Big Bethel AME Church Hosts Souls to the Polls Event
News related to:Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church · 2 min read
On Sunday, October 25, Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, will host a historic event called Souls to the Polls. The congregation, which traces its roots to 1847, is bringing together faith leaders, congregants, and community members for a day of worship, free artificial intelligence (AI) fluency training, and a voter mobilization effort. The event, which began Tuesday, October 13, is part of a larger initiative to encourage Georgians to cast their ballots during the state's early-voting period.
Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine, the senior pastor of Big Bethel AME Church, will host the event. The Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network and a nationally recognized civil rights activist and minister, will deliver the morning sermon. The worship service will begin at 10 a.m. at Big Bethel AME Church, located at 220 Auburn Ave. NE, in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn district. Following the service, attendees can join Sharpton for an AI fluency training session at 1 p.m. in Bishop Hall. The caravan lineup will commence at 1:30 p.m. and will conclude at the Joan P. Garner Library, 980 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE.
Georgia, often called a battleground state, shows why participation can be consequential. In 2020, the state's presidential contest was decided by just 11,779 votes, underscoring how narrow statewide margins can be. The Souls to the Polls initiative reflects the Black church's longstanding role as more than a place of worship. Across generations, Black churches have served as organizing centers, meeting places, and community institutions central to civic education, community advancement, and voting rights movements.
The event is presented in partnership with the Sweet Auburn Collaborative, an alliance of historic faith institutions that includes Big Bethel AME Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and Wheat Street Baptist Church. Additional partners joining the effort include Jews for Freedom, Faith Rooted ATL, Faith Out Loud, and Freedom Forward. Each organization will encourage eligible Georgia voters to verify their voting information, identify an early-voting location, make a voting plan, and urge family members, friends, and neighbors to participate.
Sharpton underscored the importance of understanding emerging technology and ensuring its benefits are shared widely.
The AI fluency training session offers participants a chance to learn how artificial intelligence is transforming how people work, learn, communicate, and engage with their communities. The session is free and open to the public, including clergy, community activists, and students. Big Bethel AME Church is positioning itself as a hub for both faith and civic engagement, leveraging its long history of activism and community leadership to mobilize voters and educate the public on the importance of AI literacy.