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. AMERICAN MILITARY DEATHS IN IRAQ NOW 2400+:
American deaths in the war in Iraq have now passed 2,400, and thousands are wounded and maimed. Tens of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children have died. Three more soldiers were killed today (5/5/05)
2. BUS TRANSPORTATION FROM THE 12TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT TO THE GENERAL BOARD MEETING / BISHOPS’ COUNCIL:
The folks from the 12th Episcopal District are planning to saturate the General Board Meeting in support of their Episcopal Leader, the Right Reverend Richard Allen Chappelle. Folks are flying in on airplanes, taking trains, and driving automobiles. They want the Church to know that they love their Episcopal Leaders, the Right Reverend Richard Allen Chappelle and Episcopal Supervisor Barbara Jeanne Chappelle.
Not only are the folks coming in by planes, trains and automobiles, but also Sister Trina D. Jones, Pastor of San Hill AME Church in Little Rock, Arkansas has charted a 40-passenger bus to attend the General Board Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina on June 25 through 28. The cost of the round-trip will be $145.00.
Those who are interested traveling on the bus should immediately call Sister Trina D. Jones at 501-838-2992. Please leave a message if she is not available.
The General Board Meeting will be held in Charleston, SC on June 25-28 (Sun-Wed). The bus fare does not include hotel accommodations.
Submitted by Sister Jackie Weary
3. THE CONNECTIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW WEBSITE:
www.amechealth.org. Although in its infancy, the website holds the CHC Handbook, forms and links to several health sites. Soon the DVD's made available by the Council of Bishop's Living Well Program will be viewable on the site.
We are also extremely pleased to announce that the registration forms and agenda for the Annual Health Director's Training to be held, June 23-25, 2006 at the site of the General Board Meeting, are also available on the website.
Please visit the site, register and watch for new additions.
The Rev. Miriam J. Burnett, MD, M. Div., MPH
Medical Director
AMEC Connectional Health Commission
Turner Theological Seminary
702 MLK Jr Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30314-4143
Office 404-614-6398
Fax 404-614-6369
Email: mjbamehealth@yahoo.com
4. THE AME LUNCHEON AT THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE RADISSON HOTEL:
The AME Luncheon has been an annual event at the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference for a number of years. The luncheon has grown significantly in the last several years. The Right Reverend John Bryant serves on the Board of the HU Ministers Conference and he has been instrumental in the luncheon’s growth. The luncheon will be held at the beautiful Radisson Hotel on Thursday, June 8, 2006. Last year about 200 persons attended the luncheon and an increase attendance is expected this year. The luncheon will be held at 2 p.m. and really, it is a heavy lunch. Five AME Bishops were in attendance at last year’s luncheon and it was a gala affair.
The Reverend Andre Jefferson, pastor of Bethel AME Church, Hampton, Virginia is the coordinator of the AME Luncheon. He and his committee are planning for an exciting luncheon. Entertainment will be provided. The Reverend Dr. Timothy Boddie, Hampton University Chaplain has been invited and is looking forward to attending the AME luncheon. Dr. Boddie is the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Ministers’ Conference
The cost of the luncheon (it really is a dinner) will be $20.00.
When you get to the Ministers Conference, please register your name, no money, for the AME Luncheon at the Hampton University Religious Studies Program booth in the Convocation Center. If Editor Sydnor is not at the table when you get there, just leave you name with the representative at the staffing the booth.
5. THE 92nd ANNUAL HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MINISTERS' CONFERENCE AND 72nd ANNUAL CHOIR DIRECTORS' ORGANISTS' GUILD:
The 92nd Annual Hampton University Ministers' Conference and 72nd Annual Choir Directors' Organists' Guild will be held June 4 - June 9 on the beautiful Hampton University. Once again, HU will host a variety of accomplished ministers.
Ministers' Conference President, Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, marking her final year as the first female president in Conference History, announced the theme for this year's conference as, "A Call to Celebration and Consecration." The conference will focus on the various and diverse ways in which pastors and ministers celebrate and consecrate their ministries.
Hampton Ministers Conference Presenters include, Conference Preacher, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Inglewood, CA; Morning Preacher, the Rev. W. Darin Moore, Mt. Vernon, NY; Early Morning Prayer, Bishop Ernestine Reems Dickerson, Oakland, CA; Hermeneutics, Dr. William Epps, Los Angeles, CA; Theology of Celebration, the Rev. Mack King Carter, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Practical Theology, Pastor Rita Twiggs, Dallas, TX; Theology of Contemplation, Dr. Robert Smith, Birmingham, AL; Theology of Consecration, Bishop Violet Fisher, Rochester, NY; Practical Theology, Dr. Dennis Proctor, Baltimore, MD.
Additional exciting presenters this year include the Rev. Jasmine "Jazz" Sculark, of York, PA; and Dr. Kevin Cosby of Louisville, KY. Another notable feature of the Conference will be the Father-Son team of Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., and his son, Rev. Otis Moss, III, addressing the question, "Can the Moses and Joshua Generations Meet?" The conference will also include a panel to discuss women in ministry.
The Reverend Dr. Timothy Boddie Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Ministers’ Conference
For more information: http://www.hamptonu.edu/events/ministers_conference/index.htm
6. MISTAKES LEAD TO GREATNESS
S. Renee Smith
Attend any athletic event and you will hear the thunder of applause and shouts of excitement and pleasure when a player executes a play properly. In an instant, when a player fails at being perfect, the atmosphere shifts to disgust and disappointment as fans start calling the “star” names and causing chaos.
A teacher shows his or her approval when a student earns a “good” grade by marking the students’ paper in blue and adding a smiley face. When the student earns a “bad” grade, his or her paper is marked in red and he or she gets a sad face. What a message for our little ones.
If you do the right thing according to your mates’ standards, life will be peaceful. Make a mistake and suddenly life becomes stressful and, depending on what you did, nearly unbearable. Before we learned to talked, we learned that making a mistake is not a good thing. Our society teaches us to celebrate the winners and forget the losers. To support the good students and let the others fend for themselves. In marriage, we place unrealistic expectations on one another. We are expected to know and understand who we marry, how we should act at all times, how to meet his or her needs, and how to make the “right” decision every time.
Living in a society, which reveres perfection, physical and otherwise—according to its fictitious, predetermined standards—makes making a mistake or being less than Halle Barry’s twin quite a challenge to overcome. That is until we learn the truth about who we are and what our mistakes can and do mean to us.
Many people have become rich by turning their “mistakes” into huge businesses. I am definitely not saying that a plan is not important. What I am saying is that the mistakes that you make in the attempt to fulfill the plan is not a mistake at all. If you learn and grow from the mistake, it is life’s gift to you.
Did you know that cola, potato chips, cheese, popsicles and many other inventions were accidents? Potato chips were invented because a fussy, irritated customer wanted super thin potatoes. Cola came about because a doctor was working on a headache medicine that would taste good. Not every mistake will lead to a phenomenal invention, but it can lead to a phenomenal lesson.
In 1988, I ran in the Miss Delaware USA Pageant. I decided I would be a step ahead of my competition by presenting my introduction in Spanish. I diligently studied my open statements for weeks. I was confident and well rehearsed. The moment had come. I started out fine, but before I knew it, my mind went completely blank in an auditorium full of people. You could hear a pin drop.
As I stumbled and struggled to regain my composure, I realized that I did not know the language well enough to recover. Now, that was a mistake! Speaking Spanish was not the mistake. Trying to impress people was a mistake. In my mistake, life gave me the gift—without anyone dying or becoming emotionally damaged—of understanding the importance of being myself. Your mistakes do not have to hold you hostage until your next victory. You simply learn the lesson, change your direction, and thank life for the gift of learning.
© 2005 S. Renee Smith is a member of Emmanuel AME Church, Hartly, Delaware and an affiliated member of Byrd AME Church, Clayton, Delaware; and an Image Consultant, Motivational Speaker & Author of There Is More Inside. For booking information, visit her website at www.srenee.com or call (302)736-5131.
7. TWELVE THINGS THE NEGRO MUST DO FOR HIMSELF (HERSELF)
Nannie Helen Burroughs (Circa Early 1900's)
I. The Negro Must Learn To Put First Things First. The First Things Are Education; Development of Character Traits; A Trade and Home Ownership.
- The Negro puts too much of his earning in clothes, in food, in show and in having what he /she calls "a good time." Dr. Kelly Miller said, "The Negro buys what he WANTS and begs for what he needs."
11. The Negro Must Stop Expecting God and White Folk To Do For Him / Her What He / She Can Do For Him/Herself.
- It is the "Divine Plan" that the strong shall help the weak, but even God does not do for man what man can do for himself. The Negro will have to do exactly what Jesus told the man (in John 5:8) to do--Carry his own load--"Take up your bed and walk."
111. The Negro Must Keep Himself, His Children And His Home Clean And Make The Surroundings In Which He Lives Comfortable and Attractive.
- He /she must learn to "run his /her community up"--not down. We can segregate by law, we integrate only by living. Civilization is not a matter of race; it is a matter of standards. Believe it or not--some day, some race is going to outdo the Anglo-Saxon, completely. It can be the Negro race, if the Negro gets sense enough. Civilization goes up and down that way.
IV. The Negro Must Learn To Dress More Appropriately For Work And For Leisure.
- Knowing what to wear--how to wear it--when to wear it and where to wear it are earmarks of common sense, culture and also an index to character.
V. The Negro Must Make His Religion An Everyday Practice And Not Just A Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Emotional Affair.
VI. The Negro Must Highly Resolve To Wipe Out Mass Ignorance.
- The leaders of the race must teach and inspire the masses to become eager and determined to improve mentally, morally and spiritually, and to meet the basic requirements of good citizenship.
- We should initiate an intensive literacy campaign in America, as well as in Africa. Ignorance-- satisfied ignorance --is a millstone about the neck of the race. It is democracy's greatest burden.
- Social integration is a relationship attained as a result of the cultivation of kindred social ideals, interests and standards.
- It is a blending process that requires time, understanding and kindred purposes to achieve. Likes alone and not laws can do it.
VII. The Negro Must Stop Charging His /her Failures Up To His / Her "Color" And To White People's Attitude.
- The truth of the matter is that good service and conduct will make senseless race prejudice fade like mist before the rising sun.
- God never intended that a man's /woman’s color should be anything other than a badge of distinction. It is high time that all races were learning that fact. The Negro must first QUALIFY for whatever position he / she wants. Purpose, initiative, ingenuity and industry are the keys that all men /women use to get what they want. The Negro will have to do the same. He /she must make him/herself a worker who is too skilled not to be wanted, and too DEPENDABLE not to be on the job, according to promise or plan. He / she will never become a vital factor in industry until he / she learns to put into his /her work the vitalizing force of initiative, skill and dependability. He /she has gone "RIGHTS" mad and "DUTY" dumb.
VIII. The Negro Must Overcome His / Her Bad Job Habits.
- He / she must make a brand new reputation for him/herself in the world of labor. His/her bad job habits are absenteeism, funerals to attend, or a little business to look after. The Negro runs an off and on business. He /she also has a bad reputation for conduct on the job--such as petty quarrelling with other help, incessant loud talking about nothing; loafing, carelessness, due to lack of job pride; insolence, gum chewing and--too often--liquor drinking. Just plain bad job habits!
IX. He (She) Must Improve His (Her) Conduct In Public Places.
- Taken as a whole, often he (she) is entirely too loud and too ill-mannered.
- There is much talk about wiping out racial segregation and also much talk about achieving integration.
- Segregation is a physical arrangement by which people are separated in various services.
- It is definitely up to the Negro to wipe out the apparent justification or excuse for segregation.
- The only effective way to do it is to clean up and keep clean. By practice, cleanliness will become a habit and habit becomes character.
X. The Negro Must Learn How To Operate Business For People--Not For Negro People, Only.
- To do business, he / she will have to remove all typical "earmarks," business principles; measure up to accepted standards and meet stimulating competition, graciously--in fact, he /she must learn to welcome competition.
XI. The Average So-Called Educated Negro Will Have To Come Down Out Of The Air. He / she is too inflated over nothing. He / She Needs An Experience Similar To The One That Ezekiel Had--(Ezekiel 3:14-19). And He /She Must Do What Ezekiel Did”
- Otherwise, through indifference, as to the plight of the masses, the Negro, who thinks that he /she has escaped, will lose his /her own soul. It will do all leaders good to read Hebrew 13:3, and the first Thirty-seven Chapters of Ezekiel.
- A race transformation itself through its own leaders and its sensible "common people." A race rises on its own wings, or is held down by its own weight. True leaders are never "things apart from the people." They are the masses. They simply got to the front ahead of them. Their only business at the front is to inspire to masses by hard work and noble example and challenge them to "Come on!" Dante stated a fact when he said, "Show the people the light and they will find the way!"
- There must arise within the Negro race a leadership that is not out hunting bargains for itself. A noble example is found in the men and women of the Negro race, who, in the early days, laid down their lives for the people. The “latter-day leaders” have not appraised their invaluable contributions. In many cases, their names would never be recorded, among the unsung heroes of the world, but for the fact that white friends have written them there. "Lord, God of Hosts, Be with us yet."
- The Negro of today does not realize that, but, for these exhibits A's, that certainly show the innate possibilities of members of their own race, white people would not have been moved to make such princely investments in lives and money, as they have made, for the establishment of schools and for the on-going of the race.
XII. The Negro Must Stop Forgetting His Friends. "Remember."
- Read Deuteronomy 24:18. Deuteronomy rings the big bell of gratitude. Why? Because an ingrate is an abomination in the sight of God. God is constantly telling us that "I the Lord thy God delivered you" --through human instrumentalities.
The American Negro has had and still has friends--in the North and in the South. These friends not only pray, speak, write, influence others, but make unbelievable, unpublished sacrifices and contributions for the advancement of the race--for their brothers in bonds.
- The noblest thing that the Negro can do is to so live and labor that these benefactors will not have given in vain. The Negro must make his heart warm with gratitude, his lips sweet with thanks and his heart and mind resolute with purpose to justify the sacrifices and stand on his feet and go forward-- "God is no respecter of persons. In every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is" sure to win out. Get to work! That's the answer to everything that hurts us. We talk too much about nothing instead of redeeming the time by working.
R-E-M-E-M-B-E-R - In spite of race prejudice, America is brim full of opportunities. Go after them!
And, this was written in the early 1900's! The more things change the more they stay the same.
Received from the Rev. Dr. Ted Cunningham
8. THE CLERGY FAMILY INFORMATION CENTER ALSO SHARES JOYFUL MOMENTS OF GOOD NEWS:
The Clergy Family Information Center serves as a global notification system through which Clergy Families can today express words of comfort and sympathy to one another in a timely fashion, "ministering to each other in times of need." Feedback responses reflect that comfort is being expressed to those experiencing bereavement in a marvelous fashion. For this, we praise God!
We would also like to share your "Joyful" moments, the "The GOOD NEWS" of Clergy Family Births, Graduations, Weddings, and Wedding Anniversaries (25th, 50th, 75th). The Congratulatory Notices "The GOOD NEWS" received will be compiled and will be shared once each week.
9. PASTOR SHERRY MILLER HONORED BY THE KENTUCKY LAY ORGANIZATION:
Pastor Sherry Miller was honored as Pastor of the Year” by the Kentucky Lay Organization.
10. CONGRATULATORY NOTICE - PAULA CAMPBELL WILL GRADUATE FROM MIDWAY COLLEGE:
Paula L. Campbell (formerly Paula Rudd), Kentucky Conference Director of Public Relations will graduate from Midway College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Management at the Commencement Exercises on Saturday Morning, May 13th, 2006.
She attends St. Paul AME Church in Lexington, Kentucky and will celebrate her 40th birthday on July 17, 2006.
Messages of congratulations may be emailed to paulac@iglou.com
11. CONGRATULATORY NOTICE -STEPHANIE LYNN YOUNG WILL GRADUATE FROM HAMPTON UNIVERSITY:
Stephanie Lynn Young, (the daughter of proud parents, Bishop McKinley Young and Supervisor Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young, 11th Episcopal District) will be graduating from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism on Sunday Morning, May 14, 2006 at 10 a.m. The Commencement ceremony will take place in Armstrong Stadium. President William R. Harvey is the President of Hampton University.
Congratulatory messages may be emailed to:
supdjy@bellsouth.net
Or to
supdjy@11thdistrictamec.org
12. CONGRATULATORY NOTICE - CONGRATULATIONS: BIRTH OF TWIN GIRLS:
Baby Angel Joanne Bryant and Baby Adore Cecelia Bryant were born on Sunday evening, April 30, 2006, 7:30 PM to proud parents Reverend Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant and Lady Gizelle Bryant, Empowerment Temple AME Church, Baltimore, Maryland. Weighing in at 7 ½ pounds, 19 inches was Angel Joanne. Weighing in at 8 pounds and 20 inches, Adore Cecelia. ALL are doing well.
The Proud grandparents are Bishop John R. Bryant and Supervisor Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, 5th Episcopal District.
Congratulatory messages may be emailed to:
Empowering1@aol.com
Or to
pastor@emplowermenttemple.org
13. CONGRATULATORY NOTICE - CONGRATULATIONS: IT IS A BOY - BABY ELIJAH LEROY ANDERSON:
Baby Elijah Leroy Anderson, was born on March 31, 2006, weighing 7lb. 11 oz. 20 inches to proud parents, Leroy and Angela Anderson.
The Proud Grandparents are the Rev. Deloris and 1st gentleman Earl A. Prioleau, Jr. and Rev. Shirley Anderson.
The Proud parents, Leroy and Angela Anderson, were to have been recommended for admission to the Washington Annual Conference, which convened on April 17th 2006.
The Proud grandmother, Rev. Deloris Prioleau, is pastor of Cornerstone AME Church in Washington, DC and Treasurer of the Connectional Women in Ministry.
Congratulatory messages may be emailed to RevDeeABP@msn.com
14. SERMON OF THE WEEK:
Preached by Sister Loretta Matthews at Shorter Chapel AME Church, Franklin, Tennessee. The Reverend Charlotte Ann Blake Sydnor is the pastor.
- “Who Wants to be a Missionary?”
Since retiring from my job a few years ago, I have been watching more television. I love game shows. When “Who wants to be a Millionaire” started airing it became one of my favorite game shows. It started with Regis Philbun as host and more recently as an offshoot of the show, Meredith Viera hosts just plain “Millionaire.”
Everybody wants to be a millionaire. My husband and I sit glued to the television answering as many questions as we can and somehow aspiring to become a contestant so that we may be come millionaires.
You are probably thinking what in world does have to do with Missionary Day and Missionaries? Well, as I thought about “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” it occurred to me that that would be a good question for this day.
Pray with me for a few minutes on the subject, “Who Wants to be a Missionary?”
The first thing we need to clarify is what or who is a Missionary? According to my dictionary a Missionary is one who is sent by the church to spread their religion among unbelievers, especially in foreign countries…one who chooses or is sent to do humanitarian or educational work, especially in foreign countries…one who advocates or works to gain support for some idea or cause.
Now, the Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church states the Mission of the Women’s Missionary Society as this, “We are called to strengthen our faith and sent to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ by service and witness to the world.”
The Missionaries have as their Purpose: “As women called to discipleship to grow in knowledge and experience of God through Jesus Christ, committed to support the mission of the church and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are challenged to help one another engage in ministry and action, and grow and respond in faith to God’s redemptive plan for the church, the society and the world.”
This is truly a noble purpose, but I must ask the question of you today, “Who wants to be a Missionary?”
We say we are called to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ…who wants to be a servant of the people? Jesus said in Matthew 20:27-28, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Who wants to go, clean, wash, and cook for someone who is sick and unable to do for themselves? Who wants to give a place to stay to some homeless person? Who wants to provide some clothes for someone in need instead of saying, “I’m praying for you?” Who wants to be a big brother or big sister to a child or young person who just needs someone to talk with? Who wants to visit someone in prison? Who wants to pick up the telephone and call someone just to say ‘I haven’t seen you lately and was thinking about you?” Who wants to encourage an elderly person who has lost their will to live or a young person who has gotten in with the wrong crowd and has given up hope that there is anything for them in life? Who can do these things without being judgmental?
Who wants to be a Missionary?
Who is a Missionary? A Missionary is one who is committed to lifting up their Sisters and Brothers…a Missionary is one who cares about their fellowman…a Missionary is one who finds ways to build up rather than tear down…a Missionary is one who walks in the Light of Christ…A Missionary is one who allows the Power of the Holy Spirit to rule in their lives.
I ask you, “Who wants to be a Missionary?”
How can we say, “I’m a good Missionary,” and can’t wait until service is over to spread gossip about our church members, your friends, your pastor and even people we don’t know! Oh, Yes! All it takes is, “Honey, I heard” and we take it from there.
Do you want to be a Missionary because you get to wear your beautiful, pristine white outfits? (And then you say to a fellow church member, “Don’t hug me, you might get make-up on my dress). Oh, but you see I am a good missionary! I pay my dues! I go to the meetings!
Maybe you enjoy your position. Do you want to get into a position where you can hog the limelight…so that you can be recognized, and everybody will see you and say, “Oh, that’s Miss Missionary!” Do you want to look down on those poor, weak, misguided people who don’t know anything about missionary work? Or maybe you are working toward becoming a life member…you have “paid your dues”…now it’s time to reap some rewards.
My Sisters, I ask you “Who wants to be a Missionary?”
Do you want to be a Missionary so that you can run for delegate to the Missionary Quadrennial? I’ll get a free vacation. “I’ve been waiting four years for this day and I am going to enjoy myself!” Not ‘I’m going to learn something to take back to my local Missionary Society. I don’t want to step on any toes, but you know where I’m coming from.
Is God impressed with what you do? Is He impressed with your Faith? Do you have the Faith of a Deborah who went out to fight not doubting that God would be with her and that everything would turn out alright? How many times have you just stepped out on faith?
Jesus said if we have Faith of a grain of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. How many mountains have you moved lately? Who have you really helped? Have you given to someone because they needed help and you did not look for anything in return from that person? Do you believe that God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory? He has it all, we say,” The cattle on a thousand hills belong to God,” but is our faith strong enough to trust God with all that we have and all that we are?
My Sisters and my Brothers, Missionaries have faith!
Who wants to be a Missionary?
So you have plenty of Faith…God calls Missionaries to do some work, too! James 2:14-18 plainly states, “What good is it, my Sisters and my Brothers, if a person claims to have faith and has no deeds? Can such Faith save him or her?” It goes on to say that if someone is without clothes or food and you say to them, “Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed,” but you do nothing to meet their physical needs, what good is it?” So, Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by deeds is dead. You see, you can’t have faith without working…without having a deep desire…to do some work. Work is a by-product of Faith. They go hand in hand.
God calls Missionaries to follow Jesus’ example—Jesus went about doing good! God calls Missionaries to work while it is still day, for when night comes, He says, “No one can work.” Don’t wait until you can’t do anything and say I wish I had. Do it now!
My Missionary Sisters and Brothers (I must include the brothers), how is your Prayer Life? Is God impressed with your prayers? You know that God is not impressed with every kind of prayer from every kind of person. According to the Word, the “The Prayer of a Righteous person is effective.” It doesn’t say anything about showboat praying…It doesn’t say anything about high-sounding words…It doesn’t say anything about eloquent praying…It doesn’t say anything about scholarly petition…It doesn’t even say anything about a well-tuned voice. The Bible says fervent—prayer straight from the heart: sincere prayer!
Who Wants to be a Missionary?
God also looks at the “Pray-er” too! Before we can pray right, we must start to live right. God is not impressed with your rooftop praying and your basement living. He wants uprightness every day of our lives. How effective are your prayers? Have you had any prayers answered lately?
If we are to be Missionaries for God, we must put our all on the altar for Him!
The hymn states it this way, “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? You heart doth the Spirit control? "You can only be blessed and have peace and sweet rest as you yield Him your body and soul."
You must do His sweet will and be free from all ill, on the altar your all you must lay. “You see, Missionaries, you can’t go around hold grudges against anyone because forgiveness is in God’s plan. In the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
I am going to give you something else you need to be a real Missionary, and that is we must love our sisters and our brothers.
Every Sunday we hear and say the words, “Hear what Christ our Savior says, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and prophets.”
When you hear those words, do you stop and think about them or have they become just some words that we hear and say?
I Corinthians 13 considered the “Love Chapter” in the Bible makes it even plainer for us. In essence, it tells us that all the things we do for others don’t mean a thing unless we do them with a Spirit of love! Hallelujah!
Romans 12:9-10 tells us, “Let love be without dissimulation. Hate that which is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…honor one another above yourselves.”
There is only one quality that characterizes all true Christians, those who truly have been born again…it is love! The one aspect that distinguishes the saved from the unsaved …it is love! (Everybody who goes to church is not saved, you know) Hallelujah!
The one factor that identifies the redeemed from the unredeemed…that is love. That identifies the converted from the unconverted…that is love! That identifies the saint from the sinner…it’s love! Love is what separates the Godly from the Ungodly!
Nothing remains the same if there is true love. Love will transform the plain to the pretty…love will change the common to the uncommon! …The worthless into the priceless.
The Word tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! He didn’t have to do it but He did it because of His love!
Now, I ask you again, “Who wants to be a Missionary?” You won’t have to die for anyone, but do you love as Jesus loved?
I don’t know about you, but I want to be a Missionary! Why! Because I want to demonstrate my faith…I want to help someone…I want to visit those in prison…I want to love my neighbor as myself…I want to be a prayer warrior for the Lord…oh, yes, I want to be a Missionary!
You see, I know I can be self-sharing instead of self-serving. I know that I can help make changes in our Connectional Church, in our District, and in our local churches by being faithful and doing God’s bidding.
He has no voice unless we speak; He has no hands unless we use ours; He has no feet unless we walk where He leads; He has no song unless we sing.
God can use all of us to build up His kingdom here on earth! He can use us to be the Missionaries who are willing to work with the other organizations and commissions to make a difference in the life of the of God’s Church!
If you have not really been involved in your Missionary Society here at Shorter Chapel, take the time to join and become an active member. Encourage someone who feels that they can’t do anything…let them realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Our young people need mentors…they need someone to teach them to be godly girls and boys…take responsibility to do what you can. If you are asked to teach a Church School class, or visit the sick, or minister to someone in prison, and yes, you must love your enemies…just do it through the Power of the Holy Spirit!
I would remind you that Jesus never called anyone who was not busy to do anything! Every disciple that He called was busy doing something, so you can’t get so busy that you can’t do the work that you are called to do!
My question to you today is Who Wants to be a Missionary?
We should be able to say in the words of an old, old song, “I’m going to work until my day is done; I’m going to work until the setting of the sun; I’ll cease from sorrow, there’ll be no tomorrow, I’m going to work until my day is done.”
In Conclusion, I will reiterate: Missionaries must love…they must have faith in God…they must be willing to serve…they must work NOW to build up God’s Kingdom…they cannot be judgmental…they must follow Jesus’ example…they must have an active prayer life…they must allow the Holy Spirit to guide their lives…they must be obedient to God’s will.
My Sisters and my Brothers, the question I asked at the beginning of my message, I ask at the ending, “Who wants to be a Missionary?”
Mrs. Loretta Matthews is the wife of the Rev. Dr. E. Holmes Matthews, pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, Lexington, Kentucky
15. THE PASTOR’S CORNER- THE ABUNDANT LIFE – A YIELDED LIFE:
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6: 12-13)
The Apostle Paul calls us to acknowledge a yielded life as the means to living life to the full. God directs us to choose to yield our lives to Him. Paul tells us to “offer ourselves to God…” (Romans 6: 13). To offer is to yield (Romans 6: 16). To yield is to give one’s self over to something or someone. We’re reminded whatever we yield to we become servants of that person or thing. Perhaps it is time to YIELD - Stop, look, listen, and consider what I am doing. To what am I yielding in life?
What is a Yielded Life?
What We Focus On – Colossians 3: 1-4 tells us the yielded life is what we now focus on. We are to become in experience what we already are by God’s saving grace. To yield is to set our hearts and minds on spiritual things (v. 1-2) – set my sights on the things of God and focus on Him. To say I will not think about a pink elephant is to ensure that I will. To think about a beautiful tiger in the wild will redirect my attention and pink elephants will not come to mind. By focusing on the things of God through taking in the word, praying, and enjoying positive entertainment, He fills my thoughts and heart. As He fills my thoughts and heart, He pushes other things out of focus and out of my life. To get your mind and heart off something, set them on something else.
When Practice Conforms to Privilege – I John 3: 6-7 tells us the practices of our lives are to conform to our position of privilege. Christ traded places with us on the cross (II Corinthians 5: 21). Our lifestyle is to reflect the righteousness we received from Him. The lifestyle of the believer (I John 3: 6) who “lives in Him” (keeps God’s commands) will be obedient and yielding to God. The believer who does what is right (I John 3: 7) reflects the righteousness of Christ. Sometimes this requires starting new habits or practices. During the Lenten Season, many of the readers of “The Pastor’s Corner” participated in the “Comfort Food Fast” or the “Secular Media Fast.” Those who participated, broke old eating habits, eliminated unhealthy viewing and took in healthy foods, Christian and family oriented viewing, and additional Bible reading. You can start new practices or habits that conform to your new identity. Don’t wait to “feel like doing it!” “Just do it!”
Christ’s life lived through me. Colossians 1: 27 tells us of God’s choice to make Christ known in us. The believer is made a new creation and we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who died and was raised again. Christ now lives in us and our lives are to proclaim Christ. In a suburb south of Chicago, a group of believers purchased a nightclub. As unusual as this sounds, it was all for the glory of God. They quickly went about converting the establishment to a sanctuary for the worship of God. Today the place once used as a “watering hole” is now a place from which “rivers of living water flow.” The same holds true for believers. We are made new creations to the glory of God. God then uses our lives for the spread of His loving gospel. This is one of God’s ways of bringing others to Christ.
Finally, every believer MUST choose. We can choose to offer ourselves to sin and experience defeat in life (Romans 6: 13). Or, we can choose to offer ourselves to God by faith and enjoy the abundant life.
Prayer: “Lord, to what am I yielding in life? Please touch me that I would offer myself to you in every way. I choose you Father. I choose to live life abundantly. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”
Pastor James Moody
Quinn Chapel AME, Chicago
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The passing and funeral of Mrs. Olease W. Scott. She was the mother of Rev. William Scott - pastor of Chapel AME Church, Paxville, SC in the Central Conference. The family is receiving friends at 821 Rachel Road, Hemingway, SC.
Family Visitation:
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Bartell's Funeral Home
Highway 261 West of Hemingway
Hemingway, SC 29554
Funeral Services will be held:
1:00 PM
Friday, May 5, 2006
New Mt. Carmel AME Church
797 Tupperware Road
Hemingway, SC 29554
(843) 558-5053
Funeral services are entrusted to:
Bartell's Funeral Home
Highway 261 West of Hemingway
Post Office Box 125
Hemingway, SC 29554
(843) 558-3216 Phone
(843) 558-3216 - Fax (call before sending fax)
(843) 558-5700 Phone
Messages of condolence may be sent to:
The family of Mrs. Olease W. Scott
821 Rachel Road
Hemingway, SC. 29554-5633
From: Gwendolyn Brown
Please remember the family in your prayers.
17. 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.
18. 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
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
