Annual meeting becomes a "church" rally

If anybody can turn an annual business meeting into a church service, it's Brian Black, president and chief executive of the Urban League of Kansas.

On Monday, during the league's meeting at Botanica that drew more than 300 people, Black used Psalms 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd," to illustrate the tougher times he's experienced in his attempts to guide the league in moving more people to the economic mainstream.

Black said there were times he felt like he's walked through the "valley of the shadow of death" alone. But all he needed to do, he said, was to pause, look around and see that he wasn't alone. Surrounding him were other nonprofit organizations and business people who he's since joined hands with. Now they're walking together, supporting and promoting one another's mission.

To this, Black received a rousing round of applause and hearty "Amens."