Al Sharpton to preach Sunday in Fort Worth

Before he was a civil-rights activist and a TV and radio talk show host, a young Al Sharpton made a name for himself as a Pentecostal preacher.

North Texans will have the chance to see Sharpton in that role when he takes to the pulpit Sunday morning at Saintsville Cathedral Church, 2200 Oakhill Road in east Fort Worth.

Sharpton will be preaching with a purpose in mind, according to Viner Manfoot-Greene, president of the North East Central Texas Chapter of the National Action Network, the civil-rights organization that invited Sharpton to speak.

Sharpton is president of the network, which is reaching out to churches this month to encourage them to be more socially conscious, proclaiming March as Social Justice Month and asking ministers to designate a Social Justice Sunday at their churches. The goal is to raise the visibility of the black church and the consciousness of its members.

Manfoot-Greene said Sharpton will also seek to raise awareness of the North East Central Texas Chapter, which was organized in 2014 and serves a swath of North Texas from Fort Worth to Tyler.

“What happens nationally happens locally,” Manfoot-Greene said. “Tarrant and Dallas and surrounding counties are not exempt, nor do we exist in a vacuum. We all know this to be true, and if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit to being derelict in our dialogue and participation to ensure equality and justice.”

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Al Sharpton to preach Sunday in Fort Worth."