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CrossRoadsNews
September 19, 2009
Ministry
“We are committed to embracing diversity and we continue to seek opportunities to reach out to each group.”
Ethiopian Orthodox Church opens new cathedral in Lithonia DeKalb is now home to the Kidist Mariam (St. Mary) Ethiopian Church, the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Church ever built outside of Ethiopia. The ribbon-cutting for the 32,000-square-foot Lithonia cathedral, which will serve DeKalb County, was held on Aug. 29. The church, which was founded in metro Atlanta in 1987, initially held services in a chapel rented from Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta before moving to 266 Robin St. in Decatur in 1995. As it outgrew that location, the church bought the 5.5 acres in Lithonia that is now home to the cathedral. DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, who delivered the keynote address at the dedication ceremony, praised DeKalb’s diversity and said the cathedral will serve as a sanctuary for all citizens of DeKalb. “When you come to DeKalb County, you get a global snapshot,” he said. “We are committed to embracing diversity and we continue to seek opportunities to reach out to each group.”
From left, Abuna Yakob, Kidist Mariam Church pastor and Archbishop of Georgia and Tennessee Ethiopian Orthodox Churches; Abune Merkorios, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarch; Abate Zewdie, Board President Kidist Mariam Church; and DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis cut the ribbon on the new cathedral.
Abuna Yakob, Archbishop of Georgia and Tennessee Ethiopian Orthodox Churches, is pastor of the Lithonia church. He was joined at the ceremony by Ethiopian Orthodox Church leader Abune Merkorious and Abate Zewdie, the Patriarch
of Ethiopia Kidist Mariam Church board president. The Ethiopian Or thodox Church dates back to the fourth century A.D. when the Christian church broke into its two main branches – Orthodox and Roman
The Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Church plans to offer classes in health promotion, anti-crime, youth activities, disease prevention, English language training and other activities.
Catholic. With expanded space, the church now has adequate space for worship and community outreach and will serve metro Atlanta Ethiopians and community residents. From its new home, the church plans to offer classes in health promotion, anti-crime, youth ac-
tivities, disease prevention, English language training, senior citizen activities and educational and employment referrals. The church is at 1152 South Stone Mountain Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www. kmariam.org or call 404-3772238.
Conference targets church leaders Single life eyed from biblical view Bishop Eddie tor Lori Brooks L. Long and Pastor said they are exE. Dewey Smith pecting 250 paid will be preaching participants. at the 2009 Pastors Workshops and Leaders Confor the two-day ference at Berean conference inChristian Church clude children in October. and youth, Eddie Long E. Dewey Smith Kerwin Lee The two will church leaderdeliver the sermons at the nightly worship ship, outreach, church administration, minservices that will be open to people who are istry enhancement and pastoral leadership. attending the conference. Participants will get to pick from classes Long, who is the pastor at New Birth ranging from “Activating a New Members Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, will Ministry” and “Creating a Culture of Hostake the pulpit on Oct. 7. Smith, the pastor pitality Within Your Church” to “Making at Greater Travelers Rest Church in Decatur, People a Priority.” will preach on Oct. 8. Berean Pastor Kerwin Lee and his wife, Both services start at 7:30 p.m. and will Yolanda, are conference hosts. Registration feature performances by the 200-member is $79 and is available \ at www.bereanchrisBerean Sanctuary Choir. tianchurch.org/registration. Five or more can The conference for pastors and church register at the group rate of $59 each. and ministry leaders is in its fourth year. Last The church is at 2201 Young Road in year, participants came from Missouri and Stone Mountain. For more information call across the Southeast. Conference coordina- 770-593-4421.
Workshops to offer mortgage advice Homeowners looking to restructure their mortgages can get help at a Sept. 19 seminar at Greater Travelers Rest Church in Decatur. The church’s Center for Community Empowerment is hosting the event with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) Home Save Program. The day will consist of workshops for existing and prospective homeowners at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Torri Durham Jones, Center for Community Empowerment coordinator, said the workshops are going to be very helpful. “Our goal is to serve as the liaison between the church and the community by offering opportunities that will empower and motivate persons to excel in life,” she said. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church is at 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway. For more information or to register, visit www.naca.com or call 1-888-302-6222. REGISTRATION $30/person $110 for 6 people
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
7 p.m. Kick-Off Session • Guest Artist Javen • Minister Reginald Sharpe Jr.
8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Praise & Worship Breakout Sessions Elder Dane Cunningham
Conference Location Peace Baptist Church 1399 Austin Dr. Decatur, GA 30032 404.288.1750 Office 404.288.5209 Fax www.peacebaptistchurch.org
Single adults can “Take a Look Within” at a Sept. 25-26 Singles Conference hosted by Elder Dane Cunningham, CEO of Embrace Relationships Seminars Inc. The seminar is based D. Cunningham on Cunningham’s book of the same name. The book and Cunningham’s nonprofit ministry address relationships from a biblical perspective. The two-day seminar at Peace Baptist Church in Decatur will explore overcoming the pressures of being a single Christian in today’s society and about the importance of building a stronger relationship with God. A performance by gospel recording
artist Javen will kick off the conference at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25. Conference classes will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the 26th. Speakers include Cunningham, Tyrone Barnette, senior pastor of Peace Baptist Church; Tyrone Barnette Paul Brewer and Phyllis Churn, ministers at the church; Vincent Watson, pastor of New Christian Center; and Reginald Sharpe, a minister at Greater Travelers Rest in Decatur. Conference registration is $30. To register or for more information, visit www. peacebaptistchurch.org. The church is at 1399 Austin Drive in Decatur. For more information, call 404288-1750.
Gay nominated for gospel award in Stone Mountain and Pastor Reggie Gay, host of the “RegKarl D. Moore of Clarkston First gie Gay Gospel Show,” has been Baptist Church in Clarkston; nominated for the “Best in Media” 100 Most Influential Pastors and award for the 2009 Gospel Choice their church representatives; Awards. corporate sponsors, presenters, Gay, who lives in Ellenwood, politicians, promoters, producmade his name in gospel music in ers, gospel music artists and metro Atlanta on KISS 104 FM. nominees. A 27-year radio veteran, he is Reggie Gay Fans can vote for Gay at also an associate minister at Second Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta. www.TheGospelChoiceAwards.com. Round-the-clock gospel music is availThe 15th annual Gospel Choice Awards will be Sept. 28 at the Georgia World able at www.ReggieGay.com and his show Congress Center. It will include 10 Cho- is “live” weekdays 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and sen Awards Pastors, including Pastor Saturday noon to 3 p.m. For information, Kerwin Lee of Berean Christian Church call 404-214-7117.