Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1314073
4 More than 250 guests attended our Blacks in Theology gala, Rise to the Occasion, on February 7, at Restoration Christian Fellowship in Aurora, Colorado. With snow closures throughout the city and well over a foot of snow on the ground, the packed house showed an overwhelming commitment to supporting Black students and the Black Student Fellowship Endowed Scholarship at Denver Seminary. Keynote speaker Dr. Ralph West, founder and senior pastor of the Church Without Walls, and gospel singer Carolyn Traylor lit up the stage with their messages of faith told through story and song. In addition, Denver Seminary students Seconda Hollinger, John Moreland, and Ronica Harris shared their stories of how God is leading them as they engage the needs of the world. In conjunction with the gala, Denver Seminary's Bridge Gallery featured artwork by Thomas Lockhart, a self-taught, dynamic, multi-faceted artist who creates in a variety of styles and genres, using a variety of mediums. Lockhart's work was also displayed at the gala. This fall, Denver Seminary awarded its first Black Student Fellowship Endowed Scholarship to Elliott Douglas, Jr., an MDiv student living in Maryland. To date, nearly $172,000 has been raised for the Black Student Fellowship Endowed Scholarship through the commitment of our generous donors. THE 2020 BLACKS IN THEOLOGY GALA Rise to the Occasion is a reflection of the Seminary's heart for the Black theologians – to honor their contributions to the past, recognize those who are currently shaping culture, and express our desire to strengthen and engage with Black communities in the future." Felix Gilbert, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Ministry; Director of the Urban Initiative ''