The Gospel Truth September 2023

Optimize Conference 2023 Aims To Equip Faith Community With Tools And Resources To Unleash Its Full Potential

Pastor Xavier Jones

Sandy Walker

A powerful gathering is on the horizon in the vibrant heart of Miami-Dade County’s faith community. The OPTIMIZE Conference 2023 is set to be an extraordinary two-day summit designed to leave an indelible mark on the lives of pastors, leaders, and entrepreneurs. The event is scheduled for October 6 - 7, 2023, at Brave Church Miami at 1300 S.W. 87th Avenue in Miami. With its mission to unlock the full potential of ministry and business, this conference is poised to bring about region-shifting, power-filled, and information-driven transformation. One of the driving forces behind the OPTIMIZE Conference is none other than the renowned Pastor Xavier Jones.

“Optimize is a call to action to pastors, leaders, and ministry workers. If you’re doing something, we want to equip you,” said Jones, conference host and pastor of Transformation Church Miami. The primary emphasis of this conference is

Pastor Xavier Jones

Optimize Conference 2023 Aims To Equip Faith Community With Tools and Resources To Unleash Its Full Potential

training and developing leaders.” “You will walk away with hands-on practical tools on effective planning and creative budgeting. We will highlight preaching that will maximize impact,” Jones continued. “It will not just be theory. This conference is designed so that when you leave this conference, it will not take you three years to implement.”

More than a spiritual shepherd, Jones is an author, an influential cultural architect, a trailblazer, and an innovative leader. His passion for seeing people excel in their kingdom purpose, with excellence as the standard, is the driving force behind this transformative event. He promised that the conference would deliver practical ministry solutions.

“I told them our main focus is that this conference needs to be a Sunday-ready conference,” Jones continued. “That means this conference is over on Saturday at 4:00

PM. People should be able to implement some of this stuff in their church by Sunday morning. They are going to leave with standard operating procedures. They’re going to leave with practical items.”

As the anticipation grows, attendees can look forward to a captivating experience that promises to break down barriers, ignite creativity, and elevate everyone to new heights. This isn’t your ordinary conference; it’s an extraordinary journey that beckons to those who are passionate about making a profound impact in their church and business communities.

“Some of the key things that we will emphasize at Optimize is to ensure that you have a strategy and a plan in place. Most people are attempting to run ministry by the seat of their pants. Not with a strategic plan in place,” added Jones, a senior pastor of 14 years.

The conference has a dynamic program, including keynote speeches from experienced leaders, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and uplifting worship sessions. Attendees can expect to gain practical insights, hear inspiring stories, forge new connections, and access valuable resources to aid their personal and professional growth.

“Our world has undergone a profound transformation, and we have witnessed a changing of the guards. The days of merely hoping and waiting for things to happen are over. Jones reflected, Our world is facing significant challenges, and it’s becoming more troubled than ever before. Many pastors, leaders, and business owners are experiencing burnout because they possess a vision but lack the necessary support. They have a dream but lack the structured policies and procedures required for its realization. Our mission at the OPTIMIZE conference is clear: “we aim to offer practical tools and resources while also helping alleviate challenges by lightening the load.”

“For those eager to explore the realms of leadership and entrepreneurship, the Saturday, October 7, 2023 conference session that is from 9 AM to 4 PM is an absolute must-attend. These sessions are custom-tailored exclusively for registered participants, providing a wealth of knowledge, networking prospects, and indispensable resources. Registration is a mandatory prerequisite to unlock this treasure trove of insights.

“We will hand that over to them and challenge them to execute. Ministry doesn’t have to be a big ministry, but God does call for effective ministry,” Jones assured.

The conference’s agenda covers various topics relevant to maximizing life and unlocking one’s potential. From effective planning and creative budgeting to impactful preaching and outreach strategies, every facet of leadership and entrepreneurship will be explored. The aim is to equip every participant, regardless of the size of their ministry or business, with practical tools to achieve their fullest potential.

“My definition of ministry is being able to minister to the total man, mind, body, and soul. We see that model demonstrated throughout scripture. It becomes challenging for people to fully embrace the word of God when they are hungry or broken because these factors significantly influence how they receive it,” explained Jones. “Our goal is to create a ministry environment that is both relevant and creative that addresses all three of those areas throughout Jesus’s ministry.This conference is designed to help scale and upgrade ministries so that we can be effective for Jesus Christ.”

OPTIMIZE Conference 2023 isn’t just an event; it’s a mission. It’s an opportunity to transform lives, ministries, and businesses, all within the welcoming embrace of the universal faith community. Come and be a part of this extraordinary gathering where faith, leadership, and entrepreneurship converge to create a brighter future for all who attend.

The Children’s Trust Celebrates 20 Years of Nurturing Greatness of Children and Families with a Stunning Building Light-Up Tribute

With the culmination of The Children’s Trust’s 20th Anniversary celebrations this year a grand finale with light installations in the heart of Miami’s downtown skyline and other landmark buildings across Miami-Dade County created a breathtaking tribute. The buildings were illuminated in The Trust’s vibrant

green-pantone hue delighting both locals and visitors. Since its inception, The Trust has been an instrumental driving force in the community, offering essential financial support to hundreds of organizations directly improving the lives of children and families.

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The Power of Gratitude: A Deep Dive into Its Benefits and Practices

By: Dr. Luis Hines

What Gratitude Really Means

Gratitude isn’t just a buzzword. It’s an emotion, deeply rooted in recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life. It emanates warmth, kindness, and a sense of generosity. While its definition may vary based on context and individual perspectives, at its core, gratitude signifies recognizing the goodness in one’s life and attributing it to an external source, be it nature, another individual, or even a divine force.

Historical Perspectives on Gratitude

Ancient philosophers and religious figures have been captivated by gratitude’s essence for centuries. Though it caught the attention of modern psychologists and sociologists in the 1950s, it wasn’t until potential health benefits emerged that interest in gratitude truly surged.

Manifestations of Gratitude Wondering if you’ve ever truly felt grateful?

Gratitude manifests in myriad ways:

• Reflecting on life’s blessings

• Pausing to marvel at life’s simple wonders

• Expressing thanks for good health

• Acknowledging those who positively impact your life

• Showing kindness as a gesture of appreciation

• Reveling in life’s small joys

• Engaging in gratitude-based meditation or prayers

Decoding the Facets of Gratitude

Gratitude can be categorized as:

Affective Trait: Tied to one’s innate disposition.

Mood: Periodic fluctuations in feelings of gratitude.

Emotion: Brief, momentary feelings stirred by specific events.

Unlocking the Practice of Gratitude

Harnessing gratitude is simple, yet profoundly transformative:

Live in the Now: Tune into your feelings and surroundings. Recognize those aiding your well-being.

Document Your Gratitude: Consider maintaining a journal, capturing daily blessings.

Relish the Present: Immerse in the moment, soaking in positive vibes.

Establish Gratitude Rituals: Embrace practices that elevate gratitude.

Show Your Appreciation: Actively express your gratitude, enhancing your relational bonds.

Evaluating Your Gratefulness

Quotient Wondering where you stand on the gratitude scale? Reflect on these questions:

• Do you often find reasons to be thankful?

• If you penned your blessings, would it be a lengthy list?

• Do you spot reasons for gratitude when you view the world?

• Has age intensified your appreciation for life and people?

• Do gratitude-filled moments frequent your life?

• Do you value a diverse set of individuals?

Answering in the affirmative indicates a strong gratitude base. If not, it might be time to infuse more gratitude into your existence.

Prostate Cancer’s Impact On African Americans

Prostate cancer is one of the most prolific cancers among men across the United States, second only to skin cancers. However, Black people carry a heavier burden, are more likely to develop it, and less likely to get early detection screening. The Black population is also twice as likely to suffer fatalities from aggressive prostate cancers as their White counterparts who develop prostate cancer. What is prostate cancer? What are the symptoms? How is it treated? And why are Black people at such high risk? Learn more below.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The signs of prostate cancer are relatively easy to notice, especially as the disease progresses, and many are urinary symptoms. However, once these symptoms arise, the prostate gland cancer may have already progressed. This is why early detection is key. Because Black people have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, they should be vigilant about following up on any of the symptoms below.

• Frequent or painful urination

• Weak urine stream

• Urinary incontinence

• Blood in semen or urine

• Painful ejaculation

• Decrease in the amount of ejaculate

• Erectile dysfunction

• Pain in the back, hips, or thighs

• Unintentional weight loss

• Decline in overall health

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

The three most significant risk factors for prostate cancer are age, family history, and race. Researchers have found that Black people have a much higher chance of developing prostate cancer than other races. However, there are additional risk factors that may determine whether your prostate cancer is slow-growing versus aggressive and more likely to metastasize, or spread to other organs once prostate cancer starts. These risk factors include:

• A sedentary lifestyle

• High calcium intake

• Poor diet

• Being tall

• Close family history

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

• Prostatitis (prostate infection)

• Agent Orange exposure

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about risk factors for prostate cancer, including vasectomy, increased sexual activity, alcohol intake, and taking certain supplements like Vitamin E. If you are concerned about high risk for prostate cancer, discuss it with your health care provider and the possibility of early detection screening.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are many treatment options available to those with prostate cancer. Once prostate cells have changed, a prostate biopsy can help determine the Gleason Score and the TNM Score. These, together, help determine the stage and likelihood of the abnormal cells spreading. They also help your health care team create a personalized treatment plan that will be most effective against the abnormal cells.

Possible Prostate Cancer Treatment Options:

• Active Surveillance: Also called “watch and wait,” it is recommended for low-grade cancers with little likelihood of spreading. Doctors may not recommend it for Black people.

• Radical Prostatectomy: Removing the prostate may also remove the cancer and prevent it from spreading if it is has not spread but may be aggressive.

• Radiation Therapy: Radiation can be performed externally or internally, depending on what may be best to treat your specific type and stage of prostate cancer.

• Freezing or Heating: Cryotherapy (freezing) or high intensity focused ultrasound (heating) is an option for small, localized cancers that are caught early.

• Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapies keep your body from producing testosterone or keep it from reaching the abnormal cells. These treatment options are used along with others. This includes androgen deprivation therapy.

• Chemotherapy: This is a very typical cancer treatment used for many cancers that have spread to other regions throughout the body.

• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy can change and support your body’s immune system, helping it to fight the cancer on its own.

• Targeted Drug Therapy: These therapies target your specific type of cancer cells with medications designed for them and are most effective at treating recurrent prostate cancer.

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, BPRW’s Thrivin’ in Color podcast is dedicating its episode 19 to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. This episode features an insightful conversation with Brandon Johnson, the Branch Chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the leading agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for advancing the nation’s behavioral health. Brandon engages in a powerful dialogue with host Camry Brown about the stigmas surrounding mental health within the Black community and suicide prevention resources. “We never know what people are going through,” said Camry. “The vital information shared in this episode is something listeners everywhere will find helpful. I encourage everyone to tune in into this episode.” Black PR Wire’s Thrivin’ in Color podcast gives Black and Brown mental health professionals a platform through which they may support and uplift

Shining a Light on Mental Health During Suicide Awareness Month

our community. Tune in to Thrivin’ in Color on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you or anyone you know are having suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

About Thrivin’ in Color: Thrivin’ In Color is a podcast produced by Black PR Wire, featuring interviews with remarkable sistas and brothas from across the country who are doing extraordinary things in today’s society. Thrivin’ In Color takes us behind the scenes of their world, where we meet with them and pick up some golden nuggets for success. Thrivin’ In Color podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all of your favorite podcast services.

Miami-Dade County Planning Division Wins Best Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Workplace Award

The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ Planning Division wins Best Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Workplace award for 2023, presented by the American Planning Association (APA), Florida Chapter. The award recognizes organizations that are engaged in the planning profession in Florida and demonstrate achievement and commitment to expanding equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession. Miami-Dade County’s Planning Division were recognized at the APA 2023 Leadership Awards Ceremony on Friday, September 8, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel.

Meet Brandon Johnson, Branch Chief at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, “What does love mean?” The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca - age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe with them.” Billy - age 4

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” Chrissy - age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” Terri - age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny - age 7

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,” Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

“There are two kinds of love. Our love. God’s love. But God makes both kinds of them.” Jenny - age 8

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” Noelle - age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy - age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore,” Cindy - age 8

“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” Clare - age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine -age 5

1. Keep that caffeine habit

Sip coffee—before your workout to help raise the number of calories you torch afterward. When cyclists sipped espresso an hour before a ride, their resting metabolism—the number of calories they burned while not working out—leaped by 15 percent post-ride.

2. Pack on the protein

When you drop pounds, some of what you shed is calorie-burning muscle—a loss that can slow your metabolism. One fix: Double your protein. Study participants who downed twice the recommended daily allowance lost the same amount of weight—but much less muscle—as those who ate the RDA. Aim for 1.5 grams per 2 pounds of body weight per day to reap the results.

3. Stack your day

A study in the journal Obesity found that women who ate a 700-calorie breakfast and a 200-calorie dinner shed more than twice as much weight over 12 weeks as those whose meal sizes were reversed. Your body clock is linked to hormone dips that rev metabolism in the morning and leave it feeling sluggish at night, say study authors.

4. Drop the guilt

Twenty-seven percent of people associated chocolate cake with guilt. In a study from the University of Canterbury, those who felt bad about eating it were less likely to maintain their weight over a year and a half compared with the 73 percent of people who associate the dessert with celebration.

5. Be wary of white bread

Limit your intake of white bread to less than 120 grams (four or five slices) a week. People are 40 percent more likely to be overweight if white bread is the

only bread they eat, according to Spanish researchers.

6. Power up with protein

Start your day with eggs and ham. Having a larger serving of protein at breakfast makes you less likely to overeat for the rest of the day, say researchers. Shoot for at least 20 grams.

7. Cut back on carbs

It’s one of the most reliable strategies for short-term weight loss. Dutch researchers found that eating one carb-free meal a day over a 2-week period can increase your metabolic rate by 81 calories per day. The key is making the meal about 70 percent protein and, of course, zero carbs. Watch for sneaky carb sources like milk, sausages, and barbecue sauce, just to name a few.

8. Replace don’t remove

Cutting calories too drastically can feel taxing, mentally and physically. Instead, make one tweak during each meal to get more nutrients like healthy fats, fiber, and protein into your diet. It’s as simple as sprinkling your yogurt with flaxseed instead of granola at breakfast or adding a handful of fresh spinach to your pasta sauce at dinner.

9. Dine in

It should come as no surprise that weekends are the most popular days for dining out, according to the National Restaurant Association. But research has also found that eating dinner out adds 144 calories to your daily intake (but here’s how you can stay lean while dining out). It may not seem like a lot, but if you also ate out for lunch, that’s another 158 calories—plus, any away-from-home snacks tack on about 107 calories each.

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GREATER ST. PAUL AME CHURCH

3680 Thomas Avenue Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 (305) 448-2742

Email: info@greaterstpaulame com

Website: www.greaterstpaulame.com

Rev. Nathaniel Robinson III, Senior Pastor

HIGHER PRAISE AND WORSHIP CENTER

6610 SW 59th Place

South Miami Fl 33143 305-284-9787

hpwc6610@gmail.com

Rev. Joshua R. Caley, Lead Pastor

MEMORIAL TEMPLE MB CHURCH

16600 NW 44th Ct Miami Gardens, Fl. 33054 memorialtemple org www facebook com/memorialtemple

Rev. Rod Johnson, Pastor