Gò0 ò0dNews dNews September 2014
Complimentary
CHATTANOOGA
Christian Magazine
YCAP BOXING CLUB GIVES KIDS TOOLS FOR LIFE OUTSIDE THE RING Photo by Kelsie Bowman Courtesy of Chatter Magazine
September 2014
G ò0 dNews
Christian Magazine
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About Us GoodNews from the Pastor’s Desk No Excuse for Being Stupid by Pastor Larry Cockerham
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GoodNews for Kids My Father Gave Me This
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GoodNews on Money Matters Feeling Secure About Social Security? by Andrew Lee
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GoodNews for Men
HARD KNOCK LIFE BY KELSIE BOWMAN
Let Me Ask You a Question by Chris Moser
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GoodNews for Women You Can Fight the Good Fight and Win! by Pastor Judy Jacobs Tuttle
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Photo by Kelsie Bowman
GoodNews for Life The Long Road Home by Beth Henderson
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GoodNews for Health & Fitness The Benefits of Hiking by Lindsey Cooke
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GoodNews for Everyone Heart for Haiti (Part 2) by Laurel Martin
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GoodNews for Seniors “Seniors and Technology”
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by Esmerelda Lee
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GoodNews for Everyone Zero Doubt by Nate Davis
Disclaimer All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS” basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.
God Bless You and Thank You! Writers Pastor Judy Jacobs Tuttle Pastor Larry Cockerham Reverend Rusty Asble Andrew Lee Beth Henderson Darren Schalk Esmerelda Lee Chris Moser Kelsie Bowman Lindsey Cooke Laurel Martin Nate Davis
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About Us Hello Friends, We want to take a moment to tell you who we are and what we are about. Our names are Matt and Bethany Ruckman and we have three beautiful children, Brendon, Kailey, and Andrew. We live in Cleveland and love what this town has to offer! We have started GoodNews Christian Magazine because we feel that when God, family, and community are combined, lives will be changed. GoodNews Christian Magazine is a complimentary, Christian lifestyle publication. You can find us throughout the community in retail establishments, churches, restaurants, and more. Our magazine opens the door for Christians to work together to grow and strengthen our community through relevant editorial and effective advertising. GoodNews Christian Magazine is written by men and women in the community who love and serve the Lord. Our hearts are open and willing to be used by God to reach out to the community to spread the GoodNews!
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Disclaimer All of the content in the GoodNews Christian Magazine is for general information and/or use. Such contents does not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) a decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the magazine is the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and is not subscribed to by GoodNews Christian Magazine. The information in GoodNews Christian Magazine is provided on an “AS IS� basis, and all warranties, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any information, advice or replies are disclaimed and excluded. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or article we deem inappropriate.
Gò0dNews from the Pastors Desk
No Excuse for Being Stupid By Larry Cockerham
ave you ever made a bad decision—even a stupid
to need it (Don’t we all?), and you have to ask for it.
one? Well, we might not want to admit it, but
Wisdom is always available when we need it if we just
we’ve all made some wrong turns on the road
ask.
H
of life. Most of those bad decisions could have been
Another great thing is that God gives us wisdom
avoided. I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but
without finding fault. In other words, God will never
before the days of GPS, my wife was always trying to
say, as some folks do, “That’s a stupid question,”
get me to stop and ask for directions. But it was too
or “You should have known that.” Oh no, He never
inconvenient. I was in too big of a hurry, or to tell the
rebukes us for asking His help. The way I read that
truth, I had too much pride to stop and ask somebody.
verse, it sounds like God is just waiting for us to ask.
Most times, I would rather find my own way.(Now I
“No fault” coverage. That’s pre y good, isn’t it?
argue with my GPS.) I could have avoided a lot of dead-end roads,
Look at how definite the promise is. “It [wisdom] will be given to you ”(v. 5). No doubt about it. When
out-of-the-way trips, and other times of wasting time
you need wisdom and you ask God, He will give it
and gas if I had just stopped and asked for directions.
to you 100 percent of the time. In fact, we never have
Not only on the highway, but the same holds true in
to lack or go without wisdom. God always has the
other areas of life. We could probably avoid a lot of
wisdom we need, and He wants to give it to us.
blunders if we just asked directions, sought counsel,
Have you got any big decisions to make? Ask God.
or requested help along the way. There’s a verse in
He will direct you. Are you facing a big problem that
the Bible that tells us how to avoid stupid decisions.
you don’t know the answer for? Ask God. He has all
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who
the answers. Have you got questions that you just
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it
can’t seem to find answers for? Have you asked God?
will be given to him” (James 1:5 NIV).
He’s just waiting for you to ask. He has abundant
In practical terms, the essence of wisdom is the ability to make good decisions, and God wants to
wisdom, and He wants to give it to you. No more excuses for being stupid.:)
give it to us “generously.” In other words, there’s an abundance of wisdom available for every situation, every question, every decision. There are just two qualifications to receiving wisdom from God: You have 6
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Pastor Larry Cockerham is the senior minister at Living Word Church in Cleveland.
Gò0dNews for Kids
My Father Gave Me This M
ark and his father were cleaning the closet in the guest room to make more room to store some suitcases. "Look at this!" said Mark's father. "Here's a box of things that my father gave me."
2 Timothy 1:5-7
"Your dad gave you a lot of neat things," said Mark. "He also gave me a lot of things that aren't in this box," his father said. "Where are they?" asked Mark.
"Is that all?" Mark asked. "No, he told me about Jesus," said his father. "He knew Jesus loved him. When I did something bad, he would always say that, since Jesus still loved me, he would too."
"They are in me," said his father.
"My father gave me a sense of humor," said Mark's father. "He also taught me how to enjoy life."
"You said that to me last week!" said Mark. "I did, didn't I?" his father said. "Do you think you will say that to your children too?" "I might," said Mark.
"How?" asked Mark.
Some Questions
"What's in it?" asked Mark. "In you?" said Mark. "That's funny!" "Lots of things," said his father. "Here's my dad's birth certificate. He weighed six pounds and four ounces when he was born." "It looks old," said Mark. "It's 70 years old," his father said, "because that's how old my father would be if he were still alive." "What else is in the box?" asked Mark. "Here's a picture of my dad when he was your age," said his father. "You look like him. Here is an arrowhead that he found on his father's farm. He gave it to me many years ago."
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"He was older than most fathers when I was born, and he was in poor health," said his father. "He couldn't play sports with me and take me on hikes. But he taught me how to let other people love me, and he taught me how to love other people." "How did he do that?" asked Mark. "He'd hug me and tell me that he loved me," Mark's father said, "just like I do you."
1. Think about your family: What important things are your parents giving to you? 2. What are you giving to your parents? 3. What else would you like to receive from each other?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you for my parents who teach me about Jesus. Help me to remember all that Jesus has done so that I can teach my children about him too. Amen.
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Gò0dNews on Money Matters
Feeling Secure about Social Security? By Andrew Lee
H
ere are some facts about current Social Security benefits, nationally. The average monthly Social Security check today (2014) is $1,294, and over 59 million Americans receive some type of Social Security check. For most retired seniors today, that Social Security check is their main source of income (though as we’re often reminded in various news articles and programs, Social Security was never intended to be our main source of retirement income). In a recent “Viewpoint” column in our local Cleveland Daily Banner, Allen W. Smith, author of Social Security: Will It Be There for You? offers this startling and sobering assessment of today’s Social Security trust fund—“the fund is empty. The money that is alleged to be in the trust fund has already been spent by the government for non-Social Security purposes.” Some highly educated people with whom I’ve spoken seem to think that this trust fund is actually filled with U.S. Treasury bonds that have monetary value. But that’s not true either. If you picture the trust fund as a gigantic vault hidden somewhere deep in the bowels of Washington, D.C. (which I hope is not the case—this is simply an imaging exercise), that vault would have in it neither cash, nor gold bars, nor U.S. Treasury certificates that can be exchanged for money. Instead, the fund holds only reams of paper IOU’s that state “how much Social Security money has been spent for other things.” Smith makes clear that these IOUs “are not marketable bonds . . . they cannot be used to pay benefits and they cannot be converted to cash.” So where does the money come from to pay the millions of Social Security checks that arrive in people’s mailbox every month? That money comes from current payroll taxes, which doesn’t cover the monthly amount of Social Security checks mailed out, so the rest (the deficit) is borrowed from countries like China. While I didn’t intend for this to be a “gloom and
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September 2014
doom” column, I do feel it’s important to fully grasp the situation in order to spur ourselves to action. I am not counting on Social Security to be there for me, personally, and my retirement date is approximately twenty years from now. I have no idea if I’ll receive any check at all from Social Security, and I’m not planning on any Social Security money when I project how much money I’ll need to save in order to retire comfortably. If by a miracle I do receive some sort of Social Security benefit, it will be icing on the proverbial cake and will come as quite a surprise. Many financial planners advise their clients to wait until age 70 if possible before receiving Social Security benefits because then their monthly benefit amount will be permanently larger than if they had taken their benefits at age 62 or 65. I understand the wisdom of this advice, but for the sake of being different, I’d like to suggest something counterintuitive. If (and it’s a big IF) one is financially secure by age 62 and has the means to retire comfortably without any Social Security benefits, perhaps it might be worthwhile to consider receiving that early Social Security check at age 62 (even with the permanently reduced benefits) in order to bless others with that money. I hope I am able by age 62 to give (donate) my Social Security benefit check every month to whatever charity I see fit, so I can be a blessing and see my donations being put to good use. As Hebrews 13:16 instructs us, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Dr. Andrew Lee is associate professor of English at Lee University. He also serves as a coordinator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. He and his wife Esmerelda have three children.
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Gò0dNews for Men
Let Me Ask You a Question
A
re you living a life that others can view you as a role model? To be honest, this article is not the article I first wanted to write. I wanted to write an article that would be a tribute to some of the men who have been role models in my life. I was going to talk about Richie who started me on a path of music. I was going to talk about Marty and how he taught me there was more to music than just singing the melody, or Rusty who pushed me into my first solo. I was going to tell you about Jim who taught me more about life than he would ever know, while teaching me how to play the drums. I was going to talk about Steve and Jack and my grandfather, Willard, and a few more great men who have influenced my life. Then the article was to shift to two of my role models in the faith. I was going to spend the bulk of the article talking about my biggest spiritual influence. His name is Joe. The first time I met Joe he was my 11th grade Sunday school teacher. He had us open our Bibles to Job 41 and read about Leviathan. He said if you can find fire-breathing dragons in the Bible, what other cool things can you find if you learn to look. I learned so much through the years from Joe. My wife even says I told her on our second date that we were going to get married because that's what Joe did with Marsha, and I was just trying to be like him. (Side note: I wonder if she still feels that way after twenty years together and fifteen years of marriage?) There are so many other things I was going to share about Joe. Then I was to talk about my other hero in the faith. The title of this piece is a shout-out to him because I have heard him start so many of his messages with this phrase. As a ma er of fact, this whole piece is also kind of a tribute to him as well. Many times he said the message he was about to preach was not the message he had worked on all week. This 12
September 2014
By Chris Moser
is where my article loses its initial direction. I was going to finish talking about Allen and then end this piece by telling you how to use what these men taught me to be role models for your children, but I just got stuck. This article sat unfinished for a month because I did not have the answer to my own question. I knew what these great men did in my life and so many other peoples' lives, but I could not figure out how they were role models for me, or even why what they did meant so much to me. While lying in bed one night, it hit me. The simplicity of it all is probably why I got so stuck. I was looking for some deep theological explanation for why these men were so influential. I may or may not have wanted to impress you with my pontification of this deep theological truth I discovered. Turns out, it was simply that they were . . . men! I remembered the first article I wrote about some mo os I was trying to teach my boys about being men. The reason these guys are role models to me is because they were men leading by example. They are men who take responsibility for their actions. For those who haven't read the first articleleading by example, taking responsibility, and following instructions are three of the mo os I am working on with my children. So often it falls on women to be the spiritual leader that God intended men to be. These men were role models to me simply because they are men doing what God called them to do. So I will ask you again, “Are you living a life that others can look to you as a role model?” I may not be living that life all the time right now, but I am man enough to continue to work on it. Are you?
Chris Moser is a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Lee University graduate and Court Liaison Team Leader at The State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Service.
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Gò0dNews for Women
You Can Fight The Good Fight
By Judy Jacobs Tu le
& Win!
M
any women do not consider themselves a warrior, but once you live long enough and get tired of being knocked down, you learn to stand up and fight. I am not talking about fighting and swinging in the wind with no purpose, but learning to exercise your faith and use your spiritual weapons to defeat the Enemy. I vividly remember one of the biggest spiritual ba les I have encountered in my Christian walk. It involved my eldest daughter, Kaylee. When she was eight years old, she began to be bothered by childhood fears. At first it was common fears, but then her fears began to escalate. She was being tortured with crazy, impossible thoughts of failure. Then she started having nightmares, thinking she would not live to see the next day. As you can imagine, any parent would be devastated. This ba le went on for several years and Jamie and I were put to the greatest faith test of our lives. We knew there was an anointing on our child’s life, but this fear was taking us to a place we had never dreamed was possible. Not only were we having to trust God and war against the Enemy’s schemes, but we were simultaneously teaching Kaylee how to fight when she was just trying to survive. I praise God that Kaylee was catapulted to violent faith through the power of the anointing, and the spirit of fear was broken off of her life. This is an amazing testimony of grace and of the power of prayer, and also the triumph in fighting “the 14
September 2014
good fight of faith” (1 Tim.6:12). According to Ma hew 11:12, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (NKJV). Does the idea of violent faith seem inconceivable to you? Do you feel like a wimp more often than a warrior? The fact is that you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Your faith has a focus¾Jesus. Jesus leads you, and Jesus is “the author and perfecter of (your) faith” (Heb. 12:2, NAS). This fight is not for sissies. This fight is for people who are strong in the power of Jesus Christ, who know their God, and who know that He is a God who is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think. As a violent warrior in faith, you must do everything that is necessary to stay in faith. You are doing kingdom violence! Violent warriors are focused, and they push aside every distraction. We don’t throw in the towel, and we don’t quit because qui ing is not an option! You have a warrior’s anointing, and undeniable unction from the Holy One, and you must refuse to be denied. So gird yourself up in Spirit and in truth and fight! You are anointed to engage in ba le and prevail-for your children, your marriage, your body, your mind, and in every area of life. Don’t ever forget: you are anointed for this! So fight the good fight, because we win!
Pastor Judy Jacobs Tuttle serves as co-pastor of Dwelling Place Church International. Known as an inspiring, anointed woman of God, she proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ and true worship in the demonstration of power and love.
FEATURED COVER STORY
By Kelsie Bowman
Hard Knock Life
YCAP Boxing Club gives kids tools for life outside The Ring
W
hen you get punched in the face, you get back up. It’s a prevailing lesson taught at the YCAP Boxing Club on Central Avenue. Founded and directed by Joe Smith, the club has produced such nationally successful boxers as Ryan Martin and young Kiwon Tony. More than that, it regularly gives at-risk youth the ability to fight back when life throws a surprising left hook. Any of the program’s boxers, from age 8 and up, can pull on the weighted gloves and step into the ring, preparing for whatever fight comes their way. The unique boxing program, also known as Jabbin’ for Jesus, has gained a lot of a ention over the years since the club came on the scene in 1999. But its origins are actually in the 1980s, back when boxing was probably the last thing on Joe’s mind.
The Vision It was August 1987 when Joe Smith figured he should probably just end his life. He’d even picked the perfect spot to do it, somewhere quiet and out of the way. He was en route to his final destination—45-caliber pistol by his side—when he ran out of gas on North Access Road. 16
September 2014
At that point he was seething. “I thought I’d screwed up everything in my life and now I’m trying to take my life and I can’t even do that right,” he says. At that moment, a modern-day Good Samaritan pulled up and offered him a ride. The man asked Joe if he was OK. Joe figured he’d be dead soon anyway. So, he told him everything. As a two-week old baby, Joe’s parents didn’t want him. Or his two-year-old sister for that ma er. Both were handed over to Bill and Minnie Lee Smith of Cha anooga. “There was never any secret that we were adopted. [Mom] would say, ‘We could’ve picked any kid in the world but we picked you,’” Joe smiles as he remembers. At age 12 Joe was introduced to his biological father in Rossville. “I walked in and saw this decrepit, dirty drunk man,” he recalls. Until he died when Joe was 15, his father tried to have a relationship with Joe, but the chronic alcoholism got in the way. He was constantly breaking plans and forge ing to a end events like softball games. When Joe was 18, he and his sister made an impromptu trip to Cleveland, Ohio, because they had discovered their birth mother.
Originally Published by Chatter Magazine
But the welcome was not warm and, disheartened, they headed for home. “I bet I cried all the way back to Cha anooga, Tennessee,” says Joe. He says he was determined not to end up like his biological parents, until he went to college where he was introduced into the party scene. It was between the ages of 25 and 32, however, that he discovered his real weakness. “Cocaine was what destroyed me. I lived to use and used to live.” He had a family, but they were often neglected in pursuit of his other interests. Eventually, he says he’d used so much he couldn’t even get high anymore. “I was a miserable, miserable man.” That’s when Joe decided to end it. Somehow, though, the man who had picked Joe up on the side of the road convinced him to see a local doctor, who in turn convinced him to complete 60 days of rehabilitation. “In that 60-day period, God removed all desire for alcohol and drugs,” Joe explains. Once he was clean, he got a new job—he’d long lost his former one in the insurance business—working as a third shift tech at an adolescent treatment center. He was no more than a security guard, but it was within those halls that he discovered his passion for working with troubled youth. The proof for his passion could even be seen in his own family. In 1988, he and his wife Paula began taking in foster children alongside their own two children—19 in all over the years. “It’s why I’ve got all this white hair,” he laughs. In the early 1990s, when his 10-year-old biological son Andy wanted to start boxing recreationally, it
was a match made in heaven. “I knew nothing about boxing, but what I learned quickly was that I could reach kids through this sport that I would never have been able to otherwise,” he says.
Fighting for a future After 10 years of working in various positions as a counselor, Joe founded the YMCA Community Action Program in a small storefront in North Cha anooga in 1998. Now, located on Central Avenue, the program is the longest continuously running delinquency prevention program in the state, according to Joe. Today, it wouldn’t be odd to find Joe Smith in juvenile court. He says he is often advocating for a young defendant, “I’ll say, ‘Judge give us a chance with him at YCAP. Let’s try other less drastic interventions first.’” If the judge agrees, the boy will spend up to a year with YCAP, working to be er his grades, his skill set and his outlook on life. And, if he wants to, he can learn to box. YCAP boxers typically start their day at 5:30 a.m., running laps before school. After school they are back at the YCAP Boxing Club to do some homework, listen to a devotional and then step into the ring for more training. “Boxing is kind of unique in that you get punched in the face and either you quit or fight back, and that’s kind of like life,” says Joe’s son Andy Smith, who is now head boxing coach. The club is not only for the YCAP referrals; it is open to the community. “With our location it seems to get quite a few of the inner-city kids, but we get kids from all over,” Andy says.
issuu.com/goodnewschatt
17
According to him, 90 percent of the physical challenge is just ge ing the kids in shape, but the real challenge is dealing with what’s going on in their personal life. “A lot of them face so much difficulty at home when there’s no stability. We try to teach them perseverance—that goes into the fact that a lot of the kids we work with have been dealt hands that aren’t necessarily fair,” says Andy. “Boxing is a very tough sport. It’s something that requires discipline, respect, hard work, courage,” says Joe. “What you hope happens is that they take those same lessons out of the boxing gym into math class and science class and into personal relationships. A kid’s eyes are more succinct than are their ears. If a parent is being irresponsible, not holding down a job, ge ing drunk … the kid sees that. What do you think the kid is going to pay more a ention to?” One former boxer, Dekota Careathers, now age 25, says he voluntarily got involved in the boxing program around the age of 9, explaining he wanted to be tough. He remembers the days of intense training before and after school, laughing, “It was all day, every day—I had no time to get in trouble at all.” Today Dekota is father to a three-year-old son and working toward college. “Without boxing, being around Joe Smith and Andy Smith, I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I don’t think I would be the father I am; I don’t think I would have pursued college. They had a big impact on my life,” he says. “Boxing gave me the skills to be humble, to strive for something and continue to be er myself. It gave me a be er outlook on life.” And Dekota’s not the only one. “There’s days they will cuss you and be disrespectful, but then there are days when a kid comes to the front door… and says, ‘I just needed to stop and tell you how much I love you and what a difference you have made in my life,’” says Joe. “It’s a 18
September 2014
phone call from heaven to remind me why I do what I do.”
The real success story
Joe doesn’t take much credit for the work done through the program; if you asked him, he’d say, “Everything that has happened to me has just been a God thing.” That includes being asked to participate with the 2008 Olympic boxing team as team manager in Beijing. “Boxing is a sport that often draws tough inner-city kids,” says Joe. “There were 24 athletes on the team from inner cities all over America.” For a year before the Olympic Games, Joe lived with the team in Colorado Springs while they trained, traveling with them all over the world as they faced off against opponents. He was responsible for all of the athletes as well as public relations with the media. As he puts it, he was the team dad. Though he says he’s proud of his local boxers that have succeeded in the sport, he says it’s not the most important thing. “Everybody that comes in here is not going to make a great boxer, though we have had several that have done well nationally. Every Olympian starts in his hometown, in a grassroots boxing program,” says Joe. “We want these kids to do well competitively, but we want the lessons they learn in the gym to translate into other areas of their life.” In the end, Joe knows it’s up to the kids who they want to be. “Everybody needs another chance. I think I’ve made pre y good on my second chance. I can relate to the struggles they feel … no daddy, poverty, drug addiction. We do the best we can do. We love on these kids, provide resources, try to be a conduit to change their life, but I’m not responsible for where the story ends.”
To get involved or to volunteer visit jabbinforjesus.org
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Chattanooga Church Directory Assembly of God Calvary Church 423.629.1200 1212 South Seminole Drive, 37412 Fresh Fire Awakening 423.255.3103 Chattanooga, 37421
Baptist Bayside Baptist Church 423-344-8327 6100 Hwy 58 Harrison, TN 37416 Covenant Baptist Church 423.892.5542 1640 N. Joiner Rd, 37421 Duncan Park Baptist Church 706.899.3707 1609 Glowmont Dr, 37412 New Haven Baptist Church 423.855.4910 1058 Graysville Rd, 37421 Middle Cross Baptist Church 423.877.5742 4009 Norcross Rd, 37343 Heritage Baptist Church 423.499.5060 2934 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Ridgeview Baptist Church 423.899.1530 6 Moore Rd, 37411 Spring Creek Road Baptist 423.894.0700 1312 Spring Creek Rd, 37412 Silverdale Baptist Church 423.892.2173 7236 Bonny Oaks Dr, 37421 Alpine Baptist Church 423.875.3522 4720 Stagg Rd, 37415 Ashland Terrace Baptist Church 423.877.4392 906 Ashland Terrace, 37415 Avondale Baptist Church 423.344.2208 5479 Hwy 58, 37416 Bartle Baugh Baptist Church 423.344.5207 6129 Champion Rd, 37416 Berean Baptist Church 423.629.1634 1614 Kirby Ave, 37404 Bethel Baptist Church 423.875.9107 632 Lullwater Rd, 37405 Bethlehem Baptist Church 423.266.5484 101 Lawn St, 37405 Bible Way Baptist Church 423.624.2149 2003 Elmendorf St, 37406
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September 2014
Brainerd Baptist Church 423.624.2606 300 Brookfield Ave, 37411 Brainerd Hills Baptist Church 423.892.6645 6611 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 Calvary Baptist Church 423.875.8154 5201 Dayton Blvd, 37415 Central Baptist Church 423.624.4678 901 Woodmore Ln, 37411 Charity Baptist Church 423.267.6576 2340 Rossville Blvd, 37408 Clifton Hill Baptist Church 423.867.4887 3616 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Concord Baptist Church 423.892.9313 7025 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Brainerd Baptist Church 423.892.4235 1047 Graysville Rd, 37421 East Lake Baptist Church 423.698.1597 3315 12th Ave, 37407 East Ridge Baptist Church 423.698.2421 4201 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Edgewood Baptist Church 423.629.5821 2007 East 27th, 37407 Empowerment Church 423.355.5576 1203 Blocker Lane, 37412 Faith Baptist Church 423.344.9712 8834 North Hickory Valley, 37416 Fellowship Baptist Church 423.894.8080 5335 Clemons Rd, 37412 First Baptist Church 423.265.2257 401 Gateway Ave, 37402 First Baptist Church 423.629.1950 1228 Latta St, 37406 First Baptist Church 423.265.3229 506 East 8th St., 37403 First Calvary Baptist Church 423.267.5159 300 Bell Ave, 37405 Grace Baptist Church 423.892.4869 7815 Shallowford Rd, 37421 Greater Beulah Baptist Church 423.624.0418 1301 Commerce St, 37404 Harmony Baptist Church 423.629.9660
3832 Youngstown Rd, 37406 Hickory Valley Baptist Church 423.892.1916 2320 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Highland Park Baptist Church 423.493.4111 1907 Bailey Ave, 37404 Hillcrest Baptist Church 423.867.2812 3300 East 42nd St, 37407 Independent Baptist Church 423.875.3054 2624 Lyndon Ave, 37412 International Baptist Church 423.624.8638 1512 Old Ringgold Rd, 37404 Kings Point Baptist Church 423.624.5202 2834 Harrison Pike, 37403 Kingwood Baptist Church 423.624.7301 3522 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Lighthouse Baptist Church 423.624.4125 3777 Wilcox Blvd, 37411 Lookout Valley Baptist Church 423.825.5335 23 Lilac Ave, 37419 Macedonia Baptist Church 423.267.6915 1156 East Main St, 37408 Maranatha Baptist Church 423.899.0571 1701 Hickory Valley Road, 37421 Mission Ridge Baptist Church 423.624.0424 302 Shallowford Rd, 37411 Morris Hill Baptist Church 423.892.2071 1804 Morris Hill Rd, 37421 Mount Paran Baptist Church 423.629.2377 1319 Moss Dr, 37411 New Grace Baptist Church 423.899.5510 7861 Lee Hwy, 37421 Orchard Knob Baptist Church 423.629.6115 1734 East 3rd St, 37404 Philadelphia Baptist Church 423.629.5786 2230 East 18th St, 37404 Pilgrim Rock Baptist Church 423.894.7548 1726 Church Rd, 37421 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 423.892.0237 1441 Crawford Rd, 37421 Prospect Baptist Church 423.698.4149 734 Dodson Ave, 37404 Resurrected Reformed Baptist 423.698.8086
2230 East 18th Street, 37404 Rose of Sharon Baptist Church 423.629.9534 2001 Blackford St, 37404 Second Baptist Church 423.629.6039 1619 East Main St, 37404 Shiloh Baptist Church 423.267.3131 1708 Carr St, 37408 Standifer Gap Baptist Church 423.892.8596 8159 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421 Temple Baptist Church 423.622.1913 3200 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Terra Vista Baptist Church 423.892.3879 4412 Oakwood Dr, 37416 Tucker Baptist Church 423.510.9684 1115 North Moore Rd, 37411 Washington Park Baptist 423.899.9408 1823 Shepherd Rd, 37421 Westview Baptist Church 423.899.0127 9516 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 Woodland Park Baptist Church 423.899.9185 7501 Standifer Gap Rd, 37421
Church of God East Chattanooga COG 423.894.7926 4924 Hwy 58, 37416 East Lake Church of God 423.698.6522 2949 East 29th St, 37407 Brainerd Hills Church of God 423.892.2092 410 Friar Rd, 37421 City Church of Chattanooga 423.894.6982 7122 Lee Hwy, 37421 Church of God of Prophecy 423.899.4074 3927 Webb Rd, 37416 Church of God of Prophecy 423.894.0597 2201 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Church of God Seventh Day 423.899.5490 7504 Old Lee Hwy, 37421 East Brainerd Church of God 423.899.4755 8312 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Church of God 423.867.7287 1512 McBrien Rd, 37412 East Side Church of God 423.624.8797 2105 Citico Ave, 37404
Fellowship Church of God 423.867.3194 3426 Clio Ave, 37407 Fourth Avenie Church of God 423.867.4545 3912 4th Ave, 37407 Holy Temple Church of God 423.629.2649 2311 Bliss St, 37406 Joyful Noise Church of God 423.698.1813 1614 Foust St, 37404 Pure Holiness Church of God 423.622.4667 420 North Holly St, 37404 Temple of Faith Church of God 423.698.2700 2139 East 27th 37407 United Temple Church of God 423.624.1037 2418 Dodson Ave, 37406 Vision Church of God 423.624.7170 4901 Midland Pike, 37411 Woodmore Church of God 423.899.0827 1115 North Moore Rd, 37411 Word Center Church of God 423.867.3330 4803 13th Ave, 37407 Church of God in Christ New Hope Church of God in Christ 423.698.4115 1725 Dodson Ave, 37406
Nazarene Alton Park Church of the Nazarene 423.756.2468 4004 Dorris St, 37410 Nazarene Calvary Church of the Nazarene 423.892.5771 4400 Bonny Oaks Dr, 37416 East Brainerd Church of the Nazarene 423.499.8643 8101 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Church of the Nazarene 423.894.8656 1202 Spring Creek Rd, 37412 First Church of the Nazarene 423.624.2679 2099 East Main St, 37404
Community Church Cosmopolitan Community Church 423.622.3217 3031 Wilcox Blvd, 37411 Friendship Community Church 423.698.3471 7 North Tuxedo Dr, 37411
Metropolitan Community Church 423.629.2737 1601 Foust St, 37404
Lutheran Ascension Lutheran Church 423.698.5047 720 South Germantown Rd, 37412 First Lutheran Church Pastor Mark McCrory 423-629-5990; www.first4u.org 2800 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404 Good Shepherd Lutheran Rev. H. Christopher Sheets 423.629.4661 www.gslcflock.org 822 Belvoir Ave, 37412 Saint Phillip Lutheran Church 423.267.1475 51 West 25th St, 37408
Methodist Jones Memorial UMC 423.624.6073 4131 Ringgold Rd, 37412 Mount Crest UMC 423.881.4165 8206 Cicero Tr, 37421 St John UMC 423.892.2257 3921 Murray Hills Dr, 37416 Wesley Memorial UMC 423.892.6446 6314 E. Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge UMC Pastor Ken Sauer 423-892-8451; eastridgeumc.org 1601 Prater Road, East Ridge, TN 37412 Faith Community Wesleyan 7725 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN 37421 Stanley UMC 423.624.6729 501 Dodson Ave, 37404 Washington Hills UMC 423.892.8050 6216 Hadley Dr, 37416 Cleveland Trinity UMC 423.892.6926 9028 Warbler Ln, 37421 East Lake UMC 423.624.4921 2903 East 37th St, 37407 St Elmo UMC 423.855.0807 3030 Towerway Dr, 37406 Lake Vista UMC 423.892.4941 6216 Hadley Dr, 37416 Saint Mary CME Church 423.622.2742 1417 Wheeler Ave, 37406 Sheares Memorial UMC
423.855.2004 515 Airport Rd, 37421 Sheares Memorial UMC 423.698.4114 400 Glenwood Dr, 37404
1722 Newton St, 37406
Presbyterian
Non-Denominational The Sacred Heart Mission of Chattanooga 423.238.3835 3914 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Faith Connection Church 423.933.6986 7312 Shallowford Rd, 37421 Metropolitan Tabernacle 423.894.3377 2101 West Shepherd Rd, 37422 Carpenters Cowboy Church 423.867.4232 3616 Rossville Blvd, 37407 Brainerd Hills Chapel Church 423.899.3098 5931 Pinegrove Tr, 37421 Chattanooga Church 423.892.2888 6188 Adamson Circle, 37416 Christian Church of Hope 423.855.0767 2330 Hickory Valley Rd, 37421 Church of Jesus 423.629.5051 2118 Wilson St, 37406 Church of the First Born 423.756.0704 3418 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Church of the Lord Jesus 423.265.8235 200 West 19th St, 37408 Mount Summit of Peace Church 423.899.0434 6925 Shallowford Rd, 37421 New Covenant Church 423.867.2121 3700 Clio Ave, 37407 Walker Avenue First Church 423.622.2982 2101 Walker St, 37404 Worlds Church of the Living God 423.622.2992 2110 Glass St, 37406 Pentecostal Emanuel Pentecostal Church 423.821.5261 4204 Ohls Ave, 37410 Sharon Pentecostal Church 423.867.7088 1400 East 48th St, 37407 Virtuous Church Pastor Richard O. Smith 4204 Ohls Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37410 (423)521-4440 www.virtuouschurch.org Word of Pentecost Church 423.624.2620
First Cumberland Presbyterian 423.698.2556 1505 North Moore Rd, 37411 Central Presbyterian Church 423.629.1401 1815 McCallie Ave, 37404 Covenant Presbyterian Church 423.899.5377 8451 East Brainerd Rd, 37421 East Ridge Presbyterian Church 423.867.2717 4919 Court Dr, 37412 First Presbyterian Church 423.267.1206 554 McCallie Ave, 37402 New Hope Presbyterian Church 423.892.0853 7301 Shallowford Rd, 37421 North Minster Presbyterian 423.894.3773 4791 Hal Dr, 37416 St Elmo Presbyterian Church 423.821.1424 4400 St Elmo Ave, 37409 Second Presbyterian Church 423.266.2828 700 Pine St, 37402 Trinity Presbyterian Church 423.899.9586 104 McBrien Rd, 37411
Vineyard Vineyard Christian Fellowship 423.704.2188 10615 London Ln, 37302
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Gò0dNews for Life
THE LONG ROAD HOME (A Young Mother Finds Her Way Back to Jesus) By Beth Henderson
W
e pass people every day, each going someplace different. Have you ever stopped to consider where this day might be taking them? Could it be that the fruit of bad decisions has finally bloomed, and the road they’re traveling is the one that leads to judgment? I think about the adulterous woman mentioned in John 8:3-12, and I wonder what it was like for her as she walked the road from her home to stand before the scribes and Pharisees, or when she stood before Jesus, the One who walked on water and claimed to be God himself. I wonder what she feared most as they spoke of her sin and reminded Jesus that the law said she should be stoned. It must have felt similar to the way Avery*, a once-active Lee University student, felt as she drove down Mouse Creek Road and came to the front doors of New Hope Pregnancy Care Center for the first time, or when she faced her parents with the news that an unexpected grandchild was on the way. Only she and one other person knew she was pregnant, but a time was coming when she couldn’t hide her secret any longer. It was time for her sins and her secret to be made known. “I was a college student beyond confused, scared, and alone,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened in my life. The ride to New Hope was horrible.” The scribes and Pharisees had rocks in hand. Would they be waiting for her, too? Thankfully, that was not the case. “As soon as I got there, I felt like family. I felt like someone really cared and wanted to help me get through this life-changing situation,” she said. And her parents? “I am very thankful that my parents allowed me to come home, though they were not happy and they were disappointed in me. They were there for me and they are my number one supporters.” Avery knew she had been traveling down the wrong road. “I have been raised in church since I was a baby. I knew right from wrong,” she said. But along with her boyfriend, she let her own desires lead her. “We had discussed marriage, and we thought that was the direction we would end up going. We did want to be parents some day, but never before we were married. We followed our flesh instead of doing the right thing and getting married.” Ge ing back on the right road has not been easy for Avery. “This situation has slowed down everything I have dreamed of doing,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I won’t get there one day, but I put a big hold on God’s plan for my life. But God is a God of restoration. My relationship with Christ wasn’t where it should have been, not that it should have taken this situation for me to see God’s grace in my life, but it did, and I have seen God take a mess and turn it to a wonderful gift.” This was a gift that came with a no-return policy. “I wish I had waited to make such a big choice to have sex before marriage, because you cannot take a baby away at 3 a.m. when she is screaming. It is a 24/7 job, and it’s hard. It’s even harder trying to work and go to school.”
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It also came with some hard-learned lessons, lessons she’s happy to share with others. “Any way that my story can help other girls, I’m glad to be a part,” she said. And she has one word that sums up her advice: “Wait.” “I have learned that no boy’s love is worth going out of the will of God for your life,” she said. “That boy’s will is far from perfect, and
if you do end up in this situation, your life is not over, but you have to reevaluate your life and focus on a whole new thing: your baby.” But that baby is the focus of a lot of love. “My whole family is in love with my daughter. It doesn’t always turn out like this,” she said, “but because I believe I put this situation in God’s hands, He has blessed me by allowing me and my daughter to be together with my family.” Avery is enrolled in a college in her hometown. She is focusing on her relationship with God and with her daughter. The future looks bright. *Name has been changed to protect privacy.
Beth Henderson
is the Development Director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center
Norvel Hayes
ATLANTA SEPT. 29th-OCT. 3rd Campmeeting DR. NORVEL HAYES ZONA HAYES-MORROW JOHN BEVERE CRAIG JONES ELAINE HOLLMER
World Harvest Church 320 Hardscrabble rd. Roswell, GA 30075
10:00am 7:00pm
Gò0dNews for Health & Fitness
The Benefits of Hiking By Lindsey Cooke
I
don’t know about you, but after this summer and its heat, I am ready for some cool, fall weather. I plan on taking advantage of the wonderful area in which we live by ge ing outside and spending some time in the great outdoors. For those of you who are looking for some new family-friendly workouts, you should really consider looking into the local hiking trails. It is a great workout and can be enjoyable for the entire family at any age. Why hiking, you ask? Hiking helps reduce the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, and it has been shown to make a person happier. It works a variety of different muscles in your body, some of which I can guarantee you never knew you had until the day after a good hike! I know that when I spend time outside, I feel be er about myself, and it helps me put things into perspective. Here is some advice for those who are interested in starting out: 1. Start small 2. Prepare for the worst 3. Overestimate your trail time 4. Do not ignore your backyard 5. Use the buddy system. Why are these important? Starting small will allow you to get used to the activity. If you have never carried a backpack while hiking, I strongly encourage 24
September 2014
you to plan a smaller hike to get used to the feel of it. Prepare for the worst by packing a first aid kit, something to use as a shelter if needed, and something to use to call for help (such as flares). Overestimating your trail time is important because if you or someone in your group is new to the activity, it can take up to one hour to cover two miles. Remember your backyard and the parks and resources you have around you. We are blessed to have mountains around us that have wonderful trails, but we also have some incredible parks as well. And the buddy system is always important to remember. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Speaking of your own backyard, if you have not spent time at the Ocoee, you are truly missing out. There are trails all around and even guided tours offered by the Ocoee Adventure Center. Not only can you take in beautiful scenery, but you can also benefit from the activity. We are blessed with beauty all around, and by stepping outside and surrounding ourselves in it, we can see God in a whole new light. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Pro. 16:9 NIV). Other hiking opportunities in our area include the Elise Chapin Wildlife Sanctuary, Enterprise South, Amnicola Marsh Trail, the Chilhowee and Tanasi Trail systems, and Great Smoky Mountain National Park. For a list of the state’s 100 top hiking trails, please visit h p://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=46 .
Lindsey Cooke is the administrative assistant for Cooke's Food Store & Pharmacy.
Arlyne VanHook Photography 423-432-7192
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Gò0dNews for Everyone
Heart for Haiti
Part 2
I
n a previous article, I introduced my mission partner and me and wrote about our love for the people of Haiti. We recently returned from our second trip of the summer, and with each trip I fall more and more in love with Haiti. A few things we
participated in this time included prison ministry, praying over new mothers at a local hospital, and donating much-needed formula to the malnutrition wing in the Pediatric Department. The majority of our trip, however, consisted of spending time with a community we have become very close to -“The Hill.” Three days a week, an organization called “Empowering Haitian Moms” 26
By: Laurel Martin
September 2014
holds a children’s program, mother’s program, and then provides lunch to the community. We were able to spend time with these families-meeting new ones and forming stronger bonds with those we already knew. This ministry provides both physical and spiritual food to this community as well as small loans to provide the mothers with job opportunities that help support their families. The program helps them to help themselves. Child sponsorship is also available through the program to help the children afford school, books, and uniforms. The mothers are all so very sweet, but it’s the children who truly have my heart. As I mentioned when speaking of the orphans in the previous article, Haitian children are so excited about the smallest things. One li le girl named Abigail became my sidekick for the week. Everywhere I went, she had to be with me, holding my hand. If I was si ing down, she was in my lap. I think her favorite thing was simply
playing with my sunglasses. The children are so happy and so content with just being held and receiving some a ention. Not that their families don’t provide love and a ention, but it’s all they need to be happy. Life is so very simple in Haiti,
and I can’t get enough. We are already planning our next trip for May 2015, and it’s going to be a big one. We will a empt to do something we’ve never done before, and we will need an incredible amount of help in doing so. What are we planning, you ask? Well...check back soon!
Laurel Martin is a registered nurse at Sky Ridge Medical Center.
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Gò0dNews for Seniors
“Seniors and Technology” By: Esmere lda Lee
R
ecently, I have been looking for Christmas presents for my family. December is summer time in South Africa—where I was raised, and in a ending some of the local summer sales, I am bound to find great deals for my family’s Christmas gifts. As I was shopping, I became privy to a conversation between an older son and his elderly mother. Both of them were purchasing iPads for each other. As I eavesdropped on this conversation, it became apparent that the ninety-year-old mother was far more savvy with her knowledge of the iPad than her son. She was trying to convince him of the iPad’s features and how it would benefit him at his job and help to manage his daily activities. As I listened, I was surprised and impressed by her technological know-how. She noticed that I was eavesdropping, and I was momentarily embarrassed. However, she looked at me and giggled pleasantly, saying, “Honey, I’ve researched all this. You know I’ve got time on my side.” I then began to talk with her for a few minutes, and I was enlightened, to say the least. She had been using an iPod to listen to music for about two years prior to her newest purchase. The music she downloaded to her iPod was mainly “oldies” that stimulated her memory in so many ways. As she showed me her playlist, it was apparent the benefit each song brought to her life. I began to tell her how much I loved running with my own iPod, and how each purposely chosen song made me run faster and with more intensity. She related very well to my analogy, stating that the ‘80s hit “Eye of the Tiger” made her want to walk and almost run with her walker! Through music, she was able to relate very well to her past and to her present. She even began to relate how certain songs reminded her of restaurants that she visited with her husband, and made her eat more than she normally would. We laughed and she asked me if many of my residents at Garden Plaza had found the iPod beneficial to them? I related to her that we were offering classes to familiarize our residents 28
September 2014
with the features of the iPad. I said I would work on offering iPod classes as well. She inspired me to think about music, and how the use of the iPod, iPad and Bluetooth made music readily available to everyone. No longer do we have to purchase an entire tape or CD to listen to one song. We can now tailor our listening to the songs we love, and with the use of these small devices, go practically anywhere with our music. These devices can have a major impact on the lives of our older adults in stimulating memory, calming, and energizing their spirits. As Shakespeare said, “If music be the food of love, play on.” This Christmas I am really considering teaching my in-laws and parents the benefits of the iPad and iPod in their daily lives. Maybe the gift of time taken to teach them to use these devices, which are sometimes intimidating, will alleviate their fear of the future and continue to inspire a zest for life!
Esmerelda Lee
is campus manager for Garden Plaza of Cleveland, an independent and assisted living facility for seniors. She and her husband Andrew have three children.
6337 East Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 855-2001
Walter L. Crox
Covenant is a family owned and operated funeral provider with five generations of funeral service professionals specializing in reasonably-priced funeral products and services. Let the Crox family serve you in celebrating the life of your loved one with a fairly priced funeral that meets your loved oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishes. At Covenant, we feel that the true value of a funeral lies not in the cost or style of the casket but in the care of those who are left to mourn their loss.
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Barbara H. Crox
Ben M. Crox, III
Zero Doubt I Gò0dNews for Everyone
f you’re like some some, you’ve probably never heard of me yet. I first came to Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1997 on a basketball scholarship to Cleveland State Community College. And although I was taught to always go to church, I never really had a relationship with Jesus until six years later. In 1998 I got involved with creating music after I heard my best friend from my hometown rapping, and I enjoyed it as a hobby. I went on to finish my collegiate career at Tennessee Wesleyan College in 2001 earning a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in general management. Shortly afterwards, I moved to Knoxville in an a empt to make more money than anyone I had ever known and live a lifestyle unlike anyone I had ever seen. But long days of chasing money and dark nights of clu-
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September 2014
hopping soon left me broke and homeless! While si ing in my one-bedroom apartment and starring at an eviction notice, I wondered what I was going to do next. On October 19, 2003, I did something I knew I should have done much sooner-surrendered my life to Christ! Since that day, I have never looked back! I soon discovered my calling was to preach the Word of God through music in such a unique way that people who have never listened to rap or don’t care for rap, love my music! As a Christian rapper, I use my God-given gift and calling to reach the youth through music, including anyone else along the way. In 2012, I released my first album titled “Born 2 Win.” In 2013 I released “The Real Life Mixtape Vol 1” as a free download exclusively online that has landed in eight different countries to date. On July 15, 2014, I released my third project titled “Wordman,” which has created such a buzz that it’s being recognized in several states all over the U.S. Currently, God has specifically instructed me to focus on Cleveland and to go get the people, so that’s what I’m doing daily! I firmly believe that even though the message of Jesus Christ will never change, the delivery of it has to if we (the Body of Christ) plan to reach the next generation. When I tell people I’m a Christian rapper, they immediately close off to what I have to say because of the word rap. I don’t take it personal because I will be the first to admit, some rap is crap! However, I see rap as a vehicle and the Word of God is the “Engine.” While some still have a hard time seeing past the rap genre, I’m confident that I represent something much greater, and more importantly, Someone who is greater, and that Someone is Jesus Christ! Stay connected to what God is doing in my life through my web site at www. zerodoubtmusic.com or any social media site @zerodoubtmusic.
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