Faith Based Journal 06

Faith Based Journal Inspire, Inform & Educate

june - july 2011

6th Edition

Celebrating the Senior Pastor: Leaving a Legacy

INSIDE

A Little Bit on Leadership

By Beatrice ofwona A leader should recognize that the power to speak prophetically comes only when one lives by God’s Word.

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And I Will Give You Pastors...

By Pernell Hill All over the world, Pastors stand in pulpits exposing God and His word. According to scripture, they are to empower us with knowledge and understanding.

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?????????????????? & MR. D-MARS Rev. Ken Campbell & MR. D-MARS

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

MR. D-MARS & ??????????

“No legacy is so rich as honesty.” - William Shakespeare

Deconstructing the Myth of Modesty

By Jesse Muhammad Covering up can have a stronger attracting force than walking around half-naked in stilettos. It’s about respect.

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J.L. White, Sr. & J.L. White II Pleasant Hill

Evelyn Ogletree & Pastor John D. First Metropolitan Church

You Are Building a Legacy!

Pastor Johnson understands the importance of leaving a legacy. During a recent worship celebration Johnson demonstrates this by having his congregation dontate shoes to the needy.

By Moe & Paige Bencel Have you ever thought about your ability to leave a legacy, or even if you will leave one at all?

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Dr. S.J. Gilbert II Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. Edith Wallce & Bishop Thomas E. Wallace New Oasis of Faith Church

See pg. 16

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Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr. SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis JR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Jr. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Christopher P. Kirksey EDITING CONSULTANT ReShonda Tate-Billingsley EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO Stephanie Myers ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Abbey Rodriguez DIRECTOR OF SALES Eric D. Goodwine ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jones C.T. Foster Pastor Freddie L. Davis, III Dwight Jones PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard

Grady Carter MARKETING CONSULTANT Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. Barbara Wiederhold MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ghuzzala Malik (Faith) Michael J. Martinez DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beatrice Ofwona Eric D. Goodwine Pernell Hill John Ogletree Shirley Carr Joyce James Madeline Kirksey Jesse Muhammad Dennis Rainey Pamela Randoph Charlotte Jackson Moe & Paige Becnel Jack Vorster Beatrice Ofwona

There are four areas concerning Leaving a Legacy that I consider to be fundamental: a Life Well-Lived, Principles to Live By, The Importance of a Spiritual Legacy and an Impact Legacy and a Financial Legacy.

You know, I have had an amazing life. I have shared my heart with so many wonderful people. I have been fortunate enough to make a great living and enjoy the fruit of my work. I have met thousands of people who are dedicated to personal development and self-growth. I have made it my life’s pursuit to teach others the philosophies and actions that would help them achieve greatness and personal fulfillment in their own lives. Today, I still imagine I have many years left, but I also am more aware than ever that there is much less time left than before.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

CONTENTS Local Pastor Brings Household of Faith Back Home…………....................

Soul for Soles Initiative………………………………………………………….

Financial Planning – 10 Reasons Why You Need It………….......................

Solutions 2 Service……………………………………………………………...

You Are Already In, Apply!............................................................................

We’re Still Standing…………………………………………………………......

Lay Aside Every Weight………………………………………………………....

A Little Bit on Leadership…………………………………………………........

And I will Give You Pastors………………………………………….……........

Covenant Relationships………………………………………………………....

Deconstructing the Myth of Modesty………………………………...............

Celebrating Legacy……………………………………………………………...

Celebrating the Senior Pastor – Double Honor………………......................

Eyes of Compassion…………………………………………………………....

An Anointing for All Seasons………………………………………….............

How to Leave a Legacy in Your Home………………….……………….........

What is Lack?..............................................................................................

You Are Building a Legacy!..........................................................................

Leaving a Financial Legacy……………………………………………….........

Think About these Things……………………………………………...............

Standing Firm in the Lord, No Matter What……………………….................

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MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “I would want my legacy to be that I was a great son, father and friend.”

Dante Hall

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Local Pastor Brings Household of Faith Back Home

A friend of Rev. Ken Campbell likes to say that Campbell is the only pastor he knows who could have moved his church 10 times and kept the congregation intact.

In July of 2008, Campbell brought his six-year-old congregation, Household of Faith Community Church, to the former site of Solid

Rock Baptist Church at 6302 Tidwell.

“I’m glad to be home,” said Campbell who grew up in northeast Houston.

“We have already made an impact in the community by going out each month with our Outreach Team to the apartment complexes and various homes by sharing with them our witness about Jesus Christ! We have recentlypartnered with the Houston Food Bank, and on August 18, 2011 we will feed hundreds of families in this area; and by doing this we are hoping to gain a trusting relationship.“We just have a gamut of things we want to do.”

Campbell, 43, has been at home in a church environment since he was 5. “I’m what you would call a church brat,” he said. “I grew up in the church.”

But Campbell can’t say he aspired to a career in the ministry when he was growing up. He earned his degree in june - july 2011

electrical engineering from Prairie View A&M University. But during his years in college, God started tugging at his heart, Campbell said. It was during that time when a close friend, Marvin Chambers, died in a car accident. Campbell said he easily could have been with him. “I was hanging out with the gangs then, but I had to return to school that Monday,” he said. “That was one of the things God used to get my attention.”

Friend Marlon Chambers, Marvin’s twin, said Campbell never was a bad kid, but Chambers did see a change after Campbell’s call to the ministry. “Even though we went separate ways, he’s like a brother and a mentor to me,” Chambers said. “I can see God in his life, and he’s making a difference.” Campbell announced his calling to the ministry, to his church in January 1990. He went on to be an associate pastor and a youth pastor before becoming senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Third Ward, which was found in 1866. He spent-

about seven years in the senior pastor’s position there. “It was a traditional church, and I had new ideas,” he said. www.

“I felt led by God to start the new church.” He established Household of Faith Community Church in January 2002 with about 100 members.

The members have held services at the

Campbell and “The Household of Faith” are eager to begin more outreach efforts. He is now focusing on the nearby North Forest School District, where he graduated. Hehopes to

Third Ward Multi-Service Center, a downtown Houston hotel, a southwest Houston middle school and several shared church facilities. Before moving to their current home, they gathered in Stafford. During these years, Campbell has presented seminars and conferences throughout greater Houston.

He participated in the Harris Country Juvenile Court Volunteers Advisory Board and worked with trouble youths.

Campbell has also participated in several missionary excursions to Haiti, helped build a church in Brazil, counseled pastors in Panama, and traveled to Israel. “I feel God has called us to help hurting people wherever they are,” he said. In the middle of all of this, he earned his Masters of Divinity (M. Div.) degree in Pastoral Leadership and Spiritual Formation, and recently completed the coursework for the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.); both from the Houston Graduate School of Theology.

“He is always in school and proactive about self-improvement—trying to become the best pastor he can become,” church member Darrell Mouton said.

Now that his church is settled in its new home,

recruit church members to tutor students and help them succeed in school.

We are open to opportunities that will assist in the growth & development of this community and surrounding

areas. “We don’t want to be a jack of all trades, but we want to do enough,” Campbell said. Campbell and his wife, Trina, have three children: Tanisha, Tamira and Ken Jr. and they have two grandsons: Tristan and Terrence.

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ommunity outreach for the most part has been focused primarily on an organization’s eagerness to expand their brand. Most programming rarely focuses on community needs at large but on how to create opportunities for company recognition thus funneling prospective customers into a buying frenzy. That attitude is not the desired response of leaders inside the Westwood community. Higher Dimension Church has made its mission, more importantly an integral component of its overall process to “Reach in and Reach out.” The “Reach in and Reach out” model allows the organization to create opportunities whereby they can physically touch the lives of those less fortunate.

That physicality is the segue that

opens the door for engagement into the lives of those in the community who have suffered from the increasing economic decline, drug infested neighborhoods, uncontainable prostitution rings, and the continuous spread of HIV. Higher Dimension Church has been at work in their communities to alleviate some of the above challenges in the community. The demand for help amongst those residing the community is a feat that the Higher Dimension Church is excited about fulfilling. The motivating force to touch both the local community abroad is steady building an inspiring june - july 2011

momentum in both the church and Westwood.

Their Approach The CEO and Founder of Higher Dimension Church, Pastor Terrance H. Johnson has a passion that stems from his love for people and his excitement for giving. “He bellows the following quote often to his congregation, “I can’t help everybody, but I can help somebody, the way I would want to help everybody.”

To do so programming has been put in place to teach members of higher d the importance of giving to others. We can create this culture of giving through modeling the behavior. The church has modeled the behavior by their recent, Soul for Soles initiative.

The church partnered with Sole for Souls organization, one that main’s purpose is to collect shoe donations for people in countries abroad. Specifically, the shoe drive’s goal was to create an experience for parishioners to understand how those in Haiti, feel because of the absence of shoes something we here in America for the most part take for granted.

Haitians because of the last earthquake disaster have to be careful about exposing their bare feet to the many increasing ailments and diseases from the after effects of the storm. 3400 pairs of shoes were shipped to the Sole for Souls warehouse for Haitians in need.

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Financial Planning – 10 Reasons Why You Need It If our grandparents and parents didn’t need financial planning, why do we? Well, 20 to 30 years ago, the lifestyle was very different compared to now. The world has changed tremendously and we have to adjust to those changes. Review these trends and whether they affect you.

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Longer Life Expectancy Life expectancy worldwide is increasing. Due to improvements in healthcare today, a baby boy born in 2004 is expected to have a life expectancy of 74 and a girl, 79 years or higher (depending on country).

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Spending More Money on Healthcare As you live longer, the total cost of medical care over your lifetime will also be more. Diseases that probably killed a person in your parent’s generation are now treatable, but sometimes expensive. You also need

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to plan for long-term care after retirement.

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Ability to Enjoy Retirement If you and your spouse retire at 55 and live to 75, you’re going to eat 43,800 meals in retirement. Excluding inflation, if each meal costs $5, you will spend $438,000 on food alone.

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More Ways to Spend Your Money Not too long ago, there were no theme parks, satellite television, home theater systems, mobile phones, PDA’s, play-station, private medical care, internet, shopping malls, designer coffee, tolls, etc. to drain our income. Understand this, will be essential in balancing your income and weighing your needs.

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You spend more on travel than you used to for common activities like work, shopping and schooling. It is very common to travel 30 miles or more in a single day. With increases in fuel price, your budget for travel will increase.

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Marrying Later Nowadays, it is very common to see retirees with children still studying. You have to build an education fund to meet these needs well after you’re no longer earning an income.

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Costs of Raising Children is Higher Cost of raising children will rise.

Children clothes, food and medical care cost more than adults. You also pay for music classes, ballet class, children camp, language development, tuition, and more.

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Increased Travel

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Children Will Spend More Time in University Ten to 15 years ago, a diploma was sufficient enough to get a good start.

Today, many continue with their education pursuing their master’s degree and Ph.D. Instead of starting work at 22 or 24, you will have to pay for food, lodging, travel and study fees for a longer period.

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Inflation Inflation raises the cost of products and services. You may outlive your money, if your investments do not grow.

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Passing Wealth to the Next Generation This is increasingly difficult because it is likely that you will outlive your assets and have nothing to leave to your children. In many cases, the transfer of wealth is going backwards.

These themes are primary reasons why you need to have a financial plan; the earlier you start, the easier it is.

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By Minister Eric D. Goodwine Contributing Writer

“In the Midst of Pain” I have discovered that in this life we will experience pain in the midst of serving while we are simultaneously aiming to please the Lord. I wanted to point out the importance of pressing through our pains and continuing to serve even when things do not look favorable or trouble seems to be all around us. I have found that serving is the seed that should be continuously sown to relieve and reduce the pains of life. It gives me peace to keep on serving while in pain and at the end of the day if we do it with the right motive God will exalt us in due season. So I cannot grow weary in well doing (Gal 6:6-10).

So when pain comes we shouldn’t be so quick to quit or isolate ourselves away from the body of Christ. Let me be real with you.

Have I ever quit or thought about quitting while experiencing pain?

The answer is yes. I would suggest that we continue to press and pray, serve and sow and trust God that whatever we go through God will provide. So we should trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways we should acknowledge him and he will direct and order our paths (Prov. 3:5-6) But most importantly don’t stop serving because you will be a blessing to someone else in the midst of pain. The bible says: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Prov. 11:25). You never know you may be ministering to someone else by serving them in the middle of your own pain. “Don’t Stop Serving” It is literally impossible to serve and not june - july 2011

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experience pain because they work hand in hand, trust me I know that from firsthand experience. Guess what? You also get blessed in the process as well.

I have encountered many believers and even myself when that uncomfortable minute comes and we experience some pain or face trials and tribulations we fall apart or lose it. Often times it is hard to focus on the promises of God when we are constantly dealing with the pains of life. We have to have pain management skills to fight and keep serving God no matter what and keep pressing!

(Phil 3:14) I have found that while serving we will still have to continue to serve and be faithful to the Kingdom and be productive during painful times. Pain is no excuse for a lack of productivity. Jesus went through a lot of pain and torture but he still served God and carried the cross on the Via Dolorosa, which means: (Way of Grief or Way of Suffering). On his way to the hill to Golgotha, He never quit serving. Where would we be had Jesus quit serving during this important time of pain and suffering and we needed a Savior? There was purpose in His pain!

While serving in the Armed Services (ARMY) I was told if you were captured by the enemy they will interrogate you and they will inflict many different methods of torture upon you. The enemy knows there is some very valuable information that you have inside of you and the more they inflict or increase the pain the more likely you are to give in and get softer (humility) and the enemy will get the valuable information out of you. Likewise God will allow us to experience pain, different levels of pain and sometimes excruciating pain because it is something very valuable inside of us that God wants to come out in us and not only that he is teaching us humility.

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You Are Already In, Apply!

By Shirley Carr, Contributing Writer

Life is similar to the School of Hard Knocks in which we all go through the application process.

However, have you ever filled out an application, only to be rejected?

Have you ever been rejected?

Rejection can leave you empty and questioning and even doubting yourself. After receiving a rejection letter, at my first attempt at one of the two programs in the same school, I wasn’t quite sure that I wanted to apply to the other. One of the hardest occurrences in life is to have faith at what was spoken to you in your spirit, only to be rejected.

Rejection has a way of causing us to be stagnant. Maybe it wasn’t God who said it to me in the first place.

Maybe I should give it up. Maybe it isn’t for me. A sat pondering the rejection letter and a voice amplified in my spirit, “Do It Again.” “Say What!” I exclaimed through closed lips. Have you ever felt like you have tried everything and everything has

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been unsuccessful and God tells you to “Do It Again!” How are you to do it again when the agony from the last time seems fresh?

This next move became the defining point of my faith. I unpacked my heart from inside my stomach and called to the office of admission and explained that I wasn’t accepted into one of the programs and that I wanted to apply to the other program. The office of admission suggested that I talk to the dean directly. We have to be glad that we can still talk to God directly. Reluctantly, I contacted the dean. I was able to have an appointment scheduled, immediately. I had no idea as to what to say or do. With the little bit of faith that I could muster, I managed to head in the direction of the dean’s office. All I knew is that I had to go. Have you ever felt like you had to do something but you were not prepared? My body and my mind were not attached! As I

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witnessed my body walk into the building headed towards the dean’s Office, I was cool on the outside but I was sweating bullets on the inside.

“This is it God, remember this wasn’t my idea anyway.” I knew that I wasn’t dealing with irrational exuberance and that if I had my choice in the matter, I would not have done it at all. God has a way of putting us in places we would not have chosen for ourselves.

Once, inside the office of the dean, he inquired about why I applied to the other program. He was surprised when I explained that it was my counselor’s suggestion. After reviewing my e-folio he said I would benefit the most from the other program.

The next thing that happened left me in shock. The dean said, “I am giving you the go ahead, so you are already in, but you still have to apply!” I knew in that moment that something great had happened but I could not comprehend it. It did not make sense! While my spirit caught the words, my mind heard, “Apply?”

That meant I still had to go through the office of admissions, again. Ugh! Now, I was so engrossed in the agony of the previous experience that I could not appreciate the release in the miracle. To have the assurance from the dean was a miracle.

No letters of recommendation were needed. There was a release because

I was not talking to an admissions counselor; I had the assurance from the head of the department (the one who has the final say). God is the head of the department. All we have to do is remember the words that the head of the department spoke, “I am giving you the go ahead so you already are in but you still have to apply!” These are the parts of the application:

Name Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

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Jeremiah 1:5

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Experience-

Psalm 40:2

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Reference-

John 21:6

So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.)

Zechariah 4:6

You Are Already In; Apply!

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We’re Still Standing

Dr. Edith Wallce Co-Pastor & Bishop Thomas E. Wallace Senior Pastor of New Oasis of Faith Church In Ephesians 6:13 Paul says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Stand in this sense means ‘abide’, ‘continue’, hold up’, ‘present’. So Paul is saying, “and having done all, keep abiding, continue holding up and being present.

In this modern world that is filled with unstable institutions and whimsical loyalties I happen to pastor a congregation that practices Ephesians 6:13. New Oasis of Faith was birthed in 2003 out of a remnant of people who decided to leave a mainline denomination and move into a non-denominational setting.

As we all know, birthing a church is a celebratory event. It’s raising a baby to survive the obstacles and adversities of life, however, that present the greatest challenge. I pray that our story will encourage other congregations to stand especially when you’ve done everything else.

In the first five years the church grew to approximately 700 plus active members. We quickly outgrew the first building that we started in and purchased a worship complex at 8600 Sweetwater Lane. Ministry was fun and exciting. Members were willing to participate and work to the Lord. They gave of their time, talent, gifts, and service. Then the storm hit, Ike. The hurricane devastated the facility where worship took place. The sanctuary was flooded with water that stood up the calf on tall men.

The gymnasium essentially collapsed under the weight of water and wind.

The steeple was compromised and the roof became a patchwork quilt.

The first major test had hit the church.

A week after the storm was over we had church in the parking lot under a tent. About 200 people showed up to praise God despite what the storm had done. The congregants willingly did what had to be done to accommodate worship in a non-air conditioned setting with folding chairs and bottled water. And morning and evening the first day. june - july 2011

We leased an event center to worship in for the next six to eight months while we began to make strides to get back onto the property God had provided. Some of the members did not think we would ever get back into the church facility again. Some of the members did not like the idea of worshipping in an event center. Some of the members did not want to have to make the effort that we had just gone through.

Therefore some of the members decided to go other places. The morning and evening the second day.

During our time in the event center we build the Oasis Family Life Center. The remaining members along with contracted professional help built out the brand new center that houses full court basketball, meeting room, restrooms with showers, and an upstairs area that would accommodate class rooms. We had our first worship experience in the Life Center in mid 2009 and the members said that it was good. The morning and the evening the third day.

By mid 2010 the sanctuary was ready to be re-entered for praise and worship. The results of hard work, prayer, and faith had manifested.

The morning and the evening the fourth day.

The re-creation process for New Oasis of Faith is far from being complete. The church , however has managed to fight back from the devastations and the discouragements of Hurricane Ike. She has kept the faith through the storm and the rain.

On May 1st of this year New Oasis of Faith Church celebrated her eighth church anniversary. The City Council District B, County Commissioner‘s Office Precinct I, Harris County Sheriff ’s Office and a host of other special dignitaries were present to help commemorate the fact that the church is still standing. It was at this church anniversary service that the newly formed Sweetwater Community Center announced its intention to partner with New Oasis of Faith and Restoration Assistance Ministries to establish a clinic within the physical confines of the church’s property.

18. Obesity counsel 19. Family Planning 20. Biopsies 21. Acute Gynecological Problems 22. Tetanus Shots In addition to the medical component there will be a professionally staffed call center that will provide an essential communications management service to meet all transportation needs, either emergency or nonemergency in nature. The call center will help in providing in line services for telethons, church prayer lines, counseling services, and community announcements for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Also there is a transportation service that offers the efficiency of direct transporting from the pick-up location directly to the designated drop-off site. The service provides well trained and professionally staffed driving technicians, coupled with affordable flat rated passes and a monthly senior citizen discounted rate. In addition to these services there is also an extensive line of professional non-emergency shuttle bus and vanpool transportation services available.

As the cathedral for New Day Fellowship of Churches, International, the annual Holy Convocation services are held each year during the first

week of August. The theme for this year’s Convocation is ‘Higher Calling’, which emphasizes how some former ministers of music have been transported from the singing mike or keyboard to the pulpit. The local spiritual giants that will bring forth the Word during the convocation will be Minister Phyllis Kennedy and Bishop Ed Johnson. This man and woman of God are both very anointed vessels of God and have perennially been well known for their contributions to the music industry.

God however has added to them the preached word. Now they not only proclaim from the musician’s pit, but prophesy from the pulpit. God called them up a little higher.

On the Friday night of Holy Convocation Pastor Donnie McClurkin will grace the pulpit to minister the word of God and release the anointing that God has poured out on his life. Truly this will be an exciting time in the name of the Lord for God has promised to move

by His Spirit through this humble vessel. Pastor McClurkin has, over the years, been known for his singing, but God has caused him to now become known as a preacher of the Gospel.

It is amazing how God can resurrect anyone from any situation and any circumstance. A few months ago the light seemed dim. Just a little while ago the trials seemed insurmountable. But through the help of God, we’re still standing.

For more information please call New Oasis of Faith Church at 281.820.1860

The clinic proposes to provide: Phase I Phase II 1. General Services 2. Pediatrics 3. Cardiology: EKG testing 4. Newborn Care 5. HIV/AIDS testing 6. Infant Care 7. Pregnancy testing 8. Physicals 9. Diabetic Teaching 10. Immunizations 11. Nutritional/ Dietician Services 12. Dermatology 13. Gynecology 14. Allergy testing 15. Pap Test 16. Pheumovax 17. Annual Well Women Exam www.

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Lay Aside Every Weight A leader must be true to the vision and the people-even when it’s not popular.”

A leader must understand that quite often it will appear as though they have been left out on a limb alone, which could become a burden for them. However, don’t fret God has your back.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”

The metaphor here is a description of a man who has a great load on his shoulders, which he must carry. With every step the burden seems to begin to outweigh him when he relies on his Madeline “Carla” Kirksey own personal strength. However often Contributing Writer at the same time, God is giving him instructions from above on how to continue on his journey successfully.

One of the greatest burdens of The reward for his labor is the underleadership is understanding one’s purstanding that there is a place where pose. John Maxwell explains this best: those burdens can all be laid down, at “The purpose of leadership is to His feet. take people where they couldn’t go on As leaders we often find our their own, inspire and equip them to do strength comes in our transformation what they thought they couldn’t do, and process. Especially for those who labor accomplish what can only be done by to change themselves into becoming a group working together. To do that, more like Him. When this scripture leaders should love their people and be says, “All of you who labor” it does close to them. However, there are times not mean everyone. The scripture is when a leader must move forward tak- referring to all those who labor and ing a courageous step and not waiting lead with the understanding that their for others’ approval. It is not healthy for sinful nature often gets in the way, but a leader to need people’s approval. As pressing towards transformation anya leader, if you try to please everybody, how and becoming renewed in Christ’s eventually you will alienate everybody. strength is their ultimate goal. The

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scripture is not referring to those who labor in the service of sin and Satan; change must happen. The awesome thing about seeking our Father’s direction is that he holds the mysteries of Faith. When we seek him completely it becomes easy to lay aside every weight at His feet, because we are assured that our rest will come.

A leader must understand that the knowledge of God and the mysteries of His grace are only found in Him. All things relating to true peace, comfort, and happiness are found in Him. Christ wants us to understand that when we are all alone as leaders, there is true comfort in knowing and seeking Him. Leadership is not always about fellowship, it’s about change, and it’s about accepting your position in Christ. John Maxwell concludes, “To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitting their talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

Lead on with the understanding that your power is not your own. Lay every weight at His feet and there you will find complete rest.

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FAITH-BASED DIRECTORY

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FAITH-BASED DIRECTORY

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A Little Bit On Leadership If such people were removed from office, they would find very few people following them. Paul’s style of leadership bespoke of a life lived in integrity, humility and mentorship; always watching what he said and what he did. In 2Timothy 4:3-4, he warns Timothy against those who develop itching ears that turn away from the truth and instead embrace myths. He asks him to keep his head in all situations and endure hardships for the sake of his ministry.

A leader should recognize that the power to speak prophetically comes only when one lives by

God’s Word. He should also die to ambition and live only for the Lord God in service and in worship. He should die to the self in as far as reputation, privilege, name or position is concerned or else he will not be able to go as far as God wants him to. Acts 20:28 asks the leader to watch over the flock over which he has been made overseer by the Holy Spirit. The ministry of leadership is not given by right because none of us is worthy of it; it is by God’s grace and as such an office should not rob the leader of the good qualities that he may possess.

A leader should therefore devote himself to the study the Word and occasionally take time to go up the mountain in soltude and prayer in order to hear from God. He should teach the flock to depend on God and not on him. However, he should also be wary to ensure that the people do not wear him down.

A leader should be a good shepherd. However, when his ministry is attacked, his vision

may become blurred but he should always remember that he is an appointee of God, not man. He should therefore not behave like one who has no master because God is his master. In retrospect, it is the onus of the flock to recognize that the leader is God’s choice for them. People are as unpredictable as they can get away with, those that cheer a leader on today may very well be the ones that crucify him tomorrow. This calls for the leader to always cast his eyes on God for Jeremiah 17:5-6 curses the man who depends on flesh and not God for his strength.

A pastor is a leader who belongs to all and not just to his church or to the confines of his ministry. He should conduct himself with broken humility and not false bravado because the one who laid his life down for us at the cross made Himself poor that we may be rich. Christ was the epitome of modesty which every leader should emulate.

some calling this is!

For years, African-American churches have claimed a degree of ownership of their pastor. It’s been tradition that each year the Pastor is celebrated or honored for his role. Every so often you may hear the phrase, “my Pastor this,” or “my Pastor that;” It’s the same thing when people say, “my doctor” because just like the doctor, the Pastoral connection produces a belief that suggests he can help me, and in this case he is the man of God. With this ownership mentality, we’ve experienced over the years congregational rifts which is more often caused

by Pastoral comparisons, relationships have been damaged due to this kind of comparison. The congregants are very sensitive when it comes to their Pastor. Unfortunately, some Pastors have found themselves at odds.

One of the things we must realize is that Pastors are people to and they possess the same human senses that we have. In this life, people have concerns and issues that they have to deal with from time to time. When we learn of an issue regarding the Pastor some are disappointed because they have placed them in such high regard it becomes challenging to imagine them in such a state. Let’s not get it twisted; the role of a Pastor has some accountability.

The Pastor certainly should be celebrated, because carrying the burden of Pastor and the burdens of life cannot

be easy. This being the case, prayer is an action we must take for the Pastor.

The Pastor is often viewed as peculiar and has always been a personality of sorts. In the community, he is known for his preaching style; perhaps it’s the way he sings, or teaches, and if the devil had his way, for his mistakes.

In our contemporary age, our Pastors have engaged into the media stream which goes beyond the local church border. You can find many Pastors now on television; they have accounts on Facebook and Twitter. The Pastor who is passionate about his pursuit to win souls will do it by any means necessary, even if it’s through social networking or producing a brand. Of course the temptation to be less than a pastor is always there, so I celebrate and commend Pastors who are faithful to their calling.

In the book of Jeremiah 3:15, God shares this word, “And I will give you Pastors according to my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” The Pastor is to be respected and celebrated because he is a gift from God; he is produced from the heart of God and has been given the ability, the assignment, and the anointing to satisfy the hunger of

those who desires to be fed and led.

Although the Pastor comes from God, it is important to understand that he is not God. He is a messenger who establishes the order of God on God’s command. In business terms, you can define Pastor as the Chief Operating Officer who oversees a diverse branch and empowers the personnel to follow standard operating procedures.

The question may be asked, why celebrate Senior Pastors? We celebrate them not only because of what we receive on Sunday morning, but because of the compassion and concern that they have for the sheep. Daily, they’re protecting us and praying to see us secured in the truth which drives them to work more and more. Pastors sometimes have to sacrifice time with their own family to see about another family.

We celebrate them because they need our encouragement. Pastors, when you are tired, be encouraged.

When the sheep don’t follow, be encouraged; when you are talked about and ridiculed, be encouraged; when the tempter comes, be encouraged; when you make a mistake, repent and be encouraged. We give much thanks to God for the gift of Pastors.

By Beatrice Ofwona, Contributing Writer In Acts 20:24 we see Paul’s concern with finishing the race well, even seeing his own life as worth nothing; many leaders, however, are more concerned with position and title to lead than in anything else.

And I Will Give You Pastors…

By Pernell Hill, Contributing Writer Every Sunday morning, millions of people gather in churches to listen their Pastor. All over the world, Pastors stand in pulpits exposing God and His word. According to scripture, they are to empower us with knowledge and understanding. Most of us who are reading this already have some idea of the role of the Pastor.

We view them as overseers of local assemblies, leading congregations in the truths of God by way of living, teaching and preaching. They are under shepherds, charged by God to keep watch over His sheep. The responsibilities are demanding and the calling carries with it a degree of burden most would not want to deal with; that in itself is a reason why Senior Pastors should be celebrated. What an awejune - july 2011

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Covenant Relationships

He rebuked them, allowed they be taken captive and their cities destroyed.

But because of the covenants he made with them, He remained faithful to them even when they were unfaithful.

I believe God is restoring covenant what they want or need from a person ready for true covenant relationships. relationships because of the aloneness with no intention of sticking around The making of a covenant was serious business in Bible times. It was after they’ve gotten what they wanted. people experience in superficial relaCovenant relationship has another tionships that are “mutually benefitthe strongest bond known to men, and intent. The soul purpose of this type of ing” in the name of becoming suchad both business and personal applications that extended to the descen- relationship is to watch out for the in- cessful. We all need someone to stand with us in our battles and celebrate terests of each other. Covenant says, dants of the two parties involved. with us in our victories!

“I trust you with my life and you One of the most beautiful stories The stage is set for actions that will in the bible of a covenant relationship can trust me with yours. When you are in trouble, I am in trouble. What come against us corporately as a nation, is between Jonathan and David (1 as the church, and individually that will Samuel 18:3-4). Scripture tells us how is mine is yours and what is yours is force us to trust each other again and the covenant relationship extended to mine. Your joys are my joys and my develop covenant relationships. joys are yours. Your sorrows are my their descendants in the example of Covenant relationships are rare sorrows and my sorrows are yours.

David’s favor towards Jonathan’s son, and hard to find. When you do find Your children are as my children, and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13). such a relationship, cherish and protect my children are as yours. When you Most relationships today are selfBy Joyce James, are in a fight, my loyalties are with you it with your life. It will be a daunting serving. People do not always openly Contributing Writer task, but well worth the effort. disclose their reasons for being in your and I will fight with you. When I am

life. The relationship usually has to do in a fight, you will do the same.”

Covenant is a word that is thrown with how a person will benefit or betAs many times as God got angry at Joyce James, Th.S. around loosely in today’s society.

Israel for their disobedience and disloy- Sr. Pastor, Total Man Christian Center ter him or herself. This is fine. MuPeople who announce they are in a cov- tual benefit and exchange of services or alty to Him, he remained true to them. Email: totalmanchurch@yahoo.com enant relationship soon find out they

ideas is how relationships are develhave no idea what the word means. It oped—business and personal. Mutual Let us Promote your Business, Your does not take much to test the relation- benefit is one of the main reasons Event, or You! Advertise today in ship. Something as trivial as being told people connect. by a third party that your “covenant However, to develop a relationD-MARS Business Journal partner” said something negative about ship under the guise of a “covenant” you is enough to break covenant for partner or friend is deceptive. This has Call US TODAY! some. Only the mature and selfless are become a practice used by many to get

713.272.9511

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Deconstructing the Myth of Modesty

By Jesse Muhammad, Contributing Writer

I

grew up around mostly women because my biological father wasn’t present. I did not have any male cousins nor any uncles to hang out with.

This had a profound impact on me as it related to my perspective on the value women; how they should be treated; their overlooked resilience and their downright toughness through single motherhood, rocky relationships and more.

When I first read the book, Message to the Blackman, by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, I agreed with his chapters on the respect, protection and elevation of the woman. His points were so profound!

From reading that book and attending my first meeting in high school at Muhammad Mosque No. 45 in Houston, I encountered the power of a woman covering herself— and loving to do so.

This amazed me. I honestly thought to myself at that time, “How in the world did Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan get fine Black women, who love to show their bodies, to cover up and love it?”

This was far from the environment I grew up around. In the concrete jungles of the multiple projects we resided in around Houston, throughout the halls of Forest Brook High School, and on the yard of Prairie View A&M University, showing it “all” was the mantra for young sisters.

Modesty wasn’t in their vocabulary let alone in their minds as they walked malls for the latest freakish june - july 2011

fashions. Yet, I would watch them get upset if a man stared at them, whistled at them, asked them for their phone number or even was bold enough to touch their body parts.

The boys I grew up around saw this as an open invitation.

The women of the Nation of Islam sent an entirely different message. It is one thing to tell men you want them to respect your mind first, but it is hard to expect that when you’re showing them all of your adornments first—leaving nothing to the imagination.

The women of the Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class (M.G.T.-G.C.C.) were showing me, as a young man, something I had never seen before. They showed me that it’s a myth that modesty and covering up is a thing of the past.

They showed me that covering up can have a stronger attracting force than walking around half-naked in stilettos. They commanded respect.

I watched them walk into a room and everything stopped. Not because of what they had on, but because of what they represented and radiated: high civilization.

Wait. Don’t get it confused or twisted, as the youth say, the MGTGCC know how to be modest and still out-dress anyone in the building.

No matter if it’s the elegant Dress 19, the sharp Vanguard uniform or business attire, they keep others in awe.

Another myth they destroyed was that being covered up was being used to keep women oppressed. While in some foreign nations that may be true, but not in the NOI. This is about love for self, dignity, and putting up a “clean glass” against the “dirty glass” (filth) of the world. Even in their elegant attire, they do not walk the Earth heavy nor do they turn up their noses at their fellow sisters who would prefer to “shake what they momma gave them.” However, they share a gentle word of encouragement and most importantly strive to be an example of the principles of womanhood and modest femininity.

What is our responsibility as men when it comes to modesty? First, we must applaud our mothers, wives, daughters and nieces as much as possible when they are striving to be www.

right in this world. Don’t assume they know, we must tell them. It’s not as easy as it may look.

We should internalize the words by the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, “A nation can rise no higher than its woman.” That wasn’t meant to be a cliché or a t-shirt slogan. It’s divine instructions on how we should see them through the lens of Allah (God). We can’t say from our lips that we desire a righteous woman and at the same time flocking to women who could care less about being virtuous. We have to be that which we desire in a woman. That’s critical. If we desire a woman that’s right, we must be that ourselves.

We shouldn’t be surfing the web or social

networking sites looking for half-nude photos to stare at and share.

We should strive also to be modest as men in our attire (no underwear showing), our speech (no cursing), and carry ourselves as men striving to be a reflection of the God we say we love and follow.

Thank you to the MGT-GCC and all women of the world for giving us a picture of how a woman of God should conduct herself. Modesty is a way of life.

There are families that have handed down traditions from one generation to the next and in doing so they have marked an impression in and on the lives of those with whom they’ve entrusted that family treasure. Pastors J.L. White Sr. and J.L. White II are actively doing just that with the preaching and pastoring ministry. With three generations of pastoral legacy, they, in tandem, give leadership to the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Harrisburg, Tx, affectionately known by her members as “The Hill”. White Sr. has served the 145 year old congregation for 28 years. Through his leadership tenure the congregation has celebrated substantial growth and stability. Well respected throughout the city by the clergical community as a young preacher’s friend, White Sr. has extended his wisdom and gestures of love for those that have devoted their lives to the ministry. God has continuously shown himself faithful. Armed with his testimony of deliverance from cancer, and his tenacity for the integrity of pulpit proclaimation White Sr. continues to stand in the authority of the infallible world of God. In January of 2004 White Sr., following what he believed at that time to be the voice of God, submitted his son, John L. White II, to the congregants of the Pleasant Hill MBC as his successor. The recommendation was unanimously received and accepted. Pastor White II is and is an inspired, ambitious, and enthusiastic

servant of God. In 2006, White II accepted the call of God to be the Senior Pastor of the New Hope MBC of Clute, Tx. Under the guidance of the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit he served in that capacity until June of 2010. White II has a serious heart for the work of the Kingdom of God and the people of God. A faithful steward with a hard working nature that drives him to see all projects through to completion. A visionary with a passion for the appointment given him by God. An anointed, expository preacher and teacher of the word of God who is constantly seeking to become a better steward of the gifts that God has invested in him as a mentor, as a minister, and as a man. Presently, serving as the pastor of Pleasant Hill, White II has restructured ministries, established life changing and enriching Bible studies, and has extended the mission of the congregation into its community. The Hill is greatly blessed by the White duo; truly their unique diversities enhance the merging of the old school and new school crowds, but all to be done for God’s glory and to ensure that the church’s mission is reached. The Hill’s mission is to Transform our Community

by Exalting the Savior, Equipping the Saints, and Evangelizing the Sinner.

Striving with the total essence of our being to advance the Kingdom of God Spiritually, Educationally, Socially, and Economically.

Celebrating Legacy

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Celebrating the Senior Pastor - Double Honor

means by double honor. “For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” We see three things here: the labourer is worthy of his reward—his pay for service; receive not an accusation against an elder, unless you have two or three reputable just a special time or a special day. It is is very powerful, or who behaves in a good to set aside a special day to honor way that is morally right. The focus is witnesses; and, if by these witnesses the elder is found to be in sin, rebuke him the men and women of God and show on the latter definition—respect for appreciation for their service. Showing someone who behaves in a way that is before all.

In light of these scriptures and gratitude to anyone for service rendered morally right. Honor, in short, means definitions, “double honor” speaks of is commendable. The individual rend- respect. reward and respect. There must be ing the service is encouraged with the Double honor is not a day. It is material honor and moral honor for expressions of gratitude. This is a good a Christian command. First Timothy thing. Is this all there is to it? No. 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well elders who rule well. It is not suffiThe term double is commonly be counted worthy of double honour, cient to honor them materially without thought of to mean twice as much as especially they who labour in the word honoring them morally. There must be double honor. Honor must consist normal. Although, many times no one and doctrine.” Paul was writing to

By Dr. Pamela Randoph, of two things of the same type. Reeven takes the time to explain what Timothy and giving instructions to Contributing Writer “that” means as it relates to “double the church. He said let the “elders” be spect them with your material posseshonor.” It’s twice as much of what? counted worthy of double honor. Isn’t sions, but also respect them with your moral conduct.

Should it be twice as much money as Double honor is a term often it strange that every Apostle, Bishop, How do you behave toward an heard in many churches. Immediately normal? Should it be twice as much Evangelist, Pastor, Archbishop, Prophelder? What is your attitude toward food as normal, twice as much clothyour mind may gravitate to a Pastor’s et, Teacher and etc. becomes just an them? What does your private coning, twice as much land or twice as anniversary service, a founder’s day elder when it comes to this scripture? versation consist of when their name service or a church anniversary service. many houses or cars?

Oh well, that’s another subject. is mentioned? What do you do when Double may also means consisting Many church members look at it as a The qualification for receiving they give you directives? Paying finanof two things or multiple parts of the special time to give an offering to the double honor is to rule well. Rule cial tribute is only one half of the dousame type. This meaning makes me Pastor for their diligent service over a means to stand before or to be over. ble honor that is seriously overlooked think of a double-dip of ice cream on period of years. Some see it as a time Those elders who stand before you in the church. Many will give a special for verbal expressions of appreciation. a cone. The serving consists of two well—let them be counted worthy of offering at the special service, but they things of the same type, which is ice It must be noted that most see it as double honor. Paul says, “especially have no regard for the words of life or cream. However, the ice cream may be those who labour in the word and a special designated day, like Father’s death that they speak over the man or Day, Mother’s Day, Secretary’s Day, or two different flavors; yet, we call it a doctrine.” Labour means to work Grandparents Day. Your thoughts may double dip. I want to use this definihard or work diligently. Therefore, the woman of God on a weekly basis.

Give the elders that rule well tion of double to elucidate the term head in that direction when you hear elders who stand before you working the term; however this article purposes “double honor.” diligently in the word and doctrine are their reward, but also give them their respect. Your material honor means Now, the term honor refers to the counted worthy of double honor. to shed a new light on the meaning of nothing without your moral honor respect that people have for someone this term.

It is in verses 18-20 that we are backing it up.

I believe that Double honor is not who achieves something great, who able to understand what Paul really

Eyes of Compassion

By Charlotte Jackson, Contributing Writer As an elementary school student, there are memories of an older man visiting our classroom to show slides of trips to Africa. As a junior high school student, there june - july 2011

was a larger variety of slides. Once we were in high school, there were weekly sightings of him at pep rallies and sporting events. By the time I was in my early adult years, he had been present for weddings, funerals and many community events.

As I reached a place in my late twenties, I found myself wondering how I could survive. It seemed like life was crumbling down around me and I needed some guidance. Where would I turn? My father had long since decided to leave my life. The man of the cloth, who had taught me what little I learned about Christ, had been asked to leave the priesthood. Suddenly, as I closed my eyes and asked God to show me where to turn, He reminded me to look for one with compassion.

For over 19 years, Rev. John Brady, “Brother John” to those www.

who had lived on the east side of Houston, had been moving in and out of my life and suddenly at 28, I knew that he was the man I needed to talk to. Many people recall his firm handshake, his big smile or even his sermons, but the compassion of Christ that is second nature to Brother John is something that everyone remembers.

For the 15 years that I attended Woodforest Baptist Church, Brother John took the time to get to know not only the names of the members and visitors, but the needs of them as well. There was rarely a baby that made it to the age of two months of age that was not dedicated before the church and given their own “Baby Bible” to cut their teeth on.

The children would race through the halls to “give him five,” as the youth would patiently wait to share

their latest progress report or athletic achievement.

Over the 48 years he served as Pastor, there were hundreds of young men who decided to follow in his footsteps and are pastoring churches around the world.

Countless young adults have entered the mission field because of his encouraging words.

As my youngest child prepares to graduate from high school and leave for the United States Army, I find myself thanking God daily for the love and support that he and his wife have shown to each of my three children over the years.

When I see my children, now all young adults, act with the compassion of Christ, I know that Brother John impacted their lives. When I think of my spiritual father, it is my former Senior Pastor, Rev. John A. Brady that I thank God for. Happy Father’s Day to the one who has not only spread the love of Christ at home in the community, but all around the world as well, Brother John.

An Anointing for All Seasons

Dr. John Ogletree, Contributing Writer A season is defined as a period of time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature. In the natural a season one of the four natural divisions of the year marked by prevalent climatic conditions as well as special activity. We know them as spring, summer, fall and winter.

We experience seasons in our lives that resemble nature. In our marriages, business, career pursuits, child raising, matriculation through school, health and spiritual lives we go through seasons.

As we live, we encounter the spring when new things are happening and being planted—new job, promotions, new home, new car, new boo…

We encounter the summer when things are growing or developing—relationships, careers, reputations, credit rating, businesses, raises… We encounter the fall when things turn and fall apart—arguments, conflict, hurt, misunderstandings, sickness, separation, bounced check, lights off, layoffs… We encounter winter—death, surgery, disabilities, betrayals, rejection, bitterness, foreclosure, repossession, eviction, divorce…

The interesting thing about seasons is that on any given Sunday we have members in different seasons sitting on the same pew, in the choir, pulpit, ushers ministry, visitors, children’s ministry, teachers whatever.

All around us we’ve got people going through different seasons. And even the pastor goes through his seasons.

Somebody’s in their fall. Somebody’s in their spring. Somebody’s in their winter and somebody’s in their summer. All these seasons converge on the church. While one is excited another is depressed. While one is full of hope another is full of worry. While one is prosperous another is “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” While one is a symbol of health another is feeble and suffering.

There is not any season in your life that you don’t need the Man of God. The pastor has an anointing, a commission, a qualification, a consecration, to office with an endowment of wisdom, knowledge and necessary power for serving and leading God’s people. That’s why the text reads: 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV).

In this pastoral letter to young Timothy Paul gives him this solemn charge or imperatives for his pastoral purpose. It is so solemn that Paul charged him in the presence of God june - july 2011

and Christ Jesus.

The main impetus of the charge is for Timothy to: preach the word.

We’ve got pastors now who are CEOs. The work has become so complicated.

Pastors are burdened with: Developing leaders; Overseeing budgets; Representing the church in the community; Overseeing hiring, personnel policies and procedures; Conducting weddings and funerals; Counseling people in times of crisis; Providing direction on new ministries, buildings; and Moderating the annual meeting and other church meetings.

Pastors have their hands full but Paul reminds us that the main responsibility of the Man of God is to be a herald of Good News, a proclaimer of Divine truth, a persuader of righteousness, and a publisher of peace for one’s soul.

Paul would say don’t allow anything or anybody to get in the way of preaching. Go ahead and be a CEO, develop leaders, overseeing budgets, representing the church, conducting weddings and funerals… But remember you are a preacher first.

The admonishment is to preach the word. Preach doctrine. Preach the message of Christ. Preach the wisdom and knowledge of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Don’t preach philosophy, academic precepts, current culture or personal preferences and pleasures. Preach the word.

Timothy is urged to be prepared, be ready to commence preaching at anytime. Be ready to confront sinners on a moment’s notice. Be ready to continue rightly dividing the word of truth. Be prayed up and studied up.

Timothy be ready, here it is: in season and out of season. Preach when it is favorable, when you’re welcome and when it is convenient.

But also preach when it is unfavorable, when you’re not welcome and when it is inconvenient. Preach in the spring and summer of your ministry and preach in the fall and winter. Preach when it’s crowed and preach when it is almost empty. Preach because you have an anointing for all seasons.

Timothy preached: in the joys and sorrows; in the storm and when it is calm; and in the darkness and the light.

Timothy preached: in the midst of death and life; in sickness and health; in the uncertainty and in certainty; and in prosperity and in times of tightness.

You have an anointing for all seasons. Timothy preached in season and out of season. You have an anointing for every issue, problem, challenge, pain, loss…

Some preaching imperatives: Correct!

Some people are in a season where www.

they need correction. They need to be put under conviction for their thoughts, words, and behavior. The preacher is charged to show people their faults. Some are in their winter seasons because of their own fault, some mistake, some sin or some omission. Expose their wrong.

anointing because patience means long suffering. It means the ability to take a great deal of mess from evil folk or circumstances without losing one’s temper, becoming irritated or angry. It means being in an emotional state of calm in the face of provocation, opposition, or misfortune.

The man of God has to be patient Rebuke! during your season of weakness, faults Some people are in a season where and failure. He has to endure during they need to be sternly warned that the seasons of evil or injury. He has to their summer will become their fall. have patience for your passivity, pesThey need godly criticism. They need simism, pettiness, pretentiousness, pitya word from the Lord that will warn parties, procrastination, power seeking, them to turn around before it’s too late. po-mouthing poverty mind-sets and your playing church.

Exhort!

And he has to do it with careful Some people are in their spring instruction. He has to be thoughtful or summer. They need a word that toward you needs, considerate to your strongly encourages them. They need a season, and timely in his teaching. of comfort or instruction. They need a You ought to be grateful for your word that invites them to move to an- man of God for under his anointing: other level and experience God’s favor. You receive the sign for your season; They need a word of affirmation or a You learn the significance of your word of motivation. season; You find the strength for your Paul then gives Timothy the man- season; and You discover the sustenance ner to do all this: with great patience for your season. and careful instruction. The pastor Thank God for his calling, gifthas to have a level of patience beyond ing, passion, faithfulness… He has an the norm. It takes the totality of his anointing for all your seasons.

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How to Leave a Legacy What Is Lack? in Your Home It all begins with a foundation of God’s Word

By Dennis Rainey, Contributing Writer Patrick attended a Promise Keepers conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado and heard me challenge the men to renew the wedding vows they had made before God. At the same time, Patrick’s wife, Beth, was watching my message at home on television. A few days later, while planning a weekend retreat for nine couples, Patrick thought of my message.

He was just printing a copy of FamilyLife’s “Marriage Covenant” from our website when Beth walked in and asked, “What would you think about asking our group to all renew their wedding vows, like Dennis Rainey talked about at the PK conference?”

Patrick replied, “I think the Lord is at work here, because I was just downloading it to ask you the same question.”

They ended up organizing a special ceremony in which each couple renewed their vows and signed each other’s Oneness Covenant as witnesses.

“It was a beautiful expression of our love for one another and for our fellow couples,” Patrick wrote to us.

Patrick and Beth decided to renew their wedding vows as an expression of faith in God and His Word. Stories like this show that, if you want to leave a godly legacy in your home, you must start with a foundation of God’s Word.

The Old Testament reveals three simple, yet seminal themes relating to the family and God’s Word. First, God gave us His Word to help us survive in a hostile world. As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” His Word is truth.

If we are to experience change in our families, we must admit we are lost and need to find our way to the truth of God’s Word.

I often hear Christians complain that the Bible can’t be read in public schools. But do we faithfully read it in our own homes? The Bible cannot light a dark pathway if it’s lying, covered with dust, on an end table in the family room.

Second, God blesses those who honor and obey His Word. When a man and woman are married in a holy, lifelong commitment to God, and when they raise a family according to God’s principles, they receive His blessing. As Psalm 119:2 says, “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.” june - july 2011

Does this mean they never have problems? Of course not. We are all soldiers fighting battles in enemy territory against a fierce opponent. Your family and mine will take hits. But our setbacks are temporary when we do things God’s way.

Third, the Old Testament shows how God established the family as His primary way for passing on the truth of His Word from one generation to the next. Psalm 78:5-8 declares, “For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” The implication is clear. When parents don’t pass a godly legacy to their children, the entire nation suffers.

Societies are destroyed one family at a time and they are rebuilt the same way.

Leaving a godly legacy means choosing to begin a family reformation in your home. Simply stated, a family reformation involves knowing, applying, experiencing, embracing and proclaiming God’s truth about marriage and family.

It’s a lifelong process of forming our lives, marriage and family according to the Scripture. Each component of this definition possesses special significance: Knowing God’s truth means learning the biblical blueprints for marriage and family. The problem is that too many Christians do not know the Bible. As a result, many marriage and family problems in the Christian community can be traced to this biblical illiteracy.

Applying God’s truth requires following God’s blueprints for our lives and family relationships. This means measuring our attitudes and actions against the yardstick of God’s Word.

Experiencing God’s truth occurs as we apply His Word repeatedly in our family. Here at FamilyLife, we have arranged our messages around four foundational concepts - the Four Pillars of a Family Reformation: 1) personal repentance and purity; 2) the sacred covenant of marriage; 3) the sanctity of God-ordained roles; and 4) a legacy of spiritual vitality for the next generation.

We’ve found that when couples truly www.

experience the biblical truths in these four areas, dramatic changes will occur in their families.

In the final two stages-embracing and proclaiming God’s truth-we see a person’s convictions take root and emerge. When someone proclaims publicly that which he embraces privately, he takes a huge step toward maturity and godliness. No longer is he satisfied with just seeing God work in his life and family, now he becomes a soldier for truth, a conduit of love, grace, and life change in others.

Now, let’s take my formula for Family Reformation and make it even more practical. Here are two action points you can begin today in your home: First, regularly read the Bible as a family and discuss how to apply its teachings to life. Something as simple as reading from the Psalms, Proverbs, or the Gospels at the dinner table will provide nourishment and spiritual direction for a family. One way to do this is to establish a consistent family night.

Every family, regardless of the age of the children, needs some time each week to be together-to learn from the Bible, to have some fun, and to catch up on relationships. This is a time to slow down and to enjoy God and each other.

Second, begin to pray together daily as a couple. I believe if every Christian couple would pray together regularly, our nation would experience a spiritual renewal of historic proportions. Domestic disputes would drop dramatically, leading to a fall in the divorce rate. The impact upon the nation would be incredible. The enemy of our souls, Satan, knows how effective prayer is. He’ll do anything to prevent it in a marriage. And our flesh gets in the way, too, because prayer demands humility before God. It’s hard to be in the midst of some selfish behavior and then pray with your mate-I know, because I’ve tried and failed!

Yes, prayer is one of the most difficult of all spiritual disciplines. But that’s one of the reasons God gave you His Holy Spirit - to give you the power to obey Him even when it seems difficult.

God wants to work through you so that you can courageously live a life based on the standard of God’s Word.

Such a life will spark a Family Reformation that will continue for generations to come.

What kind of legacy will you leave to the next generation?

By Debra Burgess, Contributing Writer “He who gives to the poor will not lack.” What is lack? I live in one of the richest countries in the world and have more than probably 80% of the poorest populations. If I can only see myself as I stand next to my neighbors than my vision is skewed.

I must look to my Heavenly Father. He alone will clear my vision to see the truth. I lack nothing I need.

I have a husband, I have friends and family who love me, I have a home, I have food, I have health, I have clothing and these are all good for what I need in the natural.

When I look at Abba Father, I realize I have the greater things. I have love, I have hope, I have peace, I have joy and I have a desire for more of these supernatural treasures.

I can help feed and clothe the poor to the best of my ability but that will only take them into another day of survival.

The best gifts to offer those who are truly poor would be love, hope, peace, joy and a hunger for more of the same. Food and clothing are but a doorway into the house of my Father. Offering them what I have to share in these supernatural treasures will point them towards eternity.

I love to encourage the heart of people to be who they are meant to be in Christ. My hope is anything I offer would be pleasing first to my Heavenly Father and secondly to bring a blessing to others.

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You Are Building a Legacy!

By Moe & Paige Becnel Contributing Writers

H

ave you ever thought about your ability to leave a legacy, or even if you will leave one at all?

Do you know what a legacy is? Do you understand the importance of establishing a legacy in your children’s life?

Webster dictionary defines legacy as - a particular thing or certain sum of money given by last will or testament; anything handed down by an ancestor or predecessor.

According to the second definition, we will all leave a legacy; it is impossible to not leave a legacy!

However, not all legacies are good.

What many people are not conscious of is that everyone will leave a legacy to their children and grandchildren – whether good or bad.

The legacy we leave our children will influence their life. Often based on our legacy, our children will leave a legacy to our grandchildren. Your legacy will either be a blessing or a curse to them. Our children observe what we say, do, and watch, who we are friends with and what we participate in. They also observe the relationship we have with God.

How Will You Be Remembered?

At your funeral, how will people remember you? What traits did you display? Were those traits the same in and out of your home, or were you different in public than at home? While thinking of the legacies, we came up with a list of a few potential legacies: 1. a winner, or a quitter 2. a person who takes care of others, or a self-centered life 3. a life of great achievements, or a life with no ambition and goals 4. money and great wealth, or extreme debt from poor money management 5. a successful business person, or a job hopper 6. a life of peace and self-confidence, or a life of fear, worry and anxiety 7. a God-centered home, or a selfcentered life - independent of God 8. a person of encouraging words, or a person of gossip 9. a life directed by God’s principles, or by man’s principles, or by alcoholism, drug abuse or pornography june - july 2011

10. a person who loved family time, or a person devoted to work 11. a life based on honesty, or a life of dishonesty or even illegal ventures 12. a loving mother and father, or a parent who abandoned a spouse and child 13. a loving family environment that will last a lifetime, or a life of quitting relationships when they get tough 14. a happy home, or a broken home leading to a long distance relationship due to divorce and custody arrangements

other, to be a place where all members are completely accepted, and to provide physical, emotional and spiritual guidance.

More than anything, you and your spouse need to develop a model of a true, loving family for your children.

If you do not value family, neither will your children. From our divorces, our children only knew of brokenness, of arguing, and of selfishness. They found out that their feelings did not matter to at least one of their parent’s decisions to divorce.

You see, God hates divorce, and He is deeply interested in seeing your marriage last a lifetime. It is our responsibility to break the cycle of divorce in our Do some of these closely describe lives and our children’s lives. We have a the legacy you are leaving? If so, were great opportunity to leave our children they positive or negative legacies? a great legacy! That legacy is that marriage and family is of utmost importance, and divorce is not an option. All Your Everyday Decisions Realize this --- your everyday deci- problems in a family can be solved - the sions and actions add up and eventually solutions come when we start serving each other and stop being selfish. Soludetermine the legacy you leave your children and grandchildren. And what tions to our problems are discovered in our prayer time with God. He will show you do not stand against, you effecyou how to respond to every situation. tively say it’s OK. A great scripture that sums up Yes, God has plans for our life, and what we are talking about is found in He has plans for your life, too. And His plans are very detailed. God has a plan Proverbs 20: 7. It says, “the righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are for your new family. He wants your his children after him.” Do not let the family to become a loving, safe-haven word – “righteous” intimidate you. for all family members, and to follow Righteous simply means right choices! the example of His Son Jesus, serving each other in a great way. He also wants your marriage to last a lifetime. As you Being Intentional seek and walk in God’s plan for your We must be intentional in developlife, you build a God-ordained legacy ing a legacy worth having. It will not for your children and grandchildren. just happen.

When Moe experienced divorce, he felt as though he had failed his chil• Love your spouse and children dren. As his visitation was set at three – give them your time, encourweekends each month, that gave him age them, listen to them, extend six days each month to try to raise and forgiveness, extend grace. influence his children. He struggled • Pray for your spouse and children with the fact that he had lost the ability everyday – for protection, health, to raise them. He felt his parenting acceptance, favor with others, for ability had been taken from him. the friends they choose, for their But God always has a promise future, and their future spouses. to meet our needs and concerns. Moe found a promise from God in Isaiah • Teach your children to serve oth54:13. It says, “All your sons will be ers. Regularly visit a nursing home, taught by the Lord, and great will be or a friend in the hospital, or help your children’s peace.” Wow! In the someone move - and bring your absence from his children, God steps in children with you. and raises them Himself by His Holy • Help your children to find God’s Spirit. plan for their life. Take them to As a result, our children turned out church. Establish a high moral to be well behaved and obedient. We standard in your home, with high know that it is God’s Spirit who had expectations. such a positive effect on them.

We pray that everyone who reads this article will get a revelation that they control the legacy that they will So what is God’s plan for your blended family? What legacy does God leave. Each day we plant seeds in life that become our harvest. We need to want you to leave? He desires your family to stop being a “step” family, to be sure we plant good seeds, and not grow in love, to honor and respect each weeds, so that our life might be full.

God’s Plan

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Leaving a Financial Legacy When we talk about leaving a legacy, most people think about leaving an inheritance like property, money, stocks or even a business for the next generation.

Things are getting expensive if you live in the city and will become more so in the future. Yet income trends show that it has not grown as fast as inflation.

If you can leave something behind for your children, they would have a better start, although that is not guaranteed.

Leaving a financial legacy, means passing financial values to your children. It does not matter if you leave them with millions, if they don’t have the right financial values, those millions will be gone in no time. In fact, the Chinese have a saying that prosperity does not remain in a family for more that 3 generations. The story goes like this: The first generation is poor, lack opportunity where they were living, probably immigrated from China or elsewhere. They saw the opportunity the new land presents, works hard, is frugal, saves and lays a financial foundation.

This foundation is most likely a small family business, some money and/or small piece of land. The second generation saw their parents work hard. They learned the values of their parent, are thrifty, builds on this first foundation to take it to the next level. Perhaps they have a better education, come back from getting a college degree, modernize the business and they become wealthy in the process. The third knows nothing of the first generation work. They only see the wealth the second generation got. The nice house, nice cars and good lifestyle.

This third generation enjoys the fruit of the labor of the first two generation.

They don’t know the hardship of their grandparents because they did not see.

Laziness surfaces and they only know how to consume rather than to preserve and grow the wealth further. By the time the fourth generation comes along, a large portion of assets are consumed or wasted. Fifth generation comes along and they are back to square one. All the wealth and experience down the drain.

If you have children, you know how fast they learn new concepts. They often mimic what they see adults do. The way they talk, the way they relate to one another and they spend money. This should come as no surprise. Children catch the money values of the parents.

If you eat at expensive restaurants most of the time, they become used to eating at expense restaurants. They will do the same when they grow up. If you change cars every year or two, they would most likely do the same. If you are in a mountain of consumer debt, most likely they would be too. And even if you don’t carry a debt, with the lifestyle you currently live, you have trained your children to live at a certain level.

What financial legacy are you leaving for your children? Are you leaving a financial legacy that can last more than three generations? It depends on you.

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Think About Standing Firm in the Lord, these Things

No Matter What

By Beatrice Ofwona, Contributing Writer

By Jack Vorster Contributing Writer

God died on the Cross to save us from our CONDITION of sin.

When one is addicted to the enjoyment of activities such as adultery, wife-swapping, unfaithfulness, fornication, divorce, conflict, strife, jealousy, lust, anger, hatred, pride, selfishness, corruption, greed, revenge and murder, then it is impossible to try and live a life of Godly love when habitually enjoying such activities. And it is impossible to be happy when being fed by the unhappiness of such activities.

If these are the very things God died to save us from, then why do we continue to try and live by these things?

When we keep on feeding ourselves with such activities, even the portrayal thereof by others, then the values they represent become imprinted in our mind and spirit and become the very core of our emotions and habits. We become and remain totally unhappy about everything. It means God died for us in vain and we prefer the unhappiness of our CONDITION of sin. If we are determined to follow such things then we are determined to be unhappy and miserable.

And where do we find these things?

For example, television soap operas have the ability to influence people’s behavior. Although the viewers might not initially follow similar lifestyles, it is the satisfaction of watching the portrayal of such activities that does the damage and soon leads to emulation. After all, it’s the norm as lived out on television for us to enjoy, isn’t it? It is known as an act of indoctrination. If an obscene word is heard often enough, pretty soon it starts forming in our minds and through our lips. Being repetitively subjected to these antics can also invoke suspicion on one’s spouse, which can fester until totally unfounded accusations are flung around, culminating in break-ups and divorce.

Satan’s favorite people are movie and soap opera scriptwriters. He orchestrates them to perpetuate the idea of “these things” in the face of God and His sacrifice for the human race made in His image. The onslaught on mankind is relentless and presented through a medium perfectly suited for this purpose.

After all, he is known as the god of this world and he has a monopoly on the use of modern technology by which he can manipulate the minds of men and bring about the fulfillment of his agenda the destruction of the souls of men.

What are we to do? The answer is simple. Just sit still and THINK. june - july 2011

A soldier is trained to fight in war.

When we get saved we become soldiers of defending the faith. 2Corinthians 7:11 gives insight of adversities we may face, but also encourages us to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12 tells us how our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against rulers of darkness. The Holy Spirit has put a weapon in our hands, his powerful presence, because in salvation we are in warfare. No matter what has happened to us or what we have been through, we serve the ever living God who exists all around us and who is constantly at work in laying a shield of protection over us.

We have been through many situations that only He has been able to see us through. For instance, the teenagers in our homes have not fallen prey to the drugs that surround us or our marriages have survived despite all others around us failing; we still live on despite the doctors giving reports years ago that predicted our immediate death. Regardless of what is going on around us, our backgrounds, or our circumstances, we should remember that nothing is impossible with God. We may be hard pressed but we will certainly not be crushed because our God will come and lift us when we align ourselves to Him. Do not own any sickness by referring to it as ‘my disease’ my diabetes’ or ‘my asthma’, give it to God through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all infirmities because He hears you and will carry the burden for you. When you are distracted, you become distressed; this then leads to your depression and possible death. However in Christ, you stand firm and whatever ails your heart cannot crush your hope which is always in him. Wake up and acknowledge God’s plan for your life because in Him, you will certainly live and not die. Philippians 4:4 asks us to rejoice and rejoice always.

No matter what humiliations you may face in life, remember that Christ suffered through it all. They spat at his face and called him names before they crucified him but he remained quiet and took it all in for the sake of our salvation. What great love that was!

We too should remain calm in afflictions as disappointments will never cease. Romans 12:20 asks that we may not even take revenge but instead leave room for God’s wrath. You are a child of the mighty God and He will never leave nor forsake you. But in everything, remember to give Him thanks and praise; do not be shaken. And knowing that your days are numbered should make you wake up to the fact that you should be spreading the Gospel rather than concentrating on your woes.

Do not lose heart no matter what happens. Always have faith and as Sherwood Eddy says, “Faith is not trying to believe something regardless of evidence; faith is daring something regardless of the consequences”. This is how we should hold onto God’s promises because only He knows us enough www.

to know what is best for us.

Forget what is behind as Paul reminds the church in Philippians 3:13 and strain towards the goal. Do not waver because there is always hope. Do not lose this hope because you are a child of the most high God and your Daddy owns everything in this world.

How then do you arm yourself?

Firstly, it is by training yourself. As a soldier, you should embrace vigilance and militancy in your dealings. Through the processes of incubation and gestation, we see that God always proves before He promotes. He is not looking for qualified people but rather those that He can work with through a restorative process during which time He prunes the tree so that it can bear fruit. He may anoint someone long before appointing him as He did for David but He will never go back on His word and on what He has purposed for your life. Saul threw the javelin at David, but he could not harm him whom God had anointed. Hang onto this faithfulness of God in obedience to His precepts and wait on Him; everything that He has promised shall come to pass. Stay vigilant.

Secondly, believe. There are times that all you have is the Lord’s report on your situation. Despite Saul’s javelin

and reports from the Jebusites, David believed that what God had promised would come to pass; and it did. When you receive a promise from the Lord in prayer, in a dream, in a vision or in prophecy, possess it. Stand firm on the Lord’s promises for you life and they shall all come to pass.

Always stand your ground and fight for Christ by defending the faith.

This does not mean that you argue foolishly as this may produce quarrels as shared in 2Tim2:23, but rather do so with quietly with great wisdom, authority and power that have been given to you by the Holy Spirit.

Remember to hold onto God’ promises for your life; in 1Tim1:18 Paul asks Timothy to hold to the prophecies made over him and to fight the good fight while holding onto faith and a good conscience. Through all the hardships that you are experiencing, do not be shaken, stand firm and always remember that the place of your greatest resistance will be the place of your greatest victory. James 1:2-4 asks you to consider it pure joy when you are being tested so that you may develop perseverance then maturity and finally completion. God is at work in you, stand firm in the faith!

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