Catalyst Magazine Jan 2012

Sam’s Ad

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CO N T EN T S January, 5 • 2012

ARTICLES The Miracle Birth of CityLight Joe Grimaud..............................................................................................Page 4 Being an Esther Woman of Influence ..............................................................................................................Page 5 Miracles & Faith Gladys Grimaud.........................................................................................Page 6 CityLight Director’s Report Redfern II .............................................................................................. Page 8 Pastor Sylvia Mickens ............................................................................................................Page 16 Arts & Entertainment ............................................................................................................Page 20 CityLight’s Fourth Missionary Journey to East Africa ............................................................................................................Page 22 Newton’s Laws of Influence Chakisse Newton.......................................................................................Page 30 CityLight Mission Statement ............................................................................................................Page 35 I’ve Been Thinking About... Excellence Jed N. Snyder, D. Min..................................................................................Page 42 Jesus Pusher Stephen Manley.........................................................................................Page 43

FEATURES Local Events & Points of Interest

.............................................................................................................Page 4 CityLight Prayer Breakfast Order of Service............................................................................................Page 7 Table Sponsors ........................................................................................................... Page 21 Seniors Serving in the Ministry ........................................................................................................... Page 38 Midlands Prayer Opportunities ................................................................................................... Page 37 & 41 Noteworthy Community Leaders ..........................................................................................................Page44 january 2012

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The Miracle Birth

of CityLight

Local Events & Points of Interest

By Joe Grimaud

It was May 20, 1997, the third night of the Tony Evans Crusade i n W il l i a m s Bryce Stadium.

A good deal of controversy was taking place over the Confederate Flag flying over the South Carolina Capitol. There were a number of reports of Black Church burnings across the state, and some in other southern states,as well.But a city wide revival was taking place in Columbia in Williams Bryce Stadium.

It was quite a miracle that this event was taking place with attendance estimated to be 60 per cent white and 40 percent African American, basically the make up of the area. Joe Grimaud and Rev Eddie Guess were co-chairmen of the event, but the numbers of leaders who had a major part of this undertaking are too numerous to mention by name. The event had its genesis in a call from Linda White, then manager of WMHK. She wanted to meet with Joe and Gladys for breakfast. In that meeting she asked if we might suggest a keynote speaker for WMHK’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. We looked at each other and in unison replied, “Well, of course, get Tony Evans. His has the best message on your station, and the message our nation needs.” Linda expressed doubt that we would be able to get him. The celebration event was only about four months away, and he was in great demand.

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JAN 1st - MAY 12th

RELIGION IN THE CIVIL WAR LOCATION: SOUTH CAROLINA CONFEDERATE RELIC ROOM AND MILITARY MUSEUM 1800 12TH STREET, CAYCE, SC

JAN 27th - JAN 29th

THE CITYLIGHT WOMEN’S CONFERENCE Hosted by the Esther Women of Influence THE LANDMARK RESORT 1501 SOUTH OCEAN BLVD. | MYRTLE BEACH, SC VISIT CITYLIGHT.ORG FOR MORE DETAILS

SATURDAY • JAN 28th First Baptist Women’s Conference: COMING TOGETHER

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF COLUMBIA 1306 HAMPTON STREET | COLUMBIA, SC This one is for the ladies! Join us as we welcome Angela Thomas and Kelly Minter to Columbia for a weekend where women of all ages can come together to learn more about Christ. Sessions are: Friday, Jan 27 7pm-9pm and Saturday, Jan 28 9am-12pm Tickets for this event are $27 for the whole weekend! For more information please call our office at: 803-256-4251.

SATURDAY • JAN 28th

ARTS AT SHANDON: SQUARE/LINE DANCE SHANDON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 607 WOODROW STREET | COLUMBIA, SC

------------------------------------------------------------FOR A FULL LIST OF LOCAL EVENTS VISIT:

www.ColumbiaCVB.com january 2012

Esther Denouncing Haman Ernest Normand c. 1915

Being An Esther Women Of Infl Influence uence

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eing An Esther Women Of Influence. I was a very shy young lady growing in my faith with lots of questions. I knew that God had called me but was not quit sure what he had called me to do. With emptiness and an unfulfilling yearning to know his divine plan and purpose for me, I worked with my husband supporting him in ministry. As I look back over my life, I am proud to say that I have but one fear. The fear of God. Finally, I have no other fears. Not long ago, I lived in complete and constant fear. I was afraid of everyone and everything.

I worried all the time. When I didn’t have anything specific to worry about I created things in my head to worry about. I made myself sick worrying. I was afraid of being alone and afraid of divorce, so I stayed in a bad married for 20 years. I was afraid of losing my parents, my dad died. I was afraid of losing my job, the company closed. In fact, seven companies closed. I was afraid of dying and too afraid to live. Not only could I not speak in public I couldn’t speak in front of my family, friends or co-workers. I was a total mess. I hated myself and everyone else. As a Christian, I attended church regularly and no one knew my pain. january 2012

Then, I met a man named Redfern, II. This man with no first name changed my life forever. Or so I thought. Later I realized that it was the Jesus in him that changed me. Redfern gave me an introduction to Jesus that I had never experienced. He taught me of a Jesus that dwells within. He help me to learn that the outside God of the old testament is now the inside God called Jesus. He taught me that I can be holy understanding that with Jesus living inside of me I can’t be anything else but Holy. In meeting this man God had set aside for me, we entered into a whirlwind relationship with Christ. We were married in less than six months. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was caught up in the clouds and blindly walking by faith. It was all God, beContinued on pg 28 CityLight.org

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Miracles &Faith

Gladys Grimaud

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ev. Redfern, Executive Director of CityLight and Publisher of the Catalyst Magazine, wanted my perspective on Tony Evans’ publication, “The Storm.” The miracle of the storm is embedded in my memory forever, but time was running out on the submission deadline and I just couldn’t get it together. What could I say that had not already been said?

I went to bed about midnight, tossed and turned… my brain wouldn’t turn off... still inspiration would not come. Got up and went to the office. Nothing. Went back to bed at 3:00 AM, tossed and turned…

have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ God proved over and over that Jesus was His Son. All the people who saw Jesus’ miracles and heard His words had enough evidence that they could have believed, including the religious leaders who rejected Him. The purpose of miracles is to authenticate God’s authority, demonstrate the Kingdom of God, and illustrate God’s care and compassion.

Quoting C.S. Lewis: “Seeing is not believing. The question whether miracles occur can never be answered simply by experi-

“The purpose of miracles is to authenticate God’s authority, demonstrate the Kingdom of God, and illustrate God’s care and compassion.” prayed some more… this time asking God to just let me sleep. Finally went to sleep... must have been 4:00 AM. About 8:00 AM, I was awakened by an alarm clock going off. But how? I was upstairs sleeping in the grandchildren’s playroom and there is no alarm clock there! Amazingly, I woke up knowing exactly what to write. I think I experienced a miracle while trying to write about another miracle.

Is Seeing Believing? ( John 20: 24 – 29) What about hearing an alarm clock ringing that is not there? Do you believe I had a miracle?

Are you a doubting Thomas? Thomas would not believe the resurrection until he put his finger and hand in the wounds of the resurrected Lord, which he did, but Jesus said, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you

ence. Every event, which might claim to be a miracle is, in the last resort, something presented to our senses, something seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. And our senses are not infallible. If anything extra ordinary happens, we can always say that we have been the victims of an illusion. If we hold a philosophy, which excludes the supernatural, this is what we always shall say.

What we learn from experience depends on the kind of philosophy we bring to experience. It is therefore useless to appeal to experience before we have settled, as well as we can, the philosophical question.”

Why Miracles Do Not Happen (Matt 13: 54 – 58) Jesus is rejected at Nazareth and, “He did not do many mighty works there because Continued on page 34

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CityLight Columbia Prayer Breakfast January 5th • 2012

“Fulfilling the Purpose With-in, Serving the Least of These?”

Breakfast Music ..................................... Pastor Sam Perry, Martin Mickens Praise and worship ............................................................Mr.Henry Flowers National Anthem .................................................................... Gloria Qualls Prayer ..................................................................... Bishop Sheldon Hudson Welcome ............................................................................ Gladys Grimaud Introduction of Host Committee ............................................Luella Redfern Introduction of Speaker ......................................... Attorney Debra Galloway Song ....................................................................................... Gloria Qualls Speaker ..................................................................... Pastor Sylvia Mickens

~Prayer Time Leaders~

Bishop Darrell Croft • Ginger Simmons Pastor Chester Gray • Bonita Britt Pastor Gary Walton Remarks ..................................................................................... Redfern II january 2012

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Director’s Report Redfern II Executive Director CityLight Worldwide

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HE YEAR 2011 WAS A GOOD one. Jesus has been active in our lives and in our world. We have responded to Him in faith which has given us the measure of hope we needed. It turned out to be a good year for Ann, a widow in Uganda. Her husband was murdered and she was raped by the same rebel soldiers who killed him. Because she was violated, her husband’s family threw her out of her home and would have nothing to do with her. She wanted to commit suicide but a local pastor intervened and offered her hope.

He told her he could not change what had happened to her but they could pray with her about the future. He told her about Jesus and what it meant to be apart of the family of God. She came to the church but still had no place to live. The pastor with the help of a CityLight prayer groups raised the money to build Ann a home and helped her start a new life in Christ.

In the midst of turmoil and political upheaval worldwide, God has been and is faithful to his Word and his people. CityLight was founded by Joe and Gladys Grimaud with Pastor Eddie and Mattie Guess, as a local Christ centered response

Pastor Eddie Guess CityLight Co-Chair

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to the call for Christian unity and prayer.

CityLight invited Rev. Tony Evans and his wife Lois to come to South Carolina for a Crusade in Williams Brice Stadium in the middle of the Confederate flag controversy.

Over 80,000 attended the three day event.

Dr. Evans has recorded a Youtube video about the Storm that threaten the Crusade and the prayer that stopped it. Since then, CityLight has become an International ministry with servant leaders from all races and denominations responding to the spiritual and physical needs of families worldwide. This has been a good year because men, women and children worldwide have been touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are a few of their stories.

CROSS STYLE

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TEPHEN MANLE Y IS A preacher’s preacher. For over forty years he and his wife Delphine have preached in a different church every week. They have traveled the world preaching the Cross Style Gospel of Jesus Christ. This year God has given Stephen a glimpse of ministry in a local church with international Bible training centers worldwide. As a Cross Style

Brooklyn Teen Challenge:JImmy LaRose, Ken and Valerie Cleland, Don Wilkerson, Jimmy Jack and Redfern II

january 2012

Partner, CityLight has been blessed annually to take over 100 prayer group leaders and their children to the June Cross Style Training Conference. This year we worked with Sean Patrick and the Cross Style Musicians to produce “Source Me,� the music CD with newly written Cross Style Music.

Ellen and Byron Bailey are now sharing international oversight on CityLight Cross Style Prayer Groups. Over the past twelve months the great needs of the people in Tennessee have exploded. With many folks out of work, or not making more than a minimum wage, Cross Style has expanded their feeding ministry. On an average day they serve from 20 to 50 people a hot

Stephen Manley

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T WAS LAST YEAR THAT I MET Don Wilkerson. Don is the brother of David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge. Over the last 50 years David and Don have ministered to gang members and drug addicts with amazing success. The secret to their success is Jesus and the power of grace from a loving God. There are over 1300 Teen Challenge Centers around the world. They bring hope to those who have nowhere else to turn. I saw the results of their ministry and knew we had to have a center in South Carolina.

The men of CityLight Teen Challenge: Changed Lives, Changed Destinies

cooked meal. eal. They give out food boxes boxes on a weekly ly basis. There There are many peop peoplee who come daily to eat at Cross Style Cafe. e Lazarus Project is new to Cross Style this year. Presently they have 9 men enrolled for one year in this ministry. These are men who are coming out of prison, addictions, or homelessness. They live at the church or in the Lazarus House. During their year with Cross Style they learn life skills, acquire their GED, and attend classes in both their area of need as well as Responding Recovery (which is a Christ centered 12 step program). These men are a vital part of what is happening in Lebanon, TN. What a joy to watch them grow and seek Jesus.

We love these folks and praise the Lord for bringing them into our family. january 2012

CITYLIGHT TEEN CHALLENGE

The CityLight Men on the Wall prayer groups started praying for a Teen Challenge center to be established in Columbia. They sponsored a trip to the Brooklyn Teen Challenge in New York to witness first hand how the program operated.

While there, Don Wilkerson recommended a Director to head the Citylight Teen Challenge in Columbia, SC. The men returned to Columbia determined to start the Center.

Jimmy LaRose and the CityLight Men on the Wall prayer groups raised the money to hire the Director and brought him to Columbia. Addiction, especially crack and alcohol addiction, destroys the person, his family and the community. Under CityLight.org

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the leadership of the new Director, over 100 homeless men with drug and alcohol problems found hope in daily prayer and Bible instruction. CityLight Teen Challenge offered them a new life as disciples of Jesus Christ. It was a year of miracles, six houses completely furnished, 5 vans and cars, a bus and full time volunteers from Boston, New York, Pittsburgh and even Cameroon, West Africa.

After spending 6 months in CityLight Teen Challenge, one man was reunited with his year old daughter and is able to spend Christmas with her and his mother.

Another young man has graduated from the program, has a job, his own apartment and is drug and alcohol free. These are just a few of the many stories of restoration and reconciliation to come out of CityLight Teen Challenge.

The CityLight Teen Challenge Director has a pretty incredible story of his own.

After years of living of life of crime and drug addiction, he bounced from one Teen Challenge program to another trying to get his life together. He would get great jobs and have great opportunities but would always fall back into the darkness of addiction and sin. He ended up at Brooklyn Teen Challenge where Don Wilkerson saw something special in him.

Wilkerson discipled him and prayed with and for him. Don Wilkerson and Jimmy LaRose, National Director of Men on the Wall, opened the door for him to get the position as director of CityLight Teen Challenge in Columbia, SC. It has been an amazing year. The new director with the support of CityLight and Men on the Wall was able to established the CityLight Teen Challenge program in Columbia and helped initiate two other local drug rehab programs. With help from 10

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Rev. LaRose, and the Ecumenical Church underwriting salary and expenses, the new director bought a personal car, moved into a new home and developed a closer relationship with his children.

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EPRESENTATIVES FROM THE national Teen Challenge office contacted CityLight and suspended its agreement to operate under the name Teen Challenge. The ECC Program Review Committee in their annual review of the program approved the recommendation that the program should continue as a new organization with a new board of directors. The ECC Program Review Committee voted unanimously to gift the assets of the CityLight Teen Challenge program to the director and his new nonprofit board after all incurred expenses were met. God has opened a door that no man can close.

CITYLIGHT STAFF REV. THEODORE CUNNINGHAM is a minister’s minister. He is a renaissance man. He has served as pastor of several large churches for over 20 years, traveled all over the world, speaks several languages, has held elected and appointed public offices and is retired military with his beautiful wife, Toni. Ted has had an illustrious corporate and small business career where he excelled because of excellent managerial skills. Ted joined CityLight because he wanted to make a difference. Ted was appointed as the CityLight Chief of staff. The first questions were from his wife Toni. “Chief, where is the staff ? Are you a volunteer or were you drafted? There is no one but you.”

Over the last year, Rev. Cunningham has recruited an all volunteer staff of over 60 individuals january 2012

worldwide who serve as the program directors of Citylight ministries. Rev. Cunningham has secured real and virtual office space with the latest technology to advance the ministry. CityLight is a leader in using video and teleconferencing to meet monthly with staff members in Europe, Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Rev. Cunningham has recruited and developed administrative support services for all CityLight ministries. To help with managing our ever growing organization, Cunningham has selected Bruce Trezevant as Deputy Chief of Staff and Technology Administrator.

BRUCE TREZAVANT loves his mother. Every Sunday you’ll see him having dinner in some nice restaurant with his mother.

A former police officer with the L.A. Police Dept., Bruce hates crime. He is the President of Project Unity, a crime fighting organization that uses high powered video surveillance to fight local crime. When thieves broke into his mother’s house and stole her television and jewelry, Bruce used this technology to capture them before sundown. Trezevant, with the help of Calvin Breeland, manages all the communication and internet technology for CityLight and has provided leadership in establishing Prayer vigils around the city for murdered teenagers.

SYLVIA MICKENS’ heart breaks every time she hears a story of an abused child or one born to parents with drug and alcohol addiction. Pastor Sylvia is one of 14 children born to James and Hattie Mickens.

She has a heart for the poor and broken. january 2012

She serves as the Director of the Christ Central mission station for the homeless.

Serving more than 100 meals a day she has touched the lives of thousands. She shares her home with the homeless and 5 years ago God gave her the greatest gift of her life. She adopted a beautiful little girl who was born in difficult circumstances.

She is now the mother of three more children and is looking for more ways to serve.

She is planning to open Shakira’s House as a refuge for children born to homeless mothers, drug addicts and anyone with difficult circumstances. She wants to have a place where mothers can have their children while they get their lives together. In addition to these projects, Pastor Sylvia directs the Citylight monthly Prayer Breakfast where Prayer Group leaders pray for our city, nation and the world.

REV. SAM PERRY AND HIS WIFE, REV. PAULA PERRY, were appointed to pastor the First Ecumenical Church.

As with most of CityLight volunteers Sam and his wife wear many hats. Rev. Perry serves as the Chief musician for choirs of Daniel Circle Chapel at Fort Jackson, SC. An avid gardener, he supplies collard greens and fresh vegetables to local soup kitchens and underprivileged families. Rev. Sam with his wife and co-pastor, Paula, are the founders of CityLight Prayer group #1 and #2. These are the prayer groups that started them all.

Rev. Perry is a small business owner. He used his Lawn maintenance business to clean the yards of the elderly and widows who couldn’t afford his services. He also used his home improvement business to help non profit organizations with repairs and renovations.

As pastors of The First Ecumenical Church, CityLight.org

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the Perrys have continued the church’s long legacy of serving the poor and hurting. For the Perrys, 2011 was a good year of ministry and servant leadership.

REV. RAMON AND ANNETTE BALAGUER | Ramon is the Chief Development officer of CityLight. He is responsible for raising funds for the outreach programs of CityLight and partner ministries.

He and his wife, Annette, have committed volunteer time and efforts making a difference in the lives of the homeless and less fortunate. Ramon preaches at Christ Central Columbia Mission Station every Friday at noon while Annette volunteers as CityLight’s Chief Administrative Officer at the homeless mission. They are both retired military.

Ramon traveled to East Africa in December to visit CityLight Prayer Groups and Cross Style Bible Institute students. He presided over several graduations of students who have completed Cross Style training. Ramon is charged with raising funds to complete the CityLight Cross Style training Center being built to serve the 13 countries in East Africa.

ALEXIS TSINGNING is from Cameroon. He spent eight years in China teaching students to speak English.

Alex joined CityLight as an answer to the call of ministry God has on his life. This past year opened the door of serving for Alex. He has been a daily volunteer at a drug recovery ministry. He has been working with the men on basic language skills and anger management.

Alex has also established the national Cit12

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ylight Prayer group in Cameroon and is working to establish one in China. Alex and his wife, Mandy, have also initiated a new project of collecting and distributing food to poor families in the Midlands.

STEPHEN GIBBS is an urban farmer and a CityLight Partner. Stephen has led the movement to establish community gardens in the metropolitan area. This year there were gardens producing vegetables for the poor in several neighbor hoods around the city of Columbia, SC. Stephen has facilitated discussions with several organizations including the homeless on the impact of creating community based food supplies for the poor.

DR. HATTIE MICKENS is 85 years old and is the mother of 14 children who are all involved in ministry. She is the pastor of Holy Light Tabernacle in State Park and the Prayer Leader for the monthly CityLight Prayer Breakfast in Columbia, SC. She is known for spirit filled singing. She has passed this passion to her children and grandchildren who have formed the group Ya’acov to honor her late husband.

CityLight is partnering with the group to record a new CD. The groups sings at the annual citywide dinner for the homeless.

ANTHONY AND TANYA BRYANT have served as the directors of CityLight Cross Style.

The Bryants are celebrating a year of marriage, new job opportunities and added responsibilities at First Church of the Nazarene. Anthony has worked with Gang january 2012

Out, Boys and Girls clubs and has his own ministry, Split Second. The Bryants pioneered the model of CityLight Cross Style Bible training with the Internet Video series of Dr. Stephen Manley, “Being what you have become.” As a result of their efforts the CityLight Cross Style Bible Training Institute is open and accepting students.

The Bryants have had a year where their dreams have become real.

tend the national conferences where prayer techniques and strategies are developed.

They coordinate our community response to national and international community prayer efforts such as the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, the National Day of Prayer, The Global Day of Prayer and Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The Allens are also the leaders of the Greater Columbia Call to Prayer organization.

ERIC BOWDEN and his wife Renada have overcome sickness and adversity to serve as an example of a family praying together to seek their destiny. Eric is the volunteer Director of CityLight Family Vision. Eric saw the need for every family to have a mission and vision statement from God to guide their lives. The Bowdens hosted the first SC Family Vision Conference at Christ Central. Gregg Gunn and Mark Naylor, founders of Family Vision were the speakers.

ADRIAN

Eric is also a CityLight Partner with his nonprofit organization, “Eternal Release.”

He is a mentor to boys and men between the ages of 16 to 29. Eric and Eternal Release have a program called “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” where they distribute hats, gloves and clothing to the poor and homeless.

H.L. AND JANIE ALLEN are the Volunteer Directors of Citylight Prayer Programs.

The Allens are a Prayer resource for the whole country. They plan or helped to plan all the prayer programs in our area. They at13

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HOLLY MOLDOVAN are the Directors of CityLight Crusades. They were the sponsor of the Heaven on Earth Crusades held at the Metropolitan Convention Center. This was a good year for the Moldovans. Adrian has been finishing up the website and preparing for radio, television and web video production. He has taken the Heaven on Earth Crusade across the Country with speaking and preaching events.

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SANDRA TAYLOR worked as Office Manager at Christ Central and served as special assistant to Vanessa Frazier and Christ Teens. Sandra was responsible for the monthly Columbia, SC CityLight Prayer Breakfast. She contacted all of the persons who served on the CityLight Prayer breakfast Host Committee. Sandra has a special gift of creating and preparing food for special occasions. This was a special year for Sandra.

She opened her own catering business and is january 2012

working with Vanessa and Jackie Mckie in providing meals for neighborhood children.

Both Sandra and Jackie have established their CityLight Prayer Groups.

VANESSA FRAZIER has a special love for teens.

She spends much of her time organizing CityLight Teen Prayer Groups in our local public schools. She holds a Prayer Time teleconference every morning at 5AM with teens from schools around the districts calling in before they go to school.

She is a loving Christian mom to all the children. She takes time to help them with everything from homework to questions about sex, dating and marriage. Vanessa’s big moment came this summer with the Teacher’s Rally at the State House. Teachers from around the state joined her in Prayer for our children, schools and the future. This year’s event was a tremendous success. Local and state politicians joined the rally and offered their support.

sibility for organizing the monthly CityLight Prayer Breakfast. Several new Esther Prayer Groups have been established around the United States as well as in Jamaica and East Africa. The Annual Esther Women’s Retreat was held in Myrtle Beach with increased attendance and significant program additions and changes.

New Partnerships were established with women’s groups in Oklahoma, Kansas City and Charleston, SC. Rev. Luella Redfern and Pastor Sylvia Mickens are now working as a team. They are organizing CityLight Esther Women of Influence Prayer Groups across the country.

REV. LUELLA REDFERN finished her first year as the volunteer Director of Volunteer Services at Christ Central Columbia Mission Station. She is responsible for recruiting organizations and individual volunteers to serve the needs of the homeless. This opportunity to serve came out of her CityLight Esther Prayer Group with Pastor Sylvia Mickens, the director of Christ Central.

JAMES AND PEARL HOLLOWAY live in Saluda, SC. They were high school sweethearts. It is quite evident how much they love each other. There is only one thing that they love as much as they love each other and that is their hometown of Saluda, SC. James and Pearl have committed their lives to making sure everyone in their community has a better life. Over the last 40 years James and Pearl have been active in their church, local government and community organization. They organized members of their community to buy their old high school when it closed and turned it into a community Center. They use the center as the hub of volunteer social service for Saluda. The Center is the Food bank, the healthcare facility, after school tutorial center and the clothes bank. The center provides a WiFi connection and a computer center for the residents.

As the Director of CityLight Esther Women of Influence, Luella has led the organization to new heights of achievements. The Esther Prayer Groups have taken respon-

CityLight Saluda has always been the lead Prayer Group for our annual vacation bible trip to Lebanon, Tennessee.

Pearl Holloway and the Saluda CityLight Esther Women of Influence have always

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provided leadership with the Esther Retreat but this year was special. James and Pearl overcame some difficult personal situations, yet, they never wavered on their commitments to their community.

Their faith carried them through.

JED SNYDER loves the Lord. He was born to parents who gave their hearts and lives to the Lord on the missionary fields of South America. Jed has served in the body of Christ bringing healing, enlightenment, sound doctrine and the most excellent lesson of a living example.

As a citylight staff member and partner, Jed has become our chief mentor and friend. The wisdom that comes from a life lived in the bosom of Christ offers a wellspring of hope, instruction and direction.

CITYLIGHT INTERNATIONAL

Charles and Agnes Mpagi, CityLight East Africa; Andrew and Jeyarani Dev, CityLight India; Andrew and Vania Staine, CityLight Belize; Andrew and Michelle Green, CityLight Jamaica; Rasheed Akther, CityLight Pakistan; Donald and Cyndi Kidd, CityLight Southeast Asia.

All of our ministry efforts have reflected the heart of Jesus. Whether it was serving a meal in a homeless shelter, adopting the child of a drug addict or digging a well in a remote village in the third world. We describe CityLight as a spirit filled, spirit led organization that seeks to be a catalyst Connecting Christ to the Culture for Community Change.

CATALYST STAFF Publisher

CityLight Founders

Redfern II

Joe & Gladys Grimaud

Editor

Creative Director

Casey Lowe

Gabe Lowe

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CATALYST STAFF CON’T Director

Casting

Sylvia Mickens

Luella Redfern

Logistics

IT

Sandra Taylor

Bruce Trezevant

Photographer - Videographer Zoe Warren | Pistuo Productions

Sponsorship Manager Sam Perry

Columnists Joe Grimaud Gladys Grimaud Chakissee Newton H.L. Allen Jed Snyder

The Franciscan Benediction May God bless you with discomfort At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war, So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness To believe that you can make a difference in the world, So that you can do what others claim cannot be done To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen CityLight.org

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The Call I was only 5 years old when my parents took me to a revival where Rev. A. A. Allen was preaching. It was at that meeting that God began to speak to my heart. It was at that meeting that God showed me a vision of myself baptizing people in a large body of water.

I didn’t understand it then, but almost 50 years later, on a mission trip to South Africa, I stood in the Indian Ocean baptizing God’s people.

I know that God is always speaking to His creation. It was at the age of five that I first recall Him speaking to me. God has spoken to me many times since that mo-

already knew my faults and imperfections, yet still wanted me! Finally, after falling on my face, running into many dead end streets, and being beat down by sin, I found out His Way to be much better than mine.

Salvation I clearly remember the day I accepted Christ as my Savior. I grew up with parents who were real, parents who practiced what they preached. We went to church what seemed like every day. This particular day was no different than any other day.

Or, so I thought.

When I was dressing for church, I had no

I live by Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh (God), thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you good hope in the end.” ment. Being spoken to by God Himself is such an honor that I tend to be awe that He chose to create me. I am amazed that He chooses to speak to and use me. I often feel inadequate when it comes to doing Kingdom Work.

Growing up in a Christian family, I still struggled with completely yielding to God. I, like so many of us, would prefer to do things my way. I learned that when God chose me, He 16

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idea that would be the day my life would change. I went to church that day, but as soon as I got in and sat down, I knew something out of the ordinary was going to happen. I wanted to leave, but for some reason I couldn’t. I now know that it was God telling me that this was my new birthday.

When it was time for the BENEDICTION, I couldn’t wait to get out of the building. In the middle of the closing song, january 2012

Pastor Hattie Mickens, Pastor of Holy Light Tabernacle Church, stopped the song and said “Is there somebody else who wants to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior”?

Now, I had been trying to keep it together until then, but something broke in me and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God was speaking to me through her. That was some 28 years ago. It’s been a long journey, but Jesus has been right by my side.

On a Mission Shortly after being saved and working in the church, I felt an emptiness in my spirit as if I was just not doing enough for the Kingdom. I was never satisfied just working in the church. Preaching, teaching Sunday school, directing the Choir, and serving in the kitchen just did not fulfill the longing I had in my soul.

I took classes and went to conferences trying to become a better Christian. I accepted the call from God to preach the Gospel in 1985.

Through my study in the Word, I realized that God wanted to share some of the deeper mysteries of the Bible with me and I had a hunger to know Him in a deeper, more intimate way. God then revealed His Sacred Name, Yahweh, and the incomparable Name of His Son, Yahshua, to me. I was honored and I give Him all the glory as He continues to give me insights into my Hebraic roots.

I live by Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh (God), thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you good hope in the end.”

Home Life I am privileged to be the mother of one adult son, three adult daughters, one adjanuary 2012

opted baby girl, and four grandchildren.

In 1991, I became a Licensed Therapeutic Foster Parent for SAFY (Safe Alternatives for Families and Youths) and have gained much experience in shaping and enhancing the lives of many children. I have fostered over 40 children during the last 20 years and I currently have a 15 year old that I am fostering. My experience as a Foster Mother would prove very useful when God would later bless me with a newborn baby and a new mission to take care of abused, neglected, and homeless infants.

The Christ Central Story In 1994, my spiritual father, Reverend S. A. Williams, invited me to come help a man who was feeding the homeless in the basement of a church. Reluctantly, I went out

in obedience and quickly realized that this kind of ministry was not for me. This was my beginning with what is now known as Christ Central Ministries, Inc., founded

by Pastor Jimmy Jones.

Even though I tried to leave it alone, God would not let me turn this ministry loose.

So, I started out serving plates, and from there I sang in the choir, worked with the women from Hannah House, and drove the bus for Kid’s Kamp. From there, I became associate pastor.

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God spoke to me to leave my benefits and full time job with Richland School District Two, to serve full time in the inner city ministry of Missions for Christ Central,, without any salary. Talk about faith on trial!

My faith was truly tested.

By this time, I had already witnessed so many miracles and seen God do so many wonderful things in the lives of people and even in my life. I chose to obey His call and become a full time local missionary. It was in my work at Christ Central that I learned to be a true servant in the Kingdom of God. When God spoke to Pastor Jimmy Jones to open mission stations all over the world, he handed the mantle of Pastor to me. Seventeen years later, I continue to serve as Pastor and Director of Christ Central Columbia.

Christ Central is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Christ Central has continued to grow and expand its services to include: hot meals, food distribution, clothing distribution, transitional housing for families, men, women and children, mentoring and tutorial programs for children from toddlers to high school students, entrepreneurial training in agriculture, life skills, and career education, and a coaching center for families dealing with autistic family members of all ages.

Christ Central is cross-denominational. Respect to all denominations is given as we serve our neighbors with help in our hands and hope in our words. We operate by faith and through volunteers and donors who willingly give of their time, talent and treasure. Our greatest joy is to witness the demonstration of the daily presence of the Lord we serve.

Today, Christ Central Ministries consists of 36 Mission Stations in South Carolina, the Christ Central Institute, which is a Bible Col18

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lege, the Career Arts Institute, which is a faith based certified recovery program, and the intern program.

Christ Central Columbia, located at 2401 Main Street in Columbia, started out as a soup kitchen serving about 20 people a lunch meal each day. Today, we are a DHEC Certified Kitchen with an ‘A’ rating, serving over 150 healthy, nutritional meals daily.

Additional services offered at the Columbia mission station include: Over 3,000 healthy meals served 800 snacks to after school programs 90+ families served groceries Clothes: men, women, children Worship Services Jobs/community service hours Snacks for day-care Personal hygiene packs Bus tickets Pampers A/A meetings Prescriptions GED classes Support classes Health education Exercise classes Medical Services Prayer Meetings Benefit Bank Foot Care Clinic Women’s meetings N/A meetings

Shakira House The vision of Shakira House was birthed in my heart about five years ago when a beautiful baby girl was born to a homeless woman who was volunteering at Christ Central. This young lady just wanted a place to belong.

After working with her, I found out that she was HIV positive, addicted to crack, january 2012

suffered from Hepatitis C, and was in an abusive relationship. Immediately after giving birth, the little girl, whose name was Shakira, was taken into protective custody.

I was called to the hospital by the mother and asked if I would help her. I looked into the eyes of a baby who was only 3 hours old and her pain spoke to my heart. I was so broken that this beautiful little girl had so much going against her in the world she had just entered.

In her brokenness, her own mother could not even help. I left the hospital that day knowing that I could not save all the hurting babies, but I sure was determined to save this one.

After three appointments with The Department of Social Services and two court appearances, exactly thirty eight days later, I brought that precious little baby girl home to my family. Shakira is now a healthy five year old, full of life and love, with a bright future.

Light Tabernacle, a Messianic ministry that embraces its Jewish roots. In 2010, I was licensed in the First Ecumenical Church Worldwide. I also serve on the First Ecumenical Council and have served for over ten years in local missions at the House of Praise under the leadership of Bishop Darrell and Mary Croft. I am the Program Coordinator for the City Light monthly prayer breakfast.

Ministry takes you in many directions.

When God leads me, I have to follow. As such, I serve on the following boards: Holy Light Tabernacle Church Executive Board, Christ Central Executive Board, Esther Women of Influence Executive Board, First Ecumenical Council, and the Eternal Release Executive Board.

I am the fifth of fourteen children born to Pastor Hattie Mae and the late Deacon James Mickens. I have one adult son, Rick; three daughters Debra, “Suffer the little children to adult Crystal, Alita, and one come unto me, and forbid baby girl, Shakira; four The ultimate goal of them not for of such is the grandchildren; Detrick, Shakira House is to proKelcey, Christofer, and Kingdom of Heaven”. tect and care for at-risk Marketta and 1 great infants and help them grandson; DJ. My ultigrow up in a loving home. “Suffer the little mate goal in life is to record a True Name children to come unto me, and forbid them Gospel CD and to continue to fulfill not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”.

God’s purpose for me. In my walk, I have been privileged to meet some of the most The greatest investment one can make is powerful, loving and giving people. I’m just to sow in the life of a child. Shakira House honored to be a vessel used by God and it’s is a great opportunity for you to make a an even greater honor to serve His people. difference in the life of a child.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His Community Service mighty working power at work within us, to In addition to my responsibilities as Pasaccomplish infinitely more than we might ask tor and director of Christ Central, I serve or think. Glory to Him in the church and in beside my mother, Pastor Dr. Hattie Mae Christ Jesus through all generations forever Mickens, as the Assistant Pastor of Holy and ever!” Ephesians 3: 20-21 january 2012

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

YA’ACOV e are named after our father and grandfather Deacon James Mickens. “MaDaddy,” as we loving know him as, kept his family in church and instilled music in his family. This group is named in his honor as a tribute to the great man he, along with his wife Hattie, are.

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MaDaddy went to be with our Creator on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year 2000.

Did you know that James is the most common name for a male in the United States?

Did you know that “James” is derived from the same Hebrew name as Jacob, meaning “grasps by the heel”?

ABOUT YA’ACOV, THE BIBLICAL PATRIARCH...

Ya’acov, who is also known as Israel, is the third Biblical patriarch. His name, Ya’akov derives from the Hebrew root “‫בקע‬,” “heel.”

Jacob was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. Jacob played a major part in the biblical events we read about in the Five Books of Moses. Jacob had twelve sons and thus fathered the twelve Tribes of Israel.

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MaDaddy is the patriarch of the Mickens family and has fathered a tribe of children as well—Thirteen to be exact...

There are numerous James’ recorded in biblical text. They were James the son of Zebedee and brother of John and an apostle (Matthew 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10), James the Less, son of Alphaeus and also an apostle (Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13) and James the brother of our Savior (Matthew 13:35; Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:18, 19).

But, it is for the New Testament epistle which bears his name that James is most remembered.

James understood the relationship between faith and works (obedience) in regard to man’s relationship with the Creator. His book, which is addressed to the twelve tribes of the dispersion, touched on many themes to include the nature of temptation and its source (1:2-18); pure religion (1:19-27); the dangers of the tongue (3:112); true and false wisdom (3:13-18); the source of discord among brethren (4:1-10); the future and how to face it (4:11-17); the dangers of wealth (5:1-6); and patience, prayer and confession (5:7-20). His goal was to teach the tribes some well needed information to bridge the gap. january 2012

It is in honor of MaDaddy, who is the patriarch of the Mickens family, like Jacob is the patriarch of the Israelite nation, that we are named Ya’acov. It is in honor of MaDaddy, the man who not only taught us music, but also like James in the bible, taught how to live that we are named Ya’acov.

DEBRA, background vocalist and grand-

Each member of the group is a direct descendant of MaDaddy. He is either the father or grandfather to each singer and musician.

MARTIN, lead guitar player and the young-

JAMES E., lead singer and daughter of

TERRENCE, drummer and the grandson of James and Hattie Mickens. Terrence is also the son of James E.

James and Hattie Mickens. James is named after her father.

TASHIA, background vocalist and granddaughter of James and Hattie Mickens.

daughter of James and Hattie Mickens.

Debra is also the sister of Tashia.

MAYA, second lead singer and granddaughter of James and Hattie Mickens.

Maya is also the daughter of James E. est son of James and Hattie Mickens.

JOSEPH, bass guitar player and the grandson of James and Hattie Mickens.

Ya’acov is on their way to releasing their first album.

TABLE SPONSORS Sam ‘s Home Repair & Custom Cabinetry CityLight Prayer Group # 1 First Ecumenical Church Christ Central/ Holy Light Chapin Furniture Systematic Building Systems Precision Tune Esther Women of Influence James P. LaRose Adrian Moldovan

january 2012

Trezcom Integrated Maurice Webber Anointed Touch Jesus Everyday Ministries Rep. Leon Howard Dr. Dean M. Floyd MD. City Light Asia Morning Glory Prayer Group Blak Sheep Design

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CityLight’s Fourth Missionary Journey to East Africa

By Redfern II

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VERY DECEMBER CITYLIGHT sends a missionary team to East Africa for 21 days to assist and assess the progress being made with the Cross Style Bible Training Program and the establishment of CityLight Prayer Groups. Students who have attended the Bible Training classes over a two year period and have satisfactorily completed their course requirements, have their graduations in December. For the last four years Rev. Redfern II, representing both CityLight and Cross Style has officiated at these graduations and presented the students their one year certificates and the second year students with their diplomas.

2011 Cross Style Bible Graduates

This year Rev. ev. Ramon Balaguer, Chief Development officer of CityLight, accompanied n so he could visit the site of the Rev. Redfern CityLight Cross Style Campus under construction in Magamaga, Uganda. Working with the local Ugandan Leadership CityLight

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purchased several acres of land to build a facility to train pastors and church leaders from the 13 countries in East Africa. The campus will serve as the administrative complex for CityLight Africa. A health center is planned for the campus for primary health care and the treatment of HIV/AIDs and Malaria. Guest houses and dormitories for international guests and mission teams are also planned.

The campus will also be equipped as a major communications hub for the region.

The trip began on the 1st of December with a 2PM flight from Columbia airport to Washington, DC, then a short layover before taking the 8 hour flight to Zurich. We arrived in Zurich at 7:43AM CET the next day. After spending a couple hours in Zurich we boarded an 8 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya. We spent 4 hours at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Kenya before boarding a plane for our last hour of flying to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, East Africa. We arrived at midnight.

The CityLight Cross Style partnership is designe designed to provide a Biblical education and training for pastors who can not attend a convention ventional seminary. Cross Style provides the pastors with a generator, CD player, television monitor and 250 DVDs of course materials.

These are necessary for pastors in rural areas where there is no electricity. After graduation

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each student is then expected to select 12 lay members to disciple, teaching them what they learned as a Cross Style Student.

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H A R LE S M PAG I I S T H E Pastor of Victory Celebration Centre in Magamaga and the director of the CityLight Cross Style initiative. Pastor Mpagi is responsible for 25 Cross Style Bible training Centers and he developed the first Citylight Prayer Groups in East Africa. As the local host, Pastor Charles has taken responsibility for our itinerary each year.

Pastor Charles and his team met us at the airport and took us in a new CityLight van to the Millennium hotel in nearby Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The van was not a brand van. It was Pastor Charles & Agnes Mpagi new va purchas purchased used CityLigh Prayer with money from the local CityLight groups and matched money from C CityLight worldwide. Each year we spend a considerable amount of money on van rentals but now we have our own van. After a quick, but good, night’s rest, we were having breakfast at the hotel and preparing to meet Pastor Leon from Democratic Republic of Congo. It was Saturday morning, December 3rd and Pastor Leon had traveled several days to meet with us about organizing CityLight Prayer Groups in the major cities of the Congo. He explained that they just had elections and there was violence and demonstrations in the country. He felt that Jesus could make a difference in his country through CityLight Prayer Groups.

We explained the CityLight Cross Style plan of Biblically training Pastors and church members to disciple others in Prayer Groups.

Pastor Leon committed to organizing a group of 12 Pastors from around the Congo to implement the CityLight Cross Style strategy.

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We left Pastor Leon in Kampala and headed to the town of Jinja and the Paradise Hotel, which is located at the mouth of the Nile river. Later in the day, we were scheduled to officiate at the wedding of one of our Cross Style graduates and Citylight Prayer Group leaders in nearby Magamaga.

Arriving in Jinja, we were greeted by the owners of the Paradise hotel, Francis and Margaret Otile. They have been married for 47 years and are two of the finest Christians you could ever meet. They have written a book entitled “Marriage: The Biblical Approach.”The book is a profound set of biblical instructions for prospective married couples. The hotel served as our base of operations for first five days of our trip.

Later in the day, we officiated at the wedding in Magamaga and attended the reception on Saturday afternoon, then spent the evening meeting with Pastor Charles and his team of Prayer Group leaders and teachers of the Cross Style Centers throughout East Africa. The leaders shared stories about how their Prayer groups operated in the villages and towns. Some met daily while other met weekly or monthly. They told us about Prayer groups who served as security for their villages and communities. Some even had Prayer groups who double as medical teams and disaster relief groups.

On Sunday we celebrated and worship with Pastor Charles at his Church, in Magagmaga.

Over three hundred people were in attendance.

Several Prayer Group leaders from outlying districts came to welcome us and report their progress. Among them were Pastor Hunnington, who expressed great disappointment in not seeing Ellen and Byron Bailey of Cross Style. Rev. Balaguer preached at the service from the Gospel of Luke sixth chapter and verses 12-18. His message centered of the first and original Prayer Group of Jesus.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we traveled to Iziru, Kityerera, Mayuge, Bulumba and Bugiri to officially launch CityLight Prayer Groups started by last year’s Cross

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Style graduates. At each location, there was a formal program with Rev. Ramon and Redfern preaching the CityLight Cross Style message of Jesus and servant leadership. Each host prepared a full course meal for the gathering with special local recipes.

There were songs and dances led by the different Prayer Group leaders in each of the villages and Towns. In Bugiri, we awarded certificates to those first year students.

We spent the Thursday traveling to Mbarara for a Cross Style Graduation on Friday. The trip is over eight hours but the most of the travel was on good roads. We arrived late and checked into the Rwizi Arch hotel. We always stay here when we travel to Mbarara.

The desk clerks, maids, waiters and hotel

staff know us and expect us to come every December. The hotel is comfortable with all western conveniences. It is our second base hotel, we stay here for a couple of days.

In Mbarara, the graduations are held at Eden Revival, the church of Pastor Asiimwe Evans.

This is a very strong Cross Style Center producing some of the best students and Prayer Group Leaders. Pastor Evans is the Dean of Students for the Cross Style Centers. He travels to the centers in Western Uganda and spends a week at each one teaching. The travel is tedious and dangerous but he persists. Besides the general perils of the road, he faces the threat of robbers and bandits.

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Most of the classes are held in churches. In the towns where the centers are located he will sleep on the floor of the church, or at one of the student homes. Prayer group leaders provide his meals and other needs. Due to his dedication, leaders are coming from adjacent countries to the centers in Uganda for training, so that they can set up centers in their home country.

From the Friday Mbarara graduation we travel to Rukungiri for a graduation and two weddings of CityLight Prayer Group leaders.

The graduations and wedding were held at the Bible for the World Church. The Pastor is a Cross Style graduate and a strong supporter of cityLight and she is a Prayer Group leader.

We spent the night in the Rukungiri Inn. The next morning we traveled up the mountain, on the worst roads I have ever experienced in my life, to get to the next graduation. The trip was so dangerous, the roads so rough, and the center so remote, that we asked Pastor Charles why he would even consider having a center in this God forsaken place.

He answered, “if we didn’t come here, who would?” The Gospel is not just for those in convenient locations. This is the heart of carrying the Cross Style message. In this remote village, in the middle of a field under a tent, 20 students with caps and gowns were recognized for their study and hard work. They became the servant leaders in their community, entrusted with the Biblical training to change a generation.

We returned to the Rwizi Arch hotel that night to meet with the Pastors of several Ministerial Associations from the countries surrounding Uganda. Each Pastor present represented 25 churches or more in his area. Most of the pastors traveled great distances to attend the meeting. Some had traveled for days using bus, train, car and motorcycle to get to the meeting.

One Pastor from the Sudan had traveled for eight (8) days to get to the meeting.

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Pastor Asiimwe Evans

Pastor Charles from Sudan

Pastor Charles and Pastor Ev Evans ns chaired the meeting and introduced Rev dfern and Rev Rev. R Redfern Rev. Balaguer, they discussed the importance of providing Biblical training for Pastors and organizing CityLight Prayer Groups. It was decided that we form a coordinating Council to plan the implementation of CityLight Cross Style Centers in Africa. Several of the Pastors requested CityLight Cross Style Centers be placed immediately in their countries.

After the meeting, we were to meet with Pastor Nestor from Kabuyande. He traveled 4 hours by Motorcycle to meet with us. We did not schedule a trip to Kabuyande because they had graduation last year and there were no new students for this year’s graduation.

Pastor Nestor had one request. “Come to Kabuyande and see our Prayer Groups.”

We explained to him that our schedule did not allow enough time for us to go to Kabuyande. Nestor responded, I only want you to keep your word. You promised us last year that you would come back to Kabuyande and see our Prayer Groups. What could we say?

At 5AM Monday morning we left Mbarara for the 4 hour trip to Kabuyande. We

Pastor David

Pastor George

told Pastor Pastor Nestor that we would w uld only stay wou an hour hour because we had a day ays travel ahead days of us to get to Masindi. We arrived at 9:30 AM Monday morning and there were over 300 people in the church waiting for us. They were singing praise songs and worshiping God when we drove up to the Church.

Pastor Nestor lined his leaders up with their Prayer groups and they took turns singing verses of praise songs. They marched around the church and danced in celebration and victory. They served us a full course meal and welcomed us as brothers in what seemed like a family reunion. Pastor Nestor said they have outgrown their old church because of the CityLight Prayer Groups.

After traveling all day Monday we arrived in Masindi late and checked into a hotel. On Tuesday and Wednesday we conducted two graduations, and officially launched several Citylight Prayer Groups started by last year’s Cross Style graduates in the area.

While traveling to one of the Masindi graduations our van became stuck in a foot of mud.

Over a dozen people came to help push us out of the mud, but to no avail. Then Rev.

The trip was so dangerous, the roads so rough and the center so remote that we asked Pastor Charles why he would even consider having a center in this God forsaken place. He answered, If we didn’t come here, who would?” january 2012

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Redfern got out of the van, stepped down in the mud, and organized our help. He led the team by taking the front end of the van with his body yelling. “PUSH!” With everybody working together we moved the van out of the mud. He said this is how God uses Prayer Groups. We pray for direction and guidance, then we work like we expect the miracle. On this same road, we encountered a river overflowing and covering the road with 3 feet of water. We were not stopped or delayed.

On Thursday and Friday we launched CityLight Prayer Groups in Busia, Tororo and Malaba. We crossed the border into Kenya on Saturday morning to get to Bungoma for the wedding of CityLight Cross Style Director, Daniel Juma. We arrived at the Church for the 11:00 AM wedding. The groom didn’t arrive until 4:00 PM and the Bride didn’t arrive until 6 PM. There was nonstop music and dancing the entire time with no breaks. The cooks prepared the wedding feast outside the church in huge pots cooking on open fires.

There were nearly 500 people in attendance.

Bishop Juma, the father of the groom had requested Rev. Redfern to conduct the wedding service. Rev. Redfern had to preside over the ceremony in the dark, with only candle light to read by, after the generator broke.

We left Kenya and drove to Gabba, a village outside of the capital city of Kampala. The Cross Style graduation is always held at Pastor Larry’s church, Garden of Peace. Cross Style director, Donal James and CityLight Prayer Group leader, David Eyoma are the leaders in the Kampala district. There were 12 graduates who will become the new CityLight Prayer Group leaders of the District.

We returned to Jinja to spend our last night at the Paradise Hotel with the Otiles. We talked with Mrs. Otile about the possibility of jointly publishing their book on marriage as a CityLight resource in the U.S. We told her we would discuss it with the leaders of CityLight when we returned home.

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N MONDAY, O UR LAST DAY in Uganda, we traveled to the construction site of the CityLight Cross Style Campus to see for ourselves what had been accomplished. Upon arriving we saw a field of corn growing across the front of the property.

Pastor Mpagi explained that they have been growing crops on the land where no construction was taking place, as a way to raise money for ministry projects. Moving back beyond the crops we saw the foundation and first floor of the first building under construction.

“this is how God uses Prayer Groups. We pray for directions and guidance and then we work like we expect the miracle.”

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Pastor Godfrey

Pastor Herbet P

Pastor Hunington

There re were piles of bric bricks, ckks, sand and ro rock ock aggregate and egate for floors an nd d walls. The first fiirst building four b bedrooms, two ding is to have fou d wo bathrooms, a kitchen and a common area.

It will be used as an office and a dormitory to house ministry staff from other parts of the country. The plans call for two more of these buildings to be built, in the first phase of construction, along with the Citylight Auditorium and Chapel.

The Auditorium will be used for assemblies and leadership retreats. It will also be used for church services, wedding and special events. With the two additional

Pastor Joshua

Pastor Nestor

accommodate buildings we will be able to acco o mmodate the training of o at least two leaders leaad ders from Africa. each of the 113 countries i off East E Af i The training would prepare them to set CityLight Cross Style Training Centers in their Countries. We were impressed with what had been done and the time line for completion. The fact that the local CityLight Prayer Groups have matched the money we have invested in the project was also impressive. Rev. Balaguer thought that $100,000 could complete the project.

E LEF T THE CAMPUS AND headed for Entebbe to catch our W flight home. Our flight was delayed and our flight home had a rough start, which caused us to miss our flight in Washington, DC. We finally got home four hours later than planned. The trip was long, difficult and arduous but worth every minute. We saw what God can do with dedicated men who pray and encourage others to study and Pray!

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Being an Esther Woman of Influence Continued from page 5

cause there is no way I would have chosen this man for myself. He is truly the answer to my prayer. A man after God’s own heart.

God brought two broken vessels together and made us whole again in preparation for the ministry he had set aside for us. You see, as babies, we come into this world with all the characteristics needed to become the person God created us to be. That tiny little seed planted in our mother’s wombs had exactly the right genetic makeup to create us for the purpose God had in mind. Nevertheless, character is not something we are born with. Like a piece of clay, our character is molded by nature and the nurture of those who raised us and those we choose as role models. We have been molded and shaped by the things of the world and the world has taken control of our lives.

God places godly men and women in our lives to give us guidance and to disciple us.

Redfern and I listen to the advice of these godly men and women. Their wisdom helps us to understand the plan God has for us.

We were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. Just as God set apart from birth Isaiah (Isaiah 49), Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 1:5) and Paul (Galatians 1:15) for a specific purpose, he also has a specific plan for us.

We are committed to following God’s will daily, whatever the cost. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) God placed a woman named Gladys Grimaud in my path or me in her path. Whatever the case, we crossed paths. She invited me to an Esther bible study class. It was in that bible study that I learn that God does not give me strength, He is my strength.

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She taught me a further understanding of Jesus, who is not by my side but dwells within me. Gladys not only taught me how to pray, she taught me why we pray. Introducing me to the style of the cross, through prayer and bible study, I learned that God is equipping me with gifts and abilities to use in His service. Gladys encouraged me to develop my spiritual gifts of speaking and teaching. God’s ultimate purpose for all of us is that He would be glorified and that the gospel and God’s kingdom would be advanced. The Bible tells us that there is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives.

Pastor Sylvia Mickens and her mother the Rev.Dr. Hattie Mickens together as a team are teaching me compassionate ministry. I work along side Pastor Sylvia daily as volunteer coordinator at Christ Central Columbia Missions Station. She is teaching me the primary needs of the poor. Teaching me how to serve the least of these with love. She says “just love them”. I am learning when to just love and when to evangelize. I am also learning how to be thankful.

Pastor Sylvia is training me how to bless those in need by meeting their practical needs for food and clothing, while reserving dignity. Anticipating that Jesus will use me to create an opportunity for those we serve and for those that volunteer to assist us in serving to experience the Holy january 2012

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Spirit working in our hearts. In hope that this will give them a clear understanding that the same Holy Spirit wants to make His home in their Hearts.

Rev. Dr. Hattie Mickens, Mother Mickens as she is passionately called, is teaching and training me how to be a godly wife. My primary role is to obey God’s will for me as a pastor’s wife. Giving my husband spiritual and natural support, remembering that we are no longer two but one. I am a help mate to my husband at home in private where no members see as well as at the church.

Helping my husband to successfully lead the people with encouragement, a listening ear and prayer, much prayer.

Mother Mickens is a very powerful woman of God, demonstrating ther Women of Influence Executive Director humbleness Luella Redfern with her mother. and meekness. She is teaching me how to share my husband with all, saint and sinners. I am confident in her prayers for my husband and for me. I am thankful that God gives us natural and spiritual mothers.

I had become a mother by the time I realized how much my mom had influenced me. She was a very important role model for me growing up. The things she instilled in me as a child built the Christian character that has sustained me through my adult life. She taught me the importance of confidence, to love and care for my famjanuary 2012

ily, to work hard and how to be a lady. I can remember her taking us to church and sending us to vacation bible study every summer. We were allowed to watch very little TV, Paul Harvey promptly at 6:00 PM, and watched every Billy Graham crusade that was ever on TV. She is still teaching me how to raise my children today.

Esther of the bible is an encouragement to all of us to use whatever talents, position, popularity, or wealth we have been blessed with to tell a lost world that our King gave His life to save us from the eternal torment of hell. “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35) Though God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, he was working behind the scenes in Esther’s life to deliver His people. We may not always recognize His presence in our situation, He is always working on our behalf for his divine plan and purpose. Wherever He chooses to strategically place us, we come into the kingdom as we are, but He transforms us into the women we are destined to be for his glory, “for such a time as this”.

I am honored to say that I chose to be an Esther Women of Influence. Whether you know it or not, you are always influencing someone. You can decide if you are a godly role model or a negative role model. Being an Esther Women of Influence requires a close daily walk in Christ, a humble spirit and dependence upon His power working in and through me. It is both a privilege and a responsibility because it allows me to influence other women in a godly direction and gives me the privilege to be a godly role model making a difference that matters for eternity. With prayer and the study of God’s word you too can become an Esther Women of Influence.

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CHAKISSE NEWTON’S

NEWTON’S LAWS OF INFLUENCE Tools and Tips to Improve Professional and Personal Success

Practical Influence: Get Results with Voicemail and Email

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hen you think of inspiring action through powerful communications, do you think of email and voicemail? You can use those tools to influence and clearly communicate with others if you use these simple techniques: 1. IDENTIFY YOUR INTENT: Before you call or type, identify the purpose of your communication. Do you want to inform, request information, inspire action or achieve a different objective?

2.EXPRESS YOUR INTENTION IMMEDIATELY: Get to the point. Then, only provide the necessary background information for your recipient to take action.

- For Email, your subject line and the first line of your email body should address your intent. “Please Review,” “Feedback Requested,” making a direct request or using headings that request specific action are most helpful to your reader.

Chakisse Newton Cardinal Consulting

- For Voicemail, after you identify yourself (and, if necessary, who referred you), begin your voicemail with “I’m calling because” or “I’m calling to” so the listener understands your purpose in the first few seconds.

803.753.1311 | CardinalConsulting.net 30

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3. USE “YOU-FOCUSED” LANGUAGE: Use the word “you” more than “I.” Mention how your request or information is beneficial and you’ll increase your influence. Even routine communications like changes to an expense report form have clear benefits like getting faster reimbursement for corporate travel.

4. NAME NEXT STEPS: Explicitly state what, if anything, needs to be done. Make sure next steps stand out and provide any necessary information to enable quick action. If you have a long voicemail or email, reiterate those steps at the end.

5. STREAMLINE YOUR STRUCTURE: Like good speeches, voicemail and email can also have a clear opening, body and

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conclusion. If you review what you need to say instead of “winging it,” you’ll be more concise and effective.

6. FORMAT FOR FUNCTIONALITY: With email, use bullet points, bold formatting and headlines to emphasize key information and make it easy for the reader to follow your points. In voicemail, if you have multiple points, tell the listener how many points you have then enumerate them so the listener can follow. Daily voicemail and email are so commonplace that it’s easy to take them for granted. But if you’ll use these six techniques, you will stand out from the crowd, increase your effectiveness and make it easy for people to interact with you. Everyone will appreciate the results.

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The Miracle Birth of CityLight

By Joe Grimaud

Continued from page 4

It just so happened that we had been working with Dr. Evans in the Washington DC Area, and he had invited us to meet with him and some of his supporters in a couple of weeks at Billy Graham’s Cove in Asheville. We indicated, that while at the Cove, we would ask him if he would do it. WMHK’s celebration event was scheduled for the Township Auditorium. We convinced Linda to move it to the Carolina Coliseum even though getting a less than significant crowd in the Coliseum would be an embarrassment. Despite her trepidation, Linda scheduled the Coliseum.

For reasons I can’t explain, I had said to Linda, “Linda, my dream for Dr. Evans is not even the Coliseum.

It is the Carolina Stadium. His message is that good!” She said, “If you feel that way, you ought to meet Rev Pete Canon. He works with a lot of cross cultural ministries.”

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Skipping over our soon encounter with Pete, when we met with Tony we asked for a special meeting where we prevailed on Dr. Evans. Although he was already fully booked, he agreed to work us in. The meeting was on and would be in the Coliseum. Having made that push for the Coliseum, I must say my faith was being tested as we drove to the Coliseum that night. But God was in it and 8,500 showed up for a glorious evening.

Linda allowed me to take up the offering that night and she told me to expect an average of one dollar per person. But I challenged the audience. I told them of my dream of a city wide revival with Dr. Evans in the Stadium and asked them to vote with their pocket book if they felt the same as I did.

If they were going to put in a dollar, put in three. If they were going to put in twenty, put in sixty. By doing so they would be voting with their pocket book. That night january 2012

we took in $34,500, over four dollars a person, which went to support WMHK’s ministry. The stadium crusade event was ON! CityLight Coalition Inc. was formed from about twelve strong believing attendees at the Coliseum event but no one knew who this small band of believers were. God made his presence known continually in one impossible event after the other.

Gladys usually stops me at this point, when I get excited and begin to tell someone about this period of our life, because all of the happenings fill at least a two hour conversation.

And when I drive by that large Carolina Stadium today and think about doing such an event with 80,000 in attendance over three days, it just doesn’t seem like it would be in the realm of possibilities. But our God specializes in impossibilities when we know His name, follow His will, and act in demonstration of our faith.

Over two hundred churches participated and forty thousand people came out on the Sunday night of the opening service. Many came forward and accepted Him as their personal savior. On the third night, we were in a police escorted caravan with Dr. Evans from the hotel to the stadium. I suddenly received a call on my cell phone from our publicity agent.

He said, “Joe, I am driving to Columbia from Charlotte and I am in the heaviest rain storm of my life. It is lightening, thundering and coming down in buckets. It looks like tonight is going to be a catastrophe.” I closed off the conversation and immediately called Anderson Flight Service, where pilots call to get the january 2012

latest weather advisories. I identified myself by my airplane number and asked for the current weather conditions for the South Carolina area. His report was, “There is a massive frontal line of storms running from around Lancaster southwest through Newberry. It is solid and it is moving southwest at about ten to fifteen knots. It should arrive in your area in about an hour.” “Is there anyway it could miss Columbia?” I asked. “I don’t see how,” he replied. “It is absolutely solid and about twenty miles thick.”

With that bit of information we went into our preparation room at the stadium and briefed everyone on the actions that must be taken with the approaching storm. For safety, the stage would have to be lowered and everyone would have to take cover under the stands, including the crowd. Then we gathered hand in hand for prayer. I was one of the ones who prayed, “Lord, if it be thy will, let this storm go around us….” But then a little four foot six inch tall bundle of faith named Linda Fir, began to pray in a loud, commanding voice… ..”Storm!!! Storm!!!, In the name of Jesus I take CHARGE of you! YOU WILL GO AROUND THIS STADIUM!!!....” For Dr. Tony Evans’ perspective of this event go on the web at http://vimeo.com/33233269.

You will hear a great message from Dr. Evans giving his perspective of this miracle.

You now have the miracle of the beginning of City Light and you can see why miracles are still happening, not just in City Light, but in all of the ministries that City Light encourages and supports. Let’s pray and believe that God will perform a miracle across our nation in 2012.

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Miracles & Faith

By Gladys Grimaud Continued from pg 6 of their unbelief.” Their knowledge of Him was one of the things that kept them from believing on Him. They would not listen to Him because they knew his father and mother, brothers and sisters. They could not conceive that anyone who had lived among them had any right to speak as Jesus was speaking. The prophet, as so often happens, has no honor in his own country; and their attitude to him raised a barrier, which made it impossible for Jesus to have any effect upon them.

Regarding the miracle of the storm, I too was there, sitting right beside Tony and Lois Evans on the platform in WilliamsBrice Stadium. I was also there in the prayer room before we went to the platform, and I have an inside story that none other have. I think I was the only one who asked Linda, “Whatever made you pray like that… taking charge over the storm in the name of Jesus and commanding it to go around the stadium?” She simply said, “Because that’s what Jesus told me to do!”

Wow! Didn’t Jesus say that we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven… and here was Linda, trusting Jesus, no matter how foolish it might sound to all the ‘professional Christians’ who were in the room praying ‘safe prayers.’ Linda did exactly what Jesus did all the days of His life on earth. Jesus listened for instructions from His Father and then responded in trust and obedience. He said these words to us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he 34

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will do, because I go to My Father.” ( John 14: 12) This is the way we are to live every minute of our lives.

When the Lord presented Joe and me with the plan for a three-day crusade with the message of Christ for racial reconciliation, Joe and I did not know how to go about it.

We were clueless! We didn’t know the people or have the resources to pull it off, but the Lord already had prepared the way… a citywide prayer meeting had been going on for about a year before we got involved. The miracles for the crusade were already there waiting for our response.

And that leads us to the next point…

When Miracles Happen ( John 4: 46 – 54) This miracle happened in Cana of Galilee and is the second miracle that Jesus did. Here an important royal court official from Capernaum traveled 20 miles to beg a favor from a village carpenter.

His son was sick… at the point of death. He wanted help from Christ and was humble enough to swallow his pride and not care what anyone said. Jesus has a way of making sure that a person is in earnest, so He said to the man and the crowd, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Jesus rewarded the official’s persistent belief and told him to go home; his son was healed. The official walked the 20 miles back to Capernaum in faith believing even though he could not physically see his son healed until he got home. Are there any alarm clocks going off at your house? It is of the very essence of faith that we should believe that what Jesus says is true. *All quoted Scripture from NKV. january 2012

CityLight| n February 1996, Joe and Gladys Grimaud maud, along with a group of Columbia area Christians began meeting and seeking God’s direction for our city. The group included Pastors, community leaders, and lay people from different racial, cultural and denominational backgrounds with different talents and gifts. Each member of the group was concerned about the problems and needs of the community, many of which are the result of the breakdown of the family unity. The group knew that there is a wealth of available talent and resources, and that if mobilized, could be used to address the spiritual and physical needs of individuals, families, and the community.

City Light Columbia organized as a non-

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We believe that Churches and the body of Christ should be the focal point of love and compassion in our community and should work together in addressing the needs of the community. profit 501 (c)(3) corporation in June 1996 to bring churches and the body of Christ together to make a positive impact in our community. Our Mission is “to unify the Christian community by lifting up Christ, evangelizing, disciplining, and impacting the community through the local Church”.

We believe that Churches and the body of Christ should be the focal point of love and january 2012

a Catalyst Connecting Christ to the Culture for Community Change

compassion in our community and should work together in addressing the needs of the community. City Light serves as a liaison and a facilitator between Churches, the public and private sectors, and the community at-large to help identify needs and match those needs with available resources.

We help Churches and the community to become more vibrant by encouraging them to become actively involved in community outreach and to experience the rewards of helping the less fortunate and those in need. City Light Columbia sponsored the Tony Evans Crusade at Williams-Brice Stadium in May 1997 which served as a catalyst for bringing God’s people together in a spirit of revival to empower us to begin the process of bringing moral, spiritual, and economic change to our community. Dr. Evans’ messages during the three nights of the crusade addressed racial reconciliation, one’s personal responsibility in helping to bring about change, family renewal, and the role of the local Church in reaching out to help meet the needs of the community.

The vision that God has given to CityLight is unlimited. Every day, we are seeking new opportunities to reach out into the community, to mobilize the body of Christ, and to match available resources with the needs of the community. As we grow and the opportunities to serve Him increase, we need more volunteers and workers to help fulfill the Mission of CityLight. If you would like to join the efforts of CityLight, you can begin by praying for us. You can become a contact person in your own church body to help us form a spiritually powerful and effective movement of God in the Columbia area. You can help support us financially.

You can also volunteer to serve on one of the following CityLight Columbia.

Continued on pg 36 CityLight.org

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CITYLIGHT

9. CHURCH AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Train, prepare, and equip Churches and community leaders for maximum community outreach.

1. PRAYER NETWORK Establish a citywide prayer network involving Pastors and laity.

10. FAMILY RENEWAL Rebuild and strengthen families in the community according too Biblical family principles, with an emphasis on targeting “at risk youth”.

a Catalyst Connecting Christ to the Culture for Community Change

2. FINANCE Seek and develop ways to generate an on-going income stream to support the CityLight’s Mission.

3. COMMUNICATION Coordinate a communication network within the community involving Churches, Christian ministries, and the community at-large.

4. VOLUNTEER COORDINATION Coordinate and integrate CityLight volunteers based on their areas of interest.

5. EVENTS Coordinate information on Christian events taking place in the Columbia area and coordinate CityLight sponsored events. Citylight is a Catalyst Connecting Christ to the Culture for Community Change 6. MINISTRY COORDINATION Coordinate information on Christian ministries and outreach opportunities in the Columbia area and develop a “Ministry Directory” listing available ministries and resources in the community.

7. UNITY AND RECONCILIATION Promote unity and reconciliation across racial, cultural, and denominational lines by encouraging Pastors, laity, and the business community to work together to bring moral, spiritual, and economic changes to the community.

8. CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION Mobilize Churches and the community to capitalize on available gifts, talents, and resources to address the problems and needs of the community.

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11. EDUCATIONAL REVITALIZATION Work with Churches and the community in the areas of youth tutorial, remedial instruction, illiteracy, and other educational related problems.

12. HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT Foster safer neighborhoods, promote and provide affordable housing for the homeless and others with housing needs, encourage neighborhood property beautification, and strengthen neighborhood relationships.

13. HEALTH REVITALIZATION Work with Churches and the community to identify and address problems that are contributing to the deterioration of the physical and emotional health of the community.

14. BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Work with Churches and the community to promote business stability and growth using available resources to help the unemployed, underemployed, and others in need in the community.

If you would like tot be a part of the move of God in Columbia and volunteer to serve on one of the CityLight Committees or if you would like more information about the CityLight Mission, you may call or write to us at: CityLight P.O. Box 8642 Columbia, SC 29202 803.518.1257 | citylight.org

CityLight is a Catalyst Connecting Christ to the Culture for Community Change january 2012

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Prayer Opportunities GREATER COLUMBIA CALL TO PRAYER 9:30 – 11:30 am Columbia International University 7435 Monticello Road Columbia, SC 29230 The goal of GCCTP is to unite the body of Christ across ethnic, racial, and denominational lines seeking God’s face and asking Him to send transformation, revival, and spiritual awakening to the Greater Columbia area and across the world. Prayer Gatherings are held on the second Saturday of each month in the Alumni Center at CIU. 2012 GCCTP dates are: January 14, February 11, March 10, April 14, May 5, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10, December 8 For information contact H. L. Allen at 803-513-2003 or at allenhl@windstream.net

CITYLIGHT PRAYER BREAKFAST | COLUMBIA First Thursday Each Month 7:00 – 8:30am CityLight is a worldwide network of Christ centered prayer groups. The Columbia chapter meets the first Thursday of each month to have Breakfast and Pray for Our City and Nation.

Brookland Banquet and Conference Center 1066 Sunset Blvd. (US 378) West Columbia, SC 29169 For information visit www.citylight.org Or contact: Rev. Redfern II at 803.7302758 | E-mail: redfern2@citylight.org or H. L. Allen at 803.513.2003 | E-mail: allenhl@windstream.net

WALK THE LABYRINTH AND PRAY First Friday every month 10:00 am – 8:00pm Wesley Hall at Lexington United Methodist Church 309 East Main Street, Lexington, SC 29072.

A labyrinth is a sacred path and space used for prayer, meditation, and contemplation. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has a single path to the center and back. It is walked in an attitude of prayer and meditation. Come and spend as much time as you desire and as God leads. www.lexumc.com | 803-359-6838

F IRST FRIDAY PRAYER FOCUS A day of fasting and prayer each month for revival and for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1). Participants are encouraged to make Friday–especially the first Friday of the month–a day of special emphasis on revival in the church. This emphasis is our modern expression of a National Prayer Accord. (For more information visit the website at www.ifapray.org. ________________________________________________________________________

More Prayer Opportunities on Page 41 january 2012

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HONORING SENIORS STILL SERVING IN MINISTRY PASTOR HATTIE MAE MICKENS PREACHING OVER 50 YEARS Pastor Mickens (wife of the late Deacon James Mickens) has spent more than half of her life preaching the Good News of the Gospel. Pastor Mickens was introduced to Messiah as a child when she felt the unction within herself that said, “you do not want to go to hell.” Shortly after marrying, she committed her life to helping others avoid going to hell.

The union between Pastor Mickens and her husband was the beginning of a “nation” that includes pastors, assistant pastors, prophets, evangelists, ministers, ushers, singers, recording artists, pianists, guitarists, and drummers. The legacy didn’t stop at their children, but the legacy extended to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pastor Mickens and her husband gave life to fourteen children: Carol Mickens Williams, Tommy Jean Mickens, Reverend Cynthia Mickens Bookman, Reverend Matthew Lee Mickens, Pastor Sylvia Mickens Silva, Deacon John Frank Mickens, Minister Lavern Mickens Gilyard, Prophetess Annaniyah Mickens, Hattie Mae Mickens Horton, Minister James Etta Mickens Foulks, James Anthony Mickens, 38

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Martin Luther Mickens, and Jacqueline Mickens (Timple Mickens was called home shortly after birth).

Pastor Mickens followed the call of Mathew 28:19‐20 which urges us to “go and teach all nations.”

Pastor Mickens was first licensed to minister the gospel over forty-seven years ago on November 1, 1964 by the Elders of the Apostolic Holiness Church of America. On November 3, 1973, Pastor Mickens received her Layman license. The following year, on November 1, 1974, she received her credentials of ordination for the office of an Elder.

The office of Bishop was bestowed upon her on January 14, 2006 by the National Pentecostal Overcoming Churches of the World, Inc. and the International Overcoming College of Religion. On September 19, 2010, she received her credentials of ordination for the Ecumenical Church Worldwide.

Pastor Mickens became the first Pastor of Holy Light Tabernacle on October 27, 1982 when the ministry was founded by her late husband and herself. Her mission at Holy Light Tabernacle is to embrace and incorporate the ‘Jewishness’ of our Savior into our every day lives.Thus, Holy Light Tabernacle is a Messianic congregation, who through the Holy Spirit, embraces it’s Jewish roots. january 2012

HONORING SENIORS STILL SERVING IN MINISTRY CHRIST CENTRAL HONORS PHILIP “POP” SIMMONS JR. Philip Simmons Jr. was born August 20, 1939 in Charleston South Carolina. He is the son of the late Philip and Earth Lee Simmons. His father was the historical blacksmith, Philip Simmons Sr. from Charleston S. C. Philip moved to Columbia when he was 28 years old and married the late Hattie Thompson. They had eight children and ten grand children.

After the death of his wife Hattie, Philip struggled as he continued to raise his children and grand children alone. That struggle led him to the front door of Christ Central Ministries in 1998. “I came to Christ Central to get something to eat while I was waiting to board a bus to Ohio at midnight. Someone had told me that they were serving supper to the public. I got there early and sat on the steps, thinking about how messed up my life had become. One of the ministers saw me sitting on the front steps and ask if I needed help, I said no, I’m just killing some time before I catch my bus”, Simmons recall.

was asked to help with the Kid’s Kamp that weekend. Pastor Jimmy Jones and the Christ Central family took him in, showed him the love of God, and offered him a new start. That was 13 years ago. Mr. Simmons’ life has been transformed and he is a dedicated volunteer at Christ Central Ministry, serving God and His People.

A that time, Simmons was lost and confused and struggled with many tormenting demon in his life. After the worship service and supper, Philip

“I know the Lord healed me and is keeping me and I’m going to serve Him and do His works as long as I live. You are never too old to do God’s work”, Simmons said.

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For the past 13 years, Mr. Philip Simmons, affectionately known as Pop, has supervised the daily operation of Christ Central Columbia. He is usually one of the last ones to leave just to make sure everything is ready and set for the next day. Philip can always be found with a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone.

Philip is a two time cancer survivor and he truly believes in the healing and transforming power of Prayer. He has never allowed his sickness to keep him away from Christ Central very long. When he was unable to come to the center, he sent his tithes and requested prayer. As soon as his health allowed, he was back on the job.

Philip is well known and respected by all the staff and clients at Christ Central.

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FIRST

ECUMENICAL CHURCH

Sam’s Home Repair & Custom Cabinetry

446.9155

SAM AND PAULA PERRY 2401 Main Street • Columbia, SC

CITYLIGHT

2401 Main Street P.O. Box 8642 Columbia, SC CityLight.org

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Prayer Opportunities F IRST NATIONS MONDAY

The purpose of First Nations Monday is to encourage Native American leaders, prayer coordinators, independent intercessory prayer groups, organizations and churches to join together in prayer the first Monday of each month for Native Ministry.

For more information visit the website - firstnationsmonday.com Or contact Jeny Covill at jcovill@cyberport.

CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE POOR & SUFFERING

December 12, 2011 - 12:00 PM There are countless needs across the globe and the rising numbers of the poor and oppressed continue to grow rapidly. Join with men and women of faith from around the world as we lift up impoverished families and intercede on behalf of millions live from International House of Prayer, Kansas City, MO Visit www.prayforhope.com to learn more.

SEEK GOD FOR T HE CITY 2012

Forty days of prayer from February 22, 2012 to Palm Sunday April 1, 2012 These forty days of prayer are anchored in God’s Word. At this hour in history, we stand at a crucial threshold. Now is the time to pray in step with God’s great passion to draw a people to Himself from every people, with outbreaks of his kingdom in every community on earth.

For information contact H. L. Allen at 803-513-2003 or by e-mail at allenhl@windsteam.net. www.waymakers.org

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

May 3, 2012 - 12:00 – 1:00 pm State House Steps For more information contact: Chris Smith at 803-422-6337 or by e-mail at chrisasmith@bellsouth.net H. L. Allen at 803-513-2003 or by e-mail at allenhl@windsteam.net

GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER

May 27, 2012 In 2011, millions of Christians from 204 nations united in prayer on Pentecost Sunday, June 12. On May 27, 2012 the nations of the world will once again unite in the Global Day of Prayer. This prayer time will be preceded with 10 Days of Prayer from May 17 through May 26 followed by 90 Days of Blessing.

PRAYER FOR MEDIA AND INFLUENCERS:

Ongoing - For more information go to www.mastermediaintl.org.

PRAYER FOR OUR NATION:

Ongoing – For more information go to www.presidentialprayerteam.org

More Prayer Opportunities on Page 37 january 2012

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I’VE BEEN T HINKING ABOUT…

EXCELLENCE JED N. SNYDER, D. MIN. Founder/President Jesus Every Day Ministries, Inc. | www.jedministries.com “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

- Vince Lombardi Excellence can be seen in many aspects of the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, known through Biblical accounts. Some will remember that when Jesus changed the water into wine the servants of wedding host were surprised that the best had been kept to last. This excellence is in the area of physical needs.

When Jesus wept over the reactions to the death of his close friend, Lazarus, we see in him an excellence in the emotive part of life.

When Jesus gave the principles of his kingdom in the chapters (Matthew 5, 6, 7) that we now describe as the Sermon on the Mount, there is nothing in literature that is more exalted than this. This excellence in mental endeavor and philosophical thought process set Jesus apart and above the great minds of all human history.

The quotations given above by the legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, agree with the life of Jesus Christ. What the Lord Jesus Christ said and did gives us guidance in the correct direction as we seek to be the kind 42

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of person that he was and that Vince Lombardi addressed.

Of course, there is the matter of spiritual nutrition and spiritual hygiene. People will find it impossible to be excellent when their nutrition is seriously lacking. So feed your spirit on the best food, the Word of God. Hygiene spiritually speaking is often ignored or refused. In counseling when dealing with cleaning up some mess, we often talk together about hygiene. Most of us clean our faces and brush our teeth at least once each day.

We do so for physical and social reasons.

Cavities are less likely when teeth have been cleaned regularly. In the spiritual real of our lives dirt accumulates as well. Unhealthy attitudes, words, and unwise actions bring “dirt” into our spiritual lives just as food residue and sugar get encrusted upon our teeth. If this “dirt” (sin) stays in our spiritual life, we will be in pain.

If the “dirt” continues, others will be pained by our dirt. Many are offended by the spiritual halitosis blown their way from unclean children of God. Clean up. Eat well. Excellence in all areas, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual will follow good nutrition and good hygiene.

Happy excellence. Happy following of the most excellent of all, the Lord Jesus Christ. january 2012

Me,” (Luke 4:18). Everything Jesus did was sourced by the Spirit of God. Being Joseph’s son did not source His activities.

am a Jesus pusher!

When Jesus came to Nazareth to minister, they viewed Him as Joseph’s son (Luke 4:22). In their Old Testament Stephen Manley they www.jesuspusher.org framework, wanted Him to do the same miracles among them He did in Capernaum. They thought in terms of the Old Testament self-sourcing. How could a carpenter’s son source any miracle? He would have to prove it to them. The marvelous factor was not based in Jesus’ heritage; it was based upon His source. In the synagogue, Jesus read from the Book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed

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As this passage unfolds the crowd from Nazareth was irritated to the degree they attempted to kill Him. If Jesus was sourced by the Spirit of the Lord should they not embrace Him as well? Was this the New Covenant beginning in Jesus? Could we also experience such a sourcing in our personal lives? Sign-seeking demands an individual prove who He is by His own resource. The New Covenant is an entirely different approach. If one is sourced by the Spirit, the power of the sourcing cannot be used as he desires. The sourced individual is not in charge but an instrument of the Spirit. If Nazareth truly wanted the movement of God, they would embrace Jesus who was sourced by the Spirit of God. The Spirit would reveal Jesus to them. I am embracing Jesus and the Spirit of God is marvelously revealing Jesus to me ( John 15:26; 16:15). This is why I am a Jesus pusher!!!

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NOTEWORTHY COMMUNITY LEADERS BOSTON McCLAIN, JR.

T

HE

ONLY

black fee commercial appraiser in the state of South Carolina having more than thir t y plus years in the real estate profession. Working in numerous positions to include Salesman, Sales Trainer, Sales Manager, Office Manager, Broker-in-Charge, Appraiser, Department of Housing and Urban Development Area Management Broker, Property Manager, Contractor, Consultant and President/Owner of Boston McClain & Associates. The president of state and Columbia chapters of NAREB (The National Association of Real Estate Brokers) for the past four years. CG- Certified Residential Appraiser # 1555

Experience 2005-Present Appraiser/Consultant Richland Appraisal Group, LLC. 2003-Present Appraiser/Consultant Insigma Group, LLC 2002-Present Appraiser/Consultant/Real Estate Broker Johnny E. Ward/W & W Tractor and Heavy Equipment | Moncks Corner, SC 1995–Present Real Estate Broker Williams & Williams Realty | Columbia, SC 44

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1994–1995 Appraiser/Real Estate Broker The Taylor Company | Columbia, SC 1992–1994 Appraiser/Real Estate Broker Mason Reality Company | Columbia, SC 1989-1992 Real Estate Broker Coldwell Banker-Jenkins & Gallup Reality Columbia, SC 1988-1989 Real Estate Broker The Hayen Company | Columbia, SC 1986-1989 Construction & Construction Manager/ Part Owner - Dun-Rite Construction Co. Columbia, SC 1979-Present Appraiser, Consultant, Real Estate Broker President/Owner Boston McClain & Associates | Columbia, SC 1978-1979 Department of HUD Area Management Broker, Broker-in-Charge, Sales Manager, Sales Trainer, Appraiser, Part Owner 1975-1978 Appraiser, Real Estate Broker, Sales Manager Dinkins & Associates Realty Company Columbia, SC 1974-1975 Real Estate Salesman/Broker, Sales Trainer Abraham & Ruff Reality Company Columbia, SC

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NOTEWORTHY COMMUNITY LEADERS SC STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEON HOWARD •

Single

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Chairman, Board of School Commissioners of Richland County School District One

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Member, Midlands Technical College Automotive Advisory Board

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Former member, Mayor’s Task Force on Small and Minority Businesses

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Board of Trustees Antioch Baptist Church

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City of Columbia Loan Review Board

Chairman, House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee

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Irmo-Chapin Career Education Advisory Board

Democrat Richland District 76

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Agency Salary Head Commission, 2006-Present

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Immediate Past Chairman, South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, 2007-08

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Subcommittee on Other Occupational Regulation and Licensing Boards

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Chairman, House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee 2007-08

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Re-elected December 3, 2008

Richland County • •

President, Howard’s Garage/Paint and Body Shop/Wrecker Service Residing in Columbia, South Carolina

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Son of Wilbert and the late Minnie Howard

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Midlands Technical College, A.D.

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Attended General Motors Automotive Training Center, Atlanta, Georgia

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Numerous certificates for advanced studies in Automotive/Computer Technology

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HONORARY HOST COMMITTEE

PASTOR HATTIE MICKENS PASTORJIMMY JONES BISHOP DARRELL CROFT KAREN ALEXANDER KATHY TEMPLETON TERESA THURMOND REGINA DICKERSON

ANGELA KITCHENS ANNETTE BALLAGUER GINGER SIMMONS SANDRA TAYLOR JACKIE MACKIE

BISHOP REDFERN II VANESSA FRAZIER PEARL HOLLOWAY JUDY MYERS BETTY FRANKS

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It is never between you and them anyway.

-Unknown 46

CityLight.org

january 2012

47

CityLight.org

january 2012

CityLight Prayer Group Structure One person starts a prayer group of 12.

Each person in that group starts a new group of 12

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.”

Psalm 89:7 (KJV)

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