Latest news with #ActsFullGospelChurch
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Memorial Service and Public Viewing for Marvin Boomer, Jr. to Be Held Friday, June 6 in Oakland
Community gathers to honor the life of beloved son, friend, and hero lost in tragic police pursuit OAKLAND, Calif., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Marvin Boomer, Jr . will host a memorial service and public viewing for the Oakland community that loved him deeply on Friday, June 6, 2025 , at Acts Full Gospel Church , located at 1034 66th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94621 . This service will be an opportunity for the community to gather in mourning and celebration of Marvin's life—a life cut tragically short, but one that touched so many with love, compassion, and quiet strength. The schedule of events is as follows: 1:00 PM P T – Press Conference 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM PT – Public Memorial Service and Open-Casket Viewing The service is open to the public, and members of the press , policy makers, State and city officials, and members of the civil rights and social justice community are invited to attend. An open-casket viewing will be held during the memorial, offering family, friends, and community members the opportunity to pay their final respects. Speakers at the service will include members of the Boomer family from across the country, including Marvin Boomer, Sr. , Tynesha Boomer (Marvin's sister), and his partner Ta Ta "Nina" Woodruff , who survived the incident that took Marvin's life. Also expected to speak are Mayor Barbara Lee , representatives from the NAACP Oakland Branch , members of the Oakland City Council , and community members including the principal of Castlemont High School , as well as a current student speaking in Marvin's honor. Those unable to attend in person are invited to join the service virtually via livestream: The Boomer family expresses its deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and solidarity received during this unimaginable time. Together, we remember Marvin Jr., and we stand united in the call for justice, healing, and peace. Media Contact: Media Inquiries: Michelle D. Bernard, & CEO, Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, Email: mbernard@ PH: (301) 807-2394 About the Boomer FamilyThe Boomer family is a proud and deeply rooted African American family with strong ties to Portsmouth, Virginia; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; Wayne, Michigan; Oakland, California; and communities across the United States. Known for their resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice, the Boomers are united in honoring the life and legacy of Marvin Boomer, Jr., a cherished son, brother, partner, and friend. In the face of this tragic and preventable loss, the family remains steadfast in their pursuit of accountability and their advocacy for safer, more humane law enforcement pursuit policy that protects the dignity and lives of all community members. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Family of Marvin Boomer, Jr.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
East Oakland church takes prayer to the streets to combat violence
In a neighborhood long plagued by gun violence and poverty, one East Oakland church is using prayer as a form of outreach and a weapon for peace. Acts Full Gospel Church is home to the S.W.A.T. Ministry, short for Soul Winning Across Town, a grassroots initiative that brings prayer directly to the community. Instead of waiting for people to walk through church doors, members head out into the streets, knocking on doors, offering prayers, and striking up conversations with strangers in an effort to promote peace and spiritual healing. "If I can just pray with you, brother. Can you say 'Lord Jesus'?" asked church member DeAngelo Grant as he approached a man named Javier standing in his driveway. Grant said initial reactions often include confusion or hesitation, but those feelings usually fade once people sense the sincerity behind the message. In Javier's case, the interaction led to a shared prayer. "Amen, Amen," Grant smiled after the moment of connection. "We saw that with Javier. He kept coming closer, he kept opening up." The S.W.A.T. Ministry mirrors aspects of Operation Ceasefire's "Night Walks," a violence prevention program supported by Oakland city officials. But S.W.A.T. has been active even longer, quietly conducting monthly outreach efforts for years. On Saturday morning, dozens of Acts Full Gospel Church members gathered near Bancroft and 98th Avenue in Deep East Oakland. As they walked the neighborhood, they offered prayer, encouragement, and advice to anyone who would listen. "Whatever you face out here in the streets, keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ is in your heart," one member told an 18-year-old named Alejandro. "And he's the greater one. He's greater than anything that's out here—any peer pressure, drugs, anything." Kevin Tyner, who has participated in the ministry for about 17 years, said connecting with young people is central to their mission. "We like to talk to the youth because we want to give them the opportunity to be able to learn more to better our community by coming together," said Tyner. The S.W.A.T. team chooses a different Oakland neighborhood for outreach on the third Saturday of each month. Their goal isn't to convert everyone overnight, but rather to build trust and plant seeds of hope. "A lot of times, crime and stuff is going on because we lack something inside of us," Grant said. "And so if we can go out here and spread the love and the good news of Jesus Christ, we can get people to stop with the crime and stop doing those things that hurt people." Grant believes the violence in East Oakland stems from a lack of structure—missing family support, a broken value system, and the absence of God. And the mission is deeply personal. At 29 years old, Grant speaks openly about the trauma and hardship he experienced growing up. "My life as a young kid was pretty bad. I was molested as a child," he said. "With things like that, you grow up quick." Now, Grant and others in the S.W.A.T. Ministry hope their consistent presence will lead young people to take that first step—whether it's attending a church service or connecting with a local violence prevention program. "If you've got shut down by 100 people, but one person received God—oh my Lord—it's a new day," smiled Grant. The volunteers don't pretend to be miracle workers. They acknowledge they can't change lives overnight. But they believe that showing up—month after month, prayer after prayer—can make a lasting impact on minds, hearts, and souls.
