it is today. And that building still stands where it is today because of her efforts there. And you see I understand how those efforts are so important because even at my very young age I remember when blacks could not go to the library to check out books I remember

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that I remember being able to get my first library card long after I had learned to read so that is where you take a stand for something that you believe in you take a stand for such a time as this. Then of course we have recognized Mrs. Renee Smith as woman of the year today and we are so appreciative of her presence.

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Then there's Mrs. Esther Rowena Graves Jackson. She's here today. And we are so pleased with that. I read about Ms. Esther Rowena Graves

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in the Ethic publication. She was appointed pianist for the youth choir. That was quite some time ago, but her influence still lasts to this day.

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I am fortunate that my youngest son is that the opportunity to study under her. And then there's Mrs. Mamie Elder, an educator who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

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Now I could go on and on and on, and we'd be here till tomorrow if I just listed every woman in Ebenezer who had risen to the challenge for such a time as this.

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But one thing about that ageless beauty in Ebenezer, there must be something in the water here at Ebenezer, and I plan to drink plenty of it. You will remember in Esther where there's a celebration called Purim and the Purim is

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celebrated to this day to honor the strength and courage of Esther who rose to the challenge for such a time as this. See the Jewish people remembered that no matter how Haman cast the lot and I'm thinking it's something like rolling dice to decide what you're going to do. He cast a lot

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but the deliverance was in the hands of God as it is written in Proverbs 1633 the lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Now we can celebrate each of us this day because we all have faced challenges and still have challenges to face. Yet we know that we are where we are for a

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reason, a purpose, and for such a time as this. In the words of Margaret Walker Alexander in the poem Lineage, she said, "My grandmothers were strong. They followed plows and bent to toil. They moved through fields sowing seed. They touched earth and grain grew. They They were full of sturdiness and singing.

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My grandmothers were strong. My grandmothers are full of memories, smelling of soap and onions and wet clay. With veins rolling roughly over quick hands, they have many clean words to say. My grandmothers were strong.

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Why am I not as they? But let me remind you that we can be as strong as they were as God wills it. As long as we remember the words written by Mrs. Virgie Carrington DeWitty and this excerpt is from the second verse of the song penned by Mrs. DeWitty, "Look Where the Lord Has

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Brought Us." And this is printed in "Think of the Rough Road We Travel" from the St. John's Regular Baptist Association's history. And this second verse of "Look Where the Lord Has Brought Us," which was penned for this

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organization by the way, it says, "Think of the rough road we've traveled with many a a winding pathway. Many fears and conflict, many troubles too. Only a God of love and mercy could have brought us safely through and kept us with hope and

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faith anew. See we can be as strong as our foremothers as long as we follow the lead of Esther and rise to the challenge for such a time as this. We may ask what time is it?

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It's time. It's time for each of us to take a stand to be used as his faithful servant. Every one of us can step up to the plate and say, "Lord, I am here. I know you put me here for a purpose.

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Help me, Lord, to carry out my purpose." You see, we are in this place for a reason and for a purpose for such a time as this. [applause] [Music]

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[MUSIC] ♪ Please and oh, all the pain you have brought ♪ ♪ Never a thought on the knees of His children ♪ ♪ Have faith in God, have faith in God ♪

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♪ Have faith in God, He's on His throne ♪ ♪ He watches for his own ♪ ♪ Have faith in God ♪ ♪ He watches for his own ♪

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♪ He cannot fail ♪ ♪ He must prevail ♪ ♪ Have faith in God ♪ ♪ Have faith in God ♪

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♪ When your prayers are unanswered ♪ ♪ Your heart is sweet ♪ ♪ He will never forget ♪ ♪ Wait on the Lord ♪

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Have faith in God, the lesser yet. Have faith in God, each on his throne. Have faith in God, he watches for his own. He can affair, He must prepare.

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Have faith in God, have faith in God. Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow. His heart is touched with your grief and despair. Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him,

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and leave Him there, oh, leave Him there. [choir singing] [Chorus singing] Peace on his throne.

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Have faith in God. He marches on his own. He cannot fail. He must prevail.

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Have faith in God. Have faith in God. Have faith in God. He's on His throne.

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Have faith in God. He watches over us all. He cannot fail. He has prepared, and made it known, and made it known.

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Amen. God of grace, God of glory, bless these thy people in their going out and their coming in, their down sitting and their up rising, their laughter and their tears, their joys and their sorrows until that day when we shall all gather in that eternal city and behold

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the glory of your face. Amen. Amen, amen, amen. [ Silence ]