The Rev. Howard-John Wesley is no stranger to speaking hard truths from the pulpit. His Sept. 14 sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church — one of the nation’s oldest historically Black congregations — placed him and his church at the center of controversy. But his congregation at the Alexandria, Virginia-based church, has his back. 

The tension of the week and the possibility of protests were the result of Wesley’s sermon, “Lead Me to the Rock,” which focused on the overabundance of injustices against Black people in this country and how the weight of it all leaves him overwhelmed. Wesley masterfully handled the scripture text, Psalm 61:2, interwoven with one of the hottest news topics of the times, the killing of Charlie Kirk, hailed by President Trump as “our greatest evangelist for American liberty.”

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Wesley told the congregation that Kirk did not deserve to be killed. “But I’m overwhelmed seeing the flags of the United States of America at half staff, calling this nation to honor and venerate a man who was an unapologetic racist and spent all of his life sowing seeds of division and hate into this land,” he said.

And then came the threats from Kirk’s supporters.

“I Love You, Pastor”

A week later, though, the congregation stood to its feet with resounding applause in appreciation for the previous Sunday’s sermon by Wesley, widely regarded as one of the greatest communicators of this age.

It was at the point in the service when he introduced the preacher of the morning, and admitted, without going into great detail, how the activity of the week had worn him out, without going into great detail. The congregation applauded him for some time, amid shouts of “I love you, Pastor.”

The church notified people that protestors were expected near or around the church campus, but that the church’s regular activities would not be disrupted

The church also “received information about a possible vigil” from Kirk supporters taking place during the week. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide any necessary updates as we get closer to the date. Your safety and worship experience remain our highest priority. Our security and hospitality teams are prepared and will be on site to ensure a smooth and peaceful day,” a notice to congregants read.

This isn’t the first time Alfred Street Baptist has been a target of hate. In 2021, a Texas man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for making a bomb threat to the church.

The tension underscored just how much weight Wesley’s pulpit carries. For 17 years, he has led Alfred Street, a 200-year-old congregation with national reach. His sermons have often spoken to moments of crisis — from “When the Verdict Hurts” after Trayvon Martin’s killing to “A Rizpah Response” and “Tell Your Own Story,” now preserved at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. That track record has made both his congregation and critics pay close attention when he speaks.

For Alfred Street, the backlash is both a burden and a reminder of its calling. But with the way the congregation has Wesley’s back, it seems a church with such a long legacy of truth-telling is not going to let up now.