Who needs to be discipled? Local pastors create venues for spiritual growth
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SUMMER 2016
contents
Summer 2016
8 THE CHARLESTON TRAGEDY Pastor Yvonne Simmons responds to the Charleston Tragedy 1 4 W H A T I S D I S C I P L E S H I P ? Theologians Stanley Toussaint and Craig Keener provide their perspectives 1 8 J O S E P H E D D I N G S Joseph Eddings is a Discipleship Champion
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Ministering in theMidst of Tragedy
2 0 D I S C I P L E S H I P A N D KNOWLEDGE Evelyn Dandy, Mary Williams, and Debbie Nash 2 3 D I S C I P L E S H I P A N D MATURITY Rev. Antoinette Joyner
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
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–John 13: 34
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2 3 D I S C I P L E S H I P A N D DISCERNMENT Rev. Antonio Booth 2 4 D I S C I P L E S H I P A N D AVAILABILITY Rev. Carl B. Smith 2 5 T O Y O U R H E A L T H 2 8 M A K E O V E R S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 Who is this issue’s makeover model? Turn to page 28 for a great surprise. 3 0 H E A R I N G G O D This is not a boring article. You really want to read it. 3 3 YOUTH VIOLENCE AND THE CASE FOR MORAL APTITUDE Edward Chisolm offers compelling solutions 36 GOD SEES YOU Are you a neglected wife? This testimony is for you. 37 DILEMMA Pastor Paul Sheppard offers interesting insights to life’s challenges
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praise
Welcome! VOLUME THREE, NUMBER ONE
Coastal Christian is birthed
Summer 2016
out of the vision described in Revelation 7:9, where “every nation, tribe, people and language were standing before the throne wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” The goal of this magazine is to as closely as possible crystallize this vision here on earth.
The purpose of Coastal Christian Magazine is to (1) encourage unity in the body of Christ and (2) inspire believers into a deeper relationship with Christ, and (3) to encourage non-believers to have a relationship with Christ.
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR Dr. Josephine B. Foster
CREATIVE DIRECTION Rick Szuecs
PHOTOGRAPHERS Lori Balfe
Coastal Christian seeks to break down stereotypes that render the Christian community ineffective. We seek to promote unity in the body of Christ. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that the “eleven o’clock hour is the most segregated hour in America.” Why do King’s words still hold true in 2016? As this year progresses, we should seek as Christians to prune, purge, and clean away the attitudes that separate us and strive to work towards fortifying the body of believers in the body of Christ.
Desmond Duval Cedric Smith
Satan divides, but God’s presence and His Holy Spirit unify. This issue is focused on Discipleship. What is discipleship and who needs it?
Mail your comments and subscriptions to P.O. Box 61086 Savannah, Georgia, 31420 Coastal Christian is published four times per year and distributed to Savannah and surrounding communities. All rights reserved. For more information visit us at Coastal-Christian.org Thank you for supporting Coastal Christian Magazine.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
One way to understand discipleship is in the words of one of my former bible teachers: “We are called to come and we are called to go,” she says. God calls us to Him and He calls us to go out into the world and work for Him. No doubt, this word represents a multi-faceted concept. But you’ll find your answers through stories like the one on Joseph Eddings and articles by Kathy Aldinger, Antonio Booth, Stanley Toussaint, and Craig Keener. And check out the short blurbs on page 16. Happy Reading!
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing, Dr. Josephine Foster
Left to right: Pastors Samuel Rodriguez, Bill McGee, and Quentin Morris
faith
The ABC’s of
Salvation Some people think a personal relationship with God is something only theologians can comprehend. Actually, God’s plan of salvation is simple enough for everyone to understand. Here are the ABC’s of salvation. BY MIKE GLENN
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Ministering in the Midst of Tragedy One Female Pastor’s Perspective on the Charleston Shootings BY WILLIAM C. SINGLETON III
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hortly after the 9/11 terrorist attack, Rev. Yvonne B. Simmons heard God tell her to take her spiritual commitment to a higher level. Up until that time, she had served as a Local Elder at Emanuel AME Church West Ashley in Charleston, S.C., working in and preaching at her home church as well as preaching at other churches as a supply pastor when their pastors took ill or were on vacation. But there’s something about tragedy that brings clarity to one’s purpose in life and ministry as it did Rev. Simmons, who now pastors St. Phillip AME Church. Maybe it’s the outcry of despair, the feeling of utter helplessness or the need to find God in the midst of tragedy. Or maybe it’s God’s way of getting our attention and preparing us for something greater. “For me, it was like the Lord wanted me to narrow my ministry focus,” Rev. Simmons, 66, said. “There are so many people who have not yet given their lives to Christ, and even though I knew I was reaching many in my ministry, I just think there’s a concentrated ministry He had for me and that would be in the church setting where you can teach people and disciple them so they can, in turn, disciple others.”
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And so Rev. Simmons enrolled at Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, S.C., and received her Masters of Divinity (a requirement to become a pastor in the AME denomination) in 2009. Then tragedy struck again – another act of terrorism. This one closer to home. As a core group of faithful Emanuel AME Church members attending the June 17 Wednesday night Bible study bowed with eyes closed for benediction, a 21-year-old white male - Dylann Roof - infatuated by white supremacy and neo-Nazi symbols - fatally shot nine African Americans parishioners and injured another. Among the dead are Rev. Clementa Pinckney, pastor of the church and a state senator; Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor; Rev. Sharonda Singleton, (no relation to the writer of this article); Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., (no relation to Rev. Yvonne B. Simmons); Cynthia Hurd; Susie Jackson; Ethel Lance; Tywanza Sanders, and Myra Thompson. What made the tragedy even more painful for Rev. Simmons is that she knew the victims. She knew Rev. DePayne Middleton, who had recently joined the AME church after years with the Baptist
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denomination. “I used to tease her that she was in the wrong church,” Rev. Simmons said. “And when I saw her in the Class of Admissions, I wanted to say ‘Ah, ha! You’re finally home.’” She knew Myra Thompson, whose husband is a childhood friend who asked her to give remarks from the Edisto District Women in Ministry at Myra’s funeral. Rev. Simmons is the Coordinator for the district and Myra Thompson was a member. She worked closely with Rev. Sharonda Singleton who served as secretary of the Edisto District Women in Ministry. She pastored on the same District with Rev. Clementa Pinckney and Rev. Dan Simmons and also served with them on the S.C. Conference Board of Examiners. She knew the others through their connection and close association as members of the Edisto District, Mother Emanuel being the lead church. So what do you do, what do you say and how do you put into perspective such an incomprehensible and senseless tragedy - one that demands a response even when you know words of comfort or attempts to fit the event into some greater theological context will fall short? You trust that the God who called you will also sustain you and give you the
ministry
say they get the smaller churches; they get what nobody else wants. We find ourselves making bricks without straw, but we take what you give us, and we make what we want out of it. And the resilience of the women in ministry has propelled us to all levels in the AME church. We’ve had such great support from men who recognize ‘They’re here to stay so open the doors and let them in.’” In fact, Rev. Simmons had a champion of her own when she decided to become a full-time pastor. “I shall never forget Rev. Dr. John H. Gillison, who was the Presiding Elder of our district at that time, who worked untiringly to have me changed from a Local elder to an Itinerant elder. He recommended me to the bishop who gave me my first appointment as pastor of St. Phillip” she said. “He kept saying to me that I had so many gifts and graces to give to the church that he couldn’t just see me being an associate minister in a church. He passed away in October 2015 but said to me when he retired in 2014 that seeing me through to my first charge made him feel like his work was done.”
MINISTRY IN TRAGEDY
Rev. Yvonne Simmons
words to say and the spirit to comfort and lead at the appointed time, Rev. Simmons said.
CALLED TO LEAD
Throughout her Christian journey, Rev. Simmons has found herself trusting God one step at a time. Although she heard God call her to pastoral ministry in 2001, the process took a while as she prepared herself through schooling and personal ministry. While she waited for her appointment as a pastor, she preached interdenominationally in many churches, locally and in the state as well as preaching and teaching for countless Women’s Day programs and seminars. wBeing a woman in a male-dominated
Those gifts and graces would come into play following the night of June 17. Rev. Simmons fielded calls from all over the district, state and country from people trying to find out what happened and from those wanting to represent on the funeral programs the Women in Ministry from the Connectional, Seventh Episcopal District and Conference levels. Rev. Simmons also organized the Edisto District Women in Ministry to
denomination has its challenges. Although the AME Church has a history of women in ministry dating back to its beginnings when founder Richard Allen authorized Jarena Lee to preach (she couldn’t be ordained because she was a woman), women must still fight for recognition. “We are a fit for the fight in this The t.v. said eight members were shot denomination,” Rev. Simmons said. “We have a Women and one had gone to the hospital, and in Ministry group that was I was just speechless formed to address the issues of women, and from their hard work we’ve serve the victims’ families with prayers even had our first female Bishop, Bishop and donations. She had to do this all Vashti Murphy McKenzie. Others have while trying to personally process for followed. So we’ve broken the glass herself the magnitude of the event. ceiling, but it’s still a struggle. The ladies Rev. Simmons was at home that
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night when a phone call from her son interrupted her calm evening. A member of a local SWAT Team, her son called to see if she was okay. Rev. Simmons knew something was amiss because he usually called on her cell phone. This time he dialed the house phone. He told her “eight are down at Mother Emmanuel,” and that he was making his way there, Rev. Simmons said. Then he hung up. At that moment, a special report flashed on the television screen, confirming her son’s words. “I really couldn’t register it all at that moment,” Rev. Simmons said. “The TV said eight members were shot and one had gone to the hospital, and I was just speechless.” The newscast kept focusing on the number of people in the church but wouldn’t say if they were dead or alive, she said. “They kept flashing Rev. Clementa Pinckney’s picture, and I know him to be eloquent of speech. I knew if he had been alive, he would have been talking and being interviewed.” Her suspicions were later confirmed when a Baptist pastor called and told her that at least eight in the church were dead and that one was Rev. Clementa Pinckney. “I laid down in a fetal position and remained that way all night,” Rev. Simmons said. “I was just numb.”
Rev. Simmons in front of St. Phillip AME
of tragedy. Rev. Simmons got a full dose of the range of emotions that hit the families when they realized their loved ones were gone. “At one of the homes we were talking and all of a sudden a wave of grief passed over a family member who screamed and cried uncontrollably like she did not know what had In every race I do believe there are come over her. Then she tried compose herself, but we people who don’t go along with what’s to understood,” Rev. Simmons going on out there, but they just don’t said. When speaking with say anything Rev. Sharonda Singleton’s family, Rev. Simmons said she The president of the Seventh was touched by Rev. Singleton’s son’s Episcopal District Women in Ministry attitude of forgiveness. “He chose to called her, and they prayed together. forgive because he said that’s what his She spent a restless night waiting for mom would do,” she said. “He said it more information. “I waited breathlessly was either that or go around thinking in for the morning to come to officially find your mind all the time that ‘somebody out who was in that church; and when I killed my momma.’ I commended him on heard those names, it hurt all the more,” what he had said and that it would be an she said. example to others.” Ministry is difficult under normal Myra Thompson’s family wasn’t circumstances, and even more in times entertaining visitors. “They had a note
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on the door that they thanked those who were concerned for them but were not taking any visitors at the time,” Rev. Simmons said. “We called inside and left a voice message. I did this because I grew up with him. I gave my maiden name ‘Bonaparte’ so he would know who was outside, and the door swung open, and he allowed us in. We were able to sit and talk and pray. That’s when he asked me if I would speak on behalf of Myra at her funeral.”
LESSONS FROM TRAGEDY
Rev. Simmons said it wasn’t hard to think of what to say about Myra Thompson because her life told her story. “She was a teacher by profession, and she was actually teaching the Bible study that night so I started with the personal Myra I knew and ended with the teacher faithfully teaching Bible study that night,” she said. “I knew about her dedication to her work in the church because she was always in the church or
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Mourners continue to visit Mother Emanuel AME
working on some project for the church. Practically every time I came to Mother Emanuel, she was there.” But there was a greater lesson in the tragedy. One that produced an outcome the shooter certainly didn’t anticipate, nor did many others. Confederate symbols that adorned state buildings throughout the South and were as difficult to remove as the most stubborn ingrown toenail, began coming down – first in South Carolina, then Alabama.
Other states targeted confederate license plates, hoping to distance themselves from symbols identified with racism. And even the school board in the wellto-do Birmingham suburb of Vestavia Hills voted to get rid of its confederate “Rebel Man” mascot, a move that had previously gained no traction until the church shooting. And, surprisingly, in many cases, those calling for the removal of the symbols were Republican and conservatives. “In every race, I do
believe there are people who don’t go along with what’s out there, but they just don’t say anything,” Rev. Simmons said. “And I believe it is those people who then rise to the occasion when something as horrific as what happened here happens,” she said. Rev. Simmons said she found it almost prophetic that the night of the shooting, the Wednesday night Bible study lesson focused on the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:14-20. “She (Myra Thompson) unknowingly was teaching them and leaving us a reason why they were going to be the ones who would have to die,” Rev. Simmons said. “It says in the parable that when the seed is sown on good ground, it’s going to bring forth fruit, some 30 fold, some 60, and even 100 fold. All of those who died were people who had touched the lives of so many others doing so many good things. But there’s another scripture that says, ‘Except a seed falls to the ground and dies, it’s just by itself. But if it dies, that’s how it’s going to bring forth good fruit. When the nine died, the nine fruit of the spirit were released into the atmosphere. Their deaths produced fruit without measure, fruit with global impact, history-making fruit that’s going to be producing over and over for generations to come.” From the shooting, not only are racial walls being torn down but ministry and opportunities are springing forth, she
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said. “We have buildings being renamed and new ones being erected in the name of the fallen, scholarships being funded, money being given to the church, and we see the solidarity and generosity of the body of Christ that came to the aid of the church,” she said. “I mean, just so much good came out of what happened.” Rev. Simmons also said she realized the importance of prayer, especially in earth-shattering events such as the Charleston church shooting. The day after the shooting, the Bishop for the Seventh Episcopal District, Richard Franklin Norris, called for six prayer meetings throughout the State of South Carolina. “He called on the largest churches to get prayer on the agenda People don’t understand how much power there sending prayer before anything. . . but we started with prayer. . . I believe prayer stopped a lot of evil that could have come from fear
first,” Rev. Simmons said. “People don’t understand how much power there is sending prayer before anything. They talked a lot about how peace prevailed, and people talked about forgiveness and, yes, you forgive or you implode. But we started with prayer. There was great fear in the land among both black and white. I do believe prayer stopped a lot of evil that could have come from fear. The church was in action giving people a prayer meeting to go to and so people were not in the streets doing what first comes to their minds. We didn’t need another war, especially not a Civil War. Charleston did wonderfully well, but I will never doubt that the power of prayer prevailed in the aftermath of that horrific night.” Rev. Simmons also commended those church leaders who had the insight to understand that despite the senseless act of violence that occurred in June 17, God is still in control. “We will also never forget the exemplary leadership of our Presiding Elder Norvel Goff Sr., who we also undergirded with prayer and God sustained him through it all,” she said. “God had all the right people in place in our church ‘for such a time as this.”
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Governor Nikki R. Haley WHAT HAPPENED in Charleston shed a different light on an issue our state had long struggled with. WHAT WE SAW in the extraordinary reaction to Charleston was people of all races coming together. We didn’t have riots, we had vigils. We didn’t have violence, we had hugs. THE STATEHOUSE BELONGS to all people, and it needed to be welcoming to all people. That was not possible with that flag flying. WHEN THE FLAG came down South Carolina moved forward.
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faith
Discipleship: a theologian’s perspective Stanley Toussaint
A
disciple is one who joins with a leader and learns from him by following his teaching and example. In the New Testament there were three types of disciples. First, there were some who were merely interested but not genuine disciples (John 6:66). The Lord’s words in John 6:67-71 imply these only professed trust in the Lord Jesus without reality. Endurance in the faith is a mark of genuine faith. This does not mean a life without sin. Some of God’s choicest servants had lapses in behavior, illustrated by men like Abraham and David. They failed in their actions but their faith never failed them. The word “discipleship” sometimes describes genuine believers (Acts 11:26, 29; 13:52, etc.) In this sense every Christian is a disciple. It is Luke 14:25--35 that explains what a third usage of the word “disciple” is. This is a genuine Christian who is completely committed to Christ; in a contemporary setting he is “sold out” to the Lord. He “hates” those who are closest to him. Here “hate” means to love someone less than he loves the Lord. It has this meaning in Genesis 29:30--31). The decision to be committed to Christ completely should only be made after
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carefully counting the cost (cf. Luke 14:28--32). It involves taking up one’s own cross, which means he is willing to die for the sake of Christ. This is the goal of true discipleship. Discipling another may involve one person as in Acts 18:26 or a number of other believers as in 2 Tim. 2:2 (those who are being discipled in 2 Timothy are in groups). It should be noted that discipling others involves not only verbal instruction but also example (Phil. 4:9). Genuine discipleship has a “come with me” aspect about it. Very significantly the Great Commission of Matt. 28:19--20 revolves around one major command: “Disciple all the nations”. This is the primary work of the Church. It is accomplished by “going”, “baptizing” (an open profession of faith in the Lord Jesus), and “teaching”. Discipling others is an imperative for the Church and is very fruitful and meaningful. It is to be much encouraged.
STANLEY D. TOUSSAINT is a former Senior Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has also pastored for more than 20 years and has ministered in pulpits around the world.
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Discipleship: a theologian’s perspective
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eople think of various things when they hear about discipleship. In the first century, though, being a disciple meant following a teacher or belonging to a group that followed a sage’s teaching. Most disciples of teachers started in their teens and passed on their teacher’s teachings. Following Jesus was different from following most other kinds of teachers, because Jesus was different from most other teachers. His disciples grew to learn his compassion, his wisdom, his healing power. Disciples were supposed to imitate their teachers, and Jesus expected his disciples to carry on such work. Although we don’t have the advantage of Jesus being with us in the flesh to teach us right now, we have his most important teachings in the Gospels and he also makes his presence known among us by the Holy Spirit. So we can continue to learn from Jesus. We even have advantages that the first disciples lacked: for example, we know that Jesus has risen, that he is divine, that the cross was not a failure, and other matters that it took them a long time to learn. But following Jesus was not always easy. Most Jewish teachers expected their disciples to remember and pass on their teachings, but Jesus demanded more. Jesus called people to value him more than their livelihoods; sometimes fishermen and tax collectors left their businesses to follow Jesus. Jesus called
Craig Keener
people to value him more than financial security: he summoned a rich young ruler to donate everything he had to the poor, and even taught disciples more generally to lay up their treasure in heaven. Likewise, Jesus is above residential security. When someone volunteered to follow him across the lake of Galilee, Jesus warned that his mission offered less of a place to rest than foxes and birds have. Jesus matters more than society’s or even family’s approval. Someone else volunteered to follow Jesus once he had finished his final filial obligation, namely, burying his father. Given ancient funerary customs, the man was probably asking for either a year’s delay (to complete the secondary burial, if his father had died) or to wait until his father died. Jesus insisted that matters of the kingdom were more urgent than that. And when someone else asked to just say goodbye to his parents—what Elisha requested before becoming a disciple of the prophet Elijah—Jesus made the kingdom more urgent even than that! Jesus often used hyperbole—rhetorical overstatement—as a graphic way of making a point. Yet he made the point so often that we should not underestimate what he wanted. In Luke 14:33 he declares that if we are really his disciples, then everything we have belongs to him. A few verses earlier he insists that we must love him more than our families
(14:26). Indeed, he warns, no one can be his disciple unless we take up the cross and follow him (14:27)—loving him more than life itself. Yet Jesus’s first disciples did not take up their crosses to follow him. When Jesus was arrested, his disciples abandoned him and ran off! Jesus’s executioners had to draft a bystander— Simon of Cyrene—to carry his cross because none of his disciples were there to do it. Indeed, they fell asleep on him at Gethsemane; his leading disciple denied him, and another disciple betrayed him. Jesus still went to the cross for all who would be his followers. He offered his life for us not because we were perfect, but because he knew what he could make us to be. As we continue to walk with him, he teaches us his heart. And the better we get to know him, the more we want to be like him. Jesus is worth everything. We can learn to live like we really believe that, pouring the resources of our time, energy and money into things that count forever— investing in other people’s lives.
CRAIG KEENER is Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. His book, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament has sold over one million copies. He is married to Medine Keener.
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definitions
What does Discipleship mean?
As an old Marine and a former Marine Corps Drill Instructor, I know a little something about the receiving and giving of orders. For Marines, orders are always to be followed. As a drill instructor, I always wanted the recruits who were under me to not only follow my orders, but to also follow my example. I’m thankful that Jesus didn’t just leave us orders to follow. Instead he left for us an amazing example and His very life as the power to pull it off. Christian discipleship is not just about following orders; it’s really about loving and following Him, who in His death was our redeemer and in His life was our example. KENNY GRANT is Pastor of Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah, Ga. “The reason that young people are leaving the church is there are too many restrictions. Young people like to party, and drink and stay out late, and have fun, but when we come to church we feel guilty.” That’s the response I received when I asked a group of young adult Bible Study participants why their peers are leaving the Church. The answer reflected an all too prevalent desire to be a believer in Jesus Christ without being His disciple. Discipleship requires important and often difficult life changes. Jesus taught, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). Faith is only real when there is obedience; the Holy Spirit helps the believer obey. LOLITA HICKMAN is Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga. There’s a great deficit regarding the commission of our Lord to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” I see a need in how we do discipleship. Some interpret the commission solely to evangelizing the world. However, the true meaning of discipleship is broader. Discipleship carries the responsibility of training according to the Scriptures. I believe the reason we are losing converts today faster than they come in is because they’re not being properly discipled. However, consistent discipleship produces the fruit of happy and properly trained disciples who are ready to go and make new disciples . After all that’s what discipleship is about. DR. PAT MURRAY is a powerful preacher and dynamic motivational speaker. Rev. Murray resides in Brunswick, Georgia. For much of my life, I thought I could be a follower of Christ, but still reserve parts of my life for myself. I have learned that such a life lacks authenticity and the peace that God offers us through Christ. By obeying Christ as Lord in ALL that we feel, think, do, and say, we become His disciples. His love will flow through us. In this way, our lives will be filled with His peace and joy, as we share His love with others. “By this all will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:15 TOM NASH is a Director of Community Bible Study, Savannah, Ga. When two blades are rubbed together, each one becomes sharper and more effective. This is the purpose of the PIVOT Men’s Conference--one man sharpening another building him up to be what God has designed him to be. To do this, we have to address real issues: pornography, adultery, addictions, laziness, emotional irresponsibility and lack of spiritual leadership. PIVOT also offers authentic brotherhood that allows men to open up to one another and receive the accountability needed to become sharper. Thus, Discipleship is truly living out God’s word with authentic friendships that allow them to call each other up to a higher living. BILL MCGEE is Men’s Ministries Pastor at Savannah Christian Church, Ga. Discipleship is designed to form Christ in our hearts and minds. It’s most effective where one person’s faith “sharpens” another. I once pastored a church where many young Christians said things like, “Please correct me! Be hard on me if you need to because I want to hear whatever I need to hear to grow up and be more like Jesus!” May God give us a new generation with hungry hearts like that! ELLIOTT WARREN is the founder and pastor of Christ Church for the Nations in Stafford, Texas.
Q: Besides God, what makes you happy? Send your response to coastalchristianmagazine@yahoo.com
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faith
Joseph L. Eddings, Sr: A Discipleship Champion
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he first thing one notices about Master Bible Teacher Joseph L. Eddings Sr. when steps off the elevator at Savannah Commons is his glowing skin—the color of a banana fig. He has the self-assured grace of a man with a full grasp of the intangibles. Add a frame at well over 6 feet and what you have in front of you is a “Moses come down from
the mountain” aura. He carries stacks of Christian tracts. His tee-shirts – about 60 of them - proclaim what he’s about. And, whether he greets friend or foe, he has the same message: “Do you know the Lord?’’ The answers he receives from the thousands of people he approaches every year doesn’t surprise him. But that doesn’t stop Eddings, an 80-year-old faculty member at Promise Christian
University in California, from delivering his message with a life and death urgency. His zealousness comes from the fact the he says he practiced religion for decades before he actually developed a relationship with God. “I’m a teacher of discipleship,’’ said Eddings. “I was an extremely active church leader—the head of a 200 plus all male chorus, a deacon, and a trustee of
Dr. Debbie Hagins, Mr. Ross Harrison, Dr. Marguerite Birt, Dr. Josephine Foster and Ms. Alberta Singleton
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Dr. Eddings shares a light moment with his students.
the church, but “I didn’t know the Lord until I got cancer. Then, all I wanted to do was witness for him.” He’s won battles against breast, leg, back, and prostate cancers. And, with every challenge Eddings says, he’s gotten bolder for Christ by teaching others during his eight week Bible class. “All bible study is good,” say Eddings, “but the Master Life series is truly a life changer.” Eddings was introduced to Masterlife during his first year of retirement from the West Covina Public School System. “I was bored out of my mind, so I decided to join a bible study group.” Eddings admits that when he saw a woman leading the study, he almost decided to leave. “I stayed and the Holy Spirit zapped me; I became part of the group and we used Masterlife to witness to everyone from skid row in California to Mexico.” Eddings is the second of two children. He attended Elizabeth City State University on a basketball scholarship. Afterwards he played in a semi-pro league and later coached high school and junior high. Some of his players went on to become members of the Harlem Globetrotters. Teaching, coaching and encouraging come naturally for Eddings who received
a Masters degree in Education from Pepperdine University and related certificates from Liberty University. Eddings is also a life member of the NAACP. He said the NAACP helped him obtain teaching positions during integration. However, Eddings’ natural gift for teaching and genuine love for his students helped him and his students excel. As a result, Eddings was teacher of the year several times and students in his classes always scored high on standardized tests. However, Eddings believes that real success comes from witnessing for Jesus. Thus, far he has handed out over 4000 tracts in Savannah. “I have a buffoonish attitude,” says Eddings when he enters the mini bus headed to the mall most days with his tracts ready to give out. “If they say, “No.” That’s my segue. If they say, “Yes,” when I ask if they go to church, I’m not into stealing sheep. From the bus, I ask them to come to my Master Life classes.” Eddings’ voice booms with enthusiasm in the lobby of Savannah Commons and he attracts the attention of Xanett Mixon, a 37-year-old cook at Savannah Commons. “That’s Mr. Eddie. He’s honest and he doesn’t sugarcoat what he says. I guess it’s the God in him,’’ she says.
Asked what he says most, she said, “Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming.” “He was always talking about God. It just comes out. It’s natural for him.” she said. Though Eddings is offhand about his witnessing approach, his charming outgoing nature makes him approachable and warm. Strangers easily slide into full scale conversations with him. Thus, the impact of Eddings’ message has influenced hundreds of people. Many are now senior pastors and ministry leaders worldwide. Whether his classes are filled to the brim or if he is in the company of one, his approach to discipleship never wavers in its intensity. He slowly but steadily leads each student to deeper and deeper revelations about Christ and His love for each person. Local graduates of his Masterlife Program include Pastor Andrew Young of New Covenant Church on Bull Street (Savannah,Ga) and local Author Marguerite Tiggs Birt, who wrote fondly about Eddings’ ministry in her latest book, Finding My Way. At 80, Eddings is still a visionary. His goal is to build a branch of Promise University in Savannah. “My greatest success has simply to be a witness for Christ,” he says.
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Discipleship and Knowledge BY KATHY ALDINGER
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s Christians, we are instructed to be the branches, ever connected to Jesus’ vine and to bear fruit for His Glory. To make more disciples is our calling. How are we to accomplish this spiritual task? One major aspect of discipleship is to grow in knowledge. To that end, I asked a few leaders in the Savannah Christian community how they continue to achieve success by being and making disciples. Dr. Evelyn Dandy, a Dean with The Christian Leadership School attests to the fact that knowledge of God’s Word is key in preparation. “We are God’s people!” said Dandy. “Matthew was the first to say that we must go and teach others. I know that teachers need to be certified and after taking many courses in seminary, I saw the need to truly educate disciples. But most importantly The Christian Leadership School prepares people for eternity, and isn’t that the ultimate goal of the Father?” It stands to reason that Dr. Dandy, who has served as the Dean of the Christian Leadership School at Thankful Baptist since 2014 is passionate about education, as she was also former Dean and Professor of Education at the College of Education at Armstrong Atlantic State University. The program of study is known as COPP (Certificate of Progress Program) and is sponsored through the National Baptist Convention, Inc. Classes throughout the year are
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held in three month periods at eight designated churches in Savannah. Students take week long courses in topics ranging from the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Foundation, Blacks in the Bible, Writing I, II, and III, and Public Speaking. After completing the classes, a student graduates with a certificate. Another host church is Tremont Temple Baptist Church with Dean Cynthia Fearbry. “The ultimate goal of preparing leaders in discipleship is to win lost souls!” says Fearbry. “Preaching gets people out of the world, and teaching gets the world out of people. Teaching God’s Word and dis-
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Dr. Evelyn Dandy
cipleship supports people with changing their lifestyles,” she says. For more information about the National Baptist Christian Leadership School contact Dr. Evelyn Dandy at (912) 234-4810.
Mrs. Lawanda Ransome receives a certificate from Rev. Paul Sheppard and Dr. Evelyn Dandy.
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Students complete assignments at Christian Leadership School.
Mary Williams caters to the needs of women in the community who “won’t go to church or training.” Through Aglow Ministries, Williams addresses issues in the Savannah community by reaching out to adults and young people on drugs and those who feel helpless. That’s where Inner City Aglow focuses its efforts. In 1965 five ladies gathered around a kitchen table and conjured up the idea of Aglow, which would serve communities’ basic needs with genuine Bible-based “fruits of the spirit.” Today Aglow is in 170 nations and their national conference brings
Mrs. Mary Williams, Director Inner City Aglow
over 6400 members, where they provide training in discipleship to members who will disciple others who are not quite ready for formal training, but need a helping hand, a listening ear, kindness and genuine concern. Because of her faith and long history with Aglow, Williams said she believes strongly in first addressing the immediate needs of those she ministers to. “Although we are not a church, we are the Body of Christ,” says Williams. The Aglow Bible Study
Mary Williams ( center) with Inner City Aglow participants
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Debbie Nash, Director of Commmunity Bible Study
teachers are a mosaic of diverse Christians. Speakers whose own children were addicted to drugs, women who were divorced and uneducated but are now self-sufficient and thriving are given the opportunity to share their stories to eager ears, stories that speak of God’s goodness and mercy. “God wants the walls of denominations torn down; after all we all come from the same birth canal and share the same the Blood of Jesus, “Williams says. The members of Inner City Aglow currently meet every 3rd Thursday at 11:30 at the Coastal Georgia Center at 305 Fahm Street. For more information about Inner City Aglow please contact Mary Williams at (912) 354-2010 or (912) 445-2836. Debbie Nash with Community Bible Study (CBS) is certainly on fire for the Lord, along with her husband Tom. The purpose of CBS is to build discipleship the way that Jesus did it: “We build relationships with people, we pray with them and for them, and we train them. For CBS to be successful each member needs to feel cared for, acknowledged, comfortable, confident and in a safe place. We know that all of this is best achieved in small groups.” “We always focus on Scripture. Faith in Jesus Christ should always be the focus, because your church is your au-
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thority, not CBS. We make that clear. CBS is open to the entire community. We are an international, nondenominational group that studies the Bible. There is not even the need to be a Christian. We have welcomed a Jewish woman to study with us.” What Community Bible Study participants lead praise and worship make CBS unique is that it offers courses every Thursday 9:30 – 11:30 at Grace United Methodist through prayer beyond my own family Church at 6412 Waters Avenue, which and friends. The most amazing thing is are geared toward women with children. seeing the results of all the prayer, and There is a Children’s Bible School also watching God answer. It’s like watchavailable during the same time and the ing a movie, yet each of us played a lessons are on the same topic, so that small role in it through prayer. CBS has the children can talk over their lessons truly captured my heart!” with mom and reinforce what both are Another CBS member, Cyndi Wise, learning. The CBS courses available on sums up her CBS experience as helpTuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 are ap- ing others to feel accepted. “I look for propriate for couples, as well as, single that person in the group that is staying men and women. The group of about 80 to themselves and looking alone and also meets at Grace Methodist Church. hurt, because that used to be me. It’s The true value of a Bible study can in the Book of Daniel, that we are now be measured by the member’s experi- studying, that shows his perseverance, ence. Cathy Rodgers, a member for over patience, confidence in his relation2 years states that “Not only has CBS ship with Christ. I was blown away; to encouraged me to set aside daily time go straight to the Lord, I love that!”. for bible study, but it has broadened my own love and empathy for others KATHY ALDINGER
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Nash lectures to Community Bible Study participants.
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Discipleship and Maturity BY REV. ANTOINETTE JOYNER
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once discipled a woman. In the process of our weekly meetings, the Lord revealed to me that the woman was having an affair. After I confronted her, the woman confessed to being in a long time affair. This information God entrusted to me was perilous, because the woman’s marriage, her children, and family life were at stake. Many times when you are praying and having bible studies or are involved in discipleship, God will expose the private pains of a person. How you in turn handle this exposure is just as important to God as the information that we are told. What is maturity in discipleship? Maturity means praying for the person being discipled but also using wisdom in dealing with embarrassing sin. In other words, gossiping about people’s private business—even if it is true—is simply off limits. You have to keep your mouth shut! One trusted person telling another trusted person telling another trusted person is how trust gets broken and relationships destroyed. It is easy to be turned off with a person and not want to even be associated with her, let
alone be in contact once we have discovered when the person sees our loving response, her horrible secrets. But the mature person she is able to believe the power of Jesus’ love, also knows she must respond in a Godly which leads to conviction and repentance. fashion. What this means is helping the Sin is done in the closet, in the dark, in one being discipled to continue to feel loved the woods, in the bedroom, places where and accepted even in her sinful condition. it’s believed to be out of sight. Many times, Loving on someone, however, doesn’t mean people are aware of their sinful behaviors, that you should not continue to move her are often enjoying it, and believe they won’t toward the real goal of get caught. What is forgotten In other words, gossiping about your bible study, which is that God is watching even people’s private business—even if is a right (or stronger) it is true—is simply off limits when the details are being relationship with Christ. planned. That is why he said One example of how to display this to Cain, “sin is crouching at your door; it maturity is found in Nathan the prophet desires to have you, but you must master it.” when he confronted David concerning Yet, God is so in love with his creation David’s adultery with Bathsheba. According that He won’t allow our sin to burden our to the law, David’s punishment should have spirits. Our loving heavenly Father wants to been death (Leviticus 20:10). However, expose and destroy sin but not His creation Nathan’s word to David is “You shall not in the process. Maturity in a discipleship relationship die”( 2 Samuel 12:13). Nathan never publicly embarrassed David because that was not God’s requires one to be slow to speak. Trust God plan. Sometimes, sinful information can be and His Holy Spirit to correct, reprove, used to destroy a person, but God’s character admonish, and change a heart made of stone. is love which is expressed in reconciliation. God needs us to respond lovingly because we are his hands and feet in the earth. Thus, REV. ANTOINETTE JOYNER
Discipleship and Discernment BY REV. ANTONIO BOOTH
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once worked at His Mansion Ministries, a residential Christian counseling center in New Hampshire. I provided spiritual counseling to men 18 to 21 years old. These men were becoming sober from substance abuse or had been living a wild life that left them homeless or discouraged. I was charged with helping them understand that faith is not something that we compartmentalize, but our faith should impact every aspect of our lives. These men taught me the value of praying and asking God for discernment to help them become the men that God intended.
Our sessions included prayer, scripture memorization, and discussion from the bible. They talked about what they learned from scripture and its impact. As they talked, I discerned how scripture was changed their thinking and their being. I could see their countenance change and a new joy well up in them from understanding Jesus and his love for them. I witnessed the power of scripture purge stinky thinking. When I met with these men I had to pray and ask God for discernment. I could not present a cookie-cutter model of discipling. Each man
had a different struggle. A man that struggled with addiction looked at life much differently than a man that grew up in numerous foster homes. A man whose focus was living a wild life of partying and irresponsible sex had different struggles than a former foster child or an addict. And a rebellious preacher’s kid had a totally different understanding of the gospel than unchurched men. Much prayer and much discernment was needed to articulate Christianity in a way that each man could understand. Each setting that we met had to be a setting
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that made them comfortable to talk. I needed be his messengers. Sometimes he simply speaks the Lord to help me discern the best place for and we know his voice. each man. Some needed an activity such as Only God could give me wisdom I needed to walking through the woods. Others thrived minister to these men. Only God could show me on sitting in a room and talking about their how to tailor sessions for these men. Only God issues. Some enjoyed completing workbooks could give me the words to speak that would and discussion questions. convince them that living A man that struggled with Others enjoyed reading for Jesus gave us abundant addiction looked at life much the bible and discussing differently than a man that grew life. Only Jesus could give me the words that would scripture texts. I learned as up in numerous foster homes I met with these men that I motivate them to consider had to tailor each session so that it met their crucifying their old life. I needed discernment. needs. I am wary of Christian counselors that This experience at His Mansion Ministries use the same approach on all of their clients. impacts how I disciple people today. Although people are made in the image of God, When I served as a missionary in Swaziland, they are also made fearfully and wonderfully God led me to disciple a young man. I felt led unique. God speaks to each of us differently. to have this young man become my Swazi Sometimes he speaks through dreams; other language teacher. While he was teaching me times, through scriptures. God uses angels to his language, I would in turn teach him more
about the wisdom of God. This became a great arrangement because God used this process to help this man mature spiritually and emotionally. He confessed to me certain behaviors that he felt convicted about and renounced. Only God’s leading could help me design a mentoring experience like this. When a person comes in your life for spiritual guidance, you should first pray for spiritual discernment. You have to be open to God showing you how to minister to the person. Give up how you think it should happen. Recognize the uniqueness of each individual that you are blessed with spiritually mentoring. Then watch God lead you and that individual down an exciting path.
REV. ANTONIO BOOTH
Discipleship and Availability BY REV. CARL B. SMITH
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fter a person is converted This truth is simple, but also radical. to the Christian faith, a Discipleship does not automatically happen key movement toward to every person who trusts God for salvation. discipleship to Jesus is Instead, it involves a conscious, intentional availability. Every individual choice to make oneself available to Christ to who is serious about his faith commitment follow him, learn of him, and become like must make himself available to the Master him. Without determination of will and to learn, to obey, and to grow. priority of time and effort, discipleship will The original twelve disciples of Jesus are not happen. often analyzed for their common features. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear None of them were from the ruling parties in his instruction to believers in Ephesus. among the Jews – no Converted Gentiles Discipleship does not automatically needed a new way of Pharisees, no Sadducees, happen to each person. . . without and no Herodians. There determination of will and priority of time inhabiting the world. is one tax-collector and effort, discipleship will not happen” Contrasting their former behavior, he (Levi, aka Matthew), a Jewish nationalist (Simon the Zealot), several states, “But that is not the way you learned fishermen (including Peter, James, and John), Christ!—assuming that you have heard and other men from the working classes of about him and were taught in him, as the Jewish life. None of them were well educated, truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which with the possible exception of Matthew. belongs to your former manner of life and is However, what makes them all distinct is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be that they made themselves fully available to renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to Jesus to become his disciples. They left their put on the new self, created after the likeness trades and families and followed Christ. This of God in true righteousness and holiness.” quality made them unique among their peers. (Eph 4:20-24 ESV)
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God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3) – that is, for a life of discipleship. He has given us a clear word that determines our beliefs and guides our behavior. The Holy Spirit abides within us to cause this seed of truth to germinate into deep convictions of faith that yield godly character, holy relationships, and fruitful ministry. He has given gifts to the church that include teachers and shepherds who instruct our minds and watch out for our souls. However, if we do not intentionally make ourselves available to these gifts and consciously cooperate with them in a disciplined walk with Christ, the gifts will not bring about their intended end, and we will not reach the goal of discipleship. The question is plain: in what ways are you making yourself available to hear about, be taught in, and learn Jesus Christ? That is the goal of discipleship, and the primary key to reaching it is our availability.
REV. DR. CARL B. SMITH
To Your Health Dr. Doretha Walker, Founder of Black Girls Run of Charlerleston, shares tips for new runners. For some reason you added ‘start running’ on your list of new year’s resolutions. It seemed like a good idea until you realized that you don’t really know how to begin. Here is my advice to help you start a running routine. Whether or not you stick to it is completely up to you.
1
Think about your goal. Are you trying to lose weight or run a race? This is important because it determines the type of gear you will need.
2 3 4
Get fitted for shoes. Yes, you may have a pair that you have hardly ever used but you need to get professionally fitted. This will ensure that you have the correct shoe for your gait (how your body moves when you run). The wrong shoe can leave you with injuries. Do not just buy the kind of shoes your friends wear or that you see on television.
Ladies, you must have a great bra. It is best to get fitted for one at a running store. Yes, a good bra is costly but this is essential to good running.
Do not wear cotton socks. They will lead to blisters.
5
Join a running group or try one minute walking/ one minute running and increase as you feel stronger.
6
Last, but not least, have fun.
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majesty
Bedazzled How can astonished lips form words, bedazzled brain construct coherent thought, or heart withstand the weight of wonder, overwhelming Truth: God lives in me! God! In me! What keeps these molecules intact, atoms from exploding skyward like raucous fireworks in jubilee? How is it that sleep ever comes while the divine vitality radiates through inner rooms, and undiminished resurrection power rumbles, throbs like idling earthmover? Look at me! Inside of what you see, God houses! God! In me!
Sandy Mayle
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business
I AM STRIVING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE AND STRONG REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST IN MY HOME, IN MY WORK ENVIRONMENT, ACROSS THIS CITY, AND TO THE WORLD, SO THAT GOD CAN GROW HIS KINGDOM. – TERRY COLEMAN
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Life
28 C O A S T A L C H R I S T I A N M A G A Z I N E
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Life
Before:
Cynthia loves her natural hair and didn’t want to change it, so we took her to Jibril Waajid at The Nappy Hut.
Jibril loved Cynthia’s grey highlights so he enhances the color by washing her hair with Total Body Black Earth Shampoo.
After a deep conditioning, Jibril applies a two stranded flat twist technique to Cynthia’s wet hair for volume and control.
Cynthia can be casual or formal in this form fitted ankle length black dress from Angela’s Accessories, Delesseps Ave. Savannah, Ga. Special Thanks to Utisa Chilsolm of Handbags are Forever.
At the MAC counter, Gizelle continues the natural theme with minimum facial coverage. Instead she focuses on enhancing the natural shape of Cynthia’s eyebrows with a MAC spiked pencil. Then she applies beaux colored lipstick topped with spice lipgloss. Cynthia’s eyes are outlined and enhanced with neutral eye color. Gizelle finishes with eyelashes in no. 7.
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prayer
Hearing God
BY BILL PATTERSON
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television commercial for a cell phone company featured a single phrase repeated in many locations: “Can you hear me now?” Fortunately God doesn’t require a cell phone to hear Him. He doesn’t require a signal from a cell tower. He doesn’t mandate paying a monthly bill or keeping a phone charged. He wants us to speak to Him. He delights in hearing our prayers (Proverbs 15:8). But He also wants us to hear Him.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM NOW, THROUGH HIS WORD?
Remember when you were in elementary school and wrote a love letter to your boyfriend or girlfriend? It may have read something like this: I like you. Do you like me? Check your answer. There would be two boxes, one marked yes and one marked no. If you were like me, you could hardly wait to get the reply. The Bible is God’s love letter to His people. When we read it, we can hear God’s love for us. We learn God sent His son for us. Why? Because He loved us. We learn Jesus gave His life for us. Why? Because He loved us. We learn God has prepared a place for His people in Heaven. Why? Because He loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him. From the Bible we learn God’s redemptive plan, His plan for making disciples, and His plans for us to live holy lives. Before I read the Bible each day, I find it helpful to pray, “Lord, please prepare my heart to receive Your Word.” Then when I read, I hear the Lord speaking to me. For instance, when I read the Great Commission (Matt. 28),
The Holy Spirit impresses the heart of every Christian. He convicts of sin, He teaches right from wrong, He prompts us in what God would have us do, and in what God would have us not do.
I hear God telling me to make disciples. When I read Psalm 23, I hear God telling me that He will be with me even in the shadows of life and will guide me like a loving shepherd guides his sheep. When I read Isaiah 60, prophesied well over 600 years before Jesus, I hear God saying that Jesus is the light of the world. He still carries out His light in a darkened world through us imperfect believers. When I read the parable of the Good Samaritan, I hear God telling me to treat each person with kindness and compassion. In Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us that long ago God spoke through the prophets but in the last Days He has spoken to us through His Son. We know the words of the Son when we read the Bible.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM NOW, THROUGH HIS SPIRIT?
When Keith Parks served as a missionary in Indonesia, he visited a remote village and led several people to Christ. He knew that in all likelihood another missionary would not visit that mountainous village again for well over a year. Keith often wondered what happened to those new Christians. When he had the opportunity to go again, many months later, he found two thriving churches. He asked a Bible teacher how she learned to teach from the Scriptures. She replied, “It’s as if I have a little Jesus in my heart who teaches me and tells me what to say.” That little Jesus within is the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that once He left the earth He would send His Spirit. The Holy Spirit impresses the heart of
every Christian. He convicts of sin, He teaches right from wrong, He prompts us in what God would have us do, and in what God would have us not do. The Spirit works through impressions of the heart, and through circumstances. When seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, note that our impressions may be false but the Bible is always true. If an intuition contradicts the Word of God, that feeling did not come from God’s Spirit. The Spirit always teaches us to live holy lives. The Spirit of God always points to the Son of God. Since God is as good as His Word, The Spirit always speaks in accordance with the Word of God. I cannot overstress the importance of reading, meditating on, and learning the Bible in order to correctly hear what God is saying to us through His Spirit.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM NOW, THROUGH HIS PEOPLE?
God warns us in His Word not to stay away from worship meetings (Heb. 10:25). Not only do we encourage others but God speaks to us through other Christians. In a recent week, three people asked me—each at a separate time—when I would write my next book of humorous fiction. The following week five more people asked me the same question. I had put that half-completed project on hold because other priorities had emerged. Now I must prayerfully
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“I have found it helpful to pause at the end of praying and just sit silently after asking, “Lord, what would You say to me?” God often surprises me by what He impresses on my heart at those times.”
re-evaluate that decision because God may be speaking to me through others to continue that work. I can grow selfish and blind to important things in life. Listening to mature Christians can help me hear God speak. Sometimes when I hear a godly preacher, teacher, or Christian singer, I instantly know in my heart what God is saying to me.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM NOW, THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES?
One day Alexander Maclaren went for a walk. A heavy fog rolled in, he got off the path, and then he tripped over a rock. His body hit solid ground but his hands stretched out over air. He had come only a few feet from stepping off a cliff. His sudden awareness that God had spared him became God’s word to Maclaren that He wanted him to be His preacher. Maclaren fulfilled that role faithfully the rest of his life. Circumstances can speak God’s voice to us. When the Old Testament prophet saw a pot boiling over from
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the north, he knew God was telling him that Israel’s enemies would overflow the country from the north. When Amos saw a builder use a plumb line, he knew God had measured His people and found them off-line.
CAN YOU HEAR HIM NOW THROUGH YOUR ATTITUDE?
One of the most revered Scriptures for the Jewish people, Deut. 6:4-9, is called the Shema. Shema is the Hebrew word for “hear.” The Shema begins with “Hear, O Israel.” Hearing is pivotal to walking with God. Truthfully, however, I have sometimes used my prayer moments to speak to God but not to listen to Him. Having an attitude of listening to God is important. How often I have rushed to my quiet place, read the Bible, prayed, and even thanked God, but never took a moment to listen to what God wanted to say to me. I have found it helpful to pause at the end of praying and just sit silently after asking, “Lord, what would You say to me?” God often surprises me
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by what He impresses on my heart at those times. As a boy, God spoke verbally to Samuel. He thought the priest raising him, Eli, had called him. Several times Samuel ran to Eli’s side to answer his request. Eli told Samuel that when he heard the call again to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9). At times my life could more fully be characterized by, “Listen Lord, Your servant is speaking.” I want to hear God, though. Through the Bible, with the help BILL PATTERSON of the Holy Spirit, through other is Director of people, through Missions for Green circumstances, and Valley Baptist through a teachable, Association. He and listening attitude, I his wife, Debbie, live am learning to hear God. in Henderson, KY
life
Youth Violence and the Case for Moral Aptitude BY EDWARD CHILSOLM
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am disheartened over the number of “youth” who are engaged in violent offenses. Most recently, the District Attorney’s office made the decision to try three “juveniles” who allegedly killed another 15-year-old youth in a reported armed robbery situation as adults. Sadly still, it appears to be a growing problem. To stop the violence we have to stop what is feeding the violence. According to the National Campaign to Stop Violence out Washington, D.C., the top 10 causes of violence according to young people are: 1) Media; 2) Substance Abuse; 3) Gangs; 4) Unemployment; 5) Weapons; 6) Poverty; 7) Peer Pressure; 8) Broken Homes; 9) Poor Family Environment/Bad Neighborhoods; 10) Intolerance/ignorance. I tend to agree that lack of education, poverty, lack of employment, lack of things to do, and a host of other “lacks” do play a significant part in antisocial behavior. However, I want to make the case for another type of lack: lack of “moral aptitude.” Aptitude is EDWARD defined as “inclination, CHILSOLM intelligence, being appropriate.” The best is Executive Director way to effectively deal of the Chatham with youth violence is County Youth before it starts. “Bend Futures Authority, the sap while they are young” my grandSavannah, Ga. mother used to say.
The truth is, not enough bending of the sap goes on in some of our homes. What we are witnessing is the spiritual truth of, “you reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.” I don’t care how many jobs, government benefits, welfare reform or other antipoverty measures are in place, until and unless we deal with the “root” causes of incorrigible behavior, the violence and bloodletting will continue. The young people got it right. Parents, especially many young parents, are ill prepared I want to make a case for another type of lack: lack of moral aptitude
to take on the rigors of effective parenting and socializing children of today. Not to get too deep into Bible Study, but recall (or if need be please study) the case of the Priest Eli in the Old Testament and his two sons Hophni and Phinehas, who were behaving wickedly. Why? Because their father rebuked them too lightly and was unable to stop them. Eli’s failure to lead his family lead to his downfall. The punishment for this lack of “bending the sap” was all male descendants dying before reaching old age. ( 1 Samuel 2:12,17;22-36). The point is clear—absence of moral and ethical training of children at a young age (sowing) will eventually end up with our youth acting wickedly and blood running in the streets. Many homes have relegated the responsibility of moral education to schools and the social service industry. That is why we have initiatives like “Character Counts” sponsored by the school district. I am glad we have the program, but that does not mean it
is solely the school district’s job. This leads us to the question of who is ultimately in the best position to provide the moral training young people need. The church? The home? The school? The community/neighborhood aka the “village.” The truth is all of us are responsible and should hold each other accountable. That said, “The ruins of a nation begin in the home of its people” (African Proverb). The sooner we begin to deal with the root of this problem, the sooner we can alleviate it. According to the Juvenile Justice Reforms Spotlight-2014, Georgia spends upwards of $90,000 a year to house just one juvenile offender in a DJJ secure facility. In 2013 there were 489 youth housed in secure detention. Do the math. I am not saying we should not do our best to amass and extend the appropriate amount of social and economic support to deserving children, but I am saying that a lack of ongoing, intense moral training of our youth --at a younger age-- will render those supports nonconsequential in the end. Alleviating poverty and providing jobs as crime reduction measures is formidable but it does not get at the root of the problem. The pathology and psychology of urban ghetto life are contributing factors. The root cause of the type of violence we are seeing is sin. Therefore, unless and until the sin question is dealt with by a healthy dose of moral aptitude, we can throw as much antipoverty dollars at the problem as we desire, but this conversation will be taking place fifty years from now. The question is: Who in society is in the best moral position to provide the moral aptitude our children obviously need?
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food
Great Food Pacci’s Restaurant downtown Savannah
COCA COLA GLAZED SHORT RIBS, PACCI
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food
ROBERTO’S-DISH
Chef Roberto Leoci was so inspired by a visit from Coastal Christian that he created this delectable dish on the spot.
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T H E C O M F O R T P R O J E C T
A Testimony of Comfort for Those Who Are Neglected
M
God Sees You
y husband and I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Our four children and their spouses, our grandchildren, family, and friends gathered together to help us celebrate. As I heard them saying such wonderful things about our marriage, I realized that few of them really understood the challenges I have faced in this five-decade marriage to my wonderful husband. In many ways, my husband is wonderful. He loves the Lord, he loves our children, and he loves me. He also loves staying at home and not going to work. My husband admitted to me that every day of his life, his main goal was to figure out how he could get away with doing less than what people around him needed and expected him to do—including me. Proverbs 18:9 reads, “The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.” The expanded meaning of the word vandal is “master of destruction.” A lazy person destroys things. He destroys trust, respect, financial security, and the peace God would want in his
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home. As a mother, my heart broke to see my children having to do without because their dad had quit another job to start yet another business. I lived a fearful and angry life. I did my best to live on a tight budget. I feared we would be homeless if my husband didn’t change. One day, years ago, when I God spoke to my heart and said, “Talk to me about your husband, and I’ll talk to your husband about you.”
thought my despair would destroy me, God spoke to my heart and said, “Talk to me about your husband, and I’ll talk to your husband about you.” Over the next few years, I poured out my fear and frustration to the Lord. He started to intervene in small and meaningful ways. There are too many miracles and supernatural interventions to list, but I can tell you that my children and I always had enough. Sometimes it was when my husband was actually working at a job and sometimes it was when he wasn’t. God kept his end of the deal with me. I spoke to Him about my husband, and
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He spoke to my husband about me. One day, to my surprise, my husband sat in our living room with tears running down his cheeks and repented of being lazy and neglecting his responsibility to us. I was in awe of how God works. It took years, but God changed my husband’s heart. I realize that having a lazy husband is not like losing a child or bearing terminal illness. I share my story to comfort those of you who are living with less than you should because people who should be taking care of you are not. To the aging and abandoned parents, to the lonely and forgotten mother, to the ill and bedridden person, to the fearful and financially needy, to the unloved wife, to the unappreciated children, I give you the comfort that God whispered to my heart one day in prayer. He said, “I see you.” To know that God sees you is to know all you need to know. Like He saw me, He sees you too. Like He heard me, He will hear you. These testimonies are shared anonymously through The Comfort Project. Visit awordtothewives.blogspot.com
life
1
THERE IS A COUPLE IN MY SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY WHO ARE LIVING TOGETHER. THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES SINCERE CHRISTIANS, BUT BOTH ARE EXTREMELY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT MARRYING AGAIN AFTER HORRIFYING DIVORCES. HOW DO I DISCIPLE THESE PEOPLE? Discipling these two individuals should be approached from the following ways: First of all they need to know that God still loves them and for them to stop living together. I would ask them the following question: What is the difference between living together as an “unmarried” couple verses a “married” couple? This is why I am an ardent proponent of premarital counseling because it helps to eradicate apprehensions. Secondly, the couple needs to develop a correct and biblical view of marriage. Marriage is a precious gift from God and it is sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit and requires persistent prayer and closeness to God by both husband and wife. In any marriage, both couples must have a cogent understanding of Ephesians 5:22-33.
REV. PAUL SHEPPARD, Pastor Thankful Missionary Baptist Church
Submission is a misunderstood concept regarding a biblical and godly marriage. It does not mean becoming a doormat. When we submit to God, we become more willing to obey His command to submit to others, that is, to subordinate our rights to theirs. In a marriage relationship, both husband and wife are called to submit. For
the wife, this means willingly following her husband’s leadership in Christ Jesus. For the husband, it means putting aside his own interests in order to care for his wife. Submission is rarely a problem in homes where both partners have a strong relationship with Christ and where each is concerned for the happiness and general welfare of the other. How should a man love his wife? a. He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her. b. He should make her well being of primary importance. c. He cares for her as he cares for his own body. No wife needs to fear or have apprehension submitting to a man who treats her in this way. Thirdly, I would tell them to not ever let your past hijack your future. Granted, they both may have had horrifying divorces but they need to embrace what God has for them now and in the future: “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder”. In my counseling sessions, I have discovered that most first marriages were done out of the will of God and that most couples were spiritually and emotionally immature as they entered the marriage.
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life
2
I AM SO THANKFUL THAT MY TEEN DAUGHTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN ABOUT SHARING HER THOUGHTS, CONCERNS, AND IDEAS WITH ME. IN A RECENT CONVERSATION, SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE IS ATTRACTED TO WOMEN AND THINKS SHE MAY BE GAY. I EXPLODED INSIDE, BUT HID MY TRUE FEELINGS FROM HER AS I WANT TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. RIGHT NOW I AM DISTRESSED. I’VE BEEN PRAYING. I AM PLANNING TO TALK TO HER, BUT WHAT IF SHE REBELS? This question and scenario is all too common in today’s society. I would agree that you do need to keep the lines of communication open and be honest. The two most important things you can do right now is to love her no matter what and to teach her what the Word of God says. Unfortunately, we live in a society where everything has to be politically correct; thus negating what God says in His Word. You need to tell her in love that homosexuality is cogently condemned in the Bible. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Homosexuality undermines God’s created order and the basic family unit of husband and wife which is the Godordained means of procreation when He created male and female (Adam and Eve) to “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it...” (Genesis 1:28). Homosexuality cannot carry out this biblical mandate because it is not part of God’s created paradigm. Our present system has the audacity to redefine Christian marriage in ways that does not please God. Unfortunately, the world has compromised and neglected the Word. As a Pastor, I refuse to be sucked in the political and morally inept debate of homosexuality.
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However, as Christians, we cannot compromise our witness and not let our light shine. We have become socially acceptable and dismissing rationality, all forms of godliness, and biblical truth. Just because someone professes to be gay, lesbian, or transgender is not a license to persecute, condemn or be inconsiderate of their person-hood. We are to love them and respect them as Jesus would have has to do. Homosexuality is a sin like any other sin and it needs to be laid at the cross. It is our duty to pray and love. In this approach, we do not become arrogant, judgmental, or holier-than-thou, but we become like Jesus who loved unconditionally. Moreover, let the Word of God speak for itself. There are a plethora of Scriptures that speaks about homosexuality such as: 1. Leviticus 18:22 2. Leviticus 20:13 3. I Corinthians 6:9-10 4. Romans 1:26-28 5. Genesis 19:1-13 Lastly, I am a firm believer that if you love her, she would not rebel. If she does, continue to love her, pray for her and let God handle it. After all, “there is nothing too hard for God”.
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See Rev. Sheppard’s popular video: “Three Pieces of Advice for Young Men.” Go to Coastal-christian.Org
growth
PIVOT participants in worship
Pastor Kenny Grant Encourages the Brothers
PIVOT MEN’S CONFERENCE 2015
Pastor Ricky Temple leads a workshop
NEXT PIVOT CONFERENCE AUGUST 26, 2016
Men from various churches came together and formed the PIVOT BAND
Davy Jones leads a small group session
Bill McGee, Men’s Pastor, Savannah Christian Church and Director of PIVOT
Fellas having fun at PIVOT
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