Continuity Magazine - Issue 1

Continuity A Publication of the GeN’xt Ministry of the Huber Memorial Church

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WHO WE ARE eN’xt, short for Generation Next, is a vibrant ministry of maturing adults ages 30-45. We enjoy the privilege of being followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and strive to use the uniqueness of our position to relate to the generations before and after us, thus, personifying a generational bridge.

Our community of working men and women has a desire for spiritual growth, a passion for the Word of God and a zeal for the work of the ministry.

If you’d like to join us, there is a place for you here!

Matthew 6:33

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DECEMBER 2018 | ISSUE 1

THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM WHAT’S INSIDE? f you already have a church home, please take our greetings back to your Shepherd. If you are not a member of the Body of Christ and would like to be, the Salvation Counselors of our Huber community would love to pray with you. Here at Huber, we believe that it’s

all about relationship, or it ain’t about nothing, and have a family and ministry holding a place just for you!

For more information about the GeN’xt ministry, please visit our page at huberchurch.org/genxt, and feel free to contact us for additional information.

Be encouraged!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In this issue >>> An Interview with a Champion: Mrs. Mary Liningham Reflections of a GeN’xter: My 2018 Ashram Experience Bible Brain Teaser: Find the Books of the Bible

SUMMARY

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Reflections of a GeN’xter: My 2018 Ashram Experience

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Bridging the Gap Feature: An Interview with a Champion: Mrs. Mary Liningham

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Fun Facts: Mrs. Mary Liningham

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Bible Brain Teaser

Continuity A Publication of the Gen’xt Ministry Huber Memorial Church 5700 Loch Raven Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21239 Contributors Ms. Danielle Davis Mrs. Stacey Holliday Ms. Chelrisa Swanston Ms. Joyelle Swanston Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson Dr. Letitia Wright

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REFLECTIONS FEATURE

Reflections of A GeN’xter: My 2018 Ashram Experience The trip delivered as expected in that it contained all of the benefits attributed to it. What was left out of all of the sighing and exhortation of its promoters was the fact that the Ashram is a Christian boot camp. I rested well because I was exhausted by the end of the day, every day. A duty was assigned to every moment. I thought I’d taken copious notes; my hands would ache even as I drifted off to sleep.

By the end of it all, I was surprised and disappointed that my experiences were only partially contained within a mere twenty pages. Here is some of their essence, with context: Article By Danielle Davis GeN’xter Servant, Huber’s Video Ministry

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’ve been to New York a few times.

Mostly, I’ve been “through” it. On the way down to Baltimore from our hometown of Groton in Connecticut, my mother would often make sure there was enough gas to drive through that tiny corner of the Empire State without stopping.

It was a violent place, she’d say, and the beaten-up Chevrolet hatchback would speed on, leaving behind any hopes I had of catching a glimpse of Broadway lights.

Now, I wonder if she ever saw the irony in her reasoning.

My desire to visit gradually diminished as I grew older, but my appreciation for New York’s history increased as I learned more of its storied past. I’d toyed with the idea of going during the yearly Ashram my church took at its northern border for years, but my financial situation made me hesitant. Finally, the reports of peaceful study, quiet rest, picturesque mountainside and renewed spirits won me over. I saved enough money to rent my own room at the Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and was ready for a truly regenerative experience.

Was I ever in for a shock.

I’m a loner. I would have been perfectly happy sitting by myself for most of my meals, reading. However, the men of Huber would have none of it. If I wasn’t debating them, Pastor Smith would find me in whatever corner of solitude I’d settled in and forcibly remove me to a table shared by GeN’xt. After discovering my resistance, taking meals at the table of his choosing were made mandatory. I don’t regret it, now. These meetings gave me a better sense of direction and purpose. Lunchtime Lesson Notes from Pastor P.M. Smith: •

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Pastor Smith stayed on Luzerne Avenue because, “In order to change a community, it must be changed from the inside, out.”

The Church’s power and resources are the only means of transforming a people. It’s the only option for elevation.

Moving away from the church is cultural suicide.

Consistency – When other churches ask for our assistance, they use our tracts, and put their addresses on them. They use the same brand for water for their versions of Operation Burning Light.

Problem – Pastors see their calling as a profession. Preaching is not the same as pastoring. Shepherding is different from herding.

Referring to the expressiveness in traditional Black worship, Dr. Whipple Beryl said, “You can’t climb the temple and jump off the pinnacle every Sunday.”

Building a stronger Church is Pastor Smith’s ultimate goal.

Every evening, there was a meeting in a beauCONTINUITY

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tiful and ancient chapel on the campus. I was fascinated by its architecture, but since my explanations of the symbolism used in the structure seemed to bore everyone I spoke to about it, I won’t mention it here.

Instead, let me introduce you to some of the Ashram leaders who gave some amazing testimonies, learning experiences and words of encouragement: Sara: An Ashram leader who had the miraculous opportunity to pursue both her education and her service to Christ in America.

• Parents and grandparents were born-again believers. Her parents passed out tracts as local evangelists.

• Her family would hold prayer meetings in their home. Most people coming in were Hindu, Sikh and Mos lem.

• Sara’s parents dealt with evil spirit cases. Possessed people would come to her home for exorcism services.

• About five families in her hometown have been converted as a result of their efforts.

• When she didn’t get a job she wanted, Sara wondered why. Then, she got the opportunity to travel to the USA on a student visa. (This is nearly impossible for Indians, who send in hundreds of thousands of applications every year.)

• “Repeat after me: I am 0 percent perfect, and 100 percent forgiven.”

Guest speakers and preachers presented lessons at the morning classes taken immediately after breakfast. Pastor Smith stuck to his tried-and-true handouts and overhead projector (where in the world did he even find that?), but most used PowerPoint presentations.

Minister Gregory Allen: A guest speaker the Ashram with stern words for complacent Christians.

• Attempts to “relate” to our community members of the godless persuasion is not necessary.

• Service (action) will be recognized as genuine Christianity.

• Remain focused on God’s assignment

F E A T U R E | REFLECTIONS OF A GEN’XTER: MY 2018 ASHRAM EXPERIENCE

“Repeat after me:

I am 0 percent perfect, and 100 percent forgiven” •

We do not save souls. Jesus saves souls.

We win souls for Christ.

• In all things, maintain the integrity of the gospel. (Prov. 11:30) • Keep the Lord’s goals at the forefront.

• Remember: Consistency is costly. (You will sacrifice to serve.)

During the Ashram, attendees may choose from three “work” activities. Men are offered the opportunity to garden, women to sew. Either may choose to join the choir. I prefer gardening, so my choice was already made – I’d be trying my luck (and the ears of our temporary congregation) with singing.

Charles “Chuck” Dockins: A classically trained musician who was flown up to the Geneva area from Baltimore when the choir’s director was unavailable.

• The electric bass replaced the vocal bass in gospel music. This is the reason bass parts are included in Negro spirituals, but not in modern gospel music.

• Sound shaping is a Spanish vocal system used by those who couldn’t read tradition-

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al music.

“Your body is your instrument, and song is intentional. You must focus on creating your sound, and recognizing the notes of those around you.”

I got to put most of what I’d newly learned into practice during the week. There were some bizarre moments as well; a few of our speakers weren’t really sure what to do about a mostly Black, somewhat conservative audience. Attempts to relate to us made for some discomfiting (and hilarious) moments.

“It doesn’t matter what Trump does or says!”

Well, actually it does.

“Do you remember when they had you in CHAINS?!” Not particularly, no.

“Politics don’t matter.” But they’ve always been a focal point in the Black church!

has sailed, bud.

The pros of the United Christian Ashram outweighed the cons. Sure, we lost a hubcap the size of a 10-gallon commercial soup pot on the way there. (It went bouncing through the front yards of several houses – luckily no one was stricken by it.) Sure, it took us an extra three hours to arrive when the lead driver initially started driving south. And yes, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed and utilizing shared shower facilities was a little uncomfortable in the beginning.

But the soothing boat tour of the Geneva coast on Seneca Lake, the sunrise walks through the campus, the undisturbed, late-night perusal of Scripture; all overshadowed whatever inconveniences I faced.

Overall, it was worth the journey.

“Remember – we’re all children of God. What party you vote for isn’t important.” That ship

If you’d like information on the 2019 Ashram experience, please contact Mrs. Stacey Holliday at hollibabies@ msn.com

2019 United Christian Ashram CONTINUITY

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BRIDGING THE GAP FEATURE

An Interview with a Champion:

MRS. MARY LININGHAM

GeN’xt had the opportunity to sit down with one of our Champions, Mary E. Liningham, our very own 81-year-old “recycled teenager,” who worked for 37 years at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a nursing technician. In seeking to bridge generational gaps, we arranged to interview Ms. Mary and learn from her experiences as one of few original members of Huber Memorial Church. Ms. Mary was gracious enough to agree, and we had a great time learning not only about what the church was like in the beginning, but also why the “originals” decided to attend Huber despite challenging circumstances, and what she thinks about the future of our church.

Ms. Mary started attending Huber in 1967 when it was located on 29th and The Alameda. We identified that this was before any of us was born, which caused a great deal of laughter. She lived on the 28th block of The Alameda, a convenient proximity to the church, especially because her son was interested in the Boy Scouts, which was active at Huber. She recalled, “When I took him around the corner to sign him up for the Cub Scouts, the first person I met was Mr. Herbert Spencer and Bro. Tommy Dixon. They were working CONTINUITY

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B R I D G I N G T H E G A P F E A T U R E | AN INTERVIEW WITH A CHAMPION

with the Scouts. My son was not old enough because they had to be 7 years old to get started; but they looked at that big boy and they said, ‘he is big enough,’ so we didn’t tell anyone that he was only 6. So, you know when you sign up your children, you sign yourself up too.

They asked me to become a den mother, so, I became a den mother for the Scouts, and that’s how I got started at Huber.”

Although a den mother for the Scouts, Ms. Mary didn’t fall in love with the church right away. She was unsure of joining a church that was 98% white and only 2% black. While the neighborhood was in a period of demographic transition and more black families moved in— the Dixons, the Spencers, Clara Moore, and the Bennetts—their worship service was conservative, and they only sang hymns and anthems.

Ms. Mary was accustomed to a livelier service, where gospel music and hand-clapping were the norm. However, despite her reservations, she persisted and decided to give [Huber] a chance. She said,

“I know now that it was all in God’s plan. He plans our lives for us and we think we are doing it ourselves, but He knows where He wants us to be and will put us where He wants us to be.”

Ms. Mary also shared some stories that we had never heard before. For instance, did you know the church had paid singers as the choir?

Ms. Mary explained, “[a] benefactor left some money at the church to pay the singers. I mean they could sing! They could lift the roof off that place! They had a lady there, she opened her mouth and you just felt like the roof was going to fall off. After the money ran out for the paid singers, they no longer had a choir. So, some of their members came together to form a choir and Pastor (Meisner) asked me to come and join the choir. One Sunday after church the Pastor asked all of us to stay so that the musician could test our voices and we stayed to pacify him. We had no idea that we all would end up joining the choir that Sunday, and I was the only little alto. The rest of them were sopranos. There was one white lady there who took me under her wings and taught me how to sing anthems.”

“[t]he one thing that I did like about the church when I first saw it, was those beautiful stained-glass windows. They displayed the whole life of Christ. It began with his birth, and each window as you looked around, gave his whole history and that was amazing to me.” GeN’xt! agreed that bringing back some anthems would be a welcomed addition to the GeN’xt! responded with a resounding “Wow!” worship service.

Our imaginations came alive as we envisioned the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors and stories After Pastor Meisner left Huber, so did the that those glass windows must have displayed. white members. A series of preachers attempted to lead the church at various Within 18 months of visiting Huber, Ms. Mary points in time, but those attempts failed for and her son joined the church. By that time, one reason or another. Ms. Mary recounted, she met the other black families and formed a bond with them. She remembered them fond- “the members who remained, took turns doing ly as the “rat pack” and recalled, a little meditation each Sunday and then after that, we began inviting guest ministers to come “[W]e just bonded and I don’t know what it was in and someone told one of the members about that drew us to each other. When you messed Rev. Smith. He began coming in one Sunday with one person in that rat pack, you had the per month to preach for us and we all fell in whole pack to deal with. They only had 3 mi- love with him, and then he came back and nistries: Christian Education, Church Council said, I think I can give you all two Sundays per and the choir…so, we formed this pack and month, then he started a Tuesday night Bible we decided that everything (ministry) that was Study and I realized we didn’t have enough moopen we were going to join.” ney to pay him. We were only taking in about $35-$40 per week.”

The “rat pack” started attending the Church Council meetings and learned the dynamics of Financially, the originals used their own mothe church. She said, ney to purchase food, sacrificed their time to cook and sell dinners and had bake sales at The “[w]e did everything together and we became a Alameda shopping center. She said, family within the church and made the group solid.” “[w]e were up all night Friday, cooking and serving on Saturdays that by the time Sundays Ms. Mary resolved, came around we were exhausted but we went CONTINUITY

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“I know now that it was all in God’s plan. He plans our lives for us and we think we are doing it ourselves, but He knows where He wants us to be and will put us where He wants us to be.”

B R I D G I N G T H E G A P F E A T U R E | AN INTERVIEW WITH A CHAMPION in there and had service.”

Ms. Mary started the Children’s choir. She recounted, “[I] went around the neighborhood and knocked on doors and asked people if I could take children around the church to start a children’s choir. That was about in 1979 and they told me yes. We didn’t have a musician and I told the parents that I would bring the children back myself. I started that children’s choir with no musician just us singing acapella.

I taught them the little Bible songs and all the songs I knew. I was singing since I was 3 years old, so I had a catalog of songs that I knew. When Pastor (Smith) came, I had a good-sized Children’s choir and they were just up there a-singing.

Then, we only had one adult choir called the Sanctuary choir, and I directed and taught them. I was the Music Ministry, but I was determined that we were going to make that work.”

Ms. Mary was also Huber’s first female financial secretary. She recalled keeping the books and understood that the church would be unable to pay Pastor Smith what she thought he was worth, even then. “…so we said, ‘what are we going to do?’ We wrote him a letter and asked him to come and sit with us. Bro. Spencer was the treasurer and I was the financial secretary. When we met, we said, ‘Pastor, honestly, we don’t have any money to pay you to be our Pastor, because we can only afford to give you $35 per week.’ So, when we voted, I voted against making him Pastor. …He pulled me aside and asked, ‘Ms. Mary, if I decided to be your Pastor, will you support me?’ I started laughing and I said, ‘Pastor I know someone told you that I didn’t vote for you.’ I explained that I didn’t vote for him because I didn’t feel good about being able to give him only $35 per week because he had a wife and 2 children, and I know you cannot afford to take a job for $35 per week.’ I said, ‘that’s the only reason why I didn’t vote for you, but I love you and I would love for you to be my Pastor,’ and with that response, he accepted. And that’s how much money we paid him: $35 per week, and then he was upset when we increased it $100 because when he came, some people came with him and the church began to grow. I was excited to give him $100 a week and he got mad, but I insisted. I said, ‘Pastor look, I got the books and I am the financial secretary, and I know what’s coming in and going out, so trust me, we can afford this.’ …and that’s how I got him to accept it. So, the rest is history.”

Ms. Mary recalled God’s faithfulness, “I will go back to when I formed the Children’s choir. I had gone as far as I could go with the Children’s choir and I prayed and asked the Lord. I said, ‘Lord I am having so much problems with my legs and all, I need somebody to come on board that I can turn this Children’s choir to.’ The Lord must have

heard my prayers because a lot of people came and tried to work with me and the Children’s choir and they would be faithful for two months and then you wouldn’t see them anymore. So, I praise God for you honey.”

Ms. Mary and I exchanged a hug and I said, “I praise God for you!”

While the move from the Alameda to York Road caused Ms. Mary to experience some mixed feelings, she was ultimately pleased. She said, “I was also glad because I prayed and prayed and said, ‘Lord, please send us a Pastor that can build this church. I want to see this church filled to capacity.’ God answered my prayer. People just kept coming and we kept growing and then we began adding ministries.

We have one of the best Pastors in the world.”

Ms. Mary left us with several gems of advice: Now that the church has grown we have so many ministries here that we can’t be in every ministry but we can’t become so insulated that we don’t reach out to each other. We have to make the effort to reach each other. I am glad to be here with you all today.

Remember who your friends are.

True friends are like diamonds, very few and rare.

False friends are like falling leaves and you will find them everywhere. Be careful who you keep company with. Keep your hands in God’s hands, keep coming to church and, as Pastor says, keep doing what you’re doing.

We were edified from the time we spent with Ms. Mary. She encouraged us with these words, “You guys are at the age now when the 14 of us got started at Huber and, the thing that we did was that we always had each other backs. We always discussed things, no one ran off and did this and that. We put faith in God and in each other. We never gave up. We believed that God had put us there for a reason, so you all are here for a reason….you all seem rooted and grounded in the Word and you love the Lord.

I pray that you will continue and don’t forget the mission, don’t forget the Lord and put Him first. He said seek Me first and My Kingdom and He will add everything else that you need.”

Amen!

I think we get so busy and our minds get so cluttered with our own agenda that we don’t really reach out to each other. It’s not anyone’s fault it’s just the way things are. We have to be more conscious and more attentive to each other.

First of all, you have to put God first. We have to build each other up and not tear each other down. Understand that no man is an island; no man stands alone. You can do anything together; together you stand, but when you begin to divide, that’s when you fall. You have to keep that in mind. Continue with your Bible studies and continue to keep our mission in mind – Rescue, Redeem, Recreate. Just stick together.

As you look at us, there is a generation behind looking at you all so you have to pave the way for them so they won’t give up. They can look at you and say if they can do it we can do it too.

Always keep God in the center of everything.

How many of you here know Proverbs 3:5 & 6? Memorize that! Keep the great commandment as pastor would say, “with all, with all, with all” (we repeated that together and laughed). Pray about everything. Don’t take anything for granted. Remember the golden rule, not the one like the world, which is do unto others before they do it to you (again the room erupted with laughter), we do to others as we would have them do to us.

Do not co-sign any loans for anyone. Do not loan money. The best way to spoil a friendship is to borrow money from people and then they don’t pay it back. I am speaking from personal experience.

Train up the child in the way they should go.

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Article By Elizabeth Thompson GeN’xter Servant, Children’s Choir

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Fun Facts

MRS. MARY LININGHAM:

• Cooks, bakes and makes her own candy; baked her first cake from scratch when she was 9 years old; also makes biscuits from scratch.

• Was born and raised in Henderson, NC. • Attended the John R. Hawkins High School.

• Had 20 siblings (she is 5th from the top), no multiples, and all birthed by her mom!

• Favorite color is black and also likes shades of purple (go Ravens!)

• Gave her life to Christ at the age of 11.

• Worked as a nursing technician at Johns Hopkins for 37 years.

• Is 81 years old.

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BIBLE BRAIN TEASER

There are 16 books of the Bible in the following paragraph. See if you can find them. One person found 15 books in 20 minutes, but took 3 weeks to find the sixteenth one.

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu—kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you.

Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit that it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now.

There really are sixteen names of books in this story.

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Sermon Notes with Pastor’s Teaching Tool Name:

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Date:

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Scripture:

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Teaching Purpose Answers the question, “How should I understand this verse?” Is the passage dealing with a:

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Sin to confess and forsake?

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Promise to claim?

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Example to follow?

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Command to obey?

Situation or State of mind to avoid before it develops into a sin?

Sermonic Principle(s) Answers the question, “What’s in it, or what’s the take away for me?”

1. _____________________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________________________________ Action Point Having heard and understood this teaching, answers the question, “What should I do?”

1. ________________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________________ 4. ________________________________________________________________________

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.