Asheville to Host the National Save the Family Now Movement

Reverend Dr. John H. Grant, Pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Asheville.

Staff Reports

The Reverend Dr. John H. Grant and members of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Asheville will host the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc. and the inauguration of the Save the Family Now – Asheville Chapter on October 7 and 8.

“We are hosting the event,” says Dr. Grant, “to highlight the threats of the survival of the black family in particular, and all families in general. We must develop the character, creativity, consciousness, competence and compassion to save, strengthen and sustain the family. Our families need real solutions and real transformation.”

The movements objectives are to:

• Reduce the rate of divorces in the black family by 25 percent
• Reduce the number of teenage pregnancies in the black community by 25 percent
• Reduce the rate of violence: black-on-black murders by 25 percent
• Reduce the high incidence of the HIV/AIDS virus by 25 percent
• Reduce the high-school dropout rate by 33 percent
• Protect senior citizens and build safe homes for the elderly in 25 urban centers across America
• Significantly reduce the digital divide through a comprehensive advocacy campaign for broadband usage and adoption by underserved populations

A cadre of professional, civic, and faith-based organizations have
agreed to partner with the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc.,
including Rejoice Musical Gospel Soul Food Radio Network, WRES Radio of
Asheville (TBC), and Habakkuk Music Company.

“Now is the time for our black leadership to restore and rebuild black
families,” said the Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes, Jr., founder and
president of the Save the Family movement. “You don’t have to be a
social analyst, a psychiatrist, a social worker, a theologian, or a palm
reader to see that our families are in real trouble. The appalling and
widespread acceptance of the pervasive degradation of our mothers,
wives, and daughters must be holistically and strategically addressed in
every family, in every church, in every community, and in every state.”

The Movement events will take place all day on Saturday, October 8. Dr.
Holmes will bring words of greetings and inspiration during all events.
Dr. Holmes will also speak at Mt. Zion at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 9
for the 22nd Pastoral Anniversary Salute to Families Celebration. The
public is welcome. Dr. J. H. Grant, Pastor.

For more information call 252-0515 or visit www.mtzionasheville.org.

Salute to Families – Saturday, October 8

8:30 to 10:00 a.m. – Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast at Mt. Zion Baptist
Church, 47 Eagle Street, Asheville. Prayer for families, elected
officials, etc.

10:30 a.m. to 12 noon – March beginning at 10 a.m. from Mt. Zion Church
to Pack Square’s Green Terrace where we will conduct a “Salute to
Families Prayer Vigil and Rally” – consisting of prayers, music, and
Salutes to Families.

7 p.m. – Banquet at Tried Stone Baptist Church, 100 Carroll Avenue,
Asheville, honoring married couples with 30 (thirty) or more years of
marriage, and family-oriented organizations in the Asheville area (Mt.
Zion Community Development Corp., One Youth At A Time, Eagle-Market
Streets Community Development Corp., NAACP Empowerment Center, Hill
Street Day Care, New City Christian School).

A portion of our Sunday morning worship service is aired every Sunday
morning on 100.7 (WRES-FM) from 8-8:30 a.m. Visit
www.mtzionasheville.org