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Inspirational, Educational, and Informative

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR

“What’s on the inside manifests itself on the outside.”

a letter from the editor

ur first annual youth edition is immersed with a wealth of information relative to issues which affect today’s youth. We are absolutely delighted to feature Selena Mitchell who (I’m sure you will agree while becoming engrossed in our exclusive interview.) epitomizes dedication, ambition and heartfelt enthusiasm for what matters most—helping others. Whether traveling abroad on a self-imposed missionary trip, serving at her church, preparing to win another beauty pageant or engaging in various community initiatives, her leadership skills are undeniably on display. Selena lives life to the fullest while making a positive impact in the lives of others along the way. Committed to her faith, family, and community, this young entrepreneur is a role model in her own right. Selena Mitchell is making it happen! And just in case you’ve not committed to being a mentor to a young person who desperately needs your positive influence in their life, we’ve included an article just for you (page 8). What’s on the inside manifests itself on the outside. Image Consultant Kimberly Small doesn’t hesitate to remind the young without excluding the more mature that you are made in the image and likeness of God. May your spirit be ignited as you own the fact that you are precious in God’s sight. It is our sincere hope that after reading the excerpt from this month’s featured FAITHBOOK, Fulfilling Your God Given Dreams, that you will immediately give yourself permission to be dismissed from the company of the Dream Killers in your life who continuously bombard you with their unsolicited negative opinions about how they want you to live your life. Release them and move on! Our FAITH Magazine team is forever dedicated to inspiring young people to strive for excellence and utilize their God given gifts and maximize their talents. One of the ways we seek to accomplish this is by providing an avenue for their voices to be heard. In addition to the articles on health, finance, education and a plethora of other quality content, we are intentional about including article submissions written by our youth. We believe wholeheartedly that rather than excusing the knowledge and wisdom in the hearts and minds of our children that we must hear and value their perspectives—even when contrary to our own. I sincerely hope that you will commit to becoming actively involved in the life of a young person within your sphere of influence. Now, as you turn the pages of this month’s issue may you be enlightened and inspired to take your living and giving of your time, support, counsel and friendship to the next level.

Diane Hannah Editor-in-Chief

dhannah@faithmagazineonline.com

CONTENTS

Volume 5 • Issue 2

SELENA MITCHELL Miss Black Texas Talented Teen USA 2011 Destined For Success

FEATURES

14 | CHRISTIAN ATHLETE Quintin Demps Talks Faith, Family and Football By Jeremy Jones 20 | ON THE COVER SELENA MITCHELL Miss Black Texas Talented Teen USA 2011 Destined For Success By Diane Hannah

November 2011

38 | CHRISTIAN TO CHRISTIAN Taming The Tongue A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath By Christian Jones

IN HIS IMAGE 17 | STOP SHOWING ALL YOUR BUSINESS The Clothes You Wear And The God You Represent By Angelica Gray

24 | REACHING THE NATIONS Equipping, Empowering And Engaging Our Youth Through Cultural Diversity By Rev. Lakeshia Barnett

36 | MADE IN HIS IMAGE Improve Your Self-Image Now! By Kimberly Small

26 | FAITHBOOK Dream Killers An Excerpt from the Book Fulﬁlling Your God Given Dreams By Patrick Okabe

10 | HEALTHY CHOICES You Are What You Eat By Linda Howelton, MD

DEPARTMENTS SPIRITUAL INSIGHT 8 | MAKE AN IMPACT Be a Mentor By Thuli Baker 16 | REAL TALK God’s Will Follow God’s Plan For Your Life By Taylore Gills 30 | WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? Set Boundaries And Keep Them By Anne Williams (continued from our June 2011 edition) 34 | PREACH PREACHER! Check Your Gear A Sermon Excerpt By Rev. Douglas Randle

HEALTH

MONEY MINDSET 11 | WORK-PAY When Children Work, Children Get Paid By Kimberly Phillips 12 | MONEY SMARTS Financial Wisdom for Parents Of College-Bound Students By Steve Arnold

ALL THINGS EDUCATIONAL 18 | ALL GIRLS VS. ALL BOYS Do Single-Gender Classrooms Really Make A Difference? By Mateen Diop, Ed.D.

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 Tell Your Neighbor 6 Faith to Faith 35 Poetic Perspective

FAITH PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Diane Hannah MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Gray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT DeAndrea Reese MARKETING & SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR Christy Staples/GetLaunched! GRAPHIC DESIGN Victor H. Mata – Victory Studios SAT COVER DESIGN Earl Duncan – Regal Standard Web & Graphic Design Co. PHOTOGRAPHY Frank Baker, Gary Lott COVER PHOTO Gary Lott CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Arnold, Thuli Baker, Rev. Lekesha Barnett, Mateen Diop, Ed.D., Angelica Gray, Linda Howelton M.D., Patrick Okabe, Kimberly Phillips, Rev. Douglas Randle, Kimberly Small, Anne Williams FOR LETTERS-TO-THE EDITOR & SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS FOR REVIEW OR PRINT send to: editorial@faithmagazineonline.com TO ADVERTISE Call FAITH Magazine at 210.284.4624 or email advertising@faithmagazineonline.com

FAITH

Magazine is seeking account executives for print and online advertising sales. If interested, call 210.284.4624

Published by CJT Communications 5150 Broadway, #439 San Antonio, TX 78209 www.faithmagazineonline.com ©2011 FAITH Magazine is published bi-monthly. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Articles and letters will be edited due to space limitations when necessary. The views expressed in any story or column in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reﬂect those of the publisher or advertisers. The publisher is not responsible for errors in advertising copy. FAITH Magazine reserves the right to reject any advertisement. FAITH Magazine will not be held liable for services or products advertised in FAITH. All product names, brand names, and trademarks may belong to their respective holders. Printed in the U.S.A. FAITH Magazine is committed to encouraging, enlightening, and inﬂuencing our readers toward a standard of excellence in living through faith in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

FAITH TO FAITH

Nancy (left) served as Volunteer Coordinator for World Refugee Day 2011 in San Antonio, TX. She is pictured with Dr. Ria Baker (center), Founder and Executive Director for the Center for Refugee Services and Khadijat Quadri (right), one of the center’s founding members and volunteers.

orld Refugee Day (WRD) is a day when cities celebrate and welcome displaced persons from around the world into their communities. As I listened to the testimonies of men and women from Iraq, Africa, Bhutan and other countries at the San Antonio WRD celebration this year, I was reminded of the charge that God gave the children of Israel in Exodus–not to mistreat or oppress foreigners since they were once foreigners living in Egypt. Ignoring the needs around you is a blatant form of mistreatment and oppression, particularly for the believer. As my own heritage reminds me, my ancestors were once foreigners in this land also (and so were yours, except the part that we all claim as American Indian). Also, a training video prompted me to think of how God walked with many of our heroes and heroines of faith who were refugees in a strange land–Abraham and Sarah, Ruth and Naomi, Isaac, Moses, all of Israel; Jesus and the early church. God constantly commands us throughout the scriptures to take care of the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow in our land since they are in dire need of our support. Not just to check off a box on a form for your job to say, “I did my community service.” Rather, to take one person, sincerely give and make a difference. Whether it’s through mentoring, education, or however the Lord leads you, it’s time to walk out your faith. I encourage you to be intentional about meeting the needs of those around you who are less fortunate. Get beyond those four walls and into the community. The community beyond your church building, beyond your neighborhood, and possibly beyond your city, your state, even your nation. God doesn’t expect you to do everything, but He does expect you to do something. If we say, “Be warm and well fed,” and do nothing about people’s physical needs, our faith is dead. Keep the faith and walk it out! Nancy Gray Managing Editor

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

INSTEAD OF JUST HANGING OUT ON SATURDAYS

I HELP KIDS HANG IN THERE

AT SCHOOL BECAUSE I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT.

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED ®

Michael Cleveland is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG . ®

hink back to your childhood, your teen years or even your young adult years. Who influenced you? Who helped you down the right path to becoming a successful, functioning adult? Most would say a parent, sibling, teacher, distant family member or friend. Yet many young people are without a positive adult figure in their lives to provide guidance. Statistics show that about 40% of children do not live with their biological fathers and have not seen them throughout the past 12 months. by Thuli Baker More than half of these young children have never lived with him. African American children are 9 times more likely than white children to have an incarcerated parent. Society must respond to the need to mentor the youth of our future who lack consistent role models in their lives and to follow God’s call to help others. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.“ –1 John 4:7 Mentoring is a way to reciprocate God’s love for us. It is a way of sharing personal life experiences, knowledge, and examples of good character and sound judgment with a young person. It is the process of leaving a lifelong impact on him or her that will hopefully spur them on to becoming a successful adult, who in turn, may help another young person. The most common form of mentoring is a oneon-one relationship between an adult and a young person that has the potential to result in a lasting friendship. If you are interested in mentoring a youth there are opportunities available at local non-profit organizations that provide services to the youth in

The Art of Making an

IMPACT

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

the community. The Boys and Girls Club, Mentoring Matters, KidStart, Communities In Schools, Youth Advocacy Services, and Girl Scouts, Inc., are a few to choose from. Researchers have found that after 18 months of spending time with a mentor, 46% of adolescents are less likely to use illegal drugs, 52% are less likely to skip school, and 59% are more likely to get better grades. In the words of Bill Milliken, the founder of Communities In Schools,

Be there. You should strive to show up for every meeting with your mentee. When you are consistent in your communication and appointments, you send your mentee a strong message that you genuinely care and that he or she is worth caring about. A phone call or email is a great way to stay in touch when traveling or if schedules become busy. Also make sure that all forms of communication are appropriate and ethical.

“The best you can do is

lead by example.

By becoming a mentor, you’ve already modeled the most important thing;

caring about another.” “It’s relationships, not programs, that change children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.” Communities In Schools is one of many non-proﬁt organizations in the United States that focuses on at-risk students and their families and gives many caring adults an avenue to mentor youth all over the nation and in their local communities. If you are interested in mentoring a young person, here are some helpful tips:

Be honest with your mentee. Follow through with your promises and don’t be afraid to admit when you are wrong. By showing your mentee that you can be trusted and are honest with them, they too will be encouraged to open up, trust you and be honest with you. Be a friend, not an all-knowing authority. Be the adult in your mentee’s life who is just there without having to ﬁx him or her. Young people learn more conversing with adults than they do just listening to them. • Be aware of your mentee’s strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge them in order to boost their self-esteem and

to help them grow. • If you suspect that they are struggling with something, be their shoulder to lean on and work with them to help solve the problem. • Be prepared for setbacks. Your mentee may have never had a relationship with someone who will stick with him or her no matter what happens. Be sensitive and patient. Trust takes time. Be a role model. The best you can do is lead by example. By becoming a mentor, you’ve already modeled the most important thing; caring about another. • Be a good listener. Listen to how your mentee feels and thinks. Show your mentee how to be a good communicator and how to take interest in others’ lives. • Have a positive outlook. • If you enter a competitive activity with your mentee, keep it in perspective and by all means do not cheat to help your mentee win. Most importantly, have fun! Don’t be afraid to laugh and enjoy the time spent with your mentee. Find various activities to do with them. This will broaden your relationship and encourage more closeness and trust!

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

W You

HEALTH

are what you eat

By Linda F. Howelton, MD

e have all heard this same phrase over the years from Big Momma, the cafeteria lady, a parent or our childhood teacher trying to prod us into considering the nutritional value of the foods we ingested. Urging children to be careful when choosing what they eat is not a novel idea. The scriptures tell of a young man named Daniel who when offered a portion of the king’s meat and wine, purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with food from the king’s table. At an early age, Daniel understood the ramifications of eating delicacies forbidden by Hebrew law or food offered in sacrifice to idols. Daniel influenced his fellow young captives, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to abstain as well. To support his resolution not to eat of the king’s table, Daniel recommended to the prince of the eunuchs a ten day, controlled experiment to compare the benefits of eating a meal of fruits, vegetables and water against

“Stores such as Whole Foods, Sprouts and Central Market must consider venturing into neighborhoods thought of as not economically viable.” other children his same age who were eating from the king‘s table. Upon comparing the two groups, the prince of the eunuchs found the Hebrew boys looked healthier and had better complexions than those who ate of the king’s portion. By deciding to eat the diet ascribed to them under Jewish law, they avoided disease that might have weakened them in future years. They were also better prepared for a life of self denial and a later confrontation with a den of lions. What we eat does play a role in who we are and who we may become. Fast forward thousands of years to the neighborhood you now live in. Whose table are you eating from, what kind of foods are you ingesting and how much? A major problem that must be addressed is the table from which we eat. An inadequate supply of healthy products and a surplus of convenience stores is a leading cause for poor food choices. Communities must advocate for supermarkets with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and grains and less on processed, prepackaged foods. The cost for healthy foods must be within reach of the average American household. Stores such as Whole Foods, Sprouts and Central Market must consider venturing into neighborhoods thought of as not economically viable. Lunch from school cafeterias offer children more than half their recommended daily calories at one meal. Parents must insist that schools provide well-balanced meals, eliminate the sale of junk food, increase the availability of salads and whole grains and limit sugar loaded beverages. Even as young men, Daniel and the Hebrew boys were knowledgeable of the kinds of foods they should eat. Their choices should become our choices. Add more vegetables to your family’s diet. Here are a few suggestions: Continued on page 29

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

ost parents are familiar with the term “allowance”, which I will define as the practice of “giving” money to the minors who reside with us by virtue of the fact that they are our children. But I would like to challenge you to change your perspective on this practice. Consider “paying” your child for “work” around the house. The children of today will be inheriting as a nation, all of the debt that we have so foolishly accumulated as a result of corporate greed and insatiable appetites for more. More homes, more cars, more things, more, more, MORE! As a result, we’ve demonstrated poor stewardship practices of money management. When borrowing money we did not have the means to repay and not having adequate savings, met with eminent unemployment due to sending jobs overseas, our nation met head on with disaster. In order for our children to experience financial success, they are going to have to be much savvier with their money. They will need to live below their means, save 6-8 months of their salary and avoid incurring debt. As parents, one of the best things we can do for our children is teach them money management by letting them practice while they are still under our roofs. Instead of offering an “allowance”, teach you children that they are receiving pay for work that they do around the house. The real world does not offer “allowance”. When you work, you get paid. Set up jobs for your child to do that are age appropriate. For example, sweeping the floor or dusting may be a good task for 5-7 year olds. Taking out the trash or vacuuming maybe good for a 7-9 year old. Dish washing may be By Kimberly Phillips appropriate for 8 years and up. Make the it a family decision and involve your child(ren) in the process. Set a payment amount for each task and at the end of the week, have your child total his or her pay for jobs done around the home. I have a list of extra jobs that my daughters can make a bid on. These are monthly jobs like cleaning the kitchen cabinets, cleaning the deck and cleaning out the refrigerator. In conjunction with earning, teach your child(ren) the importance of saving and giving. We use a three envelope system to help manage this process. On pay days I have my daughters put 10% in an envelope marked “savings”, 10% in an envelope marked “church/donations/charity” and the other 80% marked “spending” is theirs. I like the envelope system because it’s hands on. However, for older children a bank savings account may be more appropriate. As a family, we discussed which expenses they would be responsible for such as entertainment, extra toiletries and clothes amd music for their iPods beyond what I have budgeted for. Initially my daughters were reluctant to try the new system, but after the first pay day, they were excited. Another moment of surprise came when they asked to go to the movies. They expected me to finance their fun. To their surprise, I asked, “Do you both have enough money?” Now they are very proud to announce how much they have saved and they both think twice before they part with their money. Buyers remorse is a powerful teacher. The work-pay system takes some initial organization and discipline, but the payoff is well worth it.

WORKPAY ...The New Allowance

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

Money Smarts

FOR PAR ENTS OF

COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS

By Steve Arnold

s we move out of the “Great Recession” toward economic recovery, Americans are more focused than ever on watching what we spend and saving for the future. As a result, today’s teens and young adults are gaining a heightened awareness about the importance of prudent money management. As graduating high school seniors head off to college, it’s a great time for parents to sit down with their ﬁnancial novices for a frank talk about managing money in the “real world.” Making the transition from mom and •

• • • •

•

dad’s place to the freshman dorm is difficult enough, and helping students get a handle on how to balance their tight student budget will equip them to be savvy money managers for life. When students are confident in their abilities to handle financial responsibilities, they’ll often gain confidence in their ability to handle other responsibilities later in life. Parents can make a little planning now go a long way in making their student’s move away from home a financially smooth one. Consider the following steps:

Open a joint checking account with your student at the same institution where you bank, and make sure you can transfer funds online or by ATM from your account to your student’s. This way, it’s easier for you to monitor your student’s spending habits. Use mobile and text banking to monitor spending, make transfers, pay bills and receive customized email alerts about recent activity. Establish overdraft protection for the student’s account. Get your student a debit card for purchases and spending upon which you’ve agreed in advance, such as textbooks, school supplies, meals and entertainment. Request an extra credit card from your account with the student’s name on it for emergencies and agreed-upon purchases, and remind your student that being short on cash for pizza doesn’t qualify. If your child is ready to start building credit with a credit card in her own name, be sure to get a card designed for college students. Look for things like no annual fee, lower credit limits, and a focus on providing financial education and account management tools like online access or mobile alerts. Research grants and scholarships as well as your federal and private student loan options. Even if you don’t intend to get a loan now, you may need to seek financing should unforeseen circumstances arise. Make sure your son or daughter is acquainted with the basics of banking, budgeting and credit by logging on to one of the many online financial literacy programs such as handsonbanking.org or the Federal Reserve Board’s site at federalreserve.gov/creditcard.

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

•

Another argument for frank talk about money: The average credit card balance for undergraduates rose 48 percent in the last ﬁve years from about $2,100 to $3,100, according to a 2009 study by Sallie Mae, a provider of higher education loans. Freshman year is the most popular time for getting credit cards, with 56 percent of students reporting that they obtained their ﬁrst card at age 18. Only 17 percent of students reported that they pay off their credit card balances each month.

New ﬁnancial regulations have been implemented to help protect young consumers should they experience ﬁnancial hardships. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2009 includes protections for con-

sumers under the age of 21, restrictions on interest rate increases and over-limit fees and enhanced disclosures on credit account statements. The CARD Act is intended to help customers better manage their credit card account(s) and may even help customers save more in fees and interest charges. What this means for college students is that credit card applications will be more closely evaluated and students must indicate an independent means to make sure they can pay off any debt accrued. In some cases, consumers under 21 will need a co-signer or co-applicant who is over 21 to also be on the credit card account. Before they apply for a credit card, make sure your college-bound students know that interest accrues on an unpaid balance, that making minimum payments barely chips away at the balance, and not making a payment can tarnish their creditworthiness and impede future ﬁ-

nancial opportunities for a long period of time. Reinforce the importance of building a good credit history and how a high credit score will help when renting an apartment, taking out a car loan, or even finding a job. In order to build good credit, advise your student to spend only what he or she can pay back, don’t max out the credit limit, always make payments on time, and pay more than the minimum or better yet, the entire balance whenever possible. discussing When your financial expectations–both yours and your student’s–spell out how much money is available and how long it needs to last. You should discuss when financial aid, student loan disbursements or scholarship checks will come and rules for spending these funds. Once you start the frank talk, keep it going. Visits to campus by parents and visits home by students over weekends and holidays are perfect opportunities to check in on money matters and fine-tune your financial relationship. If you need help jump-starting the discussion, there are plenty of personal finance books that make great gifts for college students. Any one of these modern classics belongs on every undergraduate’s reading list: The Motley Fool You Have More Than You Think: The Foolish Guide to Personal Finance (by David and Tom Gardner); The Wall Street Journal Guide Understanding Personal Finance (by Kenneth and Virginia Morris); and Making the Most of Your Money (by Jane Bryant Quinn). Steve Arnold is the Wells Fargo Community Banking President in San Antonio, TX. FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

Quinttin JOY & PRAISE

By Jeremy Jones • Sports Editor

first met Quintin Demps while working out with personal trainer Bremond “Bay Bay” McClinton in San Antonio, Texas. After several conversations with him at the stadium, it was clear to me that he is a down-to-earth, confident, hard-working athlete who is sold-out for Christ. Demps, who played football at Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, graciously accepted my invitation for a one-on-one interview for this November edition of FAITH Magazine. During a visit to the Galleria Mall in Houston, I met with the former Philadelphia Eagles safety in the lobby of the Westin Galleria Hotel. In this exclusive interview, Demps, who signed with the Houston Texans last year, shares how his relationship with Christ led him to turn his life around. Prior to beginning the interview, we acknowledge God by taking a moment to pray. Read further to find out how Demps maintains a Godly lifestyle as a husband, father, and NFL football player. Demps: Let me pray with you right quick before we begin. Father, I pray right now that you would increase and I would decrease, oh God, as I’m about to be interviewed. I pray that You will get the glory out of this and all that I say. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Jones: Amen. So what led you to begin playing sports? Demps: My mom always had me in sports because she wanted to keep me out of the streets. She always told me stories about how I would cry when I was little until somebody gave me a ball. I guess I was a born athlete. Jones: What has been your greatest accomplishment in sports? Demps: Getting a scholarship. Just being able to go to college for free. That’s the biggest one. Jones: How do you set your goals in life? Demps: All of my goals are Christ centered; everything revolves around the Bible. I use that as my tool. The Word is a light for my path. Jones: What are one or two things that are keys to the success in your life? Demps: Well, the main thing is my relationship with Christ; that’s the biggest

key. His grace and my mom’s passion to make sure that I stayed on the right track. Just her raising me in the church, keeping me humble and centered. She was a real strict disciplinarian. Jones: What was the best advice you were given growing up? Demps: Keep God ﬁrst. Jones: Do you have a saying or motto that you live by? Demps: There are so many Scriptures I would say, but nothing outside of the Scriptures. I would say what Paul said which is to press forward toward the mark, forget the things that are behind you and just press forward in all things. Jones: Where do you draw your inspiration from to keep doing what you’re doing? Demps: From my faith, and just having a relationship with God. I also get inspiration from my family, my wife and children. They’re a big inspiration. Being solid for them is important to me. Jones: Are there any temptations that professional ball players face that you have to be intentional about not letting yourself get involved in? Demps: Everybody has temptations. With us being on the platform and ev-

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

De e eryone thinking we’re famous, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and get real prideful and think you’re somebody you’re really not. Jones: So, how do you avoid getting caught up in those things? Demps: By walking in the spirit, but I’ve learned from a lot of things too, because I haven’t always kept myself out of those situations. I’ve learned from my mistakes and I make sure I don’t repeat them. I also know who I am in Christ, so that helps me to really go after Him more than the things of the world. Jones: Have you experienced any major breakthrough or transformation in your life? Demps: Yeah, back in college I used to be a drinker. I used to drink so much. I used to smoke weed. I used to party. I was doing everything that the world would have me do. I used to chase after those things just trying to ﬁnd fulﬁllment. When I really gave my life to Christ, I really got a breakthrough because He brought me from all that stuff. I’m delivered from drinking, smoking, I don’t party anymore, and I’m married with two children. It wasn’t me who did it. It was Christ working in me.

emps Jones: Since you’re not partying and you’re not out there in the world doing those things anymore, what do you enjoy doing to have fun and just relax? Demps: Before the lockout ended, I was ﬁnding out what I like to do, so that was the good part of it. We go bowling a lot. I just kick it with my wife most of the time. Sometimes we have little cookouts with my partners. We play spades, dominoes and just chill. I like to eat, so my wife and I always go out to eat. We like going to new restaurants, trying new things. Jones: What’s your favorite food? Demps: Mexican food is my favorite. Enchiladas especially. Jones: You obviously haven’t tried chicken alfredo. You’ll change your mind when you do. (Demps laughs) Jones: Who are your role models? Demps: Christ is my role model. But I also have a teammate that I played with named Jason Avant. He’s a starting receiver for the Eagles and he’s an ordained minister as well. I look up to him. I also like Lecrae. Jones: What’s your favorite song by Lecrae? Demps: So many. “Boasting” is one of my favorites. Jones: Yeah. I like that one too. What

”I’ve learned from my mistakes and I make sure I don’t repeat them. I also know who I am in Christ, so that helps me to really go after Him more than the things of the world.”

do you find most rewarding about being a father? Demps: Having my children look up to me all the time and being able to teach them from experience the way to go so they won’t fall as hard as I have. Having children that will always look up to me and no matter what life throws my way, they’re going to love me no matter what. Just having that unconditional love is really a blessing to me. Jones: How do you balance work and family? Demps: Being a daddy, husband, and full time football player is challenging. It can be more challenging than people think. I stay Christ centered. Making sure I’m following Him first and foremost and like He said everything else is going to fall into place. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. Jones: What advice would you give to younger kids who look up to you? Demps: Develop a relationship with Christ. That’s the first thing I’m going to tell you every time. You can get bored or whatever, but that’s the most important thing. Outside of that, I would say stay in school; take that very seriously because without education it’s even harder to make it. It can even be hard with an education. Keep pushing. Keep pressing toward the things that you want to do in life. (smiles) Man, I feel like I’m talking to my son, but he would have interrupted me already. Jones: Who is Quintin Demps? Give me three words that describe you. Demps: Just three? Jones: However many you want. Demps: I’m a warrior. I’m a warrior for Christ. I’m a warrior for my wife and I’m solid and humble. I’m a solid, humble warrior. Jones: Did you grow up going to church?

Demps: I did. My mom had me in church all the time. I was a “drug baby”. Like Lecrae says in his song, “Big Mama drug me to church.” I feel the same way. I dreaded going to church, but my mom made me go. Jones: How long have you been living a Christian lifestyle? Demps: I’ve been totally sold out for two years, but I always knew better. Jones: Are you surrounded by other Christian athletes, or do you ﬁnd that you stand out? Demps: Back in Philly I was around a lot of Christian athletes like Jason Avant who I mentioned earlier, Brian Dawkins and others. Jones: How do you feel about being in Houston and playing with the Texans? Demps: The ﬁrst thing that comes to mind is “grateful”, just so grateful to be back in the NFL. I’m from Texas, so it feels great to be back in Texas playing ball. I’m excited about being a part of the Houston Texans and thank them for a second chance. Jones: Congratulations and thank you for taking time out to talk with me today. Demps: Anytime. Quintin Demps no longer wears #39. He is now #27 for the Texans.

REAL TALK By Taylore Gills

God’s Will

nce you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, He will start to show you His perfect plan for your life. If you are unsure about what God’s will is for you, just be patient and wait. He will give you an answer. Keep your ears and eyes open for signs He will give and show you. The Bible says In Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Don’t ever ignore God. He knows much more than you. If He ever puts something in

“

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. –Jeremiah 29:11 your heart, listen and make it happen. It will be worth it in the end. Don’t ever let people tell you what you can’t do. The Bible says that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13) Nobody or nothing should get in your way. Say “yes” to God’s will and way. Just trust Him forever. God will never put you in a situation that you can’t handle because He is always there to help you. He has your back. When I get to Heaven, I want God to tell me, “Well done,” instead of asking me why I didn’t do what He told me to do. Be willing to obey God. In all of the decisions you make, make sure that God’s will is done, rather than your own. J

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FAITH & FASHION

STOP

G SHOWIuN r All Yo

BUSINESS

“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” –1 Timothy 2: 9-10 By Angelica Gray

Girl, cover you r cle ava ge! Boy, pu ll you r s a gg in g pa nts u p!

s Christians, we have a responsibility to represent Christ even in our daily attire. Keeping up with the current fashion trends can be challenging for young Christians. I have noticed that many young girls, especially those in high school, dress to impress for the wrong reasons. They think they will appear more attractive by exposing their cleavage, wearing shorts and skirts too short, etc.; which is definitely not true. Boys wear sagging pants and think that showing their underwear is appealing. We often look to the media and celebrities to see what current styles are in, but as Christians we can’t always follow the crowd. We weren’t put on this earth to impress man by following the ways of the world, but to impress God and make decisions that are pleasing in His sight. When selecting what clothes you will wear, ask yourself these questions: • What message am I sending with this outfit? • Is God pleased with my selection? • Do the clothes represent who I am in Christ? You might think, “Oh, God is trying to kill my swag or He is trying to cover up who I am!” Not so. God wants us to look good, but He doesn’t want us to send the wrong message by dressing inappropriately to impress other people. God wants us to stay true to who we are in Him. Remember, when you consider God first you can’t go wrong.

Buy Your Size! FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

ALL THINGS EDUCATIONAL

SINGLE-GENDER vs.

By Mateen Diop, Ed.D.

ingle-sex or single-gender education refers most generally to schools at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level in which males or females attend school exclusively with members of their own gender. A related though different phenomenon is single-sex classes, whereby schools that are otherwise coeducational, provide separate classes for males and females in selected subjects. Proponents have long considered single-gender schools a panacea to provide greater equity to disadvantaged students, minorities and as a means to reduce violence in the schools. Proponents have also argued that to separate boys and girls may be the most effective way to manage classroom behavior by eliminating distractions and peer pressure for both boys and girls. As a public school principal, I can attest that all-boys classes showed marked improvement in literacy achievement and discipline. There are opponents of single-gender schools who have argued that single-gender schools are not effective on any school variable, but to reform coeducational schools is the solution. Chicago Prep, an urban high school for males, located in Chicago, Illinois, boasts the highest graduation rate of AfricanAmerican males in the country. Morehouse College, the prestigious all-male college in Atlanta, Georgia,

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

graduates more African-American men than any institution in the world. These two instances of singlegender schools are a very small proportion of how effective single-gender schools can be. As a doctoral student, I conducted a study on the Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA), located in San Antonio, Texas. The school had yet to open, however, I was curious as to how effective the school would be for young women. The school started with 6th-7th graders, and many of the young girls were former students of mine as an elementary principal. I collected their test data as 5th graders and collected their data once again as 6th graders.

Now attending YWLA, 100% of the young women passed their state assessments! The same can be said about the young male 4th graders on my campus who also performed significantly better when I assigned them to a single-gender classroom versus their co-educational peers. There are many benefits derived from a singlegender setting. Benefits related to girls and math, boys and literature, not to mention simple brainwired behaviors. I don’t believe anyone would argue that boys and girls have innate differences. They

CO-ED CLASSROOMS “As a public school principal, I can attest that all-boys classes showed marked improvement in literacy achievement and discipline.” are simply “wired” differently. I remember an instance during recess. I was monitoring our ﬁfth grade students on the playground. It was astonishing to see their behaviors. The boys organized themselves into athletic teams and played football (tackle). I had to interrupt those games. The girls organized themselves into cliques of friends. They walked around the playground talking, singing and dancing. Of course, all the boys didn’t play football and all the girls didn’t sing and dance; however, the vast majority of the students organized themselves into “gender” speciﬁc activities.

As the students were enjoying themselves, I pointed out this phenomenon to their teachers. I asked myself, “Since these students naturally organized themselves into gender speciﬁc activities, what makes us think they turn off these natural inclinations when they enter the classroom?” In my opinion, that is where our teaching comes into play. We must recognize those behaviors and use them to our beneﬁt in the classroom, and bend our teaching styles to the students, instead of hopelessly trying to get students to bend their behaviors to our beliefs.

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

MISS BLACK TEXAS USA • TALENTED TEEN 2011

Selena Mitchell

She’s Got Brains, Beauty, Personality, & Most Importantly, God In Her Life.

FAITH: How are you? SELENA: I’m good. How are you? FAITH: Great! Let’s talk about your involvement in beauty pageants. How did you become interested in beauty pageants? SELENA: Well, my mother’s friend asked if I wanted to be in a talent competition where I could possibly win scholarship money. I said, “Yes”, and as we learned more about the competition we realized that it was more than just talent, it was a full pageant. After I won my first pageant, Miss Outstanding Teen San Antonio, I decided to continue doing pageants. I met so many nice and talented people during my first year that I knew it would be something that I would do again, plus the possibility of winning scholarship money without having to write an essay was a plus. FAITH: How old were you when you entered your first pageant? SELENA: I was about 12 or 13. It was held at the Boys & Girls Club. FAITH: This is your third title, is that right? SELENA: Yes. My first title was Miss Outstanding Teen San Antonio, then Miss Black San Antonio Talented Teen and most recently Miss Black Texas Talented Teen. FAITH: What has been the most rewarding experience for you since winning each title? SELENA: It may sound cheesy, but I love meeting the other girls that I will be competing with. They come from different walks of life, and so they bring a new edge into my life that is so refreshing and fun to be around. FAITH: Is there ever an aspect of the competition that you consider to be challenging? SELENA: The interview section is always a bit tricky. I want to make sure that I know my platform like the back of my hand while being aware of how my platform relates to current issues today. I go to an interview coach to help me

with my interviewing skills and how I present myself. FAITH: What do you enjoy most about winning the various titles? SELENA: The best part of winning the titles besides the scholarship money is the chance to go around the community and meet new people. It’s always fun for me to meet others who are set on

“ I am a

for about three years now. The name is Young Tunes Piano Studio because I teach young children. I really enjoy it and I love seeing the free spirits of the children and the joy they feel when they’ve learned and mastered a new song. FAITH: You make appearances and spend time volunteering quite often at youth related events. Why is volunteering important to you? SELENA: I am a huge advocate for volunteering because it helps the community. Being a part of Girl Scouts has helped me to get involved and enhance my leadership skills. For example, through Girl Scouts I did my Gold Award Project called “Princess for a Day”. It was a workshop about self-conﬁdence for younger girls. A few of the other organizations I am a part of are the acolyte ministry at my church, French and Spanish clubs, at my school, and a mentoring program. All in some fashion help to serve the greater good. FAITH: You not only volunteer locally, but you travel quite often doing volunteer work. SELENA: Yes, I do. I love traveling, especially doing mission work abroad! My pastor, Claudette Copeland, put the urge in me to do mission work while keeping God in my heart and by my side. I would be abroad right now if I didn’t have to go to school. FAITH: Where are some places you’ve traveled to? SELENA: I’ve been to quite a few places. I’ve traveled to Europe, Asia, South America and to other countries in North America. My most recent trip was to Cusco, Peru. FAITH: Was there anything that left a lasting impact on your life that you experienced while in Peru? SELENA: Going to Peru this summer reminded me how the smallest act of kindness can make a huge difference in the lives of others. FAITH: What do you want younger

huge advocate for volunteering because it

helps the community.”

making a difference or meeting little girls who look up to me as a positive role model. FAITH: What talent do you perform? SELENA: I’ve been playing the piano since the age of three, so it made sense for me to play the piano for my talent. I like to play fast songs because they’re fun for me to practice and they wow the audience. FAITH: Tell me about your piano business. SELENA: I’ve owned my business

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

children who look up to you to understand about life? SELENA: Life is like a hike. Sometimes it will be easy and sometimes it will be hard, but just keep moving and enjoy the view. FAITH: During those hard times, how can young people deal with low selfesteem issues, family issues, bullying and other factors that may contribute to their lack of self-respect and poor decision making? SELENA: When I sometimes struggle to keep my head high, I focus on my goals and my accomplishments in life. My mom suggested that I create a dream board. The board has pictures of places I want to go, schools I hope to attend, and jobs I would like to obtain. Whenever it gets hard for me to stay conﬁdent, I look at my board and it reminds me that I have a greater purpose in life, so I must overcome the obstacles. Also, my parents got me involved in activities that I could excel at and uplift my spirit. Therefore, I would encourage family members to get young ladies into camps or extracurricular activities that highlight their strengths. FAITH: What do you think is a possible solution to get these young ladies to understand their value and worth in God? SELENA: This is a tough question for me because as a teen girl I sometimes struggle with those issues. But the best thing for me to do is to look towards positive people in my life whether it be my friends or adults who are living God fearing lives. So if positive role models surround these girls, there is a good chance that they will live better lives. FAITH: Who would you like to one day meet that you consider to be a positive role model? SELENA: I would love to meet Maya Angelou. She is such a gifted writer and even though she has had many obstacles in her life, she found a way to move past them. I have read her work and just by reading it I feel

“Life is like a hike. Sometimes it will be easy and sometimes it will be hard, but just keep moving and enjoy the view.” encouraged to be strong. FAITH: How do you think churches, schools and parents can effectively address concerns facing young people to encourage them to be strong and overcome obstacles? SELENA: Churches should

break up the teens into small groups and have the leader of the group be a young adult. In these groups, different questions can be asked that the group can discuss. During these sessions, teens are likely to open up about the problems they are facing and they can receive help regarding how to handle those problems. When I think of schools and parents I like to group them together for both are disciplinarians to me. It is often hard for schools/parents to address concerns to teens because what happens is that the teens are being talked at and told what to do, resulting in the advice falling on deaf ears. It’s easier to reach teenagers when a youth speaker/mentor can talk with them instead of at them. Most times it’s the personal conversations that allow the mentor to guide the teen onto a positive path. FAITH: You are very focused and on the right path. SELENA: I am and I don’t like to be distracted from my goals. FAITH: You’re a beautiful, talented, intelligent young lady. Are you dating, or do you consider that a distraction during this time in your life? SELENA: No, I’m not dating, but I am allowed to go on dates. Honestly, I don’t have much time to date. As of now, having a relationship does not ﬁt. (laughs) I struggle trying to balance my friendships right now. FAITH: Even though you’re not dating anyone at this time, why do you think that many teenage girls often date the wrong boys and stay in unhealthy relationships? SELENA: I think to a certain point girls

“If teens make the decision to exercise each day and incorporate unprocessed fruits and vegetables into their meals, America’s youth will live healthier lives.” allow their feelings to take over instead of thinking with their minds and doing the right thing for themselves. Another problem is that girls are often enamored with their perception of the guy instead of seeing him for who he really is. Both situations prevent the girl from seeing the reality of the situation which leads to problems. FAITH: You are so right. And not only girls, but women do the same thing. So, you’re not dating, but you stay busy with many other demands. SELENA: It’s funny that you say that because my friends and family always comment on how busy I am. I have to pencil in free time for myself or when my friends and I can go to the movies. It’s interesting to live a life where time seems so pressed, but everything I do has a meaning for me. Whether I’m volunteering at a school or going on an appearance, it’s to help others. My mom helps me to keep everything in line, so I don’t get too overwhelmed. FAITH: Do you have regular chores like most teenagers? SELENA: My main chore is to keep my room clean and do my laundry, but during the school year I don’t have many chores because of my heavy homework load. FAITH: In the limited spare time that you have, what do you usually do? SELENA: Sit at home watching movies and snacking on junk food. It’s not the healthiest thing to do, but it relaxes me and makes my day pass by slower. FAITH: Speaking of health, you’re a vegetarian. How did that come about? SELENA: I tried being a vegetarian when a few of my friends decided to. Then I did some research and realized

that in many ways it is healthier to go without meat. I feel better and have more energy. Of course, I have to take more vitamins to keep me balanced. FAITH: Was it difficult at first? SELENA: It wasn’t hard to give up meat like I had expected it to be. The only meat I miss is bacon. I was never one to love meat, so that made it easy. But if someone asked me to give up sweets, that would be a challenge. FAITH: What do you think it will take for young people to become more health conscious and maintain healthier eating habits? SELENA: I think families should start buying healthier groceries-fruits, vegetables, lean meat, yogurt-and make it fun. When my family started eating healthier, we cooked together more often, tried new recipes, and would go to a health food store to expand our taste buds. If teens make the decision to exercise each day and incorporate unprocessed fruits and vegetables into their meals, America’s youth will live healthier lives. FAITH: How do you feel now that you are in your Senior year of high school? SELENA: It is such a relief to know that these high school years are coming to an end. I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life. FAITH: What are your plans after high school? SELENA: A huge goal of mine is to graduate from undergrad with little or no debt. I plan to attend school in New York or in Europe, minor in French, double major in linguistics and psychology, and become a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher within 5 years and teach children in third world countries. Then a bit later

I’m interested in working in a Psych Ward at a hospital once I get my PH.D. in Psychology. FAITH: What colleges are you considering? SELENA: Syracuse University, American University of Paris, or Oglethorpe University. I think by going to either one of these colleges I will gain a new sense of independence, freedom, and a new way of looking at the world. FAITH: Who has had the most inﬂuence on your decision making and how you look at the world? SELENA: My parents. They push me to take chances in life and to be the best I can be. Sometimes when I don’t feel motivated to take on new projects, they encourage me to do so and each time I learn more about myself and the people around me, so for that, I thank them. FAITH: How do you manage to stay strong with the demands of your life and just being a teenager? SELENA: God keeps me grounded and moving throughout the day. FAITH: Do you have a favorite scripture or saying that keeps you focused on your priorities? SELENA: My favorite scripture is “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. I learned it when I was younger. It reminds me that God will keep me calm and guide me through whatever task is before me. FAITH: I’m so proud of you and your accomplishments. God has great plans for you and I wish you much continued success. Have you considered running for Miss America or Miss USA when Continued on Page 34

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

REACHING THE NATIONS

Through the Next Generation

Equipping, Empowering, and Engaging our Youth in a Culture Not Their Own

By Lekesha R. Barnett woke up excited about the day’s activities that were planned to give my niece and nephew an experience they would not quickly forget. The idea for a small tour to sample cuisine from around the world became an educational experience for a group of 14 whose ages ranged from 5 to 31. My goal was to provide an opportunity for a group of urban youth from various backgrounds to explore Houston’s multicultural community. It was also to help these children grasp the concept of cross-cultural exchange that characterizes the 21st century. Youth have immediate access to information from around the world. They’re bombarded with images and names from lands their parents and grandparents have rarely ever ventured to explore. I prayed earnestly that my little idea would have great potential to inﬂuence these young lives for their future success in the international community and for Kingdom purposes. After everyone arrived at my home, our ﬁrst task was to make passports. The artistic activity offered only a chance to be creative, while also enlightening everyone on the procedures for international travel and the importance of personal responsibility; each child had to keep his or her own passport. With homemade passports in hand, children and adults were eager to receive the imitation visas I created using envelope labels. We went around the world in about 5 hours without leaving Houston. The aromas, décor and spices familiar to India, Japan, Thailand and the Mediterranean greeted curious young people each time we entered the respective restaurant. A taste of new foods and learning new words opened their minds to consider cultures and nations they had only heard about in school. They did not realize the international presence was so close to home. That was the point of the

experience; to teach them that the world is much larger than what they know and yet is close enough to embrace right where they live. I must make a confession. There is an underlying motive in every educational experience, ﬁeld trip and activity I plan for my niece and nephew (and those who happen to come along for the adventure). In some way, I hope to create lasting memories that have a God-impression that He uses to further develop their spiritual growth and awareness of Kingdom principles. Youth must embrace the beauty of diversity because God so loved the world, not only our community, that He gave His only begotten Son to

youth with vital information and experiences that engender creativity and conﬁdence required to excel in a competitive global market? Most importantly, how can we instill a Christian world-view that results in compassion for all humanity? Here are a few recommendations based on more than a decade of observing the social trinity of parental involvement, extended family and the faith community. Each of these three has an investment to make in the next generation. Parents cultivate the soil of a child’s heart to be receptive to a wide variety of cross-cultural experiences through an engaging atmosphere in the home. A stable, afﬁrming home

“A stable, affirming home environment provides a framework for young people to develop positive self-awareness, confidence, and inspiration to explore new ideas.” redeem lives from every tribe, language, people and nation (John 3:16 and Revelation 5:9). God’s ultimate vision and heart is revealed in the Bible so we must focus on what is important to Him. His goal and desire is for one family, comprised of every nation and race throughout all generations, living in a loving relationship with Him through Christ. We have to ensure that the next generation is part of that plan and serves that mission. The internet has created a global village our children will engage in as adults very soon. Doing so with confidence and ease will require that they encounter more than the typical homogeneous neighborhoods and churches. How can we equip African-American young people with a global perspective and savvy to traverse the international waves of change that increasingly impact communities every year? How can we empower

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

environment provides a framework for young people to develop positive selfawareness, conﬁdence, and inspiration to explore new ideas. If the home life is limited to a small frame of reference for the world and God, it is much more likely for the children to grow up limited in their expectations and aspirations. Many parents are so invested in providing the basic necessities that they have limited time and funds to research beyond their own familiarity. This is especially true and apparent in tough economic times. In such cases the extended family can become the life-line guaranteeing that the next generation will not be limited to knowledge of the previous. The African-American community has a rich history of extended family involvement in raising children. However, the communal ways of our ancestors, which fortiﬁed our families,

have severely deteriorated. For a large demographic, extended family does not live in close proximity with the children that need their presence. Among those that are close, independent and disconnected relationships are often prevalent. I would like to call our attention to the need for extended family members to strategically invest in the next generation with spiritual and social educational interaction that compliments and supports parents’ efforts. As a single, childless adult, I have always embraced a role to come alongside my brother and sister-in-law to nurture and educate their children. They are great parents who work hard to ensure that their children never lack and have a wonderful life. The same is true for millions of working couples and singleparents across the nation who would like more time and opportunities to discover new possibilities and expand the perspectives of their children. However, limited time, resources, exposure and energy have caused a large demographic of our community to disproportionately and unrealistically rely on the school system. We all know there is much to be desired and much more to be demanded of educational institutions, especially the public sector. However, we cannot overlook the fact that more life impacting education happens outside of the classroom. When parents need support in this area, the extended family and faith community must be available to reach, teach, nurture and advance young people with information, inspiration and events that prepare them to live successfully and fruitfully in an international community. It is time for the Christian church, through its schools, after-school programs and summer day camps, to integrate curriculum with visionary leaders, who teach our children to interact with all people without losing their cultural identity or disparaging another. The Christian church has a divine mandate to ensure that young people are multicultural in scope because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for all people. The church must also be careful not to minimize or ignore the Great Commission and most certainly not neglect to demonstrate it before our youth. If we take the Great Commission as a commandment and consider our times through prophetic lenses, it is obvious that we must be about our Father’s business with urgency. Again, the best most

meaningful learning center is not necessarily the classroom. Churches can expose young people to service, culture and a higher calling through local and foreign missions ministry. Historically, in many predominately African-American denominations the word mission was reserved for the work a small group of matronly women provided in the community. Today young people have the chance to participate in meaningful service at home and abroad that impacts their environments while

the future. It may be through business, education, media, social justice, medical relief, or any other profession through which they are called to honor God. The process of grooming the youth to make eternally signiﬁcant contributions is not difﬁcult or complex if parents, extended family and the church work together. Here is one suggestion to get started: begin by taking your children, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends or the youth group of your church on a fun tour of the ethnic restaurants they have never

“The Christian church has a divine mandate to ensure that young people are multicultural in scope because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for all people.” broadening their scope for Christian service beyond these borders. What if God has blessed your family with an evangelist to share the Gospel with an unreached group of people in Africa or India? Maybe a young person in your family will have conﬁdence and wisdom to operate in the global market to gain wealth that will revitalize struggling communities. None of us knows the full potential for how far God will take the children in our sphere of inﬂuence, but we can expose them to as much of His world, and its people, as possible just in case they are destined for global impact. I hope we will galvanize efforts to ensure that the next generation of Christian African-American youth today become leaders of the United Nations in

visited. Right now, they have so much to learn and later they will have much more to offer. The next generation can impact nations and it is our responsibility to prepare them to make their mark for the glory of God. Rev. Lekesha R. Barnett, MA, MA (minister, author and consultant) has served as an evangelist/missionary in Mexico, Jamaica, Ghana and India. www.lekeshabarnett.com

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

FAITHBOOK

Fulfilling Your God The following is an excerpt from Fulﬁlling Your God Given Dreams. Readers will discover how to dream God sized dreams, develop the right thinking of a dreamer, know when dreams are ready to be birthed, identify and watch out for the dream killers, discover how to restore dreams and most importantly, learn from the great dreamers in the Bible.

Dream Killers

To order Fulﬁlling Your God Given Dreams, send email to impactministries1@yahoo.com. For additional information, visit www.impactministriesuganda.org

hen Joseph had a dream, he related that dream to his brothers, and that is when the enemy stepped in. (Gen 37:5) You see, you can have a dream, but it is when you plan to live out that dream, that the enemy tries to destroy it. Joseph’s brothers already disliked him because he was his father’s favorite. His father made him a coat of many colors. But it was not until Joseph had a dream that the enemy sought to destroy him. It is not until you make up your mind that you are going to live out your dream that the enemy comes in like a ﬂood. Watch out for those dream killers. Don’t let people stop you from dreaming. People you think you can trust with your dreams may disappoint and hurt you. You hope they will be there to support you, but they are not. The devil will use them to destroy your dreams. Often times, the devil will use the ones that are close to you to bring you down to discourage you. The ones that you thought would support you; he may use to distract and cause you dismay. His goal is to be a dream killer and the enemy of your soul will use anyone or anything to accomplish his purpose. Watch out for anyone you share your dreams with, as they might be one who only laughs and mocks you for dreaming. Watch out for the ones that cannot see your

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Given Dreams dream or support you with positive words and pray for you. Watch out for the ones who will say to you, “Who are you to be going back to get your degree, aren’t you too old?” Watch out for dream killers; they can be direct, subtle, or sly, but whatever form they come in, they are deadly! What the enemy does, he has been doing from the beginning. He tries to stop you from progressing. I don’t care what kind of job you have; it won’t satisfy you if you are not living your God given dreams. If you are not living your dreams, you have succumbed to a dream killer along your path. But take heart, God can revive what is dead though the evil one has discouraged you and done his toxic dumping on you through well-meaning folks, both Christian and not. When you follow the dreams that God has for you, let no man or woman stop you from living out the dream that God has for you. Wake up and do what God has called you to do. Ask God how and He will show you what you can do. Get away from those dream killers. God has been talking to you. You are not crazy. You are chosen by God. You have to watch out for the dream killers. You need to understand this. If the enemy destroys your house, you can build another one. If he destroys your vision, he can destroy your future. Do not stand by and let the enemy destroy your dreams. Patrick Okabe founded Impact Ministries in Mbale Uganda and through generous donations from churches in America. Over 700 HIV/AIDS, war ravaged orphans, and other needy children are being given food, medical treatment, clothing, education and the hope of the Gospel. Patrick established a radio ministry reaching millions of listeners in Uganda with the Gospel. He is actively involved in a fast growing indigenous church planting ministry where over one hundred and twenty three new churches have been recently established.

About the Author

Ugandan Pastor Patrick Okabe writes from the heart as someone who knows homelessness, poverty and hardship. Born into a family of sixteen children, he dropped out of high school, left home and wandered the streets turning to alcohol and reckless living for his solace. In 1981, Patrick received Christ as Lord and Savior and began his adventure of faith coming to understand the truth of God’s Word and the reality of the God Man, Jesus Christ. Today, Patrick’s life is a miracle and testimony to the grace and love of God.

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

“Forget Super Size!” You are what you eat continued from page 10

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Steam green beans, carrots or broccoli in a small amount of water in the microwave. • Stock up on low sodium canned tomatoes, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. • Add black beans, sliced red bell peppers, shredded radish or red cabbage to salads. • Heat up low sodium tomato, butternut squash or garden vegetables soups. • Ask for vegetables instead of fries as your side dish when dining out. • Add one new vegetable per week for variety. • Add frozen corn, peas, green beans, sugar snap peas or spinach to a casserole dish. • Add fruit to sweeten a recipe. • Whole or cut up fruit is more beneﬁcial than 100% juice due to the dietary ﬁber it provides. • Add fruit to dinner by adding crushed pineapple to coleslaw or dried cranberries, grapes or strawberries to a salad How much food is too much? Portion control takes self-control and a divided plate. Eat meals on a smaller, nine inch plate. Divide the plate into four equal sections. Use one section for your protein, one section for starch, preferably whole grain. The two other sections should contain vegetables. Control begins with not piling your sections high or allowing servings to spill onto one another. Additional portion control tips include the following: • Buy single serving size foods or 100-calorie portions. (buy in bulk to keep costs down) • When dining out, ask for a carry out box when served which means out of sight, out of mind and out of mouth.

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Order from the appetizer menu as your main dish. • It takes 20 minutes for your brain to recognize that you are full, so eat slowly and chew well. If still hungry, eat more vegetables. • Forget super size! • Choose red, orange and dark green vegetables. • Make seafood your protein twice a week. • Make half your grains whole wheat. • Use fat-free or low-fat milk. • Avoid heavy gravies or sauces. • Satisfy that sweet tooth with baked apples topped with cinnamon or a fruit parfait with yogurt. • Plant protein choices can include beans, peas, nuts, soy and seafood. • Eat more plant proteins such as kidney, pinto, black or white beans, split peas, chickpeas, hummus or soy products. (tofu, veggie burgers) • Grill, broil, roast or bake. Avoid breading meat. • Choose unsalted seeds or nuts as a snack The diet of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys not only improved their countenance, but with the favor of God, led to healthier lives. Today, poor eating habits have contributed to obesity which has signiﬁcantly increased the chronic conditions of hypertension, atherosclerosis, bone and joint disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments for obesity. Prevention is crucial. Daniel made up his mind not to even look upon or touch the king’s food. With determination and temperance, he chose food that would keep him ﬁt for God’s service. We must have that same unrelenting purpose for our children and ourselves. The saying still rings true, “We are what we eat.” Eat in a way that enables you to become the person God created you to be. Dr. Linda Howelton specializes in Pediatrics in San Antonio, TX.

FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM • NOVEMBER 2011

BOUNDARIES

WHEN IS

ENOUGH,

ENOUGH?

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

The following is the continuation of the article When Is Enough, Enough? from the previous edition of FAITH Magazine. By Anne Williams

ichelle drove across town to her old neighborhood. Several neighbors were outside and noticed her as she pulled up. They summoned her to join them. When she did, they began conversing about her childhood, marriage, family, children and their own rheumatoid arthritis. Michelle, who had always been taught to “respect her elders”, found it very difficult to interrupt and end the conversation. After 30 minutes, she managed to cross the street to her mother’s house.“Here you are, Mom,” she said, as she hugged her and handed her the money. “Thank you baby, would you like some tea? That’s all I have to offer you. Things are so tight I just don’t know what to do. With this cold weather, heating bills are high.” Michelle did notice how drafty the house was as she thought to herself, “Well, yes Mom, we do live in Illinois. The winters are always cold and winter comes the same time every year. You have to budget.” She wanted to express her thoughts, but didn’t. Michelle walked over and adjusted the thermostat, then handed her mother an additional $80 which her mother quickly grabbed and gave her the traditional, “You are the greatest daughter” speech. Michelle walked back to her car with $20 left in her purse for the gift. At 9:00 that night, she sat at the dinner table looking over dirty dishes from the delicious meal she prepared for her husband. He was happy. Her daughters talked all night about the fun they had at the party. And Michelle? Her back, feet and spirit ached as she realized she had to be at work at 7am the next morning. Michelle’s example included family members, but what if it were someone from the church or your favorite charity asking for help? Are you able to draw the line and not over commit? We are often taught to give and give until we put ourselves in a bind. We are told that God will see our giving and bless us. We are reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan, “It is better to give than to receive,” and the story of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his only son. I am not suggesting that we should not give. On the contrary, I believe that there is a supernatural spiritual flow of giving and receiving.

“We need to be clear about making decisions for our lives that are not based on someone else controlling or manipulating us.” But what should we do when we feel obligated to say “yes” and too guilty to say “no”? The answer is that we must set appropriate boundaries. When we live “boundaryless” lives, we cause others to skip out on their responsibilities. It is important for us to set boundaries for ourselves so that we are clear about what our responsibilities are and what they are not. We need to be intentional about making decisions for our lives that are not based on someone else controlling or manipulating us. Boundaries help us to live happy healthy

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lifestyles. Boundaries are scriptural. God has boundaries and He wants us to have boundaries. No one should be able to come into our lives and derail our goals. We must learn to set limitations without feeling guilty. We must be able to accept limitation from others without emotionally withdrawing. We must remain true to ourselves even though we are in emotional relationships with others. If you can relate to Michelle, it’s time to make a positive change in your lifestyle. It’s boundary setting time. To read the ﬁrst part of When Is Enough, Enough? visit our website at www.faithmagazineonline.com

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PREACH, Excerpt from the sermon Check Your Gear Ephesians 6:11-20

by Rev. Douglas Randle

t’s time to go higher. Higher in your gifting, higher in your anointing and higher in your calling–higher in whatever area God is directing you toward. You have to give God everything that is within you, so He can give you everything He has in store for you. For the next phase of your life, I want to encourage you to

put aside the ways of darkness. As my mother would always say, “What’s done in the dark will eventually come to the light.” You are charged to keep your mind elevated. Be in the world, but not of the world. Belt of Truth We must have the belt of truth buckled around our waist. It is the truth that makes us free, and it is our character that promotes us to places of victory and inﬂuence. Remember that a reputation takes a lifetime to build and only a moment to destroy.

“If you are planning to succeed, you have to get your mind right.” check your gear. There’s no way you will be successful if you are not geared up for the season. The must haves I want to share with you are crucial to your faith walk and to the fulﬁllment of your purpose. Full Armor of God The ﬁrst thing we are admonished to put on is the full armor of God. This full armor is representative of not only our outer gear, but also our mindsets. If you are planning to succeed, you have to get your mind right. You are charged to behave decently. You are charged to

Selena Mitchell Continued from page 23

you’re older? SELENA: If it’s in God’s plan for me to run for Miss America or Miss USA I will. Until then, you will have to stay tuned! FAITH: I will certainly stay tuned and thank you for taking time out of your tight schedule to speak with me. SELENA: You’re welcome and thank you too. See you again soon.

Breastplate of Righteousness We need the breastplate of righteousness to cover our vital organs. As you move through life, you will notice that the enemy is seeking to gain access to your spirit through your heart. He will use the things you love to distract you. When you operate in righteousness before the Lord, you are challenged by the trickery of the enemy. Gospel of Peace We must have our feet ﬁtted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. We must make sure that we are

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” –Psalm 127:3 “Train up a child in the way he should go (and in keeping with his individual gift or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 “And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.” –Matthew 18:5 All above Scriptures are from the Ampliﬁed version of the Bible.

OCTOBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

PREACHER! “It is our faith that allows us to stand when the enemy is raging war against us.” continuing to walk in the knowledge of the Gospel that brings peace in the midst of storms. The devil loves to get our eyes off Jesus. When this happens, we make miscalculated steps and end up falling off our course and become ashamed to the point that we stop walking with the Lord. We have to cover our feet with the peace of the Gospel so we won’t walk into the traps that the enemy has set up to sabotage us and make us feel unworthy or unable to continue on in the service of the Lord. Shield of Faith We must take up the shield of faith to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. It is our faith that allows us to stand when the enemy is raging war against us. It is our faith that extinguishes his fiery attempts to emblaze us before they touch us. It is faith that makes his routine seem as irritating and inconsequential as an insect flying around the lobe of your ear when really his goal is to scare us like a roaring lion would. While the devil’s aim is to seek, kill, and destroy, our

faith in God allows us to eventually witness him destroyed by the same trap he meant for us! Helmet of Salvation We are told to take the helmet of salvation which is our hope in God. Salvation helps us in times of despair to remember that with God all things are possible, and the adversity and persecution that we now face shall soon pass. Sword of the Spirit Finally, we take the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. We need to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we will make the right decision when we are faced with the choice to make a wrong one. As you shift into the next gear in your spiritual walk with God, continue to let your light shine. Rev. Douglas Randle is an Associate Minister at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas.

Reﬂection As I look into the mirror, Do you know what I see? I see a beautiful girl with a life full of possibility. I see a girl that is unique, intelligent and blessed abundantly. As I look into the mirror, Do you know what I see? I see a girl of respect, great power and integrity. In her eyes I see a bright future overﬂowing with prosperity. As I look into the mirror, Do you know what I see? I see a girl who speaks the truth and advocates positivity. I see a girl that is fearfully and wonderfully made; She is a masterpiece. As I look into the mirror, Do you know what I see? I see God’s most perfect creation, Looking back at me. Hailey Laurel Williams, Age 13

MADE IN HIS IMAGE

By Kimberly Small

re you a teenager or adult who struggles with a poor self image, not knowing who you are, why you were created or what your purpose is? Do you tend to settle for less, and get caught up living beneath your privilege? If so, now is the time for you to become self aware, boost your self esteem and improve your self image. A poor self image usually results in turning the AC on: Accommodate and Compromise.

Do you always accommodate others by meeting their needs and putting yours last? Do you always inconvenience yourself for the convenience of others? When you compromise by settling for less than what your heart really desires you are doing yourself a disservice. Settling in relationships because you are desperate to have a mate and are willing to accept the ﬁrst person that comes along, will eventually leave you feeling unfulﬁlled and

disappointed. When you settle in your friendships and hang out with those who do not mean you any good or don’t represent who you are morally, you lower your standards are accepting less than God’s best for your life. Set and maintain high standards; never lowering them for anyone. Instead of keeping company with someone who doesn’t embrace your same morals and values for the sake of not being alone, go to the mall, movies or dinner by yourself. When you refuse to compromise, you may have to wait longer to get what you really want. But in the end, it will be worth the wait. Turn the AC off. To do so, you must see yourself differently. You must see yourself as God sees you. It does not matter what your past holds; mistakes and all, God loves you. Even before you were thought of, He knew you. His word says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are created in His likeness and image (Gen 1:26-27) Discovery Steps:

Self Awareness: Know who you are and whose you are. This includes knowing your purpose in life. Do not try to keep up with others or be like someone else. Do not be envious or jealous. Compliment others on how they look and commend them on their accomplishments. Self Esteem: You are simply conﬁdent (not prideful or arrogant). When you look in the mirror, you like what you see. You see yourself as God sees you. It should not matter what anyone else thinks about you. God’s thoughts of you are what matter. (Psalm 139:17, “How precious to me are your thoughts oh God!”) If His thoughts of you are that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”, then that is what you are. Your thoughts should line up with His. When you are conﬁdent, you make better choices, you choose better friends, a better lifestyle for yourself and your loved ones, and you ensure that you value yourself. Self Image: Individuality; one’s own personal style. No two people are exactly same. Be who you were created to be. You are your best when you are being yourself, instead of attempting to be like someone else. Dress for where you are going in life. Dress for success even when you are feeling down. Choose garments that are lively, crisp and colorful. Select colors that make you feel like you are on top of the world regardless of how you feel. When feelings change, moods change, but God does not change. He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you, they are plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” God’s Word never changes. So in spite of how you feel, you must get up and get dressed knowing that God has plans for your prosperous future. Put your best foot forward.

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Self Awareness and Self Confidence Your actions and appearance reveal the level of awareness and confidence that is on the inside of you. As a child, I recall my grandfather paying my siblings and me fifty cents to iron a large garbage bag full of boxers and t-shirts. It would take us at least two hours to complete since they had to be starched, steamed and ironed. I would always wonder why in the world someone would want their undergarments ironed? But when

my grandfather wore his clothes, they had a very nice fit; a smoother finish. Evidently, the ironed undergarments made him feel better and more confident than if he had worn them wrinkled. My grandfather took the time to ensure that what was underneath (not visible) was just as in tact with what was visible. He was concerned with the finished overall look. Self awareness and self confidence result in a smoother finish.

“When you settle in your friendships and hangin outyour with those “When you settle friendships and hang out with who do do not mean you any good orthose don’t who not mean you any good or don’t represent who you are represent who youlower are morally, youstanlower morally, you your dards arebest accepting than your standards and for are accepting less than God’s yourless life.” God’s best for your life.” Self Image Clothes and material possessions do not add value to who you are. It does not matter if you shop at Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Target or Walmart, your level of confidence plays a major factor in your overall appearance as well as the clothes you select to wear. Everyone can’t wear everything. Just because they make it in your size, does not mean you have to leave the store with it. If you have to think twice about an outfit before purchasing it, that’s probably an indication that you should not wear it. If you feel the need to wear clothes that are revealing and expose your body parts to get noticed, it is very likely that you have a poor self image. What’s on the inside, manifests itself on the outside. You are a creature of influence, power and persuasion. You are an atmosphere changer. When you walk confidently into a room, all heads turn and take notice. Not because they are

jealous or envy you, not because you spent a certain amount of money on your outer appearance, but because you took the time to invest in what’s not seen by building your inner self. When you embrace a positive self image, you feel good about yourself; you begin to dream, set goals, and create an action plan to accomplish each of your endeavors as if your life depended on it. You ensure that you have people surrounding you that stretch you and challenge you to reach your next level. You are precious in the sight of God and you need to treat yourself as such. By doing so, you teach others how to treat you. No matter what your background, what you’ve been through, where you live or don’t live, what you drive or don’t drive, make a new start today. You are made in the image and likeness of God. You are worth the investment.

“You are precious in the sight of God and you need to treat yourself as such.”

CHRISTIAN2 CHRISTIAN

James 3:5-6 (NIV) “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

TAMING THE TONGUE by Christian Jones

he tongue is a very small part of the body; however, in our everyday lives it plays a significant role. As teenagers, we often encounter slandering from our peers. No matter how nice and cool we are, it happens. Haters will be haters. My question to you is simply, “How do you react when slanderers come your way?” Do you attempt to put your peers “on blast”? If so, that response doesn’t solve a thing. As a matter of fact, using the tongue in that way may create a spark resulting in a huge fire that is unexpected and unwanted. You could find yourself in a quarrel, brawl or maybe even a shooting. By not taming your tongue, each of these undesirable circumstances can be ignited. In these situations, I challenge you to take a different approach. Instead of retaliating with words or violence, retaliate with silence and peace. You must remember that as Christians we are to respond in love and allow God to handle the rest. Until next time, be blessed.

NOVEMBER 2011 • FAITHMAGAZINEONLINE.COM

Victory

BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US THE

THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. —1 Corinthians 15:57

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