Greetings to you and Happy 2025! As I reflect on the last 36 years, it has been one of the major joys of my life to be the founder and serve as Koinonia’s Senior Pastor and give my all to my precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Koinonia has been a labor of love; we have literally been in it together! We have loved each other, celebrated with each other, cried together, worked diligently together, and seen God do amazing things. We’ve been privileged to feed the hungry, educate the young in our community, engage and minister to the seniors, as well as watch them minister and bring their God-instilled value and wisdom to bear on our lives. We’ve built buildings and paid them off! Most critically, we have seen so many saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and added to the family of God. All I can say is, “To God Be All of the Glory and there’s more to do!”
So as we embark upon this year, I feel the Holy Spirit desiring to reveal the power and the promise of the covenant that God has established with His people.
Our theme for this year is: Covenant Conscious!!!
God, Our Heavenly Father, who is so faithful and so loving, cut covenant with us through Jesus, His Son, and we have entered into a state of righteousness, peace, confidence, and favor.
This year, God through His Word and presence, will take us down deep into the roots of our faith as we explore the covenant relationship that we share with Him. We will delve into the deliverance that it deposits, the healing that it holds, and the achievements that have now been made accessible.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 (KJV)
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Our exploration of this scripture and many others will humble us and simultaneously cause an explosion of gratitude. However, it is the ongoing awareness (ongoing consciousness) that will establish confidence in us and birth a fresh and fruitful favor! It’s going to be a blessed year! I look forward to our encounters in the presence of God and our engagement together to do His will in our communities. I also look forward to seeing our faith and God’s favor upon us cause us to live victoriously, and do so together as we always have! In 2025, we will be covenant conscious!!!
Philippians 2:19-22 NIV 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Timothy. When I read about him, I see the grace on his life because of his heart for Christ and commitment to the gospel through his covenant with Paul. It is worth investing in covenant commitment not only to Bishop but to our future leaders.
We all are aware of the covenants God has made with us and we will look more closely at them this year. One element of covenants that we should be mindful of, is that they are reciprocal. We receive, but we also give. We give effort, loyalty, commitment, and honor, not just to God but also our spiritual leaders.
Bishop has taught us that spiritual authority is God’s plan to protect our lives. To become a leader, you should serve a leader. You should have a journey that proves your faithfulness to a mentor. You should have a history of service and loyalty. I have learned that our relationship and commitment to our spiritual authority is reciprocal. Making and keeping a covenant takes the relationship from being casual to being critical.
I’ve told the story a few times of how God connected and knitted me to Bishop. One night, God spoke to me over 30 years ago and said, “Follow that woman wherever
she goes.” Since then, my wife, Pastor Traci, and I have been serving in ministry and honoring Bishop’s role in our lives. We’ve been blessed to be with her long enough to see that the time invested was not wasted.
As Brother Toiriste said during the 25th Anniversary Gala, “I am living proof that you can win by serving.” We, too, are examples of that. There is grace that comes with making good on a promise. I did not work to gain honor for myself. I worked to honor my leader. By the keeping of the covenant to serve and honor Bishop, honor, grace, and favor have been bestowed upon my wife and me. “For God, the Faithful One, is not unfair. How can he forget the work you have done for him? He remembers the love you demonstrate as you continually serve his beloved ones for the glory of his name.” (Hebrews 6:10 TPT)
At the end of this year, we will have the opportunity to covenant with God to serve the new spiritual leadership that God has ordained for KCC. Timothy is a reminder to us how we can position our hearts to serve our spiritual leaders. Since the day God spoke to me, I’ve sought to emulate the character that Paul expressed about Timothy in Philippians 2:19-22.
Here are some of the lessons I have gleaned from Timothy:
· I will make service to my spiritual leaders a priority.
· I will serve my spiritual leaders faithfully.
· I will give of my time, talent and treasure (money) liberally.
· I will bestow honor upon my spiritual leaders.
· I will be confident that my seed of service towards my spiritual leaders will produce for me.
Well, hello there! For anyone that I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with outside of business, you may know that I’m a foodie, I love beautiful scenery, love meeting people and that I love to learn. I’ve been a part of this ministry for 36 years and married for 34 years. There have been significant victories and notable challenges along the way and plenty of learning experiences and observations particularly as it relates to the things of God. I’ve seen aspects of the kingdom of God that were both simple and very dynamic. On one hand, we access eternal life here on earth by simply and sincerely making a decision to accept Christ’s payment on Calvary for our sins. Yet, on the other hand our simple surrender catapults us into a dynamic Christian existence that is sprinkled with trials, but also fortified with covenant rights and privileges like mercy, grace, forgiveness, love and deliverance to name a few. Yes, deliverance!
Deliverance is the deliberate application of God’s power utilizing his Word, fasting, prayer and laying on of hands to undo heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free. The enemy, according to John 10:10 “…comes to steal, kill and destroy…” whether through destructive patterns, self-sabotaging proclivities, perpetual pitfalls, generational curses or full-on demonic warfare. No matter the situation, deliverance is the believer’s inheritance that helps enable us to freely enjoy our Christian journey, to pursue our purpose and to live the abundant life Christ promised! Our covenant with God… our binding contract or agreement cut by sacrifice, has privileges, rights, and responsibilities that produce confidence, clarity and carefulness that make deliverance possible.
Over the years, I began to notice that some Christians struggled repeatedly with certain sins or certain situations which kept them sidelined and out of the game of life. I also noticed that some nonbelievers stayed in a distracted state of survival which kept them from freely hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This awareness took on a personal meaning when my own family, including myself, were seemingly hit with an onslaught of struggle and warfare often in the form of physical challenges. I have witnessed the ministry of deliverance and its liberating power. I’ve seen demons cast out of people and healing miracles take place. Psalm 34:19 informs us that “many are the afflictions of the righteous,” but it also informs us that God will deliver us out of them all!!!!
Because Jesus’ return is imminent, I believe that the enemy has turned up the heat of satanic attack and spiritual warfare against born again believers because he knows his time is short. Thankfully he cannot do anything about our eternal salvation in God, in other words, we are still destined for heaven unless we decide to take a detour. He can, however, try to overwhelm and wear the saints out with intense trials, extended trials, or a combination of both. But 2 Corinthians 2:14 reminds us “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” In other words, we should praise on the front end of our trials because our covenant with Christ should produce confidence! A confidence that assures us that whatever we need to live a victorious, and effective life, He’s already given! Romans 8: 32 states this beautifully…. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” So, we may not know how, and we may not know when …but deliverance belongs to us as a covenant right!!!! As with any Biblical promise, we must know that He wants us to have it, believe for it, receive it by faith, and heed Holy Spirit’s direction and leading for strategy.
Though deliverance is perhaps misunderstood and maybe not as well-known as other covenant rights and privileges, it is still ours to have. Our God is a deliverer and I’m so grateful that covenant has perks and deliverance is one of them!
I have learned so much about relationships and covenant relationships through God’s word shared through our pastor. A covenant isn’t just an agreement—it’s a divine promise that comes with incredible benefits. But here’s the thing, it’s not a one-sided deal. God pours out His grace, His blessings, His love, and how do we respond? Do we just collect the benefits and go about our business? Or do we recognize the weight of His covenant, the privilege of it, and respond with a heart of gratitude and a willingness to serve? Gratitude shifts your mindset; it pushes you to do better, to give more, to live wholly for Him. To live for Him means that we give ourselves to His assignment for our lives. This divine assignment is not limited to pulpit ministry. It may be serving as an usher, or serving in the food bank, or coaching a basketball team. Whatever your assignment may be, bringing every part of yourself to that assignment is an expression of being covenant-conscious. When we enter into a covenant with God, we commit to obeying His plans and walking in alignment with His will.
To fulfill your assignment, it’s essential to understand and utilize the unique ways God has equipped you. Everything about you—your passions, skills, and even trials—has been divinely orchestrated to align with your purpose. Bringing every part of yourself to your divine assignment is a true expression of being covenantconscious. I became a member of Koinonia 23 years ago, and I started serving as a fill-in drummer. Since then, I’ve served in the drama ministry, intercessory prayer (Mother Hardy was recruiting everyone back then,) the Food Bank, Facility Team, Teen Ministry, Armor Bearer for Pastor Hutchins, Deacon, and Elder. I’ve also had my own landscaping business, coached basketball, and experienced the passing of my father as a young adult. I am a witness that if you will allow God, He will cause all things to work for the good of your development.
I have seen God’s hand fashion all of my experiences and heartaches to mold me into the pastor that I am. When you and I surrender our skills, passions, and past to God and covenant with Him, He will maximize your effectiveness in His kingdom. God’s divine plan for your life assures you that your work has eternal significance. Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us that God knew us before we were born and set us apart for His purpose. This sense of purpose gives meaning to our actions and fuels a deep desire to fulfill our unique assignments. Knowing your efforts align with God’s will can infuse you to keep going, even when faced with difficulties.
Fear is one of the greatest tools the enemy uses to keep us from walking in our divine assignments. It tries to plant itself in our hearts, whispering lies about our unworthiness or inadequacy. We worry about rejection, about failing, about whether we’re truly capable. But hear me clearly— the devil is a liar! God did not place fear inside of you! 2 Timothy 1:7 says, He gave us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. When fear shows up, it’s not from God. It’s an invader, a thief, trying to rob you of your destiny. I know how fear can feel because I’ve been there too. When God first spoke through Bishop about my assignment to succeed her as senior pastor, I struggled with self-doubt. I wondered, “Am I good enough? Am I strong enough? Is this really for me?” But one thing I’ve learned in my walk with God is this—He doesn’t call you because you’re perfect. He calls you because He’s perfect. He doesn’t expect you to bring all the answers. He just asks you to bring yourself.
Bishop has taught us, “The power to get it done is in the command.” When God tells you to do something, He’s already given you the grace and the power to see it through. The moment you step out in obedience, the strength and provision you need will begin to manifest. Think about Peter. When Jesus called him to step out of the boat and walk on water, Peter didn’t have the ability to walk on water in his own strength. The power was in the command. When Peter stepped out in faith, the water became solid under his feet. The same is true for us. When we step out on faith to do what God has called us to do, the things we would normally sink in become solid under our feet. So, my question to you is: What are you waiting for? Go ahead and make a decision to step into your assignment!
Lastly, I have learned when you fulfill your assignment you will find your community. Now, you know there was no way I was going to end this article without reminding you of one of my personal core values which is “We Were Not Made to do Life Alone.” I wholeheartedly believe that as you move into your divine assignment, you will find fellow believers who share your faith, your mission, keep you encouraged and accountable. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) states, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds... not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” For example, in the Aligned Men’s Ministry, we are seeing the fruit of men who have decided to covenant with God and with each other to fulfill their divine assignment. Let me tell you, taking on the assignment of leading the men’s ministry, given to me by Bishop, has put me on a personal mission to see at least 500 men live in alignment with God, His Word, and with each other. As we gather on Tuesdays and now Saturdays, we are seeing true authentic fellowship take place as men are getting in alignment for their assignment.
I want to challenge you this year to really embrace all of the blessings of our covenant and actively reflect on your covenant with God and how it relates to your personal divine assignment. Listen, God’s covenant with you is not just to cover you but to propel you into purpose. I want us to make a decision to seize every opportunity to live in such a way that we are confident about our covenant with God and God’s covenant with us! Let’s go after our divine assignments!
So many times during our worship encounters, I have recited our church scripture, 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” This verse speaks to the very heart of our connection as believers, but this goes beyond a simple, literal meaning. It speaks of a deeper connection and true commitment to covenant relationships with each other.
I knew the kind of man I wanted to be from my early teens. I wanted to be someone that whenever I made a commitment, I brought my all to it. As a Christian, bringing my all to a situation truly is about being covenant-minded. As Executive Pastor, one of my assignments is to train the staff. One of the main core values that guide our work as a church staff is what Bishop has taught us: “kingdom resources (time, money, and people) are sacred.” We have found that the greatest kingdom resource of all is people. Let me tell you, there is nothing greater and more valuable than our relationships. This means I can’t be overly casual with my relationships. I must be intentional. My relationship with my family and friends, my church, the KCC Day Staff team, and my team members at Kinetic Physical Therapy (my business) all matter tremendously to me. When I have a committed relationship, there is a covenant that I must keep to bring my all to that relationship.
For example, when I consider my relationship with my wife, Christy, I know that I can’t just let the relationship play out without intentional effort on my part. Our marriage is a covenant commitment that we have made to God and each other, therefore we work on it intentionally. We don’t just wait
to see how it will work out over time because we both understand that covenant relationships take intentional effort. We carve out time to be together, time to ask questions, and even time to receive feedback from each other on how well we are serving each other in our relationships. This is a principle that applies to all covenant relationships. We express our commitment to our covenant by putting the time and effort in to make sure that our relationship does not just half-heartedly exist but that the covenant that we made is lasting and strong.
Let me tell you, this is what God did for us. He wholeheartedly put in the effort to have a relationship with us through His son, Jesus, and He continues to strengthen the relationship we have through His Holy Spirit, living in us and drawing us closer to Him each day. We believe that this year, through the study of scripture and availing our hearts to the Holy Spirit, we will maximize every relationship we have been given as we work together to remain covenant conscious.
LET’S GO DEEPER!
Hey family, Pastor Christy here. Those of you who know me know that I love journaling! In my opinion, there is nothing like a good notebook or a good writing pen. (As a matter of fact, as I think about this, I probably should start investing in companies that make journals and pens because I have plenty of them!) I really love journaling because it affords me an opportunity to have quiet and intimate time with God; and truth be told, I NEED that intimate time with God so that I am able to stay on top of things in my life.
I am in a season where I have multiple responsibilities that I equally enjoy. I love facilitating leadership training for companies and corporations and providing executive coaching. I also thoroughly enjoy serving in the marriage ministry with my husband, Pastor Shondell, and I love mentoring my daughter, Christiana. My life is full and I am blessed with a lot of opportunities to make an impact. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from our Pastor is this: “you cannot be great outwardly if you do not put time into being great inwardly.” This is why fasting is such a critical key for all of us!
Over the years, Bishop has made fasting a priority for our church to pull aside all the activities of life and spend time being reflective in His presence. Reflection is the key to wisdom. You see, a fast gives you a chance to intentionally seek God in a more focused and disciplined way as you engage in more intimate times with Him. During a fast, we are not just abstaining from food; we are purposefully putting ourselves in a position to hear the premier voice of Jesus clearly.
All of us to some degree are like Clark Kent, a superhero who used his power and energy to fight for truth and justice. When he needed to become incredibly strong and fly, he would go into a “phone booth” and change into his “power suit.” Now, when he came out of the booth, he was unstoppable—he became “Superman”! Here is what I am saying to us, during this time of fasting, we need to go into our “phone booths” and come out with the superpower of Jesus.
I am encouraging you this year as Bishop leads us through our fast, make it your priority to be active on the devotional calls where we will learn about elements of covenant. Make it your business to turn down the volume of all other voices, and through this fast, turn up the volume of the voice of Jesus! Let’s make a covenant to go deeper in the Lord this year than ever before.
WRITE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE 2025 CHURCH FAST.
Please note: All calendar events are subject to change. Stay tuned to kccfamily.com for the most up-to-date schedule of events.
JANUARY
