1971 ushered the Sampson Family to Detroit MI from Louisville KY. Dr. Frederick Sampson accepted the role as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and brought with him a voice that’s changed the community. Membership at Tabernacle expanded from 1,500 to 5,000 in months. Throughout his 30 year tenure serving as pastor Sampson’s reign cast a shadow of the passion, commitment, and spirit that placed him in the esteem of Detroit preachers like Charles Adams, CL Franklin, and Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman.

May 19, 2018, Frederick G Sampson Foundation joins The Ecumenical Theological Seminary to honor the legacy of Dr. Fredrick G Sampson at the ‘Frederick G Sampson Symposium: Think I Said Something.’ The social activism and spiritual proclamation of Sampson’s work will be honored. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. (Emeritus Trinity UCC IL), Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas (Christian Theological Seminary IN), Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III. (Friendship West Baptist Church TX), Rev. Dr. Mayowa Reynolds (Fellowship Chapel) and a host of many other guests in walks of Faith who were all impacted by Rev Sampson. This interactive event welcomes everyone. Click here to purchase your ticket to attend and be inspired.

Freda Sampson (co-host of Detroit is Different’s Black Coffee Podcast) joined me to talk about her Father’s legacy. This was a fun interview. Rev. Sampson was a preacher I remember impacting so much of Detroit. In this discussion, I learned about his relationship with Muhammad Ali in Louisville KY. We also talked about his time leading the Detroit NAACP, working with Dr. Martin Luther King, and much more.