PowerPoint Presentation

ARIZONA STATE PRESIDENT: Julia M. Rodgers STATE REPORTER: Augus Hall

The United Church Ushers of Arizona closed out 2024 memorializing fallen ushers, nurses, and Pastors, and jump started 2025 by opening the George T. Grier School of Ushering, attending member churches annual ushers’ days, putting plans in place to assist the Western Region with the hosting of the 106 th National Convention in Phoenix, AZ, and identifying new goals and placing increased attention on old goals to increase the growth of the organization.

On Friday, December 13, 2024, the United Church Ushers of Arizona held their second memorial program. The program celebrated and remembered those Ushers, Nurses and Pastors who crossed over into the silent land from November 19, 2022, to December 13, 2024. The program’s theme was “Gone, But Always Remembered” with the supporting scriptures of II Kings 4: 8-20; 22; 32-35 & Luke 15: 11-14; 17-20. The program was held virtually by way of Zoom with 30 plus attendees online. The roll call of the fallen was observed through a slideshow. Rev. Johnnie Hudson of Faith Missionary Baptist Church delivered the message from the program’s theme with the additional scripture reference of Matthew 11:28-30. Even in a virtual environment, the program was spiritually and emotionally moving by being blessed with song, poetry, and the spoken word. The next memorial program will be held during Q4 of 2026.

The 2025 George T. Grier School of Ushering began in-person on Monday, January 6, 2025, with 13 students and 5 staff members. Under the leadership of Levite Mary Bolden as the School of Ushering Chair and Arizona State President Julia Rodgers as the lead instructor, the majority of the School’s sessions are being taught by two in-training instructors (Levites Augus Hall and James McMiller) and one assistant instructor (Levite Thalya Rodgers-Nero). The School meets every Monday evening for 2.5 hours, except the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Monday. On that particular Monday, January 20, 2025, the students participated in a two-mile commemorative march through downtown Phoenix instead of attending class.

On Friday, January 17, 2025, the NFL YET College Prep Academy presented Usher Nehosia Johnson of South Phoenix Missionary Baptist Church their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Honoree Award. Usher Johnson serves as an administrator at the school and is usually the one that plans the luncheon for this occasion. However, this year the school surprised her as being the recipient. She is pictured to the right with her mother, Usher Velma Greathouse of South Phoenix Missionary Baptist Church. Usher Nehosia Johnson, we are so proud of you and the service you have earnestly given to the South Phoenix community.

Nehosia Johnson and Velma Greathouse, respectively

Helen B. Hornbuckle Doorkeeper