Church News

The Wedding Is On: One of L.A.’s Most Eligible Single Pastors is Getting Married

Bishop Jones and Loretta in a scene from “Preachers of L.A.”

Bishop Noel Jones, the senior pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California and formerly one of the cast members of Preachers of L.A., has decided he is finally ready to marry his longtime lady love, Loretta. The decision comes after being in a relationship with his longtime partner for twenty-eight years and was made public during a recent church event.

Standing center stage, Bishop Jones started to talk to the congregation about what it might look like when he gets older before surprising his congregation when he said, “I decided that I’m gonna get married.”

After hearing cheers from the congregation, the 72year-old pastor said, “Loretta come up here please.” Once she arrived, he looked at the congregation and said, “I thought about should I give up my freedom coat for a strait jacket? Should I get married to someone younger than me? Should I give up not having to answer to anybody,”

He continued to question several other things he might have to give up. Then changing his tone, he said, “But then when I look at her…(now speaking directly to her), should you have to push a wheelchair when I can’t walk? Should you have to deal with an old man when you have had many suitors who were young? Should you have to listen to a man who was intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity or who is set in his ways?

Pausing for a moment, he added, “If I keep on thinking about these shoulds, I won’t get this thing done.”

Bishop Jones then reached for a cracker jack box and pulled out a ring. Holding up the ring, he announced, “I got away from all of the shoulds and I’ve decided simply to say”, going down on one knee, and placing the ring on her finger, “Will you marry me?”

She accepted the ring and as she began to receive hugs from friends and loved ones, Jones said, “What did you say,” and she replied ‘yes, to which he proclaimed, “I’m getting married.”

Kenneth C. Ulmer to Serve As Senior Advisor to Biola University President

Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer–senior pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church–has been appointed to serve as Senior Advisor to the Biola University President, Dr. Barry H. Corey, on community reconciliation. In this role, Dr. Ulmer will help the University expand its imagination on ways they will walk and live into their biblical calling for being a reconciling community, working with other leaders on campus toward a gracefilled culture of Christian unity amidst their diversity.

Dr. Ulmer’s focus will be consulting with Talbot School of Theology to consider how to assist their faculty and students prepare future congregational leaders for the increasing diversity of the church – including those from different backgrounds, family systems, denominations, ethnicities and cultures. Additionally, he will be working with Talbot leadership on recruiting and retaining African-American students and building collaborative partnerships with black churches throughout the greater Los Angeles area and beyond. The work is plentiful as the University seeks to live out its institutional value of biblical diversity outlined in its Unity Amidst Diversity statement.

A respected national and global Christian leader, Dr. Ulmer has served Faithful Central for nearly 40 years. He is the past president and founding board member of The King’s University and serves as dean of The King’s annual summer session at Oxford University.

In other religious news, former AME Zion Bishop Staccato Powell pleaded not guilty to four fraud charges stemming from an alleged scheme profit from loans obtained by using properties owned by congregations throughout California as collateral.

Powell, 62, is accused of conspiring with Sheila Quintana, to secure grant deeds from local pastors to take out new mortgages on properties housing sanctuaries and church properties that were either paid off or had little debt. The properties were re-deeded in the name of Western Episcopal District, Inc., an entity created in 2016 after Powell was selected as bishop of the Western Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church. Pastors were reportedly threatened to comply or be removed. Congregations in Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto and Los Angeles were targeted.

Each of the four counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

T.D. Jakes’ Potter’s House of Denver Is Sold, Church Moves Online in Wake of Pandemic

The 32-acre site that once served as home for the Potters House of Denver, most recently under the leadership of Co-Pastors Toure Roberts and wife, Sarah Jakes Roberts, is now set to be a residential community with a five-acre park.

“COVID-19 forced every church in America to rethink how to best serve their parishioners and the broader community,” Roberts told the Denver Post.

“Due to the inability to gather and the economic instability of the pandemic, our church, like many other churches in the nation, experienced declining donations.”

Given that the building was also in need of repair,

Roberts, who also pastors “One–A Potters House

Church in Los Angeles”, decided to remain fully virtual and forgo a physical location in the Denver area.

“We decided that the best way forward would be to sell the property, continue our online offering that had proven a successful alternative and maintain our hands-on community outreach operations, which includes our food bank that feeds thousands of families per year,” Roberts said.

The church maintains its physical location in Los Angeles. L.A. Focus/ February 2022 20

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 5:30am Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • Rev. Joshua Daniels, Pastor Morning Worship: 10am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am

Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon 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 West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3600 Crenshaw Bvld, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8:30am-5:30pm

Bishop Charles E. Blake Sunday Services: 10am Sunday Radio Broadcast– KJLH 102.3FM: 10am Websote: Westa.org

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church 12930 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

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

Osie Hill

KAREN A. BROWN

Contributor

Love & Unity Christian Fellowship W

ith almost 50 years of marriage and 40 years of ministry, First Lady Osie Hill and Pastor Ron Hill have modeled the key to a successful partnership: love, leadership, loyalty and lon-

gevity.

“Being able to walk in concert with my husband,” is my greatest blessing, said Hill, who currently serves as the administrator at the Compton-based, Love and Unity Christian Fellowship under the leadership of her husband.

The two met in 1971, as young adults when Pastor Ron shared Christ with her and invited her to church. It was at this meeting that Osie discovered they shared the same last name. “To make a long story short, I am a Hill-Hill. I never got a chance to change my name when I married this gentleman” she said.

Fast forward, the Hills will celebrate 50 years of marriage on February 19, 2022.

The third of ten children, Hill–a native of Shreveport, Louisiana–was a go-getter from the start, leaving her family and moving to Los Angeles, California to become a computer programmer with the Job Corps.

A mother of three daughters and two sons, First Lady Osie, mentors and empowers young women every day. She reminds them that, “You can only be true to the Call on your life and you must play to the audience of one, our Heavenly Father.” After 40 years in ministry, Hill, has learned some valuable lessons about herself and her ministry. She says, “We have the opportunity as pastor’s wives to see fruit in ministry. To be a part of growth and love in service to the Lord.” Further, to pastor’s wives she offers, “Don’t seek to fight your husband’s battles or betrayers. Your greatest weapon against betrayers is prayer and divine love for all.”

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: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm

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

In Compton

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, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900 • loveandunity.org • info@loveandunity.org

Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor

Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am/6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies: Wed.7:30pm&Sat 9am Live Stream Prayer w Apostle: Fri: 9am

Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact Televison Network: Mon-Fri @6:30amPST KJLH 102.3 Sundays 9:00pm

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 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

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: Douglas E. Nelson

Church: True Zion Missionary Baptist Church How Long at church: Two and a half years Hometown: Carson, CA Family: Wife Shannon of 17 years

How did you get into ministry?

Essentially, I got a traffic ticket in college and it was a ticket to my destiny.

How so?

I get this traffic ticket and I’ve racked up about $2500 in fees, so I have to go to court. The judge says, ‘What do you do here in town?’ And I said, ‘I'm a college football player.’ And he says, ‘Well, you’re going to have to come up with a lot of money. You need to get a job.’ I lived five blocks from the courthouse, so I ran home, got my resume and ran back to the courthouse. They were on lunch break, but somehow I got in to see the judge. I showed him my resume. He said, “Why are you here?’ I said, ‘You said I needed a job. Can I get one with you?” And he said, “I didn't tell you to get a job with me, but he's looking at my resume and says, ‘Is this really you – you've accomplished all this stuff?’ I said ‘yes’. He calls my references in Los Angeles and they all said, ‘Doug is who he says he is.’ ‘Okay, he says, I'm going to give you a chance and hire you as a court clerk.’ I was the first black male to work in that courthouse in Vinton County, Oregon ever.

What was on that resume that he was so impressed by?

I h a d been a junior city councilmember here in Los Angeles. I'd worked in the district attorney's office. There were just a number of things I did as a youth that somehow the Lord prepared me for whatever I was going to do in my future. I was actually hired as a staff member for Tom Bradley as a 16-year-old and ran a summer program for two years in the mayor's office.

How old were you when you received the ticket?

I was 20 attending Oregon State University on a football scholarship.

How did that experience lead you to ministry?

What happened was all the staff at this courthouse hated me because this is not how black folks or anybody was supposed to come into the courthouse, but there was one lady who took a liking to me. I shared my life story with her, and this lady happened to sit on the Statewide 4-H club board. They had a convention coming up and she told these people she had the perfect speaker. So, I was chosen as the final speaker at the statewide student 4-H convention on a Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. in Salem, Oregon.

What were you speaking on?

I was asked to speak about leadership, and they contacted me months in advance, so I had plenty of time to memorize the speech. But I get there the day before and they tell me I had to change my speech because the speaker the night before spoke on leadership. I called my grandmother, who was my prayer partner and my grandmother said, ‘Baby, just tell them about Jesus.’ And I'm just like, they didn't ask me to speak about Jesus. I called my mother and she said, “Tell them what God has done in your life,’ but that's not what they asked me to do. I go to the lady and ask her and she says, ‘Just tell him about your life’. At that point, I was convinced by the Lord that he just wanted me to speak for Him. So what I got up and did was to talk about what I’ve done and that I was able to do it because God had been active in my life.

Over the course of the next four weeks, I received nine letters from kids who were at the event saying my testimony had encouraged them and their faith. With each letter I received –it was like a nail in a coffin because I recognized God was calling me to something greater than what I was doing.

I went to my pastor who was W. Jerome Fisher at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church and he told me to go back home and pray about it for a couple weeks. He then put me up to preach my first sermon and on August 3, 1997 he licensed me to preach.

Did you stay at his church?

I stayed at his church for about two years and then it was sort of a journey to several different churches, searching for what was my path going to be. Those experiences infused my ministry and grew me as I continued working with the Amateur Athletic Foundation, UN Health Foundation and briefly at World Vision–and some entrepreneurial stuff. I also worked for Antonio Villaraigosa as a city councilmember and served as the director of his mayoral campaign in South LA. We won the election, and I went on to work for the mayor's office. After about a year, I was let go. I think it was the Lord pushing me to ministry. As it happened, while helping Antonio run for mayor, I met R.A Williams and he took a liking to me.

You served under him for quite a while?

Yes, I did in a lot of different capacities from his driver to his armor bearer and assistant. I was with him every day for 15 years.

How did you decide it was time to move on?

The Lord did that as well. For 20 years, I had been preaching at True Zion Missionary Baptist Church every year for their youth day. The pastor, Major Lovett, was kind to me, giving me an opportunity to preach. I'm sure my first year he said, ‘He didn't do that bad, but he didn't do that good. Let's give him another chance.’

In the last five years, he increased opportunities for me to preach and had me preach more than just one time and finally for weeks at a time. Then in November of 2019, Major Lovett announced he was going to retire and turn over the church to me as pastor and that I would begin by preaching the whole month of December 2019. Well, on December 14, 2019, he died.

On December 15th, I arrived at the church and the secretary handed me a letter Dr. Lovett left for me. In that letter, it said, “In the event of my untimely death, you become pastor immediately with all rights and privileges.” So essentially on December 15, 2019, I began pastoring the church.

What was the state of the church?

The church was just surviving. Had they not had Pastor continued to page 24

“Be Careful Who You Try To Hang”—Esther 7:10

The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible where God’s name is not mentioned. Haman, viceroy to Ahasuerus, the King of Persia, is one of the most sinister characters of Bible lore. Ahasuerus was the presiding monarch over 115 vassal states whom he gathered once a year in a celebration that lasted for an entire week.

On a certain night during the course of these festivities, the king’s heart was merry with wine,–that is to say he was considerably drunk. He had been bragging about how fine Queen Vashti was. When several of the princes in their inebriated state expressed some disbelief about her beauty, Ahasuerus dispatched a chamberlain to fetch Vashti so they could see for themselves. The chamberlain returned to report that Vashti refused to come since it was about three in the morning.

The other princes began to mutter that if Vashti refused the summons of the head king and word traveled back to their kingdoms, their wives would disrespect them. The king was so furious that he de-queened Vashti. She was banished forthwith prompting the immediate search for a new queen.

Just because God’s name is not mentioned does not mean God was not working in this situation. The choice for the new queen of Persia turned out to be Esther, cousin to Mordecai the Jew, the spiritual leader of the house of Israel in exile. [But] before she took residence in the palace, she inquired of Mordecai as to whether she should reveal that she was a Jew. His reply was emphatic, “Not now, just be cool.”

At about the same time, evil Haman was elevated to second in command in the kingdom. Among the special perks that were his as viceroy to the king was that at every appearance of Haman in public, the trumpets would play, and everyone was required by royal decree to bow to him.

With Esther’s elevation to the queenship, Mordecai had taken a daily post in the king’s gate to monitor his young cousin’s newfound honor and glory. Every day at quitting time, when Haman emerged from the palace, everyone bowed as the king had decreed except Mordecai the Jew.

Mordecai’s religious discipline would not allow him to bow to a human. The smile on Haman’s face quickly turned to a scowl as he observed Mordecai the Jew standing while all others bowed. By the time his chariot deposited him at his place of residence, Haman was in a blue funk.

His wife, Zeresh inquired, “What is wrong with you today?”

Haman’s answer became an oft-repeated refrain, “Mordecai would not bow down!” It was this slight by Mordecai the Jew that caused Haman to consider him his mortal enemy.

A careful study of his life can be instructive. The first lesson we learn from the evil Haman is that we must guard against allowing one disappointment to poison our spirit.

Haman had it made. He was second only to the king of Persia with access to anything his heart desired. But all of this didn’t matter because Mordecai’s refusal to bow robbed Haman of all the joys his life might have had because he allowed that single disappointment to poison his spirit.

Pastors and preachers are prone to the temptation to get derailed because some precious and dear ambition is not realized. It could be a pulpit of our heart’s desire or some denominational office in the convention we think we should have.

When someone else is chosen, the ashes of our disappointment make our cup bitter. It does not have to be if we keep our lives centered in Jesus Christ. He called us to faithfulness and not success. If we allow the bile of disappointment to infect our spirits, it will corrupt our ministry and dishonor Christ.

It happens in our churches among our disciples. The music ministry of the church is especially vulnerable to the deadly virus of envy. We may think someone sings better or receives more praise than we do, and that envy becomes the prism through which we assign value to that person. It can lead us to dislike a person simply because we think they have received of the Lord something we desire or feel we deserve more.

That’s dangerous ground for a Christian to tread. Looking around at others with split vision, measuring what someone else has and comparing it with what we have and then wallowing in our discontent. Haman should be a stern admonition to warn us against letting one disappointment poison our spirit.

Haman’s venom against Mordecai was so deep that he decided from his position of power and influence that not only would he get rid of the hated Jew, but he would get everyone like Mordecai.

One evening, as he and the king reviewed the accounts of the empire, the weariness of the king had been propped up with two or three dry Martinis. When he saw his chance, Haman got Ahasuerus to sign the authorization for a plan of genocide against all Jews.

His plan began with his manipulation of the king’s uneasiness about a people who benefited from his largess but practiced another religion and cared nothing about the king. The order of genocide detailed that on the 13th day of the twelfth month in all the provinces of the empire, all Jews were to be killed and all their goods and properties expropriated. A special budget allocation of 10,000 talents of silver was set aside to implement the insidious plan.

You must understand that if you allow your spirit to be poisoned by disappointment and envy, you are in danger of descending into the spiral of hate that will convince you that you need to get even with s o m e body. T h e path y o u choose m a y cause you to set a trap for someone or to do them harm for no reason other than to satisfy your corrupted spirit. If you succumb to the wiles of the devil, you are surely on your way to Hell. This was Haman’s ultimate downfall.

Mordecai sent word to Esther that genocide was planned for the Jews and it was time for her to reveal her ancestry and beseech the king to save her people.

Esther hesitated at first, but Mordecai’s stern rebuke jarred her back to reality. “What makes you think you can escape as a Jew just because you’re in the king’s house? If you don’t speak for your people now, God will find another way to deliver His people. Perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this!”

continued to page 24

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 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

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

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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)

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COVID testing continued from page 6 testing site scams, as well as how to search and locate legitimate, verified testing sites.

First and foremost, he advised that people only get tested at verified COVID-19 testing sites or to check with local medical groups to see if they offer testing services within their facility. To find a testing site near you that is verified to perform COVID-19 testing, you are directed to use the California Department of Public Health’s test site search tool or your county’s public health department website at COVID19.CA.GOV’s Hotlines and Local Info web page.

Keep in mind fake websites that purposely look identical to those belonging to well-known, trusted organizations and state agencies. Among other red flags are (1) If a provider insists on documenting your nationality or immigration status; (2) If a provider does not offer a notice of privacy practices, or cannot explain how it will use and share your personal data; or (3) If a provider insists on accessing your passport or driver’s license when you have other documents that show your insurance status.

The federal government has launched a new federal resource where individuals can get free FDA-authorized at-home COVID-19 test kits. Visit COVIDtests.gov, or call 1-800-232-0233 to order. Remember that no one from the federal government will call, text, or email you to ask for additional information to help you with your order. If someone reaches out asking for additional information such as your credit card information or Social Security number, do not respond — it is a scam.

If you believe that you have been scammed by a fake COVID-19 testing site, report it to your local police or sheriff’s office and file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office online at oag.ca.gov/report.

ing Black women and girls. The report will explore inequities in the rate of violence experienced by Black women and girls and the rate at which violent crimes against them are solved.

“The murder of Tioni Theus is shocking in its brutality,” said Capri Maddox, Executive Director of the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, also known as LA Civil Rights. “But the murders of Black women and girls that go unsolved is nothing new. Time and time again, our community faces higher rates of violence while being treated like less of a priority. We are so grateful to Councilmember Price and Councilmember Harris-Dawson for leading on this important legislation, and we look forward to working with them to shine a light on this issue. Black women and girls matter, their suffering matters, and they deserve justice.”

Tioni Theus,continued from page 7

Pastor continued from page 22 some people who had the capacity to hold the church up, it would not have been in existence, but fortunately those people remained there and kept the church running and I'm so thankful to Dr. Lovett as well as those individuals that I was able to come in, put a plan together and begin to erect the church from the place where it was.

Esther knew that to go to the king unsummoned was to go under the threat of death. It was then that she made her immortal declaration of faith and trust in God. “If I perish, I perish. I’m going to see the king!”

When she entered, the king was so struck by her beauty that he told her she could have half the kingdom. Esther requested of the king that she be granted permission to host a very private banquet the following evening for the King and Haman. Once informed of the private party to be hosted by the new queen, Haman went skipping out of the palace anxious to get home to tell his wife Zeresh that he would be allowed in the presence of the new queen. As he burst out of the front entrance of the palace, the trumpets began to blare and everyone in the kings court bowed down on cue except Mordecai.

Haman was furious again. His plan of genocide was in place, but he was sick of Mordecai. He sent instructions over to the palace for the royal artisans to build a gallows 50 cubits high by the next morning.

Chapter six of this book in which God’s name is not mentioned begins with this verse: “On that night the king could not sleep.” Ahasuerus ordered the royal scribe to read to him from the chronicles of the kingdom. As he read, it was discovered that Mordecai had been instrumental in foiling an assassination attempt on the king’s life. Ahasuerus inquired if there was any mention of honor and dignity shown this Jew.

“No honor” was the report. With this, the king fell asleep.

The next morning, Haman is anxious to secure the king’s approval for his plan to hang Mordecai. Ushered into the king’s presence, the king interrupted him midsentence and said to his second in command, “Haman, what would you suggest that I do unto him whom the king delighteth to honor?”

Haman concluded immediately that the king wanted to honor him. “O king, live forever, for him whom the king delighteth to honor. Let the royal apparel be brought

So, you come in, put a plan together, start seeing movement and then COVID hits, are you now thinking, maybe I’ve taken on too much?

Friends of mine who are pastors were saying, the Lord really must think highly of you to place you in a church like this and to pastor it through a pandemic. But my thought every day has been let's get better. That's what I'm about. It continues to be tough, but in all of that, in 2021 we had several outreaches where we touched more than 950 families and individuals. What is your outlook for the church? I want it to be a beacon in our part of the city where individuals can come and feel their needs are being met and that they're spiritually being fed to be better individuals, better children of God in their experience. What would you say is your biggest strength? Against all odds, I still believe in the Lord. I love the scripture, Jeremiah 29:11, that God has plans for me to prosper me, not to harm me, but to give me hope and a future’. In all I've been through, in all I've suffered, his plans have still worked in my life. Sermon continued from page 19 which the king wears and the royal stallion that the king rides and the crown royal of the king. Let all of this be delivered to one of the king’s most noble princes that the man whom the king delighteth to honor be so arrayed and bring him on the horseback through the streets of the city proclaiming, “Thus unto him whom the king delighteth to honor.”

The king said to Haman, “That’s a splendid idea and I want you to carry it out exactly as you have said. The man whom I delight to honor is Mordecai who sits in the king’s gate. Make haste.”

Can you envision Haman holding the tether of the royal stallion with Mordecai, his arch enemy, dressed in the royal apparel of the king with the crown jewel upon his head and Haman crying out at the top of his voice, “unto him whom the king delighteth to honor”, as they paraded through the crowded streets.

Haman went home sensing that his world was coming down around him. Zeresh reminded him of his banquet date with the new queen. As the banquet commenced Ahasuerus pressed Esther to tell him what she really wanted. Then Esther revealed her petition, “If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, let me life be spared and the lives of my people!”

The king was stunned when Esther divulged her Jewish ancestry and the plot of genocide concocted by Haman. Ahasuerus realized that his trusted viceroy had tricked him. He exploded in anger and rushed out into the royal garden to cool off. Haman knew his only chance for survival was to seek the mercy of Esther. He prostrated himself at her feet on the banquet couch. When the king returned to the banquet hall, still seething in anger, he sees Haman in the queen’s lap begging for his life. The king’s anger explodes a second time when Haman disrespects his wife in front of him.

One of the chamberlains told the king there was a gallows on the west side of the palace. The king commanded that Haman be hanged.

You and I must not allow ourselves to submit to the tyranny of envy and hate. We must come to grips with the reality that is world is big enough for you and whomever it is you can’t get along with and we don’t need to be uneasy about whatever gifts and blessings other people may have. We need to be generous enough in our spirit to thank God that while He’s been blessing us, he’s had time to bless someone else as well.

Haman’s dark and sinister life is a lesson for us to resist the temptation to be envious of others whom the Lord has blessed in a different way. His wickedness reminds us to avoid trying to get even with someone we don’t like. Jesus says to His disciples, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

If ever you are tempted to indulge in envy, hatred or inflicting harm on someone, close your eyes and remember the scene near the king’s palace– the limp body on a gallows 50 cubits high, swinging back and forth in the soft morning breeze.

“So, they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.”