―Every woman wonders, dreams, loves, laughs, lives with hope, desire, compassion and uncertainties…come experience what God has designed with Every Woman in mind…‖ VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
FEBRUARY 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE ABOUT “EVERY WOMAN”
1
MEET THE PLANNING COMMITTEE
1
FROM THE EDITOR
2
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS PAST SURFACE
2
FROM THE CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
2
MY EXPERIENCE IN OUTREACH
3
HIGH SCHOOL PROMS
3
ABOUT OUR PASTOR
4
HEALTH TIP!
4
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
4
About “Every Woman San Diego” Who We Are ―Every Woman‖ is made up of women with a desire to share ideas, life lessons and learnings, through foundational teaching and whatever means necessary to enrich the lives of
every woman.
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Who is “Every
It has been placed on our hearts that no woman should be excluded from discovering and living real love, real life, and real esteem. Women growing together will build better generations of women to come.
Meet the Planning Committee
Woman?” Keep Your Heart Healthy Going to the Prom Positive Relationships Chaplain’s Corner Community Outreach Our Pastor Spotlight
uncertainty, stress, and unstableness in our lives. All that‘s needed from you is your presence. All of us have something Why not? As women, we typi- to bring to the table, so let‘s cally place everyone and every- explore. thing above ourselves. We are ―last on the list‖ and then wonder why we feel the way we do. Or, you don‘t know where to start, how to expand, or what to do now? ―Every Woman‖ is designed to at least give some insight on some of this. None ―You can determine where of us are experts, but we do you are going by what you recognize the need to explore, think about.‖ discover, and enlighten every -Ralph E. Buchanan woman in this time of such
Why the Need…? Why Now…? Why You...?
Our Planning Committee has been meeting once a month to really get a perspective of our mission—so we can bring it
forth to the Ministry—all the while, getting to know each other better. As we all know, planning takes time, along with prayer, to make sure we are in line with God‘s Will for this vital Ministry. If you would like to become a part of the planning committee, please email to: info@icff.org.
Committee Members Shameka Murphy Deborah Shirley Sandra Murphy Demetra Fason Amber Wyatt Tania Garcia Alice Wingo Bri Carerra Minister Lisa Harris Chaplain Marta Ferguson Pastor Susanne Bernal
EVERY WOMAN SAN DIEGO
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From the Editor – Pastor Susanne Bernal We hope you enjoy the first issue of our
―Every Woman‖
Newsletter… which is a labor of love for all of us! I‘m very excited to be a part of a Ministry that is giving us an opportunity to reach all women. There have been many attempts in the past to get this underway, but this time we really feel there is a difference….The difference
being–all the Word each of us have been receiving! Whether it‘s in Leadership Class, Cornerstone, reading the Bible in Chronological order, or reading Proverbs and Psalms daily, God is instilling in all of us a strong foundation which we can believe and build our lives upon. In our planning committee meetings, we are taking our time to really let God direct our steps. At our last planning meeting, we had a special
guest speaker, Pastor Buchanan! We heard Pastor‘s concerns for the Women‘s Ministry, along with an inspiring message encouraging us to have relationships that are past just being ―surface‖. I know we all know what this means, so I‘m not going to elaborate, but just give you the notes… Enjoy...just like we did.
―Today‘s decisions are tomorrow‘s realities. Remember you have three choices: take it, leave it or change it.‖
- Pastor Susanne Bernal
- Marsha Petrie Sue
Have A Relationship That Is Past Surface 1. Focus on a more stable you. We have really become unbalanced in our lives. Tie yourself down so you can do the things that matter, and not be so easily distracted. 2. Work your way to a balance in life. Don‘t spend too much time in one area of your life and not enough in another. The focus of ICFF isn‘t church people, it‘s the unchurched/lost people. Spend time with them so they can see you more human, which makes God attainable in their lives.
3. Form healthy relationships for yourself. Some relationships are not good for you, so let them go so you don‘t become sick like them. Build healthy relationships on purpose. 4. Set attainable goals that matter. Goals that make a difference in your life and aren‘t easy to do. When you accomplish that goal, you will realize God is with you. 5. Strengthen your mind for mental clarity. Reading, studying, finding out new things, and researching are ways
ways to not let your mind stay idle. 6. Heal to become a healer. We‘ve been broken too long; let God heal you. Think good thoughts about you and forgive yourself. 7. Prepare yourself to be used in the future work of the Ministry. This makes you more useful to the success of the Ministry. Doing the points mentioned above will make you stand out—which as women, we should stand out for Jesus. We are working towards excellence, one to be trusted and depended on.
8. Be careful of idleness and wasting time. Not doing what you are supposed to do. Don‘t cut yourself short, time is money, and it‘s your wealth. 9. Be honest, it‘s the most important help you‘ll ever need. Be honest with yourself, and in what you want to be for Jesus. Be careful of encumbrances.
- Ralph E. Buchanan Senior Pastor, ICFF
From the Chaplain’s Corner – Marta Ferguson Being a Chaplain comes with many opportunities; Sunday, January 29 was one such opportunity. We know that God is Sovereign, and He is able to use many things, and most importantly, anyone, to extend His comfort, truth, and love. I, along with a few of the women from ICFF, attended a Women‘s AA meeting. We were there to help celebrate our very dear sister of ICFF, Jeannette Armijo‘s 6-mos of sobriety.
There were approximately 20 women at the meeting, who gathered together to encourage each other through another day of not drinking or using drugs. I was asked to present Jeanette with her 6month token, and to briefly share something about her life and accomplishments. It was very exciting to see another miracle and answered prayer for Jeanette, and her AA sisters. Later that day, it was off
to the hospital to visit a friend of Ms. Annette Carr‘s, Debra Natal, who was in ICU. Debra has been on our ICFF prayer request list, so it was nice to meet her in person. She shared her life‘s journey—since she estranged herself from the Lord. This left her with feelings of failure and abandonment. Before leaving, Debra wanted to pray! She prayed her confession of faith, and rededicated her heart to Jesus!
Debra is now looking forward to future visits from the women of ICFF...Pretty exciting stuff man!!
Chaplin Marta Ferguson
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
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My Experience In Outreach – Tania Garcia This was my first experience attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting and it put a whole different perspective on whatever it was I ‗thought‘ an alcoholic or drug addict looked or acted like. It amazed me that many of the women in the meeting looked ‗normal‘ if you would. Women that we‘ve passed by at the coffee shop, work, shopping, meetings, school events, etc. They were beautiful, young, middle-aged, older, looked so perfectly put together on the outside and it hit me that the disease knows no gender,
race, or age. At first I thought my sole reason going to the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was to support Jeanette for all her hard work in receiving her 6-month token for sobriety, to celebrate her life. However, as the meeting progressed, and testimonies were shared, I noticed that either I or someone I know could relate to what these women had been through or what they were going through. Maybe not through alcohol or drugs but at some point in our lives we have been unhealthy or made poor
choices because of insecurities, emotional or physical abuse or simply life just becoming too much to bear. I‘m truly blessed to have experienced the meeting; my eyes and heart have opened. Many times in our lives we‘ve gone through the motions and looked normal‘ or put together on the outside but on the inside we are similar to these women; we‘ve all been through something, going somewhere and are striving to be sober. AA is a fellowship. they are united as a family, they hold one another accountable,
speak the truth, are humble, and listens to each other no matter how many times one may fall or where they‘ve come from. They celebrate each moment that they are alive and sober as if it is their last.
Tania Garcia
High School Proms...Making Memories – Lisa Harris Going to the Prom is one of the most treasured and memorable times in a young girl‘s life. But, sometimes getting there can be her most challenging too… With the cost of her dress, shoes, and accessories, not to mention a little pampering— it can add up, preventing her from going at all. No young girl should ever have to miss her Prom because her parents are unable to afford it. That‘s why programs like The Princess Project were established in 2002. Since then, The Princess Project has grown from an effort to help one girl get a prom dress, to an organization that has helped more than 18,000 teenage girls.
About the Program The Princess Project (TPP) is an organization that helps promote self-confidence and individual beauty for a young girl. They provide free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who cannot afford them—preventing them from attending their prom.
How Can I Get ―My‖ Dress? This year, the spring giveaway will be held on April 18 and April 28. Check back in March for more details.
Need More Info? For a more detailed overview of The Princess Project‘s Program, please visit: http://princessproject.org/. Be sure to click on the location button to choose San Diego's site.
Donate A Dress & Accessories TPP will be holding its - Information provided by largest formal dress and ac- The Princess Project. cessories drive on Sunday, How it Works? February 26, at The Wed Each year, TPP seeks and Club Bridal Show inside the receives thousands of new Sheraton Hotel in Carlsbad. and gently used formal gowns and accessories from Please review their guidelines individual donations and before donating. corporate partnerships. Monetary Donations Want to Volunteer? You can make a monetary You can help by volunteering donation at any time, by your time and talent to assist visiting TPPs website and with coordinating, fundrais- clicking on the JUST GIVE ing, sorting dresses, and button. You‘ll be so glad you creating a beautiful boutique participated in this worthy Minister for the girls to shop. charity. Lisa Harris
We, as an organization, will be come a House of Influence that will provide resources for the spirit, soul and body to those who are hurting around the world.
About Our Pastor... Ralph E. Buchanan, a native of San Diego has been the Senior Pastor of Inner-City Faith Fellowship, Inc. since 1992. His focus and that of the ministry is given to studying the Bible for all it‘s worth, and teaching you how to find application from the Bible for daily living. He believes, regardless of our experiences in the religious community, good or bad, that God‘s message teaches everyone to intimately know Him and to experience true fellowship with one another. His greatest desire for our ministry is to reach families in the community with God‘s Comfort, Truth and Love. We invite you to browse our website for a brief overview of how much value God places on you. Be sure to keep an open mind and you will experience for yourself the joy of finding purpose for your life. May God satisfy your longing with His kindness towards you. - ICFF, Inc.
We’re on the web
icff.org Physical Address A Time To Dance Studios 3982 - 30th Street San Diego, CA 92104 Mailing Address Inner-City Faith Fellowship, Inc. P.O. Box 720823 San Diego, CA 92172
―Reaching the surrounding communities through comfort, truth and love.‖
Health Tip...! HEART DOCTOR HEALTH ADVICE
Get More Omega 3‘s & Watch Your Waistline Body weight is the most important predictor of whether you‘re going to have a heart problem, because it causes so many other [health issues].
much more likely to have a heart problem. Waist fat causes high blood pressure, because it puts pressure on your kidneys, which is the organ that regulates your pressure. It causes your liver to make LDL cholesterol, the kind that causes heart disease. And it blocks the ability of insulin to work, which leads to diabetes. The height-waist ratio works for men, women and kids. It‘s not your belt size, though– measure the waist itself.
People whose waist is more - Article by Dr. Mehmet Oz than half their height are
Need Inspiration and Encouragement? Want to walk in wisdom and know God’s will for your life? Tune in weekly to:
ICFF’s Online Television Program: www.icffinc.blip.tv