December 2022 Edition of The Christian Recorder

Great Lakes Annual Conference Ordains Ministers

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Lay Witness Sunday Promotes “Being a Light in Darkness”

Nedra McDaniel

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, the members of St. John observed Lay Witness Sunday. The laity led the worship service, and the Lay Organization sponsored a pop-up ministry fair in the parking lot of the church after the service. The theme was “Being a Light in Darkness.”

The service began with a processional of ministry representatives bearing banners with the names of the ministries of the church as the choir and congregation ministered in song with the uplifted singing of “Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper.” The traditional order of service was followed.

Lay participants in the service were Sister Jessica Harbin, Announcements; Sister Nedra McDaniel, Greetings and Occasion; Sister Deborah Bland, Call to Worship; Sister Agnes Gilmore, Morning Prayer; Sister Donnie Thompson, Scripture; Brother Rufus Gilmore, Offering Appeal; and Sister Barbara Johnson, Introduction of the Northwest Conference Lay President. Music was led by Brother Reggie Pearson and the music ministry.

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A Tale of Two Leaders

Once upon a time, there was a tale of two leaders. One leader was a man not known to have great riches, but he fared well enough. He received an inquiry from a young man looking for a place to work, as he was hungry and had no way of acquiring food. The man hired the young man and charged him with feeding the pigs. It was not a very classy job, but it provided a little something for him. Unfortunately, his provisions were not enough to actually fill his stomach, and he began to long for the pods of the pigs. Thankfully, he remembered something, rather someone, before he reduced himself to such a humiliating state.

He remembered another leader who was well off. The leader had hired hands as well, but he cared

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The Work Is All Divine

Rev. Jarrett Britton Washington, M.Div., MACE, Columnist

The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

I’ve been blessed to serve as the elected Annual Conference secretary for the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District for the past six years. Statistically, the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference is one of the largest annual conferences in the southern United States. The annual conference consists of 103 pastoral appointments, a membership of over 28,000 men, women, and children of God, over 300 traveling elders and deacons, local elders and deacons and licentiates, and three presiding elder districts covering five counties. The direct task of

This weekend in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Great Lakes Annual Conference held its first session under Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr. Of special note was the presence of pastors from the country of Rwanda which was joined to the Great Lakes Conference by the 2012 General Conference. For the first time in recorded history, Rwandan pastors received appointments from the hand of the bishop. ...continued on p10

Schools Are Made for Learning and Not for Shootings. What Is Happening in America?

Rev. Tashara S. Void, Contributing Writer

DECEMBER 2022

for each well. In fact, they had enough to share with others and still be good. So, he thought to himself that he would go back to this leader and beg for a position among the hired hands since he had already given up the good position he had. But, somewhere along the leader’s journey, he realized that his profits and business would improve if he took care of his people. It was not enough for him to flourish; he made sure his people did too. So, when the young man came to him, he was all too willing to share what he had and do for him what he had done and is

doing for others. And this made me think about the itinerant ministry in the church.

There is a notion in the minds of most that when one enters the itinerancy, they enter to start “at the bottom.” There is the idea that “a smaller church is a starter church,” and that is where all who begin the pastoral journey should begin. Very few resources are provided, and very few churches have enough resources to sustain the new pastors and their families, leaving them like the young man, working and hungry. The system is designed to keep those at

The president of the Northwest Alabama Conference Lay Organization and the second vice president of the Ninth District Lay Organization, Sister Tamara Bonner Royster, introduced the guest speaker. Sister Royster is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a life-long member of St. James African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Birmingham (Avondale). She has served in many capacities in her local church, the Northwest Alabama Conference, and the Ninth Episcopal District. In Sister Royster’s introduction of the guest speaker, her father, she emphasized that he is a servant of the Lord, a praying man, and always encourages people to give their best. Following the introduction, and

the bottom always scratching and surviving, hanging in the chow line, because somehow, somewhere, they were taught that was the initiation into pastoral ministry.

But what if the church adopted the model of the second leader in its current itinerancy structure? What if instead of operating out of the theology of scarcity, we operated out of the theology of abundance? What if instead of making those at the bottom fill themselves with pods of the pigs, we compensate pastors in such a way that they not only had enough for themselves but enough

at the request of Pastor Wright, Sister Royster blessed those in attendance with a soul-stirring solo, “’Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”

The guest speaker, Brother James C. Bonner, Jr., is the president emeritus of the Ninth District Lay Organization. He is the son of the parsonage, the son of the late Reverend J. C. Bonner and Mrs. Nettie Polk Bonner. He has served in many positions in the local church and at the Conference, District, and Connectional levels of the AME Church. Professionally, he retired from the Birmingham city school system after 39 years as an educator and director of psychometrists. He is married to Sister Susie Jones Bonner, president

to share? What if instead of hoarding resources thinking it will somehow take away from the larger church needs, we give them enough to be satisfied and sustained, so they are not hungry? What if we honor the work they are doing and compensate them so that they have enough to spare? How much happier do we think those at the bottom would feel? How much more satisfied would they be? What greater works and ministry would they do if they did not have to scrape the pod but could eat freely like those they hire themselves out to? ❏ ❏

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of the Ninth District Women’s Missionary Society. Brother Bonner’s message was informative, inspirational, and challenging. He focused on the theme as he encouraged the laity to be light in darkness. The first challenge of the message was to “represent something more than oneself.” He noted that all lay are called to ministry to give service and the different talents/gifts given to believers in Ephesians 4:11-13. He urged the lay to serve according to the gifts God has given them. Brother Bonner stated that rather than be discouraged by current events relating to health, prejudice, and discrimination, it is more important to be light to

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...From Lay Witness p1

the world. He noted that believers are called for committed and dedicated service and commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). He highlighted the fact that in the word commission is mission. The lay are called to teach, train, and empower members to ministry, leadership, and service. He stated, “We have to work together locally and connectionally to let our lights shine.” He concluded by compelling lay to “stand on the promises of Jesus and to work until the day is done.”

Pastor Wright extended the Invitation to Discipleship. The service concluded with the singing of the Lay Benediction.

The members of the Lay Witness Sunday Committee express appreciation to our guest speaker, Brother James C. Bonner, Jr., Sister Tamara Royster, Pastor Wright, the Music Ministry, the Media Ministry, and the ministry leads for their support and participation. Committee members were Brother Hodges Washington, Sister Nedra McDaniel, Sister Lorraine Parham, Sister Cassandra Thompson, and Brother Darwin Washington.

To God be the glory! ❏ ❏

The Truth Is the Light!

Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Columnist

Based on Biblical Text: Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)

“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

It seems, at least sometimes, that Satan is getting the best of us. There are times when it is difficult to hold on. It is sometimes difficult to maintain our faith and trust in God, particularly when everything is going against us. Our faith wavers when we find ourselves in the middle of one of the greatest battles of our life. However, in times like that, we need the Lord more than ever. These are the times that our faith and trust in God are really put to the test.

It is easy to live for God when we are doing well. It is much easier to trust in God when things are positive. Conversely, it becomes increasingly difficult to have the same level of trust when the weight of the whole world is upon our shoulders. Many of us bail out on God as soon as the storms get rough.

God wants us when our life is in the middle of turmoil, when the waves of temptation overwhelm us, we would look up and put our trust in him. Those are the times God is putting our faith to the test to see if we will pass or fail. Those are the very moments that strengthen our faith and build our trust. That is when our relationship with God will really show its true depth.

We must not forget that God has promised us that we would never be tempted above what we

can bear. Still, with every temptation, every trial, every test, every trouble, God will make a way for us to escape and win the victory, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We must also remember that God never promised that we wouldn’t have hard times. There is no divine promise for the believer that we will glide through life without troubles. However, the good news is that God promised he would never leave or forsake us. God asks us to hold on to his promise to supply our every need. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalms 55:22).

The trial we face is very personal, and it seems that no one else can relate to or understand us. The truth is that many people have faced and are now facing the same situations in which we find ourselves. God is not surprised about our circumstances. God knows what is coming our way, and God already has an answer for it. Victory is ours if we do it God’s way. God is God, and God is all-powerful. There is no limit to God’s ability to meet our needs. There is no limit to God’s deliverance and provision for whatever we need. Our God never gets tired, never grows weary, and always listens for our prayers, prepared to rush to our aid.

What will we do with the trials that face us? Will we turn to our own devices and make decisions that will cause us to have less time for God, the church, or even our families? Will we forget the

Word of God and get ourselves worked up and depressed because we do not have faith that God can work it out for us? The Bible reminds us, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What will we do now that things are not perfect anymore?

It is time we stopped our pity party, quit looking like it is the end of the world, and lift our eyes to hills of glory; from where does our help come? Our help comes from God. God is far above our petty troubles, no matter how bad they seem. God will not allow us to fail if we keep our trust and faith in him.

So now the test is on. It is not a question of survival but whether we will pass or fail. If we pass, our faith and trust will grow stronger. The choice to fail or pass is ours alone. God will not force our decision one way or another because God wants us to learn and grow in God. God will deal with our decision as a loving father. God knows how to give us the power to overcome. God will take our weaknesses, failures, doubts, and fears and turn them into miracles of deliverance. After the trials, tests, and troubles, we will begin to get a glimpse of what living by faith really means.

The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the servant pastor of James Chapel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

DECEMBER 2022

...From Great Lakes p1

FULL NAMES DISTRICT CHURCH

Muhawenimana Jean Marie Rubavu /Rwanda Gosheni

Tuyisenge Theogene Western/Rwanda Mt. Hermon

Mugabe Emmanuel South Rwanda Nyanza Mt. Sinai

Birimwiragi Munganga Gervais Goma Sinai

Koko Kinumbe Marie Goma Betsaida

Mutabazi Muliri Dieudonne Nyiragongo Salem

Tombo Zamukulu Kamituga Seminaire

Mukandama Kasindi Kilembwe Tumahimi

Mukombelwa Kitumaini Kilembwe Magembe

Yakobo Iyeniya Kitutu Penuel

Selenge Lunpenzi Kitutu Bethel

Kirapfuru William Masisi Sud Bethania

Bahemuke Balume Solide Mahanga Kalambairo

Tambo Habarurema Masisi Sud Nambi

Migisha Rukimirana Masisi Sud Makondero

Gasore Gashengura Masisi Sud

Humule

Sadiki Baremera Masisi Sud Misekera

Mango Kitoga Bassin Du Kivu

Wilodja Mukundilwa Bassin Du Kivu

Jerusalem

Moria Ruzizi

Rukunga Mufungizi Julien Bassin Du Kivu Golgota

Mapenzi Baumba Bukavu

Lubalika Sinai

Basimise Fulika Marc Bassin Du Kivu Mizeituni

Mukamba Muluba Bassin Du Kivu Sinai

Migo Milemba Kitutu Agape

Mwinda Wa Shekulu Tresor Bwito

Bashimbe Mugaruka Benjamin

Bambo

Bukavu Yesu Ni Jibu

Munyabarenzi Jerome Masisi Sud

Mushaki

Lubuziya Kipolopolo Shabunda Centre Shabunda Centre

Bwenge Mugalulwa Shabunda Centre Lulingo

When Strength Becomes Weakness

Alfonso Wyatt, Columnist

Please be aware that it is possible for your strength to become a weakness. Does this sound like an oxymoron? It is possible for the gift that makes you a strong individual, spouse, friend, or leader to boomerang, hemming you into an undesirable place. This gift can eventually derail efforts. You may have experienced this phenomenon and were unaware of what was happening. If this is not registering for you, please read on.

Strength to Weakness Mini-Case Analysis

You are the “go-to” problem-solver in your family and inner circle of friends. Your phone is always ringing, chirping, and vibrating day into night. You never refuse a request to help others until you sadly discover you have no strength for yourself. You begin to step back from the crowd, a behavior that counters how others know you. The people who depend on you are worried. Their concern is that their warrior has become a worrier. You, the once strong person, do not have anyone to reach out to for help because you never needed to cultivate a personal support system. Your strength has become your weakness.

You are a visionary known for clearly seeing what others fail to see. As a result, you tend to attract other visionaries-in-training around you. Words like intuitive, brilliant, and profound strengthen your desire to see more possibilities. You love seeing visions and dreams, but you do not love doing the work to make dreams become reality. You have resigned to fall in love with the next great idea. Your strength has become your weakness. You have been an “earth angel” to many friends and family members

through your generous offering of time, talent, and treasure. You will give your last dollar to a stranger. Giving makes you feel better about yourself and the world. Unfortunately, a series of unforeseen incidents now render you in dire need of assistance. In your forced solitude, it has become clear that while you are adept at giving to others, you never learned how to give to yourself. You do not know where to turn or how to ask for help. Your strength has become your weakness.

Finding people who love talking about their strengths is not difficult. We can find “strengtheners” sharing their prowess and success on their blogs, websites, Facebook, Twitter, or via old fashion one-sided conversations. What we hardly hear, or find in abundance, are people strong enough to admit they have a weakness. Before you look for others who may have succumbed to this heretofore-undiagnosed strength-to-weakness malady, look at yourself first. Has your strength ever become a weakness? When did it happen? How did it happen? What did you do, if anything, to keep it from happening again?

If you see weakness only as personal failure and not as an opportunity to learn and grow, you may continue taking desperate actions in the face of seemingly insurmountable trouble. Your fighting spirit will not allow you to back up, give up, look up, or be self-reflective. You are so used to being right it never comes to your mind that you cannot “power out” or figure a way out of your present pressing situation. Please know that your strength has become your weakness.

9 …“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NRSV) ❏ ❏ ❏

The Holiday Season Is Here. Let’s Try to Find Some Joy and Peace.

James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed.D., Columnist

We have just celebrated Thanksgiving with our family and friends. It was festive and fun. The food was tasty and was a buffet of delightful dishes. Living in the Crescent City meant for our family that one of the dishes was gumbo. This tradition of Thanksgiving is rich and has been with us for years and signals the start of the holiday season.

One such tradition is Black Friday. However, Black Friday sales reserved for the day after Thanksgiving began weeks ago. A historical report says that back in the 1950s, police in Philadelphia used the term to describe the chaos that ensued on the day after Thanksgiving when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded into the city in advance of the Army-Navy football game held on that Saturday every year. National Broadcast Channel (NBC) News reported that Black Friday online sales set a record for purchases.

Another tradition, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, continues to be a great attraction for those watching on television or in person. The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was held on November 27, 1924. It has been going strong since that time.

And do not forget that Christmas is coming soon. Let us remember the reason for the season and not be overwhelmed by the commercial aspect of it.

It is my opinion that America has had its share of struggles this year and families have suffered in many ways. The pandemic is still with us as millions of our brothers and sisters have passed away from COVID-19. The latest reports say there have been over 98 million cases and that over 1 million people have lost their lives. Vaccinations have become a staple in our healthcare maintenance schedule and will be with us for years to come. If you have not been vaccinated, you are playing with your life.

I am glad that my family and friends have been vaccinated as it lowers the risk of contracting COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on December 5, 2022, encouraged people to wear masks to help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this season as COVID, flu, and RSV circulate at the same time.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in a call with reporters, said wearing a mask is one of several everyday precautions that people can take to reduce their chances of catching or spreading a respiratory virus during the busy holiday season.

We are also experiencing gun violence. Losing your life to an illness is one

Providence Embedded in Communion

Rev. Dr. Versey A. Williams, Contributing Writer

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Jesus took the bread and broke it. Bread is a staple in our diet and can sustain us. Jesus said to remember him each time we partake of Holy Communion. Remembering Jesus is essential to communing with God. Jesus is God’s incarnate deity embodied in flesh or human form. Misconstruing the gospel has been used to keep people of color subservient to colonialism/racism’s cruelty. For example, “Slaves, obey your masters.” For me, the bread that Jesus broke invites us to experience more of the freedoms of the Lord’s Supper. Reflecting on the story of Elijah and the widow helps us celebrate God’s provision for us even more.

Experiencing trouble, God told Elijah (1 Kings 17) to hide near a brook. God sent a raven to give Elijah bread and flesh (we would call flesh protein). When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow for sustenance. Elijah found her preparing to bake two sticks for her and her son; they would die. Elijah, already learning about God’s faithfulness and creativity, being sustained by a raven, carried out God’s provision for them.

In the widow’s case, she was going to cook two sticks, and she and her son would die from starvation. God again provided for Elijah and the widow and her son. Despite the drought, the widow never ran out of meal or oil.

As time passed, the widow’s son became ill unto death. This time, bread takes on a new meaning. The grieving widow knew Elijah was the reason she

thing but losing your life because of a shooting is quite another story. Yet we find ourselves amid a battle with ourselves. You see, we are pulling the triggers and killing each other. Reports have shown these violent crimes are happening with increased regularity. You and I know the numbers and they are all bad. Just when we have reached a low point, we somehow manage to go even lower.

When will this evil period in our America stop?

Despite our myriad of problems, we must create some happiness for ourselves. It cannot be all doom and gloom. We have ways of finding love and peace. It is within our reach if we start with our patience and have more of it. Simply smiling and using encouraging words will help to shine a bright light on someone’s dark place. We must try harder to find the good in each of us because there is good in us.

We usually make New Year’s resolutions after Christmas; however, I believe the time is now.

Let’s resolve to stay better connected to our family members and friends. Let’s resolve to take better care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Let’s resolve to control ourselves and to not let our tempers control us. Let’s resolve to help a young person with their goals and dreams. Let’s resolve to value each day because tomorrow, not even the end of the day is promised.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson always tells us to “Keep hope alive.” Let’s do it!

and her son lived through the drought. Here we see why we cannot live on yesterday’s manna! In other words, life brings its challenges, and most often, we need to refresh our thinking and understanding of how God is participating in our daily lives!

Elijah’s earlier provision of bread was no longer sufficient for her present need, but God has not changed. Instead, through Elijah’s seeking God’s healing, life resumed in the child.

Communion bread represents God giving Godself as a staple, a necessary element in life. However, God incarnate reminds us that communing with God is more than eating the element. Relational being with God requires a perpetual memory of God’s goodness, mercy, grace, and provision for our life, including power.

Through God incarnate, we read and experience what our relationship with God can and should be!

Jesus is God’s provision for our salvation. In the case of Elijah and the widow, without the Word made flesh, God provided them with the same healing and restorative process. Salvation creates sacred spaces for us to commune with God and live without the threat of unchecked evil. Racism is a product of evil stored in the souls of those who wish to destroy us as a people. We must cling to the sacredness of salvation, protecting us from unchecked evil.

Trouble on College Campuses Is Happening Way too Often These Days

James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed.D., Columnist

Going to college has always been the goal for many students. They take courses and pass tests in high school. Doing homework and writing essays were building blocks for attending college. My friends and I had already been on several college campuses. College students looked more serious, and they were certainly carrying more books. I saw older students leaving for college. It served as motivation for younger students to follow in their footsteps. We wanted to be like them.

At a young age, my parents told me I was going to college, so the only question was what college I would attend. In my community, education was valued and thought to be a key to a successful life. So, as my high school graduation approached, I became more anxious and excited.

Colleges during my day were lively

places to be. I never associated danger and misfortune with them. We went there to learn and earn a degree. Of course, we gained new friends and participated in all student activities.

I was blessed to have been a studentathlete which meant traveling to other cities and college campuses. I had the opportunity to see schools like Rider College in New Jersey and Tuskegee University in Alabama.

During my time in college, I never experienced gun violence. Guns and other weapons were never a part of my conversations with other students. And as a college administrator and teacher, I never had any experiences with students who had firearms.

It is both unbelievable and sad to see. How can we use guns, killings, and colleges in the same sentence? However, this conversation is growing to be more and more relevant. On Sunday, November 13, 2022, a lone gunman killed three

students and wounded two others at the University of Virginia. According to public reports, the studentathletes killed are Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis, Jr., and D’Sean Perry. University of Virginia President James Ryan said, “This is a sad, shocking, and tragic day for our UVA community. Let me say how deeply sorry I am for the victims and for their family and friends.”

The alleged assailant, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., faces murder charges and charges of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, according to UVA Police Chief Timothy Longo, Sr. Jones was arrested approximately 80 miles east of Charlottesville without incident. As of now, there has not been a motive established; however, Christopher Jones was a former UVA football player.

Carla Williams, director of athletics

Morris Brown College Partners with Rapper T.I.

and

Moolah Wireless to Give Students Free Tablets

ATLANTA (August 11, 2022) -- Morris Brown College (MBC) is proud to announce it has partnered with rapper and entrepreneur, Tip “T.I.” Harris, and Moolah Wireless to provide free tablets with 12 months of data service included to Morris Brown College students to celebrate the restoration of the institution. Clifford Harris and Moolah will provide over 200 free tablets to Morris Brown students on Monday, August 15, 2022. MBC will be the first college/university to receive the free tablets from Moolah Wireless.

Mr. Harris, who lawmakers recently honored for his philanthropy and community initiatives with the Georgia Outstanding Citizen Award and President Biden’s Volunteers Lifetime Achievement Award, stated, “I’m excited to partner with Moolah Wireless to be able to provide the students at Morris Brown College free tablets to support their educational endeavors. This is the first of many schools whose students will receive Moolah tablets.”

MBC announced it had received full accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a Virginiabased accreditation agency in April 2022. This monumental achievement came after nearly 20 years of effort, marking a historical achievement for the 141-year-old college.

Founded by formerly enslaved religious leaders at Big Bethel AME Church in 1881, MBC is the first college in Georgia to be owned and operated by

African Americans. The iconic Fountain Hall and the current Morris Brown Campus are where Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote The Souls of Black Folk in 1903. Notable alumni include Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Alan McPherson, the first Black writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Moolah Wireless offers free tablets to anyone eligible for the program which includes veterans, students receiving Pell Grants, senior citizens, Section 8, etc. To learn more about eligibility to receive Moolah tablets, visit https:// moolahwireless.com/tablets/.

To learn more about Morris Brown College, visit morrisbrown.edu.

ABOUT MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE:

Morris Brown College was founded in 1881 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a private, coeducational liberal arts college engaged in teaching and public service with a special focus on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, and technology. The institution is the only college in Georgia founded solely by African American patronage.

ABOUT T.I.:

T.I. is a Grammy Award-winning recording artist who has left an indelible mark on the world of music and pop culture. Having sold over 10 million albums in the U.S. alone, he remains an influential figure in the world of music, film, and entertainment. He is

at UVA, said, “We lost three talented and bright young men. We will never see what their impact on the world would have been, but we will never forget their impact on us.”

She added, “I miss Lavel, D’Sean, and Devin. I pray for peace, comfort, and hope for their parents and loved ones.”

Misery and death also happened to four students at the University of Idaho who were living off campus. The victims were Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen. Reports say the killer likely stabbed the victims while they were asleep. The police have held 38 interviews, but the person responsible is still at large. College communities are now in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. This trend must not continue because our future leaders need the education that colleges provide. ❏

the founding executive of Grand Hustle Records and Grand Hustle Films. He is an artist, entrepreneur, and activist who has amassed a business empire to include a record label (Grand Hustle), A film/TV production company (Grand Hustle Films), a 10+ year old clothing line (Akoo, Hustle Gang), a real estate holdings company, non-profit organization (Us or Else), owner/founder of Trap Music Museum, coowner of Bankhead Seafood, owner of Super Sound Studios, investor, and much more.

ABOUT MOOLAH WIRELESS:

A Georgia based company, Moolah Wireless is an internet service provider empowering community with quality, safe, and affordable internet services. Moolah Wireless is a wholesale partner with AT&T and is a member of the Affordable Connectivity Program that enables the company to receive funding from the FCC to provide internet and broadband services. Combining the two together helps Moolah to create one of the most affordable internet providers in the country. ❏ ❏ ❏

The Truth Behind This AME College Student

William Cordier, Connectional Young Peoples Division (YPD) Evaluations Committee Chairperson

Coming up in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a common theme in our Zion concerns young adults/millennial AMEs. Two questions are commonly asked: “Why are we losing our young people?” and “How can we retain college students in our YPD?” Every young adult and YPDer in the church has heard them asked on several occasions. Even though I cannot answer these questions, I can give my perspective and experience. For a bit of a prelude, I want to give you my brief backstory From 2013-2015, I was a Conference YPD president; I learned a lot, but I was not satisfied, so at 16, I became the 5th Episcopal District YPD president in 2015. I remained in office until 2019.

There are three components to my experience. First, learning and growing during a time of transition. Second, experiencing pain and hurt from the AME Church while in school. Third, trying to learn who I was as a person, just like every other college student.

In the fall of 2017, I began my college journey at Drake University; I was already two years into my position as the 5th District YPD president. Things started to change when there was a shift in leadership in our district. With a new Episcopal YPD director, many changes were in place, and I had a hard time adjusting to the transition. The increased expectations were draining me, even though I could handle the workload between YPD and school. It was draining me to the point where I knew I had to choose between one soon. Eventually, however, I became more comfortable in my position, and the people around me saw it too.

I liked that people seemed to respect me more because I was growing in my role, but I struggled in school. My grade point average was staggering at around 2.2, and I felt like I was barely making it, and with one slip-up, I would drown. As selfish as it sounds, being a leader in transition was causing my personal life to crumble.

Another transition for me was the first time my father did not receive a pastoral assignment. This leads me to the second component: the pain and hurt I endured from this event. I remember this Annual Conference like it was yesterday. While my father was pastoring, there were rumors about our church foreclosing, which seemed fake. But, when I talked to my father, I learned it was true. Shady things had happened with people the church trusted to pay the church’s bills. Yet, it seems there is a belief in our church that when situations like this happen, the pastor is automatically at fault, and I get it. After knowing the truth, the rumors you hear of people degrading your name, making false rumors, and having the nerve to say my father stole money got to me.

Watching the Commissioning Service was a

wreck, hearing all the names of pastors getting their assignment to a church while my father did not. I remember all the cold stares from YPDers and laypeople, everyone in the hall who believed they knew exactly what had happened. Those stares lasted until we left the facility. I would receive phone calls from friends across the district asking if this was true, and our Planning Meeting would be just as awkward. As a point of transparency, I was angry; I was a 19-year-old boy who was expected to keep his composure when the AME Church gashed my family. We had general concerns, as we lost a big chunk of income, which challenged how our family would pay its bills–and my tuition. Instead of letting the discomfort I felt out, I bottled it up and kept it pushing because I had to, but the pain and hurt were very real.

And through all this, I still had to figure out who William Cordier is. I would always joke with friends that I could call college “Middle School 2.0” because, at first, it can be pretty awkward, you are making a huge transition in life, and as a person, you are going through changes mentally and physically. All this time before college, I was always a busy person. I never had to sit down and answer the tough questions for myself. Being in school forced that, particularly during my last two years of school, which was when I finally stepped down as the 5th District YPD president. At this point, I was burnt out, hurt, and trying to get through school.

I started working out again and isolating myself a lot. I was on the path of self-growth, but it started rough. I had no direction. I had built up all this pressure and had little to no patience for the process. Then, a couple of months into this process, I received a phone call from Director Ringgold and my Episcopal director informing me that I had been appointed to the position

of Evaluations Committee chairperson. Even though I thought I was excited, I was lying to people around me and, more importantly, lying to myself. I thought I was ready to step back in, but I was wrong. I was not fully engaged, was not getting responsibilities done on time, and was distant.

The next thing I knew, COVID happened, and as everything shut down around me, my life was forced to slow down. It was frustrating being back home, but it was just what I needed. I was able to start the process of healing and growth organically, and that is exactly what happened. Fast forward to May 2021, I had just graduated from Drake University. My parents wanted me to move home, but I refused to do that because I wanted to apply the lessons I learned and continue the path of the man I am becoming. Recently, I started my career as an independent insurance agent with Globe Life Family Heritage. Mentally and physically, I felt great, and I finally felt rejuvenated enough to serve in the YPD and the AME Church.

From my story, here are some takeaways for the common question of “Why are we losing our young people?” and “How can we retain college students in our YPD?” First, I challenge older and middle-aged AME clergy and laypeople to radiate kindness and love to avoid imparting the church hurt that will push them away. Second, I challenge the AME Church to be about its people by growing, being open-minded to changes in society, and reviving our Zion so our young people do not outgrow the AME Church. Finally, I challenge our AME Church family to let college students grow organically and shower them with nurturing and spiritual love. I promise those children you sent off to college will come back to the church as abled adults, ready to take the mantle. ❏ ❏ ❏

Scouts Running for Breast Cancer Awareness

The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in the Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES) planned and executed a successf ul 1st Annual 5K In-Person/Virtual Run-Walk Race on October 8 – 10, 2022. Troops and units in African Methodist Episcopal churches in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Illinois embarked upon their first campaign to generate $25,000 to fight against breast cancer. Scouts chose Indigenous Peoples Weekend to focus on breast cancer, their charitable cause, impacting females and males in black and brown families in their local communities. Races took place at the Fort Washington National Park (Maryland), Fox Valley Park District (Aurora, Illinois), Lisle Park District (Lisle, IL), and Bolingbrook – Hidden Lakes Trout Farm (Bolingbrook, Illinois). The crisp fall chill in the air did not deter scouts from taking the 3.1-mile run/walk. Howard University’s Renee Nash, director of News and Public Affairs for 96.3 WHUR Radio, served as honorary chairperson of AAMES’ 5K Race. She assisted in the promotion of the event along with a team of race volunteers led by race director, Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Thomas. Robert and Janie Reeder, EEO contractor, Janver Inc., one of our top donors, said: “This 5K Race campaign was one of the most well-organized events in which they had participated.”

The scouts selected the Edith P. Wright (EPW) Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. as the worthy recipient of their charitable donation raised during our 5K race.

The EPW Breast Cancer Foundation is a Maryland based 501(c)(3) organization founded by the children of the late Mrs. Edith P. Wright, who courageously fought and succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 39. Officially incorporated in 2007, the Foundation has over 20 years of operation and annually serves over 400 members of the DMV community.

The four children of Mrs. Edith P. Wright began the Foundation with a firm commitment to keeping their mother’s legacy alive and strong while sharing her love of life! "Eydie," as she was affectionately known, was full of life, compassionate, artistic, and had an angelic voice. The Foundation's programs and activities have been shaped to reflect the essence of Eydie's spirit, style, and substance. The mission of the Foundation is to provide support services to families facing breast cancer. This mission is accomplished by a 3-pronged approach: Service, Education, and Celebration! EPW provides: 1) direct support services, such as house cleaning and grocery service, to families treated for breast cancer; 2) education awareness to the community through self-breast examination demonstrations, guest speakers, and information dissemination; and 3) founded the EPW Annual Awards, celebrating families fighting breast cancer, survivors, caregivers, and companies supporting the fight against breast cancer.

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AAMES’ Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts planned their first successful 5K In-Person/Virtual Run-Walk Race. They made a substantial contribution to the Edith P. Wright Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., during a volunteer luncheon at a local restaurant. They look forward to the 2nd Annual 5K In-Person/Virtual RunWalk Race on October 7, 2023.

To learn more about AAMES and how to start a scout unit or the AAMES 2024 Camporee, contact Michele Neal, Connectional director of AME Girl Scouts; Email: michele@amescouts.org; Rev. Dr. Missiouri McPhee, Connectional director of AME Boy Scouts; Email: info@amescouts.org, and to see what AAMES is up to, visit our AAMES WEBSITE: amescouts.org; or our Facebook page: “AAMES Scouting Connection” ❏ ❏ ❏

DECEMBER 2022

the recording secretary of the annual conference is to help expedite the transaction of the business of the conference.

The question is often asked, “What does the annual conference secretary do? “The truth is, the role and responsibilities of the annual conference secretary can be specific and vague. However, the work is necessary to help move the conference forward and assist the president of the annual conference. My service has taught me that nothing is ever accomplished at the annual conference without meticulous preparation and attention to detail.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the general church the ability to pivot and reassess our effectiveness. Before the pandemic, our secretarial staff had already transitioned to multiple virtual platforms and apps to do our work effectively. For instance, all delegates and pastors of the conference had to provide email addresses to receive annual conference updates, minutes, and literary reports and have access to our secure portals to transact the business of the conference. The pandemic increased our reliance on the virtual space, yet it did not introduce anything members needed to be more comfortable utilizing. The ability to capitalize on the virtual space has been an absolute gift from God. Communication within the annual conference has increased, and accessibility has grown, making the work of the annual conference secretary more engaging and appealing to the masses.

One of the biggest hurdles for any annual conference secretary is maintaining the role of the annual conference. In the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference, we retain the roll using a secure Google sheet, allowing us to make certain that as members transition, transfer, or relinquish ties with the conference, we have realtime updates. In addition, this process will enable us to review the roll throughout the conference year to ensure the ordinations are correct.

In the Seventh Episcopal District, all traveling elders and deacons, local elders and deacons, and licentiates have a unique ID card they swipe as they enter the annual conference site. The ID card is digitally synced with the annual conference roll, making the roll call process much more efficient. For instance, the annual conference secretary only calls the roll of members who still need to check in digitally. This technology reduces the time spent on the roll and moves the conference forward.

As members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, we know that the annual conference is a legal and sovereign body. Yet, we should also understand that the annual conference is fluid enough to move, adjust, and operate under the influence of the Spirit of Christ. In sum, the work is really all divine. The daily rigors of being the annual conference secretary are innumerable. The reporting, printing, review of agendas, run of shows, formatting of literary reports, maintaining documents, travel and care

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LITURGICAL COLORS 2023

DATES COLOR

Jan 1 – 6 .

Jan 7

Jan 8 …(Baptism of the Lord)

Jan 9 – Feb 18

Feb 19 …(Trans guration Sunday)

Feb 20 – 21

Feb 22 (Ash Wednesday) — Apr 6 .

Apr 7 – 8 …(Good Friday/Holy Saturday) . .Black

Apr 9 — May 27 …(Easter)

May 28 …(Pentecost Sunday)

May 29 — June 3

June 4 …(Trinity Sunday)

June 5 — Oct 31

Nov 1 …(All Saints Day)

Nov 2 – 25

Nov 26 …(Christ the King Sunday)

Nov 27 — Dec 2

Dec 3 – Dec 23 …(Advent)

Dec 24 - 31 …(Christmas Eve/Christmas)

Compliments of the AME Sunday School Union and the Christian Education Department

Schools Are Made for Learning and Not for Shootings. What Is Happening in America?

James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed.D.

Growing up, I enjoyed going to school because it was fun, and I saw my friends. Learning new things was the biggest part of my school experience. The environment was set up so that we could be social and get an education as well. I never recall getting up and saying that I did not want to go to school. The children in my Winston-Salem, North Carolina neighborhood had good attitudes about school. We did not balk or complain about it. Staying home from school was never an option except when we were sick. Communities viewed schools in a positive light, and that light was extremely bright. We, as students, wanted to be there, and our teachers wanted to be there, too.

In many respects, this attitude about schools has changed. Schools that have playgrounds now have become shooting grounds. What has happened to our schools where innocent minds go to gain knowledge and become solid citizens?

School shootings have become almost commonplace in the American landscape. Would-be assailants come with assault weapons, ready to do damage to our nation’s youngest citizens, our children. So how did killings and schools end up in the same sentence?

Not in my lifetime did I ever think that school shootings would be a topic of national conversation, yet they are. What is the mindset of someone who decides to go onto school property and take innocent lives? Unfortunately, there are too many answers to that question, all of which are sad and disheartening.

A few weeks ago, a school shooting occurred at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, Missouri. This tragedy claimed the lives of a teacher and a student.

The teacher was Jean Kuczka. Her daughter, Abbey Kuczka, said, “She loved her students. I know her students looked at her like she was their mom.”

According to reports, it took the police four minutes to arrive at the school and eight minutes

to find the gunman. The shooter was a graduate of the school, and his name was Orlando Harris. He was 19.

Police Commissioner Michael Sack said, “Authorities are working to try and come up with what might have led him to this. There is suspicion there may be some mental illness that he was experiencing.” He added, “We are working on developing that information right now.”

The records show that Orlando Harris did not have a criminal record. However, he was heavily armed with a long gun and a dozen 30-round ammunition magazines.

Authorities confirmed that seven other teens were hurt during the attack.

David Williams, a math teacher, said, “Gunshots erupted shortly after 9 a.m. central time, and everyone went into drill mode, turning off lights, locking doors, and huddling in corners so they couldn’t be seen.” Then, he added, “There was a bang on the door, and it shook. Someone was trying to open the door.”

Gun shootings on American soil have made us numb because they happen with frequency and without warning. Now, families in St. Louis are shell-shocked, and their grief is beyond our comprehension.

Each shooting in a school makes us more fretful and fearful. Students do not want to go to school because they do not know what will happen to them. Teachers are afraid and cannot teach because of it. They do not know if they will be next. That is a dreadful feeling to have each day.

The teaching profession is on a downward spiral because of these atrocities. As a result, parents are reluctant to send their children to school. (Wouldn’t you be?)

Education Week reports there have been 40 school shootings that have resulted in injuries or death this year. Sadly, they also reported that there have been 132 similar shootings since 2018.

America, this cannot continue to happen as our communities are being broken and battered. ❏

Payne Seminary’s Faculty and Staff Retreat on Mental Wellness

Rev. Dr. Betty Holley, Columnist

The COVID-19 pandemic placed tremendous stress on theological schools and churches and the broader communities they serve. Presidents and deans have noted that the pandemic has made visible many points of stress and conflict in their school’s historic educational approaches. Christopher Coble, Lilly Endowment vice president for religion, stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the pressures experienced by most theological schools. The Endowment seeks to support theological schools as they design and implement plans to address the challenges that are most pressing for them and the congregations they serve.” The Endowment made Pathways for Tomorrow’s Initiative Grants available to design and implement plans to launch new and/or strengthen current projects to make the theological schools more educationally effective for years to come, from which Payne Theological Seminary received a grant of $49,940. Payne used some of the funds from the grant for a mental wellness retreat for faculty and staff, who have experienced, first-hand the effects of this horrible disease, COVID-19, which includes but is not limited to stress, anxiety, and burnout.

On November 10, 2022, the faculty and staff participated in a mental wellness retreat at the Mitchell Anderson Building on the campus of Payne. Dr. Toni Johnson Liggins, MD, and Rev. Vanessa R. Cummings (Ms. V) were the two presenters for the retreat. Dr. Liggins, a psychiatrist, for over 25 years, has served in several clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, and the jail setting. She served in the Department of Psychiatry at MetroHealth System in Cleveland for many years before moving to Greenville, North Carolina, where she taught medical students and physicians-in-training at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Dr. Liggins presently serves as the director of Medical Education, overseeing the education and training programs for all medical students and residents in the health care system at Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio.

The Rev. Cummings (Ms. V), an ordained itinerant elder with 29 years of ministry experience, is the pastor of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hamilton, Ohio.

She is a Payne graduate, inspirational speaker, meeting facilitator, member of the Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board, the Social Action chair for the Ohio-South Ohio Annual Conference, and comedienne. Ms. V has spent more than 22 years as a trainer and consultant for universities, regional conferences, churches, and the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI), where she serves on IPMI’s Advisory Council.

Dr. Liggins’s presentation, “The Practice of SelfCare: Managing Stress & Preventing Burnout,” included topics on “What Stress Does to the Body,” “Why Pastors Are Burning Out,” “Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI),” “Stress & Wellness and the Impact of 2 Pandemics,” “Mental Health & Physical Health Cannot be Separated,” “What Does Self Care Mean to You?”, “Self-Care Tips for Mental Wellness,” “What Do You Have Control Over,’” “We Are Fearfully and ...continued on p19

Cleveland District’s Presiding Elder Hosts Memorable Planning Meeting

Rev. Rose Russell

It is possible that not many presiding elders may select an itinerant deacon to bring the planning meeting message, especially when there is a plethora of available itinerant elders. And it is also possible that not many of those meetings feature a violinist whose skillful rendition of a hymn inspires worship.

However, doing things differently has been needful since early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic called for a new way to do business at every institution, which includes the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the rest of Christendom.

No doubt, Presiding Elder LaCreta Rutledge Clark’s choice of the minister to preach was a cue taken from Bishop Errenous E. McCloud, Jr., presiding prelate of the Third Episcopal District. For the second year in a row, at the virtual North Ohio Annual Conference in early October, Bishop McCloud appointed the Rev. Dr. Clark as presiding elder of the Cleveland

District; she is the first woman to be appointed presiding elder of that district. Among Bishop McCloud’s other assignments at the 141st session of that conference was the appointment of the Rev. Anthony Carter to Jones Chapel AME Church in Elyria, Ohio. He infused his message with enthusiasm.

Indeed, pastors and clergy, component leaders, and other lay members of the Cleveland District were blessed at the meeting hosted by Lee Memorial AME Church in Cleveland, Ohio, where the Rev. Rodric K. Reid is pastor. In the Rev. Carter’s message, “No Ordinary Love,” from Matthew 14:22-29, he relayed that the storm rocked the boat the disciples were in and that Jesus walked on the sea to go to them. The preacher added that out of all the disciples in the boat, only Peter dared to get out to walk on water to go to the Lord.

“God chooses ordinary people,” said Reverend Carter, “You can start ordinary, but when God gets ahold

of you, you will be extraordinary.”

The Rev. Carter explained that Peter refused to hover in the boat with the others but took the challenge before him. After all, if Christ would set out on the sea in contrary winds to see about the disciples, why was it that only Peter wanted to meet him?

Reverend Carter urged his hearers not to remain ordinary but to aim to be extraordinary in God’s hands. After all, his love for us, the preacher said, is “absolutely extraordinary.”

Violinist Susanne Inge’s version of “When the World Seems Cold” preceded Pastor Carter’s message. This Jones Chapel member’s anointed music sparked worship that rippled through Lee Memorial’s sanctuary.

Also, during the session, clergy encouraged Presiding Elder Clark as they described her as one whose God-given instincts as a mother have played a significant role in her leadership. Dr. Clark blessed her pastors, some of whom said that

morning how delighted they were to receive personally-selected birthday presents from her. Moreover, Dr. Clark has prayed for and walked with pastors who have waded through life difficulties. It was not always easygoing; however, as she challenged and called out weaknesses, as expected, she also allowed for the exercise of independence.

While the Third Episcopal District theme is “We Are Better Together” from the Acts of the Apostles 2:1, the Cleveland District theme for this new conference year is “Faith, Fellowship, and Fruitfulness” from Hebrews 10:19-25. Presiding Elder Clark opted for the same theme again this time, as she said the work in those areas needs to continue in the Cleveland District.

The Rev. Rose Russell is the pastor of Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Holland, Ohio, in the Cleveland District of the North Ohio Annual Conference, Third Episcopal District.

The Rural Church Still Counts as One of God’s Favored: Working In the Vineyard Proves Spiritual Key Vision

Rev. Dr. Gloria E. Jimpson, Pastor and Steward Pro Tem Naomi Pitts Payne AME Church in Chatham, New York, celebrated its 173rd Anniversary on Saturday, October 1, 2022. We paused for a few hours to celebrate our relationship with community partners, our brothers and sisters in faith, and friends and family to enjoy the love and respectful fellowship we all intentionally nurture. This longstanding fellowship relationship did not diminish but blossomed during the most recent height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have done prayer walks, prayed on prayer lines, and lobbied for better broadband. We helped members learn how to get on Zoom, fed a quarantined family of seven, supplied our lone village laundromat with complimentary detergent, organized Black Lives Matter drives through villages and cities, drove folks to their routine medical appointments and cancer treatments, became certified state chaplains, participated and assisted in organizing Juneteenth celebrations, held regular Zoom church services and Bible studies, assisted with the organization of gospel fests, back to school programs, March for Jesus and National Day of Prayer events, and whatever the Lord asked of and enabled us to do.

It was past time to celebrate the community we live and work in and ourselves!

We showed a poignant video essay featuring a few of the earliest congregations, our church’s first wooden edifice prior to its burning down by the KKK; the current and second edifice built prophetically by a community resident with the last name spelled Payn (no relation to one of our four horsemen Daniel Alexander Payne, bishop, educator, author, and administrator).

The cornerstone, dated 1849, is now in the process of being repaired from harsh winter damage. It includes momentoes of previous pastors over the last twenty years, African Methodist Episcopal Church historian, the Rev. Dr. Dennis Dickerson, Sr., Ph.D. proudly ranking among them, and as many of the community activities we could capture in photos despite the pandemic.

We celebrated in praise and with a dance of praise, choreography compliments of Sister Priscilla Troupe of Boston, performed by our own three novice dancers, but seasoned, clergy women to Kirk Carr’s, “In the Sanctuary.” A young saxophonist, Zachory Biggers, serenaded the crowd of nearly one hundred with “Amazing Grace,” “Let It Rise,” and “Bless the

Lord with Me.” Our dynamic meditation for the afternoon was brought to us by the Rev. Dr. Andrea M. Hargett, pastor of St. Matthew’s Community AMEC, Hollis, NY, and licensed family therapist.

We favored community members, workers, friends, American Legion officials, funeral home directors, and a United Methodist pastor recently reassigned to the area. We honored as well our Chathamarea Interfaith Council and its subset antiracism discussion forum members; a special member of the St. James Catholic Church, integral in our being included in community ecumenical services; a loving philanthropic husband and wife, dedicated to assisting all churches in the surrounding counties; and the Rev. Corinne Summers, a long-standing member of Payne, all accepting ...continued on p19

A Thrill of Hope. The Weary World Rejoices!

Rev. Jason D. Thompson, Ph.D., Contributing Writer

Whether you learned it as a child while reciting your part in the Christmas play, through a sermon, or even from Linus and the Peanuts gang in A Charlie Brown Christmas, you know the story about the day we call Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of a savior.

The challenge of this story is that it may have become so familiar to us that we might carelessly gloss over the beauty, truth, and reason for celebration that the story demands. Perhaps, instead, we can accept the challenge to avoid the mistake that Frederick Buechner warns of when he suggests that “it’s so easy to look and see what we pass through in the world, but we don’t. If you’re like me, you see so little. You see what you expect to see rather than what’s there” (The Remarkable Ordinary, p. 25). And the very often sad truth is that we do, in fact, see what we expect regardless of the reality. So depending on our outlook, we look for fights that may not be necessary, we expect to find agonies that may not be present, and we discover miseries that are sometimes the makings of our own malfunctions.

William Willimon makes an editorial point that “we don’t deal well with messy,” so any discussion of how “messy” God (through Jesus) had to be or get in order to save us is probably lost on us. “The life and death of Christ were not neat and clean,” Willimon says. “Life is messy. Birth, illness, death, and all parts in between are messy. And God is involved in every one of them” (Will Willimons Lectionary Sermon Resource: Year A, Part 1).

So, as we enter into Christmas, I hope we pay particular attention to the pleasant surprise that awaits each of us with the arrival of Jesus. I confess, I almost missed it but was reminded of the significance of this moment through a very familiar Christmas song text: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices!”

What happens when God invades every space of our weariness? Something beautiful, yet something so simple! A song of rejoicing breaks forth in a weary world!  “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

The Rev. Jason Thompson is the pastor of the Historic St. Andrews AME Church in Sacramento, CA. Additionally, he is the interim director of Music Education and a visiting professor at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Advent: A Revolutionary Perspective

Rev. Monica Jones, Contributing Writer

Theologically and from the perspective of the church’s expression, Advent is seen as a sacred, meditative, and quiet time. It is one for reflecting on the coming of the Christ child and what that means to us. This season, I would like to offer another perspective -- while we reflect on the Christ who was born, let us take a moment to reflect on the Christ who was a revolutionary. For as sacred as he was, Jesus the Christ was truly a social justice-minded messenger.

As this year comes to a close, with all its momentous, critical, and even calamitous occurrences, the Black Church cannot afford to become complacent. We cannot be satisfied with just lighting candles, repeating beautiful litanies, and singing sacred songs while all around us, our beloved community is disintegrating. We have an obligation to go beyond the celebration of Advent as a tradition and use this time to actively think of ways to confront the tragic condition of our world in a revolutionary spirit. When our people are given no way out, and when their right to vote, right to self-actualization, and right to be free of violence and persecution are suppressed, it is a godly calling to address those issues.

Perhaps, this initialized depiction will help us to transform our Advent outlook:

A  is for action; take action wherever and however you can to bring about change.

Dis for determination; in the spirit of the old civil rights mantra, “Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around,” stay determined.

Vis for victory; we are more than conquerors, we are victorious through Christ Jesus!

Eis for equity; until every one of us has access to the very same privileges, rights, resources, and freedoms as others, then we must not–we cannot–rest.

N  is for necessary; “by any means necessary,” points to doing all that we can within the power that God gives us to make our world a better place.

Tis for teach; we must teach our children and their children to be true revolutionaries, demanding justice and never giving up.

We all hope for a heartwarming, inspirational, and blessed Advent season. Yet, if we ignore the racism, the discrimination, the hunger, the violence, and the hatred that still permeate our community, then perhaps our celebration becomes just another symbolic gesture–one with very little substance. The Reverend Monica C. Jones, Ph.D., is director of Christian Education at Big Bethel in Atlanta, Georgia.

N.J. Church Honors Dozens of Members Who Died During COVID

A New Jersey church held a memorial service Sunday for all of the members of its congregation who passed away while funerals could not be held due to COVID-19.

Members of the Saint James AME Church, which has locations in Newark and South Orange, gathered at the Eagle Rock Reservation Remembrance and Rebirth 9/11 Memorial Site in West Orange.

The ceremony was supposed to include a releasing of lanterns, but it was canceled due to strong winds.

More than 40 of the congregation’s members have passed away between 2020 and 2022 and could not have a proper funeral due to the restrictions the church still has in place.

“COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the way we traditionally do things in our church,” Rev. Dr. Ronald Slaughter said. “Funerals and saying farewell to a loved one is certainly one of the celebrations COVID-19 has impacted. This Sunday Mass Memorial Celebration is our way of comforting the family members and friends of the 40 members who have passed away.” Reprinted from TAPintoNJ.com.

The Spirit of Freedom: A Theological Imagining

George Pratt, Contributing Writer

In “Nothing Personal,” Prophet Laureate James Baldwin reminds humankind that “nothing is fixed forever, the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing.” Just as language evolves, so do communal concepts of God or the divine expand to reflect a people’s conditions and collective consciousness. In this “light,” oppressed people must creatively discover new ways to reimagine and reframe their concept of God, reconciling their struggles and suffering that existence yields with a faith that allows them to “look” to the future “with a steadfast hope.”

Contextual theologian, Dwight Hopkins, offers a liberatory conceptualization of God as the “Spirit of Freedom” that “works with the oppressed” global “community for their full humanity.” Humankind’s greatest need is the spirit of freedom. It is the intangible and noumenal lifegiving force that summons its agents to champion the causes of those who are the least and lowly of the masses, marginalized and minoritized groups living at the margins of society. This spirit can also be understood as a personification of order,

The Renewal of the Spirit

Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Columnist

divine law, justice, and righteousness that works on behalf of those silenced by various forms of inequality and inequity. It enables human beings to see the essence existing within everyone, being made by God according to Du Bois, “of one blood all nations that on Earth do dwell.”

The spirit of freedom will prompt countries and governments to consider how they inflict violence upon others and how they will repent and reconcile for their actions. When communing with the spirit of freedom, one is forced to contemplate the various ways disenfranchised populations across the globe navigate interlocking oppressions. When communicating with the spirit, communities can systematically engage in spirit-talk, developing praxes that focus on freeing oppressed people worldwide who are subjected to inhumanity and injustice.

God as the spirit of freedom is a source of consciousness that the world community must conjure or call upon to break the shackles of the various forms of bondages that confine oppressed

peoples to captivity. Freedom’s spirit is an energy one must invoke by becoming the agent through which it lives.

In the Christian tradition, this spirit “became flesh and dwelt among us,” embodied in the personhood of Christ as the ultimate symbol of resistance and signifier of liberation. Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, Suzanne Sanité Bélair, Harriet Tubman, and other ancestors were willing vessels for freedom’s cause embody this same spirit of freedom.

The spirit of freedom allows individuals to experience what mother bells hooks identifies as the sacred in everyday life, “allowing us to maintain a connection to the natural world and engaging in practices that honor life-sustaining ecosystems.” This spirit reminds humanity that God is wholly and completely freedom. When one attunes their ear to the spirit’s call, they hear freedom’s songs, joining her in singing peace, love, and harmony throughout all creation. ❏ ❏ ❏

We live in two realms of existence, the spirit and the physical. We can see and touch the physical realm, but the spiritual realm of our existence is not ours to control. We need a renewal of the spirit. I remember as a youth at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida, we would see the elder members get under the influence of the spirit in worship service. I would see our sainted mother begin to clap her hands rapidly, and we did not understand what was going on; in fact, it was entertainment for us. As I matured as a Christian, I began to understand the movement of the spirit. My theological foundation was being formed at this Zion. Where is that kind of spirit that would make our mother clap with excitement and enthusiasm or it would make Brother Gipson shout at the top of his voice? Where is that kind of spirit that would make the church go up in fire? We need to renew and rekindle that kind of spirit.

First, the spirit is not under our control. God controls the movement of the spirit. The organ cannot call up the spirit, the choir cannot make the spirit come, and the preacher can not pull it down from heaven. The organ can enhance but not control, the choir can participate but not orchestrate the spirit, and the preacher can be under the unction of the spirit, but it does not belong to the preacher.

1. The sacred is not under our control.

2. The spirit is always distinctive in the movement.

3. The spirit is always diverse.

My Introduction to Religion course discusses the sacred and how the sacred spirit moves in the physical realm. The point of the argument, we do not control the sacred.

Secondly, as we call for a renewal of the spirit, we must ask God for direction. “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me; the Lord turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1 (NLT)). We must acknowledge that God is the author of the spirit, and the spirit moves as God dictates. In the process of renewal and rekindling of the spirit, we must solicit God in

prayer to move in the Spirit.

Lastly, we need a renewal of the spirit in our Zion, the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Our Zion has lasted centuries, not based on politics and social awareness. It was the holy God who was merciful to our Zion. “David said to God, “‘I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for God’s mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands’” (2 Samuel 24:14 (KJV)). Continue to give us mercy and forgiveness. Unfortunately, we have not always handled our sacred treasure as we should have. We have been self-serving; we have been politically motivated at a cost.

“Lord, forgive us and shower us with your grace.”

The renewal of the spirit calls for us to pray and seek the Lord’s face. We must call for the same spirit that made our mother clap her hand until they were red, and Sister Dixon of The Old St. Paul shout, “Just give him power,” and Brother Gipson shout at the top of his lungs. Where is that kind of spirit? Can it be renewed? Can it be rekindled? Yes! God can restore the spirit we once knew. The spirit which saved me in my senior year in high school, and the same spirit that sustains me in the evening of my ministry. We can renew the spirit with God in control. ❏ ❏ ❏

The Devil You Don’t Know: A Warning and a Teaching PART I

Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, Contributing Writer

Before Trump took office, I was invited to speak at an annual national black clergy gathering at Princeton University. At that time, I could not have imagined those events coming to pass throughout the world and in the United States of America! I could not have imagined that a man with such a negative history could be elected president of the United States! I could not have imagined the litany of black unarmed people who would be killed by police fire.

I was shocked and disillusioned to find that professing Christians of major denominations were backing an avowed racist, sexist, and scoundrel as a leader, as one they declared was “sent by God!”

As I prepared for my presentation, searching scriptures and prayerfully listening, the Holy Spirit repeatedly led me to examine evil, although I could not see the relevance. Nevertheless, I began a study of the works of evil in juxtaposition to mental health issues, specifically psychopathy and sociopathy. I read books and papers by social scientists, theologians, and Christian counselors.

The words I was to speak at that conference became a warning from God, “This is a time of great shift, a mighty revision is coming, and we need to get prepared to transform and be transformed.”

Never having imagined myself as a modern-day prophet, I was very reticent to speak these words. Nevertheless, not only did I speak these words at the conference but also, I felt a lead to share this information with other Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color (BIPOC) Christians. Finally, these musings culminated in my first published book, The Great Shift Psycho-spiritual Manual for Surviving and Transformation in the Trump Era.

Service Is All in the Name

Robbie Colson-Ramsey, Contributing Writer

Recently Morris Brown College had its homecoming celebration. My husband and I are proud graduates of the institution, so we decided to Uber down to campus. When we jumped in the car, we heard a local funeral home commercial declaring that “their name means service.” Have you ever stopped and thought about that for a moment? Your name is your bond, and your bond is your name. As a child, our parents taught us not to bring dishonor to our family name. People often know your name before they know you as a person. Your name does mean service.

When you, as a spouse, have committed your life to a person who leads a flock, your name quickly becomes synonymous with that person’s service. A synonym is a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word. The synonym for 1st lady/gentleman is selfless service. When spouses become 1st lady and 1st gentlemen, they choose a

As I began writing, a myriad of unusual computer issues began to surface. The editor and I repeatedly found that what he received and what I sent were not the same! For the first time, my computer persisted in switching to a foreign language. Then, upon returning home one evening, we found our mudroom infested with hordes of flies. Next, I had to re-call the exterminator because my daughter’s bedroom was besieged by wasps. The exterminator compared this to the ten biblical plagues because of the oddity and number of insects–especially in the winter. Shortly after, we returned home to find the framed diplomas in my office on the floor. Upon close inspection, the push pins they had hung on were severed in half–one part still in the wall! Only my office had been affected. An investigation disclosed no quake or other incident that would have shaken our house enough to cause this—and only in this room?

I struggled to complete my book. God was speaking that we were entering a “time of great shift,” when the powers of darkness would rise in ways that should be evident to those who were people of God’s kingdom. This was a time for spiritual discernment. This was a time to acquaint ourselves with the many faces of evil so that we could wage a counter attack—for the kingdom—using “weapons of warfare that are not carnal but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.” (Please spend some time translating these words into action in your life ministry).

Words of Education for Meditation

The works of darkness are often mistaken for human psychological struggles. Some people can even be born without the moral compass that dissuades them from doing mean or even evil things. Their reason is that people are there to be useful to them. They do evil --but it doesn’t

make them evil. There are limits to their evil deeds and, at times, a desire to repent and control this behavior.

They may see evil as the wisest and best option.

They are sociopaths or psychopaths. They are not evil. They do evil.

The frightening truth is that there are people who become taken over by evil.

They are thrilled by the anguish of others. They lack a conscience that would stop them from exercising evil plans. They lack the basic human feelings of connection and empathy most people have. Therefore, they target the church, which represents God, and the people whose goals of love, forgiveness, and unity they see as a weakness, making God’s people easy to take advantage of and manipulate.

So I warn you–evil quotes scripture. Evil comes to church. Evil plots to rise to leadership in Christian organizations to defame, destroy the faith of the faithful, and take all that it can–money, innocence, property, and more.

So study to recognize evil in your midst. This is the time! ❏ ❏ ❏

-------------------

1. M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie. Touchstone Publication, 1985.

2. Martha Stout, The Sociopath Next Door. Harmony Publications, 2006.

3. Randal Rauser, “Shred as Snakes: The Psychopath and the Christian.”The Christian Post, May 30th, 2018.

4. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, The Great Shift Psychospiritual Manual for Survival and Transformation in the Trump Era. Cambridge Scholars Press, 2020.

life synonymous with service. The idea of giving to others for the rest of your marriage, sharing your family with the church, and never being able to go on a spontaneous weekend rendezvous because our spouses work every Sunday. This sharing is the ugly part of service, the stories that no one ever shares. But, I have found my strength for service by studying the book of Luke, and I particularly meditate on Luke 10:38.

These keys have provided me with great direction. As a pastor’s spouse:

1. You must have a welcoming heart for service. When you are called to serve, you should be willing to do so without issue. Truthfully, people can feel you are unwilling to serve. Helping others creates a spirit of thanksgiving and lets you know that you are an extension of Jesus.  When you are reluctant to serve, you are blocking your blessing.

2. You must stop hearing and start listening. I

know you are asking yourself the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing happens involuntarily, while listening is something you choose to do. We must be intentional when listening to people; often, listening leads to learning. We usually do not listen to the needs of the people who have entrusted us with their spiritual needs and growth. In your daily walk with people, make listening a verb and be intentional about fully listening to people.

3. You must not be so distracted by life that you forget God is in the blessing business. You are busy, you work a full-time job, and you have to take the children to sporting events and different activities, on top of being a wife who is married to a pastor. You have every right to be and get distracted, but do not be so distracted by life that you miss your miracle. ❏ ❏ ❏

Reviving the Commission on Financial Management Program

Cynthia Gordon-Floyd, C.P.A., C.F.E.

On pages 240-241 of TheDoctrineandDisciplineoftheAfricanMethodistEpiscopal Church, 2016 (Discipline), we find, in the section on Connectional Departments and Commissions, the Commission on Financial Management Program. This Commission would consist of nine (9) persons who must possess the formal education and professional experience to provide the expertise required to perform the duties of this commission. In addition, the Discipline lists eight (8) duties of this commission designed to provide financial oversight, policies, and procedures. I have found the following items to be especially pertinent:

#5) Analyze the operations of each General Department, Agency, and Institution of the Church with the purpose of determining the productive benefits occurring from their operations and the degree of efficiency by which these operations are administered.

#6) Recommend to the General Board and General Conference specific goals to be achieved by each department, agency, or institution supported by the general fund of the church and establish time schedules of progress by which each department, agency, or institution shall be required to conform in order to produce the greatest benefits for the Church.

#7) Supervise and structure policy for the productive operation of an Office of Research, Planning, and Evaluation.

This Commission has been in our Discipline since 1980 and has never been implemented. This Commission would have implemented financial oversight, policies, and procedures that would have ensured that issues such

Is Trumpism Dead?

Quardricos Driskell, Columnist

Democrats were slated to get a shellacking this mid-term election, and Republicans were widely expected to win the House overwhelmingly and possibly take control of the U.S. Senate in what has been forecasted as a “red wave.” Indeed, that was not the case. Historically, since the Civil War, the president’s party has lost seats at every midterm except for a few times. And this is one of those times.

In August, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, “I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Senate races are just different statewide, and candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome.”

The tactician minority leader of the Senate was correct. Republicans performed poorly overall. Why?  Could it have been because of larger issues such as abortion, election denialism, and Christian Nationalism?  Frankly, all these issues were on the ballot, as other high-priority policy issues, including inflation, the economy, health care, crime, and education, with the diverse voting population split by age, region, and religious affiliation. This year’s midterm results indicated that the voters were not solely single-issue voters. People will vote for more tangible kitchen table issues such as gas prices than over the “threat to democracy.”

Perhaps, President Biden’s “treat to democracy” speech was more impactful than initially thought. As such, important lessons resulted from the 2022 midterms: President Trump is a liability to his party. This revelation is perhaps the number

as our Retirement Services financial tragedy, and other misappropriations that have occurred across our church at the Connectional level, would have been detected before they became huge problems. But unfortunately, too many areas of our church are still allowed to operate without oversight. If we continue to avoid implementing oversight that the denomination has already adopted into our Discipline, we are to blame.

The Connectional Lay Organization’s Legislation Committee is currently working on suggested revisions to the current wording of this Commission for consideration by clergy and laity for adoption. These revisions will focus on strengthening the independence of the Commission members and ensuring they are qualified for the positions. My hope is that we will hear more about the proposed revisions to the Commission and will provide our support for this important legislative effort. It is our responsibility to do all we can to strengthen our beloved Zion; this is part of the critical work required.

Cynthia Gordon-Floyd is a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner. She is the founder of Willing Steward Ministries, LLC. Willing Steward Ministries (www.willingsteward.com) is a financial consulting and accounting firm for churches and other faith-based non-profits, specializing in Bible-focused financial practices, pastoral compensation issues, IRS compliance, and other financial needs specific to churches. Cynthia is a graduate of Lake Forest College and holds her MBA in Accounting from DePaul University. She is a steward and the financial secretary at the First AME Church of Manassas in Manassas, Virginia.

one issue with which the Republican Party needs to contend – the lingering effects of Trumpism. Electoral politics is about addition and not subtraction. Candidate quality matters, as Sen. McConnell lamented - move on from the past and stop talking about an election that is over.  Most of the election deniers are not doing well, either. Trumpism alienates voters who normally would vote Republican. So, as the GOP becomes more extreme, Democrats will be required to absorb more of the country’s ideological diversity, thus forcing them to be more conservative when campaigning to win a large swath of American voters.

The stain that Trump has on our federal republic is permanent. The country voted against authoritarianism. Even in very conservative states, voters strongly support abortion access – essentially, people do not want their freedom restricted.

Another issue begs the Republican Party to ask what kind of party it wants to be. Time after time, Republicans have shown they want Trumpism. But these results are a moment of soul-searching for the GOP. It is clear – voters want respectable, principled, non-grifting candidates – and the reality is that the Republican Party needs to go in a different direction. Will Republican candidates do what the voters have mandated? Not so fast; cue Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida.

In DeSantis’ victory speech, he said, “We reject woke ideology. We will never, ever surrender to the woke agenda. People have come here because of our policies. The people have delivered their verdict – freedom is here to stay.”

While Ron DeSantis and Trump appear to

be rivals, DeSantis embraces Trumpism. In fact, DeSantis may be even more dangerous than Trump to some degree because he has shown that he can actually implement and execute his policies, unlike Trump. Therefore, the question and strategy for the GOP becomes how to frame extremism into a more “mainstream” package like Governors DeSantis and Glenn Youngkin (R-VA).

Overall, the voters showed the country that bad candidates do not deserve to win because they are members of your preferred political party. And despite the GOP’s best efforts to reach Latinos – the partisan split of Hispanic voters stuck with more traditional trends of voting for Democrats.

There was a loser for the 2022 midterm election – political polling. There are polls, and there are people. And thus, to anyone involved in politics, which is motivated to review polls in the future, stop and knock on a door. There was a clear winner in the 2022 midterm – we, the people. We proved once again the country is plum – not “red” or “blue” but slightly more “red.”

Quardricos Bernard Driskell is an adjunct professor of legislative politics, where he teaches religion, race, public policy, and politics at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. Follow him on Twitter @q_driskell4.

Theological Schools Report Continued Drop in Master of Divinity Degrees

Kathryn Post, ReligionNewsService

(Link–https://religionnews.com/2022/12/02/theological-schoolsreport-continued-drop-in-master-of-divinity-degrees/)

Professional degrees are gaining traction at theological schools across the United States and Canada, while the traditional ministerial degree, the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), is faltering, according to new data released late last month.

But Chris Meinzer, senior director and chief operating officer of The Association of Theological Schools, noted that overall enrollment at The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) has remained stable and that the master of divinity is not dying. Instead, he said, the Master of Arts (M.A.) is appealing to more students.

The Association of Theological Schools, an umbrella organization with over 270 member schools, reported an uptick in the doctor of ministry and other professional doctoral programs designed to enhance a minister’s practical skills.

Based on enrollment numbers reported by nearly 90% of schools, projected enrollment for doctoral and similar programs in 2022 was 12,300 students, a 4% increase from fall 2021 and a notable 24% increase from fall 2018, according to the ATS.

The Master of Arts, a two-year program that trains students for a wide range of professions, including doctoral studies, nonprofit work, and lay ministry, has also seen a subtle increase of 1% since fall 2021 and 5% since fall 2018, according to fall 2022 projections. In addition, the ATS reports that enrollment in M.A. programs is now on par with enrollment in master of divinity programs for the first time in ATS history, according to fall 2022 projections.

The Master of Divinity — a three-year program typically chosen by students pursuing ordination — continues to decline. The projected enrollment for fall 2022 is 28,000 master of divinity students, a 4% decrease from fall 2021 and a 9% decline since fall 2018. Master of divinity programs still constitute 35% of enrollment at theological schools overall, per fall 2022 projections. That’s a significant decline from the 43% of total enrollment for Master of Divinity degrees a decade ago.

Meinzer said several factors steer students toward a master of arts program. In some Christian contexts, he said, the master of divinity is no longer required for ordination. The two-year degree may also entice students over the typical three-year master of divinity degree because it requires less time and less financial investment. Others might be attracted to specific master’s degree programs.

“There is lots of creativity happening within our schools,” Meinzer pointed out. Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, for instance, added a fully online Master of Arts in Justice and Advocacy program in the fall of 2021.

Overall enrollment at theological schools remains steady, an impressive feat, noted Meinzer, amid changing religious trends and demographic challenges in higher education. Still, 57% of ATS schools reported declining enrollment, a sharp rise from 2020, when 46% of ATS schools showed enrollment decreases.

Meinzer pointed to schools’ pivot to online classes as one reason. He said roughly 95% of ATS schools went completely online in 2020. As a result, the return to in-person study could be negatively impacting enrollment.

The new ATS data is evidence of broader changes in North America’s religious landscape. Many theological schools are adapting to meet the needs of students claiming spiritual identities apart from

Who said Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?

The 300-leaf Tree of Life pictured above is a classic design that allows for a wide range of presentation shapes and accommodates a large number of donor names. This carefully crafted Tree of Life can provide the perfect way to:

• Recognize contributors to a building fund or fund-raising campaign

• Honor contributors to an endowment fund

• Salute individuals or groups for outstanding service or achievements

• Create a tasteful memorial

• The Tree of Life is so successful because the donor’s personalized message will be on display forever

Its leaves are miniature brass plaques that we custom engrave for mounting on sculpted plexiglass backgrounds. The result is elegant and economical.

of literal office materials, and typing and sending of minutes can be overwhelming. Still, at the end of the day, it is so very fulfilling to put so much information in the hands of our communion.

As someone who has served, and quite frankly is serving, at some of the highest levels of our Zion, I find that being the annual conference secretary

gives me the ability to fashion and forge a new direction in our church while maintaining the high standards we have grown accustomed to. I am grateful for the countless mentors of the faith. They served as local church secretaries, annual conference secretaries, and even in the position of general secretary of the AME Church. And so, as the annual conference season progresses,

I am just so grateful that God saw fit enough to continue my service to the wonderful people of the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference and the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church. As we continue to push forward, I am confident our latter days will be our greater ones!

Reverend Jarrett Britton Washington, M.Div., MACE, is the pastor of Hopewell African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hemingway, South Carolina, 7th Episcopal District. He is a candidate for chief information officer, general secretary of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

...From Payne Seminary's p12

Wonderfully Made,” and “Standing on the Word of God.” Dr. Toni Johnson Liggins is happily married to the Rev. Timothy E. Liggins, pastor of Bethel AMEC, Columbus, OH.

The Rev. Cummings’s presentation, “De-Stressing for Professionals: Useful Tools to De-Stress at

with humility and gleeful surprise. Finally, we celebrated our faithful leader, Presiding Elder Dr. Faye Banks Taylor. This event was not a fundraiser, but God blessed

Work and Not Take It with You,” included topics on “Stress Recognition,” “How to De-Stress,” “Ways to De-Stress While at Work,” “De-Escalating the Situation,” “Leaving Work at Work,” “Celebrate Your Success,” “Find Happiness at Work,” “Life After Work,” “Know Your Tools to Unwind,” and “Set Boundaries and Keep Them.” The Rev.

us anyway! The event was fun and relaxing. Our community all harvested what God planted. To God be the glory for rural vineyards.

Cummings loves mentoring, teaching others, and empowering people to think through reallife experiences. Both presenters were engaging and presented valuable information to persons in attendance. For contact information about the presenters, email bholley@payneseminary.edu. ❏

Event Committee: The Revs. Dr. Gloria Jimpson, Linda Van Alstyne, and Steward Pro Tem Naomi Pitts

religious institutions. This spring, Graduate Theological Union, a 60-year-old consortium of California seminaries and religious study centers, launched a new online learning hub for interreligious activism in which students can study online and pay little or

...From Theological Schools p18

no tuition. In October 2021, Hartford Seminary rebranded as Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, a name that better reflects the school’s offerings. The school does not offer a master of divinity program and hasn’t ordained clergy since the 1970s.

As theological institutions look to the future, Meinzer urged schools to continue to innovate to meet the needs of today’s evolving religious scene. “The world is changing, and we need leaders who can serve that changing world,” he said.

...From The Work p10

...From The Rural p13

DECEMBER 2022 — TRANSITIONS —

Mrs. Bernella Rose

March 8, 1954–October 23, 2022

Mrs. Bernella Rose of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2022. She was 68 years old.

Bernella Knight Rose was born to the late Mrs. Bernice Knight Turner in Clio, Alabama. She is the second child of four. She grew up in Clio and is a product of the Barbour County Public School System. She is a 1971 graduate of Clio High School.

She received a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Tuskegee (Institute) University and a Master of Education in reading/ language arts from Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama. She is a retired educator from Auburn City Schools, Auburn, Alabama, where she worked for over thirty years. She was chosen twice as The Teacher of the Year representing Dean Road Elementary School. In 1986, she was chosen Auburn City Schools’ Teacher of the Year. In addition, she was an active member of the Auburn City Schools Teachers’ Association, where she served as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively. After retiring, she moved to Dothan, Alabama, and worked in the Dothan City Schools for ten years as a tutor.

Bernella is a lifelong member of Saint Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church, Clio, Alabama, where the Rev. Dwight Ingram is the Pastor. She is a trustee, director of Lay Activities and Promotion, Missionary Education director of the Women’s Missionary Society, and Christian Education director. She has served as Sunday School Secretary, teacher, and member of the Usher Board.

Currently, she served as Episcopal District president of the Ninth Episcopal District Lay Organization. She has also served as Ninth Episcopal District Lay treasurer, financial secretary, and corresponding secretary, respectively, serving eight years in each position.

She has served as conference president of the South and Southeast Conference Lay Organizations, conference first vice president, second vice president, and third vice president. She also served as the president of the Troy District Lay Organization before our conference and Episcopal District redistricting.

Bernella has served as Ninth Episcopal District Young People and Children Division’s director, South Conference Young People and Children Division’s director, and South Conference Women’s Missionary Society president. She is a life member of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Bernella served as a member of the Daniel Payne College Legacy Village Foundation, Ministry of Economic Development, chairperson of

the Nominating Committee for the Southeast Conference Women’s Missionary Society, first vice president of the Southeast Richard Allen Resource Center, and one of the advisors for the “WE SPEAK” of the Connectional Lay Organization’s magazine under the director of Public Relations.

Bernella has been a delegate to many biennials, quadrennials, and general conferences, having served on the Episcopal Committee in 1984 and the Revisions Committee in 2012 and 2016. During the 2021 General Conference, she served as co-leader of the delegation, member of the Credentials Committee, and member of the Candidates’ Forum. She has received many religious, community, and civic awards.

She is married to Mr. Charles Rose, a Vietnam veteran, and a retired electrician.

Those Bernella leaves to rejoice in her love include her husband, Charles Rose; her siblings, Diane, Leon, and Loretta; godsister Lela Baker; six nephews, three nieces; a host of relatives, friends, and the St. Peter AME Church family.

Presiding Elder Joseph Eustaze Sanchez (1934-2022)

The Rev. Joseph Eustaze Sanchez peacefully passed away on November 21, 2022 surrounded by his family. Born June 24, 1934 in Lake Butler, Florida, he was married for 63 years to Inez Gallaway Sanchez who preceded him in death in 2017.

The Rev. Sanchez served both as an educator and pastor. He served as the principal at R.V. Daniels Elementary, Long Branch Elementary, Moncrief Elementary, and Pinedale Elementary Schools until his retirement in 1992. As pastor, he served at St. James AME Church in Orange Park, Florida; Mount Olive AME Church in East Palatka, Florida; Fountain Chapel AME Church, Greater Payne AME Church, and Mount Olive AME Church in Jacksonville, Florida. From 1995 – 2009, he also served as the presiding elder of the Pensacola District of the West Florida Annual Conference, Central Jacksonville District of the East Annual Conference and the Alachua-Central District of the East Annual Conference in the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Sanchez will be greatly missed by his three children, Zina Sanchez, Yvette Sanchez, and Joseph F. Sanchez; Grandchildren, the Rev. Dr. Shakira Sanchez-Collins (the Rev. Craig Robinson, Jr.) and Jamal Sanchez; and sister, Lillie Mae Young. He also leaves several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends who will cherish his memory.

Rev. Dr. Almyra Oveta Fuller (1955-2022)

The Rev. Dr. Almyra Oveta Fuller was born on August 31, 1955, in Mebane, North Carolina. Deborah Woods Fuller, her mother, was a teacher and her father, Herbert R. Fuller, managed the family farm. Fuller grew up near Yanceyville, North Carolina. As a child biology intrigued her at an early age. She was amazed at how her grandmother recovered quickly from being bitten by a water moccasin after receiving antivenin, which was an antidote for snake venom. Although her grandmother's snake bite contributed to her appreciation for biology, there were also two notable biology teachers, Ms. Elam and Mr. Majette, who inspired her as well. After graduating from high school, she earned an Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received a B.A. in biology in 1977. Fuller continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to complete her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology in 1983.

In 1983, Fuller attended the University of Chicago for a postdoctoral fellowship. In 1988, she became an assistant professor in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School; in 1995, she was promoted to associate professor with tenure. She also served as a faculty associate for the Center for Global Health, STEM Initiative, and African Studies Center at the University of Michigan. She is currently the associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical School and faculty in the STEM Initiative of African Studies at the University of Michigan.

In 1983, she was awarded the National Technical Association Service Award, Anna Fund Postdoctoral Award, and Thornton Professional Achievement Award. In 1987, she was also awarded the Ford Foundation fellowship and in 1992 she was awarded the NSF Career Advancement Award. Fuller’s other awards include the Woman of the Year in Human Relations by the University of Michigan Task Force (1998), the Distinguished Service Award in Microbiology and Ministry from the Missions Society, AME, the Robert Smith Community Service “Humanitarian Award,” and her biography was highlighted in “Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century” (Kessler, Kidd, and Morin, Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ, 1996). In 2012, she received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award. In January 2013, she began nine months of research in the Copperbelt region in Zambia in which her work focused on bringing biomedical information into communities through local religious leaders. During a sabbatical in 2006, Dr. Fuller traveled to several African nations, including Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia to help members of the clergy to better understand the science behind HIV and AIDS and how to help ...continued on p21

educate their congregations on the impact of AIDS in their communities. Dr. Fuller most recently served on the Vaccine and Biological Products Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration whose most recent work was the emergency release of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fuller was an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Michigan Annual Conference and served as an adjunct faculty member at Payne Theological Seminary. She also served for several years as a columnist for The Christian Recorder, writing a column "Getting to Zero" advocating for HIV/AIDS awareness and programs throughout the AME Church.

Fuller died on November 18, 2022, after a brief non-COVID-related illness. Funeral arrangements are forthcoming. Please keep the family in prayer.

Rev. Dr. Katurah Roseline York Cooper May 17, 1955–October 3, 2022

The Reverend Dr. Katurah York Cooper is a citizen of Liberia, the daughter of James L. and Louise C. York. Forced to flee the Liberian civil war in 1990, Dr. Cooper answered the call to preach while a refugee living in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. In 2001, she obeyed God’s call to return to Liberia to establish and pastor the Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Under her visionary leadership, the nonprofit Helping Our People Excel (H.O.P.E., Inc.) was established to empower the Liberian people through socio-economic programs and community-based initiatives. Those initiatives include an elementary school, of which 50% of the students attend tuition-free. Dr. Cooper holds a Bachelor of Science in biology, and master's degree from New York University in microbiology and parasitology, a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, District of Columbia), and the Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kentucky) with the Distinguished

CONGRATULATORY

Listings

*Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font, General Of ficers; and Blue font, Connectional Officers.

Bishop Michael Mitchell and Supervisor Cordelia Mitchell, Episcopal Leadership Team of the Twelfth District / New Grandson Arrival, Robert Jerome Hodges III “aka” R3

Bishop Michael Mitchell and Supervisor Cordelia Mitchell, daughter and son-in-law, Channing and Robert Hodges II, announce with great joy and excitement the arrival of Robert Jerome Hodges III, “aka” R3! He was born on November 15th, weighing 6 lbs. 3 oz. Although he surprised us and came three weeks early, he is doing well and has already captured the hearts of his mom, dad, G-Pop, Honey, and TiTi Coco.

We give God all the glory for blessing Channing to have a safe delivery.  And we pray that God will sustain and strengthen the new parents to get through the newborn stage of sleepless nights and days.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Michael and Supervisor Cordelia Mitchell

Twelfth Episcopal District

Dissertation Award for Pastoral Leadership. She has over 35 years of consistent trailblazing service in Christian ministry, denominational leadership, and educational administration.

Dr. Cooper served at the largest AME tertiary institution (AMEU) as dean of the John R. Bryant Theological Seminary for ten years, with subsequent elevation to vice president for Academic Affairs of that institution. In addition, she served for many years as a beloved instructor and, more recently, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Monrovia College & Industrial Training School.

She served as the past 3rd vice president of the Connectional Women in Ministry and the founding president of the 14th District Women in Ministry. She was the assistant general secretary of Global Development Council, AME Church, and played several leadership roles within the Central Liberia Annual Conference, AME Church.

She is also a known and respected advocate for women’s rights and justice issues in Liberia. She was one of the organizers of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, a nonviolent protest movement that significantly influenced the Accra Peace Talks that led to the end of the civil conflict in Liberia in 2003. She previously served as a commissioner of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights of Liberia. She served as the chair of the Board of Directors Global Leadership Summit – Liberia and as a member of the Grievance and Ethics Commission – Supreme Court of Liberia. Her passion for women’s and girls’ empowerment has inspired many across Liberia. She is the author of the book You Can Lead! Discover Unusual Paths to Leadership. Dr. Cooper is married to James S. P. Cooper and is blessed with several children and grandchildren. ❏ ❏ ❏

NOVEMBER 2022

520 North Locust Street • North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 375-4310 • (501) 375-0306 (FAX) • https://www.ame12.org • bishopmitchell134@gmail.com

Former Connectional Officers Drs. John Q. and Dorothy Owens Are Proud Grandparents of Kevin Owens II

Former Connectional officers, Drs. John Q. and Dorothy Owens, “Proud Grandparents” of Kevin Owens II, graduate of Emery - Riddle Aeronautical University, undergraduate and master’s degree, Summa Cum Laude, started his professional career, age 25 at NASA Kennedy Space Center as a Space Systems engineer! His goal is to become an astronaut.

“For it’s good to be children sometimes, and never better than Christmas, when it’s mighty founder was a child himself.”

Congratulatory responses can be emailed to: mrsdo7@aol.com (Drs. John Q. and Dorothy Owens).

On behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder Dr. John Thomas III, we celebrate and applaud your achievements.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)

To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center: Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/ AMECFIC.

NECROLOGY

Listings NOVEMBER 2022

*Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font, General Of ficers; and Blue font, Connectional Officers.

-Doris Jean Seats Barlow, Ed.D., the last sibling of AME Church Connectional officer Ora L. Seats Easley, international administrator of the Clergy Family Information Center and the sister-in-love of the Reverend Dr. William Easley, Jr., presiding elder, retired

-Deacon John E. Fleming, the brother of the Reverend Larry Lewis, pastor of Grace African Methodist Episcopal Church, Crosswicks, New Jersey of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the First Episcopal District

-Sis. Mattie Lloyd, the sister of Bishop Richard F. Norris, and aunt of the Reverend Dr. Marcellus A. Norris (executive director of the Department of Church Growth & Development) & the Reverend Richard F. Norris II (pastor of Bethel-Hosanna AMEC-Pennsauken, NJ)

-Mr. Arlue Moore, father of the Reverend Dr. Byron Moore, pastor and the fatherin-law of the Reverend Sharon Moore, executive pastor of St. Andrew AME Church, Memphis, Tennessee, Thirteenth Episcopal District

-Superannuated Minister and Presiding Elder Hutchison Tuku, age 90 years, husband, an itinerant elder for 50 years in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; father of seven children, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Fifteenth Episcopal District

-Mr. Charles Rose, beloved widower of the late Bernella Knight Rose, former president of the Ninth Episcopal District AME Church Lay Organization, and beloved father of Ms. Alisia Rose and Mr. Byron Rose

-Sister Twynette Beaman, the beloved mother of the Right Reverend Silvester S. Beaman, the 139th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, presiding prelate of the Fifteenth Episcopal District, and mother-in-love of Episcopal Supervisor Renee Palmore Beaman

-Brother Obediah Brown, the father of the Reverend Latisha Jones (father-in-

law of Brother Delroy Jones), pastor of Gregg-Anne AME Church, Bradley, Florida, Eleventh Episcopal District

-Maestro Minister Mario Stiggers, the nephew of retired Presiding Elder Johnny Ray and the Reverend De Lois Mitchell of the Greater Fort Worth District, Tenth Episcopal District

-Brother Samuel Emanuel, Sr., the brother of retired Presiding Elder Lawrence Emanuel of the Southwest Texas Conference, the Reverend Ray Emanuel of the North Texas Conference, and the Reverend Benjamin Emanuel of the Texas Conference, Tenth Episcopal District

-Mrs. Leola Page, the mother of Lady Gloria Emanuel and mother-in-law of retired Presiding Elder Lawrence Emanuel of the Southwest Texas Conference, Tenth Episcopal District

-Earl "Dean" Banks of Camden, Arkansas, the oldest brother to the Reverend Andrew Banks (Ashdown Circuit, West Arkansas Conference), the Reverend Lessly Banks (Whitis Chapel, Camden & Union, Chidester), the Reverend Larry Banks (Bethel, West Memphis), and Michael Banks; the Banks family membership is at St. James AME Church, Stephens, Arkansas

-Ms. Jennifer Y. Blake-Pringle, of the Seventh Episcopal District, beloved mother of Hermina G. McGirt, and loving daughter of Mrs. Robertann Grant Blake of Pawleys Island, SC, and sister of Ms. Sylvia C. Blake, Connectional WMS member at large, and Chaynel BlakeNichols, 3rd vice president of the Ethyel Anderson Area WMS, Western NC Conference, Second Episcopal District

-Mrs. Terrye Marie Lacy, the sister of Pastor Brenda Johnson of Shiloh AME Church (South Houston District), and Sister Deborah Kimbrel of Anderson Chapel AME Church (Paul Quinn District) of the Tenth Episcopal District

-The Reverend Charles Edward Glover, Sr., an itinerant elder in the Second

Episcopal District and active member of St. John AME Church – Huntsville, Alabama in the Northwest Alabama Annual Conference and the husband of the Reverend Vanessa Glover, also of the Northwest Alabama Annual Conference, Ninth Episcopal District

-The Reverend Dr. Almyra Oveta Fuller, prominent virologist, and an AME itinerant elder, Fourth Episcopal District

-Mr. James Wesley Dennis II, the father of the Reverend James Wesley Dennis III, an itinerant elder and pastor of Pine Grove (Columbia) AME Church in the Newberry District of the Columbia South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

-Mrs. Lelia M. Henderson, the beloved mother of general officer, Mr. Marcus T. Henderson, Sr., treasurer/chief financial officer, African Methodist Episcopal Church

-The Reverend Malose Frans Manganye, the spouse of Presiding Elder Fredolene Juanita Manganye and a chaplain in the South African Defence Force, just appointed pastor of Mareka Memorial, Dobsonville in the West Annual Conference, Nineteenth Episcopal District

-Brother Goitseone Joseph Dithipe, the son of the Reverend Dr. Ntshadi DithipeMoeti, dean of the Board of Examiners of the West Conference; he served as the Polokwane District ACEL president in the Mangena Maake Mokone Conference, Nineteenth, and was a member of the John E. Hunter AME Church in Seshego

-The Reverend Eva Joyce Martin, retired itinerant elder in the Philadelphia Annual Conference of the First Episcopal District, was the wife of the Reverend Clarence Martin, Sr., retired itinerant elder also in the Philadelphia Annual Conference, and the mother of Bryant and Kevin Martin, and the mother-in-law of the Reverend Tiffany Lett Martin, pastor of Bethel AME Church, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Condolences to the bereaved are expressed on behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Rev. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder, Dr. John Thomas III.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV)

To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC

• amecfic.org • facebook.com/AMECFIC

Emotions During the Holidays

Dr. Jennifer Sims, Contributing Writer

My first job was as a part-time seasonal sales associate in the Christmas shop of a department store. I sold store gift cards, decorations, and toys to shoppers who were preparing for Christmas and other winter holidays. I loved listening to Christmas music, smelling eggnog-scented candles, and chatting with customers about holiday plans. My big smile and “Thank you! Merry Christmas!” were the sincere valedictions of a person filled with holiday cheer. Usually.

Sociologist Arlie Hochschild has explained that some jobs, like flight attendants, restaurant workers, and retail sales associates, require employees to manage their emotions as a routine part of performing their duties. In these and many other public-facing positions, part of one’s job is to suppress whatever you are really feeling at the moment and instead enact a companymandated emotion, such as retail workers being required to display a happy disposition in order to facilitate the customer feeling welcomed and served. Hochschild calls this “emotion labor” when it is done as part of paid employment and “emotion work” when it is done in non-employment-related aspects of life.

When a person tries to change how they are actually feeling, though, instead of just outwardly “faking it,” Hochschild calls that “deep acting.” Trying to force oneself to actually feel a certain way is hard; and in relationships, attempts to not just behave but feel as others expect can breed bitterness and resentment. One place there is no emotion work, labor, or deep acting expectation, however, is with God. God does not require us to feel one narrow particular

way all the time. When we talk to God in prayer, we can be joyful, sorrowful, fearful, disgusted, angry, or in any other emotional state and still our prayers will be valid and heard.

Dr. Jennifer Sims Guest Editorial

Scholarship on emotions, especially “toxic positivity,” reminds us that many people expect others, and even expect themselves, to feel “positive” emotions all the time. During the holidays, the expectation for “positive” emotions like rejoicing, celebrating, and being consistently “in good cheer” is heightened. Yet although this is “the most wonderful time of the year,” difficulties like final exams for students as well as tragedies such as a sudden death in the family still occur and cause strong and varied emotions. One gift we can give each other this holiday season that can carry on into the New Year is the same gift that God gives us in prayer: a break from emotion work, labor, and deep acting and a needed space to feel, even enjoy, the full range of human emotions. ❏

“If You’re Feeling Pressured, Take It to God in Prayer”

Dr. Michael C. Carson, Columnist

The gospel, according to Billy Joel, references a condition with which we all will be presented: “You have to learn to pace yourself

Pressure. You’re just like everybody else– Pressure. You’ve only had to run so far, so good. But you will come to a place. Where the only thing you feel are loaded guns in your face. And you’ll have to deal with Pressure.”

Beloved, life is full of pressure; Trying to make the right decision. Trying to juggle all of your responsibilities. Meeting new people. Having to address family emergencies. Trying to put your best foot forward. There are too many potential pressure-filled situations to “laundry list” here. In fact, I am feeling pressured to do so!

There are so many great ways to manage life’s pressures. One suggested way is to “identify the people and situations that stress you out and stay away from them, or minimize your exposure to them.” Wow!

See, life will be filled with pressure; we must learn to minimize our exposure to them. Jesus assures us, “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (St. John 16:33).

The Psalmist, concerning the power of God to walk with us amidst the potential pressures of life, shares, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul” (Psalm 94:19).

In life, it is always important to “center-down” (relax and focus) and not become confused and discombobulated concerning how to address any situation in life.

As a spiritual director, permit me to recommend a wonderful tool to utilize when life becomes complicated, have a talk with God! Sometimes a person might have to consult with their religious leader, counselor, psychiatrist, or others to help them figure things out, but one’s first option is

always prayer.

The Apostle Paul encourages us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

The gospel, according to another recording giant, Stevie Wonder, shares, “When you feel your life’s

Dr. Carson may be contacted at refreshingcoach@gmail.com.

too hard, just go have a talk with God. Well, he’s the only free psychiatrist, that’s known throughout the world. For solving the problems of all men, women, little boys, and girls. When you feel your life’s too hard, just go have a talk with God. When your load’s too much to bear, just talk to God; he cares (I know he does).”

Oh, Evangelist Cathy, I just feel like “getting a quick shout-in!”

Feeling pressured? Take it to God in prayer. I’m just saying!

Peace with justice. Be blessed real, real good. Attend worship (in whatever way possible for you). Families matter. Be safe!