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. A WORD FROM THE EDITOR:
I returned from Monrovia, Liberia on Monday evening and have been trying to get caught up in all of the work I couldn’t do in Liberia. Like some of you, I seem to get caught in “catch-22” situations. If I carry my laptop, I cannot get a connection. I leave my laptop home because I am sure that I will not be able to get an Internet connection and find out that I can get an Internet connection. I left my laptop at home when I went to Liberia and was told after I got there, that getting an Internet connection was possible. Well, I am glad that I did not take my laptop, even though the hotel apparently had Internet connection because the electrical connectivity is different from the U.S. system and I blew up my small coffee pot. I would have really been peeved if I had blown up my laptop, so I am glad that I didn’t take a chance with my laptop.
I have a lot to write, about the events in Liberia, and plan to get started immediately. I want to get this online edition out so that I can be caught up. Some of the bereavement notices are dated, but we want to honor those who have served our Zion and so we are publishing the notices received from AME Spouses (Sister Ora Easley) during my absence in this issue of The Christian Recorder Online.
- Liberia (Introduction - Part 1)
The trip from Nashville to Monrovia was long, but not as long as the trip to South Africa because the air itinerary to Liberia took us to Brussels for a long layover and then on to Monrovia with a stopover in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We met up with delegations from the First, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Episcopal Districts. When we arrived in Monrovia, The Right Reverend David R. Daniels and representatives of the 14th Episcopal District met us, along with the Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie and Supervisor Stan McKenzie who had arrived several days before our arrival.
We traveled to Eliza Turner African Methodist Episcopal Church in Monrovia where we were fed a delicious meal (More will be written about Eliza Turner AME later). Among the dishes served were potato greens, which are the leaves that grow on the potato plants. I thought they were collard greens cooked with potatoes. I never knew that you could eat the greens leaves from the potato plants. Potato greens taste similar to spinach. After the meal, we were taken to our hotels.
The Right Reverends John R. Bryant, who arrived later (Fifth Episcopal District), C. Garnett Henning (Eighth Episcopal District and the founder of AME University), Richard F. Norris (First Episcopal District), and Zedekiah L. Grady (“Retired, but not tired,” as Bishop Daniels repeatedly introduced him), along with Bishop Daniels, were the Episcopal leaders for the 14th Episcopal District and AME University celebration. On the flight with us from Brussels was the 14th Episcopal Supervisor Irene Daniels, General Officers George Flowers, Executive Director of the Global Witness and Ministry, Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor of The Christian Recorder, Carl Hunter (Retired) and Connectional Officer, Mrs. Jamesina Evans, President of the Women’s Missionary Society. Bishop Daniels’ daughter and Mrs. Jamesina Evans’ Granddaughter also arrived on the same flight with us.
Let me say here, that the presiding elders and pastors who traveled with their bishops were indeed impressive and gave me the felling that we have some great presiding elders and pastors leading our congregations. Bishop Daniels called and spoke with the Right Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Sr., Senior Bishop of the AME Church, who remarked, after hearing who was present that it sounded to him as if we were holding a small General Conference in Liberia.
U.S. mainland Presiding Elders Herbert Eaddy, Henrietta Scott Fullard, William C. Lett, Winton Hill, George Tyler, Otis Lewis, Booker Guyton, George Franklin Holt, Sr., and Kenneth Brown, along with about thirty pastors were a part of the delegation attending this historic event. (I hope that I did not miss any of the Presiding Elders.)
The next morning we got up and were taken to Eliza Turner AME Church and AME University for a full worship experience and the dedication of the main building of AME University. It’s a real university with over 2600 students…
(More about the Liberia AME University Celebration in the Next Issue.)
Editor’s note: I have received a number of requests for a copy of the sermon I preached in Birmingham. I have appended the sermon below the bereavement notices at number 21 of this issue.
2. LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Dr. Sydnor
I hope and pray that you publish this letter to the Christian Recorder.
It is from the Mozambique Annual Conference of the 18th Episcopal District under the leadership of Bishop Sarah F. Davis.
We have just had our Empowerment teaching program, which was held in the two Presiding Elders Districts, namely Beira and Maputo.
The great joy that was seen in the face of the Mozambicans was smiling faces and a voice of appreciation and thanksgiving to Bishop Davis and Dr. Dickerson, for making it possible to us to have Bibles.
You did not see how happy were the people from the youngest to the eldest person of the conference.
All the members of this Conference will and share the word of God together.
Therefore, we will not let this opportunity go without saying, “Thank You, Dr. Dickerson for the efforts that you did to this people of God.”
May God richly bless you in your ministry.
The Rev. Jose Luis Sevene
3. KATRINA RELIEF MISSION:
We invite you to join the following on a Katrina Relief Mission
- The Board of Rabbis of Southern California
- The Jewish Community Relations Committee of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
- Grant A.M.E. Church
- The Southern California A.M.E. Ministerial Alliance
When: Sunday April 23-Friday April 28, 2006
Where: Gulfport, MS
What: Rebuilding houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
Cost: $100 plus airfare for each participant
Soon after Passover and Easter, we will travel to one of the hard-hit cities on the Gulf Coast to help rebuild a destroyed community. Working with the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS, we will clean, rebuild, and most importantly, bring hope to an area that desperately needs it. We will eat together, work together, and learn together—and together, make a difference.
If you are in good health, able, and willing to work, we hope you will join us.
For more information, please contact:
Sari Laufer, Board of Rabbis, at: 323-761-8601 slaufer@jewishla.org
Cheryl Baylark, Grant A.M.E., at 323-564-1151 aadcd@grantamechurch.org
Financial:
We are asking for a personal commitment of $100 plus the cost of travel to and from New Orleans. All other costs, including food, lodging, supplies, and ground transportation, will be paid by the sponsoring organizations.
We do not want to turn anyone away for financial need. If the cost is prohibitive, please contact your sponsoring synagogue, church or organization.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Sari Laufer (323-761-8601 or slaufer@jewishla.org). We will send you a short application form, to be returned with your payment of $100.
Logistics:
1) FLIGHTS: Each participant will be responsible for his/her own travel, allowing him/her to decide on times and preferred airlines. We suggest that everyone plan to arrive in either New Orleans or Gulfport as early as possible on Sunday, April 23. American, Continental, United, and US Airways all offer flights that meet our schedule, and will return you to Los Angeles in plenty of time for Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath). We estimate the cost of flights to be around $300-$350.
We will be renting vans, and will coordinate travel from the airport to the work site as the project progresses.
2) LODGING: With a strong recommendation from Hillel International (worldwide Jewish student organization on college campuses), we are partnering with the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS. Hillel had a wonderful learning experience working with them, and we look forward to a similar experience.
Please be advised that these are not luxurious accommodations.
The church operates a tent facility to house volunteers—participants are encouraged to bring AeroBeds, sleeping bags, ground pads, etc. There are shower facilities onsite with hot water. As the time approaches, we will provide a detailed packing list.
3) FOOD: As part of our arrangement with Westminster Presbyterian Church, we will have the use of their kitchen facilities for the entire week. Vegetarian food will be provided for every meal, and kosher packaged foods will be available as needed.
Work:
While there is no way to be certain about the exact work we will be doing, we can guarantee that it will be difficult, physical labor. Good physical health and a willingness to work hard are prerequisites for this trip. Prior experience is not.
If you are previously skilled or experienced in building, roofing, etc, that is wonderful! If not, we will be receiving training and supervisor from skilled laborers in the area.
Learning:
As a service-learning trip, we will participate in daily sessions with our rabbis, ministers, teachers and leaders. Together, through text study, prayer, and discussion we will learn about the Jewish commitment to social justice, and our religious obligations for making trips like these.
If you are in good health, able, and willing to work, we hope you will join us for this important Mission. For more information, please contact:
Sari Laufer, Board of Rabbis, at:
323-761-8601 slaufer@jewishla.org
Cheryl Baylark, Grant A.M.E., at:
323-564-1151 aadcd@grantamechurch.org
4. THE GLOBAL CORNER - REPORT TO THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE 20TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
I hereby inform you that there are new churches in Kiboga District, Uganda where I used to pastor.
I managed to invite the President of Uganda Conference Mr. Rumbidzayi and the President of WMS/YPD Mrs. Dianah on the December 17, 2005 where they managed to come and teach the Doctrine and Discipline of African Methodist Episcopal Church and encouraged people to join the church.
These are the churches and members waiting for your approval.
1. Ntunda Church has fifty (50) members.
2. Ntunda II Church has thirty (30) members.
3. Kazo Church has thirty (30) members.
4. Kigangazi Church has forty (47) members.
The congregation needs:
1. We need a music and sound system, which can invite many people and this becomes our advantage by feeding them the word of God.
2. We need bibles of Luganda.
3. We need uniforms.I remain yours, Pastor Munezero Innocent
Submitted by the Right Reverend Wilfred J. Messiah
5. HOTEL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE 2006 GENERAL BOARD AND BISHOP’S COUNCIL THAT WILL BE HELD JUNE 25-28, 2006 IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA:
The Meetings will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center.
General Board Hotels:
Embassy Suites Hotel Airport - Convention Center
5055 International Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 747-1882
Group Rate: $129 Single/Double - $139 Triple - $149 Quad
Residence Inn Charleston Airport
5035 International Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 266-3434
Group Rate: $129
Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport
5265 International Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 308-9330
Group Rate: $109
Holiday Inn Charleston Airport
& Convention Center
5264 International Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 576-0300
Group Rate: $109
Be sure to mention AME to get the group rate.
6. ARKANSAS CONFERENCE REVIVAL CARAVAN:
The Arkansas Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Churches (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Fort Smith Districts) announces its “First Spring Revival Caravan.”
The Revival will be held March 3 to April 16, 2006 in Little Rock and North Little Rock Churches.
The dates and preachers are:
March 17, 2006 - Saint Andrew AME Church, Little Rock. The speaker will be the Rev. James Thomas, pastor of Bethel AME Church in North Little Rock.
April 7, 2006 - Mt. Nebo AME Church, Little Rock. The speaker will be the Rev. Randolph Martin, pastor of Union A.M.E. Church in Little Rock.
April 14, 2006 - Good Friday, Union AME Church, Little Rock. The speaker will be the Rev. Beverly White, pastor of Mount Nebo AME Church in Little Rock (North Little Rock District)
April 16, 2006 - Early Easter Sunrise Service will be held at Bethel AME Church, Little Rock. The speaker will be the Rt. Reverend Richard Allen Chappelle Sr., Presiding Prelate of the 12th Episcopal District. The service will begin at 6:30 a.m.
Each Friday night, worship services will begin at 7:00 p.m. Music will be provided by various church choirs. Testimonies and Praise Dancers will be featured at each service.
7. THE KENTUCKY LAY ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING BUS TRANSPORTATION TO THE 13TH DISTRICT MID YEAR CONVOCATION:
The Kentucky Conference Lay Organization is again sponsoring a chartered bus from Miller Transportation ride to the 13th District Lay Organization meeting on March 11, 2006 to Lee Chapel AME Church in Nashville, TN. The donation per person is either $26.00 for the 47-passenger bus or $24.00 for the 55-passenger bus.
We have also invited the West Kentucky Conference to join us on this trip, so the seating is on a first come basis. The bus will leave from Historic Saint Paul, Lexington at 5:15 am and will stop at the Park and Ride if needed to pickup additional passengers along the Bluegrass Parkway.
To secure your seating on the bus we will need a $10.00 deposit as soon as possible with the reminder of the amount to be turned in no later than Sunday, March 5, 2006. These dates could change upon the final signing of the contract with Miller Transportation.
We will be traveling to Lee Chapel AME Church, 1732 Scovel Street, Nashville, TN 37208. The meeting will start at 9:00 am CST. As long as we can stay on schedule, we should be able to depart from Nashville no later than 3:00 p.m. CST to arrive back in Lexington no later than 5:00 pm EST.
This was a very successful trip last year and we are hoping to do the same this year, but we need the support from the membership of the Kentucky Conference Laity. If you have never been to a 13th District Lay meeting, here is your opportunity.
Please mail all payments to 1059 Redwood Dr, Lexington, KY 40511 and all checks should be made out to the Kentucky Conference Lay Organization.
Yours in Christian Service
Priscilla Sullivan, President
Kentucky Conference Lay Organization
Website: http://www.kylay.com/
Email: kylay@iglou.com
8. THE 13TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT MID YEAR CONVOCATION WOMEN IN MINISTRY PRAYER BREAKFAST:
The Women in Ministry Prayer Breakfast will be held on March 18, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. at the Country Hearth Inn, Columbia, Tennessee.
The speaker will be the Rev. Cassandra Young Marcus, Assistant Pastor, Turner Chapel AME Church, Marietta, Georgia. The breakfast theme, Praying through the Struggle.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Call for the wailing women; send for the most skillful. Let them come quickly and wail till our eyes overflow with tears and water streams from our eyelids. The sound of wailing is heard from Zion: “We are so ruined and our shame is great!” Now, hear the word of the Lord; open your ears to the words of His mouth. Jeremiah 9:17-20 NIV (paraphrased)
Everyone is welcome and invited to attend the breakfast, Donation: $20.00.
The Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the Presiding Prelate of the 13th Episcopal District.
9. SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2005-2006 DISTRICT CALENDAR:
SOUTH GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 7-10, 2006
Nelson Chapel A.M.E. Church
640 Hall Street
Bainbridge, Georgia 31718
(229) 246-0493
The Rev. John Thomas, Sr., Host Pastor
The Rev. Harvey R. Williamson, Host Presiding Elder
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CONFERENCE
March 21-24, 2006
Saint John A.M.E. Church
2980 Steam Mill Road
Columbus, Georgia 31907
(706) 682-6944
The Rev. Dr. Debora F. Grant, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. M. Sven Karl Colquitt, Host Presiding Elder
GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 4-7, 2006
Greater Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
1085 State Street
Waycross, Georgia 31501
(912) 283-3683
The Rev. Abrahm Frazier, Sr., Host Pastor
The Rev. J. B. Robinson, Host Presiding Elder
AUGUSTA GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 18-21, 2006
Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church
1814 Fifteenth Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
(706) 733-0746
The Rev. Richard Allen Smith, Host Pastor
The Rev. Ella M. Samuels, Host Presiding Elder
MACON GEORGIA CONFERENCE
May 2-5, 2006
Greater Turner Tabernacle A.M.E. Church
1104 Third Street
Macon, Georgia 31208
(478) 743-4932
The Rev. Richard A. Yancey, Host Pastor
The Rev. Alan H. Wicker, Host Presiding Elder
ATLANTA NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE
May 16-19, 2006
Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church
492 N. Marietta Parkway
Marietta, Georgia 30060
(770) 422-6791
The Rev. Kenneth E. Marcus, Host Pastor
The Rev. David B. Rhone, Host Presiding Elder
POST-PLANNING MEETING
May 25-27, 2006
Saint James A.M.E. Church
102 Sixth Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31901
(706) 322-8043
The Rev. Scottie Swinney, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. M. Sven “Karl” Colquitt, Host Presiding Elder
10. NEWS FROM THE SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
The Rev. Dr. Dickerson, AME Historiographer and Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review was one of the guest preachers' during our opening worship service Thursday night for our Founder's Day celebration in Savannah, GA. at Saint Philip Monumental AME Church. The Reverend George A. Moore, Jr., host pastor. His sermon topic was, “Are we building Babel's or Bethels?” Powerful message.
The Rev. Ernest Davis Jr. Pastor of Bethel AME Church Albany, GA. was the noonday preacher on Friday; Sermon Topic: “What do you do when the going gets tough?”
Rev. Frederick D. Sherrod, lll, Friday night preacher: Topic: “It's time for the AME Church to come back home.”
Rev. Tiate Carson, from the 10th Episcopal District was our closing preacher on Saturday. Subject: “You have to keep playing by the rules.”
Submitted by the Reverend B. L. Francis
11. SISTERS KEEPING THE COVENANT:
I greet you with the love, joy, and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, it is a pleasure to announce the upcoming Women’s General Assembly 2006 “AND SHE SHALL BE BLESSED” which will hail in Dover, Delaware at the Sheraton Dover Hotel on Friday, August 25-26, 2006, and in Charleston, SC at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Friday, October 27-28, 2006.
Both of these explosive events for women will feature dynamic preaching, anointed workshops, the anointed dance ministry of The Daughters of Shabach of Baltimore, MD, the inspiring music ministry of The Eastern Shore Mass Choir, Recording Artist Rev. Carolyn Brailsford, and the “one and only,” Jazz Saxophonist Tony Smith.
Women’s General Assembly 2006 provides an opportunity for women to receive healing, restoration and revival, as we pursue abundant and victorious Christian living. We are expecting God to heal minds, bodies, and spirits; inspire purpose; restore marriages and family relations; nurture women in the Word of God; and empower women to fulfill their destiny.
This glorious event is sponsored by SISTERS KEEPING THE COVENANT with the Rev. Maxine L. Thomas, First Lady/Assistant Pastor of Morris Brown AME Church and the Rev. Dr. Henrietta S. Fullard, Presiding Elder of the Jamaica Long Island District of the AME Church. They will, with a team of other dynamic speakers, present conferences for women both nationally and internationally.
If you are a pastor, or community or civic leader, we encourage you to share the news of this upcoming conference with those who are members of your church, business, or association. We encourage all to share the news of this dynamic and life-changing event with as many women as you meet.
If you would like to plan a bus trip or to be of help in some other way, please contact Rev. Maxine L. Thomas at 610-583-1175. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Submitted by the Rev. Maxine L. Thomas
12. ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GENESIS AME CHURCH:
It brings me great joy to send this announcement of the One Year Anniversary of Genesis AME Church, located in Fairfield, California
We are honored to have as our guest speaker for this joyous occasion the Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry the pastor of First AME Church, Oakland, California. We invite all of you from across the AME Connection and would be honored to have you join us for this celebration on March 26, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. A repast will be served beginning at 1:00 p.m.
It is said that the first year in life is the most important and we thank God for blessing us thus far in this journey. And, we are looking forward to many years to come in serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Fairfield/Suisun Community.
Please contact me directly at (510) 860-9500 to RSVP. If you are unable to attend and would like to sow a seed into the Genesis Ministry please feel free to do so before March 26th and we will acknowledge your gift during our celebration.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Cubie Finley, III
13. EARTH DAY SUNDAY:
Praising the beauty of God's creation is an essential part of our ongoing faith journey and worship experience and each year we dedicate one Sunday to lift up creation stewardship as a focus through an Earth Day celebration. Each year, the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group focuses on a particular environmental theme and highlights a number of ways individuals and congregations can celebrate and protect God's creation. We hope these ideas inspire further thoughts, conversations, and actions in answering God's call to be faithful stewards of creation.
Through the Eye of a Hurricane: Rebuilding Just Communities (2006)
- Resource (.pdf version) including information on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, basics on environmental justice and our lifestyle choices, sermon starter, bulletin insert, adult study and youth education ideas.
Sacred Oceans and Seas: (2005)
- Resource (.pdf version) including basics on oceans and seas, sermon starter, adult study and youth education ideas.
- Sample liturgy / Call to Worship Bulletin Insert
- Ideas for personal, congregational and community action.
Life-Giving Breath of God: Protecting Precious Air Resources (2004)
- Resource (.pdf version) including Sermon Starter and general information on air issues.
- Call to Worship Bulletin Insert
- Opportunities to Take Action
Waters of Life: Enough for All (2003)
- Reflections on the importance of fresh water
- Sermon Starters
- Call to Worship
- Links and Resources
- Opportunities to Take Action
- Water Facts
- Full Earth Day Sunday Resource. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free.)
- Earth Day Sunday Bulletin Insert. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free.
Caring for God's Creation: Making the World Safe for Children (2002)
- Brochure: Raising Children Toxic-Free
- School Environmental Protection Act
- Worship Resources
- Earth Day Sunday Bulletin Insert. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free.
Witnessing to the Resurrection: God's Caring for Creation (2001)
- Worship Resources
- Sermon Starters
- Brochure with worship resources and sermon notes (version 1 and version 2). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. Click here to download Acrobat Reader free.
- Resource List
- Information about Global Warming
- Interfaith Climate Change Campaign
Good Stewards of God's Gift of Energy (2000)
- Worship materials (view either as an .html webpage file or a .pdf text/printable file. If you choose .pdf, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free.)
- Sermon Notes
- Earth Day 2000 brochure (view either as an .html webpage file or a .pdf text/printable file. If you choose .pdf, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader free.)
- Bulletin Insert
- Resource List
- Information about clean cars and clean energy
- Information about the Energy Stewardship Congregation Program
- Suggested messages to Senators and President about clean energy agenda
Sustainable Living (1999)
- Worship Suggestions
- Sermon Notes
- Earth Day Sunday Resource. Includes worship suggestions and sermon notes and additional information. This is a .pdf file and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Click here to download Acrobat Reader free.)
Editor’s note: Check out all of the links in the article above. There is a wealth of materials and sermon helps. You will miss a lot of “great stuff” if you fail to check out the links.
14. THE PASTOR’S CORNER - FAN THE FLAME – SERVANT LEADERSHIP:
24And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth… (II Timothy 2: 24-25)
As we end our series, “Fan the Flame,” we see that God has called us to fan into flame the gift of His Spirit in us through power, love, self-discipline, focus, faith, strength, endurance, and sanctification. All of this, God does in us, so we might be empowered to be His servants, leading others to a knowledge of the truth. God empowers us to be servant leaders. God, through the apostle Paul, describes the temperament of His servant leaders as those who must not quarrel, must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful; those who gently instruct and lead others to a knowledge of the truth.
Jesus informs (Matthew 20: 25-26) us that the greatest level of leadership is to be achieved through the greatest level of service, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Yes! The level of leadership I attain in my marriage, family, in my church, on my job, in my community is tied to the level of service I am willing to render to others.
James Berkley, in his book “Leadership Handbook of Management & Administration”, lists five levels of servant leadership: position, permission, production, people development, and personhood. The teaching and life of Jesus demonstrate these five levels of servant leadership.
POSITION – Matthew 20: 20-28
Jesus describes leaders who lead because they have been given a certain title. Their influence is based on the title or formal authority they hold. In the family it could be demonstrated through phrases as, “because I said so,” or “You're my wife/husband, so you ought to,” or “I'm the man in this family, so you're to submit to me.” In businesses, organizations or churches leadership based on position may rely on territorial rights, protocol, tradition, and organization charts. These are negative only when they become the basis for authority and influence. They're not a substitute for leadership skills. When I asked a study group about this kind of leadership they commented that it doesn't work because people usually go right back to doing whatever they were doing when the leader isn't looking. Are you just “The Boss”, or are you “A Leader?”
PERMISSION - Matthew 4: 18-22
We encounter a greater level of empowerment at the next level of leadership, “permission.” As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He asked four men to simply, “Come, follow me,” and they did. At this level of leadership people follow because they want to. It’s about inspiring people to work with you even when they don't have to. People know that you truly care about the family, congregation, organization, or community. This leader develops relationships and donates time, energy, and focuses toward the followers’ needs and desires. There is an old saying that goes, “People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care!”
PRODUCTION – Matthew 4: 23-25
At this third level of empowerment, people follow because of what the leader has done for the organization. Jesus demonstrated an effective ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. Good things begin to happen as a result of the leadership. Goals begin to be realized, and results are positive. People do not come together just to get together – they come together to accomplish a real purpose (to get things done). Every one wants to be on the winning team. People follow because people pay close attention to what we produce.
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT - Matthew 5: 1-2
People follow because of what you have contributed toward their development. After demonstrating His ability to teach, preach, and heal, Jesus “sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them.” A leader is not great because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others. We are to lead others and develop them to be the best that God has called them to be. Your family, church, business, or organization may not have the most people, the most money, and may not be the most popular – but that will not stop you from being the most excellent through the power of Almighty God! Workers’ responsibility is doing the work themselves; leader’s responsibility is to develop others to do the work excellently (Matthew 10: 1-5). True leader are recognized because their people always demonstrate superior performances.
PERSONHOOD - Matthew 16: 13-16
People follow because of who you are and what you represent. After traveling for several months with Jesus, Peter now knew Jesus’ true identity. The presence of God in Jesus’ life defined His identity, as God the Father revealed Himself through Jesus. After we have progressed through the first four levels, leaders are recognized through an effective track record, and persons know what they are able to do. We are known by the fruit we have produced. Truly effective leaders are able to look back over various places in their lives and see how God has used them to accomplish His kingdom work here on earth, and see how God has used them to bring out the best in others – compelling others to follow them – not because they're the boss, but because they are leaders.
God empowers us to be servant leaders. The greatest level of leadership is to be achieved through the greatest level of service, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
(Special thanks to Rev. Joseph Cousin, Bethel AME Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan for presenting the James Berkley concepts to the members of the Chicago Annual Conference of the AME Church.)
Pastor James M. Moody, Sr.
Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chicago, Illinois
www.quinnchicago.org
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: clinton@1stdistrict-ame.com
We regret to inform you of the passing of Rev. John Walker. He was an Itinerant Elder at AME Union Church. The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Viewing and Services will be held Friday, February 24, 2006
Viewing - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
AME Union A.M.E. Church
1600 West Jefferson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19121
The Rev. Kenneth Mitchem, Pastor
Phone: 215-765-5868
Fax: 215-765-6935
Eulogist: Rev. Martha A. Lang
Pastor at Mount Tabor A.M.E. Church, Philadelphia
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Olivia Walker
720 North 66th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19151
Phone: 215-871-7765
Please remember the entire Walker family in your prayers.
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From The Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland, Presiding Bishop
Mr. Andres Joseph Underwood, son of Rev. & Mrs. Zachary Watkins went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 21, 2006. Rev. Watkins is pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Woodlawn, Birmingham, AL.
The homegoing celebration is Saturday, February 25, 2006, 12 Noon at Harmony Street Baptist church. Scott-McPherson Funeral Home directing.
Messages may be sent to:
Rev. & Mrs. Zachary Watkins
548 42nd Place, North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Please remember the family in your prayers.
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Received from: harrison@global.co.za
It is with deep regret that the Tantsi Family announces the passing of Dabulamanzi Zechariah Tantsi, the son of the late Rev. James Yapi Hogarth and Ntombikabani Tantsi. His Grandfather the late Rev. J. Z. Tantsi was one of the founding ministers of the AME church in South Africa together in 1896 with the Rev. Mangena Maake Mokone. His uncle, the late Rev. Nimrod Boyce Tantsi was a pastor in the AME church.
Brother Tansti was born on July 16, 1928 and passed on February 24, 2006. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at Ebenezer AME church in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa at 12 noon.
The funeral service will be on the Friday (March 3, 2006) at Ebenezer AME church in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa from 7:30 am.
He was a faithful member of the AME Church and of the Lay Organization.
Please remember the Tantsi family in your prayers.
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Deaconess Cather Mae Inkton, the mother of the Reverend Shirley Inkton Bowers, pastor of Holly Grove AME Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas, passed on Sunday, February 26, 2006.
Arrangements for Deaconess Cather Mae Inkton are as follows:
Funeral Services
Friday, March 3, 2006
11:00 a.m. at the Ministers' Institute
1329 Front Street
Eudora, AR 71640
Services are entrusted to:
Dillard Funeral Home
137 Front Street
Eudora, AR 71640
(870) 355-4888 (Phone)
Rev. Bowers and her family may be contacted in Little Rock at (501) 626-0632.
Condolences may be sent to:
Reverend Shirley Inkton Bowers
Holly Grove AME Church
7954 Old Jacksonville Hwy
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Please keep the family in your prayers now and in the days ahead.
Sisterly,
Anita Brannon
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action Clergy Family Information Center
Mrs. Ora L. Easley - Administrator Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
(Nashville, Tennessee Contact) Phone: (615) 837-9736 Fax: (615) 833-3781
(Memphis, Tennessee Contact) (901) 578-4554 (Phone & Fax)
Please remember these families in your prayers.
20. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of the Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
21. SERMON THE EDITOR PREACHED AT THE EVANGELISM CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA IN JULY:
“Sometimes there is no Rain in the Land!”
I Kings 17:1-7
So, he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And, the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And, after a while, the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
I Kings 17:5 – 7
Introduction
When we do what God calls us to do as a part of the body of Christ, conflict is almost always a possibility. Obedience is in conflict with disobedience; righteousness is in conflict with sin; and good is in conflict with evil. So, men and women of God have always experienced conflict.
Obedient prophets have never been popular. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Stephen, Paul, Timothy, Richard Allen, Martin Luther King, Jr.; all of them were unpopular.
They were unpopular because people reject God’s word and people don’t want to hear the truth. Many of us don’t want to hear the truth. Let me give you an example.
Illustration: Look at your neighbor and say, while squinting your eyes a little bit and say, "You look like you have gained weight."
Preachers are tempted to tell people what they want to hear.
Illustration: Now look at your neighbor and tell them, “You look like you have lost weight. Have you been working out?”
Ministry is conflict.
Do we tell people the truth or do we compromise ministry by telling people what they want to hear? We are called upon to be committed to God’s agenda. And, sometimes, God’s agenda is in conflict with man’s agenda.
Jesus tells us to love everybody, but we only want to love those we like and those who agree with our points of view. Jesus commands us to, “…love your neighbor as yourself." The translation of that part of the Summary of the Law commands us to, "be open to God's call for you and me to go to hell."
You might be offended to hear that God would tell you such a thing, but that is precisely what the gospel calls us to do!
- Hell is where the poor are trapped in places of indifference.
- It is the back section of a psychiatric ward.
- Hell is a dingy downtown jail where frightened human beings cower.
- It's the crowded slum where teenage unwed mothers give birth to unwanted babies.
- Hell is in the hospital corridor when parents are told that their child has an incurable disease.
- Hell is when you have to have a drink before eleven o'clock in the morning.
- It's when you have cheated, stolen or lied and been caught and you feel worthless.
- Hell is crack houses and where drug addicts nod and live.
- Hell is where the presence of Christ is so badly needed.
- Hell is the world where we are called to care for others.
- Hell is finding out that you tested positive for the HIV Virus.
- It’s when you find out that your children are using illegal drugs.
- Hell is the call for preachers and leaders to love members who don’t love them.
The "Great Commission" does not tell the world to come to us. It does not tell us to go to the "good people." It tells us to "go to ALL of the world." "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
A problem with the church is that we focus and affirm the good and tell the bad to "go to hell." Perhaps we need to re-focus our concern and attention to the bad people and tell our good people to "go to Hell." Hell is where people are hurting. We need to go to Hell and bring hurting people back to God!"
The prophet in our text, Elijah, was a man of God who stayed in trouble because he went to Hell and spoke the words that the LORD told him to speak. Ahab and Jezebel were Elijah’s Hell!
Hell is conflict.
- People do not want to hear that what they are doing is wrong!
- People do not want to hear that they are disobedient!
- People do not want to hear that they are sinners!
Preachers and biblical teachers must hear the word of the LORD and speak the word of the LORD!
God often speaks in a “small still voice,” but God also speaks with the suddenness of lightening and with the frightening precision of booming thunder. However God speaks, we must hear and speak the Word of the LORD!
And, when we speak God's word, we must be courageous because sometimes the word of the LORD has to be spoken to a disobedient and rebellious people. Elijah told Ahab:
"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."
History calls Elijah the “chief of the prophets” but Ahab called him the “troubler of Israel.” The teaching moment here is that “it is not what people call you; it’s what you answer to.”
Elijah had the power of healing in his body, and he knew how to pray. In his time of trouble, he could pray in the words of the Negro spiritual,
“It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O LORD, standing in the need of prayer.”
And so powerful were Elijah's prayers that one day he prayed down fire from heaven and on the same day, 450 prophets of Baal were destroyed (I Kings 18:20 – 40). On another occasion, he prayed and the widow’s son was raised back to life. (I Kings 17:22)
God told Elijah to tell Ahab that rain would be withheld from Israel for three years because Ahab and Jezebel had set up the most godless government in Israel. Ahab had dedicated a temple to Baal, the Canaanite god of storm and rain, and Jezebel gathered to herself an army of false prophets.
Sometimes the rain will stop falling in our lives because of our disobedience to the Word of God.
Sometimes disobedience comes into our lives because we let the fires on our altars go out; we do not keep the fires burning.
Illustration: Take a moment to think about your call to ministry and the excitement that you had. You - and I too - had a watershed of excitement. Ask yourself, “Has the rain stop falling?” Am I in a spiritual drought?
The drought came to Israel and the land became dry, and not only was the land dry, but a drought had already taken place in the spiritual order of the nation. Like the land, the spiritual foundation of the nation itself was dry.
Whenever a nation, a church, or an individual forgets the words of the Psalmist,
“Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! happy the people he has chosen to be his own!”
- That nation will become dry.
- When a denomination loses its spiritual direction, that denomination will become dry.
- When local churches lose their focus upon ministry and kingdom building, they become dry
- When Jesus ceases to be “the center of our joy,” our spiritual lives and focus for ministry, becomes dry.
- When ministers neglect the teachings and the workings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, their ministry becomes dry.
Elijah spoke the truth to Ahab, but Ahab did not want to hear the truth and he responded with vengeance.
The LORD told Elijah to into hiding at the Cherith Brook. Though the brook was a hiding place, it was not a holding place. It was just a temporary shelter for the prophet to be re-energized. The land was experiencing a drought, but God made provisions for the Elijah. As God made provisions for Elijah, God will provide for us.
A lot of preachers need to find a holding place, and like Elijah, need to find a place to be re-energized; where God can feed them. The old folks used to say,
"Go out and have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him all about your troubles and He will make everything alright!"
When you give your best and know that you have done your best, God will provide a hiding place. The Bible reminds us that,
- David found shelter from Saul at Engedi.
- Queen Esther found refuge in the courage to say, "If I perish I perish.”
- Elijah, a little later on, found refuge under a juniper tree.
- Jesus found refuge in Gethsemane.
- Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary found a temporary refuge in the empty tomb.
- John found refuge on the Isle of Patmos.
- Martin Luther took refuge in the castle of Wartburg.
And, sometimes, God provides refuge in unusual and strange places.
- Dr. Martin Luther King found a hiding place in the Birmingham Jail where he wrote his famous letter.
In times of trial, we can find a hiding place and can proclaim with David,
“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. God prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. God anoints my head with oil and my cup overflows.”
When God provides for us, God gives us all that we need. Not only did God provide a hiding place, but God also put food on the table. God sent the ravens to bring him meat and bread both morning and night. God can use anything!
Illustration: The raven is a symbol of death and disaster. It is known as the “messenger of misery. “ It was the “messenger of misery” that God sent to sustain Elijah.
The teaching point is that God is always in control and God uses whatever God needs to redeem us. A deeper lesson: In the midst of human failure, God can depend upon the creatures that crawl upon the face of the earth.
Illustrations:
- When the people did not believe Noah when he told them that rain was coming, the animals booked passage on the Ark.
- Balaam’s disobedience blinded him so that he could not see the messenger of God, but God used Balaam’s donkey to see and speak the needed word to Balaam.
- Jonah disobeyed God but God sent a fish point him in the direction to Nineveh so that he could preach a revival.
- Darius had Daniel thrown into the Lion’s den, but God had already worked out an agreement for leniency with the lions and Daniel spent a peaceful evening sleeping in a lion’s den.
It can be a dangerous thing to take your blessings for granted. Just because you have a babbling brook of self-contentment today doesn’t mean that your brook will flow tomorrow.
We need to be reminded that we should give thanks in all things. Whatever you have, God gave it to you and you should thank God for it. We should never forget the biblical record’s reminder that, "The LORD God giveth and the LORD God can take it away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."
Illustration: Remember the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. “The kingdom of heaven will be like a man who entrusted his property to his slaves. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and the third he gave one talent. When he came back, he settled the accounts and to the two slaves who had made good use of their talents he said, “Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things and I will make you ruler over many.” To the slave who misused his talent he gave the scathing words, “Take the talent from him…”
We must not forget that God who made the brook can dry up the brook. The text says, “But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
As Elijah's brook dried up, our brooks, if they have not already, will dry up from time to time. The brook can dry up for all of us. The question and the challenge is, what do you do when the brook dries up?
- Whenever you lose that which gives meaning and importance to your life, your brook has dried up!
- Whenever that which you are counting and depending on fails to satisfy you, your brook has dried up.
- Whenever you can no longer find the thing that puts a smile on your face and joy in your soul, your brook has dried up!
- When your assets turn to liabilities, your book has dried up!
- When a husband and a wife are no longer on speaking terms, their brook has dried up!
- When you lose joy in your home, your brook has dried up.
- When you come to church Sunday after Sunday and you sing the songs of Zion, but don’t have any melody in your soul, your brook has dried up!
- When your prayers become rote and repetitious your brook has dried up!
- When worship becomes mundane, your brook has dried up!
- When you know within yourself that you are putting on “an outside show or shallow worship, your brook has dried up.
- When a preacher loses the joy and excitement of sermon preparation, his or her brook has dried up!
- When you come to church for the Holy Spirit and find that Satan is in charge, your brook has dried up!
The brook will dry up!
Churches have lost focus and people are searching for spiritual meaning. There is a mean-spiritedness that is pervasive and potentially destructive. Many in our Zion, both clergy and laity, are struggling to find sustained spiritual focus. The nation is at war; young men and women are dying and being maimed. People are losing their jobs and more people will lose their jobs. Inflation is at its worst in five years. People are standing in the unemployment lines. Homelessness is not being eradicated. Marriages are failing at an astronomical rate.
I come to tell you, when your brook dries up, “Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!”
When you find yourself lying awake at night and can’t sleep, don’t count sheep, talk to the Shepherd! You can’t chase away your sorrows singing the blues.
- If Moses had panicked, the children of Israel would have never made it to the Promised Land. - If Joshua has panicked, he would not have won the battle of Jericho.
- If David had panicked he would not have fought Goliath.
- If Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had panicked they would not have walked in, and survived the fiery furnace.
- If Job had panicked, he would not have declared, “All the days of my appointed time, I will wait until my change comes.”
- If Paul and Silas had panicked, they would not have had that prayer meeting in the Philippian jail.
- If Jesus had panicked, he would not have gone to the cross and said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
- If Jesus had panicked, he would not have said, “It is finished.”
- If Jesus had panicked, he would not have said, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
Don’t panic! Sometimes the brook has to dry up to let you know that God is still in charge.
If you don’t believe God is in charge…
- Ask Moses if God can’t make a highway through the ocean.
- Ask Isaiah if God can make the wilderness burst forth with water and bring forth streams in the desert!
- Ask David about the “river and the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God and about the still waters."
- Ask the newly-weds at Cana, if God can turn water into wine!
- Ask the woman at the well about Jesus being the Living Water.
- Ask the Women with the Issue of Blood if a touch of the Master can heal.
Sometimes your brook dries up to let you know that God is still in control.
When your brook dries up, listen to God -
When Elijah’s brook dried up, God sent him on a journey to Zarephath where God told him that he would find a poor widow woman who didn’t have much in the way of material things, but she had a great faith and trust in God. God used that widow woman as an instrument of God’s power for Elijah’s deliverance. Here was a woman that had used up her last “food stamps.” She has a son to care for, a few sticks for the fire, a handful of meal, and a little cruse of oil. Hardly the substance of a blessing! But, where would the preachers be if it were not for the widow women.
When the brook dries up, God makes provisions for us – and sometimes in the most unlikely places. The Brook dries up and mercy is provided in a different venue.
I believe that our brooks dry up to increase our dependence on God. If you never had any dried up brooks, you cannot tell what the LORD has done for you. Some of us like the easy road but we need to be reminded that it is in the valleys that we grow:
Sometimes life seems hard to bear;
full of sorrow, trouble, and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountaintop
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountaintop,
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!
When you grow in the valley you can sing, “How I got over. My soul looks back and wonders, how I got over.”
When your brook dries up, proclaim God’s power in your situation! You can proclaim, “The Lord will make a way somehow, if beneath the cross I bow” and shout with C. A. Tindley, “…The storm is passing over, Hallelujah!”
Andrae Crouch said it well:
I’ve had many tears and sorrow;
I’ve had questions for tomorrow;
There’re been times I didn’t know
Right from wrong:
But in every situation
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.
I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank him for the valleys;
I thank Him for the storms he brought me through;
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know that God could solve them.
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
Through it all, through it all
Oh I’ve learned to trust in Jesus.
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all
Oh I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
