TSV Summer 2016

Metro NY

inside

EDITION

School Bathroom Policy Lacks Common Sense Page 5 Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs Page 20 GEORGE FLORES & THE GATE

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‘Let Your Voice Be Heard’ Page 22 6

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COLLYDE SUMMIT 2016 The Collyde Summit will be held Sept. 16-17 at Zarephath Christian Church, 2 Chapel Dr., Zarephath, NJ. Speakers include: Francis Chan, Lysa Terkeurst, Ryan Baitzel, Jennie Allen, Richard Stearns, Stephen Brewster, Jason Yost, Dawn Nicole Baldwin, Dr. David Schroeder, Jinu Thomas, and others. Musical guests: Molley Moody, Dave Pettigrew. Tracks center on leadership; justice and culture; world missions and evangelism, and worship and creative arts. Tickets start at $69.

Visit www.collydesummit.com.

TOBY MAC AT SIX FLAGS Star 99.1 FM presents Toby Mac in concert at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ, Saturday, Aug. 20.

Special guest: Sam Cintron. For tickets, visit www.star991.com.

PATERSON PRAYER The P3 (Praise, Prayer, Paterson) Paterson Prayer Event will be held Aug. 20 at Eastside Park. P3 will focus on praying for Paterson and its schools and teachers; and a drive to collect school supplies.

Information at Facebook/Pray4 Paterson.

TUSCARORA CONCERTS Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center, 3300 River Rd., Mt. Bethel, Pa. presents two summer concerts: Adam Crabb, July 9, 7:30 p.m.; Aaron Shust, July 23, 7:30 p.m.

Visit www.tuscarora.org.

JOYSONGS CONFERENCE The Joysongs Conference will be held October 7-8 at ALWC Whippany, 43 South Jefferson Rd., Whippany, NJ. Conference, Oct. 8; free worship night, Oct. 7. Guest speakers: Jonathan Lee, Aimee Sych, Sheri Gould, Doug Gould, Marlinda Ireland, and Clay Bogan.

Visit www.joysongsmusic.com.

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Growing Stronger

By Victoria Campisi iovanna Cicerchia strengthened both her body and her faith on NBC’s newest reality show.

The Wyckoff, NJ resident was one of 20 contestants (10 male trainers and 10 female trainees) who competed in Strong, a rigorous, boot-camp-style competition that tested physical, mental, and emotional resolve.

Sylvester Stallone, creator of the Rocky movies, was one of the executive producers.

“Did I get stronger from Strong?” said Cicerchia. “Yes, I did. But I got stronger in a way that no one will ever understand… I know that the Word of God is true.”

Cicerchia, 38, is the mother of three young children and the wife of her childhood sweetheart, Louis Cicerchia. The couple attends Abundant Life Worship Center in Lincoln Park, NJ, where they are involved in children’s ministry and worship ministry.

“That’s my home, that’s my heart,” she said of the church.

Prior to Strong, Cicerchia had already been on a fitness journey for about a year. “I was training trying to lose weight...and get healthy as a mom,” she said.

Between her second and third child, she suffered a miscarriage, which caused her to gain weight. “I was depressed,” she said, “I baked a lot of cookies. I made a lot of pound cakes and I just kept baking and eating.”

During this trying time, she held on to the Lord and prayed, “I don’t [understand], but I’m going to have faith in you that I had this miscarriage for a reason. I have faith that you’re going to use it to strengthen one person.”

Having made it far in the casting process for another NBC show, Cicerchia received a casting blast e-mail for Strong and immediately knew it was something in which she was interested. At this point, she was down

P U B L I C A T I O N FREE

NEW JERSEY WOMAN COMPETES ON REALITY SHOW

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Giovanna Cicerchia, of Wyckoff, NJ, was a contestant on Strong. Photo: Chris Haston/NBC

to the last 20-30 pounds she wanted to lose.

“How is this not meant to be?” she thought.

Cicerchia believes her miscarriage story helped get her cast on the show.

“I’m very relatable,” she said. And the prayer she prayed following her miscarriage was answered, as now, she could not only strengthen one person, but potentially mil-

The Spiritual Power of Habit

By Tom Campisi r. James K. A. Smith went right to the heart of the matter when he spoke to a crowd of students at Christian Union’s Nexus 2016 Conference in New Haven, Connecticut, just a block from Yale University.

“You are more than a brain on a stick,” said Smith, professor of philosophy at Calvin College. “You are not just a mind.”

Smith’s lecture, entitled “The Spiritual Power of Habit,” captured the imaginations of the 317 high-achieving students who gathered this spring for The Christian Union Conference on Faith and Action at the Omni Hotel.

Christian Union, based in Princeton, N.J., is a leadership development ministry with a Continued on page 19

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CALVIN COLLEGE PROF SPEAKS AT NEXUS CONFERENCE

Dr. James K. A. Smith speaks at Nexus 2016, a conference hosted by Christian Union.

Photo: 47 Moments Photography

lions on national television.

Written in the journal she used during Strong is Proverbs 14:30: “A heart at peace gives life to a body…” Cicerchia clung to this verse before competing in Strong, and during her miscarriage. “I changed it to my life verse," she said.

Continued on page 17

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FROMTHEPUBLISHER

21 Years and 21 Memories A CHRISTIAN NEWS & E V E N T S P U B L I C AT I O N

Commentary by Tom Campisi ur cover story features Giovanna Cicerchia, a contestant on this spring’s reality show, Strong. The Wyckoff, New Jersey resident did not win the overall competition, but her team did take first in the Medallion Challenge that put her endurance to the test. In a segment dubbed “Hanging Tough” on YouTube, Cicerchia and her trainer outlasted the competition as they took turns hanging from a weighted bar despite fatigue and the pain in their hands, forearms, and upper body.

This issue marks my twenty-first anniversary as the editor and publisher of the TriState Voice, and, sometimes, it has been a lot like that hanging competition. Over the years, I’ve often felt like letting go, but the Lord and His Word have always been faithful to strengthen and encourage me.

With each issue, we have tried to prayerfully write stories that encourage and bless our readers in New Jersey and New York City. And by God’s grace, we have told some great ones along the way. As a testament to the goodness of God and the strength He gives, I recently thumbed through some of our covers and came up with 21 highlights from the last 21 years. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, just a fun way to reflect on some of the people and events we have had the privilege to cover.

MY FIRST ISSUE: It was June of 1995 and the cover story asked, “Is the Media Telling the Whole Truth?” Well, 21 years later, I think you would agree that the liberal bias is stronger than ever and alternative “voices” like this newspaper help provide a more biblical worldview.

DAVID BRYANT: The founder of Concerts of Prayer International and Proclaim Hope!, we wrote about him early on and often reprinted his columns that called believers to passionately stand in the gap for revival and fathom the supremacy of Christ.

CONCERTS OF PRAYER GREATER NEW YORK: The ministry that started The Lord’s Watch—an ongoing prayer vigil that seeks Revival, Reconciliation, Reformation in Society, and Reaching Out (with the Gospel)—also hosts the powerful Pastor’s Prayer Summit each January, among other initiatives. Movement Day (birthed by Concerts of Prayer Greater New York) has also graced the cover of the Voice.

BILLY GRAHAM: In 2005, we had the privilege of working with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to produce a special section in Tri-State Voice prior to the historic crusade at Flushing Meadow Park. Over 200,000 people attended and heard the Gospel preached over three nights. It was one of the last crusades for Mr. Graham.

PROMISE KEEPERS: Took a train to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with hundreds of other North Jersey men for Stand in the Gap in 1997. Locally, it was through Promise Keepers that I met regional director Andy Puleo (also of The Navigators) and got to write about his incredible devotion to discipleship.

LESLIE’S STORY: The wife of Rev. Fred McCarthy (Oasis Christian Center, Rahway, NJ), Leslie McCarthy courageously battled ALS for several years before passing away in 2011. Rachel Mari’s inspirational cover story

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Cover of June 1995 Tri-State Voice

in 2007 chronicled how the disease could not stop her from leading at the church.

SURVIVING HURRICANES: In 1999, I visited the campus of Zarephath Christian College (now Pillar College) and WAWZ (now Star 99.1 FM) and saw the watermark left by Hurricane Floyd. In 2011, Hurricane Irene hit even harder and the college was forced to relocate the main campus to a satellite location in Newark. Today, the college is thriving in downtown Newark and expanding under the leadership of President Dr. David Schroeder.

COLUMBINE: In April of 1999, the cover story was “The Shots Heard ‘Round the World.” I interviewed Bruce Porter, a pastor who spoke at the nationally-televised funeral of Rachel Scott, who was martyred for her strong faith. When Rev. Porter heard about a meeting Tri-State Voice was hosting with local youth pastors in response to Columbine, he flew to New Jersey and encouraged us to stand and join a revolution of righteousness.

SEPTEMBER 11: Out of the twisted metal and rubble of the Twin Towers, heroic stories and testimonies emerged. The Tri-State Voice devoted several issues to the Christian response and the impact of that fateful day.

ABOUNDING GRACE: (on the Lower East Side): Pastor Rick Del Rio, a member of the Ground Zero Clergy Task Force, has been ministering in the city since 1982. His son, Jeremy Del Rio, the founder of 20/20 Vision for Schools, has written some cutting-edge columns in the Voice.

EMOTIONAL HEALTHY: In 2003, we featured Pastor Pete Scazzero when he wrote The Emotionally Healthy Church.

More books and a powerful ministry that transforms lives followed.

ERIC METAXAS: I’m not saying we discovered him, but he wasn’t nearly as famous and sought-after as he is now when we wrote about his book on William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace (which was also a movie).

BILL WILSON: We interviewed this innovative, bold Brooklyn pastor (Metro World Child) prior to his keynote address at the New Jersey Christian Ministries Convention in 2006 (“Bill Wilson Drives Bus

Down Narrow Road”).

FCA: My wife Christen and I met Harry met Harry Flaherty, the New Jersey state director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, back in 1995 when we both were starting out and had booths at Big Splash in Ocean Grove (it was 106 degrees). It’s been awesome to see this ministry flourish and run the race despite the elements and the obstacles.

ANDY PETTITTE: I had a chance to interview this big lefty in 1996, his second year in the majors and the beginning of a New York Yankees’ dynasty. Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams went on to be known as the “Core Four” during a dominant era.

STORYTELLAS: “To the Hip-Bop Beat of a Different Drum.” That story from 1999 featured Pastor Joe Cortese (Crossroads Tabernacle), the Storytellas, and their legendary outreaches and music collaborations in the Bronx.

REVELATION GENERATION: From 2005-2010, Revelation Generation put on a great concert and ministered to thousands of young people each summer at Revelation Farms in Frenchtown, NJ. Founder Bob Grom’s unique vision attracted both Christian and secular music fans, who often heard testimonies from some of the day’s biggest artists. In a strange twist of fate, I helped book the Jonas Brothers for one of the shows.

ALL IN: Motivational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez has been on two covers: one for his work as an inner-city teacher and the other for his “All In” chapel message that preceded a winning streak and Super Bowl title for the New York Giants.

PRO-FAMILY POLICIES: The persistent and outstanding work of the New Jersey Family Policy Council has been featured in several issues. The same is true for Bishop Joe Mattera (Resurrection Church, Christ Covenant Coalition), who helped mobilize the Church for several rallies and press conferences that affirmed traditional, biblical marriage in New York City.

LEAN ON ME: Dan Hubbard wrote an excellent, compelling cover story on Edwin Placeres three years ago. This former gang member/drug dealer reaches out to homeless and addicted people in Paterson. Honorable mention: over the years, we have also featured ministries like New York City Rescue Mission, The Bowery Mission, Market Street Mission, and The Relief Bus. NO GENERATIONAL GAP: This issue is a special one for me because three generations of family are represented. My fatherin-law, Jim Biscardi, has a column on page 20 (“Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs and True Worship”) and my daughter, Victoria Campisi, a journalism major at Montclair State University, wrote the cover story.

See all the good things that can happen if you hang around long enough? As the Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:9, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Tom Campisi has served as the editor and publisher of the Tri-State Voice since 1995.

He welcomes your comments about this article or anything that is happening in the Metro New York Christian community.

E-mail him at Tom@Tristatevoice.com.

Please support our advertisers. They make this free publication possible.

The Tri-State Voice is an independent Christian newspaper, holding forth truth and traditional Judeo-Christian values as found in God’s Word, the Bible. We seek to increase awareness and activism among our readers in regards to biblical, moral, ethical, and political issues which affect the greater New York Christian community. Most of all, we are here to serve you.

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Publisher: Tom Campisi Assistant Editor: Rachel Mari Art Director: Dawn Massa, Lightly Salted Graphics Views expressed in the Tri-State Voice are those of the respective columnists and writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or the Tri-State Voice. Advertising in the Tri-State Voice is open to anyone desiring to reach the Christian community and is subject to approval, revision, and/or rejection at any time by the publisher. Publication of any advertisement does not constitute, either implied or inferred, an endorsement of services, products, or businesses advertised.

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Pascack Valley Bathroom Policy Defies Common Sense, Biblical Truths

By Daniel Hubbard Len Deo, president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, said education administrators have “crossed a lot of lines” in regards to the controversial transgender bathroom policies recently enacted by some school districts in the Garden State.

This spring, in a case that drew substantial media coverage, the Pascack Valley Board of Education approved a policy that would allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms and to participate in gym class and sports based on their gender identity, according to NorthJersey.com. Four other North Jersey school districts have also implemented similar policies.

“This is for the three-tenths of a percent of people who self-identify as transgender,” Deo said. “To take the 99.7 percent of our student population and expose them to people of the opposite sex is discriminatory against them.”

The New Jersey Family Policy Council is doing its part to educate pastors and concerned citizens about the policy and legal developments in Trenton.

“We’re trying to foster something that’s very hard to find nowadays,” Deo said. “It’s called common sense.”

Proponents of the transgender policy said it is necessary and not having one infringes on transgender students’ rights. Opponents, which include representatives from Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal aid group, said that the policy transgresses the rights of the majority. Liberty Counsel is considering a suit against the Pascack Valley district.

Rev. Thomas Keinath, senior pastor of Cal-

Greg Quinlan, president of The Center for Garden State Families. “What we are doing by enabling this behavior is enabling the very person we are claiming to be helping.”

The mission of Garden State Families “to protect and promote faith, freedom, and the natural family, in culture and public pol-

Len Deo, president of the NJ Family Policy Council

vary Temple International Assembly, said such a policy also violates biblical principles.

“The Bible is clear that God has biologically created only two sexes: male and female (Gen. 5:2). No other allowance for a perceived third sex or transsexual identity or practice is affirmed,” Keinath said.

In March, the American College of Pediatrics published an article that explained how biology is an inherent binary trait.

“Human sexuality is binary by design, with the obvious purpose being the reproduction and flourishing of the species,” the article states. It also noted that “a person’s belief that he or she is something they are not is, at best, a sign of confused thinking.”

Healthy children of one biological gender who believe they are the opposite sex could potentially suffer from gender dysphonia, a recognized mental disorder.

“Transgenderism is a mental illness,” said

“The acceleration of the acceptance and broadening of every sort of sexual aberration in America in recent years is clear indication that our nation is under strong demonic delusion and in a moral free-fall.”

– Pastor Tom Keinath icy, as held by the traditional Christian worldview.”

At the Pascack Valley Board of Education meeting, Quinlan was escorted out after shouting from the audience.

A former homosexual, Quinlan says that just because someone self-identifies as a woman or a man doesn’t mean that the person becomes that gender and has a right to use another bathroom or locker room.

“You can’t change your chromosomal makeup,” he said. “You still remain what you were at birth.”

In May, the federal government entered the debate in response to a North Carolina law that did not make provision for trans-

gender people and their choice of restrooms. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education sent letters to every public school district in the country.

The letters provide guidelines on how transgender students should be accommodated.

Non-compliant districts could lose federal funds.

"A school may not segregate or otherwise distinguish students on the basis of their sex, including gender identity, in any school activities or the application of any school rule," the letter says.

Schools must also accommodate transgender students in athletics, single-sex classes, housing, and extra-curricular activities, not just bathrooms or locker rooms, the guidelines stipulate.

“The acceleration of the acceptance and broadening of every sort of sexual aberration in America in recent years is clear indication that our nation is under strong demonic delusion and in a moral free-fall,” Keinath said. “As did the Roman Empire of old, America as we know it is in the process of implosion, destruction from the inside out. Only the revival of the Church and the resultant awakening of the nation will reverse this coming devastation and God’s judgment.”

Keinath said that Christians must continue to follow Christ’s example of loving and praying for those living such lifestyles. The battle is not against the people, he said.

“It is rather against those movements and politics which foster depravity for the purposes of political gain and ideological power,” Keinath said.

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The Gate Begins Streaming World-Wide

By Tejal Sarbaugh hat was once a storage room full of tangled wires and broken instruments in the basement of the International House of Prayer: Eastern Gate is now a functional radio station streaming praise and worship internationally through the Internet.

The Gate, based in Cranford, New Jersey, officially began streaming through the Web all day and night starting April 2016. The Internet radio station is available through the Eastern Gate’s website (www.ihopeg.org/thegate), or as a free app through the Apple and Android app stores.

While there is constant streaming throughout the week, George Flores, the main operator of the station, hosts live programs on weekdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Gate is intended for all generations, but Flores said he hopes to especially make an impact on young adults between the ages of 16-28, specifically those who have not completely developed their worldview and religious views.

“The Gate is intending to teach and influence spiritually that age range, because they are the ones making life decisions,” he said.

“But I am also inclusive of senior saints, and that is reflected by tried and true songs for Christ that they may recall.”

Additionally, Flores hopes that the station will provide a place for those who do not have a home church to acquire teaching and worship, regardless of their country.

With these goals in mind, Flores, a longtime fixture on Christian radio stations in Metro New York, collected a wide range of music styles for The Gate, even those not typically addressed by commercial radio. Some of these

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artists include those for the older generation, such as Bill Gaither, and some for the younger generations, such as Hillsong, Bethel, and artists from the International House of Prayer, based in Kansas City, Missouri.

George Flores

“The intent is to blend the old anointed songs with the current anointed songs and not be so much about genre in music type as to be about the thematic content of the songs.”

– George Flores “The intent is to blend the old anointed songs with the current anointed songs and not be so much about genre in music type as to be about the thematic content of the songs,” Flores said.

Rev. Gary DePasquale, director of the Eastern Gate, said this musical range is to ensure that listeners are not hearing the same songs over the course of the day; the goal is to provide new music that encompasses the same values and brings unity within the Body of Christ.

Besides music, Flores plans to incorporate other content into his radio programming. He is planning to feature teachings from other staff members at the Eastern Gate or incorporating five minute segments of Scripture readings, without commentary, throughout the day. He hopes to begin short interviews with people from other ministries to give listeners exposure to other believers around the world.

Hans Kim, director of the media

department at Eastern Gate, has been involved in the development of the apps and is working on podcasts and some music videos.

Rev. DePasquale also plans to use the station as a way to connect Houses of Prayer throughout the country. He hopes that they will all be able to connect through The Gate, and that the station will become a center of encouragement.

Statistics from The Gate show that within the U.S., the majority of its audience comes from New York and New Jersey. Internationally, Flores expects India, China, and Brazil to be top listeners as these countries mostly receive Christian connections through the Internet.

The development of The Gate began in November 2014 when George Flores left his job at Star 99.1 after working there for seven years. He had worked in radio broadcasting for over 40 years, but at this time in his life, he believed the Lord had another purpose.

Historic Agreement Reached to Renovate the Tomb of Jesus

By Sarah Wedel (WNS)—For the first time in more than 200 years, renovations began Monday on what is traditionally believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ.

The site has not been touched since 1810 due to the rivalry among the site’s guardians: the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian churches.

The contentions between the groups are almost as ancient as the tomb itself, said Seth Schwartz, associate director of the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies at Columbia University.

“The reason [the disagreements] seem strange is that Protestants have never been a part of this competition,” he said, but Protestants could compare the rivalries to the differences between church denominations.

The tomb sits within the Church of the Sepulchre, con-

structed in A.D. 325 by the Emperor Constantine in what is now the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation, and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity’s most sacred sites, even though historians and archeologists do not believe it is the actual place Jesus was buried.

The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian churches maintain separate sections of the site. Tensions sometimes arise between the clergymen who work and pray at the church together. In 2008, arguments between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks turned into a brawl.

The building has needed renovations for years, but as Schwartz explained, all parties must agree to any changes at the site.

“Anytime anyone makes a move towards changing the status quo,

the rivalries are going to come out,” he said. “Nobody is allowed to alter the status quo without the permission of all the parties involved.”

But the church building has become so decrepit that Israel’s Antiquities Authority labeled the structure unsafe last year, pressuring the differing Christian denominations to agree on the renovations and raise the 3 million euros needed to complete the project.

“We equally decided the required renovation was necessary to be done, so we agreed upon it,” said Rev. Samuel, the top Armenia official at the church.

The tomb is stable, but needs urgent attention after years of exposure to environmental factors like humidity. The renovations are expected to take eight to 12 months, during which time religious pilgrims will be able to continue visiting the site.

Subsequently, he asked Rev. DePasquale to pray with him for opportunities. After some time, Rev. DePasquale called Flores asking him about the possibility of an Internet radio station based within the Eastern Gate. Flores considered the offer, but he did not accept it for another year. Flores became an intern at the Eastern Gate for six months before joining as full-time staff in June 2015.

Since joining the staff, he has put most of his time and effort into developing and building The Gate. This included finding spon-

sors, gathering technical equipment, planning content, and looking for help. While Flores is the main operator, other staff members volunteer their time throughout the week to help with smaller technical tasks.

“We want to get out worship in the form of music to the nations via the Internet and for there to be expressions of prayer,” said Rev. DePasquale.

Anyone seeking more information about the International House of Prayer: Eastern Gate or The Gate can visit www.ihopeg.org.

visit www.TriStateVoice.com

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Robert Glover, Sameh Maurice, and Carlton Brown Receive Honorary Doctorates from Nyack College n Saturday, May 7, Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary held its 133rd commencement ceremony for nearly 600 graduates at Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. This year’s commencement also included the first graduates of Nyack’s Master of Arts in Social Work and the Master of Arts in Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins degree programs.

Honorary doctorates were presented to Robert Glover (Doctor of Letters), Sameh Maurice (Doctor of Divinity), and Carlton Brown (Doctor of Divinity). The three honorees were also inducted into the President’s Hall of Distinction at a pre-commencement brunch held at the Tarrytown House Estate. The Hall of Distinction was established in 2008 by Nyack’s 12th president, Dr. Michael G. Scales, as an annual tradition that recognizes the life work of honorary doctorate recipients and other individuals of outstanding public influence.

Robert Glover is the founder and executive director of Care for Children based in Beijing, China. The organization’s mission is to create a positive alternative to institutionalization of children through local family-based care. He is an advisor to the Chinese government on the social welfare of disadvantaged children. Care for Children was established in 1998 and has offices in China, Thailand, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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Rev. Dr. Sameh Maurice is the senior pastor of Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church, the largest evangelical (Presbyterian) church in Cairo, Egypt with a congregation of some 8,000 people. A former prominent surgeon, Pastor Sameh was always involved in ministry throughout his medical career.

His sense of calling to full-time ministry grew increasingly and in 1988, he was fully persuaded that ministry was God’s will for his life. He has led his church to pray for Egypt since the early 1980s with the idea of a unified Egyptian church in mind.

Bishop Carlton Theophilus Brown has been the senior pastor of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. in Harlem, New York since February 2000 and was consecrated to the office of bishop in February 2008. His 1,200-member congregation includes more than 40 auxiliaries. Bishop Brown’s entry into full-time ministry in 1987 opened the doors for extensive travel around the world, which has included short term missions assignments and serving as guest speaker at conferences in Azerbaijan, Russia, Cuba, India, Africa, Venezuela, and throughout the Caribbean, as well as around the United States.

In the week leading up to Commencement Day, hooding ceremonies for doctorate and graduate level divisions, baccalaureate services for undergraduates, and the School of Nursing pinning ceremony were held at various locations for the Rockland and Manhattan campus graduates.

States Sue Obama Administration Over Rules Redefining Gender For Public Schools

By Leigh Jones (WNS)—Eleven states filed suit against the Obama administration May 25 over its demand that public schools allow students to use the restroom and locker room facilities of their choice, rather than their biological gender.

Earlier this month, the federal departments of justice and education issued the directive, saying Title IX of the Civil Rights Act applies to gender identity as well as sex.

The attorneys general in Oklahoma, Alabama, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, Arizona, Louisiana, Utah, and Georgia disagree.

State officials say the Obama administration has “conspired to turn workplace and educational settings across the country into laboratories for a massive social experiment, flouting the democratic process, and running roughshod over commonsense policies protecting children and basic privacy rights,” according to the lawsuit.

Federal officials have warned that states that don’t comply with the new directive will face the loss of federal education funding.

But after making the threat first against

North Carolina, officials backtracked a bit, saying they would wait for the legal process to play out first.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department ordered North Carolina to revoke a newly adopted state law that protects private businesses from being forced by local laws to open restrooms and locker rooms to customers based on gender identity and not biological sex. North Carolina sued, and the Obama administration counter-sued.

Less than a week later, the administration issued its national directive on the new interpretation for Title IX, which was adopted primarily to ensure women’s college sports had an equal footing with mens’ teams.

Two school districts joined today’s lawsuit. The superintendent of Harrold Independent School District in North Texas, said it didn’t matter that none of his 100 students identified as transgender, to his knowledge.

“It’s not moot because it was thrusted upon us by the federal government, or we were going to risk losing our federal funding,” David Thweatt said.

ATTENTION STUDENT WRITERS The Tri-State Voice is seeking articles from student writers at Christian high schools and colleges for its new Web site, www.TriStateVoice.com — “Metro New York’s Online Source for Christian News & Events.”

For information and story requirements, e-mail Publisher Tom Campisi at tom@tristatevoice.com.

Clergy In Action Initiative Launched In Three Newark Public Schools n June 9th, the New Jersey Chapter of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (NJBAEO) launched its newest initiative, Clergy in Action (C.I.A.) at the Military Park Building located at 60 Park Place in Newark, New Jersey. The goal of C.I.A. is to provide programming and support services to students and families in need throughout the Newark Public Schools district.

“BAEO understands the difficulties and concerns that our students and parents experience daily,” said Lavar Young, executive director of NJBAEO. “Our Clergy In Action program will ensure that we have a clergy representative available at all schools throughout the district to provide counseling and services to students and families.”

Led by Pastor Jermel Mayo of Vailsburg Assembly of God in Newark, the C.I.A. initiative will offer crisis intervention services, convocations, mentorship, community

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service opportunities, and project partnerships.

“The beauty about C.I.A. is that everyone on our team has pure motives and truly wants to make an impact on our communities,” said Pastor Jermel Mayo, state clergy director of NJBAEO. “These are volunteer roles, and we are getting from behind the walls of our churches, and getting directly involved with our communities by providing our schools with comprehensive services and programs that are beneficial and go beyond the school walls.”

To date, the C.I.A. program is being implemented at Newark Leadership Academy, West Side High School, and Marion P. Thomas Charter School, with the anticipation of expanding to all schools throughout the district.

For additional information on the Clergy In Action (C.I.A.) initiative, please visit http:// clergyinaction.org.

6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

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Hackensack Christian School’s New Name: Bergen County Christian Academy

By Jacob Ford eflecting a broadening reach over its 46-year history, Hackensack Christian School plans to change its name to Bergen County Christian Academy at the beginning of next school year.

“The reason we are changing the name to Bergen County Christian Academy is the name represents that we encompass all of Bergen County,” explains Linda Horn, the principal of Hackensack Christian School.

Bergen County is the most populated county in the state of New Jersey, and Hackensack Christian is the only K-12 Christian School in the 70 cities, townships, boroughs, and villages of Bergen County. The number of students currently enrolled at Hackensack Christian is 153 students, including international students in the Middle and High School levels.

The name change was first announced to the students at an allschool assembly and explained that in no way does this amend-

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ment diminish the impact of Hackensack Christian School, according to Mrs. Horn.

News of the large change brought excitement among the students and faculty of the school and interest from families looking to enroll their children at Hackensack Christian.

Mrs. Horn expresses hope in the future of the school and its students: “I don’t see the changing of the name from Hackensack Christian School to Bergen County Christian Academy as the end, but rather, I see it as a new beginning.”

Hackensack Christian has been a school and a ministry of First Baptist Church for over 46 years.

It is located at 15 Conklin Place, Hackensack, New Jersey. Many things have changed at Hackensack Christian since its founding in 1973, but this is easily one of the school’s biggest transitions.

Jacob Ford is a sophomore at Hackensack Christian School. For more information on the school, please visit www.hcsinfo.org.

Star of Hope Hosts Project Backpack in Paterson tar of Hope Ministries in Paterson, NJ has launched Project Backpack, an initiative that will give Paterson children much-needed supplies for the upcoming school year. The parachurch ministry is seeking partnerships with local individuals and churches who can donate to the project.

“With school supplies, come the opportunity to engage in learning, setting the foundation for a bright future,” said Michael Brunello, manager of Star of Hope’s media ministry.

In August, Star of Hope will distribute 1,500 backpacks, each

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filled with 30 educational supplies. Every backpack will be distributed to at-risk children through the hands of a pastor or community leader in the Star of Hope network.

Last year, a local pastor was extremely grateful following the distribution of backpacks in his neighborhood.

“We had parents thank us because they did not have enough to buy all the supplies for their kids,” said Rev. Hector C. Lora, Risen Refuge Ministry. “We spoke to Arabic Christian families who recently moved here to

America and they were so very grateful to have these donations for their kids. The book bags were filled with pencils, crayons, notebooks, rulers, etc., but the families left filled with hope and the joy of Christ's love. We thank Star of Hope and all of its donors for making that happen today. I witnessed a smile come over every child's face as they chose the color they wanted. I imagine God smiled with them.”

For information on how you can partner with Star of Hope by purchasing a backpack for a child, visit www.sohm.org/backpack.

PILLAR COLLEGE CELEBRATES HISTORIC COMMENCEMENT Pillar College held commencement services on May 19 (baccalaureate services) and May 21 (graduation ceremony) at Rutgers Community Church in Somerset, NJ. Just five years after Hurricane Irene nearly devastated Pillar, the college’s graduating class of 2016 was its largest to date. Commencement included the first graduates from Pillar’s Paterson site and the first baccalaureate degrees conferred on students attending classes in that city since the early 1950s (when William Paterson moved to Wayne and left New Jersey’s third largest city without a four-year school). Pillar College (www.pillar.edu) has campuses in Newark, Somerset, and Paterson.

HOME TEAM REPORT

The Call to Serve Athletes and Coaches

By Drew van Esselstyn FCA Area director, North Jersey hen God began to call me into ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes after nearly two decades in a completely different field, I sometimes stammered for words to explain exactly how He was moving.

That was a completely new sensation for a guy who had worked with words for so long; I had only ever known a professional life as a sports editor and writer at a handful of newspapers.

But as I look back on when that call first came – or more likely, when I first heard it – I am reminded of a quote from the movie “Chariots of Fire.”

“When I run, I feel God’s pleasure,” Olympian Eric Liddell said.

Liddell rested confidently in a few truths: • He was doing what he was made to do; • He had been uniquely gifted to run, and; • He experienced pure joy as he sought to glorify God. There was no better place for

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Liddell to be.

A spirit of play and joy is what, when we strip away all the noise, is at the heart of sport – and getting back to that foundation is what we at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes want to be a part of.

Does that sound like something you were made to do?

FCA is, and will be for quite some time, seeking those who are called to full-time work as a staff member. Every corner of northern New Jersey, which has more than 160 high schools and countless more middle schools and travel teams, is an area of need.

For the past 60-plus years, the vision of FCA has been “to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.”

That vision is the same in Orange County, Calif., and Kansas City and Birmingham, Ala., and northern New Jersey.

FCA’s full-time staff and generous volunteers are the ones charged with carrying out that vision.

“Building bridges takes time, money, and energy,” FCA vice president/international Dan

Britton said this spring. “Every time we turn around, we’re building bridges for our young people.”

Is that you? If it might be, reach out to me at dvanesselstyn@fca.org.

Britton challenged the audience to engage with and for the next generation “in such a way that New Jersey can be transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.”

For our corner of the world, let that be our prayer today, and every day!

Amen? Amen!

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MINISTRY UPDATE Momentum continues to be seen through the Four Cs of Ministry: • Camps: Nearly 400 studentathletes recently took part in our Mid-Atlantic Leadership Camp the weekend of June 35. More than 600 will be in Kutztown on June 27, where their Christian walk and athletic dreams are both fanned.

• Campus: Huddles have broken for the summer, but only in terms of meeting at school. The Nutley HS

huddle is heading to South Dakota for its annual missions trip, living out the FCA core value of service.

• Coaches: On June 25, FCA will partner with Athletes in Action to conduct a 3Dimensional Coaching clinic – guiding coaches to get to the heart of their athletes.

• Community: In May, more than 100 students and adults gathered at Grace Bible Church in Pequannock Township to watch the movie “Woodlawn” and to be re-

minded that God’s love can use sport to help restore and redeem something as complicated as race relations.

SAVE THE DATE For the first time, FCA North Jersey will host a Victory Dinner – a fundraising event to help grow the ministry in our area.

Please join us Saturday, Oct. 15, at Dolce Basking Ridge. For more information on the dinner, as well as the chance to serve as a table host, contact me at dvanesselstyn@fca.org.

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When Pets Attack!

By Juan Galloway President, NYC Relief any people challenged with homelessness live on the streets with their pets. They love these animals so much that they will often feed their pets before themselves. Some cities actually provide, not only housing for their homeless citizens, but a cat or dog to keep them company in their new dwelling. They understand that good pets are therapeutic and healthy.

I want to talk about another kind of pet that isn’t so healthy: pet peeves. A pet peeve is an action that a particular person finds especially annoying. Everyone has pet peeves and many of them are quite common:

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1. Leaving the toilet lid up 2. WRITING IN ALL CAPS 3. Smoking 4. Chewing with your mouth open 5. Perpetual lateness Pet peeves are a lot of little petty irritations that can multiply over time into a lifestyle of perpetual disgruntlement or even petulance. They are the clutter of the mind and the mud on the lenses through which we view the world around us. Some see beauty all around us, while others see nothing but idiots getting in our way.

Recently, a man in New York was arrested for having a six-foot pet alligator. Another man raised a tiger cub in his Harlem apartment that grew into a 400-pound beast that eventually attacked him.

The “pet” in pet peeve is descriptive of

how we coddle and nurture our offenses.

They are cute little things that we feed until they become big, vicious monsters. Are we willing to clean house and get rid of our pet peeves before they bite us?

Pet peeves can cause perfectly normal people to go from worshipping along to a song in their car one minute, to cursing and giving the finger to someone who cuts them off the next.

“When we take offense, we don’t think of all the similar offensive acts that we have committed (or are committing). We place all of the blame for our anger upon the offender and take no responsibility for our reaction. In fact, our reaction could be much worse than the actual act of offense.”

I have been in the car when my father, Richard Galloway, is driving and someone cuts him off. It can be a scary thing that brings a visceral reaction in me like, “Whoah! That guy almost killed us!” My father, however, is never shaken. Most of us would be justifiably angry, but instead of losing his cool, he immediately forgives them in the moment. It is a mark of great character, especially when you consider what it is like to drive in New Jersey.

Pet peeves are not commonly well thought through. They are gut reactions

that happen in the moment. Those reactions are usually of immediate disgust. One of my mentors was my youth pastor, Spencer Nordyke. He described our hearts as barrels. When the challenges of life tip us over, whatever is inside the barrel spills out.

If it is full of poop, we yell “Oh bleep!” If we are full of honey, then something sweet will spill out. Pet peeves are an indicator of what is hidden in our hearts, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) Let’s call pet peeves what they really are − areas of offense. An offense is an annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult or perceived disregard. In other words, “How dare you, sir!” Pet peeves are our hot buttons.

When we take offense, we don’t think of all the similar offensive acts that we have committed (or are committing). We place all of the blame for our anger upon the offender and take no responsibility for our reaction. In fact, our reaction could be much worse than the actual act of offense: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22) The word Raca is derived from a root meaning “to spit.” Ever been so mad at someone that it made you want to spit? It’s easy for us to excuse our contempt for

others, because it’s mostly happening out of public sight, in our minds. But Jesus calls it mental murder.

When a pet peeve tries to set up camp in my mind, I can reject it. I can put that pet down instead of letting it take up residence.

I can be free to pardon others and hold nothing against them. This is the very gift that Jesus gives to me—mercy: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

(Micah 6:18) Mercy is the lifestyle that I want to nurture, develop, and feed. Mercy isn’t based upon others’ performance, but upon the forgiveness I have received. It is light and not burdensome, because it lets go of the right to punish and judge. Mercy embraces the opportunity to love—not as a chore, but rather a delight. Mercy fills your barrel up with honey. How sweet it is.

Rev. Juan Galloway is president of New York City Relief, a mobile outreach that feeds the homeless and connects them to resources and places where they can find help. Consider making a donation or volunteering at www.newyorkcityrelief.org.

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Giovanna Cicerchia During the show, which was filmed in California, Cicerchia’s mother-in-law, Theresa Cicerchia, passed away and she had to rely on the Lord in an even greater way.

“The day I won the hanging

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challenge was the actual day of the funeral. I was just upset and hurt,” she recalled. “People tell me I was so focused…but I say, ‘God you were my strength.’

“Losing my mother-in-law out

there... without family to take my mind off it, no cookies to bake...I actually had to sit there in my sorrow, grab hold of God, and say, ‘alright, you got me through it,’ ” she said. “I realized how amazing God’s love is.”

Being away from her family for an extended time was also a test.

Her orange team was eliminated about halfway through the season.

“Every day was a mental trial,” Cicerchia said. “I’m a mom of three and I’m very involved. My husband is my best friend, so to leave them and not have contact with them... mentally, that was really hard.”

She said she was able to persevere through these trials “only through Christ.”

She was also able to avoid injury on the show and compete every week.

“I got to tell my kids, ‘look what your prayers did for mommy,’ and it gives them hope,” she said. “I love that I did this kind of show because it oozed strength and showed them that their mom wasn’t just a pushover.”

Rev. Tom Berninger, senior pastor of Lincoln Park Abundant Life Worship Center, was proud of the way her faith and exemplary character were revealed.

“Giovanna and her trainer were never involved in the pettiness and drama,” said Berninger.

“I wanted my words to mean

Giovanna Cicerchia on her way to winning a Medallion Challenge on Strong.

something,” said Cicerchia, an alumna of Hawthorne Christian Academy. “I wanted the world to see Christ in me though my actions.”

She said Strong taught her the value of consistency. “Consistency is the best way if you want to change anything about yourself,” she said. “If you want more of God and you are consistent daily...you are only going to go up from there and God is going to come in and

strengthen you.”

Being on Strong has also given her a platform. Cicerchia writes a blog, morethanjustaprettyplate.com, which seeks to inspire women with recipes, lifestyle tips, and exercise routines.

“My message to people is to know that you are worth it in this life; you were put on this earth for a purpose, and you can turn any insecurity into a strength. Be consistent, believe, and trust.”

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Called Out Conference Addresses Homosexuality and Transgenderism he upcoming Called Out Conference: Discover 2016 will address some of the most pressing issues of our time—homosexuality and transgenderism.

Presented by Janet Boynes Ministries, the conference will be held August 26-27 at Calvary Temple International Assembly, 1111 Preakness Ave., Wayne, NJ. Called Out is for pastors, ministry leaders, parents, men, and women who struggle with unwanted same sex attraction, those who are walking in freedom from the gay and lesbian lifestyle, and all who are seeking truth and wisdom on this topic.

Janet Boynes has an amazing testimony about how she was called out of the homosexual lifestyle and has been featured in various Christian magazines and media outlets. Her ministry “seeks to inform and challenge churches and society about the issues surrounding sexuality and teach how to minister to the homosexual community.”

“It's been over seventeen years since I was called out of the lesbian lifestyle,” says Boynes on her website bio. “God has bound up my broken heart and I am a new creation. I know that He has a wonderful plan for me, and I believe that one day, He will even bring a husband into my life. My story is proof that it doesn't matter how far you've gone, or what you've done, God still calls, and He calls in love.

In addition to Boynes, the conference features host Pastor Tom Keinath, Alciona Rivera, Greg Quinlan, Karen Jensen-Salisbury, Barb Anderson, Grayson Bearden, and Tim and Janet Distel. Called Out will

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address homosexuality from its roots up to present day culture and deal with discerning truth versus deception as it pertains to the church, our families, and society. Through testimonies of those who have experienced freedom from homosexuality and transgenderism, a parent’s perspective on the homosexual lifestyle of a son or daughter, and pastors and speakers who have never lived a life of homosexuality, but have overcome in other areas of life, it prepares and equips believers to be compassionate and

intentional in reaching out to the gay community. For additional details, visit www.janetboynesministries.com.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT he New York City Leadership Center and Willow Creek Association present the Global Leadership Summit on August 11-12 at satellite locations throughout the region. The Global Leadership Summit, featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes, Patrick Lencioni, Melinda Gates, Alan Mulally, and Bill Hybels, will be broadcast live to the following host sites: Christ Tabernacle, Glendale, NY;

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Gateway City Church, Brooklyn; Crossroads Tabernacle, Bronx; Trinity Baptist Church, Manhattan; Family Christian Center, New Rochelle; Shelter Rock Church, Long Island; First Baptist Church of Metuchen (NJ); The Crossing, Livingston, NJ; Zarephath (NJ) Christian Church; Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association; and Black Rock Church, Fairfield, CT. Visit www.willowcreek.com/summit.

Sign up today for our e-mail list at:

www.tristatevoice.com

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The Spiritual Power of Habit presence at some of nation’s most influential universities, including Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Penn, Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Brown.

The conference also featured plenary speakers Bishop Harry Jackson, Baroness Caroline Cox, and Jim Black, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Columbia. A wide range of vocational panels were also offered.

Smith’s 40-minute, plenary session at Nexus focused on “spiritual formation and the sent Church—what spirituality looks like for those who are called to transform culture and pursue justice.” He warned the crowd— many of whom will hold key positions as leaders in various sectors of society—that our spiritual pursuits and attempts to transform culture often fail because “we are underequipped regarding how Christ wants to shape us and form us.”

And the spiritual power of habit, he said, bridges the difference between what we know to be true and what we actually do. The gap exists because we have overestimated the power of knowledge in relation to discipleship.

“Knowledge does not transform us,” he said. “You can’t think your way to holiness. And you are all pretty good at thinking. That’s why you are where you are. Don’t get me wrong. I am all for thinking. I am a philosopher. I get paid to think.”

However, “What if Descartes was wrong and we have been hoodwinked? What if we are not ‘thinking things’ first and foremost?”

Smith said we need a more holistic, biblical model of who we are as God’s creation, “one that situates our thinking and knowledge in relation to other, more fundamental, aspects of the human person.”

“I am not saying we need less knowledge. I am saying that we need more than knowledge.”

The philosopher said we need to recognize the power of habit and how it relates to our heart. He cited the heartfelt questions Jesus posed in the Gospel of John (“Will you also leave?” “Do you love me?”)—especially the first question He asked two would-be disciples: “What do you want?”

“First and foremost, we are lovers. We are defined not by what we know, but by what we desire,” Smith said. “Our wants shape us and form us. Our wants, longings, and desires are at the core of our identity—the wellspring from which our actions flow.”

The key, Smith said, is to align our lives and longings and desires with what God loves and desires.

“If we love God with our minds only, we will not be the Christ followers we are called to be.”

And this is no easy task in a culture that is diametrically opposed to Kingdom principles on so many levels.

“Our desires are often captured

“Temptation is not always out there where you are looking for it. It’s not just out there in bad ideas. It is also found in seemingly benign practices that carry a disordered vision of the good life.” by rival visions of what it means to flourish,” Smith said. “We are being trained to love a rival vision of the Kingdom by cultural liturgies.”

Each human being was created to desire something ultimate, to desire God. But if our hearts are not set on Him, we will end up loving the wrong things.

Smith quoted St. Augustine, who said, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”

“The heart is the fulcrum of the human person,” the professor said. “The longings of the heart point us toward a certain direction, and the heart also propels us toward it. To be human is to be on a quest.”

And if our heart is the center of our actions and desires, we need re-calibration. This principle is applicable for discipleship if we understand that love is less a conscious choice, and more of a baseline inclination, a default orientation that generates the choices we make, Smith said. “This is a very ancient and biblical way of thinking about love.”

In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul instructs us to “put on love” to bind together the virtues of forgiveness, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

“To understand that love is a virtue, is to understand that love is a habit,” Smith said. “Virtues are good moral habits, internal dispositions to the good.”

“The goal in becoming Christlike is becoming the kind of person for whom compassion is like breathing. You do it without thinking about it. Paul is saying love is a

virtue. Love is a habit.”

So how does our love get aimed toward the things of God? “If you are what you love and love is a habit, then discipleship is the re-habituation of our loves, relearning new habits in Christ.”

“It’s re-formation versus information,” Smith said. “We need to orient our desires to God and what He desires for His creation.”

“Therefore, we must regularly re-calibrate our hearts and tune them to be directed to the Creator… Because love is a habit, our hearts must be oriented toward imitating exemplars and models that show us how to be like Christ Himself. In the New Testament, Paul said, ‘Follow me, as I follow Christ.’ This is virtue language.”

In The Spiritual Power of Habit, Smith states the importance of worship and the embrace of ancient, tested practices. Liturgical

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worship is transformative: “Repetition is how God re-habituates us,” Smith says. “Virtue formation takes practice and there is no practice that isn’t repetitive. We willingly embrace repetition in other pursuits: to hone our golf swing, our piano prowess, and mathematical abilities.”

However, just as great habits can be learned through imitation and repetition, Smith warned the teenagers and young adults at Nexus that the same principles are also true for negative influences— especially as these students enter the marketplace.

“When you get out into cultural spaces—whether it’s Wall Street, the arts, the university, etc.—these are not neutral places and not just containers for ideas. They have their own liturgy, their own rituals.”

“I’m not saying don’t go to Wall Street. By all means, go to Wall Street. But be aware of the liturgies that are there…These liturgies are trying to capture your heart and will teach you to love rival gods. If you are not aware of what will happen, you will march in there with your worldviewequipped vision of how you are going to transform culture and you are missing the fact that Wall Street is trying to get a hold of your gut.”

“Temptation is not always out there where you are looking for it.

It’s not just out there in bad ideas.

It is also found in seemingly benign practices that carry a disordered vision of the good life.”

To keep ourselves from worshiping false gods and pursuing rival kingdoms, we must be immersed in true worship, according to Smith.

“Our gracious Lord knows we are creatures of habit,” he said.

“He has given us the gift of worship—not just a song service, but formative worship, the complete narrative project that is the church’s worship.”

Christian worship can be a love-shaping practice and a way to unlearn the negative influences we have absorbed from cultural practices.

“When we appreciate the true spiritual power of habit, we will then re-appreciate why worship is the heart of discipleship.”

Smith admitted that it may be an unpopular notion in today’s culture, but he boldly declared that the Church needs to be the center of the Christian life.

“The future of Christian witness is staked on us recovering the Church as the center of the Christian life—the hub from which our culture-transforming work is sent. The gift of the Church calibrates our hearts in the direction of His kingdom.”

“Sanctification is that re-habituation, and the Church is the place where Christ’s healing power flows.”

Reprinted with permission from Christian Union: The Magazine.

For more information about Christian Union, visit www.christianunion.org.

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Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs and True Worship

By Jim Biscardi, Jr. hat is worship all about? I began to consider that question recently when asked to speak about the importance of hymns in the Christian life.

The Hebrew word used most often for worship means “to bow down, to do homage” (Genesis 18:2). One Greek word used for worship implies the idea of “showing reverence” (John 4:2124). A second Greek word means “to serve” (Matthew 4:10). So worship involves the attitude of reverence and the action of humble, loving service.

We can learn about worship from the life of Christ. His attitude and actions were perfect expressions of human worship. He completely satisfied His Father (Matthew 3:17; John 8:29).

Jesus knew His Father in a very intimate and personal way (John 8:29). So our worship only has real meaning when we truly know God. He also praised and gave thanks to His Father (John 11:41).

So we should “bless the Lord at all times, and His praise shall continually be in our mouths” (Psalm 34:1).

Jesus loved and honored His Father (John 8:49) and never sought to do His own will (John 5:30). So our worship must be more than a religious exercise. It

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is to be the expression of our adoring reverence for God. Jesus also prayed to and lived in dependence on His Father (Matthew 14:23; 1 Peter 2:23). There is, therefore, no true worship without prayer (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Obviously, worship is a whole lot more than singing. But, of course, we see in Scripture that God’s people have sung hymns in honor of Him since the time of Moses and before (Exodus 15:1). In fact, Ephesians 5:18-19 commands us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

A psalm can be thought of as Scripture set to music—usually from the book of Psalms. A spiritual song can be any song with a spiritual theme. A hymn addresses and celebrates God and has the purpose of praise and adoration.

The word for hymn means a sacred song to the Lord − a song of praise.

There are lots of different kinds of Christian worship songs and they all have their places in the Christian life. But let me talk about what I’ve learned about the importance of hymns.

Hymns help us to know God better – they are saturated with theology. Also, many have a rich history behind them. Often, the reason they impact our soul in a powerful way is due to the circumstances in which the composers

found themselves.

For example, the hymn “Abide with Me,” written in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte, speaks about God’s attributes of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence all within just two verses. Lyte was dying of tuberculosis, and passed away three weeks after finishing

Hymns are a valuable aid to worship because they help us focus on the goodness and glory of the Lord. it. The troops sang it in the trenches during WW I and a nurse sang it the night before she was shot by the Germans for helping British soldiers escape from occupied Belgium.

Hymns are a valuable aid to worship because they help us focus on the goodness and glory of the Lord. They deepen our devotion and praise of Christ. For example, the hymn “How Great Thou Art” reminds us of God’s majesty revealed in creation, His perfect sacrifice on the cross, and His coming return for His own— all matters of praise.

Hymns are also saturated with Scripture. What better way to hide God’s Word in our heart than by singing it? (Psalm 119:11). Hymns can actually supplement the work of the sermon because we remem-

Francesca Battistelli, Lauren Daigle To Perform at Carnegie Hall

rancesca Battistelli and Lauren Daigle, the two most popular female artists in contemporary Christian music, will play Carnegie Hall on October 2. The concert, hosted by True North Presents, will also feature The New American Chorus.

Battistelli and Daigle have been widely recognized for their outstanding songwriting, recordings, and performances and have received numerous accolades, including Dove Awards and KLOVE Fan Awards.

Rommel Guignon, the director of worship and music at Hawthorne Gospel Church, is

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helping to coordinate the concert.

“This performance will be a rare and special opportunity to see and hear these two spectacular female voices in one night, on one of the greatest stages in the world, Carnegie Hall,” said Guignon.

“Our chorus will include up to 200 voices singing live onstage with Francesca and Lauren. This choir is made up of passionate worship leaders from around the country who are fans of these artists and who have a great appreciation for the opportunity to share the Gospel message and encouragement in this setting. This combination, along with the pristine acoustics of

Carnegie Hall, will make for a beautiful and unique performance, certainly to be appreciated by fans of Francesca and Lauren’s music and ministry.”

True North Presents is offering a special package for local choir members which includes rehearsals, up-close interactions with the guest artists, and a post-concert Celebration Dinner Cruise.

Purchase tickets online at carnegiehall.org or by phone at (212)247-7800; if you would like to join the choir, please go on line at www.tiny.cc/lauren-daigle; For information on concert sponsorship, email: truenorthpresents@gmail.com.

ber the words we sing far beyond what we see or read or hear.

One of my favorite hymns is “I Come to the Garden Alone.” It was written in 1912 by C. Austin Miles after he saw a beautiful vision of Mary Magdalene visiting the empty tomb. He saw her leave the tomb and walk into a garden where she met the Master and heard Him speak her name.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (written by Thomas Chisholm) comes from Lamentations 3:2224: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness…”

“Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” (written by Alan Jackson) comes from Hebrews 12:2: “Run with patience the race that is set before you; looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

Hymns also help us connect with Christians of all generations – the extended family of God. They remind us that our struggles today are not much different than those of former generations. The writer of “It Is Well with My Soul,” Horatio Spafford, battled with the loss of his twoyear old son in the 1871 Chicago fire and his four daughters in a ship accident at sea.

Hymns also remind us that God does not change. The same God

who comforted these composers is still our Comforter and Strength. He and His Word do not change.

Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together at the Last Supper (Mark 14:26). The early church sang hymns as part of their regular gatherings (1 Corinthians 14:26). Also, Paul and Silas, with their feet in stocks in a jail at Philippi, were “praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25).

Hymns help to unite the Church. For example, “Because He Lives” can be found in 27 different hymn books used in various denominational churches.

How beautiful to enter a church for the first time and feel at home because of a familiar hymn!

Let’s worship the Lord in our attitudes and actions. And “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to [ourselves] in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:17).

As a teacher, author, columnist, and president emeritus of New Jersey Christian Ministries, Jim Biscardi has been “privileged for many years to help Christians grow in their knowledge of Christ.” You can find his books at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com, including The Mantle: How to Dress for Success in Leadership.

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We Each Have a Voice Jack Redmond very day, we see things that rub us the wrong way! So we talk, tweet, and post our frustrations attempting to bring change, but mostly, we’re just venting. Sometimes it’s about people we don’t know; other times it's those we care about most.

Each of us knows the frustration of seeing people we know going down the wrong path, or living beneath their purpose. We have reached out, encouraged, even argued with people on how to live a better life. If we are honest, we may even be frustrated at ourselves, or at least in our inability to make a difference in their lives.

We must not get frustrated and stop speaking, but we can be more strategic in our communications. Our voice has power than can help people get on the right path.

We can let our voices be heard! Thousands of years ago, the writer penned the ancient proverb: “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21NIV).

The great thing we can do truly to help people is to help them connect and walk with Jesus. God created us with a plan and a purpose, but outside of being connected and led by God Himself, we all go astray.

Our words have the power to encourage, guide, and lead people to a better life. Many of us know this, but few followers of Christ actually help others connect with Jesus. The statistics are alarming! 90-95% of self-proclaimed Christians admit they have never helped one person begin a personal relationship with Jesus!

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Helping Others Connect with Jesus I have spent almost the last 20 years helping others connect with Jesus. When I began, I had no teaching or training and al-

Fallujah Fallout

most no Bible knowledge. Jesus had changed my life and that was the basis of what I shared with others.

This has been done in coffee shops, on the street, and in many churches. It doesn’t matter, whether it’s our family over Thanksgiving dinner or our co-worker in the next cubicle, we are surrounded by people who are disconnected from God.

“Our words have the power to encourage, guide, and lead people to a better life. Many of us know this, but few followers of Christ actually help others connect with Jesus.”

In addition to personally winning souls, I have great joy in helping other Christ followers learn the words, build their faith, and gain the thinking needed to help others connect with Jesus.

In my newest book: Let Your Voice Be Heard, I capture many life stories and the biblical principles needed to help people become greater soul winners.

Here’s one example. When I decided to follow Jesus, my life was transformed. Before long, I believed that if God could change my life, He could transform others.

God gave me the strength to change. Soon, I realized that if God reached out to me for a personal relationship, He also reached out to others. He extended His love to everyone.

So with no ministry title, a few months into my new life God used me to help others connect with Him. As I read the Gospels and the book of Acts, one thing became clear. Once people followed Jesus, they told

others about Him. As followers of Christ, everyday life involved connecting others with Him. This changed as Christianity grew into a more established religion. However, I believe God wants His people to return to their roots, living and sharing the Gospel like the early days when the church turned the world upside down.

It’s a myth that we need a title or position of authority to do great things for God. This myth causes people not to step out boldly for Christ’s cause. Power to do things for God emerges from the Holy Spirit, and He resides in all followers of Christ.

God sent His Son to die for each and every person, and wants them to connect with Him. You have the power to help people get on the right path. The only question is, “Will you let your voice be heard?”

Jack Redmond is the Church Mobilization Pastor at Christ Church and can be reached at www.jackredmond.org.

(WNS)—The first residents from Fallujah to greet humanitarian aid workers were mostly in tears. “They were absolutely traumatized, absolutely fearful,” said Jeremy Courtney, president of the Preemptive Love Coalition. As the Iraqi army and the Iraqi government’s affiliate militias fight to take back the city, captured by ISIS in January 2014, Preemptive Love became the first and so far only non-governmental organization to penetrate the militarized zone. Starting June 2 the group delivered by truck 150,000 pounds of food and water, enough to support 1,500 needy families who have been caught in the fighting. As Iraqi forces pressed their campaign against the Islamic militants, entering the Fallujah city limits on June 8, the UN quickly revised its estimate of the number of civilians trapped there—from 50,000 to more than 90,000.

“The aid response has been overwhelmed already with the steady flow we’ve seen over the past few weeks,” Courtney said. “No one was even remotely prepared for 50,000.”

Fallujah sits 40 miles west of Baghdad, and it became the first city in Iraq to fall to ISIS. Its residents endured two years of Islamic State brutality before Iraqi forces imposed a six-month blockade to weaken ISIS control—ahead of the military offensive that began May 22. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, died of starvation, even before ISIS drafted many locals, using them as human shields.

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Together 2016 Prayer, Worship, and Service Event Expected to Draw Huge Crowd to National Mall in July

By Chris Maxwell rowds will gather in Washington, D.C. this summer. The sound will hit high volume. But this event won't be a ball game, a superstar's performance, a political protest, or a presidential debate. Those who travel to the nation's capital won't be there for pleasure or rebellion or politics.

They will come together and pray. They are seeking to worship together. They are hoping to experience God's love together.

On July 16, 2016, in the National Mall of Washington, D.C., followers of Christ from around the world will meet for Together 2016.

Their plans? To pray for a new revival to come.

Well-known artists and leaders like Hillsong United, Lecrae, Francis Chan, David Crowder, Kirk Franklin, Ravi Zacharias, Christine Caine, Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Josh McDowell, Luis Palau, Mark Batterson, Tasha Cobbs, Michael W. Smith, and many others plan to help guide this gathering. Youth groups and ministry organizations will team up to meet together, pray together, and serve together.

Nick Hall, the visionary voice of Together 2016, believes now is the time and D.C. is the place.

“Something powerful happens when we come together,” said Hall, who is the founder of the student-led evangelism movement, PULSE. “In today’s live-stream generation, in the time where it is possible to be everywhere all at once, it is also possible to be nowhere ever. Though we can be everywhere at once, we are also prone never really to be anywhere. So, there is something about getting together in person. It

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matters to God when we show up in person, when we gather together. That is what we plan to see in Together 2016.”

But there is more going on than gathering together. Organizers seek more than large numbers and excitement. Their four goals are to pray, learn, share, and love.

How do they plan to share the love they learn about and pray for? By viewing this event as America’s Mission Trip, Together 2016 is planning 12,000 service projects.

This summer event isn’t ending with a thrill of the moment.

Hall believes that prayer and service come together. They hope to sing about love and learn how to live this life, all while showing the reality of what they believe.

With a yearning to see God’s people move from competition and division to unity and revival, Hall hears the 18-30 somethings crying out, “We’re doing this.”

The Together 2016 team is determined to dive in and see this large vision become a reality.

“Through history, there have been historical moments of revival where the masses could assemble together,” Hall said, remembering Explo 72, Promise Keepers, and the many crusades led by Rev. Billy Graham.

“These were significant events where people united to seek God. Culture was changed.”

Hall sees the need for something similar but different in the present.

“This generation is rising up to lead toward a historic event that will shift our culture,” said Hall. “This young generation has people struggling with depression, self-harm, suicide, and addiction at fright-

ening rates. But Jesus is calling us to gather together and see our generation changed forever.”

During this political season, can people gather in Washington, D.C. to unite, to pray, to worship, to serve? Not only does Hall and the Together 2016 team believe this will occur and be considered a success, they also believe this is just the beginning of the nation and world entering a new season of spiritual awakening. Five thousand prayer groups believe it is possible. Leaders from around the world believe it is possible.

Hall sees it as not only possible, but also essential: “Each of us needs a reset, and Jesus offers everyone a supernatural reset. We

believe Jesus can do unprecedented things in our time. Our dream is for more than one million people from all backgrounds to be part of this generation-defining day. We have so much at our fingertips. We can’t miss this opportunity.”

To learn more, visit www.reset2016.com.

Follow Together 2016 on Twitter: @JesusIsTheReset.

Chris Maxwell, campus pastor for Emmanuel College, is an international speaker about life with epilepsy and the author of seven books, including his latest, “Pause with Jesus: Encountering His Story in Everyday Life.” www.chrismaxwell.me | Twitter: @ CMaxMan

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Ethicists Warn New Genome Project Could Lead to Synthetic Humans

By Julie Borg (WNS)—On June 2, the journal Science published a paper written by 25 researchers announcing their intention to begin a 10-year project aimed at synthetically creating an entire human genome—the complete set of genes present in a cell.

Although the researchers are clear the goal of the Human Genome Project-Write (HGPWrite) is to synthesize a human genome in a lab dish—not to create a baby—many bioethicists and other experts are raising skeptical eyebrows.

Making a human genome could have serious religious and ethical implications, said Paige Cunningham, executive director of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity.

“Although the prospect is remote, scientists could potentially design people on computers who would be born without biological parents,” she said.

The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, enabled scientists to read the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs of chemicals that make up the complete set of human DNA. It laid the foundation for HGP-Write, with which researchers hope actually to write or synthesize all 6 billion DNA letters of a human genome. They intend to use a host cell line and gradually swap out large

chunks of its genome with lab-synthesized DNA. The researchers say writing their own genomes is a logical extension of the genetic engineering tools scientists have developed over the past 40 years. They admit HGP-Write will require public involvement and consideration of ethical, legal, and social implications from the start. They also note the many potential benefits of the project, such as enabling researchers to grow human organs for transplant, engineer human cell lines that are immune to viruses or resistant to cancer, and make vaccine production much quicker and cheaper.

Regardless of the potential for good applications, many critics are concerned about possible adverse consequences. The list of potential benefits is “not an adequate reason to take such an enormous moral step,” Laurie Zoloth, a bioethicist at Northwestern University in Chicago, told Science Magazine.

Even though the researchers are clear they only intend to create a genome in a dish, Cunningham fears what could happen if such technology fell into the wrong hands. And the gene editing process already is fatal for many embryos, she noted.

“How many more will die in this research?” Cunningham asked.

If someone eventually used the technology to create a human, who would own the DNA? Cunningham notes researchers likely would patent the technology because that’s the only way to protect intellectual property.

“I am deeply troubled by the possibility of patenting human beings,” she said.

Cunningham believes it is essential for everyone to begin asking the

SCIENTISTS INSIST THE RESEARCH COULD HELP PREVENT DISEASES LIKE CANCER

deep questions about what it means to be human. What would it mean for a person to be lab-produced rather than procreated? The Christian model is that children are intended to come into this world through the union of a man and a woman who are married to each other. This research and experimentation “is not the model,” she said.

Researchers also face questions about who has the moral authority

to decide what kind of human genome scientists should create.

“There would, of course, be enormous technical challenges to producing synthetic humans, but it’s clear that no self-appointed group has a warrant to make decisions that could literally reshape the human genome,” Marcy Darnovsky, executive director for the Center for Genetics and Society, said in a statement.

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THAT’S MY DAD BOOKS HONORS FATHERS ‘WHO SHAPED OUR LIVES’ former CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA • David Tyree, former NFL wide receiver with the New York Giants • Roderick Caesar, senior pastor of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Queens • Chris Broussard, ESPN analyst, writer, and commentator

he greatest challenge our country, and yes, the world, faces is not unemployment, the environment, drugs, violence, teen pregnancy, government corruption, or even ISIS. The greatest problem the world faces is fatherlessness, according to authors Joe Battaglia and Joe Pellegrino. The two North Jersey men tackle this powerful truth head on in their new book, That’s My Dad (Broadstreet, May 2016).

This book demonstrates the power of true fatherhood and the difference a good father figure can make. To exemplify this point, the authors look at father models, both positive and negative, that helped to shape the lives of successful men and women in the competitive fields of media, arts and entertainment, and professional sports.

Notable celebrities included are: • Joe Girardi, manager, New York Yankees • Allan Houston, former NBA all-star and assistant GM, New York Knicks • Gretchen Carlson, author and Fox News commentator • Michael Franzese, former New York mobster, inspirational speaker, and author • Tina Cervasio, sports anchor with Fox 5 and ESPN radio sportscaster • Darryl Strawberry, former MLB All-Star, ordained minister • Frances Hesselbein, CEO of The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute,

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Whether these individuals were hurt or helped by the choices of their fathers, they have chosen to learn from their past and portray exemplary qualities like courage, honor, joy, authenticity, and integrity to make them the role models they are today.

“We all need the affirming love and support from our father or a father figure in order to make the right choices in life and it is time we, as a nation, faced the crippling effect of fatherlessness in our culture,” the authors say.

Battaglia is the founder and president of Renaissance Communications, a media company specializing in the production and syndication of radio programming, media consulting, and creative promotions. Pellegrino is the president and founder of Legacy Minded Men, a ministry whose mission is to raise up godly men. He is also the publisher of Life & Leisure, LLC, a bi-weekly local publication circulating to 50,000 homes in northern New Jersey and the president of Not Just an Average Joe, LLC, a unique marketing company.

‘THE JEWISH QUESTION AND THE HUMAN PROBLEM’ A new book by Dr. Lincoln A. Jailal, the founder of Ambassadors for Christ Ministries in New York City, answers the most urgent questions confronting humanity today - the Middle East conflict, the roots and rise of anti-Semitism, the strategic importance of Jerusalem now and eternally,

the growing threat of Islamism, the worsening persecution of Christians, and the escalation of human suffering.

The Final Solution to The Jewish Question and The Human Problem investigates the spectrum of human existence from its initiation to its consummation, “when YHVH, the One True God, will miraculously intervene to dethrone Satan, the chief enemy of mankind, and establish His eternal Kingdom.” Most importantly, Dr. Jailal reveals the guaranteed solutions and how humans can be rightly reconciled with the True God.

“When you read this book, you will be equipped to understand, interpret, and discern past, current, and future global news,” states the author. “More significantly, you will be inspired to become a more effective vessel for God's Kingdom, and get ready for the Messiah's return.”

Dr. Jailal holds degrees and certificates in sociology, theology, clinical counseling, psychology, and chaplaincy. He has been serving as an ordained pastor since 1982. Ambassadors For Christ Ministries is a non-denominational ministry dedicated to training and equipping pastors and leaders for kingdom work. Dr. Jailal, also a professional clinical counselor, has conducted seminars and conferences in several nations of Asia and Africa. He was trained in Israel to serve as a “Watchman on the Wall” and serves as a coordinator for the

annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem sponsored

by Eagles Wings Ministries.

The Final Solution to The Jewish Question and The Human Problem is available online at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

THE JEW WHO MISSED THE BUS With his new book, Evangelist Thomas Duncan encourages Jewish people to embrace Jesus as the Messiah and also encourages Christians to reach out to their Jewish friends.

Duncan, a Pompton Lakes, NJ resident, is the author of The Jew Who Missed the Bus. “Witnessing the Gospel to a Jewish non-believer is not as hard as you might think,” Duncan said.

Duncan wrote the book following a near-death experience and incredible testimony, which is detailed in chapter one. The Jew Who Missed the Bus presents biblical facts “in a debate style.”

“This book will give you that perfect witnessing tool for a Jewish friend, neighbor, or coworker,” he said. “It tells the salvation story in a powerful, nonoffensive way.”

For more information, visit www.TheJewWhoMissedTheBus.com.

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Kathie Lee Gifford among Jerusalem Banquet Honorees agles' Wings held its tenth annual Jerusalem Banquet at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park on June 2. The room was filled to capacity with dignitaries, celebrities, business leaders, and religious leaders from both the Jewish and Christian communities. The high energy evening included an address from Consul General of Israel in New York, Ido Aharoni. Prominent leaders of the evening included: Jon Loew, Bishop David Thomas, Dr. Charlotte Frank, Irwin Hochberg, Pastor Juan Rivera, and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Event chair Rev. Robert Stearns spoke to the crowd, enthusiastically sharing, "Tonight we are standing together as Jews and Christians united in our love and support for Israel and the Jewish people. Tonight, in this room, we can change history."

The event centered around celebrating the legacy of amazing leaders in the Jewish and Christian communities, and equipping the next generation to be strong voices in support of Israel and the Jewish people. Dr. Charlotte Frank, vice president of McGraw Hill Education and chair of the Executive Committee of America-Israel Friendship League, was honored for her life of impact in education, advocacy, and strengthening ties between Israel and America. Bishop David Thomas, senior leader of the 5,000member Victory Christian Center, was honored for his years of faithful leadership and his steadfast support for Israel.

Support was raised from the evening to strengthen Eagles' Wings work around the world, including the Israel Experience Program, a study tour which gives tomorrow’s leaders an educated heart for Israel. The Israel Experience trains the best and brightest Christian college and university students to be informed ambassadors for Israel in the midst of a rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses.

Catherine Gunsalus, a 2012 Israel Experience alumna, said, “I was able to take what I had learned in the program and help to draft

“We read in Genesis that the spirit of God, which is translated in Hebrew as ‘shalom,’ hovered over chaos before creation. Each of us has the opportunity to bring shalom to the chaos of our world.”

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Rev. Robert Stearns (left) and Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, present Kathie Lee Gifford with the Ha Tikvah Award.

legislation that was passed by the Kansas and Arizona state governments, affirming their commitment to stand with Israel.”

Another alumna, Rebekah Gordon, talked about how her participation in the 2013 program has led to her working closely with the Jewish leadership on her Touro University law school campus to educate the student population on the importance of Israel.

Joshua Nangle, a 2016 Israel Experience scholar and a Master of Divinity student from Regent University, said, “I believe it is time for ‘replacement theology’ [the belief that God has forsaken His covenant and replaced Israel with the Church] to be replaced with something a little more scriptural, and I am excited to go to Israel this week and be equipped as a friend of Zion.”

Ryan Mauro, 2009 Israel Experience alumnus and leading national security analyst who has been featured regularly on major media outlets, said, “In the midst of the many serious challenges we face in the Middle East, there is hope we can see good prevail and the Israel Experience is a key to see-

ing that become a reality.”

Consul General of Israel in New York, Ido Aharoni, also addressed the gathering saying, “Our friendship and partnership with Eagles' Wings is a tremendous support to the State of Israel, and I believe it is just the beginning of the historic impact Robert Stearns and Eagles' Wings will have.”

The evening of honor and celebration included special musical selections, including joyous traditional songs which brought the room to their feet singing and clapping.

Culminating the gathering, Consul General Ido Aharoni presented Mrs. Kathie Lee Gifford the Ha Tikvah Award in honor of her strong support for Israel. Mrs. Gifford, author, recording artist, and Emmy-awardwinning television host of The Today Show, recently traveled to Israel and did a series of segments helping her audience see the beauty of the country and its people.

Gifford summed up the evening by saying, “We read in Genesis that the spirit of God, which is translated in Hebrew as ‘shalom,’ hovered over chaos before creation. Each of us has the opportunity to bring shalom to the chaos of our world. Thank you, Rev. Stearns, for this honor and the great work you are doing to bring shalom.”

C.A.R.E. Christian Addiction, Recovery, & Education A Biblically-based, 12-step recovery program Confidential-open to anyone over 18 yrs. old Mondays @ 7:30 pm Christian Community Church • 340 Bogert Road, River Edge, NJ Call (201) 385-4396 or (201) 281-2130

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Please support them and connect with them. To advertise on Tom’s List, call (201) 644-7062 or email: Tom@TriStateVoice.com.

BUSINESS Abma’s Farm Market, Greenhouse, and Petting Zoo 700 Lawlins Rd. Wyckoff, NJ 07481 (201) 891-0278 www.abmasfarm.com The Cliffs at Eagle Rock Assisted Living Community 707 Eagle Rock Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 669-0011 www.thecliffsateaglerock.org Ditto Upscale Resale Clothing, Furniture, Appliances...

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Leadership Fellows Program NYC Leadership Center PO Box 9157 Long Island City, NY 11103 (347) 382-9237 www.nycleadership.com

Gerry Cantalupo/ Northwest Mutual Financial Representative Serving Metro New York (973) 531-2222 www.gerardcantalupo.nm.com

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Street 2 Street Youth Outreach Ministry 555 Goffle Road Suite 212 Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (201) 445-8555 www.street2street.com

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CARE Ministry Drug/Alcohol Abuse Recovery Christian Community Church River Edge, NJ 07661 Joe Brennan (201) 385-4396 www.joeybrennan.com

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Antoine Lee, MC, MEd Individual Psychotherapy, Pastoral & Marriage Counseling Bronx, NY (646) 831-2618 www.pamnantione.com

Metro World Child Children’s Ministry P.O. Box 409 Brooklyn, NY 11237 (718) 453-3352 www.metroworldchild.org

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MINISTRY The Truth@Work Roundtable Groups Network for Business Owners, CEOs, & Executives Contact Steve Vorrius (732) 680-1054 steve@victoryexecutivegroup.com www.christianroundtablegroups.com Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Assoc.

54 Pitman Ave. Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 (732) 775-0035 www.oceangrove.org Next Level Coaching NYC Leadership Center P.O. Box 9157 Long Island City, NY 11103 (347) 382-9237 www.nycleadership.com

CONFERENCES/ RETREATS Eddy Farm Retreat/Conference Center 100 Eddy Farm Rd. Sparrowbush, NY 12780 (845) 858-4300 www.eddyfarm.com Spruce Lake Christian Retreat Center 5389 Route 447 Canadensis, PA 18325 (570) 595-7505 www.sprucelake.org Pinebrook Bible Conference & Retreat Center “Where God’s People Meet” 5339 Pinebrook Rd. East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 (570) 424-1212 www.pinebrook.org Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center Retreat Center 3300 River Rd. Mt. Bethel, PA 18343 (570) 897-6000 www.tuscarora.org

WORSHIP Armenian Pres. Church 140 Forest Ave. Paramus, NJ 07652 (201) 265-8585 www.apcparmus.com Trinity Evangelical Free Church 390 Teaneck Rd. Teaneck, NJ 07666 (201) 566-8396 www.trinityteaneck.org Abundant Life Worship Center of Lincoln Park 103 Jacksonville Rd. Lincoln Park, NJ 07035 (973) 694-9998 www.alwclp.org Hope Community Bible Church 50 Flanders-Bartley Rd. Flanders, NJ 07836 (973) 927-5066 www.hcbchurch.net MetroChurch 136 Wyckoff Avenue Wladwick, NJ (201) 797-3336 www.metrochurchnj.com

EDUCATION Eastern Christian Schools Preschool - High School Campuses: Midland Park, Wyckoff, & North Haledon, NJ (973) 427-4729 www.easternchristian.org Hackensack Christian School Preschool through Grade 12 15 Conklin Place Hackensack, NJ 07601 (201) 487-7212 www.hcsinfo.org New York School of the Bible Bible Courses 123 W. 57th St. New York, NY 10019 (212) 975-0170, ext. 123 www.cbcnyc.org/nysb Abundant Life Academy K-3 through Grade 12 390 Washington Ave. Nutley, NJ 07110 (973) 667-9700 www.abundantlifeacademy.net

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