Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
1. THIS UPDATE IS TO CLARIFY INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT OUT CONCERNING THE FATAL FIRE IN BRYAN TEXAS:
The following Message was received from the Reverend Eric and Myra Billips. Be informed also that The Hamilton family of Bryan, Texas is related to the Rev. J. W. Ford, Pastor of Smith Chapel-Dallas, Texas; the great grandchildren of the Reverend W. D. Turner, and Mrs. Toliver of Allen Chapel AME, Bryan, Texas.
Two children, 10-year old Bryan, a 10 year Brandon, and 7-year Gabriell, died of smoke inhalation. A set of 5-year-old twins, Victor, was burned over 99% of his body and his sister, Vickea, was burned over 25% of her body. The twins remain at the Shriner's Burn Unit in Galveston, Texas.
Another male child, JaCovey, along with his mother, Roshaunda Dashae, escaped without harm.
Coisha, mother of the deceased female, also escaped along with her two remaining children, William (1) and Tiara (3 months).
Please continue to pray for these families and for the children’s full recovery.
Submitted by the Reverend Dr. Daryl Ingram
2. APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE FOR TWO AME CHILDREN LOST IN HOUSE FIRE:
Our prayers continue for the Hamilton Family of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. The Hamilton family of Bryan, Texas, who are members of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, lost two of their children on this past Saturday morning in a tragic house fire. Two other children are hospitalized in Galveston, in critical condition. The Allen Chapel Church family and the Bryan community are really responding in an immediate and compassionate manner. During the aftermath of Katrina, Allen Chapel aided a family from New Orleans by providing free housing. Now they are serving as a command post to assist one of their very own families.
To further offset mounting expenses for the Hamilton’s, a relief fund has been set-up. I am encouraging all to send contributions to:
First National Bank
Hamilton
Family, Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
2807 S. Texas Ave.
Bryan, Texas 77802
You can view the local news coverage at:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/2261411.html.
Once you are at the Web Site, you can click on the following to watch the actual broadcast. “The Family Picking Up the Pieces after Fatal House Fire”
Thanks and be blessed,
Presiding Elder W. C. Ervin III
- The following email message was received from Presiding Elder C. C. Irving, III.
There was a large house fire in Bryan this morning and it was one of our Allen Chapel Families; Victor & Lashea Hamilton and their four children, 2 boys and a pair of twins (boy & a girl). The two older boys did NOT get out; the twins have been life-flighted to Shriners Medical Center in Galveston. As far as we know the parents are okay; the father was at work.
3. THE GLOBAL CORNER - HAITI:
Praise God we are still safe in Haiti for now. The upcoming elections make every one feverish, not knowing what to expect. However, our eyes are upon the Lord for mercy and protection. Please continue with the prayer vigil as we are about to do our civic duty toward peace, hopefully with stability.
The country is in a state of shutting down. I will not return to work until Thursday, if I have enough electricity and the Internet is working
I will keep you posted.
Best regards
Elvire
Editor’s note: Please keep the people of Haiti and the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in your prayers.
4. “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” – THE REVEREND JOSEPH H. FORBES:
Written by the Reverend E. Lewis Branch
The Reverend Joseph H. Forbes,
Retired Presiding Elder of the Kansas City North District
Of the 5th Episcopal District of the A. M. E. Church
Pastor, administrator, scholar, educator, innovative workshop and seminar facilitator, veteran, activist, agent of change, husband and father, child of the King . . . the knowledge, skills and experiences of the Rev. Joseph H. Forbes are varied and wide.
Pastor
Rev. Forbes’ ministry spans forty-nine years. He has served A.M.E. pastorates in Ohio, California, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. Beginning with his first pastorate at St. John AMEC in Little Rock, California, Rev. Forbes has set a high standard for excellence in ministry. In his first year alone as pastor of St. John, Little Rock, Rev. Forbes raised the money, to purchase property for the building of a church. As pastor of Bethel, Marysville, California, Rev. Forbes started a Head Start Program. He also established a summer food program, providing cooked meals for underprivileged children at local recreational sites. And, in Riverside, California, Allen Chapel AMEC, he established both a food kitchen to feed the homeless and an emergency shelter program, Rev. Forbes also served as pastor of Ross Chapel, Jamestown, Ohio; Allen Chapel (College Hill) Cincinnati, Ohio; St. John, St. Louis, Missouri; St. John, Omaha, Nebraska and Allen Chapel (Quindaro), Kansas.
Administrator
Presently, Rev. Forbes is the retired Presiding Elder of the Kansas City North District of the Northwest Missouri Conference. This district is comprised of 22 churches with a total of 3,000 clergy and lay members. As the presiding elder, Rev. Forbes was a liaison between the Bishop and the local churches, providing administrative and advisory leadership to the district. He also has served as the district accountant. Earlier in his career, he was the Training Administrator for the University of California, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, currently known as Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (1969-1971). As training administrator, Rev. Forbes developed the Demand Occupation Training Program. Demand Occupation Training Program trained inter-city youth for entry-level jobs at the laboratory.
Scholar
The Rev. Joseph H. Forbes is a graduate of Paul Quinn College, Dallas, Texas (formerly in Waco, Texas) and of Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Divinity degree, respectively. He received a Dr. Ministry Degree from the University of Central America. Rev. Forbes continued his studies with graduate work in counseling and psychology at Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington and the University of California at Berkeley.
Educator
As a Chaplain in the United States Air Force, Rev. Forbes was the Director of the total Base Religious Education program. His duties included Supervising and training a staff of more than 75 volunteers with approximately 900 students in the Sunday school. He has taught in the Public School systems of Cincinnati, Ohio and Kansas City, Missouri.
Workshop and Seminar Facilitator
During the past forty-seven years, Rev. Forbes has developed a unique style of using the didactic and experiential method in conducting workshops and seminars. These workshops were for religious, public and private organizations. His belief in prayer, the Holy Scriptures, the Atoning work of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, form the foundation of his work.
Veteran
Rev. Forbes is a patriot. He has served his country in not one, but two different branches of the armed services.
- Chaplain United States Air Force - Rank, Captain. 1962-1967
- United States Army Reserves – Rank E-6 1955-1962
- United States Army – Rank E-4. 1952-1955
Activist
Rev. Forbes has long been a champion for the improvement in the quality of life, change and development for all people. His passion for these social issues is attested to by his involvement in the following organizations:
- Board member of the Pacific Institute of Church Organization (PICO). 1998-Present
- President Wyandotte County Interfaith Sponsoring Council. 1994-1997
- Board member of The Riverside Zoning and Planning Board 1987-1989
- Board of Directors Riverside, California Chapter of the Sickle Cell Anemia Association. 1986-1989
- Board of Directors Riverside, California N.A.A.C.P. 1985-1989
- Board of Directors Vallejo, California N.A.A.C.P. 1967-1968
- Member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
Agent of Change
President of his own firm, Forbes & Smith Associates. The Rev. Forbes specialized in problem solving, conflict resolution, team building for non-profit, and government organizations. 1971-1976
Husband and Father
Rev. Forbes, a native of Ft. Worth, Texas, is in the third generation of a family with five generations of ordained AME ministers. He is also the third of five children born to the late Rev. Ahnin and Mrs., Rachel Forbes, Sr. He is married to the elegant, and charming, Lola M. Forbes. They have five children and three grand children.
The Reverend E. Lewis Branch
Retired Presiding Elder
Editor's Note: Thank you Reverend Branch for recognizing another one of our great preachers!
5. THE QUARTERLY CONFERENCE AND DINNER AT ST. LUKE AME, OPELIKA, ALABAMA WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER:
The pastor, first lady, associate pastor, officers, and members of the Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church, Opelika, Alabama will always think of January 14, 2006 as a, “A Day To Remember.”
On Saturday, January 14, 2006, the Saint Luke Church family held the second successful Quarterly Conference led and presided by Elder W. G. Treadwell, Presiding Elder of the Phenix City District in the East Conference of the 9th Episcopal District, the Rt. Reverend T. Larry Kirkland is the presiding bishop.
We give all the praise, honor, and glory to God, our Father and His son our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the wonderful leadership in our Local Church and District, and from the East Conference and the 9th Episcopal district.
Also, on today, January 14, 2006, we celebrated a spirit-filled fellowship at our second Quarterly meeting. This fellowship extended to an extraordinary early afternoon dinner sponsored by our great pastor, the Reverend Dr. W. A. Butts and his very loving wife, Mrs. Clara Butts.
Our pastor and his wife had previously planned this special day of fellowship shortly after they came on board as our new leaders in October 2005. There is a song that goes, “I’m blessed, better than blessed, thank you, Lord.” This is what we have been saying at Saint Luke since Pastor and Mrs. Butts arrived. Our prayers for genuine leadership had now been answered.
Shortly after Pastor and Mrs. Butts arrived as our new leaders, Dr. Butts said, “I want to do something special for all of you here at Saint Luke.” It seemed as if Dr. Butts had visualized a joyous gathering for our church family. As time passed, Dr. Butts constantly reminded us that he was going to give something special for the members and maybe even invite some of the local pastors and their spouses. Nevertheless, Dr. Butts had a vision that became reality on January 14, 2006, “A Day to Remember.”
As Christians, we try very had not to refer our situations as coincidences; instead, we are more led to say that our situations “divinely” happen by the manifestation of God through His Holy Spirit.” Well, we could say that the 2:00 P.M. afternoon “Fish Fry,” as the dinner was “divinely” planned. This was definitely the best fellowship that we have had at Saint Luke in a very long time. Everyone appeared to be happy, the food was excellent, and the attendance was astounding.
There is another saying that goes something like this “It’s not always what you say, but how you it.” This saying holds much truth to it in regards to the planning and preparation of this “Fish Fry” fellowship.
A few Sundays before the “Fish Fry,” Pastor Butts had a brief meeting with several members of the church concerning communicating with “all” members at Saint Luke, including those who were no longer attending. He indicated that he wanted to mail letters or invitations to the Saint Luke family, a few local pastors, and their spouses.
This was a mission expecting to be accomplished and it was! Nearly ninety beautiful invitations were mailed to the Saint Luke Church family and to the .extended families of the church, and to several pastors and their spouses. Remember the quote stated earlier “It’s not always what you say, but how you say it.” Dr. Butts and Mrs. Butts really said it well in the invitations sent to all invitees. The invitations went out and the people responded. It was a day to remember!
The Rev. (Dr.) W. A. Butts, Pastor
Saint Luke African Episcopal Church -1308 Auburn Street
Opelika, AL 36801
Church Telephone Number: (334) 887-0097
Church News Article – “A Day to Remember”
Written and submitted by: Rev. (Dr.) Jo Ann Sumbry, Associate Pastor
6. BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH EASTVILLE, VIRGINIA “MINISTRY TO MEN”:
The Men of Bethel, Eastville Virginia met on Saturday, January 28, 2006 to fulfill the mandate our Bishop, the Right Reverend Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. to implement a Ministry to Men Fellowship.
Reverend Rufus L. Mosley, Jr., the Norfolk/Eastern Shore Coordinator for the Minister to Men, and the pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Eastville, Virginia had Brother Crosby Johnson the local church coordinator to call the men together for ministering to men fellowship.
The day began with singing, prayer, and scripture. A meal of waffles, eggs, hash browns, biscuits, sausages, pastries, fruit, orange juice and coffee was served. All prepared and served by the local coordinator, Bro. Crosby Johnson.
After breakfast, Pastor Mosley began by stating excerpts from Bishop Richardson’s vision statement “Visions do not generally come full blown; they are developed over time; prayed for and about. They are enlarged upon through conversations with the stakeholders. They are implemented with teamwork.”
Pastor Mosley indicated that, that now, more than ever, we need to pray for men and minister to them. Men need ministering intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually in order to become the men of Christ. At no other time in history is there a need for this ministry. With the deterioration of the family, and an unclear understanding of what a “real” man is in society. There is a vital need for spiritual leadership in the family and the church is compelled to “Go into the highways and bi-ways.” Effective life-changing men’s groups not only help the men involved, but also the local church as a whole is affected in a positive way.
So our purpose as a men’s ministry is to connect and in some instances re-connect men to “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, and Man Everywhere Our Brother” to connect me to His Word and other men of the church. The ultimate goal of this ministry is to have the men of the church to take their rightful place as it relates to God and his church, while at the same time winning, growing and training them to be men of God.
Pastor Mosley indicated that in order to have a strong men’s ministry, we would need to establish a framework. These benchmarks were adopted from the article entitled “Men’s Ministry – Key to Leadership:”
- Filling- God’s men are self-feeders. They should consistently study and apply God’s Word independent of the church or small group. This is essential. To do this, men must be taught how to study the Bible. (1 Peter 2:1-3; Psalm 1:1-3).
- Training-God’s men receive regular/weekly-biblical instruction (1 Thessalonians 2:1-3). This can be achieved through a weekly small group Bible study or large-group study with small group discussion.
- Practicing-God’s men learn how to apply God’s Word to all areas of life. It is essential to allow room for accountability within the men’s ministry for the purpose of consistency and obedience to God’s Word (James 1:22-25; Ezekiel 33:30-32).
- Uniting-God’s men make it a priority to connect with other men at least two times a month for the purpose of community, accountability, confession, and prayer. (Galatians 6:1-3; James 5:16; Hebrews 10:23-24).
- Surviving-God’s men learn to address major life temptations and/or crises according to their needs and life-stage. Support and encouragement is essential. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
- Reaching-God’s men get involved in some form of men’s ministry based on their gifts and talents. God has called each of us to pour out to others what He has poured into us. (1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:11-13).
- Impacting-God’s men invest time and resources into the lives of other men. This is accomplished through shared activities, spiritual mentoring, and modeling (2 Timothy 2:22; Proverbs 27:17; Mark 3:13-14).
- Sharing, God’s men learn to share their faith as means to lead others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20.
Fifteen men of Bethel attended. It was a wonderful time of sharing and fellowshipping. The men plan to meet on a monthly basis to discuss men’s issues (i.e. Men’s medical issues), and to see how they can be a blessing to the body of Christ, as well as to this branch of Zion.
Bro. Johnson is a retired executive of the Department of Defense with an extensive background in Acquisition. In his last position, he served as an Executive Director of Capital Investment for a Defense Agency. In this capacity, he was responsible for the Agency’s Information Technology, Construction and Acquisition Programs. Within the Methodist Church, he has served as a Trustee or Steward at different times since 1986.
7. CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY – “ON THE BOOK SHELF”:
Mrs. Jeanette Johns
My late husband, Rev. Clarence B. Johns, Jr. used to fascinate us at the dinner table with stories of his childhood. He often referred to portions of the alphabet that he and his siblings learned each set of letters having a special meaning. ABC = Always Be Careful; DEF = Don’t Ever Forget; GHI = Go Home Immediately; JKL = Just Keep Looking, etc. Here’s the one that became our favorite and to which we still refer from time to time:
MNO = Miss No Opportunity
I was reminded of this as I started to write this piece. I thought of two opportunities that we should never miss: 1) Never miss the opportunity to attend a program that you know will be special and where you know there will be an excellent speaker. 2) Never miss the opportunity to read a good book and expand your knowledge.
I recommend to you three which bring back some thoughts appropriate for Black History Month because of my personal experiences regarding both:
Gray, Fred D. Bus Ride to Justice; Changing the System By the System; The Life and Works of Fred Gray, Montgomery, The Black Belt Press, 1995.
A few months ago, soon after the death of Mrs. Rosa Parks, I read an article about her in “Newsday”. There was a 15-year old girl mentioned whose story triggered an interesting and information-filled memory. I once heard that 15-year old speak (as an adult) at the Huntington Town Hall. It was on February 17, 1997 at one of our Annual Black History Month programs that we have come to expect to be well-planned and executed by Minority Affairs Director Betty Miller, and the main speaker for that evening was Mr. Fred Gray, the attorney who had defended this 15-year-old young lady many years ago.
Atty. Gray is also a Rev. and a very well-known activist in Tuskegee, AL. The father of our own Bethel member, Donald Bentley, owned a funeral home there and Atty. Gray was their family's attorney. Donald introduced my husband and me to Atty. Gray that night and I was fortunate to get an autographed copy of his book, "Bus Ride to Justice; Changing the System By the System; The Life and Works of Fred Gray". Long title/sub-titles; a very informative book. Recent events have inspired me to pull this book from where it sat “On the Book Shelf” and I intend to re-read it during this Black History Month of February 2006.
The young girl was Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old high school student, who was arrested on March 2, 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
Claudette was already seated at the back of the bus and refused to stand and make her seat available to a white woman. When she remained seated, the bus driver called the police who dragged her from her seat and arrested her. Atty. Gray was quite willing to represent Claudette thinking that this would be the opportunity he had been waiting for to test the constitutionality of Montgomery’s segregation ordinances and Alabama’s segregation statutes.
As it turned out, even though he had developed and presented an excellent defense for Claudette, the juvenile court of Montgomery County convicted her on all charges. He appealed the decision and eventually the Montgomery County Juvenile Court placed her on indefinite, unsupervised probation.
Although the results were not what Attorney Gray and his many supporters had envisioned, there were some benefits. It had provided an opportunity for him to challenge the existing segregation laws, and the case gave him courage and a faith that there would be another time to challenge those laws. He also learned some important lessons that served him well when that expected opportunity materialized. Finally, everything fell into place on December 1, 1995 when Mrs. Rosa Parks was arrested – just a few months after Claudette Colvin, age 15, had been the subject of a similar case.
At Huntington Hall that evening, Atty. Gray presented Claudette, now an adult living in The Bronx, to speak to us briefly. Everyone was in awe as this young woman related her youthful experiences. To me, it was an incredible feeling to be in the same room, breathing the same air, and actually being able to look at a truly courageous person who had been placed in a position that created such great influence on our Black history and on our American history. I felt then, as I feel now that Ms Betty Miller has put so many of these opportunities before us with this Annual Black History program. I am ever grateful to her for affording us these glimpses of history-in-the-making.
Atty. Gray’s book also highlights Mrs. Coretta Scott King and the role she played as her husband, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. took his place in history. Atty. Gray, during his service in the Alabama Legislature was one of the first persons to introduce a bill in any state legislature to have a legal holiday in honor of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mrs. King, of course, became an ardent supporter and worked diligently toward that goal. Atty. Gray writes:
“Mrs. King, by the way, is an Alabama native and a dynamic leader in her own right. Her strength and abilities always were evident while she and Dr. King were living in Montgomery, though she was usually in the background because she was at that time a mother of small children. Her dignity and courage inspired the world during the tragic time when her husband was murdered.
Since Martin’s death she has done a tremendous job of developing the King center, under some very strenuous and adverse conditions.”
This is a fitting tribute to Mrs. King as condolences pour in to her family from across the world. Her funeral arrangements are now in progress, following her death on January 31, 2006.
When my son, Buddy, was in third or fourth grade, his teacher gave an assignment to read a book about an important person and write a book report. When he asked for my help I seized upon the opportunity, knowing that being the only Black child in his class, this was one of those rare chances to toss out a little knowledge about a Black person that perhaps the children, including Buddy, had never heard of before. I helped him select a book about Dr. Charles Drew. It was an average-sized book with a red cover and a large picture of Dr. Drew on the cover. It was written on about 4th-5th-grade reading level with fairly large, easy-to-read print. I thought that if Buddy’s report triggered an interest in one of the children, this would be a book that would hold his/her interest.
The interesting part of this story is that Buddy’s teacher (white) had never heard of Dr. Drew. He gave Buddy an A+ on his book report and wrote a personal note thanking Buddy for introducing him to this very important African-American doctor/researcher/inventor. It really surprised me to know that any teacher of that day, of any color, and especially a teacher of a Gifted Class, could not have heard of this brilliant man. I smiled a happy smile knowing that Buddy and I had helped to enlighten this young teacher. I’ve always hoped that he found a way to pass his newfound information along to others.
I wish I could furnish a proper citation of this particular book for you, but I have not seen the book for years and it is probably long out of print. However, any book about Dr. Drew would be a good one to read. Here is one to start with:
Schraff, Anne E. Dr. Charles Drew: Blood Bank Innovator (African-American Biographies). Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2003
Dr. Charles R. Drew was born June 3, 1904 and became one of the most important medical personalities of his time. He did endless research regarding the storage of blood in plasma form in order to increase the storage life of blood. At that time, blood could not be stored for more than a couple of days because of its rapid breakdown of red cells. He discovered a way to separate plasma (liquid part of blood) from whole blood (in which the red blood cells exist) and refrigerate it separately. It could then be combined later to be used for a blood transfusion. Dr. Drew’s discovery was especially important for use on the battlefields when service members were seriously wounded and in need of immediate blood transfusions.
The storage of blood in plasma form has saved untold lives since Dr. Drew brought this process forward in the 1930s. This method of blood storage is still used by the Red Cross, even today. His importance to modern medicine cannot be overstated.
Dr. Drew died following an automobile accident on April 1, 1950 that occurred in North Carolina as he driving to a medical conference. He was only 45 years old at the time of his death. For many years the story persisted, that he died because he was denied a blood transfusion by an all-white hospital. In fact, he did receive a transfusion but was beyond the help of experienced physicians attending to him. Men who were with him gave statements indicating that his doctors were well aware of his identity as they fought for more than an hour to save his life. His colleagues saw no evidence of mistreatment or neglect. His family later wrote letters to those physicians thanking them for the care they provided.
The book cited was not written for a child as young as my Buddy was, at the time he read it. Children of Jr. High age would find it appropriate reading, which would make it suitable, as well, for anyone older to read.
The name “Mrs. Mary McCloud Bethune” is one that conjures up so many thoughts that pages and pages could be filled with adjectives to describe her person and her spirit and her life and the effects she has had on millions of people in this country. Our pastor, Rev. Michael D. Washington, often mentions her in his sermons, so great is his admiration and respect for the work she accomplished during her lifetime. I had heard of this woman since I was a young, young child and always her name was spoken in tones that made me know that she was, indeed, special to the person who was speaking about her. Those feelings were passed on to me and throughout my life; I read about her and tried to understand the enormity of her works.
One of my greatest life-moments came on June 4, 1951 when she was Commencement speaker for my graduating class at Hampton University. We were all excited about the choice of the speaker for the occasion and the campus buzz for a week was “Mrs. Bethune is coming! She will be our Commencement speaker!” I could not wait to hear what this well-known person; admired-by-everyone would have to say to our class. What words could I take from this unique individual that would start me on my way to a success life away from the sheltered environment I had been surrounded by all of my days?
I regret to inform you that I do not have any of Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune’s powerful words of wisdom to pass on to you. She was a little late arriving so that she was not seated on stage with the rest of the participants of the day. What I remember about Mrs. Bethune is the moment when we saw her walk slowly across the stage utilizing the famous cane, a gift to her from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as she approached her designated seat. I remember staring at every step she took. I remember the feeling of her coming into the same auditorium where I was seated. I remember that if I was lucky I could even touch her. I remember the electricity that sparked the air from the moment she first cleared the stage curtain and became visible to us. Her dignity! Her poise! Her elegance! I had heard about this was the woman all my life! I never thought that I could be in her presence, even as far away as I was from her. I think my ears went temporarily deaf because I can only remember hanging on every word that came forth out of her mouth, but I can’t put together a single sentence, a single thought that she expressed. It was enough for me just to “be there” with Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune.
During my career as a Children’s Librarian, I often had the opportunity to recommend a book about Mrs. Bethune to my library children. Especially during Black History Month, the occasions were plentiful as teachers gave assignments to read a book about a Black person and write a report. For children from 3rd grade to 5th grade, I happily recommended one of my favorite books about Mrs. Bethune. For reluctant readers who didn’t especially want to spend their time with a book, this slim volume was a quick, but good read. And, for older readers who needed an easy-to-read book, this one filled the bill. Invariably, the children and their parents returned to tell me how glad they were that I introduced them to the life of Mrs. Bethune.
This is the book I recommended: Carruth, Ella K. She Wanted to Read: The Story of Mary McLeod Bethune. Little Mary Jane McLeod’s parents had been slaves and they continued to work for their former masters until they were able to secure a few acres of land for themselves. They raised cotton and these fields were plowed by the old family mule, “Old Bush” (he had a bushy tail), until he suddenly dropped dead. Then Mary Jane had to take her turn at the plow in Old Bush’s place. Some days she would visit the beautiful homes of white families with her mother as she delivered the clothes she had laundered for them. She finally decided that these people were different and that their differences came about because they could “read books”. That’s when she began to pray that God would let her learn to read and get educated. The day that she could start on her education didn’t come until she was 9 years old, but when the offer came, she seized it!
Years later she lived in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she found there was a great necessity for a school to educate Negro girls. She and her neighbors went to the city dump heaps and to the refuse piles behind the famous resort hotels in Daytona. They found cracked dishes, bits of broken furniture, old brooms, lamps, clothing, and bedclothes. She made furniture for her school from packing crates and boxes and used upturned baskets for chairs. Pencils were made from charred wood, and ink was made from the juice of wild elderberries. Finally, she was ready to open her little school where she was the teacher and principal and her students were five little girls.
Slowly news about Mrs. Bethune’s work spread and many influential people of the day made large contributions to her cause. Later she became adviser to several United States Presidents as they sought her advice on education and many other matters.
From the humble beginnings of her little school for five girls evolved a prestigious four-year college, which is known today as Bethune-Cookman College. It is now a 32-building campus with 2,745 students. Its motto: “Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve.” The street on which the college is located has been re-named: “Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard”.
She Wanted to Read may be difficult to find in libraries now; however, I know that it’s available from amazon.com at a very low price. Reviews by readers at that website reveal that one reader was inspired to become an educator because she read this book as a child. Another review says that Mrs. Bethune should be the hero of every Black person and she identifies herself as a white reader, declaring that Mrs. Bethune is certainly her hero.
A book about Mrs. Bethune that is readily available is this one: Greenfield, Eloise. Mary McLeod Bethune. New York: Crowell, 1977.
I usually carry a small book in my pocketbook in order to make good use of “waiting time”, such as in a doctor’s office or under the hairdryer. The one in my pocketbook for this month is a paperback book titled Rosa Parks; My Story written by Mrs. Parks, with Jim Haskins. I recommend it to you for uplifting reading. If you start now, we’ll be reading it together.
8. A REQUEST FROM THE REVEREND WILLIAM HOWARD SMITH:
On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, a man who is a member of Campbell Chapel AME Church, Pulaski, TN, Allan Chigumira, a native of Zimbabwe, informed me that he and his family would be leaving for Canada at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2006. I asked him if he had any connections, ties, or a means of employment lined up in Canada and he replied, "We are going just trusting in the Lord."
Please share this true story with persons who may live along the route from Tennessee to Canada. If they have any contact with Allan Chigumira, as a favor to me, an AME preacher since 1974 and a pastor since 1975 please pray for them and assist them with a meal, or a tank of gas for their van and the rental truck. If the make it to Canada, where they must reside for two years, please assist Allan and his wife, Beauty with securing employment. They were hard workers here in Pulaski. Allan leaves a job that he had for a short while at Nissan.
Allan is in possession of a printed item that I gave him to show to any AME Pastor with whom he might make contact. Any pastor may feel free to contact me about this family. I taught the oldest child piano lessons for four years.
The Chigumira family, Beauty, Amanda and Henry, elementary and middle school students, have to leave because of tough U.S. immigration laws.
They were sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Sims, of Pulaski, Tennessee and became members of Campbell Chapel AME Church, Pulaski, Tennessee.
My wife, Willa, and I made a monetary donation and in the cold of the night, I made it to their home to have prayer for them and to give them gas money for a loaded U-Haul truck.
If you need further information regarding this matter, then contact me: whowardsmith7@yahoo.com
Finally, please pray for Brother Henry Sims who was taken to Hillside Hospital in Pulaski, Tennessee. He is terminally ill and very distraught about the Chirgumira's having to leave.
May God’s richest blessings be upon you and yours!
The Reverend William Howard Smith
9. THE REVEREND DR. WILLIAM JONES LONGTIME PASTOR OF BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH, BROOKLYN, NY HAS DIED:
The Rev. William Augustus Jones, Jr., Pastor Emeritus - Bethany Baptist Church February 24, 1934 - February 4, 2006
The Reverend Dr. William Augustus Jones, Jr., Pastor Emeritus of Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY, who retired this past September 18 after serving 43 years there, died Saturday, February 4, 2006, at his Brooklyn home after a long illness. He was 71.
A native of Lexington, KY, and the son and grandson of Baptist ministers, Dr. Jones was born February 24, 1934, in Louisville, KY, to Mary E. Jones and the Reverend Dr. William A. Jones, Sr. A graduate of the University of Kentucky and Crozer Theological Seminary, Dr. Jones held an earned doctorate from Colgate Rochester Divinity School and completed special studies at the University of Lagos (Nigeria) and the University of Ghana at Legon.
A staunch Christian activist, Dr. Jones was for many years a leader in the struggle for human rights and economic justice. As a student at Crozer, he teamed up with Leon Sullivan and was active in the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC). In 1962 and 1963, he was involved in the construction industry struggle against Downstate Hospital and in the late 60s, he worked with Operation Breadbasket, heading the New York Office and eventually opening up doors for jobs and racial equality in the bread, bottling and other industries. He served as the first chair of the New York Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by Dr. Martin Luther King.
10. THE PASTOR’S CORNER - FAN THE FLAME – FOCUS:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. 1Endure hardship with us, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. (II Timothy 1: 6 & II Timothy 2: 3-4)
Paul reminds young Timothy to fan into flame the presence of the Holy Spirit within. He recommends focusing his attention on pleasing his commanding officer, Jesus Christ. True focus requires understanding our role in the context of the larger picture in which we operate. True focus in the Christian life occurs when God’s goals become our goals. Paul is reminding Timothy and us to “put first things first and to major in majors and not in minors.
Paul says a good soldier will focus on pleasing his commanding officer. We can bring focus in our lives by setting proper goals. As we seek to set goals in our lives, we are to look to that which holds authority and priority in our lives. This means looking outside ourselves. Make God’s goals your goals. Make the company’s goals your goals. Make your bosses goals your goals. Make your spouses goals your goals. Make your children’s goals your goals. Make your church’s goals your goals. So, what are God’s goals for the church?
God’s Goals for His Church (The Purpose Driven Church 1995)
1. MISSION – Matthew 28: 19a
a. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”
b. We are to spread the good news of Jesus Christ’s coming.
2. MINISTRY – Matthew 22: 39
a. “Love your neighbor as yourself”
b. We are to meet the needs and heal the hurts of our brothers and sisters.
3. MEMBERSHIP – Matthew 28: 19b
a. “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
b. We are to connect with our brothers and sisters, bringing them into the body of Christ through our local churches.
4. MATURITY – Matthew 28: 20a
a. “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
b. We are to study to grow more Christ-like in our daily living.
4. MAGNIFY – Matthew 22: 37
a. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
b. We are to praise and worship God and love God by obeying His commands for our lives.
The Benefits of Focus
When the church or any group is focused the results are extraordinary. We experience greater unity – less struggle, common vision. We accomplish goals through teamwork – working together better. The final outcome is effectiveness – things get done quickly and done properly. Similar results are realized in our individual lives. We establish daily objectives – clear direction on what is to be done. We know what in our schedule warrants priority – definition of what to do first and where to apply energy. We operate with decisiveness – the template for deciding “Yes or No.”
The word focus can be defined as a verb and as a noun. To Focus – (verb) means to cause to be concentrated, or single-minded. The Focus – (noun) is the center of activity, or the main point. When we concentrate our attention on Jesus Christ, making Him the center of activity in the church and in our individual lives, we fan into flame the presence of the Holy Spirit within.
Pastor James M. Moody, Sr.
Quinn Chapel AME Church
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
