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In This Issue
Gospel 4 U
Volume 6 issue 3 May/June 2015
Magazine
Gospel 4 U Magazine is an evangelism tool that is designed to reach the hearts of our readers who have no knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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On the Cover
Executive Publisher Gospel 4 U Publishing Joanna Birchett
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Mayor Tim Scott Mayor Wayne Messam
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Councilwoman Jamila Garnett
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Min. Jennifer Marlowe
Pastor Gwendolyn Ann Cook
Jennifer Foxworthy
Jenny’s Journal
Faith
Domestic Violence
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Page 12
Page 30
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ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
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Senator Anthony Hardy Williams
Dennean Handfield Lori Mitchell Jennifer Marlowe
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Bishop Shawn Bartley
Journalist
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Editor’s Desk We are dedicated to uplift, empower and motivate you through the power of media technology. Hello and welcome to another issue of the Gospel 4 U Magazine. We are committed to make your reading experience an enjoyable one. In this issue, we have the privilege of speaking with some government officials, who are men and women of God and are leaders in every aspect of their lives. As you read each article, you will be blessed to know a bit more about your mayor or council member. If you are from the Caribbean, we have the president of the Caribbean Cultural Commission giving some very useful information. Once again, here at Gospel 4 U we appreciate all our readers, distributors, and loyal supporters. Never forget that no matter what, you are already a winner! “United we stand, divided we fall”
Pastor Joanna Birchett 3
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Caribbean Cultural Commission Many USA-based Caribbean organizations do a valuable job at serving the needs of the Caribbean people. However, most of these organizations only serve the people from their respective island (i.e., Jamaica, Bahamas, etc.). What is unique about the Caribbean Culture Commission (CCC) is that it is a non-profit corporation that was formed out of the deep desire to unite people from all the Caribbean Islands under one umbrella, regardless of their island of origin. Consequently, CCC provides a unique, “One Voice,” opportunity for representation and leveraging of resources for people from all the Caribbean. This unified, unique positioning Caribbean living in the USA, between people from various are often very loyal to their communicating or sharing affect all of us, who are from Unfortunately, because of this, have been overlooked, due to lack of “a voice” must change this!
creates a stronger, one voice to the nonwhile strengths the communication Caribbean Islands. The Caribbean people islands. They do not have a history of resources to help address the issues that the Caribbean and living in the USA. some segments of our Caribbean society underserved, and disenfranchised. This is politically, economically, and socially. We
Hispanic, Jewish, and other organized themselves. They or accomplished members of and in some cases represent
ethnic-minority communities have strategically use the influence of prominent their demographic to speak up for them, them. It’s now our time to do the same!
The mission of CCC or “One Bishop Shawn D. Bartley Voice” is to bring awareness to issues affecting individuals that are President directly from the Caribbean, or their descendants. Therefore, CCC unifies the Caribbean peoples who have shared history and heritage by establishing a “One Voice” of representation. This vision sets CCC apart from the rest. Specifically, CCC focuses on proving resources and advocacy representation in some key areas:
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Healthcare
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Education
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Housing
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Immigration
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Homeland security
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Attorney representation
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Justice system
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Employment (i.e., resume writing, interviewing skills, obtaining references, networking, and how to market yourself)
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Entrepreneurship
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CCC offers resources to those who are immigrants in transition, who have discovered that they do not have the knowledge necessary to navigate through all the systems in the USA. They are often in need of some “hand holding” or resources so they don’t get swallowed up or overwhelmed. In addition, there are an increasing number of new residents and naturalized citizens who need help in navigating the system. These people are important to us. So, we provide an avenue where their voices can be heard in such arenas as: •
Politics o Mayor’s monthly meeting o Lobbying city state, state and federal o Immigration
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Real estate o Rent, purchases, foreclosure, home maintenance, etc.
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Religion o Spirituality, marriage, divorces, funerals, baby blessings, family counseling, education, counseling, networking, etc.
The CCC meets monthly at 5:00pm (contact us for dates) with the Caribbean community to do the following: •
Highlight key members of the Caribbean community who have accomplished great things in several key sectors in the USA, including: law, medicine, politics, film, and music, to name a few
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Keep the community informed of changes taking place that might affect them, and the resources available to assist
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Solicit members and donation to support the mission
Note the upcoming events: •
Women Economic Empowerment Summit—Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 5:00pm
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The Caribbean Has Talent fundraiser—Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 5:00pm
Location: True United Church 6201 Old York Road Philadelphia, PA 19141
For more information or to join CCC, please contact us at 1-888-317-1922 or visit www.caribbeanculturecommission.org Bishop Shawn Bartley, President Phone: 215-844-1132 bishopbartley@aol.com
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Jenny’s Journal I Am Grateful — Minister Jennifer Marlowe 6
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It’s Saturday and I’m in Jamaica for my aunt’s funeral. At 7pm, after the burial has taken place, I heard my older sister calling me from the verandah, “Paulette, Paulette is that you? Come here!” I’m affectionately known by my middle name by my family. “Yes,” I answered from the gated-entrance yard. I was still standing around with old and new friends after taking a walk in our village. I was relishing in temperateness of chatting about old times and new things. I leisurely walked to where my sister sat. My friends followed behind. She then said, “Sit I want to see your face.” I sat on the chair as she proceeded to use the flashlight of her cellphone to see my face more clearly. I playfully started giving her my vogue poses, thinking it was picture time! As quickly as the camera flashlight, I heard her say, “You want the good news first or the bad news?” I found myself grumbling, “Just give me the news.” She proceeded to tell me about my car being involved in an accident back home (in the USA). I blurted out, “Who was driving, and who got hurt?” I came to find out that while parked, my car was one of three cars involved in a collision from a hit-and-run. As I listened to the news, I became furious. I was mad just thinking about my car and how it has been a livelihood. I thought about how much I relied on my car to take me to and from my clients’ homes for work. I wondered about my insurance, and how this would cause it to inflate dramatically. But mostly, I thought about how much I just love my car. In addition, what did not help my state of mind, and made things feel worse, was that all of our guest and friends started talking negatively about car accidents; especially hit-and-runs. When my middle sister called from the USA to speak to me about the accident, and I
could hardly talk. Needless to say, the phone call was cut short because of how mad I was. Early Sunday morning I got up, still infuriated and wanting to get away from everyone. I went up to the graveside where my grandmother was buried and sat by her tomb. I sat there being comforted by the breeze and consoled by the presence of God. Then from across the gullied path, I heard a church in session. The congregation was in such praise! The praises made its way through the beauty of the trees and the web of their lives. They were giving God glory, telling Him how worthy, awesome, and full of majestic He is, and how they love Him. There was no music playing because there were no instruments. Upon further curiosity, it appeared that it must have been very hot inside, for there were no fans or ACs. There were seats, but none were covered or padded. Yet, the saints were singing with a d o r a t i o n , gratefulness, and love. Their praise worship lasted about half an hour to forty-five minutes. It was then that it hit me! Even though their economic situation was bad and cost of living was very high, they were STILL giving God His praises. None of them had a car, but their worship was their driving force to where God’s love is. They had no insurance or full coverage, as I did on my car, but they had the assurance of the death, burial, and resurrection power of Jesus Christ. He is alive, that’s why they worship Him as King. They weren’t worried about great material values because they were sure that the possession they had was worth more than anything money could ever buy. The saints were covered of the knowledge of eternal life and rested upon the assurance that their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. At this point, this Bible verse came alive to me, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth” Learn to be grateful in everything! 7
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Mayor Wayne Messam — Miramar Florida Mayor Wayne Messam has lived in Miramar for over 10 years. A firstgeneration American, Wayne was the first of his parents’ children to be born in the USA. He was raised in South Bay, Florida, by loving and hard-working Jamaican parents. His father, Hubert Messam, labored in the sugarcane fields of the Glades as a migrant contract worker for nearly two decades after immigrating to the USA with his family. Growing up in the Glades, Wayne learned the values of hard work, discipline, and the pride of culture, community, and heritage. Miramar’s cultural diversity and sense of community attracted Wayne to the city of Miramar to raise his own family. Wayne and his wife of thirteen years, Angela, have three children: Wayne II (age 13) and twin daughters, Kayla and Kyla (age 11). All of Wayne’s children attend public schools in Miramar.
class president at Glades Central High School, Wayne was offered full athletic and academic scholarships to attend Florida State University. He excelled both on and off the football field. His accomplishments include being a starting wide receiver and a member of the 1993 National Championship Football Team under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. Licensed as a General Contractor and a LEED-Accredited Professional, Mayor Messam is a prominent young professional in the construction industry. His company, Asset Builders, is currently building and managing some of the most exciting green construction projects in America, including Galaxy Elementary. Galaxy Elementary, located in Delray Beach, is predicted to be the greenest school in Florida.
Commission in March of 2011. He currently serves on the National L e a g u e o f C i t i e s — E n e r g y, Environment & Natural Resources Steering Committee. He served two terms as chair of the Broward County Small Business Development Advisory Board, where he has been very influential in the policy recommendations that affect local and small business programs for Broward County and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms. He also served as past vice-chair of the Miramar’s Planning and Zoning Board. Other community activities include his service as an optimist football coach, ordained deacon, and vice-chair of the board of trustees for his church, The Fountain of New Life. He is also a member of the School Advisory Council (SAC) at his daughters’ school, Sunset Lakes Elementary.
Mayor Messam has always had a Mayor Messam is no stranger to commitment to public service. He leadership and success. As senior was elected to the city of Miramar 9
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Gospel 4 U Media Pick -Mr and Mrs Anthony Sweet
As Gospel 4 U Media department continues to surf the social media and this month we are featuring this power couple, Anthony Sweet and wife Kimberly Sweet, they are newly weds and they do everything together. Gospel 4 U surfed their pages and we were truly inspired by just the words of wisdom, the daily scriptures and most of all the love thy show to each other. This power couple is determined that for God they live and for him they will die, they are walking in unison and they are in agreement with all God has in store for them. Check out their Facebook Page at: Anthony Lane - Sweet and Kimberly Kesner - Sweet
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Pastor Gwendolyn Ann Cook
How Your Faith Community Can Partner with Federal, State, and Local Government for the Common Good My involvement with the White House Prayer Initiative began in February of 2012. I recall that, while sitting on the couch watching television, my phone rang and there appeared an unknown number. The caller turned out to be Reverend Terry Lee, a softspoken gentleman with a strong Caribbean accent. Reverend Lee stated that he was browsing my website (http://www.womenwalkinginthespirit.com), which is designed for female mentoring ministry with strong emphasis on prayer. He was looking for ministries with a strong focus on prayer and intercession. During our conversation, he informed me that he was the founder of a ministry whose mission is to mobilize faith leaders across the US in order to pray for our government lorem ipsum dolor met set officials and for our country.
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As Reverend Lee continued to share his passion regarding the agency of prayer, I felt a strong 12
desire to hear more. In turn, I made a decision to accept his invitation to come to Brooklyn, NY. At that time, he was hosting a fundraising event to assist in supporting the 13th annual prayer initiative at the White House. I was unaware of the fact that churches were meeting annually for pray at the White House. The keynote speaker at the event was Dr. Jannah Scott, who was appointed by President Obama in March of 2009. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In that role, Dr. Scott provides access to programs, policies, and engagement opportunities for faith-based and community groups on a broad array of homeland security issues. Primarily, her focus has been on interfaith dialogue and cooperation, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, citizenship and immigration, religious accommodation, and the department’s faith-based, information-sharing initiative.
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The White House Prayer Initiative is an girls bound by the spirit of prostitution, as well as enterprise that Dr. Scott graciously supports. I had the drug addiction. It’s been said that I minister under a th privilege of not only attending the 13 annual prayer persuasive anointing, which has resulted in some initiative, but I was also given the opportunity to pray, committing themselves to a detox facility, in hopes of along with other spiritual leaders, on the south side of staying clean. Additionally, I am a community the White House Lawn. While there, I was even asked activist, author, television host, inspirational and to read President Obama’s first National Day of international speaker, as well as a law enforcement Prayer Proclamation. After being a participant of this chaplain for the city of Camden. I am also a co-pastor great event, I was invited to get more of Instruments of Righteousness involved, which resulted in me Pastor Gwendolyn Ann Cook speaking Evangelistic Ministries, serving in the White House becoming the New Jersey state alongside my husband, Pastor Coordinator for the White House Jonathan W. Cook. Over the past Prayer Initiative. Since then, I have several years, I have been been mobilizing churches throughout instrumental in coordinating the the state of New Jersey to join this March for Jesus in Camden and I am great movement. an active member of the National Day of Prayer. Matthew 21:13 says, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you’re turning it into a gathering place for thieves!” Unquestionably, the church’s identity as a house of prayer is significant and the Lord desires to use the praying church as a means through which to bless this nation. As the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must take every opportunity to stand in the gap, as we come together to pray for our President, his cabinet, our executive branch, and our nation. I presently reside in Vineland, NJ. I am the Founder & President of Women Walking in the Spirit Ministries: Youth-At-Risk Mentoring Program. This program is designed to minister to young female adults who are dealing with behavioral related issues. In addition, WWITS offers certified training for women and teenaged females who desire to impact the lives of other females. Our program also places special emphasis on assisting females who are presently in an alternative school environment, and those who are incarcerated at the Hayes Secure Care facility for female youth, located in Bordentown, NJ. For the incarcerated youth, WWITS provides individual mentoring with hopes of helping to prepare them for their reentry into their communities. I am no stranger to Camden, NJ, where I frequently patrol the streets in search of women and teenaged
Since the introduction to Dr. Scott by Reverend Lee, I have partnered with the Center for Faith-based Neighborhood and Partnerships; a department within the White House. As an acting liaison for this particular department, I have represented a broad and diverse interfaith network of spiritual and community leaders, in addition to a number of public officials. In 2012, I was instrumental in bringing together Camden’s mayor, Dana Redd, and their police chief, John Scott Thomson. In order to support my efforts, Reverend Lee traveled from Brooklyn, NY, to attend this meeting. At that time, Camden had earned the title as being the poorest city in the nation, in addition to having the highest crime rate. This particular meeting opened the door for Camden to receive several grants, which also included a grant of $1.4 million from the Department of Justice used to initiate the Cure Violence model in hopes of reducing youth and gang violence. In 2014, I was successful in organizing another meeting with spiritual and political leaders in Trenton, NJ, after concerned citizens and community leaders heard of the success accomplished in Camden. They reached out to me through Minister Angeline Dean. This meeting occurred after the Mayor of Trenton at the time, Tony Mack, was indicted.
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Reverend Terry Lee The Man behind the White House Prayer On March 11 of this year, my husband and I, along with more than 200 clergy, under the leadership of Reverend Lee, were invited to an official briefing at the White House. This briefing was presented by several different directors from various departments within the White House. The briefing addressed topics that were of some importance to the faith-based community. Presently, Mayor Carolyn V. Chang of Westhampton Township and I are working together along with Dr. Scott and members of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to address a number of concerns with our public officials and the faith-based community in Burlington County, NJ. Our goal of this meeting is on how our faith community can partner with federal, state, and local government for the common good. I have authored three books, hosted a weekly broadcast entitled the “Battle for Life” on ION Television, and was a previous host on the “Praise the Lord” & “Joy in Our Town” segments for the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). To contact Pastor Gwendolyn Ann Cook call 609-781-2026 or email jesuscan@hotmail.com. You can see the work that she does by visiting her websites http://www.womenwalkinginthespirit.com and http://www.iorem.org.
White House Choir 1000 voices combined together to give all Glory to the Lord at the White House
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Councilwoman Jamila Garnett Councilwoman for Chesilhurst Borough, New Jersey A Woman that wears many hats Gospel 4 U: Hello Councilwoman Jamila Garnett, tell our readers who you are. Councilwoman Garnett: First let me say thank you so much for having me here today. I am a woman wearing many hats. I am a Mother, A Businesswoman, A Pastor and Gospel Artist but the reason for this interview today, I am currently serving my second term as a re-elected Councilwoman for the Borough of Chesilhurst located in Camden County New Jersey. G4U: Wow! Truly a woman with many hats..What brought you into politics? Was this your original career aspirations? Councilwoman Garnett: After the murder of my husband in 2004, I was approached by the Mayor to be the Drug Alliance Coordinator for The Borough. As an active member of the community, my Church; and owner/operator of my beauty salon, I became intimately aware of the problems that the people of the community were facing. I began hosting various events to serve as a resource for the people. With all that I began doing the Mayor noticed and this resulting in my involvement in politics.
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G4U: Did you receive a degree in political science? Councilwoman Garnett: I never pursued a degree in political science because I had no idea I would one day work as a politician. Having a degree and advance training for my initial career goals in cosmetology, modeling, vocal and performing arts, I developed a business plan and opened my salon. I became a Gospel Artist, writing and performing original songs that opened doors for me to spread the gospel locally and internationally. Through all my involvement in the Church, it lead me to obtain a degree in Divinity and I was license as an ordained Pastor. The school of hard knocks, on the job training and experience has been my greatest teacher for my role as a Councilwoman. G4U: What does your perfect day look like? And where is your favorite place to go in your City? Councilwoman Garnett: My perfect day is when God wakes me up and I can be of service to other's. I truly have a heart and concern for people. I also enjoy being anywhere in Chesilhurst because it is a very peaceful place to live and visit. My favorite place to visit is First Baptist Church of Chesilhurst NJ where I am honored to serve as the Pastor. I have the opportunity to meet, counsel and serve many people through the various programs offered by the Church. Chesilhurst is my hometown. I wrote a song entitled "Today is a Beautiful Day based on Chesilhurst and I filmed part of my video in Chesilhurst Park for another song I wrote called "A New Beginning" showing a small part of the beauty of The Borough. This video continues to be viewed by many on You Tube. G4U: What exactly is the role of a Council Woman? Councilwoman Garnett: To serve the constituents and serve as a voice on their behalf.
G4U: As a Spiritual Leader I have to get into the Word a little bit Sir/Ma’am is that all right? But the bible declares in the book of Proverbs 29:18 that without a vision the people perish, what does your vision for your City involve? Councilwoman Garnett: Of course! In James 2:14 it talks about faith without works is dead. I have a lot of faith and I am always ready to work on the challenges and issues that exist within the Community. Before my term started there were much changes in the Borough such as the closing of the elementary school and the fire department. These services were transferred to a neighboring township for economic reasons. I would like to see these services returned for our residents, and ten times better. Our police department does a wonderful job, and I would love to see them have a new facility to conduct their daily activities. I am also working on more programs for the children and senior citizens, as well as bringing more business to our town to lighten the load on the taxpayers. G4U: What would you say is your biggest accomplishment while in office? Increasing awareness and community participation in the program and services offered by the Borough and the Drug Alliance Program, as well as representing our citizens with a specific focus on the needs of the seniors and children.
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G4U: On another note ... What would you say is your greatest disappointment while serving office? Councilwoman Garnett: Although things may be disappointing at times, no matter what happens, I am a firm believer that we can learn and grow from it; therefore I would have to say I have none. G4U:How do you approach your job with all the frustration that you have to face on a daily basis? Councilwoman Garnett: I guess by now you can see that I really try my best to stay focused and maintain a very positive attitude. I approach each day in this way. I try to do all things in excellence and with the Power of God in my life. G4U: What would be your greatest advice to a man or woman serving in a leadership role? Councilwoman Garnett: One should always be themselves. Be the best person you can be. Always be willing to become unlearned so that you may learn. Try your best to be positive. Listen to understand rather than just responding with no understanding and I would like to also add that I will be hosting an empowerment session for my up and coming organization called "Say Yes to Life". Our program motto has been for 2015 to LIVE: L- Love More I- Invest in Yourself V- You have the Victory over your fears E- Encourage yourself and never act on emotions. Thank you again Gospel 4 U for this opportunity. As always keep Smiling!
Picture above shows Councilwoman Jamila Garnett Ministry that she is also a Pastors at. What a blessing! 18
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Senator Anthony Hardy Williams Gospel 4 U Magazine was given the privilege to have an exclusive interview with Senator Anthony Williams,Williams is the son of Hardy, a politician, and Carole, an elementary school teacher. He grew up in Philadelphia.He is now Mayoral candidate for the city of Philadelphia
Gospel 4 U: Hello Senator Williams. Thank you for this opportunity. Please, tell our readers about yourself. Who is mayoral candidate Williams? Senator Williams: Thank you, it is an honor. I am a lifelong Philadelphian. I grew up in West Philadelphia where my mom, Carole Williams-Green, was a public school teacher and my father, Hardy Williams, was an activist. I have lived in the same neighborhood my entire life. I was married here, I go to church here, I raised my kids here, and I even live in the same house in which I was born. As an elected official, I am committed to building consensus, making sure every child in every neighborhood gets a great education, ensuring cleaner and safer streets, and growing economy that benefits everyone. Senator Williams: What brought you into politics? Was this your original career aspiration? Throughout my childhood, I was surround by inspirational figures. But my mother, a dedicated public school teacher, and my father, a political trailblazer, instilled in me a sense of duty and public service. So I always knew I wanted to affect peoples’ lives in a positive way. My career path hasn’t been so straightforward. It has taken me from the private sector, where I served as an executive for Pepsi Co. and ran my own small business; to the social justice arena, when I ran my own non-for-profit; to public service, where I have served as a State Representative and State Senator.
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G4U: Did you receive a degree in political science? Senator Williams: No. My degree is in economics from Franklin & Marshall University. However, I was surround by countless activists. I also believe that growing up with my father made my entire childhood a course in political science. He taught me how to better understand people and the issues they face every day, as well as how to find common ground with people who don’t always agree with you. Those lessons have proved invaluable throughout my life. G4U: For you, Sir, what does your perfect day look like? And where is your favorite place to go in the city? Senator Williams: I have been living my perfect day for the last year. My grandson, Brandon, was born a year ago. He and my daughter live with my wife and I. Every day, I get to put him to bed at night. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. My favorite place in the city is probably my neighborhood of Cobbs Creek. The benefit of living on the same street your entire life is that, not only do you get to watch your neighbors grow up with you as a kid, but also you get to see them raise families of their own. G4U: What are some of the things you will change if elected a mayor? Senator Williams: First and foremost, we have to fix our public schools. A better-educated city means less crime, more people working, and more revenue for the city. The priority at this point is to change how our education system is funded. Philadelphia has great teachers, and the young people here have proven time and time again that they are some of the brightest in the world. The problem is that our public school system has been neglected in terms of the amount of revenue it receives from the state. I have outlined my plan on how I will bring desperately needed dollars to our schools and that will be my top priority as a mayor. Secondly, we need to bring down the poverty rate in Philadelphia. We have the highest poverty rate out of any major city, and it is simply unacceptable. If we fix the poverty issue, we will see less crime on our streets. It will also broaden our tax base, and more money can go to our schools. Finally, I will end Stop-and-Frisk. It is a practice that is unfair to our cops as well as the residents of this city. We need to stop putting those who protect us against those they protect. If we are going to overcome the challenges
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G4U: As a spiritual leader, I have to get into the Word a little bit, Sir, is that alright? The Bible declares in the book of Proverbs 29:18 that without a vision the people perish. If elected, what does your vision for the city of Philadelphia involve? Senator Williams: Oh yes that is perfect. My vision for Philadelphia is to become a city that stands together rather than apart. For too long, individuals have sought personal benefit from dividing us. They attempt to exploit the diversity of our city in a way that weakens us, by pitting us against one another, rather than utilize it as a strength. Regardless of our differences, however, I believe we are bound together by something far stronger—our love for this city. G4U: What would you say is your biggest accomplishment? Senator Williams: I’m very proud of my record as a whole. But I would say one of my biggest accomplishments is bringing over quarter of a billion dollars back to Philadelphia public schools since 2010, ensuring schools would open on time. To me, nothing is more important than our children and leaving them with more resources than we had. I refuse to have to tell my grandson that he needs to leave the city if he wants to raise a family. I refuse to stand by and feel as if parents and grandparents must have that conversation with the children in their lives. G4U: On another note, what would you say is your greatest disappointment while serving in office? Senator Williams: I wish there was a way to have avoided the current funding crises our schools face. A variety of factors led to our current issues, from the end of a federal program that provided billions for education in our state, to the devastating Governor Corbett’s education cuts. G4U: How do you approach your job with all the frustration that you have to face on a daily basis? Senator Williams: I find a lot of strength in my faith as well as my family. Progress, more often than not, is hard. It is slow, and I would be lying if I said that it didn’t weigh heavily on me at times. But whenever I feel as if it’s too much, or that there are just too many roadblocks, I look at my grandson and remember why I originally went into public service. Like any parent, or grandparent, I want him to grow up in a place that he can fully realize his God-given potential, get a quality job, and is safe. 22
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L-R: Mrs Shari Williams and Senator Anthony Williams
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Things to know about your Mayoral Candidate
A. Favorite snack? My favorite snack is definitely Cheetos. The problem is a lot of people on my staff share my preference and I have to constantly hide them!
G4U: If you can change anything that you have done while serving in office as a State Senator, what would it be? Senator Williams: I wish I could have pushed a fair funding formula through the state legislature before the current funding issues. Too many times, education hasn't been seen as a priority by a majority of individuals on the state level, and that should never have been the case. G4U: What would be your greatest advice to a man or woman serving in a leadership role? Senator Williams: Always remember why you originally filled that role. Too often, people enter into leadership positions with good intentions, and over time, they become more consumed with retaining that role rather than doing the work they had initially set out to accomplish. We must always remember that leadership is about serving others. If you keep that in mind, the rest will take care of itself. G4U: Thank you very much Senator Williams and we wish you the best in your election. Senator Williams: It was an honor, thank you Gospel 4 U Magazine!
B. Favorite hobbies? I am a huge sports fan, especially football. Any day the Eagles win is a good day.
C. In your childhood, is there one person that you consider to be your hero? My childhood hero, and really my hero throughout my life, has to be my father, Hardy Williams. Growing up, I saw how hard he worked to help the people around him, regardless if they were family, friends, or someone he had just met. He taught me that when you are fortunate to be provided with resources, it’s a moral imperative that you utilize those privileges to help those in need. D. What is your favorite book? The book that has impacted me most throughout my life is probably Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It speaks about many of the social and intellectual issues facing black people during the movement, and articulated many of my own experiences in a way that I was not always able to do so myself. Even though it was written in the 50s, it still resonates today. It also taught me a lot about language choice and effective use of simile and metaphor.
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That Keeps it 100%
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Mayor Tim Scott Interview Mayor Tim Scott is the first African-American Mayor in Carlisle — Joanna Birchett
All the way in Carlisle, Gospel 4 U was given the opportunity to do an exclusive interview with the Mayor of Carlisle Borough - Mayor Tim Scott Gospel 4 U: Tell our readers about yourself. Who is Mayor Tim Scott? Mayor Tim Scott: Mayor Tim Scott is a young man who moved from southern Virginia to central Pennsylvania with his mother in 1978. I was eight-years old at that time. I grew up here in Carlisle and I lived all my years here. I went to college at Old Dominion University. Upon graduation, I moved back and then got to the public service somewhere around 2000. I have always been interested in law, politics, and government. I believe that serving in this capacity is my way to give back. G4U: That is awesome, sir. Wow, from 1978! Mayor Tim Scott: And yes do the math, I am 45 years old. (Mayor Scott laughing) G4U: I know you touched a little on this, but I want to ask you; what brought you into politics? And was this your original career aspiration? Mayor Tim Scott: It was not my original career aspiration. First, I wanted to be in law school. A mentor of mine, legislator Jo Cranston, always said that the law school was a license to steal life. So, I kind of took this to heart and said “okay.” I went to school for political science. Law school seemed natural but it was too expensive. I was a poor kid and did not want to add to my student debt. So, I went to work in the non-profit arena. In 2001, I was approached to run for a borough council in Carlisle because someone had resigned, and there was a vacancy. I dared a friend of mine to run if I ran. That is how I got involved in this. I have been here ever since. That is how it started. It was on a dare! (Mayor Scott laughing) G4U: What does your perfect day look like? And, for the reader’s sake, what is your favorite place in the city of Carlisle? Mayor Tim Scott: The perfect day for me will probably start out with breakfast at the Hamilton, which is an institution here in Carlisle, home of the “Hotchee Dog”, and is a great hot dog. Then I would go and probably have roll call with my police officers. As Mayor, I am chief law enforcement officer of the borough. So, I work with the chief to set policies for the police. 26
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Then after that, I would probably go and enjoy a few ribbon cuttings and issue some groups a few proclamation for some great community organizations we have in the borough. Then I spend time with my family. I am very close with my mom and my step dad. G4U: So now let’s get into the political part of your life, what exactly is the role of a mayor? As mayors in boroughs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have three things that we do. We sign and/or veto ordinances of a legislative nature passed by council. We are considered the spokesperson for the borough, and represent the borough at all civil events. Finally, and most importantly, we are the chief law enforcement officers in the borough and we have oversight over the police department. G4U: Mayor Scott, that is truly a big role to play. Mayor Tim Scott: Oh yes it is. And trust me, learning all about that and wrapping your arms around that as a civilian, there is a learning curve. But, I am very blessed because I have a law enforcement in my family. And believe me, they help and support me in that way. G4U: Very good, sir. As you know, sir, I am a spiritual leader, so I want to get a little in the Word. The Bible declares in the book of Proverbs 29:18 that without a vision the people perish. What does your vision for the city of Carlisle involve? Mayor Tim Scott: My vision for Carlisle is similar to that in the Bible. I believe everyone should share in the prosperity and the health and welfare of this community. We are very blessed here in this community. We are very generous here. And we are the county seat. We have great institutions here. Our unemployment rate is low. But, I don’t see everyone participating and sharing in this prosperity. That is what I would like to see happen. This is my vision for Carlisle borough. G4U: Wow, that is awesome. I know a lot of people are going to be excited when they hear that. That is really awesome. I take my hat off to you for that, sir. Thank you very much! G4U: Mayor Scott, what would you say is your biggest accomplishment while in office? Mayor Tim Scott: My biggest accomplishment while in office so far is being able to be at the right place, at the right time. We never had a public transportation system here in Carlisle borough, but thankfully, last April the stars alive funding was there. The pursuit of this borough for about 10-20 years actually came to tuition when Pat Larry local transit started running a circulated bus in the borough of Carlisle in 2014. G4U: So on another note, sir, what would you say is your greatest disappointment while serving in office? Mayor Tim Scott: My greatest disappointment was that I really wished there was a way that I could energize folks to
get more involved in the local government. One of the first things I did was that, when I noticed the public safety committee meetings were always at 7:30 in the morning,
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I asked the council that at least one meeting every quarter would be in the evening to give folks, and those who work for a living, an opportunity to come to meetings and express their thoughts and concerns about any public-safety related issue in the borough. We had a wonderful turn out for the first one, because we just had a shooting here in the borough maybe about a month before. After that attendance died off. So, I am consistently trying to find new ways to engage residents and get them more involved in what happens locally, because that is what affects them directly. Congress, state level, is a little bit removed from everybody’s everyday lives. But here at the local level, you see me, you see council, and we go to the same grocery store as you do. So, there is more of a connection here and more of a sense of accountability and responsibility. G4U: Ok, great. I know that being a mayor can be little bit of frustration on your part or just a small frustration that comes with the position. If there is, how do you approach your job with all the frustration that you have to face on a daily basis? Mayor Tim Scott: The frustration comes from not being able to be everywhere at once. Borough mayors don’t have a large staff. I do not have a chef staff that I can direct and say, “What do you do to these twenty things today?” I have to do it all by myself. I have to do it while also holding a full time job with the Pennsylvania legislature. So, everything I do has to be before 9am or after 5pm. So, I have learned to prioritize and to take my time. I know that people know I have a full time job and that I have to get to these things when I can. But I have got a great support system. Email, Facebook, Twitter, and voicemail are wonderful things that allow me to communicate with people. I can call people back after work. You just have to learn how to do that and don’t set the bar so high. G4U: That is awesome. Wow! So if you could change anything that you have done while serving in officer as mayor, what would that one thing be? Mayor Tim Scott: Hmmmm… If I have to change one thing? Well the one thing that I would change is I would hire some staff. I would have a point person in the mayor’s office that folks can go to during the day. Then I come in when it’s time to make a decision about something. G4U: Mayor Scott, what would be the greatest advice to a man or woman serving in leadership role? Mayor Tim Scott: Take a deep breath! At the same time, surround yourself with really good people; whether your family, staff, or pastor. Find someone or a couple of people that would give you some unbiased advice about what is really going on. G4U: Wow, that is awesome.
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Survey Questions For Mayor Scott
Survey Question 1: Why is it so hard for a young man to find a job in Carlisle? Mayor Scott: Good question! And I would like to address that too. I think that because of where we are located at, we have the Army War College, county government, and Dickinson College. Most of these things require an advanced degree. There aren’t very many jobs around here that are good paying jobs, other than warehouse. So really, we need to attract different types of employers to diversify the pay. I am working on something that hopefully will address that through the President called My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. I am focusing on the youth graduating. If they are not in school, then they need to be working. Survey Question 2: I know that person is going to be very excited to hear that sir, thank you. Our second survey question is; what is going to be done about the recent crimes and drugs in Carlisle? Mayor Scott: Unfortunately, where we are geographically located, Carlisle is always going to be a stop for these folks. However, we work with federal and state partners through drug task force to address these issues. The biggest thing that I need from the community is for people when they see something to say something. Our best eyes and ears in the community is the community itself. We need to build trust between our police department and the local community to get people to approach an officer or call an officer and give them tips, tell them when something does not look right, or ask, “how long was so and so back in town?” We watch too, but the community is our best asset to fight guns. Survey Question 3: Ok, so the last question we have for you is; would the mayor ever have someone in office that people can go to for help as the point person if you he is not available? Mayor Scott: The best thing I can say is my phone number is 717-240-6601. I have a voicemail. If it cannot wait, you can call my secretary, Sandra, and she will get a message to me right away. But right now, I do not have a staff, and I do not know if this will ever change. People can email or use Twitter. I get my emails on my phone and I carry my phone with me everywhere I go. Mayor Scott, thank you for your time. Gospel 4 U appreciates you, sir!
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Living unshackled ON purpose — Jennifer Foxworthy Glory to God for the Gospel 4 U ministry. It is a blessing to have such an anointed platform to share God’s grace and mercy over my life as I navigated through domestic violence. It’s hard to believe that a year has gone by since I published my first book Tomorrow My Sunshine Will Come: Memoirs of Women Who Survived Domestic Violence. I am blessed to be mentally, emotionally, and physically not only a survivor, but also a thriver who courageously speaks out against this horrible epidemic. 30
I say that I am blessed because I know there are many victims who do not live to tell their story. It is important to realize that violent partner relationships are everyone’s problem. We can no longer afford to ignore the purple elephant in the middle of the room or treat the topic of domestic violence as if it is a dirty little secret. I pray that by being transparent, a life may be saved.
did you stay so long?” My answers are quite simple. The abuser doesn’t walk around with a neon sign over their head blinking “I beat on my last two girlfriends and if you go on this date, you will be number three!” Believe me, that warning would be nice, but it is not realistic. I do have to admit that there were little red flags that I tried to ignore, even when my intuition was saying different.
During my interviews, I get asked two main questions: “How did you get into an abusive relationship?” and “Why
Next, I stayed because I didn’t realize that I was in an actual abusive relationship. The abuse and control happened
gradually. In my case, the first punch to my stomach was around the sixth month mark. Without warning, it happened so fast that it shocked me. I stayed because I wanted to believe my ex-boyfriend was genuinely sorry and wouldn’t do it again. I wanted to believe that it was a case of poor judgment on his part and associated with that night in which I told him there was a chance I could be pregnant. Due to low selfesteem, I stayed, praying that he would make me an honest woman by marrying me and having children together.
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I unconditionally loved him and expected the same in return. I was naïve to believe my love was good enough to make my ex-boyfriend change. Towards the end of my nightmare, the abuse picked up, especially the disgusting name-calling and mind games. Realizing I couldn’t change him, but I sure could change myself, God ordained each step to escape. There was no looking back. No one knew what I had been dealing with for over five years. I wore a smile on my face like a clown as I tried to disguise my wounded spirit. I suffered in silence far too long. I realize now that no one could have talked me into leaving my ex-boyfriend. It had to be my choice and on my terms. I needed to get to my sick-and-tired of being sick-and-tired point. Until then, I thought love would save the day. Looking back on things, I thank God for unanswered prayers. I can’t imagine how more difficult it would have been to leave, if I were married to him and/or had children. Jennifer Foxworthy is a retired U.S. Navy veteran, the Founder and CEO of Inspirationally Speaking, LLC and the Unstoppable You Women’s Conference. Jennifer travels the country as motivational speaker, sharing her testimony. For any questions, contact (410) 449-2173 or email: foxworthyjc@gmail.com. Jennifer’s website is www.inspirationallyspeaking.com.
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