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scripture page
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love – so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about – not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us – perfect love! 13-16 This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. 7-10
TO LOVE, TO BE LOVED
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day – our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love. 19 We, though, are going to love – love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. 20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 17-18
2 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
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FEBRUARY 2016
™
contents on the cover:
Pastor Craig A. Harcum First Baptist Church
525 N. Caroline Street Baltimore, MD 21205 410-675-2333 www.firstbaptistchurchbalto.com
Special Feature pgs 14-15 The First Baptist Church celebrating its 180th church anniversary as a beacon of light in Baltimore, Maryland. An exclusive interview with Rev. Craig A. Harcum, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and a look at the phenomenal history of the First Baptist Church, the First Colored Peoples’ Baptist Church.
Feature Articles
18 WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE Tiffany Bethea
The Sisterhood Series (Pt 1)
20 SINGLE LIFE
Tyneice Pack
Do You Love The Person in the Mirror?
32 BODY BASICS www.thenest.com
Awesome Workout Routines For Couples 4 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
22 BOOK SHELF
Brandie Manigault
The Crossing (Serita Jakes)
Healthy Body
30 TEEN CONNECT
www.fervr.com
Love or Lust: How to Tell The Difference.
38 MAN TALK
Dr. Charles Barrett
God’s Plan For Relationships
26 NUTRITION & YOU
Herline A. Knights, RD, LD
Calendar for Family Health
Entertainment
Healthy Mind 16 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH
Carla J. Debnam, (Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center)
Everyone Counts
Healthy Soul
36 GOSPEL INDUSTRY NEWS
Andrea Williams
In Every Issue Scripture Page........................................ 2
34 WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Contributors............................................ 6
In Trust Ministries dwilliamsross@aol.com nistries
From the Editor....................................... 7
What Are You Doing Valentine’s Day?
Donna Williams-Ross
www.gracenglorymagazine.org 5
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
Contributors PUBLISHER/ Jackie Epps EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL
Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Harold A. Carter, Jr. Cassandra Vaughn-Fox Herline A. Knights Pastors Gregory and Tonya Dennis Carla J. Debnam Donna Williams-Ross Ericka Johnson Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Rev. Tim Tooten Brandie Manigault Tiffany Bethea Dr. Monique Flemings
PHOTOGRAPHY Mark L. Dennis, Alan L. Jones GRAPHIC ARTIST Claire Lesesne-Nalley www.JandCDesigns.com WEB ADMINISTRATOR Andre Felipe for Arts Period www.artsperiod.com PRINTING Roebuck & Son Printing www.hgroebuck.com Grace & Glory Magazine is published monthly by JE Media, LLC, a Baltimore based, independent publisher. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed permission is prohibited.
GREAT CLASSIFIED AD RATES! Rates: $9.00 for the first 10 words and under. 50 cents for each additional word. Add $2.00 for any bold words. $5.00 for each uploaded photo. Payment: We accept PAYPAL, VISA, MASTERCARD, and DISCOVER. Deadlines: The 23rd of every month at 8:00 pm Categories: Help Wanted, For Sale, Rentals, Business Opportunities, Classes, Child Care, Services, Announcements, etc. To set up a classified go online at www.gracenglorymagazine.org 6 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
Advisory Board Chairman — Dr. A.C. D. Vaughn Sr. Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, MD Vice-Chairman — Dr. Frank M. Reid III Sr. Pastor, Bethel A.M.E. Church, MD Dr. Michael A. Battle Sr., U.S. Ambassador President, ITC Seminary, Atlanta, GA Dr. Timothy Boddie Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA Bishop John R. Bryant Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr. Pastor, New Shiloh Baptist Church, MD Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. Ambassador Dr. WIlliam H. Curtis Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA Bishop Ralph L. Dennis Sr. Pastor, Kingdom Worship Center, MD Wanda Q. Draper/Media Executive Michele J.K. Epps/Health Sciences Cassandra Vaughn/Media Executive Dr. Donte’ L. Hickman, Sr. Pastor, Southern Baptist Church, MD Pastor Timothy V. Manigault Healing Voices Ministries Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Pastor, Dream Life Worship Center Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Sr. Pastor, New Psalmist Baptist Church, MD Dr. Timothy Tooten, Sr. Pastor, Harvest Christian Ministries, MD
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from the editor
As African-Americans, it is our responsibility to know Black History. We should know who we are and where we come from. Take the time to teach your children, they should learn all there is to know about their heritage. Black History should start with the family. We can pass our history along from generation to generation within our own families. We can celebrate our individual families’ successes and triumphs and support them during their struggles. I believe it will teach our children self-confidence, self-respect and most of all self-love. Many of us may only be able to trace back two or three generations, but we need to make it a point to tell our children about their ancestors, and repeat it as often as possible.
Black History Month originated in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was chosen in honor of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, who were both born in that month. It has been set aside to reflect upon the accomplishments and achievements as well as the struggles and tribulations of a race of people who ended up on the shores of America many centuries ago. For one entire month, schools, churches, museums, and the media will celebrate and honor African-Americans and their history in every walk of life. I believe everything we do is history. From day to day we are constantly making history whether we realize it or not. That is why it is so important to make each day of our lives count. At the end of the day we should be able to look back over the day and make note of what was accomplished. As the days turn into weeks, months and years, those years become the fabric of our lives. Woven into the fabric of our lives are our successes, accomplishments and struggles that all become part of our history.
We may not ever find that link that connects every black person to their African roots, but we will discover that there is plenty of rich ‘Black History’ right in our own back yards. And last but certainly not least, we can teach our children that through God’s word we can trace and link ourselves to the root that brought forth our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For the word of God tells us in Roman 8:16-17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” This month’s issue is dedicated to the history of African-Americans. It is very exciting to add a new chapter each year of our lives to this ever developing story. Stick your chest out and in the words of the late James Brown, “Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud!”
Jackie Epps Editor-in-Chief www.gracenglorymagazine.org 77 www.gracenglorymagazine.org
Q&A
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Pastor Craig A.Harcum G&G: Pastor Harcum, welcome to Grace & Glory Magazine, it is my pleasure to introduce you to our Grace & Glory family. This month we are so excited to celebrate with you the 180th Church Anniversary of the First Baptist Church of Maryland. Pastor Harcum you were called to pastor this church three years ago, how does it feel to now be a part of the history of Pastor Craig A.Harcum the oldest Black Baptist Church in Maryland? Pastor Harcum: It’s truly an amazing feeling to be connected to the rich history of First Baptist Church. It’s mind blowing when I think about how God has graciously guided and blessed our church to thrive as a beacon light in Maryland for 180 years. We are one of the few congregations that are blessed to have a membership with serval families that have more than four generations of members currently participating in various ministries. In fact, we have individuals that can trace their family legacy at First Baptist Church back over 100 years. Our rich heritage is a witness to God’s faithfulness and a sign of our love for the Kingdom of God. G&G: Pastor Harcum, let’s start at the beginning of this journey for you. Would you walk us through the journey that led you to the First Baptist Church of MD? Pastor Harcum: Prior to becoming the Pastor of First 8 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
Baptist Church, I spent many years as an executive leader in the corporate world. After my corporate career, I accepted a divine opportunity to serve in fulltime ministry as the Executive Assistant to Dr. Reginald Thomas Sr., Pastor of Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. During my ten year tenure at Greater Gethsemane Church, I was blessed with many amazing ministry opportunities. In addition to being the Executive Assistant to the Pastor, I also served as the Chief of Staff and Operation while also providing leadership to each of the core teaching and spiritual maturity ministries of the church. As a result of exceptional mentoring from my pastor and extensive ministry exposure, I was well prepared to successfully lead the historic First Baptist Church. G&G: Pastor Harcum, to get to know you a little better, what three words would you choose to describe yourself and would you share with us one thing most people would be surprised to know about you? Pastor Harcum: If I had to pick three words to describe myself, I would choose faithful, grateful, and joyful! Throughout my life I have been tremendously blessed with many opportunities. Therefore, as a response, I am committed to being diligent and faithful to every assignment God entrusts to me. I believe that gratitude and humility are inseparable character traits that every Christian must embrace. When a person
Q&A forgets that God is the ultimate source of our strength and understanding that God allowed me to develop executive power, they will quickly fall victim to the fact that pride skills, not for the advancement of Corporate America, comes before the fall. My third word is joyful, because I but for the advancement of His Kingdom. “The steps of am intentional about enjoying life a good man are ordered by the and celebrating the God that gives Lord.” life. I make every effort to project a spirit of jubilance. Life is too G&G: Pastor Harcum, after short and God has been too good becoming the pastor and following for me not to capitalize on every behind an extensive list of pastors opportunity to bless the Lord with before you, what has been your all my soul. passion and vision for the First One aspect of my life that most Baptist Church? people don’t get an opportunity to Pastor Harcum: My passion witness is my strong entrepreneur is to continue the rich legacy qualities. As a preteen I was the of equipping, edifying and only child in my neighborhood empowering the members of with a computer, so I launched First Baptist Church to grow Pastor Craig A. & Lady Rhonda Harcum, daughters Charis & Kyndel my first business venture, “Craig’s in the grace and knowledge of Desktop Publishing”. Throughout Jesus Christ. My vision for First my teenage and young adult years, I maximized my Baptist Church is that we will effectively expand our administrative skills and launched several businesses to missions and outreach efforts throughout the Baltimore meet the needs of my community, friends and family. In Metropolitan region. Our goal is not to limit our ministry the future when God grants me the opportunity, I plan to impact to only having powerful Sunday morning worship develop a Christian services, but our focus is to minister to the needs of entrepreneurial individuals that are suffering from the hardships of training center life. Currently, we host a monthly soup kitchen, and we that will equip shuttle individuals from local area shelters, providing and empower food and clothing to those in need. This service offers our community to the opportunity for the community to experience become financially fellowship and the love of Christ outside of a typical stable and church service. My vision is that we will multiply our economically selfoutreach opportunities concerning the many facets of sufficient. life, in an effort to curb the social issues that plague our community. I believe the love of Christ can draw G&G: Pastor Harcum, most pastors have shared with me the hearts of people into a deeper and more committed that ‘preaching the gospel’ was not what they had planned relationship with Him. to do with their lives. Was it the same for you, did you have other plans for your life or has it always been your G&G: Pastor desire to preach the gospel? Harcum, what Pastor Harcum: During the time that I was a college have been the student, I never imaged that I would be a preacher of the most rewarding gospel. I had major dreams and aspirations of starting accomplishments my own Information Technology firm. I spent thirteen in the ministry years of my career enjoying the executive rollercoaster since you took ride of Corporate America. At that time my prayer was, over as pastor of “Lord, grant me the wisdom and resources to establish the church? my own IT Corporation.” Eventually, I realized that God Pastor had a different mission for my life. I have come to the Harcum: My Continued on page 10 www.gracenglorymagazine.org 9
Q&A Continued from page 9
most rewarding accomplishment as the Pastor of First Baptist Church is witnessing individuals surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and begin the journey of living for the Lord. As a congregation, we have been diligently following the theme of “Building on the Firm Foundation of Jesus”, through compassion, commitment, community and celebration. As a result, we have witnessed an increase in membership, attendance, and participation. It’s extremely exciting to watch members become more spiritually mature and to assist them in the process of identifying and using their gifts to advance the body of Christ. It is my prayer that every member of First Baptist Church will courageously pursue and execute God’s will for their lives. G&G: Pastor Harcum, how would you best describe the ministry of First Baptist Church? With a church on just about every corner, what do you believe sets this church apart from other churches in the Greater Baltimore community? Pastor Harcum: There is no such thing as a perfect church, but we are a very healthy church that loves God and we love God’s children. Our church is a loving and spiritual environment of people that are dedicated to doing God’s will. One of the unique qualities of First Baptist Church is our rich history of faithful members. We are a family-centered church that has the distinct ability to minister to all generations. There is a place and space for everyone. We have both thriving seniors and innovative youth and young adults. If someone is searching for a church that is serious about 10 February February 2016 2016 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 10
Jesus and has the ability to minister effectively to all, then First Baptist Church is the place for you. G&G: Pastor Harcum, First Baptist Church sits in the heart of the inner city, predominately a Black community, what is the church’s relationship to its surrounding community? What are some of the unmet needs in the community that the church is addressing? Pastor Harcum: First Baptist Church has always been a community-focused ministry. In addition to the great connections that we have with our residences, we also have great relationships with our neighboring schools, National Academy Foundation School (NAF) and Dunbar High School. For many years we have worked together on several events and activities that have resulted in mutual blessings for us all. Recently, we have re-established a partnership with Johns Hopkins Hospital. So far, we have hosted a number of CPR classes and various health fairs and workshops. In the near future, we are planning a major community festival that will address the health needs and challenges of our community. Also, other efforts have been made at First Baptist Church to address the concerns of gang awareness, kidney disease, long-term healthcare and estate planning. G&G: Pastor Harcum, February is Black History Month and historically the Black church had strong community ties and provided spiritual and political leadership, especially during the civil rights movement. The church was the foundation of the Black community. Do you believe the church still has a voice in the community? Do you see God at work in this community? Pastor Harcum: Our church is located in the heart of East Baltimore and yes, I believe the church still has a prominent voice in the community. On a weekly basis, I receive testimonies and commentaries from individuals throughout our community and congregation who are greatly appreciative for the transformational impact of
Q&A our ministry works. Additionally, we are in partnership with several churches in East and West Baltimore that are intentional about providing services, education and opportunities that will improve the lives of our citizens. Through these outreach events I have witnessed God do miraculous things in our communities. I believe that people do not care about how much the church knows, until they know how much the church cares. The mark of strong and effective leadership is the ability to show people how much you care for them and how hard you are willing to fight for justice and equality. With the help of God, First Baptist Church is proud to be amongst other churches in Baltimore that is working hard to support and uplift the people of Baltimore, Maryland. G&G: Pastor Harcum, considering the legacy of the First Baptist Church, what are your hopes and plans for the future of the First Baptist Church Maryland? Describe the First Baptist Church ten years from now? Pastor Harcum: In ten years we will be celebrating 190 years of existence. Our hopes and plans are to enlarge our influence throughout the State of Maryland by becoming the central hub for all spiritual and educational needs of the poor and disadvantaged. Our desire is not to only be a historical church, but to be a progressive center of hope and wholeness that promotes the principles of the Lord. Our number one mission is to live out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. In order
to successfully fulfill our responsibility as God’s church, we must make every effort go into the streets of Baltimore and provide the necessary resources and tools that will reclaim, restore and rejuvenate hope and healing within our communities. G&G: Pastor Harcum, lastly would you share with us what your plans are to celebrate 180 years of ministry, a significant milestone in the life of the First Baptist Church of MD? Pastor Harcum: We invite absolutely everyone to join us for our 180th Anniversary, which will take place on Sunday, February 28, 2016 with two dynamic celebration services. At 11:00 AM our guest preacher will be the esteemed Dr. A.C.D. Vaughn and at 3:30 PM our guest preacher will the distinguished Rev. P.M. Smith. This will be a grand day of excitement, praise and worship. We have confirmation from several government officials and honorable guests that will be joining us for our festivities. In addition to this, we have multiple events and activities planned throughout the year that will highlight our rich heritage and promote our passion for people. Another major element of our preparation is the unveiling of some major renovations within our church. 180 years of ministry is truly a significant milestone! It’s impossible to calculate all of the lives that have been positively impacted through the ministry of First Baptist Church. As the oldest black Baptist church in the state of Maryland, it’s essential that every member of the business, academic and faith community make every effort and jester to help us celebrate this momentous occasion. G&G: Pastor Harcum, it is our prayer that God will continue to richly bless this ministry that has been a ‘Beacon of Light’ in its community for 180 years. To God be the Glory! Pastor Harcum: Thank you greatly and many blessings to the ministry of Grace & Glory. www.gracenglorymagazine.org 11 11 www.gracenglorymagazine.org
pastor bio
Rev. Craig Harcum is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He was born on September 26 to Willie Harcum and the late Della Cheshire. Rev. Harcum received his higher education from Baltimore School of the Bible, St. Mary’s Seminary, Morgan State University, and Strayer University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Networking with honors (Summa Cum Laude). He also has a Master’s degree from United Theological Seminary with a concentration in Urban Church Renewal. For ten years, from 2002 – 2012; Rev. Harcum served as Assistant to the Pastor and Chief of Staff and Operations for Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Reginald Thomas, Sr. In addition, Rev. Harcum has been blessed with many opportunities to preach, teach, and lecture at various local and national churches, conferences and conventions. He also serves as the president of the George A. Crawley Fellowship and the treasurer for the Baltimore Simultaneous Revival Fellowship. Additionally, Rev. Harcum is an executive staff member for the Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors under the leadership of Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr. On December 2, 2012, Rev. Harcum was called to be the Senior Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. First Baptist Church is the oldest black Baptist Church in the state of Maryland and it serves as a beacon light for the Kingdom of God. Under Rev. Harcum’s leadership, First Baptist Church has been diligent in promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ through Discipleship, Fellowship and Stewardship and as a result they have been growing spiritually and physically. Rev. Harcum is the devoted husband to Rhonda Harcum and the proud father of two lovely daughters Charis and Kyndel Harcum. He loves the Lord and stands on God’s promise that, “We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus”.
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church history
It all began many, many years ago when numerous efforts towards establishing a Baptist Church for Colored People seemed an impossibility. Since around 1800, Blacks had prayed and struggled, hoping that laws and customs would change so that their dreams of freedom would become a reality. Slavery continued to prevail and public opinion was unfavorable to their Moses C. Clayton separate organization. Founder, First Baptist Church However, many Blacks were members of the First (White) Church. Now, “God moves in Mysterious ways, His wonders to perform”, and so in His great wisdom ‘twas in the midst of this era that the inevitable happened. William Crane, one of the greatest men that ever lived in Maryland, a White leather merchant from Virginia, had long been interested in missionary work among Negroes. He encouraged his dear friend, Moses C. Clayton, to come to Baltimore to work as a missionary among the Black Baptists. Hence, in the year 1834, Moses C. Clayton came to Baltimore to begin his first missionary work. Noting that there was no place of worship where his people could come together in adoration and praise of His Holy Name, he used the parlor of his Mullikin Street home. Here, a Sunday School was organized. ln attendance were three children, two of whom were his own. ‘Twas late in the summer when he began. Soon thereafter, Mr. Clayton continued his Sunday School efforts in a building given to him rent free by its owner, Mr. Sterling. Mr. Clayton had learned to read, write, and 14 February February 2016 2016 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 14
speak fluently, thus he began his teaching and preaching at once. The White Baptist Clergy ordained Mr. Clayton in 1835. On February 20, 1836, The Sunday School was organized into “The First Colored Peoples’ Church (of Maryland) in Baltimore City” with the Reverend Moses C. Clayton as pastor. Among those who assisted in the ordination and organization were Reverend S. P. Hill of The First Church, John Healey of the Second Church and the Reverend G. Adams of the Calvert Street Church, which was later called the Hill Street Church. On February 20, 1837, the church applied for a Charter of lncorporation, which was recorded in the Court House of Baltimore on March 20,1837.ln March of 184.1, it was admitted to the Maryland Baptist Union Association. The Association provided much counseling and guidance to the new church as it progressed. They soon built a small edifice on Lewis Street between Orleans and Mulligan Streets which they shortly outgrew.
In 1875 through the efforts of Rev Allen, a large lot, 70x75, on the southeast corner of Caroline & McElderry Streets, was purchased for $3,500, the cost of the building was about $16,500.
church history ln 1849, Reverend Clayton resigned at the age of 66. The Reverend John Carey was called. Realizing economic difficulties, the Lewis Street edifice was sold for debts incurred. lnternal difficulties resulting from this, divided the church and the Reverend Carey left in 1852 with about twenty-six members and formed the Union Baptist Church. This action led the church to recall Reverend Clayton, who remained until Enclosed is the Articles of Incorporation, filed with the State his death on April 3,1861 at of Maryland, March 6, 1837. Signed and Sealed by Moses C. the age of 78. Clayton, Minister, George Johnson, His remains Thomas (no last name listed), Peter W. Smith, William Cook, were buried Thomas Jefferson in the Laurel Cemetery. A map of Baltimore City, 1856
A succession of ministers served from 1881 to 1865. They were Reverends John Whyne, Thomas Rheams and James Underdue. ln 1865, Reverend Lewis Hicks became pastor. With the aid of Rev. John Berg, Reverend Hicks succeeded in collecting enough money to build a church. ln 1880 under the leadership of Rev. JC Allen and through the aid of the Church Expansion Society, the new church was completed at a cost of $16,500. On the last Sunday in January in 1881, the congregation left the old building at Thompson and Young Streets to occupy their new church. The Mother Church thus began to take its place as a leader among the Baptists.
1928-1935, Matthews T. Waters, 1935-1939; Andrew D. Nance, 1939-.1942; Vernion T. Williams 19431962; Gus Roman, 1963-1967; Walter Parish, 19671969; Baxter L. Matthews, 1970-1972 (lnterim Pastor and Pastor Emeritus of Union Baptist Church), Leroy Fitts, 1972-2009 (Pastor Emeritus), Theodore Anthony (lnterim Pastor), 2009-2012. On December 2, 2012 Pastor Craig Harcum answered the call to become Senior Pastor. We transitioned into 2013 Celebrating Moving Forward Together. Through the years The First Baptist Church has continued to prosper and during 2016 we will pause to commemorate our founding.
The First Baptist Church stands as a Monument of Spiritual Service to all who will follow. She has made great strides and a significant impact upon the lives of countless thousands throughout her community and the One of the oldest known documents (preserved) in our Historic Memorial Room, “The Manumission Papers”, sealed world. dated August 22, 1837. This document represents the freedom from slavery for Margaret Grant. The Church (First Baptist Church) purchased the freedom of Miss Grant and then set her free.
Many ministers have brought profitable experiences and played prominent parts in continued progress of The First Baptist Church. They have been: Reverends Albert Josiah Green, 1920-1924; William H. Young;
With thanks and humbleness to God, we have a past to cherish! We have a present to preserve! We have a future to fulfill! Let us thrust ahead with renewed manifestation, with restored dignity and with fervent hope as we continue to work for the advancement of the Christian faith. www.gracenglorymagazine.org 15 15 www.gracenglorymagazine.org
to your good health
We live in an age where persons have become more concerned about their interests, their political beliefs, their neighborhood, their family and ultimately themselves more than they care about humanity at large. The idea of being concerned about one’s neighbor seems foreign to many yet this is what our Christian faith calls us to do. We are called to care about others and to be “our brother’s keeper”. This call to look out for one another and to give them respect and honor is far from what we see at political debates, in church meetings, at family disagreements and in divorce court. Instead of attempting to be civil and maintain decorum in these tense moments it seems that persons revert to their base nature. They resort to responding with anger, sarcasm and insults. Instead of hearing each other out or working things out through mediation, some persons would rather leave the table without a compromise or a win-win agreement. There is a benefit to looking at the big picture and taking the ideas and viewpoints of others under consideration. When we seek to understand and make sense of things that are not in our nature we show love in action. Listening to others and agreeing to disagree is better than shutting them down the moment their idea is not the same as ours. We have to move beyond our comfort zone and realize that other people are significant to God and therefore we must treat them as the Bible commands us to. We are to receive them with love. Jesus says, “I give 16 February February 2016 2016 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 16
you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:43-35. Making others feel loved is a challenge for some of us yet it is within our power to do because of the love God has shown us. There is a theory in counseling called attachment theory. The theory seeks to uncover the importance of interpersonal relationships from birth to death. It is useful in identifying and finding a solution for those persons who have challenges bonding with others especially those they should be close to. That is why the challenge to love one another is so important. Love and the lack of it can shape a person for their entire life. Everyone counts and in God’s eyes, deserves to be loved. That’s why we are here, to share God’s love. “The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” 1 John 4:21. Be an ambassador of love and make a difference in someone’s life. Remember, everyone counts. Carla J. Debnam, MS, LCPC Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center
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woman’s perspective The Sisterhood Series Part 1:
I Am Not My Sister’s Keeper, I Am My Sister! Hello my lovely sisters! It’s February and of course love is in the air. Very soon, if not already, we will be seeing cards, candy, balloons, chocolates, flowers and so much more aimed at celebrating romantic love. I think it’s wonderful! But I’d love to also celebrate and spotlight another type of love that is also special and divine. I’d like to start a three part series this month on Sisterhood. Now I’m fully aware that just the mention of sisterhood sparks so many different emotions in women and the word alone has so many different connotations associated with it. For the next 3 months let’s take an in depth at what sisterhood is, what God has to say about it and how to heal from the pain of broken sisterhood. I am hoping to open this topic up and shed some light in an attempt to bring healing for broken sisterhood relationships and strengthen healthy sisterhood relationships. Isn’t it amazing when we can truly find those covenant sisters with whom we can share our secrets, cry tears of sadness and joy and share some of our most precious life experiences? When I think of my covenant sisters I think about the amazing moments we’ve shared such as being in the delivery room when my best friend became a mother and gave birth to her beautiful daughter. That is a moment in time that neither of us will ever forget. I also think about helping one of my sisters unpack and anoint with oil her very first house. That is 18 February February 2016 | Grace&Glory 18 2016 | Grace&Glory
another priceless moment that we will forever share. One of my favorite quotes is, “Friendship is essential to the soul.” The love and joy shared in a true friendship between women is nurturing to our spirit and soul. God has gifted us with friendship even though sometimes we don’t see it that way. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ephesians 4:9-10. There is so much power in agreement and connection between sisters. Can you think of a moment when you didn’t have the strength to pray for or encourage yourself and you connected with one of your good sister-girlfriends and after that interaction you had the strength to keep going? What about that day you just needed to get out and get some fresh air and you went shopping with one of your sister-friends and afterward you noticed you were refreshed, revived and ready to keep going. There is power in connection with another Godly sister. The truth is this Christian journey we are on can be tough. There are joyous seasons that make us smile but there are also challenging seasons that we don’t enjoy as much. In those times the enemy loves to isolate us because he knows he can cut off a source of strength, motivation and accountability. I encourage you my sister not to allow the enemy to use your trials and difficult seasons to pull away from those who will love, support, pray with, pray for and encourage you. God is love and life is amazing. It comes in various forms including family, romantic partners and of course our friends. Let’s make sure that we don’t overlook our amazing sister-friends and find some time to show them love and celebrate them. I am touching and agreeing with each of you that God will continue to preserve your healthy sister friendships, and that He will reveal the toxic ones so that you can walk away from those. However I don’t want to get ahead of myself, we will talk about that in next Tiffany Bethea month’s article “The Sisterhood She-EO Life Mentor Series Pt. 2”. Stay tuned! www.Tiffanybethea.com
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single life
love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with your entire mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength. This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31(AMP) Based off of this scripture we are to: Love God – A few ways we show our love to God is by worshipping Him, honoring Him, and being obedient to His Word. Love our self – Accept that we may not be where we should be, but we are a work in progress. Allow God’s Pointing System (GPS) to turn you around and point you in the right direction. Love our neighbor – A few ways to do this is to show them compassion, forgiveness and do things for them without expecting anything in return. Love is defined as a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person, but the Agape (uh-GAH-pay) love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. The first thing you must understand is the agape love is not an emotion but it is an act of doing something that will benefit someone else. It is having an unselfish concern for someone else and a willingness to seek the best for them. We usually make a great effort in loving God and loving our neighbor but make little to no effort in loving our self. I want to be very clear about what I mean when I suggest that you love yourself. I am not talking about the worldly type of love (being prideful, narcissistic, or uncaring). I am talking about being thankful, appreciative, and having an accurate view of who God created you to be. ·We are created in the image of God. I am happy with the way I am made. I appreciate my unique qualities. Genesis 1:27 ·We are God’s workmanship. We are designed for greatness! I am born and destined to win! Ephesians 2:10 ·With God, I am considered to be a treasure. I am very valuable. Exodus 19:5
Here are some of the ways that we can start showing love to our self.
Many singles think they are ready to be in a
relationship. We want to love someone else and invite them into our private inner space, when often we do not love ourselves. We have no idea what Godly love looks like, feels like, or even how to display it. The challenges of life and our choices have left many of us emotionally bankrupt, shackled, and unforgiving. We have given away so much of ourselves that we have very little or nothing left for ourselves, let alone enough to fully engage into pouring love into someone else. I want to challenge you to look to God and learn to fully love yourself from the inside out. Let us get out of our head and understand that we are not our past choices or situations. We must renew our mind and learn to trust the Word of God which reminds us that we are made in the image of Christ, stating that we are fearfully and wonderful made according to Psalm 139:14. If we desire to have a relationship built on a firm foundation we must follow the standard and instructions of God. The word of God tells us that we should first love God and then love our neighbor as we love ourselves, "And you shall
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·Be kind to our self by focusing on the good qualities that we have and not the view of what other people have said or how they have made you feel. ·Speak scriptural affirmations to create a positive atmosphere. We hear our voice louder than anyone else’s voice. When we speak to our self we are setting our atmosphere and calling those things that are not as though they are. ·We are not super critical. We must be willing to embrace our imperfections. Mistakes are part of the journey of life so forgive yourself, learn from them, and move on. ·We embrace ourselves and are able to be comfortable in our own skin. It is vital to learn to go within yourself in order to find some peace.
Love yourself…. Enough to take the actions required for your happiness… Enough to cut yourself loose from the drama-filled past… Enough to set a high standard for relationships… Enough to feed your mind and body in a healthy manner... Enough to forgive yourself and move on… Dr. Steve Maraboli Remember when you F.L.Y. (First Love Yourself) others will come next. If we are not happy being single we will never be happy in a relationship.
Tyniece Pack
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bookshelf
Book Shelf The Crossing By Serita Jakes Captivating. Suspenseful. Easy to read. A page turner. Identifiable scenarios. Relatable characters. Unpredictable. These are just a few words to describe Serita Jakes’ novel The Crossing. From page one Serita Jakes had me completely wrapped up and enthralled in the lives of this cast of charactersBJ, Claudia, Victor, Casio, Harper and Georgie. Each character battles with the effects of the murder of BJ Remington on a school bus full of football players and cheerleaders ten years prior. Hidden secrets, silent frustration, personal demons and gutwrenching agony follow them around like the air they breathe until Victor decided to try and find the killer of an already cold case. At times I wanted to cry with them as they recalled the painful memories of that ten year old tragedy that drastically changed each of their lives in different ways. I wanted to laugh at the sarcasm that their conversations were laced with. I was angered by the abuse some had endured at the hand of someone they loved and the lack of regret they were shown for it. My heart was saddened by the broken relationship between mother and daughter, husband and wife, and amongst friends. I was also given hope reading about the restoration of relationships forged together by forgiveness. As a whole piece, this book took me through the range of emotions that a good movie would do, better yet, what real life has done. Although a novel based around fictional characters and fictional events, Serita Jakes found a way to seamlessly intertwine the reality of Christ and the Cross in the pages of this book. She 22 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
by Brandie Manigault
wrote about ups and downs of everyone from the pulpit to the back door. She showed the compassion of Christ as only someone faced with walking through the tunnel towards the light could tell it. My favorite line in the book reads, “That’s the problem with living for yourself. Sometimes miracles come too late to save the body. We have to be content to save the soul.” Such a powerful line delivered by BJ as she lay on the school bus faced with her last breath thinking about the selfish life she lived and staring at eternity in the face. Serita Jakes left me with the message
that, “It’s never too late to get it right with God until your last breath is gone.” Do I recommend this book to the Grace & Glory readers? ABSOLUTELY. But not just to you guys. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book, ‘cause that’s what The Crossing is… a good book! A word of caution though. You will not be able to put it down, so don’t expect it to be a book that you will read over the next week or so. It will be more like the next few days. You will find yourself saying, “Just one more page and I’ll go to bed.” Next thing you know you have read three more chapters! Go out and get The Crossing. Buy it for a friend. Give it as a gift. And when you do read it, let me know what you think. Leave me a message on facebook.com/ gracenglorymagazine.
About the Author
Serita A. Jakes
Serita A. Jakes has been involved in Christian ministry all of her adult life and has served alongside her husband, Bishop T. D. Jakes, throughout their entire marriage of nearly 30 years. As an insightful speaker, she draws heavily from her education and background in theater and mass communications. A soft-spoken woman offstage, First Lady Jakes, as she is affectionately referred to by The Potter’s House congregation, possesses the rare ability to reach and stir her audiences as she works to complement her husband’s ministry. In addition to raising three sons and two daughters, she has assumed an active role at The Potter’s House of Dallas where her husband serves as Senior Pastor. First Lady Jakes serves as Executive Director of the church’s WoMan-to-Woman women’s ministry. She is founder of the much-acclaimed God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment program for women and The Potter’s House’s Debutante Program for teenage girls. Mrs. Jakes also speaks across the country on women’s roles in supporting their husbands, and she is in demand by women’s organizations throughout the nation as a celebrated speaker on issues concerning marriage and family.
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nutrition & you
FEBRUARY CALENDAR By Herline A. Knights, RD, LD
Sunday
Remember that the 7 average garbage disposal contains about 1000 times more germs than the average toilet. At least once a week, clean the rubber stopper with a diluted bleach solution.
Monday
FOR FAMILY HEALTH Tuesday
Wednesday sweet 1 Cut 2 Make double 3 potatoes into thin
Thursday
Make an entrée Choose cereals salad for dinner that contain 8 grams portions of healthy slices, brush with or less of sugar/ recipes that everyone tonight. olive oil, and season in your household serving. with a sprinkling of likes. Freeze half of salt, garlic powder, what you make to and rosemary. Bake use on days when for 15 minutes on you are busy. each side at 450° F. Sit down and enjoy 8 Know that all 9 Serve veggie 10 Have a special meals together. milk is tested for burgers with treat today! Studies show that antibiotics, and whole-grain buns when families eat if any are found, and low-fat cheese dinner together, the product is for dinner tonight. children do better in immediately Top the burgers school, have better discarded. Do not with lettuce, vocabulary, and tomatoes, and seem to display more pay more for milk labeled “antibiotic onion! confidence than children who do not eat free.” together as a family.
Saturday
4
11
Find a recipe 12 that includes tuna or salmon, and get the ingredients you need to make it this week.
Compare “diet” or13 “lite” foods to the regular versions. You might find less of a difference than you would expect.
Plan for snacks 18 like you plan for meals—before hunger strikes.
19 Switch your vegetable oil out for canola or olive oils.
Work on 20 eliminating the words “good” or “bad” in relation to food within your home.
Keep food 26 records this week. Remember, every bite counts!
Check your 27 calcium intake. Is everyone consuming three servings of calcium-rich foods each day?
14 Make peanut butter and banana sandwiches on whole-wheat bread. They are a good and tasty choice for lunch or as a snack.
Use sports drinks 15 only if you need them. Sports drinks are most beneficial for people performing continuous physical activity for longer than 60 minutes. People who are exercising lightly or for less than 1 hour do not need them.
16 Watch how much cheese you eat. A serving of cheese (1 ounce) is the size of an adult thumb. Cheese is high in calcium, but often is also very high in fat. As Americans, we tend to eat too much cheese.
17 Practice pausing between bites of food. Savor your food instead of rushing.
Leave a bowl of 21 fruit on the table or counter. You are much more likely to grab a piece if it is easily accessible.
Replace 22 one-third of the allpurpose flour you use with wholewheat flour in all of your recipes.
Add extra 23 vegetables to convenience food, such as broccoli in macaroni and cheese or extra stir-fry vegetables in packaged meals, etc.
Do jumping 24 Have a special treat today! jacks or stomach crunches, or run up and down the stairs during commercial breaks today.
Turn the 28 lights out early! Not getting enough sleep can adversely affect body weight.
Look at your 29 progress. How are those resolutions coming along after 2 months?
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Friday
Take time to plan 5 Switch to lean or a few meals using extra-lean cuts of fresh herbs. Include beef. herbs in your menu this week.
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teen connect
So… you see a girl (or boy… if you’re a girl) walking across the playground at school. They glance over your direction, only to see you staring right at them with a stunned look on your face! You quickly pretend that you are looking at something else! You start to sweat a little… you try to play it cool, but on the inside your guts do a triple somersault, with a half twist and a few pirouette’s for good measure. Then as she wanders into the distance giggling with her friends, you’re left sitting there like an idiot, with a billion thoughts and feelings pulsing through you, most of which are confusing, and you have no idea what to do with… you know you like her… but is it more than that? Do I love her? Or is it just that you think she’s hot? How do you tell the difference between Love and Lust? Although we can often get the two confused, the Bible is very clear about the difference between love & lust. As Christians, we need to make sure that we work hard at understanding the difference, because the outcome of loving someone is vastly different from the outcome of lusting after them! So here is how we can identify love & lust, and work out the difference between them.
What is love? There is quite a lot in the Bible about love. As a matter of fact — according to Matthew 22:34-40, every command that is written in the Bible stems from love! Either loving God or loving your neighbor (that is, anyone and everyone that you come into contact with). It even tells us about the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ taking the punishment we deserve by laying down his life for us so we can be forgiven for our sin. But perhaps the most well-known passage about love is 1 Corinthians 13 where we get a list of all the things that define what love IS and what it IS NOT. Love IS NOT envious, boastful, proud (self-glorifying), rude, self-seeking or easily angered, and it does not hold stuff against one another! Rather, love IS patient, kind, truthful, protecting, and hopeful, it never fails, but always perseveres with the other person, even when it is hard and you don’t really feel like doing it! In other words, love is other-person-centered. It is all about putting the person who you love first, even before yourself… and sometimes at your own expense!
What is lust? The Bible also says a lot about lust! Proverbs is full of helpful hints & tips and is a must read for every young Christian! Other passages to read are Matthew 5:27-30, Romans 1:18-32 and 2 Samuel 11, where King David lusts after an attractive young girl and ends up breaking most of the 10 commandments in one day! When you read these passages you’ll see that lust NEVER ends well, and that’s because it stems from a sinful heart. At the core of lust is selfishness, disrespect and a lack of self-control, none of which are valuable characteristics in God’s eyes. Lust is self-centered. It is all about putting your desires first, without giving a thought to the person that you are lusting after. This generally plays out differently for guys and girls. Usually guys lust after the physical i.e. what they can see or touch, whereas for girls it’s usually more emotionally based i.e. what makes them feel good or special. But of course, everyone is different and this is not always the case for everyone.
What is the difference? The difference between love and lust is the attitude of your heart. If you’re in love, the attitude of your heart is one of selflessness, with the other person as your focus, whereas if you are in lust the attitude of your heart will be one of selfishness, with yourself as the focus. True love is driven by a godly desire to provide for, nurture and care for the other person’s needs, whereas lust is driven by an ungodly desire to provide for, nurture and care for our own sinful passions. When you love someone you choose to stick with that person at the expense of all others, even when it’s hard and you don’t want to! When you lust after someone, you get angry and throw in the towel as soon as you don’t get what you want, or you manipulate them until they do what you want them to do. So… if you find yourself wondering about whether or not you’re in love, ask yourself, “What is my heart attitude towards this person? Is it one of selflessness or selfishness? Am I willing to put the hard yards in, even when I don’t really want to, or will I probably throw in the towel when things get tough? Do I want to invest into this person, or is it just about fulfilling my human desires?” The answer to these questions will be a sure indication of whether you are in love, or lust.
www.fervr.com 30 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
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body basics
www.thenest.com Motivating to work out is not always easy, but it’s a lot easier when your significant other is on board. Studies show that teaming up increases your chances of sticking with an exercise program. Plus, gym dates are a great way to bond and make exercising...dare we say, fun. So whether you’re a chill duo, an outdoorsy couple, or you both easily bore, read on for workouts that you’ll enjoy doing togther.
Dancing Kings and Queens If you love tearing up the dance floor at weddings and nightclubs, then it’s time to start shimmying away some calories at Zumba class. This Latin-inspired, high-energy workout feels more like an hour-long dance party than a workout, so it’s almost impossible not to have fun. Other workouts to attack together: salsa dancing, ballroom dancing, hip-hop, or if you’re a little worried about showing off your skills in public, there’s the Dancing with the Stars workout DVD series. (Amazon.com).
Outdoorsy Types If you find the idea of running or pedaling in front of a TV at the gym completely unappealing and prefer to spend your free time in the fresh air and sunshine, head outside for a bike ride together. Whether you prefer leisurely rides to town, racing down the road or climbing up dirt paths, it’s a great way to get your heart pumping and spend QT with each other and Mother Nature. It’s hard to get bored of the constantly changing scenery. Other workouts to attack together: hiking, kayaking, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing.
Low-Key Couples If the intensity of, say, a spin class is enough to wipe you
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out for the season, maybe you need to take a more Zen approach to getting fit: yoga! It’s the perfect way to burn calories at the gym -- and heat things up at home. It also helps build strength, is a great stress reducer and puts you in a good mood. Plus, studies have shown that all that mindfulness you cultivate during yoga class can spread to other areas of your life, including the dinner table; studies show that yogis tend to eat more healthfully. Other workouts to attack together: Pilates
ADD Duos Get tired of the treadmill after about five minutes and the elliptical after two? Can’t sit still long enough to last through a yoga class, and find hiking way too low-key? Boredom is a common reason for quitting a fitness routine, especially for those in need of constant stimulation. So couples who easily lose interest should look for workouts that constantly mix things up and throw in plenty of surprises to hold their attention -- which boot camp is guaranteed to do. During this intense, nonstop workout, you’ll challenge your body and your mind as you sprint from jumping jacks to crunches to pull-ups to push-ups, all while scorching hundreds of calories and building lean muscle. And you certainly won’t get bored -- you’ll be too busy just trying to keep up with the rest of the class. All that hard work will pay off big time: Boot camps are popular for their very noticeable results, and encouraging each other to get through the class (no easy feat!) is a great way for couples to grow closer. Now that you’ve found the right workout for you two, why not try one of these top couple sports? The couple that plays together stays together. Exercising with your partner will strengthen your muscles, your heart, and your relationship.
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word of encouragement
This is the LOVE month. The month women look forward to their flowers, chocolate and who knows -- if you have been good – dinner dates. Tina Turner asked us some years ago, “WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?” So out of not understanding the lovingkindness of God and His mercy, I listened to that song right along with my friends as we tried to soothe our hurting hearts and convince ourselves, yea, what’s love got to do with it? Sometimes both men and women in relationships -- spurned, mistreated and abused begin to think about “what’s love got to do with it”? Seriously when life throws you some curves, you don’t even think about God and His unconditional love. Sometimes people just think about hurting the other person, making them pay for the broken love relationship, not realizing that while we are running after our lovers, God is running after us. However there is real love and Jesus came one day and showed me personally what true love really has to do with it. Thank you Father. Only God can show us real agape love, which is shown to us in 1Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” While the world is saying what‘s love got to do with it, God is saying, “My love is patient, kind, protective, worthy of trust, gives up hope and always perseveres and most of all My love never fails.” Love has everything to do with it. When we begin to think about “Valentine’s Day” and the flowers and chocolate we are expecting from that loved one, we really should be thinking about the One who went to Calvary’s cross for us. The heart shape of the Valentine Day could be looked at as the heart of Jesus, who thought it not robbery to come to earth to die for our sins. With the world’s idea of love – everyone can see the loneliness deep inside of us, because we keep seeking for something, that only God’s love can fill the void. Promises, promises of better times, new partners, more broken promises as we continue to seek to gain that supposedly Valentine’s Day love. Father, help us to trust You and You only for that kind of love. Where are you in this love/Valentine’s Day thing? Are you in the closet – being challenged with the “what’s love got to do with it” person who you know is not the person that God has called and ordained for you? Are you trusting God or in your 34 34 February February 2016 2016 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory
own way trying to make John into a Boaz? Are you unequally yoked, but don’t know how to walk away? As we continue to look at the end days, we truly have to look at who we connect ourselves to or with. God is the Only Valentine that we are certain is always going to be there. Do enjoy your Valentine’s Day but please take time out to acknowledge the Greatest Valentine of all times – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I encourage you to remember that love has everything to do with it. I encourage you to remember that we were sinking deep in sin and God sent His Only Begotten Son (did I say sinless) to go to Calvary’s cross for us – that’s love. Pray with me: Father, in the name of Jesus, teach me not to take the word “love” casually, not to abuse and misuse Donna it. Teach me to love people and use things Williams-Ross In Trust Ministries and not vice versa. Help me also Father, to dwilliamsross@aol.com be a beacon of light for others to see Your glory and Your expression of love showing forth through me, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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gospel industry news by Miss Ericka Deidre Showell Affectionately known as Dee Dee, a Baltimore icon who was known to the music industry at large as someone known to break artists in Baltimore (especially choirs) and host great concerts. Due to a sudden death, she transitioned from labor to reward; however her musical legacy continues. In celebration of her life and love for choir music, a musical celebration will be held Valentine’s weekend. The "Hour Of Power” musical celebration hosted by Eric Waddell & The Abundant Life Singers will be at First Apostolic, 27 S. Caroline Street, at 6:30 pm. Calling all singers, gospel artists, and musicians to participate in the 300 voice choir that will be in concert that evening. This event is being planned to not only honor her life and legacy but unify the gospel music community at large, which she loved to do. To register to sing on the Celebration Choir email: deedeeshowellcelebrationchoir@gmail.com or for further details call (443)2563801 or (443)621-7826. Save the date Sunday, February 14, 2016.
Returning to host this year’s awards celebration will be Rickey Smiley and Sherri Sheppard. The awards will be held in Las Vegas again this year at the Orleans Arena, on February 20th. Congrats to Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, he will be presented with the Bobby Jones Legends Award. O'Landa Draper will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. Performing this year will be Kirk Franklin, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, Tasha Cobbs, Travis Greene, and new artist Casey J.
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy- Gotta give it up to the home team for making SO MUCH NOISE!!! Congrats on a whopping 10 STELLAR AWARD NOMINATIONS the most for ANY artist this year!!!! Congrats to Lee Michaels who is nominated for Radio Announcer of the Year along with Heaven 600 being nominated for Large Market Radio Station of the Year. Jason Nelson- nominated for Praise & Worship Cd of the Year. Eone- Congrats on 26 Stellar Award nominations coming out of their camp, Erica Campbell, Jonathan McReynolds, Dorinda Clark- Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, JJ Hairston, and William McDowell.
2016
Deon Kipping Deon has released a 4 song EP titled "A Place Called Victory", it hit all digital media outlets last month and the single "Victory" is doing great. His songwriting, and vocal ability is so authentic and pure; his live performances are remarkable. The second single "By Myself" is currently being released to radio; this guy makes absolutely great music, if you don't know him get to know him. Go to your digital media outlets and get you some!!!! While you're there you can always grab his previous song "Incredible God" on the JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise CD to experience the musical gift of Deon Kipping, it will bless your life! 36 February February 2016 2016 || Grace&Glory Grace&Glory 36
gospel industry news
I am super excited and honored to announce the launch of my radio segment "IN With Miss Ericka J"; it launched last month on January 15th! Just as I keep you informed on what's going on in music and entertainment here I'll being doing it on the radio weekly! The segment will feature new Miss Ericka artists, new music, theater productions, industry news, social and political awareness, exclusives, and MORE! Tune in with me every Friday evening right after the Top 5 at 5, on Heaven 600, iHeart Radio, and 102.7HD2. The segment will air throughout the weekend. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support to me as I keep you "IN Tuned, IN The Mix, IN The Know, with Miss Ericka J!" - Ericka J Follow me on twitter, www.twitter.com @MissEricka J, facebook www.facebook.com/ErickaJohnson, or via email missericka75@yahoo.com
Keyondra Lockett Keyondra is a member of the female gospel group Ziel. She has blossomed to something great on a solo artist level. I was honored to be a part of the first Gospel Cypher ever and she was a featured artist, man this chic blazed so bad! She has released a FREE Mix Cd titled "Soul Couture 2" as well as an EP titled "Bring Me To"; you definitely wanna check her out! I'm not sure what the future holds for her and Ziel but she's an incredible singer and songwriter in her own right, we shall see... Pausing to recognize two music icons who passed away in January, Natalie Cole a soulful songstress who was such an amazing artist and daughter of the late Nat King Cole. I have admired her and her music as a kid and followed her career, battles and triumphs; she deserved to be saluted, her life story was one we can all draw strength from. And David Bowie a rock and pop icon that gave us such great music. Being the lover of various genres of music I liked his music and studied what he contributed to music. His legacy and philanthropy in music will live on.
Top 5 Gospel Songs 1. Wanna Be Happy? - Kirk Franklin 2. Worth - Anthony Brown & Group Therapy 3. Intentional - Travis Greene 4. Worth Fighting For - Brian Courtney Wilson 5. Yes You Can - Marvin Sapp
Top 5 Gospel Albums 1. One Place Live Tasha Cobbs 2. Losing My Religion Kirk Franklin 3. Everyday Jesus - Anthony Brown & Group Therapy 4. The Hill - Travis Greene 5. The Great I Am - Joe Pace & Spirit of Praise
Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone! They call February Love Month, make sure you find yourself always showing love not just this month but every day of your life, you never know who may need it, it's a fruit of the spirit, make sure you are showing it and sharing it! I challenge you in the spirit of love to do a random act of love to someone and watch what it does and how you'll feel afterwards! To the single people find something to do for yourself, show yourself love, treat yourself!! I make it a practice as a single woman to show my son and my family love! I love you all and sincerely appreciate the love you show me! Til Next Month! Don't forget tune in to my new radio segment, "IN Tune...IN the Mix...IN The Know...With Miss Ericka J" and stay connected with me thru all my social media! www.gracenglorymagazine.org 37 37 www.gracenglorymagazine.org
man talk
Does God want me to be happy? Or, does He want me to be whole? While we can confidently answer both questions affirmatively, what about the juxtaposition of these two ideas? Which is more important to God: my happiness or my wholeness? Brothers, if we haven’t already, this question is worthy of serious consideration. During this month in which relationships, especially romantic ones, will be celebrated, it is fitting to begin thinking about these things. Using The Fruit of The Spirit for contextual understanding, let’s briefly consider how The Lord uses relationships to develop and refine our Christian character.
spouses, children, and other family members—being close to people has a way of refining qualities within us that we were often unaware needed improving. Nevertheless, this is God’s purpose for relationship: that we would become more like Him as we live [in relationship] with others. NUMBER TWO: THE PROCESS OF RELATIONSHIP Being involved in a meaningful (e.g., romantic) relationship is a great teacher. But more than learning about the one in whom we are interested, if we are honest, we discover exponentially more about ourselves. Consider this: why is marriage the perfect metaphor for Christ’s commitment to The Church (Ephesians 5:21-33)? Could it be that His love for The Church evidences The Fruit of The Spirit, which is absolutely necessary for a successful marriage? For example, Christ loves each of us, unconditionally, even when we aren’t deserving of such love (Romans 5:8). And, as many can attest, He is patient, kind, and good to us, again, in spite of ourselves. As God’s faithfulness shows us how unfaithful and undeserving we are, in being close to someone, all of our blemishes and imperfections are exposed, not to embarrass us, but rather to be used as opportunities for growth. For those brothers who are married, while the journey of learning about another person by sharing all that life has to offer is both fun and exciting, it can also be quite humbling. With each disappointment, stressor, temptation, and trial are opportunities to demonstrate love, patience, self-control, kindness, and gentleness. And, for those brothers who are privileged to raise children, young people, no doubt, have a special way of helping us to develop patience! So, what happens when we inevitably face various not-so-pleasant situations and circumstances? Is our behavior consistent with The Fruit of The Spirit? If it’s not, could it be that we are experiencing these things until The Fruit matures in our lives?
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5: 22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Because fruit is mentioned in its singular form, metaphorically speaking, each of the aforementioned attributes can be likened unto a slice of an apple. Moreover, The Fruit is consistent with the person of Jesus Christ as scripture consistently depicts Him as the perfect embodiment of each element. Therefore, having accepted Christ as our personal savior, we receive a measure of each aspect of The Fruit (II Corinthians 5: 17). But the growth process, which occurs throughout our Christian experience, helps to fully develop The Fruit within us so that we eventually become the men that God desires us to be in our homes, churches, and communities. How does this happen? Let’s look closer… NUMBER ONE: THE PURPOSE OF RELATIONSHIP Because God is relational, not only does He desire intimate fellowship with each of us, but we’ve also been created to have meaningful relationships with others. Life, especially as Christians, was never meant to be experienced in isolation, but community. In fact, so important is relationship to God that these words are recorded in John 13:25, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Said another way, the manner in which Christians conduct themselves [in relationships] with other Christians is the defining feature of their relationship with God. Because of this, brothers, one of the ways that God develops The Fruit in our lives is through our relationships. For example, as brothers need other brothers (Proverbs 27: 17), Christians, as members of one body, need one another (I Corinthians 12:12-27). But operating as the unified Body of Christ is often challenging and requires the power and presence of The Holy Spirit. Like other relationships—with our 38 38 February 2016 | Grace&Glory
NUMBER THREE: THE PRODUCT OF RELATIONSHIP Is God more concerned about my happiness or my wholeness? Although happiness is often predicated upon our present, yet temporary circumstances, wholeness is more enduring and implies that we have all of the parts, lacking nothing (James 1:4). For this reason, brothers, without a doubt, God is more concerned about, and committed to, our wholeness. In fact, at times it might seem that our wholeness develops at the expense of our happiness. But even in these moments of frustration, brothers, don’t be discouraged by the temporary challenges you experience in your relationships. Instead, be encouraged knowing that God is using each of these circumstances to ultimately develop you into the man that He desires you to be. From one brother to another, peace and blessings.
Dr. Charles Barrett is a school psychologist with Loudoun County Public Schools. He also serves as Ministry Leader for Worship Ministries at Heritage Fellowship Church in Reston, VA. Charles Barrett
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