Community Journal 35 by d-mars.com

Community Journal

Inspire, Inform & Educate

July, 2014

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5 Easy Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Party d-mars.com News Provider There’s nothing quite like a summer party where beautiful weather, great food and good friends come together to create memories that last.

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The Fort Bend Church

Pound of Flesh Movie Inspired by Tragic Accident in Houston By Valerie Jones December 1988 will always remain in my memory. A few days before Christmas, I was traveling south on I-45 when I saw a pileup of more than a dozen cars and trucks on the opposite side of the freeway traveling north.

is Home to Powerful and Impressive Male Chorus

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Rebuilding Lives By Charlotte Jackson Imagine the pride swelling up inside of a person who just a few months ago was living on the streets of Houston sleeping on a cardboard box, when they turn the key to their very own apartment. PAGE 12

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“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”

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July, 2014

Journal Behind The

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 Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.

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

In all definitions, a community is defined as a group. This means no one individual can define a community, but each individual can help build a community – through thought, words and actions. A clear desire and passion matched with support from other like-minded people can allow anyone to become a community builder, including you! Ask yourself this question: “What can I do to help build my community?” Once you determine what can be done, do it – and encourage others to do the same. In this issue, you’ll read about those who are building their community, whether it’s through the ministry of music or creating a film that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of many in the community because it’s inspired by a true account. I hope that you enjoy and are inspired to also become a community builder. 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.

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Contents

Andrea Hennekes

The Fort Bend Church is Home to Powerful and Impressive Male Chorus...................................................................................... 4

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Teaching Kids to Give Back............................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Angel Rosa

5 Easy Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Party........................................................................................................................... 6

DISTRIBUTION

Pound of Flesh Movie Inspired by Tragic Accident in Houston........................................................................................................ ....8

Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

Rebuilding Lives............................................................................................................................................................................................ ....12

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Valerie Jones d-mars.com News Provider Charlotte Jackson

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July, 2014

“We are a very close group of men with a passion for God’s work through songs and to be a positive beacon of light for other men to follow.”

— Leroy Eaglin, Male Chorus Ministry Leader

The Fort Bend Church is Home to Powerful and Impressive Male Chorus By Valerie Jones Associate Editor

estled in between the walls of The Fort Bend Church in Sugar Land is a group of men who sing spiritedly and whole-heartedly every third Sunday of the month. The Male Chorus at The Fort Bend Church – affectionately known as ‘The Bend’ – includes more than 100 members and has earned recognition for its powerful ministry. The Bend’s Male Chorus has opened for Vickie Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Marvin Sapp and performed The National Anthem at a Sugar Land Skeeters baseball game. The Male Chorus started out with a small group of 25-30 men. One year, The Bend’s Pastor Byron Stevenson challenged the men of the church to have more than 100 men sing on Father’s Day. “Over 100 men responded and committed themselves to that ministry that Sunday,” Pastor Stevenson said. “It has been that way ever since. The men enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of the group. It serves as a strong witness for Christ in the community at large when people see that many men committed to serving Christ through blending their voices together.”

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Many members of The Bend invite their friends and coworkers to service to hear the Male Chorus. “I believe the greatest tool of evangelism is still the ‘come and see’ approach,” Pastor Stevenson said. “When other men see the Male Chorus, it challenges them to look at their own lives to see how they can be of more service on the church.” Keith Eason, who has served as Minister of Music at The Bend for six years, describes the Male Chorus as ‘likeminded brothers who are committed to serving, praising and worshipping as a group of believers and demonstrate their oneness as they minister in song.’ “I have studied music since the age of 8 and was mentored at an early age by the music ministries of Glenn Burleigh, Willie Thornton, Brenda Waters and Barbara Tucker,” Eason said. “It was through those early influences that I graduated from Houston Baptist University with a degree in vocal music. I’ve had the pleasure of singing for former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former President Bill Clinton.” It takes someone special to pull something special out of each Male Chorus member and Eason is that person. “[Keith] is very gifted and talented with a passion for music that emulates throughout our Male Chorus Ministry,” said Leroy Eaglin, Male Chorus Ministry Leader. “I have been singing in the church for more than 30 years and he is the only director who has the unique ability to communicate very clearly exactly how he wants us to sing a song.” Eason shared that with a group of men who vary in age, style of music and Christian maturity, he must be able to meet the needs of everyone musically. “I try to evoke the best from the Male Chorus by meeting them where they are musically and then train and teach them where we need to go as a choir,” Eason said. “Any given Sunday, you might hear the men ministering a praise and worship song, an anthem or a traditional gospel song and then move and do something inspirational. Most of the emotions are rendered when the men can relate to the music being taught and how it relates to them in their daily Christian walk.” Eaglin developed his passion for music when he was a child growing up in the country. “My mother, who is now deceased, was a very religious lady and would sing to me every day as a child growing up in Opelousas, La.,” he said. “As I grew older, I developed a love for all types of music, but my greatest love is spiritual music.” Eaglin credits The Bend Pastor Byron Stevenson for creating an environment within the church to allow members of the Male Chorus to grow spiritually as men of God and use their talents to spread the good news of Jesus Christ through song. “It was through his vision we were able to develop and grow,” Eaglin said. “We are a very close group of men with a passion for God’s work through songs and to be a positive beacon of light for other men to follow. We understand our unique position within the church, and as a large group of men, we also understand our obligation to set the example

for other men in our church.” One thing is for sure…The Bend Male Chorus does more than just minister through music…it is a brotherhood. “The greatest strength of the Male Chorus is our brotherly love that we have for each other,” Eaglin said. “We are always available to assist our brothers when they need help with a job or a man-to-man conversation about a problem, injury, sickness or passing of a loved one. We look at our Male Chorus Ministry as our extended family.” The Bend, under the leadership of Pastor Byron Stevenson, is located at 1900 Eldridge Rd., Sugar Land, Texas 77478. The Male Chorus ministers every third Sunday of the month.

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Teaching Kids 5 Easy Tips for Throwing to Give Back the Ultimate Summer Party

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ne of the most rewarding reasons to get involved in your community is to set a good example for your kids. Whether you donate money or time, giving back is beneficial, and not just for the recipients. The reward for your selfless acts can be a beautiful thing for both your community and your children’s future. But what are some of the ways you can teach kids to give back and what age should you begin encouraging them? Giving back is just as much about volunteering as it is about philanthropy. Dr. Lois Winchell, child and family therapist at Argosy University, Sarasota, believes it should be a combination of both. “If we want our children to give back, our families need to be involved in multiple activities,” says Winchell. “These include volunteering resources and time and giving money when possible. Learning how to donate time can be a very powerful lesson for children because it is a giving of ourselves. This intimate experience can be significant and can often reap a more personal reward than the offering of money and things.” As with everything else in life, kids learn best by example. The closer you can bring your child to the recipient of the gift, the more personal the experience becomes. “Nurturing a sense of giving and making sure this is a value for your children starts as early as age 3 or 4,” says Winchell. “At this developmental age, we can teach them that others have feelings and that your child has an impact on those feelings. This sense of empathy is the underpinning of charity. The most significant impact on our children is what they actually see us doing as it relates to a giving spirit. As we engage in specific projects, we can have conversations with our children regarding why the project is important and who will benefit.” Start by expanding their sense of environment, from the immediate family to their local community and eventually the world around them. A sense of awareness of something greater than themselves is important in raising a compassionate individual. This sense of responsibility to others and the environment as a world citizen can be supported by making children aware of others’ needs, whether in visiting a shelter or a food bank with family members or simply helping younger siblings. “From infancy to about 5 years old, children aren’t necessarily capable of thinking outside of themselves. Even so, parents need to foster their child’s sharing with others,” says Winchell. As children grow older, they can begin volunteering and supporting community projects more directly. Whether they donate toys to a children’s shelter or simply participate in a walk for charity, these years are important for a child to learn the art of giving back. When they become teenagers, they can do even more for the community by assisting an elderly neighbor with his yard work or helping out at a local food bank or soup kitchen. Additionally, it is important to convey the message that “giving back” does not include an expectation of getting something in return. Instead, highlight the sense of joy in being able to make someone happy and how those feelings are the greater gift. “When a child experiences sharing and the serving of others, an internal sense of contentment and selfworth is experienced,” says Winchell. “This self-enhancement and sense of belonging is coincident with their giving and results in a benefit that cannot be gained any other way. This sense of happiness and accomplishment then contributes to their positive sense of self.” In other words, teaching kids to give back is one of the best things a parent can do for the community and the child. (BPT)

How to Bring Together the Right Food, Drinks and Friends for an Amazing Summer Party

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here’s nothing quite like a summer party where beautiful weather, great food and good friends come together to create memories that last. If you’re looking forward to throwing a summer party but you’re not sure how to get started, the following tips will have you outside enjoying a warm breeze with your friends in no time. 1. Formulate the guest list. What’s a party without guests, right? Start by determining how many people you can comfortably host and create your guest list with this realistic number in mind. Friends, family and co-workers can all attend, but make sure to invite people you know will be respectful of your home and your neighborhood as their actions reflect on you. You might consider adding your neighbors as well as they may feel slighted if they aren’t invited to the big party taking place next door. 2. Pick a theme. Theme parties make planning and decorating so much easier, and they provide guests an immediate sense of what kind of party it is, how to dress, etc. If you own a pool, invite everyone to a day at the beach. Or, pick a theme around your favorite television show. Whatever you decide, carry your theme through to the decorations, the attire and the invitations themselves. 3. Dress your party to impress. The right decorations are a matter of taste and your skill level. If you’re the creative type, you may enjoy building your own decorations from scratch. Or, you might prefer to simply purchase your decorations from a local party supply store. No matter what you choose, select decorations that complement the theme of your party. Remember to make sure areas like the food table and sitting areas are appropriately decorated. 4. A flavor for every taste. Warm weather gatherings shouldn’t involve a lot of time in the kitchen working over a hot stove. Instead, consider offering a selection of easy, ready-to-eat snacks in a variety of flavors. TGI Fridays Snacks are a perfect choice because they parallel popular menu appetizer items with which people are instantly familiar. Choose

from the popular Cheddar Bacon Potato Skins Snack Chips or the new Bacon Ranch Potato Skins Snack Chips. With 11 different flavors to choose from, your guests can roam the party to try them all. 5. Keep them entertained. The right entertainment options can keep your party going longer. If you have a pool, make it the main attraction and don’t forget the floats! Outdoor yard games like darts, lawn bowling or bean bag toss are popular and you can encourage participation by turning them into a competition. Smaller groups may appreciate a deck of cards and no one can say no to bingo if there’s a prize on the line. Good music is a must so be sure to load your iPod with a fun, upbeat playlist your guest will enjoy. Planning the perfect party is easier than you may think. With a little preparation and the right food, decorations and entertainment, you can give your guests a memorable event they’ll be talking about all summer long. (BPT)

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July, 2014

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July, 2014

Pound of Flesh Movie Inspired by Tragic Accident in Houston By Valerie Jones Associate Editor

ecember 1988 will always remain in my memory. A few days before Christmas, I was traveling south on I-45 when I saw a pileup of more than a dozen cars and trucks on the opposite side of the freeway traveling north. It was a mess, a fiery mess. An accident was caused by an old beat-up truck carrying old household appliances. Witnesses said the items were not properly secured and had begun to fall off the truck onto the highway. Oncoming cars and trucks were trying to avoid falling debris and crashing into one another. One car held a mother, father and their nine-year-old daughter, who was seated in the back. The car of the family rammed into the car in front of them. All hell seemed to break loose then. A twoton truck transporting brand new coffins crashed into the family’s car and set the car on fire. The mother and father were able to get out, but not their child, who was wedged between the front and back seats. Moments later, passing motorists stopped to render help…including me.

Don Okolo, Writer/ Director

Nkem DenChukwu, Producer

Pound of Flesh will premiere Saturday, August 23, at AMC Loews Fountains 18 in Stafford, Texas. Nothing anybody did was enough to pull the child from the burning car. Her father dove into the raging flames and did what he could to get his little girl from the snares of the rising flames. He was scorched…burned beyond recognition. It was the most harrowing act of bravery I had ever seen; the determination to give his life away to save his little girl’s life stuck with me like nothing else would. We were forced to pull him from the car. The girl eventually burned to death…

Writer/director Don Okolo’s jarring account of that day was the inspiration for the movie Pound of Flesh (POF), presented by Street Corner Films. Okolo created the movie to keep the memory of the girl alive as well as her father who endured unfathomable pain in an attempt to save her life. The story

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is inspired by the accident, but not based on the accident. The only factual parts of (POF) are those that have to do with the accident itself. The other parts of the movie were embellished for dramatic reasons. Street Corner Films partnered with Barbara Jordan Endeavors (BJE) – an

July, 2014

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organization that provides scholarships for students with disabilities – and a portion of the movie’s proceeds will go towards BJE. POF also provided opportunities for three people with hidden disabilities to be cast in the film. Other Houstonians in the film include BJE founder Thelma Scott, Monica Gaseor, Eva Cotton and 12-year-old Alexis Anderson in the role of leading child. “When I first read the script, it was really painful to read because I knew it was inspired by a true story and my heart ached for the parents of the child who lost her life that tragic night,” said Cotton. Cotton has acted since she was in her 20s, having acted in commercials and been an extra in cinema as well as madefor-television movies. In POF, she plays the character of Rhonda Blue, a 70-yearold atheist turned Christian. “She was someone who is the complete

opposite of me and I knew playing her would stretch me as an actress,” she said. “There are some similarities, however. When I was cast, I was a wife but have since become like Ms. Blue, a widow.” Cotton took her role in POF very seriously and fully immersed herself in the character. She changed her Facebook name to Rhonda Blue, played around with accents and spoke in character all day long once – at home, during phone calls, to strangers and to God. Cotton admitted it was funny acting as an old southern white woman, but she enjoyed it. “The screenplay was so well-written and crafted that I had dreams – or maybe nightmares – about it, days and even weeks after studying it,” Cotton said. “I had to put it aside for a few days because it really became a part of me. The movie is remarkable, and I don’t say that because I’m starring in it. Okolo is an out-

standing writer and for him to have been an eyewitness to the actual event then weave a storyline that is so incredible that you relive those horrific moments with him decades later, it says a lot about the man’s creative ability.” POF Producer Nkem DenChukwu worked with Okolo in 2012 when she produced PAGE 36. Then, she came onboard as a production manager, but earned the title of producer because of what she brought to the table. “I have always loved the art of artistic expression,” DenChukwu said. “Each production is unique and exciting, and I use the opportunity to improve on my skills.” DenChukwu and Okolo (Street Corner Films) are hoping to score big with Hollywood while making “Nollywood” films. “Nollywood” as Okolo defines it, is comprised of mostly filmmakers who tell African stories and often have to

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work with less money. “The secret to low-cost filmmaking is to provide a high production value to your film by way of great locations, a great story and some incredible acting,” Okolo said. “I think we did that with this film.” Both DenChukwu and Okolo hope that Houstonians will come out in droves to see POF, which includes a cast and crew of Houstonians. “We really hope our fellow Houstonians and neighbors come to the premiere of the movie Pound of Flesh. They will see and appreciate the many talents we have in the City of Houston and what Street Corner Films can do cinematically,” DenChukwu said. “This movie will keep the audience rooted in their seats; they will cry, they will laugh, and the events that caused this film to be made will be etched in their memories. Above all, they will be entertained.”

July, 2014

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July, 2014

Rebuilding Lives By Charlotte Jackson

Contributing Writer

magine the pride swelling up inside of a person who just a few months ago was living on the streets of Houston sleeping on a cardboard box, when they turn the key to their very own apartment. Look a little deeper into their eyes as they share the story of how they learned to overcome obstacles and earn income from that very same piece of cardboard. You not only hear words like “hope” and “inspiration,” but you feel the effect. More than 22 years ago, when Rudy and Juanita Rasmus were asked to take on the roles and responsibilities of Senior Pastors of a church located in the shadows of the Pierce Elevated, they had a choice to look into the eyes and be affected by homelessness, unemployment, hurt and pain or to use those visions to lead a congregation to touch lives and make an impact in

the lives of those living on the streets of Houston. Through the unique style of accepting others “just as they are” and loving them unconditionally, Rudy and Juanita have not only built the congregation from nine to several thousand, but they have also been an active part of rebuilding lives as part of a revolution that flows not only at the corners of Crawford and Gray in Downtown Houston, but on the Northwest side of Houston, right where Cy-Fair ISD meets Aldine ISD.

Yes, through the power of love, Pastors Rudy and Juanita have been given the additional responsibilities of a second location to serve Houstonians. This power of love has touched countless lives through services provided by The Bread of Life, The Art Project Houston, Temenos CDC and other ministries as well. It is a combination of these ministries which helps lives become transformed and rebuilt, and formerly homeless Houstonians are beginning

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to become active participants in the economic circle of our city. Through the Art Project Houston, homeless clients of The Bread of Life as well as others in the community learn the benefits of therapeutic art classes. Not only are they able to “get in touch” with their feelings and learn productive ways to react to life, but many are now able to use those artistic skills to paint artwork, which varies from murals to refrigerator magnets. These items and more are then sold through various venues in the Houston area and online. As they are sold, a percentage of the funds are returned to the ministry to furnish supplies and classes for the next group of clients and the balance is paid to the artists. Then, in turn, many of these artists are able to rent an apartment from the Temenos CDC and continue to rebuild their lives. Along the way, most of the lives touched by The Art Project are touched in many other ways by the faith-based community, known to many by the motto “We love you and there is nothing you can do about it.” As lives are rebuilt, people naturally want to give back and help the next person become stronger. All of this is possible because of the love shown daily to everyone who walks through the doors of St John’s Downtown and now St John’s Northwest.

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Welcome

TO YOUR FUTURE PROMOTION. register today for summer/fall classes. hccs.edu

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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

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He Heard My Cry

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