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Triumphant March 2018

Magazine

Celebrating 13 years of Ministry PASTOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS & CO-PASTOR DANA WILLIAMS

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: ITâ€™S OK TO CELEBRATE SISTHAS!

Table of Contents

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Crea�ve Director/Editor Rachelle Ford

ENCOURAGING WORDS

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

DR PRIMROSE

SHYRIAKA (SHY) MORRIS

CELEBRATING 13 YEARS OF MINISTRY

I wouldn’t be the Woman, I am today without the four women I am recognizing. Fannie Mims A/K/A my Lovely Nana My Nana taught me how to believe in myself. I was told at a very early age, “Theresa, you are going to College and trust me this was non-negotiable.” My Nana had 5 children and a�er raising all of them; she took me under her wings. No one in our family had went to college, and no matter what it took I was going. We had a neighbor who sent many of his children to college; however, when we sought my neighbor’s guidance. He did not assist, but you know what the song says, “What God has for me, it is for me”, and another song is, “When Jesus says, Yes, Nobody, can say No.” My Nana looked me straight in my eyes and said, “Don’t worry, we are going to get you in school. Needless, to say, the words, No and Can’t were not in her vocabulary.” Fortunately, I was the ﬁrst to enter college and ﬁnish and this open several doors for many others in our family to follow pursuit. Lucille Cudger, which was my great-grandmother, she taught me how to pray and read God’s holy word. I wanted a job so bad when I was in college, and I can distinctively recall my granny saying, “Theresa, pray about it and read your bible.” I read one page a�er the next, because I wanted that job so bad, and through persistent prayer, I found favor from the Lord and maintained the job for 2 years. Loretta King, was my aunt and she loved the Lord with all her heart, mind, and soul. She loved the scripture: Psalms 23:1 – The Lord is my Shepard, and I shall not want” My Aunt Dora was a perfectionist, very creative and always stayed abreast to the latest technology. She was resilient and strived consistently to keep the family together. She o�en reminded me of the Be A�tudes in Matthew 5: 1-11 Eloise Wade, my mom is overcomer and knows how to make the best out of every situation. She is blessed to have constant prayer line with the Lord and she astonishingly possesses gigantic faith. For example, I called my mom one-time and she was packing her clothes to come down here. Now to some, you may say, “Theresa, what is the problem with that” My mom had no ticket and no money; however, she knew and believed what the bible stated, Matthew 17:20 – King James Version “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto the mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Be encouraged my sisters and brothers and remember Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door.” – Samuel T. Scott and Robert L. Sande

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It’s OK K TTo Celebrate l b Sistahs! h March is Women’s History Month and it falls squarely in the Season of Lent. It is so appropriate that we will celebrate the accomplishments of women as we are preparing ourselves in a season of sacriﬁce. I think it is important to remember the sacriﬁces of those who have gone before us to pave the way, making crooked places straight and building bridges when it was necessary. Oprah Winfrey held a celebration in May of 2005 to simply acknowledge outstanding women, from all walks of life, who deserved to have their works remembered, their names called and a big, loud “THANK YOU”. She wanted to make sure that it was done while they were still alive to hear and enjoy it. She engaged the talented Pearl Cleage to write a special poem to acknowledge 25 outstanding women. Ms. Cleage said of the poem “My sisters, here, there, and everywhere, this poem is for you. Use it, adapt it, pass it on. …” The poem is entitled “We Speak Your Names”. The last two verses are: We are here to speak your names because of the way you made for us. Because of the prayers you prayed for us. We are the ones you conjured up, hoping we would have strength enough, and discipline enough, and talent enough, and nerve enough to step into the light when it turned in

our direction, and just smile awhile. We are the ones you hoped would make you proud because all of our hard work makes all of yours part of something better, truer, deeper. Something that lights the way ahead like a lamp unto our feet, as steady as the unforgettable beat of our collective heart. We speak your names. We speak your names. Each and every time that I read this poem, I remember my mother Elizabeth Bethune, who gave me life and served our community as an example of strength and determination. She was a miracle worker who gave all she had for her husband, her children and her community to be the best that they could be. She owned a beauty salon and was a certiﬁed Cosmetologist who understood the science of hair, not just how to press and curl. She was a community leader and organizer who valued the arts and taught us how important it was to be truly free. I remember my maternal grandmother, Lillian Sterricks, our Mama Lillie, who did the laundry of white people on the beach side of Daytona but always found time to teach her grandchildren the importance of social graces such as which forks to use and

when, how to recite prose in front of an audience and most importantly, to respect our elders and think before speaking. She could starch and iron a shirt better than any commercial laundry and knew who to keep white clothes brilliantly white and colors crisp. She could also make you wish that all chinaberry trees in the neighborhood would die so that no switches were available...lol. My daddy’s mother, Mother Dear as we called her, the great Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, was a path ﬁnder of the highest caliber. She made a way out of no way and added value to anything that she was involved in. She helped us understand the importance of valuing of our blackness, the relevance of strategic planning among women in leadership and that education was “the prime need of the hour”. Auntie Vi, Auntie Bunch, Cousin Jerrona, Aunt Lou, Miss Sadie, and so many more throughout the community who made our lives golden. Women who, in the world scheme of things seemed very ordinary, but were exceptional in their countenance with willing spirits to share whatever knowledge they had. They were our examples of what true womanhood was, what it

looked and smelled like, how it should present itself at all times and why it was important to nurture and care for each other. They shared and cared not just for their own children but for the neighborhood children. WE speak their names so that they will never be forgotten. Like the women in the Bible who traveled with Christ, these women were brave and not afraid to break down barriers. They knew when to listen and when to speak up. They knew when to stand in the face of adversity and they were loyal to the betterment of the communities in which they lived. When all the men le� Jesus to hang on the cross alone, Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary, the mother of the sons of Zebedee; Salome; a sister of Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary of Clopas, stayed with him until the end

knowing that they could lose their lives, they never departed. We speak their names so that they will never be forgotten. Our communities are ﬁlled with modern day “SHEROES, SISTAHS who consistently work to make the community and the world better, never looking for the spotlight and believing that there is enough sunshine for everyone … Donna Gray-Banks, Dr. Primrose Cameron, Theresa Jordan, Betsey Hardeman, Davita Bonner, Joyce Cusack, Dr. Deborah Munirah Wilson, Dr. Claudette McFadden, Dr. Aneesa Baker, Terry Bethune, Rev. Kim McTillmon, Judy Seal, Ernestine Bethune, Dr. Maya Taylor, Dr. Levonne Mitchell-Samon, Lucy Desmore, Darla Otey, are just a few… YES! Dr. Evelyn Serwa Bethune, we speak your names, so you will never be forgotten. As the young’uns say…Stay Woke!

If you wish to contact Dr. Evelyn Bethune, please email docbethune@tbginc.org or call the oﬃce at 386-999-0092 The Bethune Group, MMB, Inc. 732 Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Invest in the human soul, who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune

The Calming of The Ocean Invest in the human soul, who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune The calming of the ocean

How many of us are engulfed with the stressors of life and disappointments from disheartening acts of violence and mistreatment in the world?

I have never been a swimmer, but I like the sense of calmness that the ocean brings. On my last trip to Jamaica, I used much of the time for deep thought and reflection among other things. I realized that although I am often enthralled with smiles and giggles, I am human. I hurt, feel, and ache like the average human and I cannot help anyone if I am not in a good place? How many of us activate our fruits of the spirit, without a second to spare for ourselves? How many of us never take time to smell the roses, enjoy the fresh air or take a trip to the calming seas?

I just want to give a gentle reminder that life is worth living and if we wait for the best day to execute our blessings, the day may never come. Spend some time with the ocean and become one with the earth through prayer and God’s covering. Listen to the sounds of the waves e and allow it to settle the ups and downs of your life. 2017 was a great year, but it was not always ﬁlled with great days. The calming of the ocean is a gentle reminder that all things are possible and doable. Do not allow negative self-talk to seep into your soul, but rather roll off you into the ocean.

You deserve the very best life available! I encourage you to accept it, embrace it and live it! Contact Dr. Primrose Cameron at contact@primrosecameron.com

Shyriaka (Shy) Morris

What was known as Washington Square in the early 1920s a thriving African American business community has vanished from its presence in the community. This area since was claimed by overgrown weeds, trees, trash, drug addicts and dealers and the realization of a dream deferred. Until, Shyriaka “Shy” Morris opened her storefront gallery/ gi� shop and purchased a parcel of what was known as Washington Square. Native to New Smyrna Beach, Shy can trace her roots back at least 100+ years. Her vision is to pay it forward for her hometown community by reconnecting the past, present and future residents and to give back to her rich, historic community that continues to inspire her to be great. Shy Morris is a master community builder, educator and professional visual artist using her creative advantages as a visionary to spark change in disadvantaged, low income and underserved communities. Why these communities? Shy, and her younger siblings grew up in New Smyrna but also in her teen years live in one of the worse housing developments in Daytona Beach, Pine Haven. Pine Haven was so bad that it was nicknamed “Lil’ Saigon”. She was confused by the numbers of young African American men in jail, dead or on drugs before high school. A�er graduating from Seabreeze High School in 1993, she went to college and got her degree in Early Childhood Education but always wondered why so many African American males were being trapped in what she found out was the School to Prison Pipeline. Soon a�er Shy became a single parent mother of a male child and refused to let him fall into the same traps as her friends did many years before. Instead of complaining about the system she created a blueprint that she knows is divinely inspired called PEACE ARTS. PEACE ARTS is a wonderful acronym. PEACE is Positive Education and Creative Expressions nurtures youth, PreK-12th grade with enrichment programs to help scaffold their conﬁdence so they can thrive in educational environments and

ARTS is Always Ready To Serve, a community service outreach project to help them see and be the change they wish to be for the future of their communities. Shy could not see her son or the youth of her community continuing to fall into this premediated journey in their lives. Shy’s life challenges have been transformed into her positive reinforcement of daily aﬃrmations. Several years ago she went through a horrible divorce leaving her to be a single parent mother of 4 kids. Instead of going into a depression she used her sorrows to create joyful moments. She continues to never focus on the broken pieces but remaining in a PEACEful growth mindset. PEACE ARTS challenges the negative pipelines that suffocate low income areas, by providing positive resources that become the solution to generational curses. PEACE ARTS was created to help her oldest son have a positive connection with his education and also provide doors for him to have future success. Now 19 years later, her son is in the United States Air Force as and Aviation Engineer. Shy’s mission is help ﬁnd resources that will guide a community towards generational success. The Community Garden at PEACE ARTS will help to change the new generation by infusing positive, holistic and healthier options in low income environments. We want to be the source for all things that are not available in these populations. She partners with area organizations to provide free to low cost arts and STEAM based educational experiences. Some of her partnerships include: Volusia county Schools, New Smyrna Beach Housing Authority, The City of New Smyrna Beach, Black Women’s Roundtable, Atlantic Center for the Arts, a community partner with AFLCIO, Black Heritage Museum and the president of the South East Volusia NAACP. She is no stranger to closing the gaps in immediate achievement goals, food insecurities, social justice and racial divides by creating diverse pla�orms for honest human engagements. By changing the perspective towards positive outcomes, she has organized three community cleanups that have evolved into a healing zone, where the community can gather to begin the process of healing from the inside out. A beautiful space where the community can come together both east and west New Smyrna to fellowship in PEACE, this space is the home of our new Community Garden at PEACE

ARTS. The community can learn how to grow and plant seeds, build nutrient rich soil, identify plants and bugs, recycling, making compost, heathy food choices and how to communicate with diverse populations. The Youth Gardeners grow food to eat, deliver some vegetables to seniors and sell their plants at the Young Entrepreneurs Sale at our 3rd Saturday Community Block Party and Market. Shy has owned her own business for over 20 years. She has travelled all over the country and world exhibiting her art and facilitating community mural projects. She has two mural projects in New Smyrna. One at a park she adopted from the City of New Smyrna Beach, Pe�s Park called the Freedom Quilt and the other is at the Alonzo Babe James Community Center called Unite Community Mural Project where over 300 people came to help her complete this mural. She has exhibited at the National NAACP Conferences, Black Doctors, National Black Caucasus, Essence Festivals and sold work to Grammy Award winners, Erykah Badu, Regina Belle, N’Dambi, Jaguar Wright and Solonge Knowles and to author Bell Hooks. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” Shy realized that if she lived in fear she would never be able to achieve the divine assignment on her life. So she acknowledges that it (fear) exists but she continues anyway to blaze her own path in her hometown of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We are forming a teen volunteer league. where teens worktogether to help create the world they want to live in. Currently we are growing 3 kinds for tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, squash, pumpkins, dill, parsley, celery, scallions, garlic, onions, basil, oregano, broccoli, bell peppers, mustard, collard and kale greens. We are looking for donations to help the garden thrive. We are focused on time to help, talents that can help the vision become a reality and monetary donations to keep free programs for our community. Everyone is welcome to help our community garden grow. #GrowingGreatPeople #WeAreeNSBHistoricWestside #PEACEARTS #IamShyMorris To connect with Shy 386-631-5551 peace. arts.studios@gmail.com �:ShyriakaMorris Insta: @IamShyMorris Peace Arts 535 Washington St New Smyrna Beach Fl 32168

Celebrating 13 years of Ministry On Easter Sunday, Pastor Anthony N. Williams and Co-Pastor Dana Williams will celebrate thirteen years of ministry. The Pastor’s Appreciation will be held on April 19th-22nd 2018. They both have served God faithfully and have been preaching the word of God from an early age. Pastor Anthony Williams has been preaching for 36 years and Co-Pastor Dana Williams has been preaching for 19 years. Pastor Williams is a native of DeLand, Florida and Co-Pastor Williams is a native of Leland, North Carolina. One night at a revival in North Carolina at Co-Pastor Dana’s church love was the element that brought them together. Since that revival they have been inseparable. A�er dating for two years they were married and they have been working together in ministry as a powerful team. They were both ordained as Elders in 2001. God had more for them and on Easter Sunday Morning in 2005 New Life International Ministries was established in the beautiful city of DeLand, Florida. God once again proved himself faithful and God elevated Elder Anthony Williams as a Presiding Elder in The House of God Saints in Christ, District II and Co-Pastor serves as the District First Lady. New Life International Ministries is a beacon in the community. New Life is a place where, “God Has the Combination for Your Spiritual Destination” and it is truly a house build with love and compassion. New Life is blessed to be a multi-cultural congregation; it also is a Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance ministry. In April of 2017 their ministry was given a proclamation and delivered by the city Commissioner Jessica Davis on the behalf of the city Mayor Bob Apgar. They were recognized for the work they have done in the city of DeLand, Florida. Through the years the following ministries have been established, a Feeding Ministry and Food bank, Radio Minis-

try, Hospital and Nursing Home ministry, Youth Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry. They have ministered and conducted Bible Study to both the women and the men of the formerly known Haven Recovery Center. God blessed them to conduct an International Health Fair and to preach in the Free-Hill community of Jamaica. This was coordinated through the Jamaican Public Health Ministry and a Medical Doctor from Cape Coral, Florida and they also traveled to Jamaica to provide health care. The kids received school supplies and dental care. The adults were treated for diabetes, Pap Smears, dental care, cholesterol screening, height and weight was screened. It was phenomenal, and it’s still talked about to this day. Pastor Anthony Williams established a male youth mentoring group B2B, Brother to Brother. We have seen the fruit of that ministry blossom with the young men graduating from High School, graduating from college, and starting military careers. Co-Pastor Dana Williams established a women’s ministry called Jewel’s of Faith which spiritually empowers and upli�s women of all ages. She has a yearly Women’s Conference and Prayer Breakfast. We are all different and we are spiritual jewels in God’s Kingdom, Malachi 3:16-18. Co-Pastor Dana Williams is a Self-Published Author; in 2013 she wrote her ﬁrst book of many to come entitled, “Oh, How I Love To Dance.” A personal memoir of her life and how it changed, and how God gave her beauty for ashes. This past February God blessed this husband and wife team to celebrate 17 years of marriage, and to step out of their comfort zone and have a retreat entitled “Pure Love Marriage Retreat” it was held at Mystic Dunes Golf Resort, in Celebration, Florida. It was a sold-out event and some couples had to be turned away due to the availability. The couples were greatly blessed and the ﬁre within their marriages were ig-

nited again. The youngest couple there had been married for eight years and the eldest couple had been married for thirty-two years. It was a three-day event that included live music and dinner, a seminar and plenty of time for the couples to rest, relax and enjoy themselves. In ministry it is vital for leaders to spend quality time together. Balance is a must for a healthy, happy, prosperous, and blessed marriage. Pastor Williams and Co-Pastor Williams believe in having a date night at least once a week, to keep that spark in your relationship ignited. If you are a married couple, we would love for you to plan to attend next year’s retreat. It will be on the 1st weekend of February. We know that you will be blessed beyond your imagination. Last but, certainly not least we are very blessed to have a supportive group of leaders and lay members that help us push the vision. You may visit the website for more information about our ministry at www.nli.ministries.org or call the church 386-279-0052. The church address is 602 South Spring Garden Ave. DeLand, Florida 32720. Service times are Sunday School 10:00 A.M and Sunday Worship at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday Noon Day Prayer 12:00 A.M., Tuesday Night Bible Study 7:00 P.M. Every 2nd Saturday is out Women’s Fellowship Meeting at 10:00 A.M. and Men’s Fellowship Meeting is every 3rd Sunday at 8:00 A.M. Pastor Williams & Co-Pastors will celebrate their 13th year Appreciation April 19th - 22nd, 2018. The Jewel’s of Faith Women’s group will meet at Painting with a Twist in Orange City, Florida at 6:00 P.M. July 11th - July 13th, the House of God Saints in Christ will have their National Youth Convention in Tampa, FL and Kiera Sheard will the Guest Musical Artist on Friday along with many other exciting events. Mrs. Dana R. Williams With God All Things Are Possible

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