The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
--Richard Allen’s Birthday – February 14, 1760
-- Jarena Lee’s Birthday – February 11, 1783
-- Ash Wednesday- February 18, 2015
-- Easter Sunday: April 5, 2015
Thought
for the week: "Good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help
someone up.”
1. TCR EDITORIAL – RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT
GENESIS, EXODUS AND LEVITICUS:
Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor III
The 20th
Editor of The Christian Recorder
I hope those of you
who committed to reading the “Bible from
Cover to cover” are
still on-task.
Those of you
reading the 360-Day Reading Plan
should be almost finished with Genesis (Genesis 48 for Day 17). If you have gotten this far, then you are at
a point of easier reading the give the account of Joseph and his brothers.
I encourage you to
keep reading and if you are behind schedule, don’t let it bother you, just keep
reading. The 360-Day Reading Plan
calls for about 2 – 3 chapters each day, and for those of you who failed to
start, it’s never too late to start.
If you think the 360-Day Reading Plan is too slow, you
can always bump yourself up the 180-Day
Reading Plan.
And those of you
who are taking the aggressive route of the 90-Day
Reading Plan and are on-schedule, you are now almost finished reading
Joshua. You are moving at a fast-clip.
If you get a sense
that the 90-Day Reading Plan is too
aggressive or if you are falling too far behind, you can change to the 180-Day Reading Plan.
Those of you, who
are reading the 180-Day Plan (the plan I chose) and are on-schedule, have
finished Exodus and are now beginning to read Leviticus.
In Exodus, we read
some interesting dialogue about the accounts of Moses and his challenges with
an obstinate people like pharaoh, the Children of Israel and the other folks,
which the NRSV and NIV call, “a mixed crowd” (Exodus 12:38) who had joined the
Hebrews on their journey to the Promised Land. Moses had to deal with all types
of individuals.
Pastors, today,
have to contend with many of the same issues that confronted Moses as he dealt
with his “parishioners” on their journey through the wilderness.
I enjoyed reading
about the Passover and Festival of Unleavened bread. Each time I read the
Bible; wonderful revelations are revealed to me. I am not bragging, but I have
to share that I found Exodus so interesting that I read ahead and I am now
almost finished reading Leviticus.
One “take-away”
from reading both Exodus and Leviticus is the notion that God requires our
best. The Tent of the Meeting; and the Ark of the Covenant, which is also referred to in Scripture as the Ark of the Testimony were constructed
using the best materials and skilled artisans were employed to do the
work. Moses didn’t go out and get a
“back yard mechanic” or the cheapest laborer; he got the most skilled artisans.
The phrase,
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness” is often quoted as a biblical text, but it
is not in the Bible. The books of Exodus and Leviticus make it clear that
cleanliness was a priority in the things related to God. God demand our
“unblemished best.”
I am sure that’s
the reason I have a problem with churches of any denomination that are not kept
up to the standards of cleanliness, infrastructure upkeep and first-class
religious programs.
The “unblemished
best” works both ways and in every direction.
Pastors expect
parishioners to give their best in support of the religious program; in terms
of spiritual support, presence and financial support.
Parishioners expect
pastors to deliver Spirit-filled sermons, prepare and execute dynamic worship
services, visit the sick and shut-in members of the church, do the pastoral
functions of ministry and to be committed to the needs of the parishioners and
the community. Pastors are expected to be men and women of prayer.
Bishops give their
best when they follow the model of the advice Jethro gave his son-in-law, Moses
when he shared with Moses the wisdom of sharing responsibilities. Leaders
cannot do all the work. Great leaders “train and trust” their
subordinates.
“Training and
trusting” subordinates is also a great attribute for pastors.
It’s not only a
strategy that works from top to bottom, but also a strategy that works in the
opposite direction.
Subordinates need
to accept and be responsive of the “training and trusting strategy” and to be
trusting of leadership.
The more I read the
Bible, the more it reinforces for me the importance of “training and trusting”
and the importance of “respect for authority.” And particularly, as I read
Exodus and Leviticus, a couple of more notions have been reinforced.
We should not be
satisfied, as clergy or laity, in giving less than our best.
We should give our
best attendance, best money, best service, best help for youth, best
preparation and delivery of sermons, best participation and attendance, best
praise and singing in the choir; best planning for church meetings and
conferences, best thoughts and sharing the best ideas for helping the growth of
the local and connectional church.
Laity and clergy
should strive to make their church building the best looking facility in the
area. Our church grounds should look the
best in the neighborhood. Our church
properties should set the standard for cleanliness and upkeep.
The utensils used
in our worship services should be exemplary clean. The Cross, candle holders and collection
plates should be polished and clean.
If anointing oil is
going to be used, purchase an anointing oil vial or use a small chalice for
that purpose. Take the oil out of the
olive oil bottle that was taken off the grocery shelf. Give some dignity and
drama in the anointing with oil.
Genesis tells us
that God created the plants on the third day (Tuesday), so why do churches use
artificial plants in the sanctuary? The
answer: Because it cheaper and easier, but it is not our best.
Our best would be
the use live-plants as a reinforcement and extension of the notion that God
created the vegetation. God did not create artificial plants.
Unfortunately, many
of us have gotten into the notion that “easier is better,” which translates
into our acceptance of mediocrity in our physical and spiritual lives, and in
our walk with God. Unfortunately, many of us do not give God our best; we give
God and the church, what’s left over.
In reading
Leviticus again and again, I am more conscious of light and fire and have come
to appreciated lighted candles on the altar, which signifies that Jesus is the
Light of the world. Unlighted candles do not represent anything. Every item in the sanctuary should represent
something related to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
And, finally, the
Word of God and the reading of Scripture should only be read by those persons
who can read God’s Word with flawless articulation. God’s Word is supreme and
there is nothing more distracting in worship than someone inarticulately
reading the Bible. The same goes for the Decalogue and the other liturgical
movements that require reading.
Scripture lessons
should be assigned ahead of time so readers can practice and learn to pronounce
difficult words.
Here is an
excellent website to help with biblical pronunciations:
I love reading the
Bible and those who do not read the Bible are missing great spiritual insights
that lend to spiritual growth.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
-- To the Editor:
RE: TCR Editorial –
Effective and Fully Functioning AME Churches Are More Than “CME-Focused”
Religious Programs:
I usually look
forward to your Christian Recorder emails; however, as a pastor in your sister
denomination, namely the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, I find myself
disappointed at your humor at our expense. I would like to believe that it was
possible for you to make your point without using that acronym in that way.
Name Withheld by
TCR Editor
TCR Editor’s Response:
My apologies, but I used the initials, which has been a long-standing acronym
that's been around for years when referring to parishioners who only attend
church on special days. Sorry you were
offended, that's the reason I put quotation marks around "CME" so
readers would know that I was not referring to the Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church.
3. HIGH NOON, TO THE HIGH PRIEST:
It is imperative
now more than ever that we stay in the face of God because these are perilous
times. The rampant, open killing of people of color by policemen throughout the
country calls us as a nation to pray. Gun laws that allow citizens to shoot
young African American boys and legally get away with it, calls us, as a
nation, to pray.
On Friday, January
9, in the Church Growth and Development Plenary, God called the African
Methodist Episcopal Church to prayer.
Senior Bishop John Bryant began on Friday, January 9.
We ask that all
Episcopal Districts join in prayer every Friday at noon. Pray for our nation,
for our communities, for our children and for the world. Then each day of the
week, we ask the Episcopal Districts to pray according to the schedule below:
Friday All Districts
Saturday: Districts
2, 5, 10, 16
Sunday: Districts 3, 11, 8, 18
Monday: Districts
6, 9, 17
Tuesday: Districts
13, 15, 19
Wednesday:
Districts 19, 4, 14, 20
Thursday: Districts
1, 7, 12, 18
**Submitted by the
Third Episcopal District
4. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--Church leaders surprise Normandy seniors with
scholarships
-- Waco assistant city manager leaving post to focus on
ministry
-- 'Most powerful woman religious leader' to speak at
MLK Jr. Awards Luncheon
-- Candler School of Theology Professor to Deliver
Princeton Seminary's Annual King Lecture
-- MLK Jr.'s life to be celebrated Sunday in Chambersburg
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/local/ci_27317833/mlk-jr-s-life-be-celebrated-sunday-chambersburg
-- Settlement reached in sexual-abuse lawsuit involving
AME Church in St. Louis
5. LIFE QUOTES ENCOUNTERED THIS WEEK:
“Our lives begin to
end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
*** Martin Luther
King (1929 - 1968) American Civil Rights Leader ***
"By failing to
prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin
6. BROWN’S CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH:
About 1870 a group
of men met on the farm of Bland Brown in the Popular Hill area of Giles County.
They came together to discuss the need for a church or meeting house. This
group of ex-slaves selected Bland Brown as their leader, because he could read,
write and keep accounts; but also because as the local blacksmith he knew and
worked for all the white landowners around the area. One of those that Bland
Brown talked to about the need for a church was his former owner Mr. Reed, a
rich and generous landowner. Mr. Reed graciously gave two acres of land, which
he deeded to all the "colored people" of District Number Two of Giles
County, for a church and graveyard. Therefore, this land never belonged to the
Tennessee A. M. E. conference, and could not be sold or used for any other
purpose.
Many white and
colored landowners donated logs to saw into lumber for the church, which was
begun in 1873. A “church raising” was held in the summer of 1873 to finish the
outside and roof of the two-story church, and the following year the ceiling
and inside was finished. The second floor was equipped and furnished to be used
as a lodge hall for the Odd Fellows and the Household of Ruth. While the work
was going on the women of the church area came with hot vegetables, fried
chicken, and pies to feed the hungry men, who donated their labor. This church
was named Brown's Chapel in honor of Bland Brown who had done so much to help
in getting a church in the community.
In 1875, a good
cotton crop was made and paint was bought to paint the church inside and out.
The following year the congregation paid $50.00 for an organ, and a belfry was
built •to house a bell, which had been donated. The bell was rung at 9:00 a.m.,
which announced that Sunday School would start at 9:30 and again at 10:45 to
let everyone know that church was beginning "now." If the bell rang
during the week, it would be answered by every family, who sent someone to get
the news of a death, a house fire, or other information of interest. The greatest
news tolled by the bell was the ending of both World Wars.
According to church
history, in 1910, Booker T. Washington spoke at Brown's Chapel. The church
history further states U.S. Census records for that year indicated he was
staying in the residence of Potter Brown, the local schoolteacher. Washington
came not only to speak, or preach, at the church but also to recruit students
for the Tuskegee Institute. This was, as far as we can learn, the only time
that Booker T. Washington was in Giles County.
By the year of
1920, the congregation had grown, and services were held every Sunday morning
and night. A singing school was held
that year with Professor J. W. Works of the Fisk Jubilee singers of Nashville,
teaching the members how to read and sing shaped note music. During the 1920s, the church served as a
school for three years. During the time
that the church serves as a school a carbide lighting system was installed, so
that there would be light on the dark days of \\inter. The third year that the carbide lighting
system was used it exploded.
During the 1950's
the congregation began to dwindle, and the lodge membership had become even
smaller than the church membership so the decision was made to remove the
second story and put a new roof on the building. The bell was removed and the
belfry reattached to the one story building.
The church closed about 1980, having served God in the community for
over 100 years. But good things lay in store for this building. In 1982 Antioch
Missionary Baptist Church suffered the loss of their building by fire and they
moved into the old Brown’s Chapel building. The deed stated that the property
belonged to the “Colored people of District two for use as a church and
cemetery” so, with the permission of the last remaining members of the Brown’s
Chapel Church, the Antioch Church moved into the building. Again, the building
came alive with the worship of God. In the almost twenty years that Antioch has
worshipped there the building has been remodeled, siding put on, rest rooms
added on the front, a room added on the left rear of the building and shorter
windows put in.
The illustration on
the bulletin cover, drawn by Sharon Newman, is the artist’s conception of how
Brown’s Chapel looked after the 1950 renovation. (Source: An article on Brown’s
Chapel A.M.E. Church by Clara Gilbert Bowers-written in part from information
told her by her grandfather Samuel (Sam) Fisher. The article is in the files of
the Giles County Historical Society).
Bland Brown
Bland Brown was
born March 1826 in Virginia. His parent's names are not known. Giles County
marriage records show a marriage between Bland Brown and Betty Johnson on May
13, 1866. However, the 1900 Giles County census states that Bland and Betsy had
been married 56 years. Known children of Bland Brown were Clara born circa
1849-1852, married Sam Fisher; Washington born between 1851- 1854, died 1914,
buried Poplar Hill Cemetery; Julia born circa 1856-1859, married 1st
Benton Dawson, 2nd Dick Garrison; Sarah born Sept. 1859; Ruffin,
born circa 1860; Joseph born circa 1866; Doctor Bland, Jr. born May 4, 1868,
died April 4, 1929, buried in Prospect Cemetery; Matthew born circa 1872; Henry
S. born circa Feb. 1873.
Brown was a
blacksmith by trade and according to census records, owned real estate. A check
of early deeds showed he bought 7 acres from Cary Gilbert in 1872 and 55 acres
from H.M. Stanley in 1873. Possibly he acquired more land later.
Bland Brown was a
very influential person in the community of Poplar Hill, instrumental in
acquiring land to erect a church for the black people living there. In
1873, according to the deed, land was given to the colored people of
District 2, for the purpose of erecting an African Methodist Episcopal Church
and schoolhouse. As long as this land
was taken care of and used for this purpose, it would remain in the possession
of the colored people of District 2. This church was called Brown's Chapel
A.M.E. Church was named Bland Brown.
Mr. Brown was also
responsible for obtaining land for a school in Poplar Hill. Deeds show that in
1880, Bland Brown along with trustees Robert Jenkins and G. W. Upshaw purchased
land from T. King in District 2 for the purpose of building a school. The cost of that tract was $10.00.
Bland Brown died
November 5, 1916 in Giles County. Betsy Brown, his wife, was born May 1824 in
Tennessee. She died sometime between
1910 -1920. Both are buried in the Old Poplar Hill Cemetery.
Compiled by Judy
Sanders
7. VICE-PRESIDENT
BIDEN ANNOUNCES $25 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION AT HBCUS:
Today, Vice
President Biden, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, and White House Science
Advisor John Holdren are traveling to Norfolk State University in Norfolk,
Virginia to announce that the Department of Energy will provide a $25 million
grant over the next five years to support cybersecurity education. The new
grant will support the creation of a new cybersecurity consortium consisting of
13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), two national labs, and
a k-12 school district.
The Vice President
will make the announcement as part of a roundtable discussion with a classroom
of cybersecurity leaders and students at Norfolk State University. The visit
builds on the President’s announcements on cybersecurity earlier this week,
focusing on the critical need to fill the growing demand for skilled
cybersecurity professionals in the U.S. job market, while also diversifying the
pipeline of talent in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) fields. The event and announcement is also an opportunity to highlight
the Administration’s ongoing commitment to HBCUs.
Details on the
Announcement
As highlighted by
the President earlier in the week, the rapid growth of cybercrime is creating a
growing need for cybersecurity professionals across a range of industries, from
financial services, health care, and retail to the US government itself. By
some estimates, the demand for cybersecurity workers is growing 12 times faster
than the U.S. job market, and is creating well-paying jobs.
To meet this
growing need, the Department of Energy is establishing the Cybersecurity
Workforce Pipeline Consortium with funding from the Minority Serving
Institutions Partnerships Program housed in its National Nuclear Security
Administration. The Minority Service Institutions Program focuses on building a
strong pipeline of talent from minority-serving institutions to DOE labs, with
a mix of research collaborations, involvement of DOE scientists in mentoring,
teaching and curriculum development, and direct recruitment of students.
With $25M in
overall funding over five years, and with the first grants this year, the
Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline Consortium will bring together 13 HBCUs, two
DOE labs, and the Charleston County School District with the goal of creating a
sustainable pipeline of students focused on cybersecurity issues. The
consortium has a number of core attributes:
• It is designed as
a system. This allows students that enter through any of the partner schools to
have all consortia options available to them, to create career paths and degree
options through collaboration between all the partners (labs and schools), and
to open the doors to DOE sites and facilities.
• It has a range of
participating higher education institutions. With Norfolk State University as a
the lead, the consortium includes a K-12 school district, a two-year technical
college, as well as four-year public and private universities that offer
graduate degrees.
• Built to change
to evolving employer needs: To be successful in the long term, this program is
designed to be sufficiently flexible in its organization to reflect the unique
regional priorities that Universities have in faculty research and developing
STEM disciplines and skills, and DOE site targets for research and critical
skill development.
• Diversifying the
pipeline by working with leading minority-serving institutions: As the
President stated in Executive Order 13532, “Promoting Excellence, Innovation,
and Sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities” in February
2010, America’s HBCUs, for over 150 years, have produced many of the Nation’s
leaders in science, business, government, academia, and the military, and have
provided generations of American men and women with hope and educational
opportunity.
The full list of
participating consortium members are:
Virginia
Norfolk State
University (lead)
Georgia
Clark Atlanta
University
Paine College
Maryland
Bowie State
University
North Carolina
North Carolina
A&T State University
South Carolina
Allen
University
Benedict
College
Claflin
University
Denmark Technical
College
Morris College
South Carolina
State University
Voorhees
College
Charleston County
School District
US Virgin Islands
University of the
Virgin Islands
California
Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory
New Mexico
Sandia National
Laboratory
8. AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF PEOPLES OF
AFRICAN DESCENT:
By the Rev. Dr.
Angelique Walker-Smith
Recently I was part
of a conference call with church leaders across the country and the lead actor
of the new film “Selma.” While discussing the debut of the film, we agreed that
our country is at a “kairos” moment.
This observation of
the “kairos” moment,” which in Greek means “a right, opportune time” came, in
part, out of our realization of several things coming together, purely by
coincidence. While the film was being produced, there was no awareness that the
“black lives matter” protests would be happening. At the same time, the United
Nations was launching the first Decade of People of African Descent in 2015.
The wisdom of
pre-screening the film in places where the “black lives matter” protests have
been held has affirmed this historic moment we are currently living in.
Churches and their communities are experiencing and planning for renewed,
meaningful dialogue and action on race relations and church-community
strategies, while remembering the church-led Civil Rights movement of the
1960s.
The spirit of the
“Bloody Sunday” protest in March 1965 is still with us today. “Bloody Sunday”
was about insisting that “black lives matter,” and today’s movements embody the
past by aiming to change public policy and mobilize people to action. The
public policy agenda of both movements deals implicitly and explicitly with the
scourge of hunger and poverty that has burdened African-American people. The Civil Rights period and today’s movements
cry out for justice with a public policy platform of equitable voting rights,
quality education, full and fair employment, and peaceful relations with law
enforcement that supports dignified sustainable development. These cries are
for challenged communities where African-Americans are disproportionately
affected by these conditions.
This “kairos”
moment we are witnessing in the United States is also global. This year, the
United Nations Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) expire, and new proposals are
being developed—Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will include the
United States. Further, the U.N. Decade of Peoples of African Descent seeks to
promote respect, protection, and fulfillment of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms for people of African descent, as recognized in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This decade seeks to recognize the
significant contributions made by people of African descent while strengthening
national, regional, and international action and cooperation in relation to the
full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights.
The movements
seeking to end hunger and poverty are both domestic and global. Bread for the
World invites you to join us in advancing a public policy agenda that supports
this. Let us do all we can to advance structural change in this "kairos'
moment.
9. HIV/AIDS PATIENTS IN DEEP SOUTH HAVE LOWER SURVIVAL
RATES:
DURHAM, N.C. -- The
southern U.S. had the nation's lowest five-year survival rate among those
diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in 2003-2004, according to new research.
Fifteen percent of
people diagnosed with HIV and 27 percent of those diagnosed with AIDS in that
year had died within five years of diagnosis.
Nine southern
states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South
Carolina, Tennessee and Texas) are hit disproportionately hard by HIV/AIDS.
Patients in this region tend to be younger, more rural, African-American and
female. They are also more likely to attribute their HIV infection to
heterosexual sex.
“This research,
documents the dire consequences that having an HIV diagnosis in the Deep South
region has for too many individuals,” said Duke University law professor
Carolyn McAllaster, who directs the Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative
(SASI) and the law school’s AIDS/HIV and Cancer Legal Project.
The research team
included the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research at the Duke
Global Health Institute, SASI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. Their findings
appear in the December 2014 edition of the Journal of Community Health. (Link
below)
Differences between
U.S. regions in demographic characteristics and transmission risk did not
explain the higher death rate among persons living with HIV in the targeted
Southern states, indicating that other factors contribute to this disparity.
Lead author Susan
Reif of the Duke Global Health Institute said a number of factors likely contribute
to the differences in outcomes seen among individuals living with HIV in the
Deep South, including poverty, lower levels of education and insurance
coverage, social stigma associated with the disease, and racism.
“These differences
are crucial to consider when creating strategies to address HIV/AIDS in this
region,” Reif said. “Clearly greater investment and focus are required to
address the unique nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South.”
The research was
commissioned by Duke Law’s AIDS Legal Project through a grant from the Ford
Foundation. The full text of the article may be viewed:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10900-014-9979-7.
CITATION: "HIV
Diagnoses, Prevalence and Outcomes in Nine Southern States," Susan Reif,
Brian Wells Pence, Irene Hall, Xiaohong Hu, Kathryn Whetten, Elena Wilson.
Journal of Community Health, Dec. 2014. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9979-7
10. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (Living Bible): “Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by
God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in
the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so
that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, which
perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor when
Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even
though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Our text is a
beautiful and rich passage of scripture. What we find embodied in these
immortal words is the glorious hope of the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior. The question: "Does this represent the great hope of every
believer?"
The truth of the
matter is that the glorious hope that Jesus Christ will one day come again
should be on the mind and in the heart of every believer. Eternal life is the
wonderful privilege of living forever with God. Just imagine living face to
face with God forever! There is no greater benefit afforded to mankind.
So what is this
hope that every believer has? It is a not a lifeless, dead hope it is a living
hope. It is not a probable hope rather
it is a hope that is real; a hope that is true and a hope that really exists.
It is a hope that enjoins the heart of the believer with the reality of heaven.
It is a hope that embraces a spiritual world more real than this earthly
tabernacle of our existence.
Each of us can
remember when we were growing up how we hoped for a whole lot of things. Think
about it, we hoped for a new bicycle and sometimes for a day off from school.
We hoped for presents under the tree at Christmas and sometimes for a passing
grade on our final exam.
Then when we grew
up, when we became a Christian adult, our hope took on a new dimension. As a
Christian Adult, we began to put away childish things, grown up we began to
hope for those things that the carnal world might deem intangible. We grew up
and began hoping for serenity and silence. We began hoping for satisfaction,
salvation and sanctification.
The songwriter
reminds us that “our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and
righteousness.” In other words our hope
rests in the knowledge that the Lord has promised us new life in Him. Our hope
rests in the knowledge that the Lord has secured this new life for us already.
He promises that if we persevere, we shall receive our reward. We rest in the
knowledge that God is our source of the hope.
The Bible says,
"His boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again
so that we are now members of God's own family; He is the Inheritance of our
hope” This, of course, begs the question, if God is the source of our
inheritance and the assurance of our hope, why then do so many Christians live
today as those who seemingly have no hope.
If Jesus is our
Lord to whom we have surrendered and subjected our lives; If Jesus is the One
who sits in the spiritual and heavenly world at the right hand of God the
Father, making intercession for us night and day; If Jesus is our Messiah
promised by God to save the souls of men; then why is there any lack in our
faith?
Our text reminds us
that God has promised us eternal life and that if we would only believe, we
will receive.
Peter lets us now
that God is not far removed from us. Neither is He one with little or no
interest in our welfare. The fact is God is near at hand. God is all around us
and He is longing to relate to us, to look after us, to care for us, and to
give us eternal life through Christ Jesus. He has proved that He has the power
to grant eternal life.
Peter reminds us
that though we live in a world full of corruption, God is able to preserve us
until His coming again. In a world full of sin God is our only hope for redemption
and reward. The Bible says, “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's
children."
*The Reverend Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, S.C.
11. GETTING TO ZERO: A TIME TO MEASURE PROGRESS:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
We arrive at a
season of the 2015 calendar year that focuses especially on all things African
American. This includes celebrating ideals and legacies of leaders such as Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr on January 15 and Bishop Richard Allen during
celebrations in February of AMEC Founder’s Day.
This season
includes special events such as the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day (NBHAAD) on February 7.
The National Black Leadership
Commission on AIDS, Inc (NBLCA) states,
“In an effort to address the issue of HIV/AIDS and its‘ destruction to the
Black community, the (NBLCA) will host a public forum on Friday February
6, 2015 at the Schomburg Research Center between 9:00 a.m. to 11
a.m. highlighting the State of HIV in Black America.”
“We invite you to
join the discussion and create a plan to fight the effects, stigma,
criminalization, and lack of resources for prevention and treatment of
HIV/AIDS. A panel of specialists will feature representatives from state,
federal, and national HIV/AIDS agencies.” (Note: How to join is not yet
described.)
The invitation
includes a reminder that “… African Americans account for almost half (44%) of
all new HIV infections in the United States. Approximately one in 16 black men
will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime, as well as one in 32 black
women. NBLCA is committed to promoting healthy communities and hope you
will support our efforts.”
This column has
discussed how biomedical and clinical advances along with policy and
socio-behavioral developments provide a pinpoint of light at the end of a long
tunnel. We have talked about what would be required to get to “an AIDS-free
generation.”
Biomedical and
clinical research results revealed much of how HIV reproduces and how it leads
to AIDS. Over thirty types of anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs have been developed.
Each interferes with a step in virus replication. Clinical trials with ARVs
affirm that, even without a vaccine or an absolute cure, we have the means to
get to no new infections; no new AIDS cases and thus theoretically “Get to
Zero.”
G20 began as a
weekly feature of The Christian Recorder in the summer of 2012. Reflection from
then to now begs the question of what progress has occurred. What is the
difference in how congregations, families and communities understand that HIV
leads to AIDS, how the pandemic can be stopped and what are the
responsibilities of the faith community?
Does knowing more
of how HIV works as a fragile, but prevalent virus change the rates of risks
taken that allows virus transmission from one person to another?
Does knowing that
progression to AIDS can be slowed or halted altogether translate into actions
that result in fewer new cases of AIDS, reduced opportunistic infections, no
stigma and no AIDS-related deaths? Are more people involved in using what is
available to prevent spread and the multiple impacts of HIV/AIDS?
Do clergy and
church leaders and TCR readers get that HIV can only transmit by contact with a
few (four) body fluids? Is it understood and appreciated that even these
contacts can be prevented?
Do clergy, lay
officers, missionaries and AMEC members of all types appreciate that modeling
routine testing to know one’s HIV status is critical to stopping the
pandemic? Routine testing is the most
important step to taking control of HIV/AIDS and to reaching an “AIDS-free
generation.”
How many TCR
readers make HIV testing a regular part of health care?
How many talk to
children or loved ones about being safe with sexual interactions through always
using one of the ABC’s of HIV infection prevention?
As an indication of
progress, the CDC has found that African Americans report a higher likelihood
(65%) of having taken an HIV test compared to other groups in the USA.
2015 is the year
that the World Health Organization (WHO) will assess progress on meeting goals
of the “Getting to Zero” campaign that began in 2010. 2015 is the year to evaluate progress to:
. Reduce by ½ the
number of new transmissions of HIV compared to those recorded in 2010.
. Reduce by ½ the
number of deaths from AIDS related illness.
. Remove the legal
discrimination and stigma by changing of unjust laws or practices that affect
persons with HIV/AIDS.
In his State of the
Union address in 2013, the then recently elected second-term President Barack
Obama spoke about the feasibility of getting to “an AIDS-free generation.”
The G20 column
asked, “How do we ‘Get to Zero’ or bring to reality an AIDS-free generation”? We acknowledged that it would not be easy. It
would take time--more than two years. We explained that “each person,
especially clergy and religious leaders, has a role to play. We suggested that AMEC leaders “should get
and stay informed so to eliminate myths, misconceptions and lack of knowing.
Talk to others about what is learned. Get tested and model HIV counseling and
testing as the necessary and smart health choice.”
At two years later,
change is slow. Are most AMEC
congregations consistently and patiently moving people closer to awareness of
how to end AIDS? At this time in 2015 of
all things African-American, where are we? Some believe that not much is
occurring in the AMEC when it comes to HIV/AIDS.
Similar to what is
sometimes asked at the beginning of a worship moment, ”if each person was as
informed, engaged, committed and consistent as you in tackling HIV/AIDS, what
would be in the 2015 progress report for reducing impact and conquering
HIV/AIDS? “
The answer is
especially important to people of color in the USA, in countries of Africa and
in communities all over the world.
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Faculty of the
African Studies Center at the University of Michigan and Adjunct Faculty at
Payne Theological Seminary. An Itinerant Elder in the 4th Episcopal
District, she conducts HIV/AIDS prevention research in Zambia and the USA. She
lived in Zambia for most of 2013 as a J. William Fulbright Scholar.
12. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY,
JANUARY 18, 2015 - JESUS INTERCEDES FOR US -HEBREW 4:14-5:10:
Bill Dickens, Allen
AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
The application of
criminal or civil justice in the U.S. requires legal representation. An attorney is required because we live in a
country governed by the rule of law.
Lawyers not only represent their clients but they fulfill another
fiduciary function – lobbying or speaking on behalf of those they represent. In court the judge will only listen to hired
counsel, not loquacious clients. Lawyers
intercede on behalf of those they represent before the court. The outcome of guilt or innocence rests with
their specialized skills.
The Adult AME
Church School Lesson for January 18, 2015 looks at how and why Jesus is an
Intercessor for us. It is reassuring to
know we can look to the great Intercessor, Jesus Christ, to help us manage our
challenges and tribulations.
An intercessor is a
person who by calling or by nature chooses to be a mediator on behalf of those
who cannot intervene for themselves. Intercessors make requests, urge, plead,
beg, counsel, discuss, risk, sacrifice, and make war on issues relating to the
weaker ones, and thus they have an impact on the final outcomes for those they
serve.
There is a
difference between a person who is called an intercessor and a person who
prays. Any person can pray, but not all praying people are intercessors. The
opposite is true also - an intercessor may live his entire life and live to
make only one great act of intercession.
In Hebrews Chapters
4 -5 Jesus is depicted as the “great intercessor” after the order of
Melchizedek. Melchizedek is described
in the book of Genesis as both a king and a priest. In the Old Testament and in the giving of the
Law, only the descendants of Aaron were permitted to perform priestly
functions, e.g., provide and environment conducive for worship, lead in the
sacrificial offerings; seek atonement for sins, etc.
Chapters 4 and 5 in
Hebrews makes the argument that one greater than Melchizedek has now emerged
who is willing and able to execute these priestly functions and as a result
provide believers with eternal life.
As the Son of God,
Jesus is in a unique position to lobby or intercede for us before God the Father
in Heaven. As the "great
lawyer" only He can maintain our justification by pleading on our
behalf. Jesus is interceding for us
despite our unworthiness.
Our ancestors were
theologically correct when they used to sing the Negro spiritual equating Jesus
as our “lawyer in a courtroom.”
Some may want Perry
Mason, others may want Johnnie Cochrane, but as for me and my house; we will
take the Intercessor who has never lost a case and is interceding every day
24/7.
We can rejoice
knowing that with Jesus our case is dismissed!
*Brother Bill
Dickens is currently the Church School Teacher at Allen AME Church in Tacoma,
Washington. He is currently a member of
the Fellowship of Church Educators for the African Methodist Episcopal Church
13. MEDITATION BASED ON PSALM 8:
I’m pleased to
feature the words of a friend of mine - J.L. Strickland - in this week’s
meditation. J.L. is a white (not that it
matters), retired Alabama textile mill worker with a natural gift for writing -
he proudly describes himself as a “lint head emeritus!” We mused about the worth of “chitlins” and
other parts of the pig in a recent email conversation, and he said something
profound:
“Have you ever
considered that the pig is a living symbol of our existence? Just think about it – a pig can be repulsive,
a pig can be nasty, and a pig can be loud and annoying. Many folks hate pigs,
just on their appearance alone. At the
same time, a pig is capable of sweet redemption and pleasure. A pig teaches us not to judge the surface and
off-putting nature of a thing. A pig
teaches us efforts on our part will be amply rewarded. Pigs teach us that we must work for that what
is worth having. The blessings from a
pig are truly...Glorious!”
Aside from the
wonderful life-lesson about the potential that God gives each of us in spite of
our imperfections in my good friend J.L.’s words, there’s something else worth
noting about him - I’ve never met him in person. We basically “discovered” each other by our
online writings and have been friends since then – we’re kindred spirits. I’ve never seen J.L.’s face, but I know him
by his literary work.
I share that with
you in a world where some question God’s existence and presence in this
world. Many people - in a world that
revolves around logic, reason and measurable evidence - question the existence
of a God that they can’t see “face to face” and whose presence can’t be
scientifically proven. What they fail to
understand is that God’s presence is revealed through God’s work in our lives.
When we weather
tough times and come out okay, that’s God at work. When we succeed when all logic says that we
should fail, that’s God’s work. When we
mess up and position ourselves to fail, but still succeed and are well and
blessed, that’s God’s work.
Take the time each
day to celebrate the small and great ways that God works in your life. You’ll find new strength, new joy, new
encouragement and new appreciation for the words of the hymn that says, “Then
sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou Art, How great Thou art.”
This Meditation is
also available as a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org
Get Ready for
Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr.
Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South
Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church
14. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
-- Michael W.
Waters' book Freestyle wins 2015 Illumination Book Award
Freestyle:
Reflections on Faith, Family, Justice, and Pop Culture, a book written by the
Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters, founder and Senior Pastor of Joy Tabernacle A.M.E.
Church in Dallas, Texas, recently won a silver award in the Christian Living
category of the 2015 Illumination Book Awards.
The Illumination
Book Awards recognize "the year's best new titles written and published
with a Christian worldview."
This is the third
award that Freestyle, with the foreword by our Senior Bishop, the Right Rev.
John Richard Bryant, has won. It was named a finalist in two categories of the
2014 USA Best Book Awards: Social Change and Christianity. The official press
release of this award can be found at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/01/prweb12442251.htm.
Joy Tabernacle
A.M.E. Church
3203 Holmes Street
Dallas, Texas 75215
www.joytabernacleame.org
The Rev. Dr.
Michael W. Waters
Founder and Senior
Pastor
15. EPISCOPAL FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the passing of Sister Pamela Chambliss, the sister of Bishop Richard
Franklin Norris, 116th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, Presiding Prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District,
sister-in-law of Mother Mary Ann Norris, Episcopal Supervisor, aunt of the
Reverend Marcellus Norris, Pastor, St. Luke AME Church, Harlem, NY, 1st
Episcopal District and the Rev. Richard Norris II, Director of Music, 1st
Episcopal District, Philadelphia, PA.
Sister Pamela
Chambliss passed from labor to reward on Thursday, January 8, 2015.
Homegoing
Celebration
Tuesday, January
13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
St. Matthews AME
Church
215 N. 57th St.
Philadelphia, PA
Telephone: (215)
472-4784
The Rev. Roland C.
McCall, Pastor
Condolences may be
sent to:
Bishop and Mother
Richard F. Norris
1626 N. 72nd
Street
Philadelphia, PA
19151
Home Telephone:
(215) 477-9247
Email:
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the Home-going of MRS. MYRTIS LLOYD LOVETT, the Mother of the Rev. Dr.
D. Lovett Sconiers. Rev. Dr. Sconiers
has been serving as the Chaplain & Religion Professor at Edward Waters College,
in Jacksonville, Florida in the Eleventh Episcopal District, for the past 14
years.
Mrs. Myrtis Lloyd
Lovett transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, January, 11, 2015.
Homegoing Services:
When: Saturday,
January 17, 2015, 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bethel
Community Baptist Church
2901 - 54th Avenue
South
St. Petersburg, FL
33712
Services By:
Lawson's Funeral
Home
4535 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL
33713
Phone: (727)
623-9025
Expressions of
Condolences may be forwarded to:
The Rev. Dr. D.
Lovett Sconiers
4520 Loveland Pass
Drive West
Jacksonville, FL
32210
Telephone: (904)
616-8706
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With Heartfelt
Sympathy we sadly announce the passing of Licentiate Lawrence Stubbs of Greater
Allen AME Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the husband of Licentiate Dorothy
Stubbs, former Prison Ministry Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Conference. Services were held on January 12, 2015.
Expressions of
condolence may be forwarded to:
Lic. Dorothy Stubbs
636 Calera Street
Pittsburgh, PA
15207
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With Heartfelt
Sympathy we sadly announce the passing of the Rev. Elton Rutledge, Sr., the
loving husband of Sister Virginia Rutledge. He was the pastor of Chavis African
Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgetown District, Palmetto Annual Conference of
the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church. The Reverend Rutledge was the brother of Rev.
Earl Rutledge of Georgetown, SC. The
Rev. Rutledge passed on Sunday, January 11 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital,
Georgetown, SC.
Funeral
Arrangements are as follows:
The Wake:
Saturday, January
17, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Arnett AME Church
900 North Merriman
Rd.
Georgetown, SC
29440
Telephone: (843)
546-4414
The Rev. Barbara
Nelson
Celebration of
Life:
Sunday, January 18,
2015 at 1:00 p.m.
Historic Bethel AME
Church
401 Broad Street
Georgetown, SC
29440
Home telephone:
(843) 546-4898
Fax: (843) 527-6405
The Rt. Reverend
Richard Franklin Norris, Eulogist
The Rev. Dr. Sandy
W. Drayton, Presiding Elder
Georgetown
District, Palmetto Annual Conference
The Rev. Eric S. C.
Manning, Pastor
Expressions of
Sympathy may be sent to:
Sister Virginia
Rutledge
709 Palm Street
Georgetown, SC
29440
Telephone: (843)
546-9614
Funeral Services
entrusted to:
Wilds Funeral Home
130 N Merriman Rd.
Georgetown, SC
29440
Telephone: (843)
546-6901
Fax: (843) 546-6719
19. CLERGY
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened by the passing of the retired
Rev. Lewis Scott, a member of the ministerial staff at Emanuel AME Church,
Portsmouth, VA. Please keep the Scott
family in your prayers.
The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Wake - Tuesday, January 20, 2015 – (5:00
pm-7:00 pm)
Homegoing service - Wednesday, January 21,
2015 (12:00 noon)
Emanuel AME Church
637 North Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Telephone: (757) 393-2259
The Rev. Granger Flythe, pastor
Telephone numbers: 757-630-5371, 757-488-5194
Services are entrusted to:
Overton Funeral Home
405 Johnson Avenue
Suffolk, VA 23434
Telephone: (757) 539-4861
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We saddened by the passing of Sis. Norma
Oliver, the aunt of the Rev. Sherita M. Seawright. Please keep the Oliver, Moon
and Seawright family in your prayers.
The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Friday, January 23, 2015
Viewing at 10:00 a.m.
Service at 11:00 a.m.:
Peoples Congregational United Church in
Christ
4704 13th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20011
In lieu of flowers, please send your
donations to:
Washington Home & Community Hospices
3720 Upton Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
Please send cards to:
The Rev. Sherita M. Seawright
1609 Portland Avenue
Fort Washington, MD 20744
21.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the
Rev. Mary C. Johnson, Associate Minister, Martin Memorial AME Church in Miami,
Florida.
Services for the Reverend Mary C. Johnson:
Saturday, January 24, 2015, 11:00 AM
Second Baptist Church
11111 Pinkston Drive
Miami, Florida 33176
(305) 232-0499
Remains are entrusted to:
Jay Funeral Home
17420 Homestead Avenue
Miami, FL 33157
Telephone: (305) 255-1193
Condolences may be sent:
Johnson Family
14045 Jackson Street
Miami, FL 33176
22.
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
23.
CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications,
the Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland; 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.
Did someone you know pass this copy of The
Christian Recorder to you? Get your own copy HERE: http://www.the-christian-recorder.org/
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