35 minute read
Church News
Faith Leaders Protest Police Protective League
Adelegation of faith and community leaders gathered last month at the downtown headquarters of the Police Protective League (PPL) to protest the union’s attacks against Karen Bass. A PPL has launched a series of malicious advertisements against the mayoral candidate that community leaders have decried as consisting of lies and defamatory statements — inflaming already-sensitive relations between the community and Los Angeles Police Department.
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“Crime is rising,” said SCLC Los Angeles Chapter president, Rev. William Smart. “The Police Union should focus on protecting and serving communities and not attacking our leaders and dividing our community. We’re here to say no to the false and misleading police attacks that they’re waging against Karen.”
“We want to send a message to the Police Protective League that dirty politics and attempts to mislead and divide our community are not acceptable,” said Rev. K.W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California. “We’re demanding that they take these ads down even though we know they’ve already spent $3 million and we want them to know that we will not be fooled. We’re monitoring them and they will be held accountable for the falsehoods.”
Last week, an attorney for Bass issued a cease-anddesist letter to five TV stations demanding that they stop airing the defamatory campaign ads falsely claiming that Bass voted to give USC millions in taxpayer funds after receiving free tuition from the university.
Said Smart, “It was only after she received permission and a green light from the Congressional House Committee on Ethics that she agreed to take the courses at USC, so she did everything right, but still they’re attacking her.”
Smart was clear in his assertion that this was not a race issue, but a community issue.
Added Tulloss, “It’s our job as activists to shine a light on situations that are unjust so we’re sending them a strong message that this is not acceptable and if we have to continue to protest to shine light on it, we’re willing to do that.
“Karen Bass has a stellar record that reflects the highest standards along with a track record of responsiveness to those she serves and to results that speak to her effectiveness,” Tulloss continued. “For the police union to attempt to smear her in this manner really demonstrates that their candidate can’t win on his merits alone.”
“It an old playbook,” remarked Rev. John Cager, President of the Ministerial Alliance of the AME Church of Southern California, said at a press conference a week earlier.
“Karen Bass is the author of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and then the Police Union commits millions of dollars to get rid of her.
“Los Angeles has moved on from the politics of racebaiting…This is not Mississippi and Los Angeles will not stand for those tactics.”
Pastors John Cager, Doug Nelson, Frederick Howard, J. Benjamin
Hardwick, E. Wayne Gaddis, Marvis Davis and Michael Eagle listen as Pastor K.W. Tulloss addresses reporters at press confer22 ence decrying the smear tactics being used by the Police Protec tive League against Congresswoman Karen Bass. -
Bishop Blake Named as Inaugural Honoree at Prestigious Museum of the Bible Gala
Bishop Charles E. Blake has been named as one of the eight inaugural honorees–including Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Tony Evans, Shirley Caesar, Dr. A.R. Bernard and Bishop Vashti McKenzie–at the Washington, D.C.-based Museum of the Bible’s gala. Dubbed the “Blessing of the Elders”, the gala will pay tribute to the faith-filled legacy of the Black Church and its historical and modern-day figures whose contributions have been foundational to America’s faith, culture and history.
Harry Hargrave, CEO of Museum of the Bible said, “Our hope for Blessing of the Elders is to honor–past and present–Black pastors who have impacted America with their significant ministry.”
The red carpet, invitation-only celebration will be led by a significant cast of presenters and gospel singers, including co-hosts Erica Campbell and Bebe Winans, Ambassador Andrew Young, Pastor Marvin L. Winans, Tramaine Hawkins, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, Wintley Phipps, Lecrae, and Denzel and Paulette Washington.
Seven of the honorees rank among America’s most well-known pastors.
“The remarkable history of the Black Church in America demonstrates a biblical faith under pressure that should inspire people of any generation,” remarked Dr. A.R. Bernard. “We are elated that the indelible mark of our community on the fabric of American society is finally being acknowledged.”
Steve Green, Museum of the Bible co-founder and chairman of the board, stated, “I’m thrilled that the inaugural event for Blessing of the Elders is being held at Museum of the Bible. The Black Church has a unique and rich history in our country, leaning on the Bible for strength, courage and perseverance, and this powerful story of faith needs to be told. We are privileged to play a part in this pivotal event on June 23.”
This year’s inaugural event will also tell the story of historically significant figures from the Black Church, such as Rev. Richard Allen, William Sheppard, Pastor Charles H. Mason, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Amanda Berry Smith, John Jasper and William J. Seymour.
Blessing of the Elders emerged from discussions between influential Black pastors in America and the Museum of the Bible Chief Relations Officer Dr. Jon Sharpe.
“The goal,” said Sharpe, “is to highlight the significant history of the Black Church and the indispensable and symbiotic role the Bible played in this powerful American story. We can’t find our way to a hopeful future without understanding our past.”
In local church news, Bishop Noel Jones and finance Loretta Jones held a reception celebration for the congregants at City of Refuge on Sunday, May 29. The reception, taking the place of their regular Sunday service, was open to all worshippers. The wedding in early June is a much more private ceremony…Finally, L.A. Focus First Ladies High Tea proudly saluted the 2022 first ladies’ honorees: Karen Brown of Liberty Baptist Church & Judson Baptist Church, Adrienne Dixon of Center of Hope L.A., Wendy Howlett of Blessed Family Covenant, and Teresa Pleasant of Christ Second Baptist Church for their service to the community and the work they do in their respective churches.
Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286
Pastor Alvin Stafford Jr. Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:30am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm Sunday service broadcast on Facebook live Sunday school and Book by Book Bible Study services are conducted on Zoom For more information, visit www.bethelsola.com Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith 4909 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 • thevoice4904@att.net
Pastor Kyron S. Shorter Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Children’s Church: 11:00am Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm
Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church 3719 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-5610 • www.bkcamechurchla.org Rev. Mary S. Minor, DMin,Pastor Worship virtually: Facebook Live at Brookins-KirklandCommunity AME Church For prayer: Call or email to be added to the prayer list Bible Study Thursdays: 6pm Via Zoom call or email office:bkcamechurchla@gmail.com
Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson
Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm
Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm
We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!
Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Pastor Frederick K. Price, Jr.
Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:30pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:30pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:30pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:30pm
Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252#
God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ/ Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org •gfdjc@att.net Dr.Ruby I. Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher
Services every Friday: 7:00pm We meeet at: St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90018 Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV Wed’s 7:30am Channel 886 Dish,Smart TV Local Channel 35.2 Listen to Dr. Cottle Sundays on KJLH at 5:00am Rev. Joshua Daniels, Pastor Morning Worship: 10am (In Service and Online Live Stream Worship) Sunday School: 8:45am
Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm www.mtzionla.org
Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Pastor
Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm
Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996
Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm
Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Macedonia LA 1751 East 114th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 569-9561 • www.macedonia-la-org
Senior Pastor Shane B. Scott Sunday Worship Service: 7:30am|10:00am Live MondayBible Study: 7:00pm (Log-in to Zoom Meeting ID: 377-818-648 or Dial In: 346-248-7799)
McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @12:30pm/Wed @6pm Zoom Call: (605) 472-5454 Access:188857 Online Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964
Rev. Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer: Noon & 7:00pm
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am,10am,Noon Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sun): 6:00pm All services stream live on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. During the pandemic, pre-registration is requested to attend in-person services.
FIRST LADY FILES
KAREN A. BROWN
Contributor
Deborah Payne
Full Gospel/True Samaritan Baptist Church
In true southern Alabama fashion, Lady Deborah Payne, has a warm and welcoming personality that will win one over the minute they meet her. Payne is First Lady of the Full Gospel Baptist Church and True Samaritan Baptist Church both of Los Angeles. Her husband, Rev. Reginald Payne, the senior pastor of both churches, has been leading Full Gospel for nearly 30 years and True Samaritan for more than 10 years.
The Alabama native–having moved to Los Angeles when she was a little girl, was a member of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, under the late Rev. HB Charles Sr. She was led to this church by her late father before his passing.
Payne met her husband as a young adult while they both were serving in ministry at Mount Sinai.
Lady Deborah serves as the Children’s Ministry leader at both churches which she has been leading from the inception. Her love for the children runs deep. Many, now grown up, have moved away, but frequently returnto say, “Thank you” for her investment into their lives.
A true servant of God, Payne loves to work in the trenches of the community and has a vision to bring families back to church post pandemic and is currently strategizing on how best to follow through.
The Paynes have been married for 26 years and they are the proud parents of one daughter.
New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 • www.newantiochcogic.org Superintendent Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Worship: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed: Facebook and YouTube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ ONE LA Potter’s House Church 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • hello@one.online Pastor Touré and Sarah Roberts The ONE Experience Online: Sundays: 7A |9A |11A |1P |6P Thursdays: 5P |8P (PST) @toureroberts @sarahjakesroberts @one.online ONE.ONLINE Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am
Phillips Temple CME Church 973 East 43rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 233-4783
Rev. Dr. Darrell Wesley, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Online: Facebook.com/ PhillipsTempleCME.LosAngeles
St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:30am Sunday classes following morning service Tuesday Evening Family Hour Prayer Line 6:30pm Wednesday Noon Day Hour of Power Prayer line Wednesday Evening Bible Study: 6:00pm (Zoom & Facebook) Sunday Exposition of Sunday School Lesson:10am Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A., CA 90018 • (323) 735-0044 F: (323) 735-0219• trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Sunday Radio Broadcast KJLH-FM: 9am Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7pm (Log into zoom.us,click“join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. Or call 1-699-900-6833; give zoom ID Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org
Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss
Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com
West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3600 W. Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 • www.westa.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Senior Pastor Charles E. Blake II Co-Pastor Sunday Service: 10:00am Sunday Radio Broadcast: KJLH 102.3 FM: 10:00am
Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org
Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus)
Service Time: 10:45 Virtual Worship: Youtube
Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm)
Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com
Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Sunday School: 9:45am & 10:15am Early Morning Worship: 7:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11:15am New Members’ Class: 9:45am Communion (1st Sunday): 7:30 & 11:15am Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study (Wed)- 7pm Broadcast (KALI 900AM - Sunday): 2pm-
3:00pm
Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, Compton 90220 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5449, Compton, CA 90224
Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor
Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am/6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies: Wed 7:30am & 9:00am Live Stream Prayer w /Apostle Hill: Fri: 9:00am
Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact Televison Network: Mon-Fri PST 6:30am The Word Network EVERY FRIDAY @ 12:30pm Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver
Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm
Pastor Geremy L. Dixon
Service Times: 8:00am & 10:00am Watch Via: Facebook|YouTube|Live Stream Closer To People...Closer To God!
www.GO2Hope.com
Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org
Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford
In Inglewood Faithful Central Bible Church 333 W. Florence Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035
Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer:
5am, Noon & 7:00pm
Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am
Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher
Sunday Services: 7am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com
The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433
Bishop Noel Jones
In Gardena
Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303
Pastor Wendy Howlett
Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church)
www.blessedfamilycovenant.org Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc. 1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760
Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr.
Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com
Pastor Profile: Uleses Henderson Jr.
Church: Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ How Long at church: Eight months Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Wife Natoya, son, Uleses Henderson III
You come from a line of pastors. Did you always want to be a pastor? I'm third generation church of God and Christ, so, I was just born in the church. My grandfather, Roosevelt Tuggle, was a pastor in Monrovia and I literally grew up in the pews of the church. It's pretty much all I know.
When did you first start preaching and walking into the ministry? My mom has pictures of me in diapers with a Bible in one hand and a mic in another. I would even raise an offering. When I got into elementary school, one of my sisters played the piano so she was my musician and I would preach, but once I got into high school, the focus was on education and sports. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties when I felt the call to ministry. One of my cousins had passed away and my uncle, Bishop Wellington Bernard Henderson came out to preach the eulogy and it seemed like he was preaching directly to me. That's where I really felt the call and God just began to orchestrate things to move me in that direction.
You mentioned some pretty impres s i v e schooling –what does that pedigree l o o k like? I have a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and while I was at Purdue, I started working at NASA as a rocket scientist at the age of 19. I did research in the area of supersonic hypersonic studies. Hypersonic is five times the speed of sound plus. We worked on the national aerospace plane. I graduated with two and a half years of work experience as a rocket scientist from NASA and it really afforded me a lot of job opportunities. I went to Georgia Tech and got my master's in aerospace engineering, came back and worked for TRW space and technology as a satellite design engineer.
You also have a law degree? Yes, I went from engineering school to getting my JD from Loyola law school, where I was on the law review as executive editor. So, I'm also in court litigating as well on the entertainment side, I work a lot on the music side with songwriters, producers and record companies.
How do those two distinct backgrounds merge into defining the ministry you lead today? It's interesting because when you approach ministry and preaching or teaching, you’ve got to argue a text and it's no different than arguing in court. Matter of fact, that really becomes one of my advantages. I recently concluded a 10-day trial and a couple of the jurors came up after the trial and asked for my business card. One of the ladies said, ‘You sound like a preacher’. I'm more of an expository preacher so I will take a text and walk you through the experience of the text. From that, I will pull out nuggets that are applicable and that's what you have to do in law, right? You have an issue you have to solve, and you've got this case law, and you have to figure out everyone's going to come with their case law, but it's a matter of who can do the proper interpretation. There may be a soundbite that looks good, but you’ve got to read the case. It’s the same in ministry. You can make the Bible read whatever [way] you want to read. Oftentimes people recite scriptures that don't mean what they say it means, because they take it out of context. When you put it in a proper context, that's really how it goes together because you're arguing a text. You have to be accurate with the word. You can't be sloppy with it and also you have to be able to communicate with the audience. People enjoy walking through a text an being put in the position of the actual characters and what they're thinking. That's what helps it come to life.
How is your church serving the community? We're in an area that used to be largely African American, now it's largely Hispanic. but my desire is to just be able to serve the needs within the community. I'm also a board member of the Union Rescue Mission, which is doing a lot of innovative work to address the homelessness issue. Recently we opened a facility called the Angeles House– a first rate state-of-the-art facility housing about 80 families. They've got health screenings, dental, psychological and clinical training. They have gaming rooms for the kids and all these different resources and not one dime came from any government aid. This is all privately funded. I have a heart and passion for assisting and helping to meet the needs of the people. Real ministry is to be able to serve your community and step outside of the four walls and be able to meet people where they are.
What best describes your church DNA? We really try to provide a family environment where people can feel comfortable and at home. We have a heart for people. Our tagline is changing hearts to transform lives. And ultimately as we change their hearts, we'll be able to transform their lives. Our emphasis as a ministry is to be able to meet needs that maybe others have not met and to allow them to worship in a comfortable environment where they can be fed the word. As a Pentecostal church, we do believe in sanctification and holiness, but we don't do it in a condescending way. We want people to be able to grow towards that and it's important for us to understand that people still need to be cleansed if they really want to be changed.
What’s in store for you within the next year or two? I have an organization called Urban Strategies where we're going to be looking at trying to get young people into science and technology, to develop those technical skills, because we're right down the street from tech beach and there's tons of opportunities. One of the other things that I do is that I'm the chaplain for the L.A. Lakers and I'm looking to do some things with the Laker Pastor continued to page 26
Iam a little jet lagged. On Friday. I got on a plane with my grandson, because he's being recruited by all these schools. So, we went up to Seattle on this recruiting trip. This kid is 17 years old and everywhere he goes, there's 20 adults following him. If he makes a move, they move. We’re having all these meetings with different coaches and they're breaking down every aspect of what it means to be on their football team and how they would develop him and his growth.
Then they started talking about how to target particular muscles and got all scientific. They have the bench press connected to an iPad which tells you the right velocity. I'm just happy to get the bar. And they're like, this is the pace and the rate you need.
They were so serious about winning football games. At first, I was inspired. But then I was like, I need to repent. Here they were all in to win football games. Yet, we are the called-out body of believers–God has called us to win souls. Shame on us when we become spectators. Shame o n us when we're afraid of the world.
See, we are not people who [just] show up at a building. We are people w h o a d vance, who attack. The gates of hell have been erected and the church, the people of God are on the move to take territories for the Lord and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And He put all things under his feet, talking about Jesus, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in awe.”
Jesus is the head of the church. So, if you want to understand the church, you must understand it as the body of Christ. It is the connected collective that makes up the fullness of the body of Christ. But we're not just the body, we're the fullness of him who fills all in awe.
See, we are God’s plan to take over the world. We are being spread throughout the world so that God might take over territories. Jesus is the head–yes, but who's the body? Us.
I think we need to repent. We're so busy building our own thing. We're so busy trying to be a leader in the church. We are so busy going to church, we forget to be the church. If you still have breath, I don't care how long you've been following God, God has something for you to do.
Our theme quote for this series is this–what you do is your history and history's good, but what you set in motion is your legacy.
See, the church is an organism that leaves behind a legacy. Church is about all of us.
I like to make up words. It's an “usness” in the church. The church is about all of us growing up together. We are about legacy.
The text comes from Ephesians 4:13:
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Is the church unified? No. And until we're all unified, we got work to do. Not just that, but until mature manhood, and this is saying until completion– until you are a spiritual adult. And if all of us are not that, we got work to do. Even when we get to mature manhood, it's to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. So, until we’ve reached the standard of Jesus, we got work to do.
I think about those coaches and they were into every aspect, because any little thing is the difference between winning and losing. And we come to church and are like, man, they didn't sing the song I like.
See, church is for the collective. It's not about me. It's about all of us.
Ministry is not about my program or people knowing my name. Ministry is about maturing other believers. If I'm not maturing people, I'm not doing ministry.
Leadership is for legacy. Leadership is about creating something that will create something. Is that not what Jesus said?
This is the DNA of what it means to be the church. The church leaves no one lonely, no one low and no one lacking. That's the church. Until there's a oneness, we got work to do. That's our intentionality. God has called us to be salt and light. To truly understand this text, we need one more verse. Ephesians 4:8 says when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and gave gifts to men. There are five gifts in this text and then there are the gifted. The five gifts are those that God has called to equip the gifted.
God has gifted all of us in the body of Christ.
Verse 11, “he gave the apostles the first gift, the prophets the second gifts.”
Apostles are those who have been sent by God. The prophets are those who speak the word of God and those who stand up for the will of God fighting for people. He has grouped them together because they are the foundation of our faith.
Then there are the evangelists–what we would call missionaries. [Finally] there are pastors or shepherds and teachers–the leaders in the local body.
They are gifts to the gifted for what? Ephesians 4:12, to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
I'm smiling because this mean ministry is y’all’s job. My job is to equip you to do the work of ministry. Your job is to do the ministry. That's why I show up to all the events and volunteer, because I know I'm a minister to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ.
Until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that's our job.
This lone ranger, do your own thing Christian– it's hard to find in the word
Pastor Rudy Hagood
This lone ranger, do
your own thing Christian— it's hard to find in the word of God. Oh, I know you do your own thing, but it's literally your own thing, because “
that ain't God.
Continued to page 27
True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins
Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon
Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service : 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sunday Worship: 10:45am Wednesday Food Bank: 9:00am-Noon Mothers of Murdered Youth/Children: Thurs by Appt.; (B.U.S) Blankets, Underware, Shoes: Thursdays Facebook Live•YouTube•Free Conf Call
Antioch Church of Long Beach 350 Pine Ave. ,Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 591-8778 •www.antiochlb.com Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr. Online Services Stream live: Sun 10:00am at antiochlb.com Give: text antiochib to 77977 Social Media: facebook.com/antiochlb instagram.com/antiochlb youtube.com/antiochlongbeach
In Long Beach
Greater Emmanuel Temple 3740 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262 (424) 296-0400 •www.greateremmanuel.org
Pastor Nissan Stewart Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Prayer: 6:30pm Mid-Week Refuel/Bible Study: 7:00pm (Wednesday) Follow us: @GETFamilyNow
The Greater Emmanuel Temple App Available in App Store In Lynwood
Walking In The Spirit Ministries In Norwalk Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 12623 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday) Arise Christian Center 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm In Westchester
from their family for things such as buying a home, Black college degree holders have lower rates of homeownership than white college dropouts.
Some people would tell you that Black people are simply making bad decisions about their education and piling up all this debt they can’t handle. But the debt itself is the bad idea, a uniquely American system of economic exploitation where college costs are exorbitant compared to the rest of the world, and public underinvestment in education means students pay more for their education, and the most marginalized in society pay a whole lot more.
Contrary to public opinion, educational debt is not good debt, and as the Education Trust learned in its report “Jim Crow Debt: How Black Borrowers Experience Student Loans,” Black borrowers compare their student loans to a form of racial oppression. Describing the debt as “shackles on their ankle” or “like Jim Crow,” Black borrowers say they “do their time” when they re-enroll in IDR every year, with no hope of paying off their loan balance.
President Biden and the Dems need to forgive all student debt now. The need is especially urgent for Black borrowers. As far as Black people are concerned, student loan forgiveness should be a down payment on reparations. While a student debt jubilee would ease the pain and stress and allow Black folks to breathe and live their lives with more comfort, it would not erase the rest of the institutional racism Black America faces. But it would be a good start. David A. Love is a journalist, commentator and an instructor at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information. For more, visit davidalove.com.
Star Parker continued from page 11 financial reasons. But 76% attribute to "emotional stress."
Of course, the universities love this. What business wouldn't think the government subsidizing purchase of its product is a great idea?
Per the American Enterprise Institute, from January 2000 to December 2021, college tuition costs increased 175% and college textbook costs increased 150%. Over the same period, the consumer price index for all items increased 65.5%; prices of cars, household furnishings and clothing remained relatively unchanged; and cellphone services were down 40%, computer software down 71% and television sets down 97%.
Per Education Data Initiative, highest default rate – 26.33% – is among arts and humanities majors attending nonselective schools. Can anyone really think such loans make sense?
We need to help our youth who want education to get it. But it must be done prudently.
Teaching our youth that they don't need to pay back debts is not a good start.
Misguided efforts by Biden and his party to cancel obligations on student loans should be vigorously opposed. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." For more about Star Parker, visit www.creators.com. Pastor continued from page 24 foundation to provide additional support to the communities that will both further our initiatives as a ministry, as well as help them further their philanthropy efforts as an organization.
Talk a little about your experience being a chaplain for the Lakers. Typically, in our hurry for the game, we have about 1015 minutes to meet with the players. It's not mandatory. Players can come in from both teams and what I do is to offer like a 10- to 15 minute word before every game and just share with them and then we will have prayer. I'm also available for players to come and bounce some things off me. So, I’m there to provide spiritual support. The team has a team psychologist, but at the same time I am sort of that spiritual advisor every game to kind of walk them through and lead them through a timeless, spiritual renewal.From a ministry perspective, you have to give them something that's encouraging because they're about to go play a game, but sometimes too, you do challenge them. You charge them and try to integrate certain training principles or principles that they apply even through their profession as basketball players. The one thing that we actually go through during our time of Bible study and ministry is called the scouting report. We go through scriptures and we have offensive scripture, we have a defensive…we have a timeout. There's different concepts in terms of what those things do because before you go into a game, you’ve got to scout. We sort of integrate those principles. Money Matters continued from page 14 provides California with an important opportunity to address critical health and economic challenges for the most vulnerable Californians,” said Dr. Bob Ross, President and CEO of TCE.
“This potential can only be realized by investing in community-led change,” Ross added.
Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the foundations for taking a leadership role in making a difference in the lives of Californians who need help the most.
“This initiative will help grow the capacity of committed organizations to continue their important work in communities across the state. This will be especially important as we focus on COVID-19 recovery and creating a healthier, safer, more equitable future for all,” the governor said.
Hewitt says the project will result in “transformative change” in California.
“The past few years have laid bare the impact of long-term disinvestment in poor communities. We must do all we can to position community institutions to grow power and create opportunity for the places and populations they serve,” he said.
Call 310.677.6011 Ask for Kisha
Sermon continued from page 25 of God. Oh, I know you do your own thing, but it's literally your own thing, because that ain't God. See, Jesus is very serious about preparing God's people for works of service, for ministry, not to create spectators. If we're creating spectators, we are failing and we need to repent. I'm sitting there in these football coaches' office and they are making sure everything happens that needs to happen in order to put themself in position to win. God has called us to be the fullness of him who fills all in awe. We are his plan to reach the globe and we have become spectators. Leaders are here to equip or perfect, to raise up to cause people to move towards maturity. The goal of all of this is to edify or to build up the body of Christ. Church is not something you attend. Church is where you ascend. This is where God does a work in you and you look in the mirror and can't recognize you. That's church. All believers are ministers with gifts God gave you for the purpose of building up the church and leaders are to lead until the entire church ascends towards unity, maturity, and legacy. Why? Because we are the fullness of Him.
See, church is for the collective, ministry is for maturing, leadership is for legacy. The church leaves no one lonely, no one low and no one lacking.
I'm not saying I can bat 1000 or reach perfection. I'm saying I’m responsible to be intentional about having systems in place where we're all cared for and connected. That's my responsibility. I can't make you participate, but I have to make sure I create the possibility for you to be connected, because the church leaves no one lonely leaves, no one low and no one lacking. We’ve got to do better.
Verse 14, “So that we may no longer be children.”
Church is supposed to cause you to become something else. That's why the first line in our mission is make disciples, because we are called to raise you up into something.
Some scholars believe that the five gifts are the ligaments holding the body together. I can't find that in the text, but it sounds cool. But this is it: when each part is working properly, it makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Growth is based on all of us. The leader's job is to equip the gifted. The gifted’s job is to grow the body of Christ. Paul emphasized church growth, not individual growth. The purpose of our individuality is to contribute to our unity, maturity and legacy. I grow to equip you. Peter Strople said ‘legacy is not leaving something for people. It's leaving something in people.’ That's Christianity and you can't win the game from the sidelines. Christianity's not a movie. It's a movement. We storm the gates of hell. Don't say what's wrong with the world. Go be what God designed you to be. And if you're not ready, call on the shepherds and the teachers. It is their job to equip you. My job is to hold you to what God called you to and in doing so every joint and ligament grows up into the fullness to be the body of Christ. So, on your block in your neighborhood, you should be figuring out how do I be salt and light? How can my neighbors know I love God? How can I be there so when they have a rough day, I can pray and lift L.A. Focus/June them up and talk through what God has shown me? He tells His story through us. That's not a cute 2022 thing. That's the plan of God. 27
