Members of a local church recently came together to celebrate and support one of its own and usher him into manhood.
St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Clinton held a Rites of Passage Ceremony June 23 for Caleb Bush. Several mentors participated in the program, including Donald Black, who had been working with Bush since October as Presiding Adult.
The keynote speaker for the event was mentor Harold Phillips, who spoke about the importance of remembering and holding to traditions, including holidays and cultural events.
“We need that foundation,” he said.
Phillips emphasized the importance of teaching history accurately in schools and how the experiences of yesterday affect the events of today and in the future.
Readings in the program spoke of spiritual and human maturity and the responsibilities of being a friend, leader, spouse and father.
At the conclusion of the program, the men of the church surrounded Bush, and previous program graduates gave him words of support and encouragement.
Black said the Rites of Passage program started in the church in 1993, and Bush was the 21st to complete the program. He said JR Gibson was the first to complete the program.
Black said Bush visited the aviation museum at Robins Aire Force Base in Warner Robins, the Museum of Arts in Macon and made two visits to the Tubman Museum.
Along with his scheduled activities, Bush designed and carried out projects on his own approved by Black. His final project was a fiveminute video he produced highlighting elements of his passage. The video was shown during the June 23 ceremony.
