As pastor of the New Unity Church in Baltimore's eastside, Rev. Johnny Golden, Sr. believes in a social Bible. He says that this "commands us to be in the lives of others," and he and his congregation put this philosophy into practice by focusing on social, civic and educational involvement.

"We ask every adult to vote and every parent to join the PTA," says Rev. Golden, who is a Fellow with the Urban Health Initiative. "People are asked to show their voter registration and PTA membership cards at church."

Rev. Golden's ministry doesn't put expectations only on the adults. The youth of the church are asked to get library cards and bring in their report cards and schoolwork.

"Every quarter we have 'Signs and Wonders Day'," says Rev. Golden. "Youth display their report cards as well as tests and other assignments. We pray over them. I believe prayer is a mighty force. We believe through hard work and prayer we can improve the report cards. Some students will read from their work, and we always look for positive things to say."

Rev. Golden sets the same expectation of involvement for himself as he does for the members of his church. Recently he was a leader of an act of civil disobedience targeted at Baltimore's school board. More than 400 people from throughout the city protested school budget cuts.

What drives Rev. Golden's mission to be involved, and have his congregation involved, in the life of the community?

"I've been fortunate, especially as an African American, to have grown up in South Carolina," he says. "I didn't suffer many of the ills of an African American man in an urban environment." After growing up in South Carolina, Rev. Golden joined the Army. "The military broadened my horizons and made an indelible impression on me. It changed my life."

With that background, Rev. Golden began his ministry in Baltimore eight years ago. "What I didn't see in Baltimore was a sense of hope and wonder. I've been working to rekindle that hope and wonder and to help knock down the barriers, real and perceived, that prevent people from having a sense of purpose. It's what motivates me."

Rev. Golden became an Urban Health Initiative Fellow, through which he works with Baltimore's Safe and Sound Campaign, in large measure because of his community leadership and the value he places on civic involvement and social change. But when it comes to knocking down barriers, his involvement with the UHI has been both a bit frustrating and a revelation to him.

"The rebel in me wants change now," he says, and the UHI's focus on systems change sometimes seems too incremental. "But I understand that large vessels turn slowly, which could be a benefit to those on board, lest they be thrown overboard by a quick turn. The Fellowship has helped me deal with the reality of change, that it's a process."

"My raison d'etre, my reason for existence is to be a blessing to others," Rev. Golden says, "and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to come together with others and create positive change."