Laughing Pew

Some days I really have to focus to remain thankful, grateful, hopeful and humble. It’s easy to keep this frame of mind when I put Jesus in front of everything else. But when I don’t, stuff happens! During this season (like all the other seasons) it seems that being thankful comes easier because “Thanksgiving” is the season to be thankful.

A friend gave me a book called Ridiculous Favor by John Eckhardt. In reading this little book, I found a lot of scriptures and quotes from different people to encourage us to seek the will of God and see His favor manifests itself in our lives in various ways.

For instance, in Isaiah 58 8-10, “8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. ’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The [a]pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday

Also in Matthew 6:18 “so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Humility, submission and favor – Many would not connect favor to submission, but they are related. Rebellion and submission is a sign of pride. Humility is connected to submission in that submission is a sign of humility. This also means that submission as a manifestation of humility is a key to favor. Let’s look at three levels of submission that God requires. 1. Submit to God (James 4:7) 2. Submit to others (1Peter 5:5) 3. Submit to leaders (Hebrews 3:17) If you find yourself in a state of humility this Thanksgiving season, I’ll see you there. In Christ, Peggy LaBon

At Second Baptist Monrovia, we have had a Mother’s Board for decades. Bishop Wm. La Rue Dillard renamed our board the Council of Mothers in 1981 or 1982. SBC’s most senior women, 60 years and older, are invited, and if that person accepts, he/she is appointed to this ministry by our Senior Pastor. The criteria for being selected is recorded in I Timothy 5:3-16. The golden rules they strive to obey and the pearls of wisdom they readily share, when asked, are reasons younger congregants, female and male, seek advice from our Council of Mothers.

The SBC Council of Fathers was recommended by then Pastor Wm. La Rue Dillard and approved at the midyear convocation in June of 1976. He felt if SBC had a Council of Mothers, it was only right that there should also be a Council of Fathers. This ministry is made up of senior men, 70 years of age, who are respected for their many years of service and experience. These “Seasoned Christians,” who may be frail and fragile, avail themselves and continue to do God’s work. They are not sad at heart and do not seek pity. In their golden years, they reach out to others, especially to younger men, who value their friendship and share their love of service to God.

The Mission Statement of the SBC Council of Fathers states, “Share spirit-gifted life and experiences with younger Christians in ways that edify Christ in carrying out the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and Jesus’ mission in Luke 4:18-19.” Their goals are 1) to establish a mentoring program and 2) to launch a workshop on aging and 3) to provide ongoing support to SBC ministries. Their motto: “Be an example – Do good. Be a blessing and pray.” Currently, there are 8 Council of Fathers members and since God called Mother Octavia Clark Home in 2021, there are 16 SBC Council of Mothers members. Due to declining health and restricted mobility, several SBC Fathers and SBC Mothers are not attending worship services in person but are faithful to view on YouTube or Live Stream. The shared goal of the SBC Council of Fathers and Council of Mothers is to make Sunday School, Worship Service and other church activities available to our members and others. Whether in person or virtual, our purpose is to glorify God by praying, being in touch with those who have more dire and lasting health challenges, staying actively involved in Christian Education and being cheerful givers. As hearers and doers, we strive to bring about positive change in our lives and the lives of others, by equipping ourselves to proclaim and share the gospel of Jesus. Through gentle persuasion and modern technology, we have trained our members and thus accomplished our goals by everyone being connected and helping us expand our outreach worldwide. Our revered ministries have a rich history. In 2002, when SBC celebrated its 100th Anniversary, historical records show Theodore Bourne, Virgil Buckley, Thomas Clark, Willie Emerson, Eddie Garner, Junior Greene, Charlie Henderson, Hosie L Joshua, *Joseph Johnson, Julius P. Williams, Richard Williams, Elmo Wilson, and Others: William Adams, Winfred Anderson*, Marshall Brown, *Sebron Brown, William Browning, *Forest Hooks, *Jack McCoy, and *Divory Polk, Sr. were on the roster.

Along with Hortense Anderson, Eva Etta Bailey, Neomia Blythewood, Martha Butler, Annabelle Garner, Fannie Greene, Pauline Harris, Louise Hodge, Mamie Lee Husband, Hattie Johnson, Gertrude Marshall, Martha McWilliams, Grace Moreland, Roylene Moten, Eldora Polk, Sylvia Polk, Elizabeth Robinson, Maxine Roland, Rosie Sims, Ruby Sims, Allena Smith, Ester Pearl Van Hook,

Chester Walls, Luvenia Witherspoon, and Others: *Candace Barnes, *Elmira Enge, *Dora Peters,*Josephine Scott; as of 1995-*Romelia Morris, *Lillian Perry, *Pinkie Ross, *Rosie Ross, *Willie Smiley, *Julia Spicer, *Mary Washington, *Beulah Williams, *Velma Williams; as of 1994-*Arbell Barnes, *Juanita Bullock, *Susie Mae Collins, *Marguerite Lockett,*Gertrude Marshall, Cleo McLaurin, *Josephine Scott and *Lillie Bell Thompson. {Asteriks indicate “deceased” when article was first printed.}

We continuously strive to be examples of faithful Christians whose blessed lives are filled with diverse experiences and enduring faith in God. Contact us at 626 358-2136. Let’s stay connected.

Council of Mothers Council of Fathers

Mother Mary Price-President Mother Lois Gaston-1st Vice President

Father Willis Meeks-President Father Amos Price-1st Vice President

Mother Thelma Jones-2nd Vice President Father Cornel Myers-2nd

Vice President Mother Deloris Bridges-President Emeritus Father John Thompson-President Emeritus Pastor Christopher A. Bourne, Senior Pastor

L to R: Front—Mothers Fannie Greene, Shirley Tidwell, Lois Gaston, Eloise Hughes, Deloris Bridges; Standing– Betty Brown, Mary Price, Mary Bourne, Louise Pouncey, Ruby Dantzler, Melva Hill, Ethel Smith, upper right hand corner Thelma Johnson and Thelma Jones lower right hand.

L to R: Fathers Amos Price, Father Emeritus John Thompson, Cornell Myers, Willis Meeks, Sam Fisher, A. George Harrison, and Elder Robert Craig