Community of Faith Church Honors Jack Yates in 150th Anniversary

By Laura Onyeneho The Community of Faith Church (COF), a cornerstone of Houston’s Black history, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a spectacular production titled “The Vision Continues: Still Changing the World by Faith.” The production, held at the Wortham Center, paid homage to the church’s rich legacy and the enduring impact of its founder, Reverend Jack Yates. It was rooted in the vision and work of Yates, a former slave who became a towering figure in Black history. Many who hear his name often refer to the high school names after him, but Yates was a hero recognized as the “Father of Black Houston.” Yates was born into slavery in Virginia in the early 1800s, yet he overcame great adversity to become a revolutionary leader. His mother, Rachel, was a caregiver to their enslaver’s child, who secretly taught Yates reading, writing and arithmetic–skills that became a cornerstone of his ministry and advocacy. His slave master also taught him about business. Yates would assist him on his business trips, observe how he worked, how to relate with people and how to save money. With that knowledge, he was able to buy his freedom. However, he decided to revert to slavery...