Congratulations to Bishop Victor T. Curry, who celebrated his 18th pastoral anniversary May 12-17, with special services throughout the week.

Speakers included the Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and the Rev. Ben Carrol of Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of West Palm Beach.

The celebration culminated on May 17 with Curry preaching at 7 a.m. followed at 11 a.m. with a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Wayne G. Thompson of First Baptist Institutional Church of St. Petersburg.

At 6 p.m., the celebration closed with a message preached by Curry's spiritual father, Pastor Joe C. Johnson of the Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Hollywood.

All services were held at the New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral International at 2300 NW 135th St.

TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS

The Word of Wisdom Ministry at Bethel Apostolic Temple, 1855 NW 119th St., has done it again.

In a beautiful setting in the church's fellowship hall on May 9, 26 women from 14 local churches and one from out of town were honored at a ''Tribute to Mothers'' luncheon.

The luncheon was the brainchild of the Rev. Annie Temple, with the blessing and support of the Rev. Dr. Carol Nash-Lester, senior pastor at Bethel.

Beautifully attired in white, the mothers were seated at a special place of honor, as Evangelist Miriam Smith kept them in laughter with her witty banter.

After a short program -- when the invocation was said by Minister Reggie Dopson, the welcome by Minister Enid Peart, and a solo by Sister Jerralyn Bullard -- the 2009 honorees were recognized.

They are Hattie Harell, Missionary Maud Cunningham, Rosie McBride, Dorothy Dopson, Evangelist Lizzie Walker, Brenda Jackson, Marie Atkins, Ivadell Hepburn, Ida Mae Linder, Thelma Smellie, Minnie Stallworth, Iris Beard, Ceola Williams, Willie Mae Denson-Faison, Ruby Wilson, DorothyWashington, Mae Henderson, Gilda Lynn, Bloneva Bullard, Paralee Livingston, Shirley Sinclair, Rosalie Brown, Juanita Nash, C.M. Baker, Vera M. Franklin and Louella Brayson.

The program also featured a special tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Doris Atkins by Kale Benton-Stallworth; and a musical tribute by Amy Watts.

One of the highlights of the luncheon was Oreta Brown, who was honored as the mother who had the most children.

Brown gave birth to 25 children, 14 of whom are still living.

Among the 25, were three sets of twins.

Even so, Brown still hadn't had her fill of children: she later reared 15 foster children.

Nash-Lester closed the event by telling the audience that ``our mothers are our best gift. . . . We can give them our best by doing the good things our mothers taught us.''

HUMBLING

Mother's Day at the Church of God Tabernacle at 1351 NW 67th St. was a special time of giving thanks to God for all the mothers there, especially those who are 65 and older.

The men of the church sponsored the program, from leading the worship service to doing the gift presentations.

Two mothers were honored for having the most children in church. They are Evangelist Essie L. Baker, whose four children were there, and Phyllis Smith, who also had four children in church with her.

Later in the service, Bishop Walter H. Richardson, pastor and overseer of the church named yours truly as Mother of the Year. It was a warm and humbling experience.

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