Faith Based Journal Inspire, Inform & Educate
April 2011
4th Edition
The MEGA Ministry Phenomenon
INSIDE
Touching the Souls of People Everywhere By Brandale Mills People have been delivered, people are coming to Christ and people are learning what their purpose is through Felicia Young Ministries. PAGE 7
The Christian’s Mandate By Robert Driskell The Bible tells us that the central duty of the believer, outside of his or her personal relationship with Jesus, is to take the message of the Gospel to others. PAGE 15
MR. D-MARS & Bishop James Dixon, II
“We believe that God alone causes the growth of His Church. Yet part of His plan is to include us as partners in reaching/gathering the harvest which is so ripe.” - Mark Halvorson
MR. D-MARS & ??????????
A Butterfly’s Struggle By Carla Lane Their very existence is the ultimate example of struggle and triumph. PAGE 18
Pastor Bridget Israel
Attorney Ricky Anderson
Zion Covenant Ministries
Anderson & Smith
Your Purpose is Greater Than Your Pain
The Community Of Faith Church is building a model Community of Faith, extending God’s kingdom Biblically, evangelistically, educationally, politically, socially and globally.
By Pastor Freddie Davis III It’s the “rain” and “mess” in our lives that helps us grow! PAGE 22
Carla Lane
Felicia Young
Lane Staffing
Felicia Young Ministries
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Publisher’s Message
Keith J. Davis, Sr. SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis
DIRECTOR OF SALES Min. Eric D. Goodwine
“An Increase in the Number of African American Mega churches” is the fifth trend that Martha Simmons wrote about in the African American Pulpit Spring Edition of 2007. T.D. Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, Charles Blake, and many others are a part of a trend towards Mega Churches. Many African American preachers look toward these churches as models of where they wish to be. But is a Mega Church a good model of church health? This issues focus is not so much on the size of the ministry, but how a church small in numbers can be a MEGA ministry -- how it handles parishioners, availability and accessibility of programs and how the church responds to community issues. 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.
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla
CONTENTS
JR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Jr. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Christopher P. Kirksey EDITING CONSULTANT ReShonda Tate-Billingsley
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jones C.T. Foster Pastor Freddie L. Davis, III
Bishop James W. E. Dixon, II: Leading a Mega Church of Believers…….... 5
PHOTOGRAPHY Leon Galbreath Grady Carter
A Closer Look at Your Spiritual Personality……………………………........... 8
MARKETING CONSULTANT Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.
The Christian’s Mandate…………………………………………………........... 15
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes
Changing Financial Destinies: One Family, One Business at a Time……..... 17
LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ghuzzala Malik (Faith) Michael J. Martinez
An Inspirational Message of Faith and Wholeness: It Had to Happen…...... 19
DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brandale Mills Sharon C. Jenkins Eric D. Goodwine Joyce James Robert Driskell Latarjah R. Dean Carla Lane Cynthia Patterson Madeline “Carla” Kirksey Freddie Davis III
Touching the Souls of People Everywhere: Felicia Young Ministries…........ 7 Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Gear up for Fundraising Fashion Show.... 7 Solutions2Service........................................………………………………...... 8 Three P’s for Communications………………………………………….....…… 10 Sword of the Spirit Outreach Ministries – Encouraging the Community....... 15 A Butterfly’s Struggle…………………………………………………................ 18 The Mega Church – A Social Phenomenon………………………………....... 20 You Probably Won’t Have a Mega-Church................................................... 20 Your Purpose Is Greater Than Your Pain…………………………………........ 22
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Bishop James W. E. Dixon, II:
Leading a Mega Church of Believers from Imagination to Manifestation In recent times “mega churches” are coming under more and more scrutiny. Why, because many are questioning the real impact and relevance of these multi-million dollar operations. Houston, Texas is known nationally as a city of great churches. When that conversation is held one of those mentioned is always The Community Of Faith (COF), led by its visionary pastor, native Houstonian, James W.E. Dixon, II. Mr. D-Mars was pleased to spend some quality time with this man whose life and ministry has meant so much to the people of Houston over the years. Mr. D-Mars: Thanks Bishop D for agreeing to talk with us. Bishop Dixon: It’s an honor, so thank you! Mr. D-Mars: Bishop, what’s happening at The Community Of Faith in 2011? Bishop Dixon: Mr. D-Mars it’s a New Era at the COF. Our theme is “From Imagination to Manifestation!” The Holy Spirit is taking center stage. In fact, I’m a new Pastor and the COF is a new church. And I invite anyone
We in the pews and in the public watch spiritual leaders, especially when they go through challenges. Tell us, how does a pastor and church keep going in spite of storms? Bishop Dixon: It’s Faith! “A faith that can’t be tried can’t be trusted.” Anyway, what people have in mind when they see you in a storm is seldom what God has in mind. People think it’s for your drowning. But God knows its necessary development for your destiny. Mr. D-Mars: So how do you describe The Community Of Faith (COF)? Bishop Dixon: The COF is a ministry of empowerment. “We empower individuals, families and communities to become visible manifestations of the power of God in the presence of people, for God’s glory!” That’s our assignment! Mr. D-Mars: Just how do you do that? Bishop Dixon: Faith is the primary Kingdom principle. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because whoever comes to God must believe that He really does exist and that He
ed to overcome obstacles, withstand opposition and seize opportunities. Ours is not the typical name it and claim it message. I think, in fact I see evidence that people have gotten tired of hearing the fluff, the cotton candy that tastes sweet but leaves you malnourished with cavities. But the brand of faith we teach is wording it, willing it and working it. We have to teach them how operate in faith in the practical dimensions of life. Mr. D-Mars: That is where empowerment ministry facilities and programs play a vital part.
tionally, we have had an award winning Junior Achievement Company for the past 17 years. It’s called EXCEL. Then there’s GOOD GANG USA, a youth empowerment that reaches out to kids in our church and community. Their motto is “I’m not a candidate for failure. I’m a genius!” Mr. D-Mars: Wow, that’s a lot more than I had when I was a kid in church. And I was also impressed by the schools you have on the campus. To see the little children reading at Dominion Preparatory and to see middle school students
Bishop Dixon: Our children’s and youth ministries empower them spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally. We produce kids who are strong in the Word and have an awewho thinks they know us to come ex- really does reward those who diligently some program that teaches teens the importance of moral purity. But they seek Him out.” perience the change. We have a sound Biblical message learn so much through fun experiences Mr. D-Mars: Bishop, it is wonderful to see the staying power of the COF. designed to build the faith muscle need- such as dance, drama and music. Addi-
learning about business at Dominion Academy was truly inspiring. These are programs every parent should check out. So the COF invests a lot into kids. Bishop Dixon: “Absolutely! What we put in them now will determine what comes out of them later,” says Dixon. Mr. D-Mars: But even while talk-
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ing with Bishop D as he’s affectionately called, you sense that he’s not satisfied that his church is doing enough. So I asked him the question. His answer was more thought provoking than anticipated. Bishop Dixon: Have you been to the Harris County Juvenile Court building on a Monday morning for docket call? Do you know that over 1,200 8th grade students in HISD are over age 16? Do you realize that over 60% of African American 4th graders cannot read on grade level and that 62% of AA 8th graders cannot do math on grade level? How troubling it is that
as a progressive faith based community developer. How and why is that significant? Bishop Dixon: Our Biblical model is Nehemiah. Upon hearing about the persisting decay, deterioration of Jerusalem, his home town, resigned and relocated to lead the vision to rescue, rebuild, restore and reposition the city to its purposed place. Thus, with the help of some very smart people, we founded Dominion Community Development Corporation. Through this vehicle, we have developed three subdivisions (Dominion Estates 1, 2, 3); purchased and upgrad-
most pastors have not seen this either and are not doing ministry in light of these very disturbing trends. And please don’t begin discussing incarceration, recidivism and negative trends in health, particularly the HIV numbers. The spread of this disease among youth in our community is at epidemic levels, greatly due to unrestricted immorality. Mr. D-Mars: How is your ministry addressing it? Bishop Dixon: We are teaching youth and adults the importance of building a Kingdom Family Legacy. The truth is the future of the Kingdom Family structure is under satanic and societal attack. Through unbridled promiscuity, perverted sexual identity and the lack of competence and commitment to family, we are losing ground. It’s not ok for our girls to think they can be boys or for our boys to think they can be girls. These things are all around us but who’s teaching truth in love? You don’t if you’re trying to be popular. My position is, I would rather be powerful than popular. Mr. D-Mars: You are also known
ed Dominion Square Apartments and developed Dominion Empowerment Plaza retail center. Genesis, the Book of beginnings, tells us God’s original design for man. “Let them have dominion...” Donald Lawrence’s song “Let’s Get Back To Eden” is on target! Mr. D-Mars: That brings us to the matter of economics. Bishop D, where do we go from here? Bishop Dixon: If we remain disillusioned and disconnected we will come to definite ruin. If we decide to communicate and collaborate we can recover and reposition. It is awesome to think of what the collective power of mega churches could and should be. A great example is the new Impact Network founded by Bishop blank that Bishop IV Hilliard is partnering with. This is the first ever African American led nationally based TV network. This model of collective mega church potency could effect positive change on so many levels. Think of the jobs we could create, elections we could influence and institutions we could hold accountable. It just doesn’t make sense to be mega
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and minor at the same time! Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against mega church. The problem is that while churches become more mega so does the misery in our communities. Let me be clear, I am not against mega ministry. I support the concept. I’m looking for 10 to 20,000 visioneers (what The COF calls members). But the purpose is not to win the biggest congregation, car or castle contest. Rather, the purpose is to empower more people, to fight for bigger causes and to have more muscle to
a professional crew to help them relax and take their minds off of disturbing and painful realities. Only the operators of the cruise ship profit. I believe in prospering pastors. But if the pastor is the only one getting rich in the church something is seriously wrong! On the contrary, battleships deliberately go into dangerous and troublesome territory. They intentionally engage in conflict designed to defeat opposition that threatens the peace and prosperity of those who cannot defend themselves.
flex on behalf of the disadvantaged who are often abused and neglected. Size and substance are not synonymous. Big is not automatically better.
Battleship churches empower people who are not even on board. Cruise ship churches simply entertain and do not show up to the real fight.
Mr. D-Mars: This is also one chapter focus in Dixon’s popular book, If God Is So Good, Why Are Blacks Doing So Bad? Published by Life Bridge, the book is Rated 41/2 Star by Amazon. In Chapter 7 he writes, “Our battleships became cruise ships” referencing the church. So we asked him about that. Well there are clear distinctions. Battleships are committed to empowerment but cruise ships are about entertainment. On cruise ships, patrons pay
The present condition of our community demands battleships. The self centered and introverted mega model is losing relevance because it’s not practically resourceful and reliable. I think the message is, build mega and make a mega difference. “To whom much is given, much is required.” The problem is, most people prefer joining cruise ship churches until their own crisis demand a battleship response. Then I’m their kind of pastor.
Touching the Souls of People Everywhere: Felicia Young Ministries By Brandale Mills, Contributing Writer
“In the middle of my mess, I needed a change; I needed a life change.” Felicia Young, mother of NFL superstar and Houston native, Vincent Young, knew she needed to change her life in order to accept God’s calling for her ministry. “I didn’t want to be greatly blessed but still in my mess,” Young said. “He told me that if I told what he did for me and where he brought me from, that He’d touch and save every soul [I spoke to].” Young said God delivered her from years of drug and alcohol abuse and told her she would receive great blessings through her son, Vincent. Motivated to help women who have experienced similar tribulations, Young prepared herself and her ministry to witness to people all over. “I called on the name of the Lord and asked him to take the taste [of drugs] out of my life, the urge out of stomach. [I asked him to] change my entire life so I could be who He wanted
me to be in order to accept His abundance,” Young said. Ten years after her deliverance, Young created Felicia Young Ministries to help “meet the social, charitable and educational needs of the nations.” Through her work with the Vincent Young Foundation, Young realized many of the young children had a void in their daily lives. “They’re teaching athletics, academics and all that, but we still need to get back to the basics. They seem to be passing up what we need to do and that is Jesus Christ,” she said. The Felicia Young Ministries has four immediate visions: Community Gospelfest – Ministry to the community through music, skits and activities, uplifting and preaching the word of God. Soul Winning Conferences – Conferences designed to inspire and uplift. Prison Ministry – Delivering God’s word to those during difficult times in their imprisonment. Women Transitional Homes – Women released from prison often come from homes where they suffered abuse or have experienced drug abuse. In order to break the cycle, these homes will help facilitate their entrance into society. Young said there have been positive
changes within her ministry and she’s been fortunate to have the opportunity to witness to all types of people. “Prayer has showed me that people have been delivered, people are coming to Christ and people are learning what their purpose is [through my ministry]. Learning that, this [following Christ] is not something you do today, but it is a lifestyle,” Young said. Felicia Young Ministries is preparing to host its first conference Mother’s Day weekend beginning May 6th. The Enrichment Mother’s Day Conference will be a day of events full of motivational speakers and life applicable seminars. Themed “Standing on the Promises of God,” the conference hopes to empower and enrich mothers one another in their walk with God. The day following the conference, Felicia Young Ministries partnered with Extraordinary Events will host a fundraising gala honoring women within the Houston community. All proceeds of the gala will go to the Gulf Coast Community Service Association, a non-profit strengthening the educational, social and
economic well-being of individuals and families. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.feliciayoungministries. com or www.extraordinaryeventandcatering.com.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Gears up for Fundraising Fashion Show
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heeler Avenue Inner City Visions, Inc. and The Women’s Guild of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church will present the 47th Annual Fashion Show & IMPACT Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar Street, in downtown Houston. The theme for this year’s event is “The Family, The Village, The AvaPRIL 2011
enue.” This year’s honorees to receive the IMPACT Award will include: Alaina King Benford, Genora Boykins, Naomi Hines, Charlene Hunter James, and Sandra Organ Solis. The luncheon will consist of an afternoon of entertainment and fine dancing, concluding with an exciting fashion show presented by Dillard’s Post Oak Galleria in Houston. The spring fashions will be modeled by adult and youth members of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.
The Women’s Guild is an all-female auxiliary of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church which was founded in 1963 in the home of then member, Jewel Sloan. The Guild has set the precedent for implementing fashion shows and luncheons with a distinctive reputation for hosting exquisite shows adaptable for diverse wardrobes. Grounded in fellowship and service to the Wheeler Avenue family and Houston community, The Guild is heralded as the forerunner of
Christian-oriented luncheon and fashion show fundraisers, hosting its first fashion show and luncheon fundraiser in the spring 1964. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church is led by Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Senior Pastor and Rev. William “Bill” A. Lawson, Pastor Emeritus. Tickets for the fashion show/luncheon on April 9th are $50 per person or a table of ten for $500. All proceeds benefit the Educational Assistance Fund to award scholarships to deserving high school graduates within the Wheeler Avenue family and Houston community. For tickets, please contact The Chronicles Bookstore on the campus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Avenue, (713) 579-2753.
A Closer Look at Your Spiritual Personality
The Master Designer had your purpose in mind when He designed you. You are a unique mixture of characteristics, expertly designed for a kingdom purpose. Your parents contributed to the process, but they did not have the
final say so, God did. As we take a closer look at you, we must take the time to define the four personality types so that you will get a better understanding of yourself and the others around you. This is not an attempt to place you in a box; it’s simply a tool that will better help you define the “why” of who you are so that you can better understand your spiritual strengths. All of us have a dominant personality type with a sprinkling of the other four. We were sculptured by the hand of an all knowing God and uniquely designed for kingdom purpose. No one is 100% anything. Most of us have a primary personality type with a strong secondary following. It is important to know what that is because most often it is the filter that we process everything in our life through, including our “spiritual life.” Yes, your response to God and the things of God is filtered through your personality, your natural inclination or
bend towards life. That’s why it is critical to know “who” you are, understanding your personality brings that clarity that some people have been searching a lifetime for. There are four personality types: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy and Phlegmatic. The Sanguine person is the talkative, the center of attention, outgoing personality. The Choleric person is goal oriented a master organizer, and achiever of lofty pursuit’s kind of personality. The Melancholy person is a quiet, introspective, sensitive individual and the Phlegmatic personality is the laid back, mediator, with an inclination for tranquility. We will discuss each personality type more in depth in the months to come. Hippocrates, the great physician, used these Greek names to describe the fluids that were prominent in the bodies of the individuals he studied. In order to bring additional clarity a descriptive he is talking about can be accomplished by providing exceptional parishioner service and exceeding the expectation of the guest or visitor of your church. A WOW! Experience has to be created. We all know a clear vision and mission is a must for the department (Habakkuk 2:2). Establishing the blueprint and roadmap to get to the desired place may require some re-alignment in the front-end of the vehicle! (Service department)
By Minister Eric D. Goodwine Contributing Writer
parishioner service and/or customer service challenges. The quality of service that is provided by any organization is one of the most important areas that are often overlooked in some instances. It is good to develop a service model and be strategic on how service is delivered to the people of God. Service often times will be the first impression and the last impression of an organization. How good that turns out is up to the organization and the church that is providing the service. Organizations and churches are all unique in their own way and so there will be various solutions based on the organizations goals, culture, and challenges. The following are a few suggested solutions:
What are some good solutions for 1. Determine what the service deimproving the parishioner/customer partment’s main goal is for the service in your church or organization? church or organization and how to There have been many occasions where achieve that goal. parishioner service (customer service) in the church has damaged the brand of According to: Keion Henderson, churches and organizations. Likewise, Pastor of the Lighthouse Church, Hummany organizations and churches are ble, Texas. “I want to turn a one-time looking for solutions to improve their visitor into a lifetime member.” What aPRIL 2011
name was added to each personality. For example a person with a Sanguine personality type is often the life of the party, therefore the word “popular” was added. A prominent trait of an individual with the Choleric personality type is their Nike, “Just Do It!” philosophy about life. The word “powerful” was coupled with that term. The melancholy personality is often viewed by others as having it all together so the word “perfect” was matched with that type. The phlegmatic personality type has the most balanced approach to life; therefore the word “peaceful” was the perfect vocabulary match for that term. In the future you will see me refer to them as Popular Sanguine, Powerful Choleric, Perfect Melancholy and Peaceful Phlegmatic. I look forward to our next literary repose. The focus in the next article will be on the Popular Sanguine, the life of the party! Get ready for a Holy Ghost celebration like no other when you invite this personality type to join you. “Fun” is their middle name and partying is their game. The Apostle Peter is identified as having this particular personality type. Remember his Book of Acts experience? We will also take a look at how God used his Popular Sanguine strengths and weaknesses to fulfill kingdom purpose. Perhaps you may find yourself in the midst of it all. never return and then they tell someone else about the experience before they even have an experience or an encounter with Jesus Christ? Then that becomes their experience with Christ! Thorough assessment and evaluation methods are effective ways to highlight and dissect the service department and uncover areas that need improvement. 3. Identify a dedicated leader who is called, anointed, gifted, informed and passionate in the areas of service and helps.
2. The service department has to be assessed and evaluated at some The quality of your leader has a point to insure the processes and practices are effective and are leav- direct impact on your level of service ing the right impression on the peo- output and quality of service that is dispensed to your customers and parishple that are being served. ioners. Good leadership will increase If I used my sanctified imagination, your efficiency while accomplishing the I could see the Lord sitting high on His goals and objectives of your organizathrone of grace and saying my people tions service department. When you are dying and they need saving. So I have a leader who is passionate about am going to send my only Son to show what the church or organization is dothem how to serve and introduce them ing it makes it a lot less challenging to to ME through serving them. Jesus pro- achieve desired results. Having a leader vided us with some show and tell. He who is very knowledgeable in the area said: “That I came to serve and to not of service coupled with vision and the be served”. (Mark 10:45) Remember ability to create and implement proHe also washed the feet of the disciples cesses that move the organization to who were following Him (John 13:4- the next level is a plus. Insure that you 10). The representatives of the church select someone who is gifted, anointed, must understand that the responsibility and able to teach others in the area of is to serve and not to be served. This service and helps. Seek out a leader principle is sometimes misconstrued who is consistently ministering through or forgotten and the application of this the gift of service and helping others to grow spiritually. It should come easy principle is often times reversed. Let’s not forget that there are pa- for the leader to serve others in excelrishioners who do not have a relation- lence and making a positive difference ship with Christ. Some of them who in their interaction with others while have been offended by the service de- serving them (Exodus 18:21). What is the Solutions2Service? partment when they came to church or attend an organization’s event and
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Three P’s For Communication: Perspective, Perception and Points Of Reference Part II: Perception
The root word of perception is perceive; which means “to see; to sense; to understand.” The first part of this series established that where a person is positioned, or his perspective, often determines what he sees. Now we will deal with what a person has experienced in life, with other influences, often determines how he perceives what he sees. Two people can look at the same person, place or thing and have alto-
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gether different perceptions of what they see. This may be due in part to what each person has experienced in life or simply how their brain works. The psychologist, Herman Rorschach developed a system called the Rorschach Test. The test records and analyzes its subjects’ perceptions of inkblots presented to them on cards. These inkblots take various shapes and forms. The data gathered is based entirely on the perception of the person looking at them. There is no wrong or right answer. Simply stated, it gives the tester some idea of that person’s life experiences, personality and how they think. You will note that one person can have the same experience as another, and both may perceive or interpret the same experience totally different. This can be based on lots of things—genetic predisposition, family history or many of life’s experiences. Whatever the case, in communicating and dealing with people—whether leading or following—it helps to know how a person perceives you, themselves and life in
general. This will help us to cope with each other’s dispositions and understand, “where we and others are coming from.” We are neither necessarily right nor wrong in our perceptions. It’s just the way we see things. Our brains are wired differently, which allows us to visually see things differently. Along with life’s experiences, the wiring of our brains and our genetic predispositions we all have varied perceptions of what we see. Optical illusions are associated with the brain and how each person sees. There is a well-known illustration of a duck/rabbit. I use it as a teaching tool. It serves the purpose of promoting respect for what others see. I ask those who see the duck shape to raise their hands, and those who see the rabbit shape to do likewise. Prior to, there is vehement discussion about the illustration as to whether it is a duck
or a rabbit. After calling on one who sees the rabbit to outline the shape of the rabbit, I hear and see the astonishment of the duck people. Then I call a person from the duck side to outline the duck, and the rabbit people are equally surprised. Without fail, from both sides I always hear the comment, “Oh, I see!” An exchange has occurred and hopefully respect for others’ perceptions. As previously noted, perception can be tied to many factors. There is no right and wrong when perceptions are different. Communicating should be used to enhance understanding. There must be a sender and a receiver—a talker and a listener—where each takes turns. One of the arts of communicating is the humility and willingness to see what others see, and the grace to share skillfully what you see with others. Everyone involved in the exchange of varied perceptions (like the duck and rabbit) should benefit. You learn that others’ perceptions can broaden your own. What’s your perception? Do you see a young girl or an old woman? Joyce James, Th.S./Counseling Email: totalmanchurch@yahoo.com
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FAITH-BASED DIRECTORY
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FAITH-BASED DIRECTORY
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The Christian’s Mandate By Robert Driskell, Contributing Writer
T
he Bible tells us that the central duty of the believer, outside of his or her personal relationship with Jesus, is to take the message of the Gospel to others. As believers in Christ, we must first seek to live a holy life (1 Pet. 1:13-16). This is the internal duty of the Christian. This concerns one’s vertical relationship with God. If the power of the Holy Spirit does not have in us a clean vessel to use, we will be striving in our own power and we will be unable to be who we were created to be. In addition to the vertical aspect of our relationship with God, there is also a horizontal aspect. This concerns the relationship we have to others. This is the external duty of the Christian and it is recorded, among other places, in II Corinthians chapter five. It is a clear mandate to the Christian. In the first part of II Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul establishes some foundational facts. He tells his readers, who are assumed to be believers (2 Cor. 1:1), that if they die, they will go from the earthly body they presently inhabit into a new dwelling place in ‘the heavens’ (2 Cor. 5:1). In verse 10, Paul adds that: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10 (NKJV). In verse 11, Paul tells us that, when we die, we must stand before Christ to give an account of our lives: Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Cor 5:11 NKJV). Paul’s mission, and ours, is to ‘persuade men’ of the truth of the Gospel and to help them commit their lives to Christ. Paul then contrasts the motivation of his opponents in the Corinthian church with the motives of himself and his companions. Paul says that his opponents care more about their outward appearance than the condition of their hearts (2 Cor. 5:12-13). In verses 14 -17, Paul says that Christ died for us and therefore we should live, not for ourselves, but for Christ. It should no longer be what I want, but what He wants. He died not so that we could be free to continue to aPRIL 2011
indulge in our selfishness, but in order that we might serve Him. Paul actually considered himself a ‘bond slave’ of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:1; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10). He obviously believed that it is better to be a slave in God’s kingdom than a ruler in any other kingdom. Beginning in the first book of the Bible, mankind is shown to have been created by God as ‘very good’. However, God also created mankind with the ability to make choices. Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God and in doing so mankind lost its intimate relationship to Him. The overall message of the Bible is then that God initiated and completed the way for us to be restored to a right relationship to Him. Second Corinthians 5:18 says that it is God who is behind this process of redemption. God made it possible, through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, for us to be forgiven of our sins and to have fellowship with Him. Now, God charges believers with the work of spreading the good news (Gospel) of what God has done for us. We have been given the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ (v.18) to reach out to the people of the world and let them know what God has done and how they can be a part of it. We are to be the conduit by which the saving message of Jesus Christ is passed on. We are charged with spreading the message of the truth that reconciles, or mends, the separation between man and God. Christ has committed the ‘word of reconciliation’ (v. 19) to us so that we are now ‘ambassadors’ for Him. We are Christ’s representatives in the world, ‘as though God were pleading through us’ (v. 20). Christians are Jesus’ hands, feet and mouth. We are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). We must tell others about Him and His message. If we do not carry the news that God has made a way for us to be forgiven and brought back into a saving relationship with Jesus, then we are concealing the one thing that can keep people from spending an eternity in Hell, separated from the love of God. The message is that, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21 (NKJV). God put the sins of humankind onto Jesus and dealt with them through His death and resurrection. Now, we are to spread that message to the rest of the world that they might believe and
be saved. Moreover, with that salvation comes this promise: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB).
By Latarjah R. Dean Contributing Writer
times. God has put something special on the inside of me to stand and on the flipside I can encourage others to stand and do what it takes to succeed. Sword of the Spirit also assists graduating high school students with graduation expenses. The organization focuses on students who have deceased, incarcerated or single parents, in a lowincome bracket. Sword of the Spirit also supplies aide to elementary students by providing them with uniforms, school supplies, socks, underwear, and shoes. For college students with a 3.5 g.p.a., we assist with tuition costs, supplies, housing, clothing, and food. The organization would like to open up a housing structure that would house youth making the transition into adulthood with no place to live.
Sword of the Spirit Outreach Ministries – Encouraging the Community I created Sword of the Spirit Outreach Ministries, Inc. in the fall of 2001 to follow my passion to motivate and encourage people to pursue their education. The ministry consists of healing, deliverance and intercessory prayer. The success of an individual is very important to me. Education is important in today’s society and our children should be encouraged and mentored to pursue education at all cost. Our ministry encourages youth to pursue their education no matter what background they come from; their surroundings do not determine their future. Through my suffering, I have been able to persevere through difficult
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Changing Financial Destinies One Family, One Business at a Time Lonnie Mathews is on a mission to change lives. In 2001, despite a family income of more than $100K, Mathews found himself two months behind in his mortgage and struggling to keep his family’s head above water. Mathews laid his financial cards on the table and outlined the family’s finances with his wife and made a commitment to come up with a plan to fix their situation. While developing a plan to reduce and eliminate his family’s debt, his wife, Carrie, encouraged him to reach out to local churches and organizations to share their efforts in overcoming debt in order to help others. In May 2002, after getting his own financial house in order, Mathews co-founded Alliance Financial Ministries, Inc. and today is helping other struggling families, organizations and businesses, gain control of their finances. “I made it a mission in life to help others discover the power of doing better financially and created Alliance Financial as a vehicle to get my message out there,” Mathews said. Through the organization, Mathews promotes financial literacy by providing educational programs for individuals and organizations seeking to enjoy a more financially secure future. “When individuals are surer of their future and working toward their financial goals through a sound game plan, they lead lives that are more productive and are generally happier,” he said. A graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science degree in finance, Mathews earned a master’s degree in accounting from Strayer University and continues to equip others with the tools to minimize debt and gain control of their finances. The one financial mistake most families make, aside from not educating themselves about their finances, is not keeping track of their spending habits, says Mathews.”If people would take a few moments a couple of days before payday and write down what they plan on spending their money on, it would make a world of difference. We started doing this 10 years ago and haven’t stopped and it really works,” he said. He and his wife continue to take aPRIL 2011
their own advice, while working to help others. “We are living the things that we teach during our workshops every day. The one thing that we do on a regular basis is spend our money on “paper and on purpose” before every payday,” Mathews said. A former U.S. Marine, serving stints in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Mathews receives numerous emails each month from workshop participants expressing appreciation for his financial workshops. After conducting one of his workshops at a local church, he ran into a former workshop participant, who had taken the course four years earlier. The woman shared how her family implemented the techniques from his workshop and was able to later purchase a home. “It really does my heart good to hear those kind of stories,” Mathews said. In 2002, Mathews decided to transform the curriculum he used in one of his initial workshops into his first book, entitled “Beating Debt & Building Wealth - A Financial Guide for Christians,” which was self-published through Author House in 2003. Seven years later, in March 2010, Mathews released his second book “Spend Everything - An Inspirational Guide for Money Management.” “This book is designed to give readers a chance to change their paradigm about money. The first part of the book is motivational and the second part offers practical advice on how to set and achieve financial goals,” Mathews said. The ministry offers a variety of financial tools through corporate programs, faith-based seminars, and youth money camps. He also collaborates with several other organizations to provide ongoing financial literacy classes and services. “We are working on putting together a curriculum to help individuals that do not currently have bank accounts get back into the banking mainstream. We are also looking at expanding by moving into our own space to be able to provide classes and workshops. These are just a few of the many things that we are working on,” Mathews said. Mathews began offering “Teen Money Camp” in the summer of 2007
to provide a solid financial foundation for young people. “I believe it is important to reach kids early in the process,” Mathews said. The Alliance Financial Ministries, Inc. founder believes that the primary reason most adults have financial problems is because they were never taught how to handle money when they were young. “Think about it when were you ever exposed to information on how to handle money, balance a checkbook or manage a credit card. The truth is we are not shown this information at all. It is usually after we have gotten in a mess that we realize that we should have done things differently,” Mathews said. He encourages individuals interested in improving their financial skills to sign up for his monthly blog on money management at www.lonniemathews. com. “Each month I produce a couple of articles designed to inspire and in-
form individuals about their money. You can sign up on my personal website,” he said. Individuals who purchase a copy of his book via his website will receive a person- ally signed copy of his book. In 2010, Mathews touched or influenced the lives of over 400 individuals through the ministry’s presentations and workshops. His goal, this year, is to increase the number of clients he impacts by 30 percent. A sought after motivational speaker, Mathews can be booked to speak at various local organizations and engagements. He also delivers his powerful and life changing financial messages across the country. For more information, visit www.financialministries.org, or call 281-386-7951.
A Butterfly’s Struggle
By Carla Lane, Contributing Writer A few years ago, I gave each of my staff members a charm bracelet. Each following year, I give them a charm reflective of what we experienced as a team the previous year. This year when my team opened their packages and saw the charm of the year, they seemed confused. The charm I chose was a butterfly. No one seemed to want to ask the obvious question, what was the meaning behind the butterfuly. There always is a story with just about everything I do. Finally, I asked, “Anybody have any thoughts about why I chose a butterfly? “ They all said, “They are beautiful?”; “They symbolize happiness?” My reply was simple, “Their very existence is the ultimate example of struggle and triumph.” A man found a cocoon of a butaPRIL 2011
Keep calm. Do not make a kneejerk reaction just for the sake of action; that rarely works out well. While you should not ignore reality, recognize that tight resources demand efficient and intelligent action. Assess your situation and how it has been affected by the downturn. Note what has changed and what has not, as well as what its strengths and weaknesses are. Discover where you are and how you are currently positioned. Decide where you need to be. Look at the results of your assessment and use them to create new goals or to reform your action plan to achieve your goals. Be realistic in your expectations. Do not give in to either pessimism or terfly, with a small opening. He sat to blind optimism; use a positive, proand watched the butterfly for several active mindset based on fact and solid hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go any further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body. Neither happened! In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around. It was never able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand: The restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight when it emerged from the cocoon. For most of us, the last few years have been a struggle. Let’s face it, the difficult economy, high unemployment rate, the uncertainty in the stock market are all very frightening. How we approach these struggles is our choice. We can throw in the towel and stay in the cocoon, we can escape the struggle by letting someone else handle it and never truly fly, or we can struggle and fight through the hard times and emerge from them with strong wings and take flight. Here are a few tips to help pull you through the tough times.
judgment when developing your strategy. Take the time to answer the why as well as who, what, where and how of your strategy. Determine your strategy, getting input from trusted, knowledgeable allies. Read their reactions for a preview on how your strategy will be received by those affected by your plans. You need enthusiastic support from those involved for your plan to succeed. Be open and honest with those involved. Recognize the positives and the hard truths--everyone knows what they are anyway--then explain how your strategy will affect them. This will help build confidence in you, your plans and the future. Convey how you will better position yourself for the future based on the lessons learned by the downturn. Use the experience to your benefit by learning everything you can from it. Promote successes and positive progress every chance you can to keep everyone focused and committed to the new direction and growth. Give them reason to keep believing and maintain good morale. So, the next time you find yourself knee deep in a struggle, remember sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. Just focus on the outcome, a beautiful butterfly with strong wings flying higher than ever.
An Inspirational Message of Faith and Wholeness: It Had to Happen
By Cynthia Patterson Contributing Writer
Sisters, we are living in a society where so many of us are searching and probing for the answers to this thing we call life. We are in a society where many of us are seeking to understand our purpose. We are changing our degree plans. We are changing our careers. We are changing our hairstyles. We are changing our dress to the latest trends. We have become serial daters: one month we’re with this guy and the next month with another man. Some of us are even changing to an alternative lifestyle. And you know why? As women, we seek affirmation and praise. We want someone to approve of us. We hunger for protection and assurance. We strive for love and security. God has designed for us to grow from babies to little girls, then from little girls to young ladies, and now, God wants you to blossom into a woman who is whole. Many of us do not realize that it is the trick of the devil to keep our purpose veiled, because the devil knows that true purpose is engendered in God, and that a woman who finds her true purpose will become Satan’s enemy. We have heard and quoted many scriptures: “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning,” “What the devil meant for evil, God meant it for good,” and “All things work together for the good of them who love God and are called according to His purpose.” The list is endless. While these aPRIL 2011
scriptures bring us comfort and peace at times, it is a daily struggle to accept them as truth in the daily reality of our lives. Yes, we really want to believe our pain is passing and that one day our joy will be permanent. But wherever we are today, we are still asking God – Why? Why am I having sleepless nights? Why am I still dealing with this hurt, rather than escaping from it? Why am I missing the mark of being a submissive wife and loving my husband? Why does my child continually disrespect me? Why do I keep going in and out of so many dysfunctional relationships? Why are you feeling continually disappointed? Why it is everyone is coming to you for the answers to their issues and you can’t even figure out your own? Why it is that every night when we lie in our beds, dark thoughts come against our minds? We’re told, “You are nothing… If you would not have done this, that would not have happened… If you would have been a better this, they would not have done that…” and so on. Things are so tough right now you can’t even share with your girlfriends because you are the one who is “supposed to” have it together. The truth is that we have been walking around, masking our feelings and closing the door to our own thoughts about what we are really feeling. We avoid embracing the reality that everything we dream for has been shattered into pieces. We don’t have the will or desire to stoop down, pick up the pieces and put them together again. We are emotionally drained, physically tired and just going through the motions of life in a near comatose state. Now that we have painted a picture of where you are in your struggles, what comes next? While a picture is worth a thousand words, it is merely a snapshot of where you are in time. It does not show how you are viewed at that particular moment in time. You will embark on a journey of self-discovery, not only to retrace your past steps, but to clearly see the direction of your future. The book, It Had to Happen will take you on a journey to discover the answer to these questions. Get ready to experience a life-changing paradigm that you have desperately tried to find. Together, we will explore the issues that have positively and negatively influenced our emotional behavior.
This is a book for healing, restoring and focusing on our relationship with God. We will explore the life of a woman in the Bible, whose story is told in the book of Mark chapter five. She intensely suffered for twelve years, but through determination and perseverance, obtained the help she desperately needed. This book was birthed out of a personal desire to offer practical insight into God’s healing power. Just like the woman in the fifth chapter of Mark, God does not discriminate in providing healing for those who are suffering. He will do the same for you, if you allow Him. Cynthia A. Patterson is Founder and CEO of Daughters of Virtue and Excellence Women’s Enrichment Ministries, Inc. (DOVE Ministries) which is a non-profit organization that offers: mentoring, Christian counseling, and personal development education
to women of all walks of life. A sought after conference speaker, Bible teacher and powerful prayer warrior who has a genuine passion to inspire and encourage women. Her message of faith and wholeness is raising the awareness of God’s purpose and exposing each woman to the reality of His never-ending, love, mercy and grace. It Had to Happen is available on ItHadtoHappen.com website, Amazon and Barnes & Noble: Hardcover 978-0- 9833418-3-3 or Softcover 978-0-9828802-3-4. Please join her and friends for her upcoming book release party on April 15 at 7:30pm at the D-Spot, 9745 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77036. For more information about Cynthia and her ministry, visit her website at www. cynthiapatterson.net.
have an alarming rate of divorce which leads to dysfunctional families. Their success comes as they respond to and fill the need for personal healing. They are simply responding to a shifting cultural pattern of American society.
A Social Phenomenon
In the parable of “The Great Banquet” (Luke 14:23) the bible says, “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel my people to come in that my house may be filled.” Is this the reason that Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church purchased the Compaq Center (former home of the NBA Houston Rockets)? Is this the reason Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faith Central Baptist Church in California maintain an active service in the Forum (former home of the NBA LA Lakers)? Are these men simply being obedient to what they were compelled to do, and through simple obedience have created what scholars now call the megachurch? Why the sudden interest in these churches and what is the impact on society? Mega-churches-A Social Phenomenon, Why? In society, growth equals success and power which equals an attraction to any event. The mega- church consists of at least 2000 members with a aPRIL 2011
minimum budget of 4.8 million according to Forbes magazine. Growth is what makes these churches a phenomenon. Twenty years ago, only ten churches of this magnitude existed. In 1990, about 250 fit that description and today, there are over 740. According to Church Growth Today, the average percentage of worshippers has grown 4%, from last year averaging 3,646 and will continue to grow 5% per year. Once these churches reach a large number of members, the numeric strength alone becomes a powerful attraction. Mega- churches understand that location is a big key to success and are usually surrounded by metropolitan areas, cities like Houston, Orlando, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City, which all contain the highest number of mega- churches, and nearly all are in suburbs. Why? Zoning regulations are less restrictive in the suburbs then urban communities. Also, suburbs house the people megachurches want to attract. Most are consumed with oriented, highly mobile, well educated, middle class families. These types of families bring stability, knowledge, and power to the church community. Another reason for success for these churches is uniqueness. The pastors and leaders of these congregations have taken charge and have gone out into the communities to see exactly what people want. Then, to meet the need of the people they have revised traditions, changes their structures, and old form, in order to stay one step ahead. Nearly half are independent and non-denominational which adds a push for diversity. Through intensive studies, the church leaders have realized that society as a whole is emotionally and financially, recovering from national disasters, and
Mega- Churches-The Impact Mega- Churches are led by highly motivated, business minded, spiritual visionaries. These charismatic leaders often act as chief executives and their use of strong business tactics help their ministry grow. Are these mega churches any different from corporations? Churches like World Changes Ministries (Pastor Creflo Dollar), operate a music studio, publishing house, computer graphic design suite, and own its own record label. The Potter’s House (Bishop T.D Jakes) has a record label as well as daily talk show, a prison satellite network that broadcasts in hundreds of prisons and twice-a-week web cast. Along with that, Lakewood Church in Houston spends proximally $12 million annually on television airtime alone according to Forbes. Some even have helicopters to take them from one location to another. Mega-churches like my own, The Community of Faith Church (Bishop Dixon) have created faith structured communities. The community consists of charters schools, homes, apartment complex, and a business suite, all motivated to empower. Most mega- churches have an executive board which helps oversee business affairs. They have at least 30 to 250 full time staff members and up to 2000 volunteers. To have a mega- church, you must have a “mega- mind,” because it is a mega-business.
Mega-churches-The Attraction Most mega-churches have done extensive research and have publicly traded companies whose sole mission is to help faith- based organizations grow. Some of these churches have approaches that are used to support their mission: message, architectural representation, and worship are the key to success. Mega-churches also have to keep up with technology. Most mega-churches have strong television ministries and televise every week more than once. Lakewood Church program can be seen in 92% of the nation’s household. In most mega-church services you will find jumbo projection screens, video equipment, and most have a production crew. Another form of attraction is the arts. These mega-churches have large performance choirs, orchestras, and drama, praise dancers, and drill teams. These churches have done their research because the 2000 U.S Census confirms that the number one attraction to churches is recreation by 38%. We as a society want to be entertained. What pastors have done is simply gone into the community and given the people what they wanted by creating the products they requested, which is called the emerging stream of spirituality. The mindset is “let’s give the people what they need and want.” Is this wrong? I think not. We live in a society whose sole purpose is to get people to purchase what we are selling and these pastors have finally figured this out. After all this is what they were called to do? “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). You cannot catch a good fish without proper bait.
You Probably Won’t Have a Mega-Church
O
K, maybe you will, but the law of averages tells us the vast majority of the pastors reading this article will not have a mega church; but that’s all right. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that if you are not over 5,000 attendees, that you are a failure. Don’t judge your congregation by its size; instead judge yourself by how well you are teaching the word of God. Evaluate your congregation by its spiritual growth and community impact. Review your congregation by the love that it shows to itself and others. Self reflect on how well you serve the sheep you have – be it 5 or 500. Many ministers and churches
have inferiority complexes because of size; but let’s be honest, how many mega churches are in your city? If you are a large city, maybe you can count the number with two hands, maybe even one hand. Now ask yourself, how many churches do know that are not “mega churches?” Now ask yourself, are these churches with less than 200 members failures? Yes, you probably will never pastor a mega church. Maybe you won’t even pastor a mini-mega church. But when you get into that pulpit, you owe it to God and to the people who are sitting in front of you, to preach it like you are preaching to thousands. Preach the Gospel, promote growth through effective evangelism and methodology and then leave the increase to God.
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Your Purpose Is Greater Than Your Pain
Pastor Freddie Davis III Contributing Writer
J
esus said that in this life ye shall have tribulations, but be of good courage and be of good cheer because I’ve overcome them all! What is not included in all? All means all! Certainly, into every life some rain must fall. Life without rain is a desert. As Christians we must learn to appreciate the “rain” in our lives. Anywhere there is an absence of rain, there is usually an absence of growth. My mother spent many of her childhood days in Greensburg, La. She often told how her family used cow manure to fertilize the crops. Manure is animal excrement used to contribute to the fruitfulness of the soil. To put it plainly, often times it’s the “rain” and the
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“mess” in our lives that helps us grow! We have all heard the cliché, “No pain, no gain.” We need resistance! The believer in Christ goes through a form of resistance training. It is the resistance on the weight bench that helps to create muscles. And, as a result of exercise, one will frequently become sore and experience pain. However, no pain, no gain! It is in these painful times that as Christians, we must reflect on our purpose. It is so important to remember that it is not about us, it’s about Christ! Many biblical scholars have speculated that the thorn in the flesh spoken of by the Apostle Paul was a physical infirmity. I am forever grateful that in this regard, the bible is clear. Paul prays to God three times to relieve his pain and his request is refused. With His infinite wisdom, God explains that His grace is sufficient. God further explains that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses and when we are weak, He is strong. It is amazing how our Father allows pain to produce purpose in our lives. In the spring of 1995, torrential rains flooded the New Orleans metropolitan area. Many homes and buildings were damaged. My parents’ home was not spared. My father could not move an entire house of furniture and pull up water logged carpet and padding. I rode my bike a few miles to the home I grew up in (because in New Orleans children often stay close to “Mama ‘nem”). While I struggled to clear out my childhood home, I failed to employ the proper techniques. Subsequently, I damaged the lower disc in my back. The next morning, I could not move. The doctors at Ochsner Hospital were disturbed by the x-rays of my vertebrae. They informed me that the damage caused would have lasting effects. I was in physical and mental pain. Additionally, I was unable to work, thereby causing financial and emotional pain. I remembered that the Word says that by His stripes, I am healed; that the prayer of faith shall
save the sick and the Lord shall raise them up! I prayed and miraculously, God healed my body! Three days later, I was on Navarre Beach in Florida playing dodge ball! This situation increased my faith and reaffirmed for me that the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much. I realized that one of my purposes is to pray for the sick and that is greater than any of the pain I endured. Our pain can come in various forms; it can be physical, emotional, economical or relational. But the Master emphatically declares He has overcome them all. The Word also declares that we are more than conquerors through Christ. When the author of Romans wrote, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” “If ” is better rendered “since” because we know that God stands with the believer. The book of Romans also tells us that we know all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called ac-
cording to his purpose. Often people are the cause of our pain. The believer’s road map, the bible, gives instructions. It says to fret not thyself because of evildoers and neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. They shall be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. We know that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. So, just as we need resistance to create strength, we need the “haters” to create endurance and perseverance. We must ride our “haters” like elevators… all the way to the top! Your purpose is greater than your pain because He has called you out of darkness into the marvelous light to declare His praises. Your purpose is greater than your pain because the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. For the believer, there is a story behind the Glory!
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