Continuity Magazine- Issue 3

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

In This Issue:

An Interview with a Champion: Sis. Marie Slyvia Planter Refined By Fire: Preserved, Protected, & Prepared for His Purpose What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do: Words of wisdom from a GeN'xtra Bible Brain Teaser: Wise Up - Ecclesiastical Fun

FEATURES

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3 7

Contibutors

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Ccontinuity

A Publication of the Gen’xt Ministry Huber Memorial Church 5700 Loch Raven Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21239

Ms. Danielle Davis Min. Howard McLain Ms. Chelrisa Swanston Ms. Joyelle Swanston Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson Dr. Letitia Wright

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� Refined By Fire Preserved, Protected, and Prepared for His Purpose

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ow well do you know the people around you? I have to say for myself, not very. As an introvert, perfectly content with quiet and only in want of a controlled environment, learning about the details of the lives of others seems a tremendous task—an exercise in exhaustion. But there is treasure to be found in such stories. In lives lived long, or at their daybreak, whether filled with easy strides or harrowing turns, there is a hidden ore. It is what makes up the man or woman who is fashioned from it, and it may be borrowed from where offered, to fashion another in its likeness. Then, forged by circumstance and hardened by

experience, this new creation goes on to fulfill the purpose of the One who makes all things.

Allow me to introduce you to Inga Williams.

Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “Was I not joking?”

Proverbs 26:18-19

There was no room for weakness on the streets of the Greater Baltimore area in the 1980s. In a city plagued by a raging drug epidemic and ceaseless violence, showing any sign of cowardice or lacking CONTINUITY

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good common sense could prove fatal.

Inga was born first daughter to her mother Michele (pictured on back cover), and soon to be one of five siblings. Independent, proud and feisty, she was exactly what her mother had intended. And well she should be; Michele had other matters to attend to.

Caring for so many children alone was no simple task, and she was already working three jobs. Her love for them alone wouldn’t feed her little ones. So, in the tradition of many families boasting several children and sparse paternal involvement, Inga found herself caring for the younger girls.

To see her happily combing their hair or escorting them to school or the library in the mornings, you would never mistake Inga for anything other than a volunteer. She didn’t resent her place as a substitute caretaker. Rather, she enjoyed contributing to the successes in the lives of her sisters as she bathed and dressed

C O N T I N U I T Y | REFINED BY FIRE them or walked them to school. The one thing she did resent was having to put up with her mother’s boyfriend. He never touched Inga inappropriately, but his mere presence was repulsive and made her very uncomfortable. When Inga complained about her instinctive misgivings, Michele would always come to her boyfriend’s defense, choosing to support him instead.

He slowly, and without much effort, began to drive an invisible wedge between Inga and Michele, corrupting what had once been a close and trusting relationship.

Respite from her daily struggles came to Inga in two forms. The first was on Sunday mornings when Inga could have been found sitting with her aunt, LaChina Koyier (née Ferguson) and grandmother, Carol Ferguson. Sweetness incarnate, Carol was a quiet source of tenacity for Inga. The embodiment of patience, she encouraged and corrected without being judgmental.

The second source of relief came from her aunt and uncle, Dianne and Eric Brown, Sr., and their son, Eric II (pictured on back cover). Inga and Eric II were the same age and she was often invited to attend his school events, from basketball games to plays. On one occasion, while they were out for some quality time, the owner of a local candy store took on a serious expression, as he looked Inga and Eric II over. Then, with the self-satisfied air of having solved some great mystery he asked, “You twins?”

The two children glanced at each other.

Even though they were only cousins, Inga and Eric II looked very much alike. Why not capitalize on that fact?

“Yeah, we’re twins!” Never mind why the title granted such favor in the mind of this store owner. The end result was that it got them extra candy with each visit.

Inga spent so much time with her aunt, uncle and cousin that she was jokingly referred to as Dianne’s daughter. “The Wardens,” as Eric II and Inga referred to Dianne and Eric Sr., ran a very structured household. Though Inga may not have realized it at the time, it was that structure that provided the occasional welcomed escape that she needed.

children, “didn’t know what [they] didn’t have.” The strained relationship with her mother’s boyfriend was one that was familiar to most of them, a normal part of life for Inga and her friends. The accepted response to these types of bizarre relationships was to simply bury their feelings about the constant trespasses. Not being able to address them eventually led to their eruption.

In Danish the name Inga means “Daughter of a Hero.” At the age of fifteen Inga wasn’t suicidal, but she was ready and willing to live up to the meaning of her name and become a hero in her own right. Inga was prepared to kill her mother’s boyfriend or die trying. In her young fed-up mind, she was willing to accept the consequences of those actions. In a fit of despair and rage she called her Aunt Dianne to say a last goodbye.

In response to that fated telephone call, Dianne was at Michele’s doorstep within fifteen minutes and forcefully removed Inga from the house. However, having to leave all the other girls behind to save only one of them broke her heart. It was the worst night of Dianne’s life because a family was now more broken than it had ever been. Yet it was one of the best nights of her life because, to her, Inga was already considered her daughter. In fact, Inga would have probably frequented Dianne’s residence more often if she hadn’t been more focused on protecting her sisters.

That paradoxical event soon proved to be what all involved with it had hoped and at the same time feared. A glimmer of hope was found in the fact that Inga’s grades, which had been suffering while she was kept out of school to care for her little sisters, began to improve rapidly. However, after she moved away, her sisters didn’t attend school for a year because no one would take them. Inga would never reside at that house again, but the love she had for her mom and sisters made the guilt of leaving almost too heavy. Her conflicted emotions were valid as she had been “The One” among her sisters. What the adults in her life understood that Inga didn’t at the time, was that the responsibilities and My soul is among lions; emotional burdens she shouldered were I must lie among those who breathe forth not appropriate for a fifteen-year-old child.

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fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are For the arrows of the Almighty are within spears and arrows me, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Their poison my spirit drinks; Psalm 57:4 The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

Job 6:4 What is the good life? According to Inga’s schoolmates, it was what they were all Dianne had her hands full. Her husband living. Not knowing any other way and was extremely supportive, but Inga was possessing the natural enthusiasm of a new type of creature entirely. She wore youth, she and the other neighborhood the standard uniform of the day—low-cut CONTINUITY

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tops and short skirts tight to the body, and weave tight to the scalp. Dianne and her husband, Eric Sr., had been a constant in her life since childhood, however Inga was someone else’s child. Dianne had offered little input on the girl’s style choices, but that was about to change. She was now an inmate of “The Wardens” household.

Discipline could only be achieved if the authority made her mark on the new recruit. A new house meant new rules, and a new wardrobe. So began Inga’s transformation from street to neat.

First on the list was a haircut followed by finding clothes that fit her properly. The church may have ignored the appearance of Carol’s granddaughter, but things were different now. Word that Inga now lived with Dianne had probably spread through the gossip grapevine before they had reached the front door of Dianne’s house.

Inga would need to dress like she was Dianne’s daughter in order to avoid raised eyebrows from the congregants.

The visual transformation had the desired effect on Inga’s outward appearance, but her attitude also changed drastically. The loss of freedom and independence she had once enjoyed at Michele’s house started to creep to the forefront of her thoughts.

Under the strict gaze of her new guardians she became moody and sullen. In other words, Inga began to display the expected characteristics of an emotionally healthy teenager. So much so in fact, that she would eventually come to say of her years in Dianne and Eric Sr.’s house, “It was a good prison.”

He bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow.

He made the arrows of His quiver To enter into my inward parts.

Lamentations 3:12-13 The phone rang in the early morning hours on a Saturday. “This had better be good,” Eric Sr. grumbled as Dianne answered the phone. “That girl always has something going on.” This time, the midnight call was anything but ordinary. Carol was on the other end, calmly explaining that she had received a call from Bayview Hospital.

A fire raced through Michele’s house that night. Ariel, the youngest, was taken to Johns Hopkins Medical Center for burn wound treatment. Michele, Ina, India and Asia had perished. The local Chief of Police and Fire Chief requested that someone come out to identify them; Eric Sr. agreed to the task. He would return, harrowed and saddened, forever a different man. Inga was awakened at 2AM to a gathering of the entire family. Together, they journeyed to Johns Hopkins where they met Pastor P.M.

C O N T I N U I T Y | REFINED BY FIRE Smith for prayer. Inga was passed from one person’s arms to another as all sought to put her heart at ease. By noon the next day, Ariel had also lost her battle against the flames.

With ginger steps and the vestigial optimism that hope of any reclamation could bring, Inga and Dianne moved through the charred shell of what had once been a home. Any previous imperfections were beautiful in comparison to the state it was in now. The soot-covered remnants of familiar items and blackened furniture made clearer than ever that the bonds they represented were now a memory, destined to become more distant with each passing hour.

Dianne had tried her best to allow this one solemn moment be a chance of quiet reflection for Inga, a crucial part of letting go of what had been. The local media, however, saw only an opportunity to be the first to break a story. Grief, misery and doom were substantial parts of their diet.

They descended on the home like so many vultures, plundering expressions of pain and softly spoken words of comfort from the survivors of the tragedy. Microphones and cameras pressed forward, sharply dressed reporters and weary crew members made every attempt to bypass Dianne, filming Inga as she cried in her night clothes and head scarf while shuffling through the ashes.

Five coffins. One blue. Four white, and so very small. All closed. Nothing like it had ever been seen at Huber Memorial Church. The presenter of the eulogy was in an unenviable position. Explaining the goodness and grace of a God Who had been there, Who had seen the danger of an oven left on and open to warm a cold house, Who had seen the smoke rising, Who had known that only the basement smoke detector was still functional, Who had shown no way out or protected four innocent girls from the flames as He had once done for three Hebrew boys so long ago would be a monumental task. But, Pastor P.M. Smith, whose congregation met weekly in one of the deadliest cities on earth, knew that there was more to grief than scholarly explanation.

For now, the church would do what only the Church could do. Four tall walls and a roof that arched to the heavens protected mourning relatives from prying eyes.

The Healed Helpers, a ministry devoted solely to the purpose of serving the family members of the dead, led the way to bathrooms, provided tissues and prayed with any who made a request. Meals had been planned and their preparations begun at the first news of the fire by members of the church fellowship. These

tasks, as always, were taken on without any expectation of payment. In Pastor Smith’s view, the difficulty of loss was more than enough to handle for those seated on the first few rows in the sanctuary. The power of presence was on full display, the unfathomable God vindicated through the humble works of His people.

For Inga, forgiveness was not so simple. Its target wasn’t a God she couldn’t see, but the young woman she did see every day in the mirrors of the Wardens’ house. Why had she left her sisters behind? Why hadn’t she visited them on the night before the fire?

Had living with her mother really been so terrible that she needed to abandon her family to life without its most responsible protector? Ina, the oldest of the children to remain in Michele’s house, had only been eleven years old. She and the others had so many more years to live, and so much more to live for; why was Inga the one chosen to survive?

It would take a college professor or mathematician to answer questions of this level of complexity. Fortunately, Inga had both in Huber’s First Lady & the Pastor’s Only Lady, Delores Smith. After the smoke had stopped rising, after the caskets had been lowered into the ground, after the media lost interest and the rest of the church moved on to new people to put to rest, after the grief counseling class had been completed, the First Lady of Huber Memorial Church walked with Inga through her sadness, helping her to grow in spite of the dulling pain.

Years later, at the University of Maryland College Park, Inga encountered James III again, and yet it seemed like the first time.

As she learned about his tight-knit family, she became more and more attracted to him. James III, much like a party himself, distracted her from the beginning of her second year and continues to be one of her best distractions to this day. During their marriage, James has proven a capable and worthy husband and father.

Their two children, James IV and Jamie, are the lights of his life, and he couldn’t fathom being away from them. Inga’s upbringing and unexpected subsequent positivity bewildered James. He enjoyed a wonderful childhood with his father, whom he respects and loves. James III had determined from his youth that in order to be separated from his children, a court order would need to be involved, and it still may not be entirely effective. He still struggles to understand men that don’t make every effort to father their children.

The years have come and gone and as the old saying goes, “Time heals”. Inga, now a mature parent, understands the longing, remorse and emptiness that her father may have been feeling for those many years as an absentee parent. Today they are mending the wounds caused by years of absence and hurt. Forgiveness is a command; it’s powerful and just like anything else, it’s a choice. Inga has chosen to forgive. She understands that “It’s all about relationship, or it ain’t about nothing.”

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Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, Carol, Inga’s grandmother, had only one The fruit of the womb is a reward. command for Inga. “Even if I’m not here to Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, see it, I need you to finish.” She was taking So are the children of one’s youth.

Anatomy and Physiology for the third time, How blessed is the man whose quiver is and quite near to giving up on her dream. full of them; She would receive her degree after Carol’s They will not be ashamed passing. Promise Kept!

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.René Moulton, Mentor, about IngaJessica seeks to giveBrooks, the same encouragement Mentee: Psalm 127:3-5 to the next generation. She recommends that young minds begin to change their Inga Williams (née had never focus and by reading Psalm quit.

37. SheShe specifies Jessica isFerguson) teachable, faithful doesn't been good with parties. She was quiet and verse 4: brings newfamily. ideas came from a small and quiet Herinto our ministry that will husband James III’stake family us was,into on thethe otherfuture.

Delight yourself also in thethe Lord,ministry She joined hand, large and fun loving. They had been And He shall give you the desires of your with noduring experience, to Dianne’s house once before Eric heart. and has grown. She now II’s prom (he was dating James’ god-sister the videoInga team.

Jessica a winner. at the time), and Ingaleads was so overwhelmed Williams lives is happily with her by the number of bodies grouped so closely husband, James III, and their two children, together and the noise that she hid in the James IV and Jamie, as evidence of the stairwell. Eric Sr. caught herMemorial in the act, scripture above.Spread the Word Huber Church’s scolded her for being a poor hostess, and forced her to come back downstairs to “Just don’t give up hope. Don’t give up on interact with humanity. Neither she nor yourself. Just trust in God. We all have a James III remembered their first meeting. story. We just have to trust that God will Perhaps that was for the best. keep us. We can’t be victims of our stories.

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� C O N T I N U I T Y | REFINED BY FIRE

-Inga Williams At the point of intersection where an arrow meets the bow, a phenomenon takes place known as the Archer’s Paradox. The arrow must move forward without being redirected and set off course by the bow it is fired from. Yet the bow is directly in line with the target, making the task of the arrow seem impossible. How is success achieved? As the arrow is released, the friction caused from the force of the bowstring causes the arrow to bend around the bow, spiraling wildly through the air.

Its rotation, much like that of a propeller, ensures that it travels forward. The arrow’s seemingly straight flight is only an illusion in the eyes of the spectator. The skill of the archer causes it to hit the mark. An

inflexible arrow would not bend around the bow, and would be useless.

By way of analogy, the child of God is the arrow, the fallen world is the bow, Our God & Father is the skilled archer!

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone…

John 8:7

Grandma Carol and Inga

Article By Danielle Davis GeN’xter Servant, Huber’s Video Ministry

ABOUT MY BABY

A Note from James WIlliams III

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eautiful. Strong. Fearless. Loving. Determined. Caring. Selfless. Perseverant. Did I mention Beautiful? Those are just a few words to describe the one and only Inga Williams. The woman that has been my better half for almost 12 years now, but even before that day of holy matrimony, was a dear friend. I still to this day remember the first time I met her at a college football game at Byrd Stadium, where she was sitting next to our good friend Jennifer (God rest her soul), proudly rocking her red Maryland Terrapins hoodie. I knew that day that we would be friends, but not even I could have imagined that she would become my college sweetheart, and later in life, my wife. Fast-forward 18 years later, and she’s still that same sweet girl I met sitting in those stands; only, she has matured and grown into both a God-fearing and Christ-centered wife, and mother of two beautiful children; all the while remaining humble, and never forgetting her “Down the Hill” roots. She has endured more hurt and heartache than any person should have to bear, but if you’d have a casual conversation with her, you’d never know it. The things in life that could have broken her, didn’t; they merely refined her into the majestic manifestation here before us today. She is the embodiment of one of her favorite quotes from one of her favorite people, the late, great Maya Angelou: “Still I rise.” She is love and strength personified and she epitomizes what the “Virtuous Woman” from Proverbs 31 is and should strive to be. She is my confidant, my best friend, my lover, my friend, and my heartbeat. She's my soulmate and my angel on earth. Simply put, she is my everything. God made her just for me and for that I am eternally grateful and because of that I will love her until the end of time.

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� An Interview with a Champion:

MARIE SYLVIA PLANTER

Almost one year ago, GeN’xt sat down with Sis. Marie Sylvia Planter. "Who is she," you might ask. She is a quiet force who sits on the right side of the church. You have probably seen her there and even greeted her during that portion of the service. You may know that she is the mother of Sis. Diane Hicks. You may have been in the Saturday Women of the Word Bible study to hear her wisdom, but do you know her story? Here it is.

Ms. Marie Sylvia Planter is an 87 year-old native of Baltimore, Maryland. She is the mother of five children who affectionately call her “Lovey.” She was raised Catholic, always wanted to be in church and took her children to church, too. Nevertheless, around the age of 30 (GeN’xt age), there

came a time when she became restless and stopped attending church. She elected to go bowling instead. When she left the bowling alley, she would see parishioners leaving church and say to herself, “Lord, I need to be back in church.” Despite not attending Sunday church services, she always studied the Bible at home. She would read certain verses in the Bible that she did not understand, and she would pray, “Lord, show me.” She laughed saying, “I thought He was going to show me at my dining room table, but He [the Lord] sent me to Bible study.” After three months of not attending church, the Holy Spirit moved in an unexpected way, and Bernie, Mrs. Delores Smith’s aunt, was the vessel.

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same bowling league together, and when she found out Bernie attended First Baptist Church, it piqued her interest. “One day,” she said, “I’ll go with you to church.” Bernie let her know that they attended Sunday school in addition to the Sunday service, and brought their Bibles. Ms. Marie agreed to attend both; they would ride together.

At First Baptist Church, Pastor Smith, who was on the ministerial staff, was teaching the Young Adult Bible study class in which Ms. Marie was a student. She remembered this as if it was yesterday, saying, “Pastor was teaching on the ‘Our Father,’ just those two little words!” She admitted that she arrogantly approached the subject matter since she was raised Catholic. Naturally, she thought, “no one knows this like me!”

C O N T I N U I T Y | A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H A C H A M P I O N : M S . M A R I E But the Holy Spirit illuminated things for her through Pastor’s teaching and “the light bulbs kept turning on.”

While Ms. Marie isn’t an “original” member of Huber Memorial Church led by Pastor Smith, she was one of the first members.

She came to Huber when Pastor Smith started teaching a Tuesday evening Bible study, before he accepted the position as Pastor. When he would preach on the second Sunday, she would also visit Huber on that Sunday. She then began attending Sunday school at the invitation of Mrs. Sylvia Hamlin. When she found out that Pastor Smith would be leaving First Baptist to become the Pastor of Huber, she asked Bernie if she was going to leave and go with Pastor. When Bernie answered in the affirmative, Ms. Marie decided that she would not leave First Baptist. She was hesitant, saying, “I told her that I left St. Ann’s (Catholic Church) to go to First Baptist and I don’t want to be a ‘church-hopper’!

But, the Holy Spirit kicked me again and I came.” Ms. Marie and Mary Carter-Smith were two of the members who left First Baptist to come with Pastor to Huber.

As a new Huber member, she wanted to be involved in the life of the church, so she started attending Church Council meetings. The original secretary of the Church Council stepped down and Ms. Marie was appointed to that position by Ms. Clara Moore, then President of the Church Council. Ms. Marie said, “I didn’t know an earthly thing about being a secretary.”

However, she drew from the skills she learned at work to be successful in this new position. She found a small pamphlet on Robert’s Rules of Order and learned “on the job” from there. Ms. Marie held the church council position for seven years.

Often, the Lord positions us in the secular work world where we can also contribute in His kingdom. Ms. Marie recounted that the Lord gave her a job at Greater Baltimore Medical Center’s (GBMC) Ear Nose and Throat Department. First, she started as a transporter moving patients around the hospital. When the secretary position in the Ear Nose and Throat Department became available, the nursing director asked her if she wanted the job. She was a success as a secretary because the Lord gave her ideas before the doctors and nurses formally asked her to do certain things. For example, she started a log of the procedures that were completed, so when they eventually asked, she already had the information. She retired from GBMC with a good pension. When she retired, it wasn’t because she needed to retire but because she asked the Lord to allow her to retire so that she could devote her time to things of the Lord. She said, “I’m like Paul. I consider myself the least of the least.”

In the early days of Huber Memorial

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Church with Pastor Smith, when they were located at the Alameda, they were without heat. Since they could get some heat from the kitchen on the first floor, they typically had Bible study in a room on the second floor that they dubbed “the upper room.”

Before we knew it, she had explained to us the reason why the second floor of the Huber Community Life Center was lovingly named “The Upper Rooms,” as it is an acknowledgement of the crossroads between the past and future of Huber Memorial Church.

Initially, Pastor Smith was the only Bible study teacher at the Alameda site. He started asking others, including Ms. Marie, to teach Fundamentals of the Faith. Ms. Marie had some doubts and thought, “there is no way in the world that I can teach like these other people.” Pastor said, “it’s not your ability, but it’s your availability.” Ms. Marie went on to teach additional Bible study classes including the Women of the Word. The Women of the Word Bible study started one year after Pastor Smith accepted the pastorate. It was started by Sis. Delores Smith, who was the primary teacher, in addition to Sis. Melody Hardy and Sis. Nellie Fagan. Ms. Marie was a student first, then became a teacher.

She continued to explain that the church body was so close to one another because everything happened at the church. On Saturdays, they had both Boy & Girl Scouts activities, choir rehearsal, church cleaning and more. When her daughter, Diane Hicks, joined the church, she was in charge of the kitchen. Ms. Diane would prepare food for everyone because they were there between 9am and 3pm. When Bible study was over, everyone would take part in cleaning the church. She reminisced that she held so many positions in the church, including: President of the Altar Guild, President of the Women’s Ministry (before Women of Integrity), secretary of the Church Council, teacher for adults and children, trustee, and Director of Christian Education. She held the position of Director of Christian Education twice. She first held the position for an eight-year period, after which, she was succeeded as Director by Sis. Irene Fourqurean. However, when The H.O.P.E. Academy started at the York Road campus, Mrs. Fourqurean was asked to serve at the school, and Pastor came back to Ms. Marie to ask her to resume her role as the Director of Christian Education. She maintained that position until Gerald Watson (now Pastor Gerald Watson), succeeded her.

Ms. Marie noticed that a lot of people were retiring, so she decided to start a daytime class, which was new for Huber. The old rule was that there had to be at least ten people in a class, but she only had six.

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worried about the numbers, but to do what the Lord called you to do.” Almost every time she taught a class, she would give her students an opportunity to teach a class.

Her philosophy is that “somebody is going to need to step up because there will come a time when the Lord will sit me down or call me home, and if you want Bible study to continue, then someone will need to step up!” In that moment, we all felt a sense of joy that the Lord continues to confirm His vision of CONTINUITY! In the past, the church did not use a spiritual gifts assessment; everyone served in ministry to fulfill the needs of the church.

When she did finally take an assessment, it would always say that her gift was “teaching or administration” and her lowest score was “mercy.” We laughed, and she explained that over time she would grow and “mercy” would increase. She stated that she never thought about it as a gift but that her role was “to stand in the gap until someone better comes along.” However, as Ms. Barbara Alexander told Ms. Marie, “this is a gift because some people don’t know how to step aside.” Sis. Diahann Stone and Sis. Janet Tonkins stepped up. She said, “in some ways, they are better than I am, and I suppose, it’s supposed to be like that.” She encouraged us and said, “when I look at most of you (younger generations), I look at you like my children and I want to see you succeed and do better. We should be doing all that we can to help you succeed. You’re not going to do it our way—some may, but some are not.”

We asked Ms. Marie how they were able to keep the church financially stable with so few members. She responded, “the church was financially stable because they were obedient to God’s Word.” At first, they were selling dinners but when Pastor started teaching on tithing, that made all the difference. Pastor would say, “you have to take care of your own house.” She said, “the funny thing about tithing is that I have never been in want.” Ms. Marie recalled that she prayed, “Lord, I want to tithe,” but, when she calculated her finances, she wouldn’t have enough money to buy food if she were to tithe along with her other expenses. But God is able! Every time she looked in her checkbook, there was always money for food. She may have had to cut back on frivolous things, but she said, “I thank God for learning to trust [Him].”

When they started tithing, the church had no debt until they purchased the York Road campus. When they left the Alameda property, they left it better than they found it. The Church who previously owned the York Road campus, was St. Gregory’s.

Initially, St. Gregory’s didn’t accept the offer that Huber made to purchase the York Road property, but the Holy Spirit prompted Pastor to ask them to allow Huber to use

C O N T I N U I T Y | A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H A C H A M P I O N : M S . M A R I E Y

always going to "You’re find me in Bible study, the facility for Family Bible Institute classes in the summer. In so doing, someone from St. Gregory’s had to come and open up the property to let everyone in. Seeing the families, especially the children, caused them to call Huber - “the church with the children.” At that time, over two hundred children were attending FBI. There was no capital campaign to raise funds for the move from the Alameda to York Road and they paid it off within five years.

Ms. Marie spoke fondly about Pastor Smith saying, “none [sic] has a Pastor like ours [because] he gives us an opportunity to grow and opportunity to give. He gives us the opportunity to serve God’s people and you don’t need a title for that. We’ve been praying for Pastor for well over 30 years.

We ask the Lord to keep him humble, that he would always do what the Lord called him to do. This has always been our prayer. Praying for his family. I think he is a humble man.” When they moved from the Alameda property to the York Road campus, some old members thought that the name of the church may change to something like ‘Smith Church’ but Pastor kept the name. Pastor wasn’t about “getting the glory.” Even when we moved up to the Huber Community Life Center on Pastor’s birthday, he wouldn’t even allow singing happy birthday because he knew it was all about the Lord.” Ms. Marie said, “if anything happens to Pastor, or he retires, we’ll likely lose some members; but, if we take the time to think about who will succeed him, we’ll

get the right Pastor and we’ll continue to grow.” Ms. Marie continued, “it’s like I tell my students, whoever replaces me, don’t compare them to me, unless it comes to the Word of God. Nobody teaches the same way, but we can’t expect another minister to do the same.”

“Growing up Catholic we had catechism on Saturdays where we had to learn the rules of the church, so it’s never been hard for me to come to church.” Ms. Marie explained, “I knew that Jesus Christ was Lord, but I didn’t know that I could have a personal relationship with him.” Pastor thought she would be a good student. She reminisced, “he never told me that my doctrine was wrong. All he did was teach the Word [the Bible] and let me see for myself. I’ve learned a lot from Pastor. I’m glad for Pastor Smith. The Lord directed me to Pastor Smith because he taught me the Word. You’re always going to find me in Bible study, because that’s where I grow.”

She said, “whatever Pastor asks me to do, I am going to be obedient because I know that he is not going to lead me down the wrong path.” Ms. Marie told Pastor that “the only reasons she would leave Huber is if the Lord called me somewhere else, or if you start acting crazy!” She concluded that Pastor hasn’t started acting crazy yet.

We laughed in response. She used to say that she was born Catholic and would die a Catholic, but the Lord changed things around.

We asked Ms. Marie, “do you think the

church is too big now or was it better when it was smaller?” Ms. Marie thoughtfully responded, “Yes and no. There are some things that you like about it and others that you don’t. My idea was to keep serving the Lord. Our Bible studies are growing and we are growing. We were becoming a family. I like the idea of when we were smaller but if the Lord blessed us with more people, shouldn’t I be glad about that? I don’t complain about the largeness of it. Now that I’m old, I have to sit back and let the younger people take over. We didn’t grow by ourselves. Everyone who joins this church, the Lord sent them. I don’t think we’d be this way if Pastor hadn’t insisted that we be involved in Bible study.”

Article By Elizabeth Thompson GeN’xter Servant, Huber’s Music Ministry

because that’s where I grow.

"

CONTINUITY

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C O N T I N U I T Y | W H AT TO D O W H E N Y O U D O N ' T K N OW W H AT TO D O

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO Undoubtedly, everyone at some point or another, has been in a predicament, which seemed impossible to escape. The problem loomed larger than life. It seemed insurmountable and there appeared to be no way out, around, over or under for that matter. You felt helpless, hopeless, powerless and you didn’t know what to do.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah had an “I don’t know what to do” period in his life. During this time the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Israel to the north, and Judah to the South. Jehoshaphat was one of nineteen kings that would occupy the throne of Judah, which was the bloodline of king David and from which the Lord Jesus Christ would ultimately descend.

the king prays to God. Prayer is one of the greatest resources a Christian has.

Ephesians 6:11-18 lists it as a part of the Christian’s armor although it is often omitted when the parts of the armor are delineated. Prayer gives us direct access to the creator of the universe who is also the Christian’s Father. We should remember there is no part of our lives of which He is not concerned. From the splinter to the stake and small to the great, if it matters to us, then it matters to Him. We are His children, and although we are grown, we are like infants; we have His ‘round the clock care and undivided attention. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares (worries, fears, concerns) upon Him, for He cares for us! The hymn writer adds: O, what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer!

I am, meaning, He has always existed. He cannot be bound by time. Past, present and future aren’t applicable to Him; everything is NOW to Him! He’s the creator and sustainer of the universe and everything in it (Job 12:10).

He’s Sovereign – He’s in control. Nothing, absolutely nothing, gets by Him or is out of His control!

In prayer, Jehoshaphat was reminded not only of God’s power, but His track record with His people (His faithfulness).

Hearing other people’s testimonies about the Lord is encouraging, but sometimes the best testimony a person can have is his/ her own. If we look back over our lives, we are able to clearly see His faithfulness to us. He has and continues to be faithful. His faithfulness is tied to His character; they go Jehoshaphat’s prayer provides a pattern hand and hand. When we get historical (not hysterical) with God in the tight moments that may be helpful: and are reminded that He has always come A. Acknowledge the Character and through, it helps to comfort us, and gives us hope.

Faithfulness of God

Judah’s relatives, Israel, had formed an alliance with two other kingdoms/armies to invade, attack, and plunder Judah. When king Jehoshaphat hears of the impending attack, he did what most people in a situation out numbered 3:1 would do. Out numbered, out powered, and running out of time, he becomes fearful. He’s scared for himself and for the people he leads. Listen to his words: In verses 5 and 6 of the text (2 Chronicles), King Jehoshaphat starts his prayer by O our God, wilt thou not judge them? acknowledging the attributes and power For we are powerless before this great of God. In focusing on the character and multitude who are coming against us; nor nature of God, he was encouraged and do we know what to do, but our eyes are on knew he could trust God. In his prayer, the you. (2 Chronicles 20:12) king reflected on God’s track record and His promises to His people.

We as a nation are like king Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. COVID-19 is imposing; Sometimes we forget who we serve and we feel like we are up against it and there whose children we are, which leads is no way out any time soon. Despite their to doubt, insecurity, fear and distrust. best efforts, experts really have no answers, Learning and remembering who He is helps and lives are being lost at a record pace. us build our trust and confidence in Him. We are finding that medicine is not an The Bible is replete with His attributes, exact science. The experts cannot give any which is a good foundation to build upon. definite answers. At best, they have offered educated guesses. People are scared, and He’s omnipotent – He’s all powerful; feel helpless and hopeless because of what there is nothing or no one more powerful is perceived as an impending doom! So, than Him. There is nothing too hard or what do we do?! impossible for Him.

From Jehoshaphat’s prayer, we can find He’s omniscient – He’s all knowing; there is some solace and some hope! There is one nothing that He does not know; He knows answer—turn to God. all.

I. Pray Immediately

He’s omnipresent – He’s everywhere at the same time. He’s Alpha and Omega.He’s Upon learning of the impending attack, the beginning and the end. He’s I am, that CONTINUITY

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B. Accept Your Limitations Jehoshaphat recognized that to deal with what was at hand was beyond his capabilities.

He and his army were out numbered 3:1.

Every now and then, we have to realize that there are some things that are too big and too much for us. We must admit that with all the advancement of technology and the knowledge of men, we’re still limited. We’re finite and we have to be willing to admit that some things are beyond our ability and our control. To admit it isn’t a sign of weakness, but actually a sign of strength.

Whenever we realize that there is absolutely nothing we can physically do to remedy a situation, we should not feel helpless.

When you come to that point, undoubtedly, you have done all that you could possibly think to do. You have exhausted all your resources and options, called everyone you could think of to call for help, direction and guidance. You are emotionally spent! You have done all that is within your ability to do. You’ve tried!

C O N T I N U I T Y | W H AT TO D O W H E N Y O U D O N ' T K N OW W H AT TO D O Believe it or not, some problems are designed that way by the Lord. Sometimes we need to be reminded how limited we are. We can become too dependent on our own strength, gifts and abilities given by God.

Him. We have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us immensely, so much so, that He sacrificed His only Son to pay a penalty of death for us. AND He promised never to leave (to physically leave) or forsake (turn His heart away from) us. We are not sheep without a shepherd or children without a Yes, he has given us knowledge, creative Father; we are not orphans! We are children genius and “smarts” to be able to solve of the Most High God who has promised to problems great and small. Man can develop take care of us in the time of need. vaccines and medicine, but sometimes we become too dependent on our own/man’s II. Observe God’s Answer abilities, to the exclusion of the Giver (Genesis 11:1-9) In response to Jehoshaphat’s prayer, God responds immediately. The Spirit of God C. Admit your Dependency on God came upon a member of the assembly. God first calmed their fears, then told them the Honestly, to be depleted is not a bad thing. battle was not theirs, but His. Wow! What It is not a sign of weakness, but of strength an answer. This was God’s battle! This was because it is then that we come to realize God’s fight! He was going to take care of that our sufficiency and dependency is on it! And all the people had to do was show Him. Sometimes God purposes it so that up and watch. In an instant, they go from we may turn to Him, draw closer to Him, participant to spectator with front row or begin a relationship with Him (for those seats; and as an added bonus, when the that don’t have a personal relationship with fight was over, the non-participants get the Him in which He is Lord and Savior). purse (2 Chronicles 20:24-25).

Jehoshaphat’s statement of their eyes being on Him was a statement of trust, dependency, hope and faith. He trusted in the God whose character He knew and on whom he could depend; who had proven Himself to be faithful to His people (Judah) in a crisis.

In our own current crisis, we must remember that despite all that goes on around us, and all the unanswered questions, we can turn to and depend on

Believe it or not, there are battles that are not ours to fight. There are some troubles too big for us, and there are times when the enemy outnumbers us and can outpower us (in the flesh). We would be wise to recognize such times. Some problems require special attention. They require supernatural intervention. Theologically, it’s called a miracle—when God steps in Himself and does what only He can do!

(2 Chronicles 20:22-23). When we see His hand clearly and all is said and done, no

Uncover some wisdom from the book of Ecclesiastes by carefully following the instructions below. Are you wise enough to solve this on your first attempt?

A

B

C

D

E

F

1

TRUTH

THE

WISE

END

FOOLISH

OF

2

A

PEOPLE

MATTER

LESSON

MEANINGLESS

IS

3

NUMBERS

BETTER

THAN

ACTS

ITS

WORLD

4

BEGINNING

GIFT

KINGDOM

AND

WRONGDOER

PATIENCE

5

LIES

IS

CERTAIN

WILL

BETTER

JOB

6

THAN

KNOWING

PROPERTY

PRIDE

CELEBRATE

SAINT

What are the remaining words, in order from left to right and top to bottom?

(Hint: Ecclesisates 7:8)

one gets the glory, credit and honor, but Him. One of the beauties and benefits of prayer is that God answers; He answers the prayers of His children. I know there are times when we wonder if He hears us; scripture assures us that He hears and will answer.

His answers are yes, no and wait. During those “silent” times, heed the wisdom of Dr. Charles Stanley, “Silence doesn’t mean still.”

So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do...Pray! Tell your Father all about it!

Article By Min. Howard McLain GeN’xtra, Servant, and Associate Minister

Wise Up Fun with the Book of Ecclesiastes 1. Cross out all the words in Columns A and F that have five letters.

2. Cross out all the words in the table that rhyme with eyes.

3. Cross out all words that are books of the Bible.

4. Cross out all words in Row 2 that have more than two vowels.

5. Cross out all words in Column D that have double letters.

6. Cross out all words in Row 4 that contain all the letters in GOD. 7. Cross out all 7-letter words.

8. Cross out all words in Column B that end in T. 9. Cross out all words in Row 6 that have three syllables.

JHSimplicity