Kingdom Life Magazine Central FLA Edition

K I N G D O M

L I F E

M A G A Z I N E

CENTRAL FLORIDA EDITION

C O N T E N T S Publishers Pen Charles Henry Baxter

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J.U.M.P. Ministries Global Church The Global SeaFood Festival

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COVER STORY Jada Hart

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SPECIAL FEATURE How Discipleship Looks Today

Ronald J. Atkinson

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Fear Not 2 8

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Under The Scope Florida Under The Scope In Church Now Rising Above Fear You Are Special Spiritual Warfare To Hell And Back

Kingdom Life (Orlando Edition) Volume 1 is published every other month by Kingdom Marketplace International LLC The annual subscription price is included in the membership of Kingdom Marketplace Intl.. Copyright 2021. All right reserved. Printed in the USA. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form without written permission. KLM assumes no responsibility to return unsolicited manuscripts or images unless accompanied by return postage.

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PUBLISHER'S PEN " THAT I MAY PUBLISH WITH A VOICE OF THANKSGIVING AND TELL OF THY WONDEROUS WORKS" Psalms 26: KJV Rev. Charles H. Baxter Licensed, Associate Pasto.r C. Henry Baxter Ministries, Orlando, FL Email: chenrybaxter@gmail.com Pastor Baxter is married to Dorothy, they have a blended family of 5 adult children.

I

am so honored to be associated with this distinguished publication that has exemplified itself as a vital instrument to promote Kingdom Lifestyle Home, Culture and Faith in local communities.

When Mr. Harrison Jr., the Hampton Roads Publisher made this offer; it was an overwhelming gesture and a timely one to the Orlando Metro Area. Why? As many of you may know, Central Florida, with Orlando as a

primarily a family fun destination, it is also a place for space exploration, medical innovation and higher education. At least 29 major language groups are represented in this area and home to the Wycliffe Bible Translation Central Office. The Holy Land Experience Theme Park provides a dramatic and historic look at the early home, cultural and faith life of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in Judea, as Greek and Hebrew collide to form the backdrop for Christian faith and culture (not exclusive to western culture). However, you

could also catch the Zora Neale Hurston Festival, in the historic city of Eatonville, every January.

December 3,1998 our family of 5 made Orlando our home, after living in two Caribbean nations, and sojourns of 1-7 years living in Lake Wales FL, Toledo OH and Denver CO. From each of these locations I bring a comparative appreciation and understanding of home, culture and faith. As a former State Coordinator for the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, I have a broad knowledge of church life and communities across Central FL. Drawing on my experiences in Compassionate ministries (providing food, Rx glasses and community development, Kingdom Life provides a unique platform for telling the amazing stories of ordinary people, both volunteers and clients, in this vital moment!

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The Editor's Thoughts

OVERCOMING THE GRIPS OF FEAR

All humanity knows and experiences fear of some sort at one time or another. We heard fear’s explication described as “false evidence appearing real;” yet, we still allow this acronym called FEAR to oftentimes control our thoughts, actions, words, feelings, and unfortunately, our destinies. Why is this? How can this emotion have so much power?

Could it be that fear is the enemy that humanity daily battles, either externally or internally? Perhaps fear is doing exactly what it is supposed to do: directing us to the saving Grace of our Heavenly Father. Human beings are warned all throughout Scripture that the enemy, fear, roams the earth seeking someone, anyone, to devour—to steal, kill, and destroy one from fulfilling God’s plans and purposes, entering His promises, and receiving His blessings. However, we must not allow those warnings to turn into fear and hinder us from moving forward with confidence. More Passages from God also tells us in I Peter 5 to “Be clearheaded. Keep alert… Resist the devil [fear] and stand firm in the Faith” because “After we have suffered [fear] for a little while, the God of all Grace, the One Who called us into His Eternal Glory will restore, empower, strengthen, and establish us.” That is our Hope, now and forevermore. Our Loving Creator knew that people would encounter fear every single day which is probably why He instructs 365 times in His Word not to fear. Beloved, please remember that fear is merely “false evidence appearing real.” Recall Scripture, both to Heaven and to ourselves for encouragement. Do not be anxious. Praise and worship God. Be thankful for all things. Let us gird ourselves in Truth, build up our inner spirits, and overcome the grips of fear. God is greater than all fear. Amen.

KAMILAH BOWERS M.Ed., MDiv, DMin (ABD)

GREATER FLORIDA

UNDER THE SCOPE STATE BUZZ >

WHAT'S NEXT >

FLORIDA MAN GETS 8 MONTHS IN PRISON IN FIRST CAPITOL RIOT FELONY CASE

INSURRECTIONISTS 'PERCEIVED THEMSELVES TO BE CHRISTIANS'

man from Tampa, Florida, was

A sentences to 8 months in prison and fined $2,000 for his participation in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building. At the time of the riot, which was aimed at disrupting the certification process of the 2020 presidential election, 38year-old Paul Hodgkins spent 15 minutes in the Senate taking pictures and waving the American flag in support of former President Donald Trump, USA Today reports.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, who handed down the sentence, contended that waving the flag for Trump was an unmistakable sign of loyalty to one person instead of the entire country.

(RNS)- .Describing insurrectionists who

Since that day, .An array of Christian

"Although Mr. Hodgkins was only

attacked the U.S. Capitol as “terrorists” who

leaders, including faculty from Wheaton

one member of a larger mob, he

“perceived themselves to be Christians,”

College, an evangelical school, and former

actively and intentionally

District of Columbia police officer Daniel

Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore,

participated in an event that

Hodges told a congressional committee

have since condemned religious

threatened not only the security of

investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection on

expressions at the insurrection as satanic,

the Capitol but democracy itself,"

Tuesday (July 27) that the crowd massing

blasphemous or heretical.

Moss said. "That is chilling, for many

on the building’s West Terrace brandished

Members of the select House committee

reasons." Hodgkins, who previously

banners steeped in Christian symbolism

investigating the insurrection played

pled guilty to obstruction of an

along with those bearing the name Trump.

footage of that attack — which Hodges

official proceeding, asked the judge

“It was clear the terrorists perceived

explained was one of many — and other

for no prison time. The defendant

themselves to be Christians,” Hodges said.

violent incidents from that day during the

explained that he had no plans to

“I saw the Christian flag directly to my

hearing.

enter the Capitol building on the day

front. Another read, ‘Jesus is my savior,

It is unclear if the committee plans to

of the attack but claimed that he got

Trump is my president.’ Another: ‘Jesus is

make the religious dimension of Jan. 6 a

swept up in a march heading down

king.’ … Another had crossed rifles beneath

topic of discussion during the hearings.

Pennsylvania Avenue.

a skull, emblazoned with the pattern of the American flag.”

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INSIDE THE CHURCH NOW

UNDER THE SCOPE In Virginia, the Mount Clifton United Methodist Church

SCI BUZZ >

experienced a similar fate. The church can seat more

MILLIONS SKIPPED CHURCH DURING PANDEMIC. WILL THEY RETURN?

than 100 but the number of weekly worshippers

TAMPA FLA. (AP) With

Rev. Darlene Wilkins, who oversaw Mount Clifton. “It

millions of people having stayed

just became next to impossible to sustain.”

home from places of worship during

In the United States, the latest challenge for places of

dwindled to 10 to 15, even before the pandemic.

The small white church built on a hill in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1880s may be rented to another congregation, or it may be put up for sale.

“It’s a complicated picture overall, but the pandemic was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said the

the coronavirus pandemic, struggling congregations have one key question: How many of them will return?

As the pandemic recedes in the United States and in-person services resume, worries of a deepening slide in attendance are universal.

Some houses of worship will not make it. Smaller organizations with older congregations that struggled to adapt during the pandemic are in the greatest danger of a downward spiral from which they can’t recover, said the Rev. Gloria E. WhiteHammond, lecturer at the Faith Theological Seminary and co-pastor of a church in Tampa.

Even before COVID-19 swept the world, weekly attendance had dipped to 45 or 50 at the Radiant Church church that could hold several hundred worshippers. The number further dwindled to 25e or 26 before the final service before opening back up to in building services, said the Rev. Aaron Burke.

About three-quarters of Americans who attended religious services in person at least monthly before the pandemic say they are likely to do so again in the next few weeks, according to a recent AP-NORC poll. That is up slightly from the about two-thirds who said in May 2020 that they would if they were allowed to do so. But 7% said they will not be attending.

Those findings are in line with a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. residents last summer. It found that 92% of people who regularly attend religious services expected to continue at the same or higher rate, while 7% say they will attend in-person services less often.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Lifeway Research, an evangelical research firm, says many churches lost steam when in-person services shut down. A small but concerning number of churchgoers are coming out of the pandemic in limbo without a church home, said Scott McConnell, Lifeway’s executive director.

“That’s a lot of momentum to lose and a lot of people stepping out of the habit” of weekly worship, McConnell said.

Those that are successful in reemerging from the COVID-19 lockdowns will likely be those that did a better job adapting to the pandemic, said White-Hammond. Eight in 10 congregants in the U.S. reported that their services were being streamed online, Pew said.

Those that kept a connection with congregants and relied less on the physical passing of the plate for donations stand a better chance of emerging unscathed, White-Hammond said.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Temple Beth El was closed during the pandemic but kept congregants in touch through events like “challah day.” Volunteers baked over 900 loaves of the bread, which were delivered to homes so worshippers could share them over a Shabbat meal.

There will be no returning to “normal” after the pandemic, said Rabbi Dusty Klass. “There were people who went home and may never come back to the sanctuary. They may just pray from their couch. It’s up to us to make sure they have the opportunity.” .

“If COVID is gone 100%, I firmly believe our community would be fully back because people crave … to be together,” said Rizwan Jaka, chair of interfaith and media relations.

In San Francisco, the historic Old St. Mary’s Cathedral survived when members rebuilt after a fire following the 1906 earthquake, but it has struggled mightily during the pandemic to stay open.

The 160-year-old Roman Catholic church, which is heavily dependent on older worshippers and tourists, lost most of its revenue after parishes closed during the pandemic.

During those “dark hours,” the Rev. John Ardis had to dismiss most of the lay staff, cut the salary of a priest and close the parish preschool.

The plaster is crumbling, the paint is peeling off the walls and dozens of its stained-glass windows need to be replaced.

“But those are secondary at the moment,” Ardis said.

“Because I’m just basically trying to keep the doors open.”

In New England, any slide could be more acute since a smaller proportion of residents identify as religious.

In Maine, Judy Grant, 77, was a newcomer to Waldoboro who started watching the services online and then began attending in person.

She’s upset by the closure.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” she said. “A lot of churches are closing. I think COVID had a big part in this latest shrinkage, but they were shrinking even before that,” she said.

The final service on Sunday was emotional, with both smiles and tears, as nearly 60 gathered in the sanctuary. Foster preached about new beginnings and encouraged people to continue their faith.

Afterward, people began removing some of the church’s contents, including religious paintings, some furniture, and other items Grant said many hope the building will come alive again with a new congregation: “We have to be positive — and pray.” .

The Global SeaFood Festival Presented By: J.U.M.P. Ministries Global Church

Images courtesy of JUMP Ministries Global Church

The Global SeaFood Festival makes seafood fun.

This international event will include many international dishes, contests, and demonstrations, did I say fun also?

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According to The Freeport News. Grand Bahama hosted its firstever Global Food Festival at Independence Park.

It was a Huge Success!"

The Global Seafood Festival is scheduled for

This FREE event also features the availability of VIP

September 5th, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. This event is

Tickets to those who want to help support this

unique and is like nothing ever done here before. It

wonderful event which enables us to continue serving

will feature world-renown artists Todd Dulaney and JJ

our local community. VIP ticket holders have the

Hairston, just to mention a few, all of the seafood will

opportunity to benefit from our special door prizes

be prepared by international chefs and we will be

which include shopping sprees; flat-screen televisions;

giving away door prizes as well.

airfare for(2) to a destination, and best of all a FREE vehicle will be given away!

A part of our mission is the commitment to building people by meeting their needs – in all aspects.

We have done fifteen festivals so far locally and

Starting in the fall of 2012, the Orlando Global Food

internationally and we know that this will be the best

Festival was originated as an extension to our

one yet.

Outreach Ministry Program, where every nation represented in our ministry would prepare their traditional, native dishes to feed all who would come to partake – for FREE! In addition to the free food, we also provided clothing, home supplies, and free haircuts, and other services. Attendance had been phenomenal with our last Global Food Festival and in the midst of planning, COVID 19 made everything and everyone come to a halt.

The Global Food Fest provides a family-friendly atmosphere for the entire community to enjoy! Not only will delicious tasting global dishes be served, but it is a powerful evening of positive and uplifting music, dance, and a multicultural fashion show. Not to mention a fun and exciting Kids Activity Center that included bounce houses, face painting, games, and activities.

COVER STORY

Jada having little fun during a relaxing moment.

Photo courtesy of facebook

JADA HART:

A QUEEN FOR THE AGES

Take a peek into the life journey of one of God's servant soul.

by Jada Hart

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

That is the question that every child is asked only a billion times as they grow older. For a long time, my answer was always “a Princess” when I was asked that question. Eventually, as I got older, my mom told me that being a princess was not an actual career and that I would need to choose something else to aspire to become—and so I did.

Therefore, the next time that I was asked what I wanted to be, my answer was “a Queen!” Looking back, it is hilarious how strategic God was being in allowing me to speak such Truth over myself. I may have been pictured as just a little girl with hopes and dreams of becoming either a princess or a queen like all other little girls, but I

I honestly believe God saw past those mere words. He saw beyond the “adorable innocence” and idolization that I upheld for all the cartoon princesses and dolls I admired. However, it was for a long time that I unfortunately felt like everything else other than royalty.

As a child you are typically blind to all the beauty standards set by society, but I caught on way too early than I needed.

Having fair skin and long hair and being small in stature and a little plump in certain areas have always been promoted when it comes to one’s preference of beauty, and I was the complete opposite.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

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COVERSTORY

I was tall, very thin, dark skinned, my hair was not flowing down my back, and I wore the geekiest pair of glasses anyone with bad eyesight could have sported. I always stood out next to my friends or even in a crowd at school. Whatever/wherever I was, I stood out like a very sore thumb and others did not have any issues with reminding me of how singled out I was every chance that they got. By the age of 10 the bullying began, and I remember being called all types of names stemming from my height to my dark skin, to my shoe size, to wearing glasses—anything you can think of I got picked on because of it. By the time I entered middle school, my self-esteem was non-existent, and I used to keep on what most people called a “depressed jacket.” I kept to myself; I was very shy; and I nervous all the time. So depression and anxiety became my “closest friends.”

One would probably think that all children should have some type of safe haven, but my home life was overly complicated and just as detrimental. I love my family very much and growing up my parents instilled in me and all my siblings the value of family.

Yet, by the time I turned nine, my parents were no longer together and everything after their breakup became very chaotic and lonely. I did not feel like I had anywhere to turn or no place of genuine happiness and when high school finally rolled around, my anxiety was at its highest peak and with that experience, I began scratching and cutting myself for relief. I used to have so many anxiety attacks and they would always come at the most random times. The last attack that I experienced was the worst and that day I was ready to transition—to death’s door. I no longer wanted to live or be here in this state of being. I felt like a

useless waste of space and after school I came home crying and went straight to the kitchen to grab the biggest knife we had. I went through the process of screaming, crying, and picturing what would happen if I had simply slid that knife across my skin in that moment; but the Powerful Presence of God would not allow me to put His precious princess in jeopardy. I remember being so frustrated that I threw down the knife and sat down on my bed and began hysterically sobbing the hardest I had ever cried in my life.

I felt like I did not have a purpose for so long and I believe it was my junior year of high school when my Bishop (Dr. Durone Hepburn of J.U.M.P. Ministries) began prophesying and declaring that I would begin entering beauty pageants and win. Bishop Hepburn said I would one day become Miss Universe and change the lives of not only women but also men and children. I used to think that he was absolutely ludicrous, but I grew up in J.U.M.P. and had been a part of this ministry all my life, so I knew he was serious and that his words were truly from God, but it was still very difficult for me to receive and believe Bishop’s declarations. . I just did not find myself worthy of such great recognitions or responsibilities.

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Fast forward, I am so appreciative and feel so blessed that my Bishop never stopped speaking destiny and sowing words of Life into me as I had done when I started facing so many devastating circumstances. It was not until last year, fall 2020, that I truly began developing my personal relationship with God and taking His Word more seriously and I must say I am beyond ecstatic that I did because my life has changed so drastically for the better. I finally embraced my purpose and assignment within God’s ministry and last September I preached my very first sermon on “Forgiveness.” February 20, 2021, I competed in my first pageant “USA National Miss Florida,” and won 1st Runner-up in Talent, 4th Runner-up for Miss Florida, and the People’s Choice in which I received my very first crown/sash and the title of “USA National Miss Sunshine State” to become the official state Queen. I am currently preparing for Nationals, but I know this is only the beginning. As I continue spending time building that intimate relationship and firm foundation of faith and trust in my Lord Jesus Christ, I look forward to the process, growth, and becoming the mighty woman of God and Queen that He predestined me to be long before I was knitted in my mother’s womb.

RISING ABOVE FEAR Life rarely works out the way you expect it. An unexpected diagnosis, a sudden layoff from your job, a shocking breakdown in a relationship, an accident - all kinds of obstacles can enter your life at any time, shattering your best-devised plans, and thus causing anxiety. When this occurs, you have a choice: you can either let your circumstances knock you down and try to survive in a depressed state, or you can choose to overcome your fears and thrive despite them.

Here are some helpful tips for accomplishing the latter while you

Written by Jessica Park. Illustrations by Lee Min-Han.

rise above fear:

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1 SEE THE POTENTIAL THAT EXISTS. EVERY TIME AN OLD DREAM DIES, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT A NEW ONE IS BEING BORN. IF YOU TRUST GOD WITH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, HE WILL BRING GOOD OUT OF EVEN THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES. EVERY SETBACK CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER TRUST GOD'S PLAN. GOD IS A REDEEMER. HE IS ALWAYS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES CONSTRUCTING A LARGER, MORE ETERNAL PICTURE. THEN YOU CAN PRESENTLY SEE. PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM.

2

CAST YOUR CARES ON GOD. GOD PROMISES TO ALWAYS BE WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU LOVE. EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT FEEL GOD'S PRESENCE, YOU CAN TRUST HIS PROMISES. HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, AND HE CARES. WHILE YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GOD ALLOWED CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES TO ENTER YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT HIS LOVING COMFORT AND ASSISTANCE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR YOU. PRAY OPENLY AND HONESTLY ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS CONCERNING YOUR DIFFICULTIES AND FEARS. DON'T BE AFRAID TO EXPRESS YOURSELF TO GOD; BE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, AND HE WANTS YOU TO DRAW CLOSER TO HIM WHEN YOU'RE VULNERABLE AND HURTING

3 WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST FEAR. WHENEVER A TROUBLESOME CONCERN ENTERS YOUR HEAD, PRAY ABOUT IT. DON'T ALLOW ANXIETIES TO INCREASE AND LINGER IN YOUR THOUGHTS LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY TURN INTO FEAR. USE THESE ISSUES OF LIFE AS A SPRINGBOARD TO PERPETUATE YOUR NEXT STEPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH YOU HOW TO RESOLVE CHALLENGES. GIVE GOD EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE, AND THEN FOLLOW HIM IN FAITH. INVITE GOD TO USE THE SITUATIONS THAT CONCERN YOU TO REVEAL MORE ABOUT IS IDENTITY—WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE CAN ACHIEVE.

4 ONLY PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD ALONE. GOD DESERVES YOUR TRUST. WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE ABOUT GOD DETERMINES YOUR LEVEL OF TRUST. SO, PONDER YOUR BELIEFS AND WHAT SHAPED THEM. READ THE BIBLE TO BETTER KNOW GOD AND HIS MYSTERIES. THEN, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON HEARSAY, OR OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS, FORMULATE YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT GOD ON THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD. YOUR LOVE FOR GOD AND YOUR TRUST IN HIM INCREASE AS YOU GET TO KNOW HIM MORE. REMEMBER THAT YOUR DIFFICULTIES ARE SERVING A GREATER PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE THAN YOU CAN PERCEIVE RIGHT NOW.

K I N G D O M

B U S I N E S S

Florida Pastor Uses BBQ Sauce To Reach Souls (BP) – When stores in Northeast Florida receive a delivery of Yulee BBQ Sauce they’re getting more than a collection of sauces and rub with tangy flavor perfect for grilling.

“They’re getting a chaplain and pastor,” said Jimmy Flanagan, creator of Yulee BBQ Sauce, who personally makes the deliveries to his customers.

Flanagan, pastor of Duval Station Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., has taken his passion for cooking to create his own barbecue sauce, which he sells in local stores and uses as a platform for sharing the Gospel. “I could knock on doors, do outreach programs, but when I go with the barbecue sauce, it totally opens everything up for ministry and witnessing,” Flanagan said, adding: “It’s not about me at all and it’s not about the sauce, it’s about people and it’s about Christ.”

Growing up in Yulee, a rural bedroom community just north of Jacksonville, Flanagan relished helping his dad grill outdoors on the smoker or in a pit. He said those childhood experiences led to his love of cooking.

As a young adult, he began experimenting with creating his own barbecue sauce. “I prayed over every trial,” he said.

“It was just a hobby for years.”

In 2007, after serving a church in Hoboken, Ga., Flanagan and his family returned to Yulee, and he assumed the pastorate at Duval Station Baptist, about 10 miles south. All the while, he continued cooking and perfecting the sauce.

When he added a new ingredient to a batch of sauce, his family, who always thought his experiments tasted pretty good, raved about this new batch. He shared the sauce with friends and then served it at a local annual sportsman’s feast. For the next two years, he set up a table at the event and sold the sauce.

Although excited that people liked his recipe, the pastor became concerned he was trying to do something outside of ministry.

“I had prayed over every test batch and I realized that God gave it to me and that I should do all things to the glory of God,” he said. Five years ago, after meeting all the necessary legal requirements, with the help of a co-packer, Flanagan began bottling Yulee BBQ Sauce and selling it in local stores. It now comes in three flavors — original, sweet and hot – and in a rub.

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Ten stores carried the sauce the first year.

and asked Flanagan to pray for her boss.

He now produces 600-800 bottles every

At another store, he noticed an employee,

three months and sells it in 23 outlets –

a young woman who rarely smiled and

vegetable markets, meat stores, and

spoke little to him, was absent. He found

hardware stores – in eight nearby towns.

out she had had a stroke and was

“I pray before I make every delivery, that

hospitalized in a local Jacksonville ICU.

God will have His will with

Along with some members from his

communications and relationships,” said

church, he drove to the hospital, prayed

the pastor, who added that God has

with her and her family gathered there.

helped him build relationships in each

She told her family, “This is the barbecue

store. After making a recent delivery, he

guy.” Not long afterward, Flanagan’s father

noticed the cashier had left the store. As

overheard a woman in a local store telling

he passed her on the sidewalk she asked if

others how her daughter had been in ICU

they could talk. Through tears, she shared

and the guy who sells barbecue sauce

that her boss’ wife had just passed away

visited the family in the hospital.

A month later, the young woman was back at work talking incessantly about how God had been working in her life. “She smiles now! That wouldn’t have happened without the sauce,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan said when becoming a vocational minister, he was mostly around other Christians.

“What I found missing,” he said, “was me being a witness, having spiritual conversations with new people.”

His business now allows him “to point people to Christ in a regular, organic way. It’s been really fun,” he said.

“I’m using the sauce to reach souls.”

Y O U

A R E

THAT SPECIAL

By: Bishop Phillip Walcott

Given the world situation with hundreds of thousands dying from the Corona -Virus, it is easy to feel like we don't matter to anyone and we are worthless. We seem to die so easily these days. However, we are still special in the eyes of God. We are so special that God describes us as "the apple of His eye". This statement found in Psalms 17:6-9 and four other passages means that we are very important to God and He cares about us. The fact that He sees us as important is reflected in His actions. First of all, is His offer of salvation. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

VAGABOND CUSTOMS' CHIEF MECHANIC

Because we are the "apple of God’s eye," He developed a plan to be our Saviour. The amazing thing about this love is that if you were the only person alive in the world He would still fashion the rescue plan to save you. The cost of this rescue plan is that His son Jesus Christ gave up His throne in heaven and His life on earth. He did it voluntarily too!

Note that this plan was necessary because despite our best efforts we did not and could not meet the requirements to save ourselves. Why? Because we were sinful and therefore every act of goodness was tainted by sin. We had to get rid of sin but our efforts fell short of the mark. Isaiah 64:6 points out all of our efforts could only produce the equivalent of filthy rags in the sight of God. We could not meet the requirements so He met them for us.

His second action of love to us is to make us His children. John 1:12 tells us, that as many as receive Him to them He gave the right to become children of God.

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As our Father, He offers at our disposal the resources of heaven.

Imagine being born into a family of limited resources but being invited to be part of a new family with a Father possessing the ability to provide everything that is good for me. The awesome fact is that He desires to do this based on 3 John 2 which indicates He wants me to prosper and be in health as I grow in this family.

The third action of love is to offer us His Friendship.

God wants to be a part of our personal lives, he wants to be our friend. A friend is a family that we get to chose. This position of a friend was offered to us in John 15:15 ….Now you are my friends since I have told you everything the Father told me.

As our friends, God loves us for who we are, and that makes us His very special and unique set of people.

We are the "apple of his eye"!

About the author: Bishop Phillip Walcott is a Guyanese delegate to the African Methodist Episcopal District Convention, held in Orlando, FL this past July.

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The Orlando Paradox Cherrie Roberston

TO HELL AND BACK.

y journey to hell and back. Seven years ago, my life felt perfect. To the M outsiders, I had reached the zenith of success. An expensive home, a six-

figure salary, luxury vehicles, and regular vacations with my family. To top it all off I was on my way to acquiring my private pilot’s license. Then it all started crumbling. Over a period of seven years, I lost it all bit by bit. As my perfect world fell apart, I became bitter and angry. I began to question God. Why me? What have I done to deserve this? I began to focus on how I got to this place. From the tender age of seven, I had been born again. I stood out as a church leader and began making an impact in the Kingdom of God. After graduating with honors from high school, I was on my way to success. Later I fell in love, but my love was spurned. I became heartbroken . . I just wanted to escape from my situation. I made the first of many mistakes. In an effort to escape I got married and came to the US. Immediately I recognized I had made a mistake. My husband was not a Christian. Behind closed doors, he made my life a living hell. This impacted on me greatly and I lost my faith. To give purpose to my life I became engrossed in a career. I chose male-dominated fields with the sole intention of “beating men at their game”. I rapidly climbed the corporate ladder. Then my nightmare began in earnest. I began to lose my vision, my marriage disintegrated, and I was alone. In these dark days of my life, I returned to God. This return was short-lived. I became disillusioned and decided to stop going to church. For two years I struggled in spiritual darkness. Then through a series of experiences, I reconnected to Him in whom my soul delights. First, I was watching Apostle David E Taylor on television when I saw a beam of bright white light come out of the television towards me. In awe, I asked my son if he was seeing it, but he was not. This experience led me to start going back to church. In the church God allowed me to see His unconditional love for me and I returned to serving Him with all my heart. I became very involved in ministry to the unsaved and needy. Since then, I have grown in grace and have become rooted and fully grounded in Him. He is restoring all the things that I have lost over the years and with His love and grace being poured out constantly to me, my life is destined to be better than it has ever been. The lesson I draw from my life is that the best in life comes from following God’s plan fully. I deviated and the devil began to execute his plan of destruction for me, but God save and restored me. To Him be all the glory. www.christianmagazineshr.com 25

How Discipleship Looks Today

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