The Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are co-sponsoring a fall festival and gospel music festival on October 23 and 24 at the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church near Vernon and Central.

Volunteers from both churches work together under a coalition called One Heart Many Hands L.A. 

The coalition was spearheaded by Dr. Albert Nicholas, the Senior Pastor at the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, and Robert Keeler, the president of the Santa Monica Stake of the Latter-Day Saints Church.  It seeks to host joint community service, musical and multi-faith events.

One Heart Many Hands L.A. has worked extensively in the South Los Angeles community providing tutoring to high school students and college preparation workshops.

Congregants of Nicholas’s church and a single young Mormon branch of the Santa Monica Stake planned the fall festival and concert.

“It’s vital that we reach out to our community and do all we can to lift the people around us,” said Jackie Darby, a member of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, in a press release.

The fall festival on October 23 will have games, booths and activities, as well as information and workshops regarding health and emergency preparedness. 

The following evening, the Southern California Mormon Choir and the Pilgrim’s Combined Choir will fill the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church with gospel music.

Admission to both events is free. 

“I couldn’t see us leaving the money in the bank when we could use it to help people,” said Bishop Larry Eastland of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

For more information about the fall festival or the One Heart Many Hands L.A. coalition, please visit www.facebook.com/oneheartmanyhandsLA.