Baptist Convention Features Late-night Services

Close to midnight, the pastor spoke to the worshipers as the sound of an organ rippled through the Detroit hall.

"Whatever we're going through, it's all good because God means it," declared Rev. John Davis Jr. of Jackson, Miss. "When it's raining, you ought to find joy. When you're down, you ought to find joy."

The scene sounded like it was in a Baptist church, but this was in a ballroom at the Detroit Marriott hotel in the Renaissance Center late Tuesday night into early this morning. The late-night services are one of the more popular sessions of the Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention USA, the largest African-American religious group in the United States. 

Every night this week from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., members will gather in the hotel to praise and worship as if they were in church. It continues at 10 tonight with talks by pastors from around the country, including the Rev. Lewis Randolph of Flint. 

"These services motivate and inspire," said T. Alexander Knapp, a Baptist from Louisiana who attended the services. "They have great messages. It energizes us to go back to our churches and carry out the message of Christ Jesus."

Davis started his sermon with a verse from the Book of James and talked about "how to get through what you're going through."

"What God can give you is wisdom," he said. 

"Go on Rev.," someone in the crowd replied back.

After his talk, a church band played before the last speaker of the night, the Rev. Donald Johnson of Memphis, Tenn., delivered his sermon. 

"I'm happy with Jesus alone," he said.