Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, DM., Div.
Senior Pastor, City of Refuge United Church of Christ
Presiding Bishop, Refuge Ministries/Fellowship 2000 

Rev. Flunder founded the City of Refuge Community Church UCC in 1991 in order to unite a gospel ministry with a social ministry. City of Refuge is a thriving inner-city congregation that celebrates the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ. Preaching a message of action, the church has experienced steady numerical and spiritual growth and is now located in the south of Market area of San Francisco at 1025 Howard Street.

A native San Franciscan, Rev. Flunder is a third generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ. She was licensed in the COGIC and later ordained by the Bishop Walter Hawkins of Love Center Ministries where she served as Associate Pastor and administrator for the Oakland-based Love Center Church.  In 1984 Rev. Flunder began performing and recording with “Walter Hawkins and the Family” and the Love Center Choir. Rev. Flunder is also an ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ and a graduate of the Ministry Studies and Master of Arts programs at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California.  She received a Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo California. In June 2003 Rev. Flunder was consecrated Presiding Bishop of Refuge Ministries/Fellowship 2000 a multi-denominational fellowship of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity representing churches and faith-based organizations from all parts of the country.

Responding to the needs of the AIDS epidemic, Rev. Flunder and her staff opened Hazard-Ashley House and Walker House in Oakland and Restoration House in San Francisco through the Ark of Refuge, Inc., a non-profit agency whose purpose is to provide housing, direct services, education and training for persons affected by HIV/AIDS in the Bay Area, throughout the USA and in three countries in Africa.  Restoration House is a dual-diagnosis residential facility for African-American women and the first of its kind in San Francisco. Walker House is licensed by the State of California as a Critical Care Facility. Ark House provides transitional housing for homeless youth. The Ark provides HIV/AIDS education and prevention services targeting the African American and African faith community. The Ark recently opened, in collaboration with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Magic Johnson Clinic to provide primary medical care services. The Ark also provides substance abuse intervention programs and several programs designed to support inner-city youth.  

Rev. Flunder serves as Executive Director of the Ark of Refuge, Inc., and a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust and the Department of Health and Human Services. She also serves as chair of the Social Justice Commission for the World Bishops Council.

Rev. Flunder has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, as a Board Member of the Shanti Project, as Chair of the San Francisco Inter-religious Coalition on AIDS, Chair of the Black Adoption Placement and Research Center, Founding member of the African American Interfaith Alliance on AIDS, Member of the Alameda County Ryan White Consortium, a member of the San Francisco HIV/AIDS Planning and Prevention Council, and as a Member of the California Ryan White Working Group.

Rev. Flunder is much sought after as a preacher, educator, conference speaker and singer. She has been invited to minister and serve throughout the nation and many points abroad.  Published work can be found at http://www.sfrefuge.org/books.shtml

Rev. Flunder has received many awards for her work in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the elderly and youth.

For more information, please contact Barbara Webb, Public Affairs.
Phone: 415-861-6130 - Fax: 415-861-6103 - E-mail: Mrsbmw@prodigy.net
www.sfrefuge.org - www.arkofrefuge.org

Carl Wheeler

Carl Wheeler's unique R&B style has evolved form his childhood musical director for churches and major recording artists has contributed to his success as a writer/producer with a keen sense of today's commercial market.

At eleven years old Carl began arranging songs as well as conducting interviews and sang for a bay area TV program called "Just Kidding". During his junior and senior years Carl was the assistant conductor for the Castlemont Castleteers at Castlemont High School in Oakland, CA.

Along with some high school friends, he became the keyboardist and background vocalist for Shella E. They were the opening act for Lionel Ritchie on the  "Dancing on the Ceiling" tour. They also toured Japan with the "Artist".

The group Toni! Toni! Ton'e! assembled in 1986 and Carl was the keyboardist and musical director. The Toni's went on to record their first album in 1987 entitled "Who?". The groups second album "Revival" came in 1989. Carl co-wrote many songs on that project including two "1 hits "Feel Good and "Whatever You Want". Carl also wrote the #1 hit and Grammy nominated song "Anniversary" from the groups third album "Sons of Soul".

Most of the songs that were performed and recorded by Toni-Toni-Tone' were written
by Carl Wheeler and they hit the billboard charts plus he was in the movie "House Party 2". Even though he has never received the recognition he deserves - he has moved on to bigger and better things.

Carl has produced and recorded two Gospel albums and also toured with Walter, Edwin and Tramaine Hawkins. He also toured with Lynette Stephens.

Carl has played with a number of artist such as Bobby McFerrin, Too Short and on the remix of "The Morning After". He also manages and operates "Coda Studios" in Oakland, CA.

Still writing, arranging and producing many gospel artist such as Eugene Cole and Persuaded, Bishop Walter Hawkins, The Sacramento Metropolitan Choir of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and many others - he plays with the famous Frankie Beverly and Maze. I am very proud to be connected with such a wonderful and talented musician.

Henry Jackson

Henry Jackson is one of today's leading gospel singers, songwriters, and musicians. Henry was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and was raised in the music rich bay area of San Francisco, California. He studied classical piano at the San Francisco Music and Arts Institute.

Henry began his recording career in the early 70’s with the Harrison Johnson Los Angeles Community Choir, writing and producing such songs as “Help Us Master”, “Nothing Can Turn Me Around,” and the toe-tappin’ “I’m SO Thankful.” Henry went on to form the group known as “The Henry Jackson Company” who recorded three albums, and whose recordings always charted in the Top 20 in Billboard Magazine. Henry has recorded 2 solo albums, working with such producers as D.J. Rogers, James Cleveland and Gene Barge. He has been featured on USO Television “The Black Stage”; on Christian Television Network KTBN with former Miss America, Cheryl Pruitt; on BET’s “The Bobby Jones Show” and with Lou Rawls in the Johnny Carson Show. He has also appeared and sand with Faith Hill in a “Pepsi” commercial aired on Super Bowl Sunday 2002.

A very prolific songwriter, Henry’s songs have been recorded by such artists as the Grammy nominated “Father Charles Hayes & The Cosmopolitan  Church Choir” of Chicago, Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir, and most recently the Los Angeles Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America founded by the late, Grammy winning Rev. James Cleveland.

Henry has performed with such great gospel greats as Andre & Sandra Crouch, Edwin & Walter Hawkins, the legendary Clara Ward Singers, and many more. Henry has also performed with secular artists such as Lou Rawls, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, and has served as ‘gospel’ musical conducted for Dionne Warwick.

Henry recently formed a new choir known as “The Voices of Community.” That choir recorded a “live” CD to be released later this year.

Henry is also dedicated to church ministry, and when not traveling and performing, serves as minister of music at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Venice, California.

Henry Jackson is a legend in the field of gospel music.

Gospel Singer Shirley Miller

In the genre’ of Gospel Music few artists have experienced a more diverse and expansive journey, then that traveled by Minister Shirley Miller.

Shirley’s ministry journey started at the tender age of three as she was called on, to sing her first solo during a service at her family’s Oakland California church. Raised in that church, Shirley as a young girl dedicated her life and talents to the Lord. Her desire was to present to the world, the Gospel of God’s mercy and love, not only through her song but also by her own words and life example. She has walked true to her promise and the result of her dedication has brought forth-remarkable fruit.

The years to follow have allowed her to minister here at home and abroad, touching people of various walks of life. Ministering in places such as: communities across the United States and Europe, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Jamaica, Damascus and the Country of Liberia, West Africa. Whether singing in a small storefront church or in one of the most prestigious musical venues around the world. Shirley’s commit-ment to her calling has never wavered.

Minister Miller’s world-wide ministry began at the Ephesians Church Of God In Christ in Berkeley, California as one of the lead singers of the

Edwin Hawkins Singers. A group of devoted young people at that time just singing songs, to up lift their own bay area and church home audiences. They had no idea that God had a plan that would soon make them one of the most famous gospel choirs or groups in the gospel genre’s history. The choice to re-arrange an old Gospel Hymn and record it, in hopes of raising enough money through sales for the singers to go to their church yearly convocation birthed the phenomena entitled “Oh Happy Day”. The year was 1969 and “Oh Happy Day” the song and album became a smash hit on Pop Radio Programs, going to #1 on the Billboard Charts both Gospel and Pop. It is recorded as one of the fastest million selling songs ever tracked in any musical genre’.

Shirley Miller being one of the founding members of the Hawkins Singers was soon chosen to be the voice to carry that song around the world. As one of the renowned “Edwin Hawkins Singers” Shirley appeared on some of the most viewed television shows of that time, to include “The Dick Cavett Show” “The Hollywood Palace”, “Tom Jones Show” “The Mike Douglas Show ” and “The Andy Williams Show” “The David Frost Show” “The George Burns Television Special” “The American Band Stand” “The Jerry Lewis Telethon” and many more. Shirley has been a featured artist at “The Stellar Awards” in Chicago and “Bobby Jones Gospel” in Nashville, Tennessee, “The Saturday Night Sing” and “The PTL Club”.

In 1998 Minister Miller was featured in her first solo album a worldwide release entitled “I Must Go On” on the Light Records Label. Within weeks the album started its’ climb up the Billboard Gospel Chart and  immediately racked up impressive sales that exceeded 50,000 copies. To her dismay however, Light Records Company failed as a business during the most crucial time for that release and was unable to garner the momentum needed to push the project to it’s fullest potential. Nevertheless, Shirley continued to work and was featured on several of the “Love Alive” albums with Bishop Walter Hawkins and the internationally acclaimed “Love Center Choir”. She also sang as part of the critically acclaimed “Walter Hawkins and The Family”. In 1992 in support of the “Love Alive IV” album release, Minister Miller was invited to and completed a 15 city tour with Bishop Walter Hawkins and the Love Center Choir. In reprise of her signature performance of the ground breaking Gospel phenomenon “Oh Happy Day”, Shirley is the soloist on the title cut of the album The Edwin Hawkins Singers 20^th Anniversary “Oh Happy Day!”

Currently Minister Shirley Miller continues to walk out her God given assignments. In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper, she spoke of her work at the Ark House, a residence for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Ark is one of the first such facilities founded operated by an African American Church. In Shirley’s words: “ It’s hard to talk to a man about Jesus when he’s hungry, homeless, and sick she continued and concluded by saying “ This is all about love you know”.

For four decades Minister Miller (Mother Miller, as many call her these days) has inspired us and countless others, to join with her as she sings praises to our God. A God that she has continues to present as intimate by nature, all inclusive by choice and limitless in power. Shirley

Continues, to keep her promise to Him and He continues to respond with favor. Favor which has most recently brought her through a successful battle with cancer, and has quickened her to become an activist to encourage and minister to fellow cancer survivors.

You see her life, her work and her song are an obedience response to a loving, God, and as she would say.  “You see it’s all about love you know”.