The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015
World Immunization Week: April 24 - 30, 2015
“Veni... Vedi... Amavi...” - "I came... I saw... I loved!"
1. TCR EDITORIAL
– HINDRANCES TO LOCAL CHURCH RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS CHURCH GROWTH:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
I pass a church almost every Sunday as I am on my way to attend church
service. It happens to be a church of another denomination, but every
time I pass that church, I get depressed because it is so unkept and obviously
no one in the congregation is concerned about its appearance. The church is
medium-sized and the building is seemingly a well-built structure. The lawn is
unkept, the venetian blinds are broken and the facility and its grounds do not
present a good appearance for a house of God. I suspect the pastor, officers
and parishioners have gotten so
accustomed to the filthy looking appearance of the church, they don’t notice it is dirty; and the church’s unkept appearance
seems normal to them.
Each time I pass that church, I think to myself that if I were a
member of that church, I would never take any of my out-of-town guests past
that facility to “show them my church.” When I do a “windshield tour” of the
area for out-of-town guests, there are some churches I am proud to share and
there are other churches that are left off the itinerary.
Here is my list for hindrances of religious programs and church growth
Appearance
A church’s physical appearance is important because the physical
appearance of the church is the “gateway” to the local church. An unkept church
appearance is indicative of a lack of attention to the image that most churches wish to convey.
An unkept church may also be indicative of the local church’s lack of
attention to the spiritual lives of its parishioners.
Inattention to details is a character trait that is not isolated, but
indicates a pattern of behavior. A church that does not care for its physical
appearance might also be careless about the overall religious program and the
spiritual needs of its parishioners.
Church-building focused ministry
Stagnant churches seem to be church-sanctuary focused. Their main and sometimes only focus is Sunday
worship. They might have a concern about Bible study and prayer meeting, but by
and large their focus is Sunday morning.
Sanctuary focused churches are not concerned with anything that has to
do with the community or anything outside of the boundaries of the local church
property. The church is locked and unavailable most of the week and no one is
concerned or at least concerned enough to do something about it.
Lack of dramatic and dynamic worship
Sadly, many of the sanctuary-focused ministries do not have dramatic
and dynamic worship. Their worship is mundane at best because their worship
services are poorly planned and are in the same disarray as their physical
plant. Show me a church with a poorly kept physical plant and I will show you a
church with mundane religious worship. Inattentiveness is a pattern, not an
anomaly.
Worship needs drama! Am I the
only one who sees the excitement of parishioners during a local church or
connectional meeting worship service processional? In a connectional worship
service, the high point is quickly established with the processional of the
worship leaders, general officers and bishops. People are taking photos and
smiles are on their faces because the processional sets the tone for
worship. I have observed the same
phenomenon in small and large churches. There is something positive and
exciting about a processional versus clergy and choir meandering to the pulpit
and the choir loft.
And speaking about the choir, drama and worship; choirs need to look
like a choir in their appearance and
demeanor in worship and evidence that they have rehearsed. In other
words, the choir understands the importance of their participation in worship
and that is communicated to the persons attending worship.
Choir robes are expensive and some churches feel they cannot spare the
expense for purchasing choir robes, but that does not mean the choir needs to
look like a “whosoever will choir” dressed
like they arrived at church from working in a kitchen or at Walmart. If
the choir has no robes, they could at least dress uniformly with, e.g., black
trousers / skirts and white shirts/blouses;
or any uniform color
combination. The army and soldier motif used in relation to the church is not
an accident or coincidence. The church of Christ is in battle with satanic
forces. Armies are trained, uniformed and prepared for the battle. Choirs,
ushers, as well as pastors are on the “battlefield” and should be standing
shoulder to shoulder in the fight to bring men, women, boys and girls to Christ
and to defeat the forces of evil.
As an aside, when
U.S. military units prepare for battle, they practice. I remember before our
units deployed to Iraq for Desert Storm, the various units practiced and
prepared for combat. When the ground war started military units and individual
soldiers had already practiced what they were going to do. Apparently, the Iraqis did not practice and
most of their units gave up without a serious fight. Clergy and worship
participants, i.e., choir; ushers who are involved in spiritual warfare need to
be prepared for the spiritual battles and those who lead and participate in
worship should never be satisfied in “winging it” Sunday after Sunday.
Disengaged leadership
Somebody should always be in charge. The “mothers and fathers of the
Church” correctly identified and referred to the person receiving the pastoral
appointment as the “pastor-in-charge.”
Pastors need to take charge and in the military model
appoint/recommend/nominate persons to take charge of the various components of
the local church. The pastor cannot do it all; he or she has to insure the
mission is understood and delegate. Every trustee should have a responsibility
for some part of the church structure and grounds. A trustee should be assigned to insure that
the sanctuary is prepared for worship, light bulbs in working order and trash
is picked up. Another trustee assigned
to oversee the rest room, another trustee assigned for the maintenance of the
outside grounds. Every trustee should
have a specific duty of responsibility.
A steward should be given a specific area of responsibility in
addition to his or her duties as a steward.
Leadership at all levels needs to be engaged and tasked with specific
responsibilities.
And one more thing about engaged leadership, and I know there will be disagreement on this one, but
especially for stewards and trustees, the pastor-in-charge should have a
heart-to-heart, look them “straight in the eyes” conversation about the level
of stewardship expected of church officers. In other words, the level of giving
and the expectation if there is a shortfall. No assumptions, a straight up conversation
about the level of giving. Leaders lead “from up front,” they are not with the
pack.
Poor pastoral leadership
Churches cannot grow with poor or ineffective pastoral leadership.
Leadership is not personality-driven and pastoring is not a personality
contest. Pastoring requires leadership
and leadership requires hard decisions. Almost every decision will satisfy some
and dissatisfy others. Pastoral leaders have to be prepared to make the hard
decisions and find a way to do it with the love of a shepherd.
Effective pastoral leaders understand the importance of spending time
with their parishioners. They understand the importance of the “ministry
of presence” and that means being present and supportive during the important
events in the lives of their parishioners. The “ministry of presence” does not
have to be time-consuming; it means being there and being available. Sometimes
a brief visit and an encouraging word can be the difference between an
effective ministry and a failing ministry. Poor leadership hastens a
failing ministry. Poor and ineffective leadership is a pattern, not an anomaly.
Dissatisfied parishioners
Effective leaders get all side of issues. Effective leaders select the
best and most qualified persons for responsibilities. It is not a matter of
like or dislike, but who is the best person for the responsibility. An
effective leader has confidence in his or her leadership abilities and in all
situations strives for thesis, antithesis and synthesis.
Pastoral leaders need to hear the ideas and opinions of all
parishioners. Sometimes, based upon what’s going on in a congregation, a pastor
may need to change course for the good of the organization. Effective leaders
are flexible and they welcome feedback.
Rigid leadership and a failure to seek and respond to feedback is a
recipe for a mediocre religious program.
Rigid and ineffective leadership is a pattern, not an anomaly.
Ignore older people
Spending time with the youth and young adults is wonderful and can be
beneficial to the local church ministry, but not at the expense of ignoring the
older members of the congregation. Pastors miss a great ministry when they
neglect older members. For instance, when older parishioners are no longer able
to drive, they have transportation needs, not only for getting to church events, but transportation to accomplish some
of the routine things they need to do.
No one expects the pastor to provide taxi service, but the pastor can
certainly inquire and help coordinate the assistance some of their older
parishioners need. Older parishioners
who have given their lives to the church deserve some attention from the local
church and from the pastor.
Lack of lay leadership
Effective leaders train and retrain and do more training. Effective
leaders train themselves out of a job. Seasoned stewards and trustees should
always be in a posture of training others to take their places. There
should never be a conversation or thought, “If ‘so and so’ dies we don’t know what we will do because we
don’t have anyone as conscientious as ‘so and so.’” What that tells me is
that “so and so” didn’t train anyone to follow her or him and the pastor was
negligent in seeing that training was taking place.
Effective pastoral leaders empower and train laity and empower the
laity to train other laity. Lack of
effective lay leadership is a pattern, not an anomaly.
A church that is not kept with godly cleanliness probably has a less
than stellar religious program and a lack of pastoral and lay leadership.
The reality is that some potential guests will not visit a church that
is not well-kept; where grass
is not mowed, snow not shoveled
off the sidewalk; and the
bulletin board is missing pertinent
worship information about times of worship, Sunday School, Bible study, prayer
meetings, special events and a "welcome" gesture for guests to visit.
The “gateway” to church growth is the physical appearance of the
church and the ushers who greet guests and parishioners at the door and the
dynamism of worship.
2. TCR OP-ED - HERE WE GO AGAIN:
*Bishop Reginald T.
Jackson
Here we go again,
another young black male killed by law enforcement, with far too many questions
and far too few answers. Freddie Gray,
25 years old was chased and accosted by Baltimore police officers about 10 days
ago, and died in the hospital last Sunday, April 19th. Freddie Gray joins
Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Akil Gurley, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Eric Harris
and many other black males who have been killed by police across the United
States. The stark reality is that every 28 hours in the United States a black
is killed or injured by someone in law enforcement.
Again, with Freddie
Gray, there are many questions, but few answers. Why was Freddie Gray
apprehended by Baltimore police? What was he charged with? What happened to him
to cause his spinal cord to be severed and his neck broken? Why did he die a
week later? None of these questions have been answered. Some have said he
shouldn’t have run from the police. Well, there is no crime in running, in fact
he was on a bicycle and may have been running for other reasons. The more
important question is why did police chase him? After what has happened to
other blacks who have encountered the police, who can blame Freddie Gray for
running. It has now been days since Freddie Gray’s death and there is no
autopsy report, no statements released by the officers who detained Freddie
Gray, and no reason given why police detained him, or how he was so severely
and fatally injured. Yet, the citizens are told to be patient and answers will
be forthcoming. In Maryland there is a law that gives police officers involved
in these kinds of incidents, 10 days before they have to answer questions. It
is interesting that those who are arrested, have to be interviewed immediately,
no time to recollect thoughts or get a story together.
Understandably
blacks are angry and impatient, and again marching and protesting, demanding
answers, and questioning law enforcement and city officials; while expressing
little trust or confidence in the system. Again, many in law enforcement and
many whites do not understand black anger, lack of trust and impatience with
the system. More concerning than everything
is that most whites, and I emphasize most whites, do not believe that there is
a difference or any partiality in our criminal justice system. It reminds me
that in 1998, when we were in the struggle to end racial profiling in New
Jersey, an investigation was done that proved that the New Jersey State Police
practiced racial profiling. The governor and the attorney general of New Jersey
publically admitted the practice existed. Yet, a poll done by the Star Ledger
two weeks later, the state’s largest newspaper reported that over 80% of whites
in New Jersey, even after the states admission, still didn’t believe the State
Police practiced racial profiling. We will never reform and end this unjust and
prejudiced criminal justice system, until the majority of whites take off
blinders and come out of denial about what is going on right in front of us.
Just as the tragic reality where 93% of blacks are killed by another black,
will not end until we stop being defensive and reactive, and become proactive
and responsible.
If we do not
confront, reform and act on what is a long overlooked injustice, our country is
heading for an explosion it has not seen since the late 1960’s. What happens if
the police officer charged in North Charleston, South Carolina is not convicted,
even with a video as evidence. A video didn’t get a conviction in Staten
Island, New York. The best defense a police officer needs today is to say, “I
feared for my life”, even though they have a gun, and those killed or injured
are unarmed. There are some challenging days ahead of our nation, particularly
as we continue to lie to ourselves about the reality and increasing problem of
race and class in this nation. The greatest terrorist threat to our nation is
not from abroad, but within. I still hear within our great land, those who cry
out, “we want our country back.” What I don’t hear is them telling us from
whom?
When I heard about
another young black male killed by law enforcement, I thought “here we go
again.” I do believe that prayer makes a difference, and retain hope that
things will change, but I also know that God requires and expects us to do what
we can and must do. Soon there will be proposals set forth to reform our
criminal justice system, that will need approval through the Congress and state
legislatures. It will take the support and effort of each of us, black, white,
Latino etc…., as well as all people of faith to win passage and approval. It’s
time to stop reacting and become proactive, so we can stop reading the
headlines and looking at the news thinking, “Here we go again.”
*Bishop Reginald T.
Jackson is the Presiding Prelate of the 17th Episcopal District, AMEC Endorser
and Ecumenical Officer and Chair of the AMEC Social Action Commission
3.
READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
-- To
the Editor:
RE: African
Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Day of Prayer 2014 - April 13, 2015
Some days it takes
a little while to read all of my newsbreaks, TCR online, etc. I just want to say thank you for this
one! I remembered to dial the number and
listen to the Day of Prayer call. It was
powerful!
Name Withheld
-- To
the Editor
RE: Request for
contact with the 6th Episcopal District Sons of Allen
I am a member of
Bethel Chapel AMEC in the Nineteenth District in a village called Ramokgopa,
Polokwane, Limpopo Province.
In 2013 I attended
Biennial Convention in the 6th Episcopal District in Atlanta. We
were privileged to attend Sunday Service at Antioch Church. I was impressed by
the Sons of Allen and their commitments in the church.
I, therefore, need
a way to contact them. Kindly send me their email address of fax number.
Kind regards.
Bro Solomon
Mmauwane Hamese
--
Letter to the Editor:
RE: Wilberforce
accreditation on-site evaluation starts today [4/20/15]
I am praying that
Wilberforce University will be blessed to maintain accreditation as a
Historically Black College. God knows that they are a blessing to their
students matriculating at Wilberforce.
Our forefathers and mothers had such a vision on the value of education
and we can not let the vision die now.
Keep the faith; God
is in control.
Virginia Langford
4.
ANNOUNCEMENT - THE AMEC CONNECTIONAL COUNCIL WILL MEET AT THE GENERAL BOARD
MEETING:
The Connectional
Council of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will meet at the General
Board Meeting in New Orleans on Tuesday June 30, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. for the
business of electing officers for the Connectional Council.
If you are
interested in serving as an officer of the Connectional Council, please contact
Dr. Gregory V. Eason, Sr. at (404) 622-9711 or via email at pastoreason@stpaulameatl.org.
Dr. Gregory V.
Eason, Sr.,
President AMEC
Connectional Council
5.
THE EARLY REGISTRATION FOR THE ANNUAL MINISTRIES IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
EXTENDED:
Early registration
for the Annual Ministries in Christian Education Meeting in Nashville,
Tennessee at the Hotel Preston initially ended on April 21, 2015; however, the
Department of Christian Education is extending a special discount registration
rate of $150 until April 30, 2015.
If you are a church
school teacher, superintendent, Christian educator, or a person interested the
teaching ministry of the AME Church, you should register now at the $150 rate.
You will be blessed with great preaching, teaching, and fellowship with other
Christian educators.
See you in
Nashville on May 14-16, 2015 for the MCE Meeting!
Additional
information/register online:
The Rev. Dr. Daryl
Ingram, Executive Director of the Department of Christian Education
6.
NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--
Bermudian to host civil rights talk at Oxford
We will have a
Q&A after the documentary with Rev Tweed and I will be chairing the
Q&A. I hadn’t heard of Rev Tweed before and I have since looked him up. “I
saw he was an AME minister, a very influential one, and it just so happens
there is a higher-level undergraduate course on African American churches, and
segregation and inequality, which covers the AME church. Students from those
courses will be particularly interested.”
--
The crisis of black men — and what that means for society
Deseret
News
... in front of the
altar and hold each others shoulders, during a church service at the African
Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington
--
Wilberforce University fights to keep accreditation
WVXU
The nation's oldest
historically black private university brought Algeania Warren Freeman on as
president last year to help straighten out its
...
7.
WORSHIP, INDUCTION, RECEPTION, CELEBRATION FOR TURNER HALL OF FAME HONOREES:
- Jane Jelks Jones,
Turner Theological Seminary
Turner Theological
Seminary firmly established its special observance of alumni elected to the
Henry McNeal Turner Hall of Fame as a celebration that sparks reunion when
persons throughout the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered on February
2, 2015 to celebrate the 2015 Class of inductees.
This is the second
year the event has ushered in the Founders’ Week activities for the seminary
and participation continues to grow, showing appreciation for Turner graduates
that have distinguished themselves and their alma mater by making significant
contributions to the Church and community while generously supporting the
school’s mission to continue preparing called women and men aspiring to
Christian service through the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Turner alumnus, the
Rev. Dr. Gregory Eason, Sr. and the hospitable congregation of St. Paul AME
Church, Atlanta, Georgia partnered with Turner to host the gala event.
The worship setting
was ideal as Bishop Clement W. Fugh; Presiding Prelate of the 14th
Episcopal District delivered an inspirational message, framing the celebratory
ambiance for the occasion.
The Turner Hall of
Fame Medallion Plaque was presented to the inductees by Turner Board Chair and Presiding
Prelate for the 6th Episcopal District, Bishop Preston Warren
Williams II along with President-Dean John F. Green.
A video-summary of
ministry programs and innovative leadership initiatives of Turner Theological
Seminary graduates that have impacted ministry outreach and evangelism
throughout the local, national, and global communities was shown during the
worship service. The recipients were presented their awards after the video
presentation.
A reception
followed the worship service in the church Fellowship Hall.
The eleven alumni
elected to the 2015 Class: Presiding Elder Dr. William Smith, Jr., ITC
Professor; Dr. Carolyn Akua L. McCrary; Presiding Elder Rosalyn Grant Coleman;
Presiding Elder Vincent Floyd Mitchell; Presiding Elder George Willis Tyler;
Pastor Leslie Raphael White; the Rev.
Dr. Ronnie Elijah Brailsford, Sr.; Presiding Elder Albert Hyche;
Presiding Elder Larry W. Hudson, Sr.; Presiding Elder Daniel Stevenson; and the
Rev. Dr. Michael Mitchell. In addition,
these persons join the ranks of other honored alumni having a personalized
nameplate added to the Perpetual Plaque and unveiled on February 3, 2015 in
Turner Seminary’s Talbot Hall.
Turner’s Community
Leadership Award for 2015 went to Atlanta philanthropist and entrepreneur, Mr.
George Andrews, the founder of Capital City Bank & Trust Company, who has
been a champion for charitable giving to the Interdenominational Theological
Center (ITC) for many years.
Other homecoming
activities on the Interdenominational Theological Center campus on February
3-4, 2015 included a time for Community Black-Life Matters Prayers.
“Getting Back to Basics: Fundamental for
Effective Church Ministry” was the theme of the 7th Annual Isaac
R. Clark Sr. Conference on Ministry. Dynamic presentations were given by the
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Marcus, the Rev. Dr. Timothy L. Tyler, the Rev. Joyce Moore,
the Rev. Tony Lee, and the Rev. David W. Green, Sr.
The preacher for
the 121st Turner Founders’ Convocation was Dr. Leah Gaskin Fitchue,
President of Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.
8.
AME/SADA SUNDAY – MAY 17, 2015:
Bishop McKinley
Young, Chair AME/SADA
Mr. Robert Nicolas,
Executive Director, AME/SADA
Appended below is
the Worship Guide for AME/SADA Sunday, May 17, 2015. We thank Dr. Daryl Ingram, Executive
Director, AMEC Department of Christian Education and the Reverend Joy Gallmon,
Connectional Chair of the Fellowship of Church Educators for their assistance
in the development of this Worship Guide.
Please feel free to
reformat and use this guide as a resource for worship on AME/SADA Sunday.
AME-SADA
Sunday Worship Guide
"Helping People Help Themselves"
The
Doxology
The
Call to Worship
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times; His
praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
People: O magnify the
Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s name together.
Leader: I sought
the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to Him, and be radiant; so your faces
shall never be ashamed.
People: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s
name together.
Leader: This poor
soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those
who fear Him, and delivers them.
People: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s
name together.
Leader: O taste and
see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. O fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those
who fear Him have no want.
People: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s
name together.
Leader: The young
lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
All: Come let us worship the Triune God together. Psalm 34
The
Opening Hymn - "Take My Life and Let It Be" - AME
Hymnal No. 292
Take
my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take
my hands, and let them move, at the impulse of Thy love.
At
the impulse of Thy love.
Take
my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take
my voice and let me sing always, only for my King.
Always
only, for my King.
Take
my lips and let them be filled with messages for Thee.
Take
my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.
Not a
mite would I withhold.
Take
my love, my God; I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take
myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever,
only, all for Thee.
The
Opening Prayer
O gracious and
mighty God, forgive the sins we have committed against You through our actions
and against our neighbors by our inaction.
We thank You for Your loving kindness, Your grace and Your mercy. We pray now for the strength to do all the
good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places
we can, all the times we can, to all the people we can, for as long as we
can. In the name of our Savior and our
Redeemer, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The
Prayer Response - AME Hymnal No.
619
Spirit
of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit
of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt
me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit
of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
The
Scriptures
The
Old Testament - Exodus 22:21-27
or Deuteronomy 15:4-11 or Leviticus 19:9, 10
The
Epistle - I John 3:16-24
The
Gospel - Matthew 25:31-46
The
Preface to the Decalogue
The
Summary of the Decalogue
AME-SADA
Litany
Leader: AME-SADA
founded in 1977, grew out of the collective efforts of several primary
individuals including, Bishop John Hurst Adams, Bishop Frederick C. James,
Reverend Lonnie Johnson, Mrs. Wilburn Boddie, Dr. Joseph C. McKinney, with
critical support from Bishop Donald G. K. Ming, as they sought to strengthen
the mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the lives of people in
Africa and the Caribbean.
People: Thank you gracious God for AME-SADA’s commitment to
helping people help themselves.
Leader: AME-SADA
was created to coordinate and administer international development and relief
projects outside of the United States.
Responding to local conditions and needs, AME-SADA seeks to enhance the
activities of the local population and provide appropriate additional
assistance and resources in the areas of health, education and micro-credit.
Men: Yes, Lord,
you know that we love you.
Women: Then feed my sheep.
Leader: AME-SADA
serves over 350,000 people, has provided direct services for over 70,000
children age 0-5 years, and over 95,000 women in the Arahaie/Cabaret regions
and sections of Port-au-Prince. Their efforts have produced 60 AME-SADA trained
physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, laboratory and pharmacy technicians,
along with 144 health agents and 485 traditional birth attendants who help to
promote heath care awareness in the community.
In 2014 over 30,659 women received pre-natal care and over 6,000
experienced a birth assisted by a traditional birth attendant.
People: Thank you Jehovah-Jireh for AME-SADA’s commitment to
helping people help themselves.
Leader: With the
dismantling of the apartheid laws, the AMEC decided to reopen Wilberforce
College in Evaton, Republic of South Africa and AME-SADA was called upon to
assist in this endeavor. Wilberforce reopened under the name, Wilberforce
Community College, keeping the original campus, renovating its buildings and
undertaking a modernization program to serve the people of South Africa.
Women: Yes, Lord, you know that we love you.
Men: Then feed my lambs.
Leader: A total of
five grants from USAID were awarded to AME-SADA for new construction at
Wilberforce Community College. These
grants and generous gifts from the AMEC funded the building of the Multipurpose
Educational Facility dedicated in 2000, the Distance Learning Center and the
Faculty residences which were dedicated in 2003 and the Dormitory Facilities
dedicated in 2007. The Dining Hall and
Students’ Community Center were completed and the facilities are in use by the
610 students enrolled.
People: Thank you El Shaddai for AME-SADA’s commitment to
helping people help themselves.
Leader: As the
staff of AME-SADA travels to Haiti, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland to
review programs, follow leads for new projects, and the development of
strategic alliances, they often find themselves working in precarious political
environments in hard and remote places.
We pray for their continued strength of mind, body and spirit and the
financial resources to sustain and to expand the work.
Men: Yes, Lord, you know that we love you.
Women: Then feed my
sheep.
All: Oh Lord, our
God, we give you all the honor and the praise for AME-SADA’s commitment to
helping people help themselves.
The
Mission Offering for AME-SADA
The
Offertory
The Worship
through Music
The
Sermonic Selection or Hymn
The
Sermon
Suggested
Sermon Titles:
- A Christians
Call: Helping Others Help Themselves
- Feed my Sheep
- Here Am I Lord
- To Whom Much Is
Given…
The
Invitation to Christian Discipleship
The
Worship in Giving
The
Offertory
The
Doxology
The
Benediction
9. MAKING THE
CONNECTION: BECAUSE WE ARE FIRST:
*The Reverend
Monica C. Jones, PhD
If it were up to
me, each church in our connection would be preparing now for Pentecost. A member once asked me if Pentecost was just
for those who have the gift of tongues.
The question gave me pause, but it made me realize how important our
task is as informed leadership to educate the Flock.
It seems that we
often assign a label or generalization to a tradition without ever examining it
further. For example, as most of my
acquaintances and friends, I said “Easter” all my life, not understanding until
seminary why “Resurrection Day” was more appropriate.
Pentecost is more
than the witness of tongues. It is more
than acknowledging the miracle of speaking in one language and still being
understood in another person’s native language (which is actually the real
miracle what happened on that day – see Acts 2:5-6). Pentecost is the precursor to the First
Church and the setting from which an anointed Peter, the pioneer of preachers,
delivered powerful messages that led the masses to Christ.
Being
First
As AME Christians,
we are of like mind with the first Pentecost celebrants. Like them, we are the “first church” of our
people in this society. We, too, began
our journey under the anointing of the Holy Spirit as Allen, our pioneer
preacher, led the masses. His powerful sermons won numerous souls and earned
him his rightful place as the first consecrated Bishop.
Being first bears a
certain position of respect; therefore, it demands a certain duty. The AME Church should be at the forefront of
liturgical witness. Despite influence
from Catholic, Episcopal and other traditions, ours is a unique and peculiar
Faith. Consequently, it is necessary
that we make the connection between who we are and who Christ’s first followers
were. We should make the connection
between our God-given inheritance and that of the first Christians. We should make the connection by claiming and
celebrating relevant Holy Days.
Our
Very Own Symbol
The red of
Pentecost is the Holy Spirit as fire upon and in us; the dove is the Holy
Spirit descending around us. Let us
visualize a third symbol: uplifted hands.
May each of us throughout the Church, as a connected body, lift our
hands on May 24th and shout as did the first Pentecost worshipers! Let us shout praises to the Lord; power to
the church and peace to our community.
Let us shout to the top of our voices that God is our Creator, Jesus is
Lord and the Holy Spirit reigns in us forevermore! Amen, and so it is.
*The Reverend
Monica C. Jones, PhD is director of Christian education at Big Bethel in
Atlanta.
10.
INVITATION TO THE MOTHERLAND:
*The Rev. Dr.
Jennie L. Curry
The Reverend Dr.
Alice Hubbard Crenshaw, pastor of St. Stephen and Morris Brown AME Churches in
Kenner, Louisiana was invited to Johannesburg, South Africa by the Rev. Paul
Mugula. To her surprise she was met at the airport by the Rt. Reverend Paul
Jones M. Kawimbe, Bishop of the 19th Episcopal District who had arranged for
her to be the guest of the Rev. and Mrs. Chief Dipholo.
Immediately, Dr.
Crenshaw went to work providing training the newly elected trustees, and youth
probationary members of Bethel AME Church pastored by the Rev. Chief Dipholo.
She preached at
Mangene Makake Mokane Memorial AME Church in Pimville, Soweto where the Rev.
Solomon Manns is senior pastor. Soweto is a place of contrast there are rows of
tin shanties abutted to luxurious mansions. Despite high unemployment rate, Dr.
Crenshaw found there is a cheerful energy, a bustle of activity throughout the
community.
Diephloof where she
resided with the Rev. and Mrs. Dipholo is a community that was relatively
affluent, a suburb with beautiful homes, excellent roads, playgrounds and
schools that appear to be in mint condition.
While in
Johannesburg the 19th Episcopal Office the H.B. Senatle AME Centre was one of
the places she visited this was awe-struck to see the multi-business buildings
owned by the church on both sides of the street including the C.G. Henning, Sr.
Wing.
The Global
Development Council (GDC) General Assembly was the next stop in Cape Town, the
Mother City. The famous Table Mountain was the view from her room at the
beautiful Cape Sun Hotel.
The GDC meeting
opened on the 25th of February, it was recommended that the Mozambique
Conference would be split into two conferences and split the Cape Town
Conference into two conferences. Bishop
Fugh is responsible for providing a guide/document on the redistricting process
for the GDC.
The Business
Sessions were well organized it was one of the best General Assemblies
conducted, which included the Tea time activities.
The 15th
Episcopal District reception and dinner was next to none and held at the
episcopal residence of Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr. who was the "host of
the most."
The opening Worship
Service was held at Bethel Memorial AME Church in Hazendal, Cape Town, South
Africa. The caravan consisted of three commercial 54 passenger buses for
delegates and observers, with numerous private vehicles transporting everyone.
The church which 85% full before their arrival.
The service was "on fire for the Lord" from beginning to end.
Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Prelate 3rd Episcopal District further
"set the house ablaze" with the Word of God.
Returning to
Johannesburg Dr. Crenshaw was assigned to preach at H. B. Senatle AME Church
where the Rev. Tebow Masehela (WIM member) is the pastor of 450
congregants. The Rev. Masehela stated
the original church collapsed one Sunday after everyone had cleared the
building. Praise the Lord! A member of her church Mr. Cornelius LeTebow built a
beautiful temporary church out of what use to be a garage. It is unbelievable
even to actually see what he has done. The garage/church is next to none in
beauty.
Mr. LeTebow also
fully sponsors lunch every Sunday immediately after church. He said his heart
goes out for the children he believes are hungry when they come to church and
the elderly who attend church services.
As a guest of H.B.
Senatle A.M.E. Church, Mr. LeTebow who is one of the wealthiest members of the
church decided he would take Dr. Crenshaw out to dinner along with the
Presiding Elder, the Rev. Tsele Sydney Setai, who is the pastor of St. Peter
AME Church, another beautiful edifice, in Sharpeville. The guest list totaled
thirteen individuals including Mrs. LeTebow who is a WMS District Officer.
The majority of the
churches attended by Dr. Crenshaw are in dire need of work on the church
building itself or some other property owned by the members of the church. One
or two are fortunate enough to have members of means who are attempting to make
a difference in the life of their church. Others are struggling just as most of
the small churches in the USA.
Presiding Elder
David James Campbell, Jr., of the Louisiana Conference contends that we don’t
have a money problem we have a people problem in our churches. I believe that
to be a true statement in the USA. Well,
in South Africa it’s just the opposite; they have Holy Ghost-filled people
praising God and their churches are full on Sundays, but they have money
problem.
*The Rev. Dr.
Jennie L. Curry is the writer of this article.
11.
LORETTA LYNCH CONFIRMED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL:
--
AFT’s Weingarten on the Confirmation of Loretta Lynch
WASHINGTON—
Statement from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on
the Senate confirmation of Loretta Lynch for the post of United States attorney
general.
"Loretta Lynch
is a widely respected public servant and a fair prosecutor with exemplary
qualifications. She has been a champion in the fight to end terrorism, hate
crimes, public corruption and community violence. Her confirmation as attorney
general makes her the first African-American woman to hold the position at a
time when our nation is grappling with inequities and patterns of bias in our
justice system.
"Confirmations
should never be held hostage by 166 days of political gamesmanship.
Confirmations should be swift and based on qualifications—which is why Loretta
Lynch's nomination for attorney general should have sailed through. We commend
this long overdue vote and look forward to working with an attorney general who
takes to heart the Justice Department’s mission to ensure fair and impartial
administration of justice for all Americans."
--EMILY’s
List Congratulates Loretta Lynch on Confirmation as Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. –
Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics,
congratulated Loretta Lynch on her confirmation as attorney general.
“Loretta Lynch is a
trailblazing leader who has made history as the first African American woman
attorney general,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List. “A
longtime champion for women and families, she has dedicated her career to
fighting for justice for the most vulnerable Americans. After months of
watching Republicans in Congress play politics with her nomination, we could
not be more thrilled to congratulate her on her historic—and long-awaited—
confirmation to be the next attorney general of the United States.”
12.
NAACP STATEMENT ON DOJ’S DECISION TO INVESTIGATE DEATH OF FREDDIE GRAY:
(BALTIMORE, MD) –
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the death of a
Freddie Gray, a black man who died of spinal injuries he suffered while being
transported in a police van.
From
Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:
“We at the NAACP
strongly support the decision of the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate
the incidents that led to the death of Freddie Gray. A comprehensive review
into what caused the severe spinal injuries Mr. Gray suffered during the course
of his arrest and subsequent transport in a police van is urgently needed. Our
thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Mr. Gray as both local
and federal law enforcement complete their investigations. Mr. Gray’s death
represents another example in a series of tragedies of black lives being lost
at the hands of someone in a blue uniform.
His death and the others demand that we bring about systemic reform of
policing in this country including the passage of the End Racial Profiling Act,
the use of body cameras, the deployment of independent investigation bodies and
the use of civilian review boards. The people of Baltimore deserve answers, and
the NAACP will not rest until justice is served for Mr. Gray and his family.”
13.
WCC MOURNS THE KILLING OF ETHIOPIAN CHRISTIANS BY THE ISLAMIC STATE:
21 April 2015
In a solidarity
letter to Abune Mathias, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a
member church of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit,
the WCC general secretary expressed deep shock over the recent killing of more
than 20 Ethiopian Christians in Libya by the Islamic State (IS).
“I speak on behalf
of the ecumenical family when I say that we are shocked and appalled by the
heinous and inhuman violence inflicted on these innocent faithful Ethiopians
and that we strongly denounce and condemn any ideology that condones and
celebrates murder and torture,” said Tveit in the letter issued on 21 April.
“It is in such
troubled and challenging times,” he continued, “that the gospel imperative of
solidarity and ecumenical togetherness with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
Church is more relevant than ever.”
“We stand in
solidarity with your church during this painful period when you are mourning
your faithful children,” said Tveit.
The WCC general
secretary offered prayers for the victims. He said, “We also pray for healing
and strength of their families and loved ones. We also pray for all migrants
who take great risks in the hope for a better and more dignified life. May the Almighty
protect them in their perilous journey.”
Read
full text of the WCC general secretary’s letter: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/messages-and-letters/killings-of-ethiopian-christians/
14.
GRADUATES OF SHAW UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL WILL BE TRAINED IN FINANCIAL
MATTERS:
The Shaw University
Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina, has teamed up with AARP to
establish a pilot program on financial literacy. Under the program, all
divinity students at Shaw University will be required to take a course entitled
“Church Administration and AARP Principles of Financial Stewardship.”
The course will
equip future leaders of churches with the skills necessary to make intelligent
financial decisions and develop strategies for managing the financial affairs
of their organizations. The divinity school course will also train future
church leaders to educate the members of their congregations on financial
matters.
Edna Kane-Williams,
director of multicultural markets at AARP notes that “the clergy play an
important role influencing decisions people make every day.”
“I’m confident that
our partnership with AARP will set the standard for how universities can work
with organizations to better their communities,” said Shaw interim President
Dr. Gaddis Faulcon. “Our Divinity School is not only preparing students for the
spiritual ministry but now, with the help of AARP, we are also preparing our
students for the financial ministry which is crucial to our community’s
sustainability and longevity for the future.”
15.
WE RID OURSELVES OF “OLD TAPES’ AND UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE IS INCLUSIVE:
*The Rev. Dr.
Elvernice Davis
The late Reverend
Frank Roughton Harvey, an Elder of the United Methodist Church, renowned
biblical actor has included the following in his thousands of international
presentations as the Centurion: “It is
not new information to pastors, regardless of race, that Christianity is a
racially inclusive religion.”
Frank’s quote is as
follows:
Y'shua struggled
and slithered along until a black African lunged from the crowd with a gesture
of compassion on his face. The Centurion of Frank's presentation confessed: “I
tapped my spear on the shoulder of that black Cyrenian whom we later learned
was named Simon. That was the gesture we used in commandeering a civilian to
carry our military burden for a mile. Simon untied the beam and carried the
Savior's cross to the top of the mountain. It was the only gesture of
compassion that really helped him on that day of infamy. Later when
Christianity began to spread, that same Cyrenian was amazed that people had
seen Y'shua alive after his crucifixion. He said I know that man. I carried his
cross! He became a convert. Paul and the Christian brotherhood affectionately
called him Simon the Niger. Translated from the Greek it means Simon the Black.
His son Rufus was
convinced and converted along with two other black Cyrenians, Barnabas and
Lucius. They became prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. God's
vision to restore humanity, as an inclusive family got off to a good start in
the very foundation of the church. You can't get more foundational than to
carry the Savior's cross to share his burden on the day he was crucified. The
Church had a Jerusalem headquarters for evangelizing the Jews. However the
headquarters for restoring God’s inclusive and universal vision was at Antioch.
Paul put Simon the black Cyrenian and his son Rufus in charge of the teaching
there. It is ironic that a militant religion tries to lure people of color away
from Christianity with the argument that Christianity is the white man’s
religion. What makes it so ironic is that two black Africans were the
professors of the first seminary Christianity ever had. [1] According to Acts
11:19-26, the Christian community at Antioch began when Christians who were
scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution fled to Antioch. They were
joined by Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene who migrated to Antioch. It was in
Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians.
(Wikipedia, Free Encyclopedia)
*The Rev. Dr.
Elvernice Davis is a United Methodist Itinerant Elder and a retired U.S. Army
Chaplain (Colonel)
16.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE BOOKS OF JAMES AND HEBREWS?
--
How to Understand the Bible by Mel Lawrenz
We continue to find
astonishing variety in the Scriptures when we look at two New Testament books:
James, a book of Christian wisdom, and Hebrews, which explains the complicated
connections between the old covenant and the new. Both of these books are not
addressed to a particular Christian group. They are sometimes called “general
epistles.”
The epistle of
James, which was probably written by the James who was the leader of the church
in Jerusalem (Acts 15), focuses on the practicalities of personal and community
life. There is nothing in James about the nature of God, the plan of
redemption, or the atonement; and Jesus is mentioned only twice. James is
almost like the book of Proverbs for the New Testament. Wisdom is not an elite
and specialized knowledge, it is everyday practical lifestyle rooted in values
that come “from heaven.”
Who is wise and
understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in
the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish
ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom”
does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For
where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every
evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. (James 3:13-17)
This is
straightforward and challenging. It is a call to action. If today’s leaders
would take James’ description of wisdom as their paradigm of leadership, our
communities would look entirely different. James is also known for the
challenge to put faith into action (James 2:14-24). “What good is it… if
someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?” (2:14). James confronts
favoritism, greed, and destructive talk. James gives some perspective for those
going through trials or who are teetering on the edge of temptation. James
challenges us to be patient, respectful, and peace-loving.
The greatest
challenge in reading the epistle of James is not so much understanding what it
means, but living what it prescribes.
The book of Hebrews
is long for an epistle. It is steeped in details about the Old Testament
sacrificial system and explanations of how the plan of redemption has been
fulfilled in Jesus. It is a mystery who authored this book. “To the Hebrews,”
means it was written for Jewish Christians who especially needed a theological
explanation of how faith in Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law.
The first 10
chapters describe how Christ and faith in Christ has superseded the old
covenant, has surpassed the accomplishments of Moses and Joshua, and has
replaced the priesthood and the sacrificial system.
Therefore, since we
have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach
God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)
The book of Hebrews
provides a key to unlocking challenging questions about the story of God in
which he works for centuries in and through a special covenant people, starting
with Abraham, but then does something entirely new in Jesus. It is not that the
terms of a relationship with God have changed which always was and always will
be, faith-based on grace. But the scope of God’s grace now expands to the whole
world with the atonement in Jesus.
The book of Hebrews
also warns believers about falling away from the faith, and challenges them to
persevere in difficult circumstances, remaining faithful to the new covenant.
Hebrews 11 is a stunning description of how faith and hope across the ages have
been the distinguishing characteristics of God’s people, beginning with
Abraham. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what
we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Heb. 11:1-2). The
followers of Jesus have, in his sacrifice, the power to overcome sin and to
persevere:
Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer
and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.
12:1-2)
To understand
Hebrews, we have to look backwards into the Old Testament, seeing how spiritual
realities are anticipated and then fulfilled. When we do that, we will be
stunned by the wide scope of biblical truth in the great narrative that
stretches from a covenant with Bedouin shepherds from Mesopotamia to the entire
world. And Hebrews lets us know that taking the long view—of persevering and
plodding, of believing and behaving rightly—always has been the way of God with
men and women.
New
Release: Overcoming Guilt and Shame by Mel
Lawrenz and Daniel Green. The heavy burden of shame and guilt can often keep us
from connecting with others and enjoying the freedom of living in Christ.
17.
TAKE TIME TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY:
*The Rev. Jarrett
Britton Washington
“And
you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My names' sake and
have not become weary.” Revelation 2:3
This morning, I
find myself in deep thought and prayer as our family and loved ones prepare to
funeralize our dear Aunt Barbara, a former aviation official and long time
resident of Washington, D.C. As I peer
out the window of the hotel room and view the stillness and resilience of the
National Monument, I can't help but think to myself how her life was a living
testimony of being patient and waiting on God.
In the midst of her various test and trials associated with illness, she
came to know God (despite what it looked like) cared so much for her.
In the book of
Revelation, Christ commends the church of Ephesus for working hard, patiently
enduring, not tolerating evil people, critically examining the claims of false
apostles, and suffering without quitting.
If we closely consider the commendations of our Lord and Savior Jesus to
the church at Ephesus we see the basic constructs of a testimony. As you do a self examination you may or may
not have all the characteristics exhibited by the Ephesians, but you, as a
believer, can say you have a testimony.
As you go through
whatever may plague you today, tomorrow, this week, this month, or maybe even
this year, you ought to be able to say once you get to the other side of the
situation that God did it for me in God's time.
Like my Aunt Barbara, tell your story and remain loyal to the faith God
has given you. The importance of your
testimony comes from the fact that you were able to persevere despite the
odds. Yes, you may have tripped up,
gotten bruised, and fallen down, but what your testimony says is that even
though "IT" happened, I still made it.
Have an awesome
week,
*The Rev. Jarrett
Britton Washington is the pastor of Saint James in Johns Island, South Carolina
18. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT
The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr.’s column will return next week.
*The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, S.C.
19. GETTING TO ZERO: EVANGELISM AND WORLD IMMUNIZATION
WEEK:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
-- World Immunization Week: April 24 - 30, 2015
The Situation
I read somewhere
recently that over 40% of the costs of health care, disease treatment, deaths
and loss of income from illnesses could be eliminated by better use of what we
already know. In other words, we have ways and means to stop or reduce impact
of much of the illness, distress and even pre-mature deaths from many
infectious and non-infectious diseases.
That is 40%, or
more, of the economy of the world could go towards something else.
Implementation
science is the growing area that seeks to move into practical use what already
has been discovered in laboratory, clinical and field biomedical studies.
Keep reading -
please stay with me to arrive together to an insightful conclusion.
Some medical or
disease issues are far from preventable or controllable. Examples are many
types of cancer, influenza, the common cold, traveler’s diarrhea, some mental
illnesses. Others- heart disease, arthritis, tuberculosis and dementias such as
Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, cannot be prevented. However, they
can be slowed or symptoms delayed by life style changes and/or medications.
Some medical or
disease issues can be prevented, avoided or their causative agent can
eventually be eliminated. Examples are HIV/AIDS, measles, polio, chickenpox and
shingles, cervical cancer from human papilloma virus (HPV) infection,
hepatitis, malaria, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and lung cancer from
smoking or asbestos.
Billions of dollars
in high, middle and low income countries are spent each year to deal with
diseases and ailments that could be avoided or eliminated.
Part of the Solution
One of the reasons
for this costly situation is lack of using what already is available. Perhaps
this is because people do not know what is available. Or, it might be
attributed to lack of access to what is available. Or, in some cases people are
so busy or apathetic that we just don’t take or make the time to understand and
use what is available.
This is where
entities such as influential religious and community leaders can be part of the
solution. Religious and community leaders can help to address inefficient use
(waste) of collective energy, knowledge and resources.
Religious leaders
have a unique platform and voice with people in a given congregation and
community. Preach, teach, connect and care. This is what we do.
The primary
purposes of most religious organizations and its leaders are to enhance
spiritual connection and foster wholesome individual and community values for
peaceful and productive living. We help people to recognize and connect to the
divine to prepare for what is next and to live in this world in more personal
peace and harmony with others.
In almost every
community, whether urban or rural or in-between, there is some type of
religious entity. Where there is none, chaos or something that is not
beneficial, will fill the void.
Religious and faith
leaders have presence, influence, access and responsibility to use their
opportunities to be part of the solution.
What can be done?
With influence and
wide access comes responsibility. We are accountable for making a difference
not only in the spiritual realm, but in the practical issues of everyday life.
James 2:17 says that “faith without works is dead.”
What can
individuals do? What can networks of individuals do? What can organizations of
connected networks of individuals do?
Sustained engaged
action from an informed base can increase use of what is available. While
reaching out to people to impact spiritual well-being for example by inquiry on
“what is the condition of your soul,” we also can impart greater understanding.
Religious leaders
and members (ordained or lay) are gatekeepers who can open doors or keep doors
closed. We can provide an entry point for experts who are professionally
trained or those charged to increase understanding in communities of what is
already available to improve physical and mental wellness.
It is possible for
AMEC leaders to influence wellness? Yes. Is it a responsibility? Yes.
The parable of the
Good Samaritan illustrates this responsibility, “Go and do likewise.” Similar
illustrations of expected action are found in many religions. A familiar saying
“people can be so heavenly bound, that they are no earthly good” conveys the
same message. Religious leaders are called to address holistic needs of the
people we seek to serve.
Religious leaders
can be and are charged to be part of the solution. This includes reversing lack
of access to or lack of use of available biomedical or scientific developments
that will reduce, avoid or eliminate disease impacts and prevalent health
inequities. The predominant African-American communities served by the AMEC
contain a plethora of health inequities.
World Immunization Week
The World Health
Organization (WHO) has declared April 24 - 30, 2015 as World Immunization Week.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) designates
April as National Minority Health Awareness Month. DHHS will host a “Health
Equity Summit” webinar from 1 – 4 p.m. on April 27, 2015. You can
Register to view the April 27 webcast.
The World Health
Organization (WHO) states that in 2015, nearly 1 child of every 5 does not have
one or more of the life-saving vaccines that could “avert 1.5 million deaths
that occur each year from preventable diseases.”
In 2015, there have
been several measles outbreaks in countries where the vaccine is easily
accessible (e.g. USA). Measles still is endemic in some developing countries.
Because of the highly effective measles vaccine and the biological features of
the virus (infection leads to life-long immunity, there is only one measles
virus strain and there is no animal reservoir), measles could be eliminated.
Thankfully elimination already has occurred for smallpox and is in progress for
the virus that causes polio.
A recent WHO
article at
www.who.int/mdicacentre/news/releases/2015/global-vaccination-targets/en/ explains goals of
the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). By implementing the GVAP the WHO
“envisions a world by 2020 where everyone lives life-free from vaccine
preventable diseases.”
This vision can be
achieved by effective use of available vaccines/immunizations. Goals are:
- Immunization of
all against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP3)
- Introduction of
under-utilized vaccines to people in low or middle income countries
- Eradication of
polio virus and polio in the three countries where polio infection remains
- Eliminating
maternal and neonatal tetanus by 100% immunization coverage
- Eliminating measles
by vaccinating the 16% of all children worldwide who do not get a measles
vaccine
- Eliminating
rubella (part of the measles, mumps rubella vaccine, MMR) that can affect
expectant mothers and lead to congenital and birth defects and death in their
newborns.
Can religious
leaders contribute to achieving goals of the GVAP and participate in World
Immunization Week? Of course.
Do vaccines make a
difference? Of course. Is this an issue in America? Yes. Is this a concern for
leaders in the AME Church? Yes.
Vaccination of
children likely is not the most pressing item on the crowded agenda of a
pastor, minister, lay leader or church member. However, engaging in such a
feasible and beneficial program as World Immunization Week will build awareness
and strengthen the gatekeeper muscle of taking responsibility to use what is
available.
Ideas to take Action
- Read and share
the WHO article at the link above. Discuss and brainstorm with others at your
church, your organization, your community, on how to increase completion of
immunizations/vaccines for your families and congregation members.
- Decide to partner
with others in the local community about immunizations. Then make the phone
call to start the connections.
- Talk about the
importance of vaccines to ensure that every child is protected. With the
Affordable Health Care in the USA and other programs in other areas, no child
should go without basic levels of protective immunization.
- Challenge members
of the congregation to check on vaccine coverage for their children,
grandchildren, relatives, neighbors and friends.
- Challenge church
officers, leaders and pastors to add information and access to free
vaccinations to regular activities of engaging with the community.
- Contact your
local or state health department or clinic to find out what vaccines are
readily available. Determine what community programs are in your area? How
might your church or organization help to make sure that every child has all of
his or her immunizations?
- Partner with your
local pre-school or primary school to explore how to help all families increase
immunizations to 100% coverage of children in your community. Children don’t
get themselves vaccinated. For this, they depend on informed responsible caring
adults.
Conclusion of the Matter
We are given the
privilege and responsibility of serving in communities. There are opportunities
to affect everyday lives of real people- people locally and afar. Remembering to get vaccinated and to get children
vaccinated are small ways to make a difference. It may not be the most critical
or urgent item on a “to do list”, but it is a high payoff example of how
engaging to use the influence and access afforded can increase well-being.
Who knows, if we care
enough to ask a parent, grandparent, relative or school or organization
official about vaccines or immunizations, perhaps they will believe also that
we sincerely care about the current and eternal condition of their soul.
*The Rev. Oveta
Fuller Caldwell, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
at the University of Michigan (U-M) Medical School, Associate Director of the
U-M African Studies Center and an AMEC itinerant elder and former pastor. She
lived in Zambia for most of 2013 to study HIV/AIDS prevention among networks of
religious leaders.
20. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 - FRAUD ALERT -
2 JOHN:
*Brother Bill
Dickens
Introduction
The Church School
Lesson of April 26, 2014 examines the reality of spiritual shape-shifters.
Such individuals
are spiritual heretics who take on godly form to only disguise their purpose of
fraud and deception to the believer. In
order for the believer to not be tricked or fooled by the fraud it is incumbent
him/her to know the warning signs of spiritual fraud. II John covers the warning signs we need to
know to avoid the temptation of deception.
Bible Lesson
John warned the
church about false teachers. He told church members not to accept the men into
their homes and the church should not allow them to teach.
If church members
greeted false teachers, the church members were helping the false teachers. The
church must be careful to obey the true message of Jesus. They must love each
other and live in the truth.
The word truth
means the true message that they had received. They believed in Jesus and what
Jesus has done. They must separate themselves from everyone who denied the
truth about Jesus.
Life Application
What are Identity
Theft and Identity Fraud? "But he
that filches from me my good name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/and
makes me poor indeed."
- Shakespeare, Othello, Act III. Scene 3.
The short answer is
that identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are
terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains
and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or
deception, typically for economic gain.
How can I recognize
a false teacher/false prophet?
II John provides us
with a fraud alert. It is important that
Christians remain vigilant about the seductive appearance of false
teachings. False teaching is an outward
appearance that disguises an inner spiritual corrupting purpose.
Jesus warned that
“False messiahs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even
God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18).
The best way to
guard against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth, identify a
counterfeit, and study the real thing.
Any believer who
“correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful
study of the Bible can identify false prophets and false doctrines.
*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
21. MEDITATION BASED ON II CORINTHIANS 5:11-17:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph
A. Darby
One of my favorite
stories involves a little girl watching her mother prepare a holiday dinner
turkey by cutting it in two and roasting each half in separate pans. When she asked her mother why she did that,
her mother said, “We’ve always done it that way in our family.” The little girl then asked her grandmother
and got the same answer.
When she then asked
her great-grandmother about that “family tradition,” her great-grandmother
said, “When I was a child, we were very poor and didn’t own a pan big enough to
hold a whole turkey, so my mother cut the bird in half and roasted each piece
separately.” For three generations, the
cooks in that family took a laborious and unnecessary step in food preparation,
simply because each preceding generation had done what could have been later
done in a new and easier way.
Remember that story
as you traverse life’s roads. All of us
are creatures of habit. We settle
comfortably into doing the same old things in the same safe and familiar ways,
convincing ourselves that we’re either unable or unwilling to change or
worrying about whether change will take us out of our “comfort zones.” Too many good people never reach their full
potential in life because we let old ways, old victories and old fears and
failings cloud our vision, limit our possibilities and make us settle for
comfortably doing “business as usual.”
We’d do well to
remember that we have a Savior who refused to do “business as usual,” went to
the cross to give His life as the price for our sins and then arose from the
dead to give us full access to eternal life and to the God who presents us with
new possibilities - the God who can lead us in new directions and bring us new
victories each day of our lives.
Take the time to
reflect on and consider the possibilities of new blessings and new directions
that each new day brings to you - trusting in the Jesus who can carry us from
where we are to where we were meant to be.
When you do, then you’ll no longer do the same old things in the same
old ways. You’ll leave your “comfort
zone” and find new energy, new direction, new joy and new confidence in the
Christ who enabled one writer to say, “It is no secret what God can do, what
He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.”
This Meditation is
also available as a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org
and on Facebook at:
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
22. ERRATA - THE AMERICAN REFORMATION BEGINS, PART 1,
THE REV. HANNAH ADAIR BONNE:
The Christian Recorder published and article on April 17, 2015 authored by
the Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner entitled, "The American Reformation Begins,
Part 1." The article contained
several factual errors. Apologies to our readers.
23. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to
announce the passing of Donald Scavella, the husband of Mrs. Carolyn Scavella,
the NGO Connectional Representative of the First Episcopal District to the
Women’s Missionary Society (WMS). The following information has been provided
regarding the funeral arrangements.
Friday, April 24,
2015
Viewing: 9:00 a.m.
– 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing: 11:00
a.m.
Macedonia AME
Church
37-22 Union Street
Flushing, NY 11354
Telephone:
718-353-5870
Fax: 718-353-5848
The Rev. Richard O.
McEachern, Pastor and Officiant
The Rev. Matthew L.
Watley, Eulogist
Executive Minister,
Reid Temple AME Church, Silver Spring, Maryland
Condolences may be
sent to:
Mrs. Carolyn
Scavella
33-27 91st
Street
Jackson Heights,
NY 11372
24. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to
announce the passing of Mrs. Georgette (GiGi) Rancher, the sister of the Rev.
Michael W. Sturdivant, pastor of Trinity AME Church, Philadelphia and the
sister-in-law of Presiding Elder Janet J. Sturdivant of the South District in
the Philadelphia Annual Conference.
The following
information has been provided regarding the funeral arrangements:
Saturday, April 25,
2015
Viewing: 9:00 a.m.
– 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Service: 11:00 a.m.
The New Bethlehem
Missionary Baptist Church
1730 Eleventh
Avenue
Bessemer, AL 35020
Telephone: (205)
428-4659
Fax: (205) 425-9591
The Rev. William H.
Walker, Sr., Eulogist
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Rev. Michael W.
Sturdivant
155 Landing Drive
Deptford, NJ 08096
Condolences to be
read at the Homegoing Service should be faxed to the church.
25. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal
District is saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Derrick L. Jackson, the son
of the Reverend Georgia Morrow, pastor of Greater St. Paul, Morgantown, West
Virginia.
Viewing and Home
Going Celebration will be held at:
Kepner Funeral Home
166 Kruger Street
Elm Grove, West
Virginia 26003
Telephone:
304-242-2311
Viewing:
Thursday, April 23,
2015 - 4 – 8 p.m.
Friday, April 24,
2015 - 10 – 11 a.m.
Funeral: Friday,
April 24, 2015 11:00 AM
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Rev. Georgia
Morrow
250 Chapel Road #2
Bethlehem, WV 26003
Telephone: (304)
233-7929
26. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to
announce the passing of the Rev. Sadie R. Ash, an associate minister at Greater
Mt. Zion AME Church in Trenton, New Jersey.
The following
information has been provided regarding the funeral arrangements.
Saturday, April 25,
2015
Viewing: 11 a.m. –
1 p.m.
Homegoing: 1 p.m.
Greater Mt. Zion
A.M.E. Church
42 Pennington
Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08618
Telephone: (609)
695-4475
Fax: (609) 394-2808
The Rev. J. Stanley
Justice, Pastor
Professional Care
entrusted to:
Campbell Funeral
Home
1225 Calhoun Street
Trenton, NJ 08638
Telephone: (609)
394-7641
Fax: (609)394-2859
Condolences may be
sent to:
Paul Ash, Sr.
P. O. Box 295
Rancocas, NJ 08073
27. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
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
28.
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.
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