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?

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? ❏ ❏ thechristianrecorder.com

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900 13TH AVENUE SOUTH #220 NASHVILLE, TN 37212 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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Submissions: articles@thechristianrecorder.com 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.”

Views expressed by the editor and/or other writers do not necessarily re lect the of icial views of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. TheChristianRecorder welcomes letters from its readers on matters of general interest. Letters must be exclusive to TheChristianRecorderand must be signed, including the writer’s home address and business telephone number. No defamatory, libelous or slanderous letters will be printed; and TheChristianRecorderreserves the right to reject or edit any letter or article to conform to good taste, style and space requirements. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. Letters intended for publication should be addressed to The Christian Recorder/Letters to the Editor, 900 13th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212. All photograph submissions are the property of The Christian Recorder and will not be returned.

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.

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

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Munyabarenzi Jerome Masisi Sud

Mushaki

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