NAN Celebrates Living Black History, Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III

Every day during Black History Month, we will honor chapter leaders, advocates, and partners who are shaping Black History now.

(February 18th, 2021) — Today we honor Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III.

The Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, was born in Detroit, Michigan, during the Civil Rights and Labor Movements to Horace L., Jr., and Mary Sheffield. Through his father’s work and legacy, Horace L. Sheffield, Jr., the Vice President of the Negro American Labor Council (NALC) under A. Philip Randolph, its Founder and President, Rev. Sheffield, III, was providentially exposed to various enduring models of “servant leadership” and “prophetic societal challenge.”

Called to preach in June 1965 at eleven years of age, while listening to the preaching of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., who was in Detroit at the invitation of his father to raise money for the Lowndes County Movement.

Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, is a published writer having co-authored two plays with Ms. Yolanda Denise King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of which is entitled “Stepping into Tomorrow” which was also co-authored by Ms. Attallah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X. Additionally, Rev. Sheffield, along with Ms. King and Ms. Shabazz were the co-founders of Nucleus, Inc., a New York-based Theatrical Company, which toured the country performing positive messages for endangered youth. The company also included such performers as Gina Bellefonte, Ella Joyce of Roc, and S. Epatha Murkupson of NYPD Blue.

Presently, Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, is the Pastor of Detroit’s New Destiny Christian Fellowship, known for “Transforming Communities by Changing Lives.” Rev. Sheffield is also the Executive Director of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations (dabo), President of the Michigan Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), is Chairperson of the Detroit Ecumenical Ministers Alliance, is a National Board Member of the Black Leadership Commission on Aide, is a National Board Member of the National Cares Movement under the leadership of Susan Taylor and is a Life Member of the NAACP.

Rev. Sheffield hosts his own weekly radio show known as “On the Line” every Saturday on AM 910 The Word.

A dedicated community leader and man of God.