Last Wednesday, when Rev. Marcus Allen of Mt. Zion Baptist Church held a virtual Bible study, he expressed to his church family how much he missed seeing them. Right then, Gloria Ladson-Billings, the deacon at the church, knew she was going to do something special.
That following Sunday, May 3, Ladson-Billings, who is a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, brought together at least 70 congregation members to participate in a surprise parade in front of Allen’s home. Allen, his wife Terra Allen, and their three children stood outside on their lawn as more than 30 cars drove by decorated with balloons, messages of love and gratitude.
Allen, whose mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April, said he was shocked by the parade and had to hold back a few tears.
“A lot of time when you give so much and you are involved in helping so many people out, oftentimes people are not mindful that you are going through the same stuff they are going through,” Allen tells Madison365. “But you are placing your needs above their needs and oftentimes they don’t assume you need that motivation or that lift. But I was glad to see that my members from Mt. Zion they saw — they know about my mom, they know about the work we are doing in the community and everything we have going. I’m being a part of so much I’m often pouring out.
“It was so good for them to pour back into me on Sunday — it was so good,” he adds. “It was amazing.”
Ladson-Billings echoed that same sentiment after the parade took place.
“One of the challenges of a high-touch profession like being a pastor is that you’re so busy serving and helping others you can burn out if you don’t always know when people appreciate what you’re doing,” she tells Madison365. “It was not a special day — it was not the church anniversary, it was not his pastoral anniversary or his birthday. It wasn’t any of those days where we actually normally do some stuff. It just was sort of out of the blue and I think it was just a way to say thank you.”
Posted by Vanessa Rae McDowell on Sunday, May 3, 2020
Longtime Mt. Zion Church member and YWCA Madison CEO Vanessa Rae McDowell was able to capture video of the ride by (above) as she rode around with her parents. Ladson-Billings says that she and the congregation wanted to recognize the work the pastor and his family have been doing for the community since the coronavirus pandemic started.
Ladson-Billings said the church mobilized young adults to deliver food to people who can not cross Park Street. Through the African American Council of Churches, Allen has partnered with Lighthouse Church to create a new 46 Project, where churches collaborate to fund families in crisis. She said members have been able to respond to families’ need for funds or food within 48 hours.
Once church services were banned as a result of the Safer At Home order, Ladson-Billings said it was very difficult for members and the pastor not to see one another — so this parade also provided a way of connection.
She said the event was a huge success, and the pastor’s surprise and excitement were shown on his face.
“We got him,” she said with a laugh. “Normally we don’t get him, you know, because he’s pretty astute and can figure out what we’re doing. This one caught them off guard. You can see they are just shocked.”
After the parade, the pastor said he just has one message for his congregation.
“I just want to tell them that I love them and I appreciate everything that they do for me. They didn’t have to — and they didn’t mind doing it at all,’ Allen said.
