Community Journal 33

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May 2014

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33rd Edition @dmars_com

A Family Affair

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Global Seven Awards Kick-Off Reception For more exclusive photos from this event, visit www.d-mars.com and click ‘Photo Gallery.’

PAGE 9

Allowing Life to Define Family

By Charlotte Jackson

As a single mother of three children, two of whom are biracial, life has brought about many opportunities to stretch my faith.

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The Kingdom Man and Kingdom Journey to the Edge (Edgebrook) The “Go-To” Outfit for Spring

By Tiffany Black Now that we can say goodbye to winter and hello to spring, it’s time to put those coats away for good – or at least for just right now.

PAGE 15

Join our e-mail list for the latest updates @ d-mars.com

page 8 North Houston Frontiers Club Presents Scholarship Program 2014

Hubert Jones Celebrates Retirement from ConocoPhillips at the Rice Mansion

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.

– Desmond Tutu

page 8

Dr. Dana Carson and The R.O.C.K. invite you to one of our innovative worship services on “the Edge.”

Xtraordinary Worship Service - Sunday @ 10am Empowerment and Miracle Service - Sunday @ 6pm Understanding the Bible with Dr. Carson - Wednesday @ 7pm

Dr. Dana Carson, 45 ood Clearw

▼

BS, MS, M.Div., MBA, C.Psy.D., D.Min., Ph.D.

Edgebrook

Senior Pastor

The R.O.C.K.

Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom

9321 Edgebrook Drive Houston, TX 77075

Easthaven

Your kids will en joy our Live Bible Adven ture!

Our New Campus Features: - State-of-the-art worship experience - Youth development and gaming complex - Children’s live interactive Bible experience - Workout facilities and basketball court - Kingdom Counseling Center - Kingdom Institute of Family, Marriage, and Relationships - On Campus Kingdom Bible College - And much more!

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May 2014

Journal Behind The

3.

Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Valerie Jones

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

Office Manager

I cannot stress enough the importance of family. My company is founded on family. What I can say about having a family business is there will be ups and downs. All businesses have their challenges, but when you have people who bleed the blood of the family business, it’s something that cannot be replaced.

Family business is a way to carry on the tradition of the business as a whole. It’s the same with African Americans in our community; by supporting each other, it’s like a family. You’re not always going to agree and you’re going to make mistakes. But, the overall goal is to strengthen the community. I truly believe family does that.

As always again, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black

PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines

Contents

The Kingdom Man and Kingdom Journey to the Edge (Edgebrook) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 North Houston Frontiers Club Presents Scholarship Program 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hubert Jones Celebrates Retirement from ConocoPhillips at the Rice Mansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

G7 Global Seven Awards Kick-Off Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Andrea Hennekes

In the Community… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Allowing Life to Define Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Angel Rosa

The “Go-To” Outfit for Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

DISTRIBUTION

Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

Why We Can’t Wait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Jackson Tiffany Black J. T. Myers, M.Ed, MRT

MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month

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May 2014

The Kingdom Man and Kingdom I Journey to the Edge (Edgebrook) n recent months, you have learned a lot about Dr. Dana Carson, that powerful preacher you’ve heard on the radio or seen on TV, senior pastor of The Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom World Outreach Intl.

(The R.O.C.K.), which recently moved to Houston. Surely, at some point, you couldn’t help but to ask the question, either to yourself or others, ‘Why was Dr. Carson even in Alvin, Texas?

What was he doing? Inquiring minds want to know!’ Laughing, Dr. Carson commented, “Many of my ministry colleagues and others who knew me nationally thought I had lost my mind.”

Once he accepted his call to fulltime ministry in Austin, it became a call to God’s vision, purpose, and destiny for his life. This call defined his very existence; no matter where it led him or what it required him to do. For him, because of the great and expansive God he served and studied in scripture, this call was a call to great and expansive vision, purpose, and destiny—no matter the costs, the level of sacrifice required, or the personal investment required. Thus, imbued with such a ground-taking and progressive sense of ministry, after 17 years of ministry in Austin, and after reaching what 99% of those in his profession would have considered the pinnacle of ministry “accomplishment,” he left it all to follow the voice of God and move to Alvin, Texas. Dr. Carson and those who followed him moved not just in miles from Austin to Alvin—a rural community southeast of Houston, which hails as the birthplace of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan—but they also moved in culture. The people moved from a rapidly growing and progressive state capital to a more conservative and settled small town, from the bright lights and big city…to Bug Tussle, USA? Despite his former successes in Austin, Dr. Carson discovered that after almost 20 years in ministry, this was just God’s beginning for him. In 2002, the Lord first told Dr. Carson to move to Houston and

set up his Kingdom headquarters there.

God said, “The cloud of glory is moving… move with the cloud.” Obedient to the Spirit of God, Dr. Carson extended an invitation to some of the members of his congregation to relocate with his ministry headquarters. People moved on one accord and with a cadence and unity that few leaders are able to successfully accomplish. More than 300 core families relo-

cated from Austin to the greater Houston area in 2003.

“We had looked all over the Houston area back then, almost buying a place in North Houston and a church in Pearland.

Each realty deal fell through because the owners refused to sell to us, and providentially, we ended up in Alvin,” says Carson.

Interestingly, Dr. Carson later discovered that there was a historical and reforma-

tional link associated with Alvin, which centered on William J. Seymour, the father of modern Pentecostalism. Who is that, you may ask?

“He was the famous one-eyed black preacher who started a Pentecostal spiritual revival across this country at the turn of the century. It began in, of all places, Los Angeles, Calif. with a now famous series of services on a street called Azusa,” said Dr. Carson. Seymour, the son of former slaves, became a student at a newly formed Bible school founded by Charles Parham in the Houston area. It was here that he learned the major tenets of the Holiness movement. He later moved to Los Angeles to minister in churches, and many believe that this move from Houston to Los Angeles was due to the racism he encountered in the Houston area—more specifically, in the Alvin, Texas area. However, others suggest that he simply was called to pastor a church in Los Angeles.

In LA, Seymour started a revival meeting from his church on Azusa Street that extended from 1906 through 1909, where many miracles, signs, and wonders occurred. Not surprisingly, the revival became the subject of intense investigation by more “mainstream” Protestants. Many of the supernatural events that happened were documented in newspaper articles.

While the movement eventually fractured along racial lines, Seymour’s Azusa Street Revival historically makes him the father of the modern Pentecostal movement.

Most of the largest and oldest Charismatic organizations can claim some lineage that links them to this revival and William J. Seymour (i.e. Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God).

As noted by Dr. Carson, “This great father of modern Pentecostalism has a linkage to little unknown Alvin, Texas, and as a history man, that was something that was not lost on me in 2002-2003 when God, in His sovereignty, opened up the opportunity for me and my congregants to purchase a church campus located in, of all places, Alvin, Texas!” Alvin is the

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place where many of the older white Pentecostals referred to Dr. Carson as “Papa Seymour,” which was revolutionary back in the early 20th century. “Many of these people would come to my church office and say that I had the mantle of ‘Papa Seymour’ on me, and ‘we have been praying for a move of God and He sent you!’

So I know that it was the providential hand of God locating us there. ” In 2003, Dr. Carson was led to purchase the 66,000-square-foot former First Baptist Church in Alvin. Initially, people of every ethnicity, age, and class converged upon this ministry, renamed the Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom World Outreach International (The R.O.C.K.).

The church began to grow almost instantly; the internal revival was happening by the hand of God in this unlikely place.

This was the start of a 10-year season of ministry accomplishments that, in many ways, would dwarf what Dr. Carson had accomplished in his previous 17 years of ministry. And it all started with the mindset and focus of Dr. Dana Carson. For him, what counts is what is being done for God now; how is the Kingdom being advanced for God now, how many people are being discipled now, and how can we enlarge our capacity to do even more in the future?

The move to Alvin, in spiritual terms – “the backside of the mountain” – proved to be the time of internal revival, definition, and solidification of this infant ministry birthed out of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. In Alvin, God helped Dr. Carson articulate and teach on the Kingdom of God in practical terms and in all aspects of the Kingdom of God. His mantra was “no more church as usual,” as he sought to awaken people from their slumber to live the Kingdom life and fulfill their Kingdom purpose as God commanded.

With a new ministry came a new vi-

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sion. The Lord gave Dr. Carson a brand new vision for The R.O.C.K. which The R.O.C.K. would do to obey the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”

Out of Alvin, Dr. Carson, an accomplished theologian and groundbreaking author, wrote a wealth of books on the Kingdom of God for the Body of Christ, including Kingdom-based textbooks, which serve students in his online Bible training school, The Kingdom School of Ministry and his on-campus program, the Kingdom Bible Institute. According to Dr. Carson, “The purpose for which Christ built the church has been abandoned, and tradition has redefined the role of the church. The average churchgoer, according to statistics, does not embrace the mandate of the Great Commission or understand the necessity of Christ alone for their salvation. Many pastors and church leaders have lost their way, needing true guidance and assistance from an apostolic source, but feeling alone, they’re dying spiritually and physically in the ‘people’s church,’ i.e., a church who caters to the self-focused ‘needs’ of the people.”

Accordingly, The R.O.C.K. vision is designed to reverse this trend, planting and coaching Kingdom-minded churches throughout the world that create disciples who make disciples. This vision is designed to participate in the Kingdom movement of revival and restoration of the church, helping as many as it can to overcome the lukewarm church of today.

It is designed to create people who: • Are Kingdom-minded rather than church-minded • Are mindful of evangelism and discipleship • Live with a purpose that is greater than themselves • Have sincere relationships with God as Lord and King Dr. Carson’s ministry has planted numerous churches—both nationally and internationally—with this Kingdomminded vision. Nationally: • Austin, Texas • Lake Jackson, Texas • Spring, Texas • Katy, Texas • San Antonio, Texas • Kyle, Texas • St. Paul, Minnesota • Atlanta, Georgia • Brooklyn, New York • Charlotte, North Carolina (2015) • Memphis, Tennessee (2015) Internationally: • Brakpan, South Africa • Johannesburg, South Africa • Vlakfontein, South Africa • Liberia (27+) • Butuan, Philippines Dr. Carson also serves as the spiritual covering for more than 50 international

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May 2014

leaders throughout three continents. In addition, The R.O.C.K. held its first international Holy Convocation in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2012, where close to 100 ministry partners traveled to South Africa to celebrate the Kingdom of God with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. By engaging in actions that replenish the agenda and purpose of God, the vision of Dr. Carson will reduce the number of those who find themselves one day facing the Lord, saying to Him, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23) Pursuing this vision over the last decade meant exponential accomplishment on a number of fronts, both in terms of their depth and breadth. It had been a step-by-step, little-by-little, one-bite-ata-time journey, and when The R.O.C.K. looks back, it discovers that it has eaten the entire elephant. As a result, after 10 years in Alvin, the ministry of Dr. Dana Carson is a ministry recognized globally for its biblical soundness, exceptional in its development of a cutting edge children’s ministry (Kingdom Kidz World) and a Kingdom-based youth ministry with an AAA+ focus. Community outreach was also taken to a whole new level with the Katrina Restoration Ministry, where the ministry actually housed almost 100 Katrina ‘refugees’ on its second floor, including providing meals in its recreation center, transportation to access jobs, governmental assistance, and eventually transitional housing. The families attended weekly services and were helped through a very traumatic experience.

The ministry also birthed the Brazoria County Athletic Association, which conducted children’s basketball camps and leagues, as well as an adult league.

Dr. Carson personally vested himself in outreach by accepting the Alvin Police Department’s request to become one of its chaplains in their Chaplaincy Program. He currently serves on the Alvin Manvel Ministerial Alliance, including a term as its president. The ministry also birthed the Next Generation Early Learning Center, and during its first year in Alvin, conducted Operation Blessing and served Thanksgiving dinner to senior citizens at the Alvin Senior Citizens Center dinner. The R.O.C.K. served the Alvin youth population through a federally funded youth mentor program, assisting at-risk students in the improvement of their grades and setting success goals for their future. Then, while in Alvin, the ministry made the kind of significant property acquisition that it takes most ministries 15-20 years to acquire and pay off. The ministry made, what it believes to be, one of the largest single land purchases by any church in America – 221 acres. This multi-million dollar property will be paid off in 2015!

“Many pastors and church leaders have lost their way, needing true guidance and assistance from an apostolic source, but feeling alone, they’re dying spiritually and physically in the ‘people’s church,’ i.e., a church who caters to the self-focused ‘needs’ of the people.”

– Dr. Dana Carson

All of this preparation and enlargement beyond his wildest imaginations has propelled Dr. Dana Carson and The R.O.C.K. family into its greatest season of ministry – “Taking the Kingdom to the Edge!” Dr. Carson and The R.O.C.K. church relocated their international church headquarters and worship center to 9321 Edgebrook Dr. in Houston, half a block from Interstate 45 South. The R.O.C.K.’s vision is in a highly visible and accessible location intersecting three major thoroughfares, less than five minutes apart: I-45 South, 610 South, and Sam Houston Parkway (Beltway 8). No longer tucked away in the country, the ministry location lends access to worshipers located anywhere in Houston! Now, The R.O.C.K. has brought its innovative worship and holistic ministry to the Edge and provides some very unique

ministries for children, youth, and adults to a greater swath of people.

God wants the Kingdom message to get a greater audience, wherein even more souls can be saved in Houston!

“You know, I stand in awe of God’s magnificence as I look back over the last 10 years and what He was able to do in and through my ministry while we were located in Alvin, Texas. I know without a doubt that Kingdom reformation is a fact and that the sky is the limit here in Houston. Untold multitudes will be blessed—both here and also in the seven inhabitable continents around the globe.” According to Dr. Carson, it’s all about the Kingdom message and Matthew 24:14, ‘and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’ “Listen, what

I’m doing has been preordained since the beginning of time and is simply a part of God’s master plan for humanity. It’s no secret and no surprise that you are hearing all of this talk around Christendom about the Kingdom of God!” In the contemporary Christian church, the word “Kingdom” and the phrase “Kingdom of God” have become repetitively used, and are primarily used as the new “buzz” words for many churches. The contemporary church’s transition into using the word “Kingdom” is a tell-tale sign of where God is moving His church. God desires to shift today’s church into a Kingdom posture, and this involves the church being willing to be a counter-culture rather than culturally affirming. Dr. Carson intones, “Thus, the Bible states, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus’

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May 2014

(Philippians 2:5) and ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2b). The Kingdom message and power is the only means of transformation for a disciple of Christ. However, this has always been the fact from the beginning.” Thus, Dr. Carson has designed his church to reflect the Kingdom in every aspect – from its discipleship to leadership and most importantly, its messages.

At The R.O.C.K., you will not experience ‘church as usual,’ but a Kingdomminded church that is determined to fulfill the will of God according to the gospel of the Kingdom of God. In fact, the Kingdom of God is at the core of God’s message of redemption to humankind, so its proper definition is of the utmost importance. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God was Jesus’ central message as seen in the synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Christ’s ministry was inaugurated in order to make the will of God known according to the rule of God, first to Israel and then the Gentiles. Later, the book of Acts ends with Paul teaching on the Kingdom of God. Christ was consumed with conveying the message of the Kingdom of God; He lived His life to explain its culture and the necessity of entering and living within its boundaries and according to its parameters. What began as a vibrant reformation in the Jewish community, through the preaching and teaching of Christ and His disciples and the conversion of the Gentile world largely through the efforts of the Apostle Paul, came to an abrupt end in the face of vicious religious persecution and the institutionalization of the church.

“Thus, while Christ’s message of the Kingdom is the most overarching and dominant subject found throughout the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), today it is difficult to distinguish between fake Kingdom rhetoric and the truth of the Kingdom as presented by modern pulpiteers. Its true meaning and significance to the Body of Christ, both now and in the coming eschaton, are understood by only a very small percentage of the five-fold ministry, and even fewer laypersons. As such, despite this recent resurgence of interest in the Kingdom message, a substantive discussion of its character, structure, and citizens has been largely non-existent within the church.”

This ambiguity concerning Christ’s Kingdom was certainly not intended by Christ who stated emphatically that the purpose for which He was sent was to preach the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God was the principal cause for which Jesus lived and died. Appearing more than 100 times in the New Testament, the Kingdom of God was the last topic of discussion Jesus had with His disciples before His ascension. Luke concludes Acts with Paul “preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ” during his two-year confinement in Rome.

“Listen, what I’m doing has been preordained since the beginning of time and is simply a part of God’s master plan for humanity.”

– Dr. Dana Carson

Dr. Carson states, “Christ was inundated with the Kingdom of God and lived His life to explain the culture of the Kingdom and the necessity of being a part of the Kingdom. He did not want us to be confused on this subject! I want people to know that at The R.O.C.K., there is clarity on the Kingdom’s definition, placement, and purpose, and how to live your life as a part of the Kingdom.” Dr. Carson is at the forefront of a global Kingdom Movement and is the top scholar at the leading edge of a true reformation that is occurring within the Body of Christ.

This Kingdom man has put together the most principled and orderly theologically-based vision, values, and belief system regarding what the Bible clearly expresses about what it looks like to “live in the Kingdom.” God has burdened him with a desire to restore the Kingdom message and mission that Jesus, the disciples and the early church fathers espoused, but that got ‘lost’ through 1,500 years of anti-Semitism, the Romanization of the gospel, and the colonization of the gospel. The 21st century

has brought new challenges and threats to our world in the political, business, and religious arenas that have rapidly increased the church’s attrition rate and led to the propagation of a watered down gospel. The R.O.C.K.’s vision seeks to meet these 21st century challenges head on. God has given Dr. Carson a vision of global Kingdom transformation that will take the Kingdom to the home, the marketplace, colleges and universities, the community, cyberspace, and the world.

“The Kingdom is about power,” says Dr. Carson, “it’s about the power of God being released to transform and change lives.”

At The R.O.C.K., that Kingdom power will restore and reinforce the covenant of marriage through the launch of the Kingdom Institute of Family, Marriage, and Relationships. The result will be to train and educate Kingdom families on how to disciple their homes as they take the Kingdom to the home. There will be Kingdom-minded small groups in the home that will disciple new converts in the Kingdom culture. Crucial to this movement is increasing the financial in-

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telligence of Kingdom citizens, so that they become Kingdom stewards and possess the ability to live the abundant life, give to their ministry, and leave their children’s children an inheritance. This knowledge is available in the Kingdom School of Ministry’s Growing Prosperity Systematically certificate program.

At The R.O.C.K., that Kingdom power will reach a new generation of children, youth, and young people through fresh, impactful, and disciple-making ministry. Dr. Carson’s vision is to train children and youth to be Kingdom ambassadors through focused and age appropriate Bible studies, entrepreneurial programs, and relevant ministry opportunities. He states, “We will host an annual youth and children summer retreat jamboree that will lead thousands of children and youth between the ages of 4-14 to the Lord. We will make an intergenerational impartation to our kids and youth through organized athletic programs that will teach and instill the principles of teamwork and leadership, transforming and discipling children to be future leaders for the Kingdom of God.” His vision for the marketplace involves raising up Kingdom marketplace leaders who will transform their workplace as visible witnesses for the Kingdom of God. The vision for the Southeast Houston area is to create neighborhood prayer groups that pray for their neighbors and reach out to them with the Kingdom message. Like the early church in the book of Acts, The R.O.C.K. will develop a transformative prison ministry, a strategic clothing ministry, and a meaningful food pantry ministry.

The expansive vision includes holding miracle and deliverance services where the sick are healed and the lame walk through the power of the Kingdom. Dr. Carson added, “The Kingdom of God is always accompanied by a demonstration of power. Jesus went preaching the Kingdom of God, teaching the Kingdom of God, and healing every disease that was among them.”

In the last 10 years, thousands of people have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and have learned how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and follow His leading under the Kingdom leadership of Dr. Carson. Many experienced verified miracles and experienced a worship service that has transformed their spiritual lives.

Dr. Carson and The R.O.C.K. church brought this Kingdom flow to the Edge, 9321 Edgebrook Dr. Dr. Carson also hosts three major and annual Kingdom conferences: The Five-fold Ministry Conference, Holy Convocation, and Kingdom Summit. These conferences have been well attended by ministry partners and draw national Kingdomoriented speakers. Dr. Carson’s powerful and unique teaching and preaching, which you have heard on 92.1 FM and now hear every Sunday at 8am on 1230 AM KCOH, has found its providential and permanent home in Houston!

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May 2014

North Houston Frontiers Club Presents Scholarship Program 2014 The Class of 2014 North Houston Frontiers Club scholarship recipients were honored recently at the annual scholarship program, held at the Boy Scouts of America.

Since its inception in 1986, the North Houston Frontiers Club Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1 million to deserving college bound minority high school seniors in the Houston area. There were 24 scholarship recipients honored at this year’s program.

Hubert Jones Celebrates Retirement from ConocoPhillips at the Rice Mansion

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May 2014

G7

Global Seven Awards Kick-Off Reception

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May 2014

In the Community…

To View More Photos, Visit Our Website www.d-mars.com and Click on ‘Photo Gallery.’

100 Black Men

National C-STEM Challenge at Hilton Americas

MR. D-MARS Visits “The Luke”

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May 2014

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May 2014

In the Community…

To View More Photos, Visit Our Website www.d-mars.com and Click on ‘Photo Gallery.’

AKA Fashion Show

ICON Women All-White Rooftop Party

UofH African Dancing with the Houston Stars American Studies Anniversary Celebration

National Lemonade Day

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May 2014

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May 2014

Allowing Life to Define Family

By Charlotte Jackson

A

Contributing Writer

s a single mother of three children, two of whom are biracial, life has brought about many opportunities to stretch my faith. Early on, I learned that due to circumstances beyond my control, there would be relatives by blood or marriage who would not accept my “family.” I remember many days sitting with my children explaining that family does not have to be defined by blood or marriage, but instead family is those who choose to love and respect you unconditionally.

From the very beginning, God placed amazing people in my life – in my church, in the workplace and in the community – who made us feel like family. Realizing that I would not always be able to afford all that my children needed, much less wanted, I

learned the principle of faith that says you can NEVER give more than God. In my childhood, my mother taught me to give back through various volunteer projects, such as being a Candy Striper at the local hospital and gathering items each year to include in giftwrapped shoeboxes which were donated to the Port of Houston chaplains to be given out Christmas Day to men and women on ships in the middle of the ocean. As I grew older – before I was married and a mother – I found great opportunities to give back by serving as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program as well as volunteering with organizations such as Right to Life and CanCare.

So when I found myself as a single mom of three, I realized that by talking to those who make decisions for organizations and allowing them to hear my situation, often they were able to reduce fees for programs if I was willing to volunteer as a Team Mom or with outreach for the group.

(Yes, at times I questioned how I was going to get three children to three different basketball venues for games at the same time and be able to deliver snacks to one game, trophies to another and still keep my sanity. But God is good. He always provided other parents to carpool and help with

the details.)

At one time, our rental home flooded (we had no insurance). Suddenly, I found myself not only trying to scrape up money to lease a new place and new furnishings, but still work at my full-time job, part-time job and keep a smile on my face. What did He do? Within three days, I had coworkers and friends bringing me cash, checks, gift cards, offering to help sort through the salvageable items and opening doors for me to begin a six-and-a-half-year journey of living with no or reduced rent! Yes, I found opportunities to serve as the Activities Director at two different apartment complexes in exchange for reduced rent and then free rent. After that, God opened the door for me to serve as the House Mother at a shelter for

survivors of domestic abuse. I served there for 17 months, living rent free and ministering to ladies who were then wearing shoes I had worn back in 1995.

Over the years, as my sons wandered off the road I had planned for them, people whom I had met while working a part-time job to make ends meet stepped in and handled some legal issues. When my son, who is afflicted with a mental illness had special needs, people who I met through volunteering stepped in to provide counseling, encouragement and resource referrals that I otherwise would not had. When my youngest entered the Army, people who had volunteered with different events and organizations along the journey were there not only to offer support to me, but to encourage her through prayers and care packages.

It is by no accident that I am blessed to be a part of a church known for the words “I love you and there is nothing you can do about it.” Together as we travel this road called life, we learn that no man is an island and we must be obedient to be there for others so that when we need help, others are there. And as we travel this journey, we truly learn to believe that family is who we choose to love and respect unconditionally.

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The “Go-To”

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By Tiffany Black Contributing Writer

ow that we can say goodbye to winter and hello to spring, it’s time to put those coats away for good – or at least for just right now. This is Houston, so who knows?!

One of my favorite looks that you can never go wrong with is a good pair of skinny jeans and a nice top. Personally, I more so enjoy a nice fitted T-shirt with a cute blazer. Top that off with your favorite pair of heels and a clutch with color to make the outfit pop!!! Don't forget your accessories – arm candy is a must-have.

Your look isn’t complete without a great fragrance! One of my favorite scents right now is Acqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani.

Next is makeup. I would suggest keeping it simple on the face with a good natural foundation. I like to switch up my

Outfit for Spring

foundation – I’m usually a MAC makeup girl, but recently a friend of mine introduced me to Dream Fresh BB by Maybelline New York. As for the eyes, a smoky eye is always good and be sure to highlight those eyelashes! Maybelline New York’s The Colossal Volume Express is good! And you can't ever go wrong with a good bronzer to top off the face. I go with MAC lipglass Spice on my lips for a natural look.

This outfit is best if you’re going out with the girls for a night on the town or even if you’re planning a dinner date or going to a networking mixer. No matter your destination, you can't go wrong with this outfit!

1Whichever comes first. For full details on BMW Ultimate Service® visit bmwusa.com/ultimateservice. ©2013 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

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May 2014

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May 2014

Why We Can’t Wait

By J. T. Myers, M.Ed, MRT

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Contributing Writer

uring this time of year when the focus is on promotions, prom, parties, graduations, and celebrations, it is easy to get distracted. Everyone is overjoyed with pride – from siblings to parents and grandparents – with what family members have accomplished. However, for the ones left behind it is not such a joyous occasion. It is a time of despair, and sheer disappointment. The children that are not promoted to the next grade, the students that are only placed into their next grade level, or the ever increasing numbers of students that drop out are left behind with a sense of hopelessness.

Although many in society know that the majority of our children are not meeting the standards; they cover our eyes with dressed up rhetoric and facts and figures and we, not wanting to believe otherwise, welcome the mask. What we must understand is that everyone has a responsibility to catch the students falling through the cracks, not just the educators. For the task of true education is too far-reaching to go at it alone. It

must encompass the cooperation and the collaboration of everyone. The task that is before us all is our children’s forward mobility.

Forward mobility is defined as the forward movement in a positive direction based on the skills acquired to be successful in life. In the realm of education, there is a gap in this definition.

Promotion parallels the definition of forward mobility by moving forward in a positive direction based on the skills acquired. However, the word placement does not. Placement essentially means children are moved to the next grade level even if they have not met the minimum standards for their current level, or they have already been retained (or kept back) or it would not benefit them at all – so they are allowed to move to the next grade level. Placement, which is a fancy way of saying social promotion, does not

fix the problem of students not acquiring the skills they need to be successful in the future. All it does is simply provide a bandage on the problem that our kids are not learning the skills they need annually. Each year, kids in the United States fall further behind other countries in our most pivotal subjects of math, science, and reading.

How can the problem be fixed? Most people offer the solution of an extended school year (i.e. summer school) or summer enrichment to fix the problem. Yet, I ask you if students did not understand or master the material in nine months of regular school year instruction are they truly going to magically catch it in twoand-a-half months? The resounding answer is NO! Other alternative solutions have been just as futile – “They will catch it at the beginning of next year because the fall is just review anyway.” Think back for a moment to the time when you were younger. When there was a concept that you did not quite grasp during the school year, did you either “catch it” over the summer or the beginning of the next school year? You already know the answer to this question. The fact remains: the answer is also ‘No.’ If you did finally understand that concept, what did it really take? It took a new way of teaching

the concept that you did not understand or understand fully. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing and yet expecting a different result. Parents and educators alike must use due diligence to find other ways to have a positive outcome.

Educators must use different methodologies if the current ones are not working and students are not grasping the material. Parents must seek to find out what students are learning or not learning in the classroom, monitoring closely what their children are doing nightly to master what was presented in class (homework, studying and reviewing what was introduced and taught in class.) If your child is saying daily “I don’t have any homework” or “I did it already,” ask to see it and check it to see if it is correct. If a child alleges there was not any homework given, call the teacher to verify if this happens as a daily occurrence.

Why we can’t wait is what we as a society cannot do. Waiting until someone else fixes the problem will not give us caring parents, devoted educators, or concerned individuals any solace. What must be done is for all parties to make a solid collaborative partnership, where we all dig in and do what needs to be done to get our children to the plateau of life and over it to a successful future.

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May 2014

Welcome

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c haN c e llo r

Dr. Cesar MalDonaDo

We’re proud to introduce Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E., PMP, as the new Chancellor of Houston Community College. Dr. Maldonado brings 30 years of business experience, a strong academic pedigree, and the leadership skills to take us where our community needs us to be, both today and into the future.

Welcome to a new day at HCC.

HCCs.edu

Welcome_D-Mars Summer 2014.indd 1

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May 2014

HE HEARD MY CRY FELLOWSHIP

he heard my cry

Mission Statement HHMCF is dedicated to following the Word of God, feeding the flock the Word of God and fellowshipping with the saints. That the lost might be saved, the saved might be fed and equipped to edify the body of Christ.

Faith-Filled

Pastor Claude Cummings, Wife Joaquina Cummings & Daughter Jillian I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

-Psalm 116: 1-2

Bible-Based

Family-Friendly

Sunday Morning Worship

Starts at 9:00 AM at the Communication Workers of America Building

1730 Jefferson St., Houston, Tx 77003

Phone: 713.581.0852 | Email: Info@hhmcf.com | www.hhmcf.com | Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

He Heard My Cry