Church News

From The Pit to the Pulpit: Carson Pastor Relays Harrowing Story in New Book

Carson-based pastor Walter R. Tucker III can’t stop talking about the response he’s getting for his second book, "From The Pit To The Pulpit: My Story For His Glory," which was published in June and details the fall from grace of the former Princeton University educated, U.S. Congressmanturned-pastor who served 18 months in prison. From the letters of those who’ve read the book to requests for him to speak or interviews, it is clear that his story of redemption–a follow up his first book, "From Compton To Congress: His Grace For My Race," –is resonating with readers. Said Tucker, “I thought the first book was wellreceived, but this book is blowing me away in terms of the feedback and responses from people because it’s very personal. Here I was: well educated, a Congressman, a former mayor and to go prison. It was the worst imaginable thing that ever happened in my life. Up to that point I could never have imagined I would go to prison. It was such a dramatic experience that it just grabs people. They want to know how I survived it.” His first book ended with his 1996 conviction for extortion and tax evasion. In what is his second autobiographical installment, "From the Pit to The Pulpit: My Story For His Glory," Tucker takes a deeper dive into his Christian testimony recalling the day when he surrenders himself to begin his prison sentence for bribery at the Federal Prison Camp at Lompoc, California. He is both devastated to be separated from his wife and children and fearful of what awaits him inside the prison gates. The book goes on to relate how his irrepressible faith sustained him through some of the darkest days of his life in graphic detail. “Prison was my best/worst experience,” Tucker states. “It’s not something I wanted to happen or would want to go through it again, but this happened for a reason. I didn’t like it, but because I embraced it, I didn’t get bitter, I got better. “I had to take responsibility and although to this day I know that I was entrapped and set up, it doesn’t excuse the fact that I took the money. The big takeaway for Tucker is that it was the birthing of the man he is now. “The character I have now, the passion I have now to help people and to glorify God– everything was formulated there in a place I couldn’t escape. Prison was the big set up for God to bless me up to do what he wanted me to do.” There was also an irony Tucker couldn’t escape. “I got into politics to carry on my father’s legacy who died of cancer while he was in office,” Tucker recounts. “It was so poignant that I could think of nothing else but to run for his seat. Even though I felt my destiny was to fulfill his political legacy, what I came to understand was that it was really to fulfill his spiritual legacy. He had wanted to quit politics and go into ministry. “Before I went in on the day on the conviction, they asked me what I was going to do and I said I was going to do full time ministry and I guessed it would be prison ministry.” It was a vision he has indeed fulfilled from working with Apostle

Fred Price’s

Helps Ministry upon his release in 1998 to

Chuck Colson’s

From the Heart

Ministry and in 2012, founding the Truth and

L o v e Christian Church where he says, “we teach the truth and show the love in Carson”. Says Tucker, “It was kind of a modern-day Job experience. Losing our money, property and everything else, it speaks to the kind of faith we had to have and fortitude. Then, after all that, God has elevated us, helped us to start this church and we’ve been able to be a blessing to so many people. And,” he adds, “after 36 years, my wife and I are still in love.” L.A. Focus/ September 2021 16

Prayers for Jesse Jackson

Americans around the country are sending prayers to the family of the famed Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. The 79year old civil rights icon and his 77-year old wife of nearly 60 years, Jacqueline, were hospitalized with COVID19. While Jackson–who has Parkinson’s disease– had been vaccinated in January and is being treated for a breakthrough infection, his wife had not been vaccinated due to a pre-existing condition. “Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Jackson,” the Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted. “They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!! “Praying for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson,” wrote Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Earlier this month @RevJJackson stood with our movement outside the Capitol to extend the eviction moratorium,” posted Congresswoman Cori Bush. “Our movement now stands with him and his wife, Jacqueline, as they recover from COVID-19. Our prayers are with them both for a speedy and full recovery”. And from Senator Bernie Sanders, came this tweet, “The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been one of the great leaders of our time in the fight for racial, social and economic justice. Jane and I and all Americans wish them a speedy and full recovery.” In the most recent update, the civil rights icon has been moved to a rehab facility as his COVID symptoms have been abated. His wife, Jacqueline, however, was moved to the ICU. “Both of our parents are continuing to receive excellent medical care,” Jonathan Jackson, said in a statement. “We urge that you continue to keep them in your prayers because we know this is a serious disease. “We continue to receive the love that is being poured out to our family from around the world and it is greatly appreciated, as we express our love and concern for the millions of people who have been victimized by the COVID-19 virus and its variants.”

Darrell Wesley Takes Helm at Phillips Temple CME

Last month, Darrell Westley took over as senior pastor of Phillips Temple CME. Wesley–who had served six years at Amos Temple CME in Riverside–was appointed to the post by CME Ninth District Presiding Prelate Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart. “It’s the first church…one of the most prestigious churches in the ninth district, so getting the church was certainly an honor for me,” says the Yale University Divinity School graduate who served 24 years as an active-duty Navy Chaplain and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc. The 114-year old church has long been known as the flagship church of the ninth Episcopal District, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Alaska, but had suffered declining membership over the last decade with shifting demographics. “My goal is to grow the church and increase its visibility within the community,” the Chattanooga, Tennessee native stated. “They’ve had very little visibility as of late, so the first order of business is to create an online and virtual presence. At the same time, to do more outreach to reach youth. “You can’t underestimate the value of being visible in the community as well,” he added. Dubbed by some as a preacher’s preacher, Wesley is both a scholar and an academic. “That’s what’s given me an edge with younger, educated people. You hear it in my preaching, and you hear it in my teaching.” Wesley’s plan is simple. “I hope to see the church grow in numbers and membership and be an asset in the community.”

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

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082

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

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192

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!

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#

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

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 Ruby Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor & Teacher

Prophetess June Morgan / Assistant Pastor Services Every Friday: 7:00pm-9:30pm

We meet at: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 West Adams Blvd, LA, CA 90018

Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV on Wed’s 7:30am Starting May 2nd: Channel 886 Dish, Smart TV 35.2

Rev. Rodney Howard

Sunday L.I.F.E Group: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Wednesday Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm

Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior 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 Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • www.mtzionla.org

Dr. Edward V. Hill, II, Pastor

Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 9:15am Morning Worship: 9:30am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am Baptism: 2nd Sun. & Lord’s Supper:

1st Sunday

Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

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 Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11:00am 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)

Life Of Faith Church 8216 S. Hover Street, Los Angeles,CA 90044 Office: (562) 375-1668 Website: www.lofnation.org • Youtube:LifeOfFaithChurchLive • Facebook: LifeOfFaithChurch•IG: LifeOfFaithC

Pastor Anthony Pigee, Jr.

Morning Worship: 10:00am Bible Study: 7:00pm

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 @6:00pm Zoom Call Into: (605) 472-5454/Access:188857

Online Services 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

Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor

Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

FIRST LADY FILES

KAREN A. BROWN

Contributor

Shonta Hilton

Brister Memorial Baptist Church

Written like a true love story, unfolding with her having met, dated and eventually marrying her high school sweetheart now turned husband, Bishop Jawane Hilton–Pastor of the Bristol Memorial Church of Compton, California–not long after college. Growing up in the church where her father pastored in Compton, First Lady Shonta Hilton never thought that she would marry a pastor. She was fully involved in the service and sacrifice of that of her family as most pastoral families do when God calls them. “I was going to church at least two or three times a week,” Hilton said. “I was in the choir, going to Sunday School, evening services and the whole nine.” With a deep commitment to her husband, her family, and her church, Lady Shonta currently sings in the choir and the praise team each Sunday morning. She is passionate about leading the women’s ministry as she seeks “To help cultivate and facilitate activities. This is something that I love and find rewarding”, said Lady Shonta. The mother of three young girls, Lady Shonta has her hands full. Along with the work she does for her church, she also works full-time in the corporate marketplace, is very active in her sorority and enjoys spending time with her friends. “It’s important that you have that “me” time, family time and that can sometimes be a challenge. However, my greatest blessing is to have my family, and my church family who are supportive”, she said. Hilton regards her mother as her role model and spiritual example, having been a first lady for many years. With that knowledge in her tool belt, she freely shares from her own life and experience to remind First Ladies to be their authentic self. “Every church is different so find out how you can fulfill the need at your church,” said Hilton. First and foremost, she adds, “I believe the role of the First Lady is to be the help-meet of your husband, that’s your ministry.”

Photo credit: Courtney Lindberg

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 on Facebook and You Tube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net

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: 8:00am, 11:30am Discipleship Groups (Sun): 9:45am Noonday Bible Study(Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sat): 9:00pm Our Goal: To glorify God by winning more Christians and developing better Christians (Matt. 28:18-20)

Rev. Terrell Taylor

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am &

11:00am

Pastor Roshod Sundays: Morning Worship:

8:00am & 11:00am

Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship:

Noon & 7:00pm

Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org

Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor

Sunday Morning 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

The Potter’s House at One LA 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.tphla.org

Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts

Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:15am & 1:00pm Thursday Midweek Service: 8pm

Watch Live: http://tphla.org/watch-live/

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219

Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube channel: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Facebook/Website:trinitybaptistchurchofla.org SundayRadio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Zoom Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7:00pm Sign in to zoom.us click on “join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. By phone 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

“We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300

Bishop Charles E. Blake

Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am www.westa.tv

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org

In Compton

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 Holy-Communion (1st Sunday): 7:30 & 11:15am Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study (Wed)- 7:00pm Broadcast (KALI 900AM - Sunday): 2:00pm-

3:00pm

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.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

Pastor Larry Weaver

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00

am

Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org

Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford

In Inglewood

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

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 • blessedfamilycovenant.org

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)

Pastor Profile: Frederick Howard

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Faithful Central Bible Church 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035

Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher

Sunday Services: 7:00am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com

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

Church: Southside Bethel Baptist Church How Long at Church: 25 years Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Wife Carol, three adult children

How did you get into ministry? I was called into ministry right before I graduated high school. I didn't accept my calling until 1986. I was trying to run away from it and go into the service, but while I was running track in high school, the coach fired the starting pistol off just near my ear. So, once I graduated and as I went through the process of being processed into the service, I was told that with the type of surgery I had on my ear, I wouldn't be able to enlist for another year. And I was like, okay, Lord, I'm yours. Did you come from a religious background? Absolutely. Every Sunday in church. My grandfather, who was a sharecropper in Georgia, was called to pastor here in California. At the time, they called it Evangelistic B a p t i s t church, and it was located on H o l m e s A v e n u e w h e r e Martin Luther King Hospital now sits. That was where the Palm lane projects were. That's where that church was located in 1947.

So, your grandfather started the church? Yes.

How did you come to pastor the church your grandfather started? My grandfather pastored over 30 years. He handed it down to my uncle by marriage, Reverend Allen O Simmons and after he passed, I became pastor. Growing up as a kid, what did you think of the ministry? I was the nerd in school– always labeled as the one who was going to be a preacher. What was the big picture for you getting into the ministry? My biggest mandate or purpose was just to preach. That was my calling–breaking the bonds of generational curses because I grew up in an era where people lived with skeletons in their closets and those skeletons stayed in the closet which kept many people in bondage. My goal in ministry was: ‘whether or not your life was a life of Saul or whether you're not life was the life of Paul, either way there is that Damascus experience with God that allows one to be freed of whatever bondage they were in. I want to make sure that the word of God is true and defined and to share the gospel believing God will do what he said he will do, and the word would not return void. What has been the biggest challenges you've had to overcome in context of ministry? Just being constant. To keep on moving forward in spite of the situations that life confronts you with. That's the biggest challenge. I try not to be burdened down with others' opinions, but just to move according to what God has purposed for me to do. To effectively orate the word of God so that it has a lasting impact on the ears of those people that hear the words and that I not only preach the words I speak but that it resonates in the life that I live.

What do you consider to be your biggest strength?

I believe my biggest strength is relational. I can pretty much get along with anybody given the chance. I'm more of a mediator trying to resolve conflict rather than try and step my foot into it, so I think one of my biggest strengths is just being able to communicate, being able to build relationships and different comraderies. Procrastination is one of my biggest things I would change that I'm actually working on right now. At one time you were a successful hairstylist. How did you go from a hairstyling to pastoring? Yeah, I was a hairstylist for 17 years and owned my own salon–a couple of salons actually. I was also a platform artist for Mizani and Soft Sheen hair products, but one I began pastoring, I just felt the marriage between hair and ministry really didn't match. So, I decided to sell my salon. I continued to do hair part-time and went to work for United Airlines. Due to a shortage at the airport, I was subsequently laid off, and I went to Fuller Seminary for a year. They called me back to work for United, but I decided that I wasn’t going to let anyone else be able to lay me off. So instead I got my real estate license and have been selling real estate ever since. Presently you serve as a publisher of Raise the Praise–the church-based newspaper you established in 2008–how is that going? Well, we put it on pause during the pandemic due to the fact that we're a church-driven newspaper. So many of the churches had closed. Now, as many of them begin to reopen, we're in the process of revamping and getting back started again. And how does your church serve the community? Pre-pandemic and midway through the pandemic, we were doing a food program at our facility, but we have always served the community in a variety of way, dependent upon the need. Right now, we're in the process of a partnership with the Southern Baptists that allows us to be a benefit to those that are in need, whether it be food, clothing...whatever. At what point will you consider yourself having been successful in ministry? Never.

Can you explain that? When the world…when everyone loves each other. I mean it's a constant battle in ministry to move forward, to share, to build people up. But every day the enemy is there trying to push them down, so successful for me is being better than I was the day before… being able to help someone the next day. We don't want to fall backwards. We want to fall forward. So being successful in ministry doesn't equate to the number of people in the church. It doesn't equate to the amount of money in the bank account. Being successful is have I been able to be a good steward of God's word?

“Praise & Purpose”

We live in a world based on communication. We need to communicate if we want to advance in life. We communicate with our spouses, with friends, with strangers. We do these things in the world, but do we do it in the spiritual realm?

If you can't communicate, you don't stand a chance in this world. But here's what I want you to understand. Communication is even more important in the spiritual realm. You need to know how to communicate with your Father in heaven. To have a conversation, –not just a Sunday morning conversation with God.

Why? Because the Bible tells us we are disciples of Christ. A disciple is a person who confesses a belief in Jesus Christ. One who is sold out to the cause of Christ– one who is in it for the long haul.

A disciple is a person who's just disciplined. That's what the word means–we are disciplined.

The longer you're saved, there's some things you no longer should do–some things you should not want to do. It does not mean you're perfect, but when you are a disciple, you're trying to get better.

In fact, we are disciplined in the things we really want to do… the things that are important to us. We're disciplined on our jobs because we want a paycheck. If you are a student, you want to make sure you’re disciplined in school, because you don't want a lack of discipline to affect your grades.

Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

Discipline is good. You need to be corrected so you can stop doing the same thing that got you in trouble last time. One of the greatest mistakes you could ever make is to stop learning. –to say I have arrived, that I’ve have made it.

I'm still learning how to be a pastor and leader. Still learning how to be a husband, father and grandfather. I'm always challenging myself and you ought to challenge yourself, because God wants to use you.

But you must be able to talk to people. Why is it so important? Because marriages fall apart when you stop communicating with one another. Your relationship with your children will fall apart if you're not communicating with them. Relationships fall apart when you stop communicating with one another.

We see it going on in the political realm, but it also happens in the spiritual realm. Doesn't mean we need to agree on everything. In fact, if everybody in your circle agrees with you, your circle is too small.

And if you're going to be successful, you need to learn how to talk to God. The way you talk to God dictates how He's going to respond to you.

God said let us make man in our own image. He said let there be light and there was light. God spoke what was not and it came into fruition. You have the ability to do the same thing–to speak to your circumstance and that circumstance becomes better.

God wants us to talk like this because God is a God of relationships and He created you in His image.

The disciples understood that. When they saw Jesus pray, Luke 11:1, they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Why did they ask Jesus to do that? Because when they saw him pray, they saw things happen.

Every time you pray, something happens and the key to accessing God's power is a powerful prayer life. The key to your breakthrough is a powerful prayer life, not just a Sunday morning prayer, but praying without ceasing.

As preachers, when we come out to pray, we sound good. We're able to flow because we practice it. But when we are in our home and we need something, we say, ‘Lord help me’. I'm talking about being real with God. You can be specific in your prayer. You can say, Lord, I’m going to pray to you, and I expect you to answer.

That's how King David was. In Psalm 5:3, King David said, ‘Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.’

Now, King David was the greatest king Israel has ever known. As a child, he killed a giant. David wrote 70 other psalms. Some people say he wrote more. Anointed, he could sing and play a musical instrument. That means the ladies loved him.

As a king, he had the power over life and death. He was the man. David was the progenitor to the disciples. He laid the foundation. He had everything the world had to offer him, yet he never forgot the source of his strength. He still had a relationship with God. He still prayed.

In Matthew 6, the disciples ask of Jesus, ‘Lord teach us to pray’ and He said, ‘This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Your will be done. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

Of course, this prayer is called “the Lord's Prayer”, but it's really the disciples prayer because out of this prayer, we see how we can live our lives.

I’ve broken it down into the six parts of prayer, I'm going to give you two parts right now. The first one, part one is praise. I began by expressing my love to God.

Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Hallo just means Holy. Holy is your name. It just means you're set apart. It means that there's nothing like you. It means that you give credence to God when you open up your prayer.

When you praise him, that's when you tell God how much you really appreciate him. You thank God. God wants you to have a praise on your lips so that praise would get into your heart.

Your praise is not based on circumstance– what you have and what you want to have. Your praise is what you give to God, no matter how you think things are going. Sometimes you just need to praise God until you feel better…until things change in your life.

We need to know how to praise God in season and out of season whether we feel like it or not.

God, I adore you. God, I love you. Father, there’s none like you. Hallelujah. He is worthy to be praised. That's the anointing. That's when the spirit of God drops in your spirit.

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, be thankful to Him and bless His name.”

Only anointed people get past the gate. They're going to stop you if you’re just faking. They're going to say show us why you belong inside the throne room of grace.

The Bible says the angels proclaim His glory. That's how they got in the gate. They had a praise on the outside so they can get in the inside.

I want to be on the inside of God's favor– inside of God's blessing so I’m going to praise Him until He lets me in. I will keep on praising until my healing comes; until I get a promotion; until I feel better. I'm going to praise you over and over again until you get tired of hearing my voice…until you bless me.

Stop looking at this mean world and thinking that God is done with you. Praise God until things get better. When racism and sexism and every other ism comes down your street, you need to praise God.

Lord I don't understand it, I don't like it, but I'm going to keep praising you. You didn't give up on me, so I'm not going to give up on you. I'm going to praise you until my change comes.

continued to page 20

Pastor Kirk Sykes

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

Antioch Church of Long Beach 350 Pine Ave. ,Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 591-8778 •www.antiochlb.com In Long Beach

Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr. Online Services

Stream live: Sunday 10:00 am at antiochlb.com Give: text antiochib to 77977

Social Media:

facebook.com/antiochlb instagram.com/antiochlb youtube.com/antiochlongbeach Christian’s Community Center of Los Angeles 3960 E. Gilman Street, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 597-3252

Senior Pastor Thom Washington

Live Stream Sunday Service: 11:00am Wednesday Night Prayer: 6:00pm Sunday Bible Class: 9:30am Sunday Afternoon Services: 4:00pm (2nd & 4th Sunday) Wednesday Prayer: 6:00pm Bible Study Wednesday 7pm

Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com

Bishop Joe L. Ealy

Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Greater Emmanuel Temple 3740 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262 (424) 296-0400 •www.greateremmanuel.org In Lynwood

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

Walking In The Spirit Ministries Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 In Norwalk

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)

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: 7:00pm

Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr.

Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Anointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children

Where all receive a little attention, affection and love.

Arise Christian Center 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com In Westchester

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

Pulpit continued from page 19 Praising God puts you in His presence and I believe you long to be in the presence of God, but the truth is we're too quick. We pray a quick little prayer and we're on with our business.

Prayer has to be continual. It's a mindset. It's an attitude. It's a spirit.

The scripture says be thankful unto him and bless his name. Be thankful when you’re questioning, why does it seem like the world is winning? Lord, I'm going to praise you anyhow.

The first part of the Lord's prayer is praise. Then the second thing you need to focus on, is purpose. If your purpose in life is outside of God's will, you're not going to be blessed. God created you for a reason.

I didn't think God was going to call me to be a pastor. That wasn't my pathway. I was in the business realm, but God had a plan. Keep seeking Him. He has a plan for your life.

Matthew 6:10 reads: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So, I praise God–which is always the high point–but then it says you’ve got to submit to His will for my life. I praise God and stop trying to be God. I submit to His purpose for my life. I submit to the one who created me.

So why should I pray for God's will to be done in my life? What should I pray for?

Pray for your family...your finances. Pray for the things you are dreaming about. Pray for His church. We’re in a season where we just need to pray without ceasing.

The way you totally submit to God, is summed with this verse, Romans 12:2. “Offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to Him.

Your service is not just in the church. We need people in the business world, the highways and byways. I'm tired of seeing billionaires have all the wealth, I pray that God will bless you to be a billionaire so you could finance churches growing.

So, how's your prayer life? Be honest with yourself. It’s dangerous thing to lie to God, also a dangerous thing to lie to yourself.

Pray to God and He will release you from the pressures of life because prayer changes things. Prayer changes you and then you would be the vessel to go out and change the negative things in this world when you submit to God's precepts and follow his direction. up and running in communities where there's the most need, with detox beds, places for people to recalibrate before any police intervention and where people can stay a couple of weeks until they can be linked to more permanent resources.” It means ATI’s new app, currently in the planning stage, is online and people in crisis can, in real time, be connected to beds and services. “It will mean our kids are not seen as criminals, but youth who are learning, developing and who have a purpose to fulfill and are provided the opportunity to do so”. It’s a lot to accomplish, but Armstead is moving at top speed. The Rapid Diversion Program has expanded from one court to six and will be in eight by the end of the summer; she has launched the first diversion program in LAPD’s 77th Division Jail, and although they have hit some bumps along the way they are still going and will be expanding to other areas in the next few months. “There’s never been this much support for overhauling our entire justice system in Los Angeles County, Judge Armstead said, “and we have to seize this moment in time. We can’t let it pass us by.”

EXCELLENT RATES • JUST THREE DAYS A MONTH MUST HAVE TRUCK FOR DELIVERY FOR INFORMATION, CALL KISHA 310.677.6011

She may be the wife of one of the NBA’s biggest superstars, Stephen Curry, she is no rookie in the kitchen. In fact, with a knack for cooking, Canadian-born Ayesha Curry built a successful culinary career on skills she gained while growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina in a household big on traditions. But cooking was not her initial dream. Curry pursed a short-lived acting career where she appeared in several films and had several guest roles in television shows. After her marriage she started a food blog, and then a YouTube channel where she often posts instructional cooking videos. Her culinary skills landed her on several cooking shows including “The Great American Baking Show”, and in 2016, she collaborated with chef Michael Mina in the launch of International Smoke, a Bay Area eatery that has expanded to several locations around the country, including Las Vegas, San Diego and Florida. Along with her husband, the mother of two established the "Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation", whose mission is to end childhood hunger, increase access to quality education, and provide safe spaces for children to stay active. In April 2020, Curry launched "Sweet July," a brand consisting of a lifestyle magazine, brick-andmortar store, and product line as well as a first look deal with Entertainment One. She has written two best-selling cookbooks, The Full Plate and The Seasoned Life, which include some of her favorite recipes, one of which we’re sharing with you.

Pork Chops and Apples

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 4 (1-inch-thick) bone-in pork chops 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 apples (preferably Pink Lady), cored and sliced ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Directions: Preheat the oven to 20°F. Put a rimmed baking sheet in the oven. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, salt, and pepper. Season the pork chops on both sides with the spice mix. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chops (in batches, if necessary) on both sides until golden brown on the outside and still a little pink in the center, about 3 minutes per side. Turn off the oven, and transfer the pork chops to the warmed baking sheet in the oven. Cook the remaining two chops, and transfer them to the oven when finished. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the apples, and season with the cinnamon. Cook, stirring often, until the apples soften and caramelize around the edges, about 10 minutes, adding the syrup halfway through cooking. To serve, transfer the apples to a platter, and put the pork chops on top. Or, if the pan is big enough, add the chops back to the pan to coat in the sauce.

L.A. Focus/ September 2021 21

SavingGrace

Yvette Nicole Brown

She followed her dreams to Los Angeles to be a singer, but nearly three decades later, Yvette Nicole Brown has retired her singing to the shower. Instead, she found success in front of the camera as one of the most sought-after character actresses in Hollywood, thanks to memorable appearances on numerous commercials and TV shows, including "Entourage," "The Office," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ""Malcolm in the Middle," "Central Park," and "The New Edition Story" as well as recurring roles on "Boston Legal," "Girlfriends," "The Odd Couple", “The Chicken Squad” and "The Mayor."

Recently, Brown received her first Emmy nomination in the “Best Comedy Guest Actress” category for her work in “A Black Lady Sketch Show”.

For Brown, there couldn’t been a better place to get her first nomination.

“The idea that the first time I get nominated for an Emmy it’s because of a show created by a Black woman for Black women to shine,” said Brown, who also serves as the host of Disney+ game show The Big Fib.

Her breakthrough came as co-star on NBC’s cult hit series, Community in a cast that included comedic great, Chevy Chase, Jeff Winger, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Gillian Jacobs, Allison Brie and Ken Jeong.

“Community” debuted in the fall of 2009 and has been hailed by critics as one of the best shows on TV. She co-starred as Shirley, a sassy yet selfrighteous (and judgemental) Christian on the series that follows the lives of misfit students who form a study group while attending a Colorado community college.

Brown thought it a rare occurrence for a Christian to be playing a Christian.

“We’re also similar in that I call people pumpkin and honey. In fact, the first time I read the script, right at the start I said, ‘Oh goodness, this is my part!’ She speaks like me.

But that’s where the similarities end for the native Clevelander whose Mom raised her on Motown music and initially believed she might be a singer. And so just after high school at about 18 years of age, Brown found herself in the lobby of a hotel singing a cappella for Michael Bivens, New Edition star turned Motown record executive who was at the time riding high on his discovery of Boyz II Men. So impressed was Bivens that he not only signed Brown on the spot, but set out to manage her as well.

She sang for a bit and was even featured on the Motown album, The East Coast Family Vol.1, which included the Top 20 single, "1-4-All-4-1", all the while attending the University of Akron. The plan was to graduate and then move to Los Angeles and pursue music full-time. But things didn’t work out quite that way.

“In between the time I was first signed to Motown and when I moved out here with the $500 I’d saved, the music industry changed,” Brown recalls. “Everybody was getting naked and singing about stuff my mama would not be happy if I sang, so I said I can’t do it and I ended up working at Motown instead. Singing was apparently not what the Lord had for me.”

Going home was just not an option either. Instead, the decision marked the beginning of what she calls “the assistant route”, taking a series of jobs for MGM, MCA and even as a legal secretary for Showtime.

Said Brown, “It was while working as a legal secretary that I had this opportunity to go on the road with a David Talbert play as an actor and I said, ‘Ok, I’ll try it.” So, I took a leave of absence for about nine months to a year. My boss at Showtime said “Just take a leave of absence, go out for a month, if you like it you can quit with our blessing. If you don’t like it, your job will be waiting.’ I was out there two weeks before called them to say, ‘I love this.’ And I seemed to be good at it.” Good was an understatement. Brown–who’d taken an acting class while in college– was a natural. Work in commercials for Pine Sol, Big Lots, Hamburger Helper led to success on episodic TV and before long feature film, where credits include the romantic comedy "Little Black Book" opposite Brittany Murphy and Kathy Bates; "The I s l a n d , " "Dreamgirls," "Meet Dave", " T r o p i c Thunder" starring Robert Downey Jr., "Repo Men" with Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, and "The Ugly Truth" with Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl.

“I believe when God has something for you, He opens doors for you, and I think the purpose of music in my life back then was for me to make it to LA,” Brown observed.

In yet another ironic twist of fate, at 13, after watching an episode of “The Cosby Show”, Yvette Nicole Brown determined that she would marry Theo. Two decades later, she was living that dream out on the set of “Community” through her character, Shirley, whose TV husband, was played by Malcolm Jamal Warner.

Fact is, Brown has excelled as character actress, embracing the term.

“Because that’s the type of actor that works forever. When you’re real pretty, you’ve got a shelf life,” Brown explains. “I like being the funny girl”.

And unlike most drawn by Hollywood’s bright lights, Brown believes to her core that the light now shining on her is so that she can shine it back on those who need help.

“It’s never just about you,” Brown says. “I’m not one of these people in entertainment that believe I’m special, but I know everything good that has happened in my life is because of Jesus. It’s hard for me to have a conversation and not give God the glory because I see Him in everything.

“I believe people who lose their way get wrapped up into thinking that there’s something about them that makes them worthy of the spotlight,” said the 50-year old actress who wrote, exec produced and co-starred in the 2019 indie film, Always A Bridesmaid.

“I don’t get that”, she continues. “How could you think that you’re worthy of people loving you to this degree? You have to know that there’s a reason for this and if someone wants to hear from me, I have to say something about what gives me this sense of peace or what’s important. What I think about things isn’t important, but what God thinks about things is. I think it’s happened for me because I have a heart for people and I’m an encourager.”

Her saving grace, she says, is her faith.

“The thing about faith is you’re taking a step on ground that you can’t see. It’s foolish because to people on the outside, and maybe even yourself, in hindsight, it’s crazy. But at the moment, you’re right at the place where God needs you.”

As to what gets her through the rough times?

“I’m a big fan of gospel music so when I’m going through something, I’ll turn on a praise station and that feeds me,” Brown said. “Also, I always write down quotes that bless me and I have them in a big book. Quotes about keeping the faith and God’s goodness and it just grounds me. The Bible even says, ‘Think on these things,’ the things that are pure and wonderful. I feel like what you feed yourself is what comes out of you. So, if you feed yourself good stuff, good stuff will come out.”