Contributors
  • Amiri Hooker

    Contributing sermons since Mar 22, 2011
Amiri's church

Wesley Chapel UMC
Lake City , South Carolina 29560
1-803-216-1968

About Amiri
  • Education: Rev. Hooker went on to attend Methodist College in Fayetteville NC at the encouragement of the Late Bishop Bethea. Rev Hooker went on to enroll in a Masters of divinity program at the Gammon Division of the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta GA, Where he majored in Theology with a concentration in African Thought.
  • Experience: In College Rev. majored in Biblical studies, helped organized the State Black Student Network and worked with the Children’s Defense Fund and Black Community Crusaded to help bring back Freedom Schools and the idea of racial up left in young African American Adults. During Seminary Rev Hooker was ordained an United Methodist Pastor and awarded several awards and also selected as a member of ASCAC a Kemitic Teaching Think Tank.
  • Comment to those looking at my sermons: "I'm a Black Renaissance man and It is my belief that four things constitute a Black Man's coming of age and they are; a rebirth of spirit that heightens the senses; a reawakening of the mind that alludes to wisdom; a renewal of the heart that instills loving, giving, forgiveness and sharing; and a resurrection of the body that gives him full control of his sensuality and sexuality to the point that he exercises great responsibility.
  • One of my favorite illustrations: A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is–a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves.Jones, E. Stanley. Reader’s Digest December 1981.
  • Family: Rev. Amiri B. Hooker (ah MY REE) The Son of Mrs. Claudette David Hooker and the late Bernard Hooker. Born In Philadelphia PA. A native of both Philadelphia and Bennettsville SC Rev Hooker received and accepted his calling in junior high school. He has been active in ministry now some 16years. Rev Hooker attended Schools in the Public school system and graduated near the bottom of his high school class, at Marlboro County High School.
  • Best advice given to me about preaching: Substance of Things Hoped for A Memoir of African-American Faith
  • Books that have had an impact: Ankh NE Ra. (1995). Let the ancestors speaks Removing the veil of mysticism from Mdu Netcher. Temple Hills, NM.: JOM Publishers. Ben Jochannan, Yosef. (1972). The black man's religion Extracts and comments from the Holy Black Bib] . New York: Alkebu Lan Books. Browder, Anthony. (1992). Nile Valley contributors to civilization Exploding the myth,, Vol. L Washington D.C.: Institute for Karn dc Guidance.
  • If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction... The chain reaction of evil-hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars-must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. King, Martin Luther. Strength to Love. New York: Harper & Row, 1963.
  • What I want on my tombstone: God gave him a gift to Change the World, and he tried to provide justice to the poor, sight to the blind
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Newest Sermons

  • God! How Do We Keep Going?

    Contributed on Jul 6, 2025
     | 679 views

    “BREAKING: President’s ‘Big Beautiful Budget’ bill passes—millions to lose healthcare, protections gutted, rural hospitals closing.” And I wanted to cry out: God! Do you see what they’re doing?”

    Sermon Title: “God! How Do We Keep Going?” Scripture: Luke 10:17–20 & Galatians 6:9–10 (NRSVue) Preached at a Bethesda UMC rural African American church in South Carolina By Rev. Amiri B. Hooker Date: July 6, 2025 Introduction: God! Beloved, I have to be honest with you. The other day I ...read more

  • They Get It From Their Father

    Contributed on Jun 14, 2025
     | 209 views

    Happy Father’s Day and Blessed Trinity Sunday, church! Today, we stand at a sacred intersection—celebrating both our earthly fathers and our heavenly One, as well as recognizing the mystery of God revealed as Father, Son, and Spirit.

    They Get It from Their Father ““I am telling you these things to keep you from stumbling away from the path. The tribal leaders will force you out of their gathering houses. The time will come when they will put you to death, thinking they are doing what the Great Spirit wants, all because they ...read more

  • "Real Love… Talking About That Real Love”

    Contributed on May 29, 2025
    based on 2 ratings
     | 347 views

    Jesus prays in John 17—not just for the disciples beside Him, but for us, those who would come to believe through their witness. That’s real love. Not temporary. Not performative. Real love is legacy love. Transformative love. Love that acts and lasts.

    Sermon Title: “Real Love… Talking About That Real Love” Scripture: John 17:20–26 (The Message) Occasion: Cumberland UMC, 1st Sunday in June 2025 The Message 20-23 I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all ...read more

  • 2025 King Day Celebration Sermon: "we Can Complete The Mission No Matter What!"

    Contributed on Jan 20, 2025
     | 500 views

    In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we reflect on his vision for justice, freedom, and equality, we must ask ourselves: can we complete the mission

    2025 King Day Celebration Sermon: "We Can Complete the Mission No Matter What!" Theme: Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365 Greetings, brothers and sisters in the spirit of justice, peace, and freedom, Greetings to My NAACP Branch ...read more

  • The Quest For Power Vs. The Call Of Christ

    Contributed on Jan 5, 2025
     | 387 views

    Epiphany is not just a moment of clarity; it’s a summons to transformation. Let’s walk through this text with open hearts, asking, What does the birth of Jesus teach us about power, greed, and the true call of leadership?

    Sermon Title: The Quest for Power vs. The Call of Christ Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Church, it’s the first Sunday of a brand-new year, and God has a message for us: Pay attention. Paying attention to what’s right in front of us—what’s under our noses—can be a life-changing act. We just wrapped the ...read more

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  • What The Church Can Learn From The Carolina P...

    Contributed on Feb 6, 2016
     | 4,065 views

    What the Church can learn from the Carolina Panthers: by Burt Williams 1. Leadership matters: The leadership on Offence and Defense this year is stellar and it begins with the primary leaders Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly, they lead the team on the field and have the responsibility to adjust ...read more

  • Killing Each Other Over Race

    Contributed on Mar 22, 2011
     | 2,322 views

    KILLING EACH OTHER OVER RACE Two million people have been killed during the civil war in the Sudan Region of Africa mostly over race, mostly over skin tone. The name Sudan comes from "bilad al sudan": Arabic for "the land of the blacks." So you might expect Sudanese to be comfortable with the ...read more

  • Use What Is There

    Contributed on Mar 22, 2011
    based on 2 ratings
     | 3,642 views

    USE WHAT IS THERE My son Omri is large, extremely smart and very active. He has not met a tree or roof that he has not at least mentally pondered climbing. Omri's teacher runs up to me the other day and says, "Your son almost made me lose my mind, my religion and my job." This is not unusual, so ...read more

  • The Birth Of The Poor People's Campaign

    Contributed on Mar 22, 2011
     | 3,056 views

    THE BIRTH OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN A visit to a fledgling Head Start program in Marks brought home the reality of rural poverty to Dr. King and Ralph Abernathy. "We looked around the primitive schoolhouse and saw them watching us, wide-eyed and silent, having been told who we were," ...read more