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AME Church Slammed with Lawsuit Over $100 Million Shortfall from Retirement Plan
Afederal lawsuit alleging that one the nation’s largest Black denominations lost 70% (approximately $100 million) from its retirement plans–impacting the retirement benefits of upwards of 5000 beneficiaries due to “foolish” and “risky” investments, was filed last month.
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The 49-page complaint was brought by retired AME Pastor Cedric V. Alexander–whose pastoral appointments included Walker Temple AME and Price Chapel AME in Los Angeles. Alexander filed the action under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for himself and on behalf of thousands of current and former clergy and other employees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church over the mismanagement of funds and the loss of tens of millions on which Alexander and the other former clergy and employees were relying on for their retirement. Those named as defendants in the lawsuit include former Executive Director of Retirement Services, Dr. Jerome V. Harris, former Retirement Services Chair Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., the Trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Retirement Annuity Plan, the General Board of AME Church and its Council of Bishops.
According to legal documents, “Dr. Harris invested Plan assets in imprudent, extraordinarily risky investments that ultimately lost nearly $100 million of plan participants’ retirement savings. The document read, “Astounding in its disloyalty and imprudence to the retirement security of those serving the Church, Defendants provided Dr. Harris sole authority to invest tens of millions of AMEC clergy’s and other Church servants’ retirement savings in a questionable and potentially unlawful purchase of undeveloped land in Florida, a promissory note to an Illinois installer of solar panels, and an even more foolish investment in a now non-existent capital venture outfit.”
Alexander, who retired in 2020, had a statement balance in the plan of $86,631.75 as of March 31, 2021. On September 13, 2021, he requested a rollover of his plan assets to an IRA, but was instead informed that the rollover had been held up due to a pending audit and that the funds had been frozen.
On December 14, 2021, a news article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the AME Church revealed it was investigating “possible financial irregularities” with its retirement fund investments. At that time, Alexander heard rumors that the Plan had lost a large share of his and other clergy and employees’ retirement savings, totaling approximately $90 million. On January 31, 2022, a meeting of the General Board confirmed that the Plan had, in fact, lost more than $90 million, with the exact amount unknown.
Upon investigation into the missing assets, it was discovered that tens of millions of dollars had been invested in high-risk, speculative and demonstratively imprudent investments in Motorskill Ventures
Group (a now defunct venture capital outfit. It was further determined that the Council of Bishops, General Board, Department of Retirement Services, the chair of the Department, Bishop Green and the
Trustees allowed a single individual, Defendant Harris, to exercise full decision making authority over the use of all plan assets. At a January 31 meeting, it was announced that the church would “never again will we allow one person to count the money.”
During the first week of February 2022, Rev. Alexander received a letter from the Department of Retirement Services informing Plan participants of “troubling news,” That "plan funds were frozen, and distributions delayed pending the investigative findings." Further that the office of the executive director of the AME's Department of Retirement Services "had been emptied, with nothing in the office cabinets but 'empty files and paperclips.' Even the most current version of the Plan document could not be located."
At the date of his filing the lawsuit, Alexander’s benefits had been reduced from $86,631.75 to $26,025.29 or approximately 70% of his retirement savings, with other former clergy and employees similarly informed that their pension payments were halted and/or reduced.
Officials of the AME church say that they are taking the allegations seriously and are committed to making every fund participant whole. L.A. Focus/April 2022 20
Rev. Cedric Alexander
Four of the region’s l a r g e s t church organiza tions–the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Southern California, the California Baptist State Convention, the California Missionary Baptist Convention and the Western State Baptist Convention–are joining together to host a service of compassion for Pastor Ticey Brown of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church.
“We’re coming together to have an afternoon of prayer and encouragement for Pastor Ticey Brown, who was hospitalized for 45 days after a COVID infection led to kidney failure,” said Pastor K.W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference. “We’re going to raise some money to help offset some of those medical costs.
The effort was being led by Pastor Xavier Thompson of Southern St. Paul, who has characterized Brown as a hometown hero and rising star.
“We have watched him blossom i to a giant of a preacher and a stellar leader in the community of faith,” Thompson remarked. “We are duty bound in the spirit of brotherly love to rally to his aid in this season of affliction. We are praying for a supernatural act of God on his behalf in the area of divine healing. This is one time that the city of Los Angeles can rally together without fear of procrastination to bombard Heaven on the behalf of one who has been there for so many others.”
Complications from COVID left Brown with 10% capacity in his kidneys and on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant, though he never stopped holding services online from his hospital or while recuperating at home.
“I’m grateful to the Christian community for their support and prayers during this difficult time,” said Brown, who is set to resume in-person worship services on April 3 though at limited capacity due to his condition. “I specifically want to thank Pastor Xavier Thompson and the BMC of Los Angeles with Pastor Tulloss, Pastor Welton Pleasant, Rev. J. Benjamin Hardwick, my convention –which is led by Pastor E.Wayne Gaddis, and those churches who have reached out in support. I also want to thank the congregation I’ve had the privilege of pastoring for the last 16 years for their ongoing support.”
Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286
Pastor Alvin Stafford Jr. Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:30am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm Sunday service broadcast on Facebook live Sunday school and Book by Book Bible Study services are conducted on Zoom For more information, visit www.bethelsola.com Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith 4909 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 • thevoice4904@att.net
Pastor Kyron S. Shorter Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Children’s Church: 11:00am Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm
Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church 3719 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-5610 • www.bkcamechurchla.org Rev. Mary S. Minor, DMin,Pastor Worship virtually: Facebook Live at Brookins-KirklandCommunity AME Church For prayer: Call or email to be added to the prayer list Bible Study Thursdays: 6pm Via Zoom call or email office:bkcamechurchla@gmail.com
Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson
Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm
Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm
We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!
Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Pastor Frederick K. Price, Jr.
Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:30pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:30pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:30pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:30pm
Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252#
God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ/ Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org •gfdjc@att.net Dr.Ruby I. Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher
Services every Friday: 7:00pm We meeet at: St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90018 Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV Wed’s 7:30am Channel 886 Dish,Smart TV Local Channel 35.2 Listen to Dr. Cottle Sundays on KJLH at 5:30am Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • Rev. Joshua Daniels, Pastor Morning Worship: 10am (In Service and Online Live Stream Worship) Sunday School: 8:45am
Wed. Pastor’s Bible Study: 7:00pm www.mtzionla.org
Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Pastor
Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm
Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996
Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm
Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Macedonia LA 1751 East 114th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 569-9561 • www.macedonia-la-org
Senior Pastor Shane B. Scott Sunday Worship Service: 7:30am|10:00am Live MondayBible Study: 7:00pm (Log-in to Zoom Meeting ID: 377-818-648 or Dial In: 346-248-7799)
McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @12:30pm/Wed @6pm Zoom Call: (605) 472-5454 Access:188857 Online Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964
Rev. Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer: Noon & 7:00pm
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am,10am,Noon Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sun): 6:00pm All services stream live on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. During the pandemic, pre-registration is requested to attend in-person services.
FIRST LADY FILES
KAREN A. BROWN
Contributor
Rolietta Adams
Greater New St. Matthews MBC
Fabulous, fierce and full of grace, Lady Rolietta Adams, has a strong commitment and conviction to service. She has been serving the Greater New St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church in the South Los Angeles community along side her husband, Bishop Lovester Adams, for nearly 20 years.
“We have had opportunities to share in various capacities in the community by serving at local nursing homes with a brief worship service and much needed toi- letry items for the patients,” said Adams.
As the President of the Women of Substance Ministry, Lady Rolietta, also led the group to participate in ongoing service to the community. “We have provided a safe place which comes along with a meal for everyone even those just walking by in the community,”
The youngest of four children, Rolietta, grew up in a Christian home with her par- ents and siblings in South Los Angeles, CA. She and her husband met when they were young adults attending the same church where they grew up. “We served in ministry together. We knew each other for years and years. He was licensed and then called to pastor after his first year,” said Lady Rolietta. Speaking with much experience and profound truth about the burden that ministry carries, Lady Rolietta, gives advice to newly assigned pastor’s wives. “Don’t lose yourself, stay supportive of your husband and remember to always self-care,” says the mother of three adult children and grandmother to two.
New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 • www.newantiochcogic.org Superintendent Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Worship: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed: Facebook and YouTube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ ONE LA Potter’s House Church 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • hello@one.online Pastor Touré and Sarah Roberts The ONE Experience Online: Sundays: 7A |9A |11A |1P |6P Thursdays: 5P |8P (PST) @toureroberts @sarahjakesroberts @one.online ONE.ONLINE Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am
Phillips Temple CME Church 973 East 43rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 233-4783
Rev. Dr. Darrell Wesley, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Online: Facebook.com/ PhillipsTempleCME.LosAngeles
St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm
Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A., CA 90018 • (323) 735-0044 F: (323) 735-0219• trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Sunday Radio Broadcast KJLH-FM: 9am Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7pm (Log into zoom.us,click“join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. Or call 1-699-900-6833; give zoom ID Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org
Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss
Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com
West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3600 W. Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 • www.westa.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Senior Pastor Charles E. Blake II Co-Pastor Sunday Service: 10:00am Sunday Radio Broadcast: KJLH 102.3 FM: 10:00am
Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org
Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus)
Service Time: 10:45 Virtual Worship: Youtube
Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm)
Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com
Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Sunday School: 9:45am & 10:15am Early Morning Worship: 7:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11:15am New Members’ Class: 9:45am Communion (1st Sunday): 7:30 & 11:15am Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study (Wed)- 7pm Broadcast (KALI 900AM - Sunday): 2pm-
3:00pm
Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, Compton 90220 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5449, Compton, CA 90224
Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor
Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am/6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies: Wed 7:30am & 9:00am Live Stream Prayer w /Apostle Hill: Fri: 9:00am
Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact Televison Network: Mon-Fri PST 6:30am The Word Network EVERY FRIDAY @ 12:30pm Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver
Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm
Pastor Geremy L. Dixon
Service Times: 8:00am & 10:00am Watch Via: Facebook|YouTube|Live Stream Closer To People...Closer To God!
www.GO2Hope.com
Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org
Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford
In Inglewood Faithful Central Bible Church 333 W. Florence Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035
Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer:
5am, Noon & 7:00pm
Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am
Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher
Sunday Services: 7am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com
The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433
Bishop Noel Jones
In Gardena
Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303
Pastor Wendy Howlett
Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church)
www.blessedfamilycovenant.org
Pastor Profile: Chrystopher Grundy
Church: Second AME Zion (Inglewood) How Long at church: Six months Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Single
Congratulations on your first church assignment as pastor of Second AME Zion, what led you to the ministry? I got called into the gospel ministry at seven years old. In fact, I was so engulfed in church and ministry that I even experienced the Holy Spirit at a young age and can go back a little further to when I was two, trained up at the First AME church under Dr. [Chip] Murray. They gave me a little white robe and allowed me in the pulpit with all the other ordained clergy. I was the only young man in the history of that church to be able to do such a thing because of what they saw in me. What did you do at two? So, I would be up in the pulpit marching around with the others. They gave me a little Bible, I had a microphone, and I was able to just march around– just be among them. I couldn't say much back then, but they would let me pray. Then I'll be up there directing the choir a little bit. At eight I delivered my first initial sermon at Mount Moriah in March of 1998.
How much of it was you imitating your father a n d others–or you really understanding what you were doing?
It was a mixture of both, because
I experienced the gift of the
Holy Spirit at an early age and I would be imitating them. All I knew was praising God. It wasn't clear, but I had an understanding that this is where I belong. This is my calling. How important in your development was your dad being a noted gospel musician? So, the importance of the gospel music was embedded in me. We weren't listening to a whole lot of other genres of music per se, because we were always in rehearsal or at a concert. They would start praising God and we would start praising God right there with them. It is really the scripture, train up a child in the way he should go…Now that I'm older, I see the benefit of those seeds being planted and they just nurtured it. There's always been that debate about how important music is to ministry–what’s your perspective? Music extends the tone. It prepares the way. Music and ministry go hand in hand. Gospel just ministers to me. I found the Lord actually through music. And that's where it began before I even opened up my own Bible. It was worship, it was praising God. What is the vision for the church? The vision is to be what I would call the community's pastor…to touch the heart of the people. It is to grow the ministry because actually this church is a historical church founded by a Bishop, William Cornelius Brown. They started on East 43rd street prior to 1941, and they went into this building I think it was in 1993. So, the goal is just to grow the church and be a blessing to the community. To offer counseling, assistance, after school programs –whatever it is that the community needs. To let them know we arehere to serve them. Every Tuesday and Thursday, we have an outreach of food distribution. Sometimes it's hot meals over the pot as well as a full bag of groceries. The goal is to really help develop some meaningful programs beyond Sunday and Wednesday because that's what I was taught. How is it going so far in terms of attendance? Between returning and new members, we’ve got the membership back up to about 50. It had been a thriving church, but they’d gone through a lot of transition and when I got there, it was on the decline, so when I say a handful of people, I'm talking like 10. It was dead and since I've been there the church has grown and the giving is back up. There is vision in the house now that I'm there for where we're going and where we are right now. And the people are excited. What is it like to be a young pastor in a city like L.A.? It's so easy to get distracted as a young pastor looking at what others have and what they're doing and forgetting what it took to get there. It is a major adjustment, but it's not something that I wasn't already doing in a sense, between the leaders I served under that did things properly. They prepared me for this allowing me to serve in different capacities and sit in on meetings. It's a great work when you've been equipped for it and called for it. I take it week by week. I don't move too fast, but I don't move too slow. I just keep before me daily what God has given me and that's how I stay encouraged. So as a young pastor, I embrace everything God has given me. I can't get caught up in what the next church has going on. Has being the son of Ricky Grundy helped you? Absolutely. As I’ve matured, I’m finding out who my father is and was, and the favor that comes with my name dealing with city officials and getting some things done in the community. And because of my father, people coming to visit from all over and I’ve embraced that I am the son of the late Dr. Ricky Grundy. What is your biggest challenge and how have you overcome it? My greatest challenge has been second guessing myself at times and this has just been all throughout my life. Growing up, I would try and be the one that stays in the back and just be chill. But I’ve been able to overcome it by developing a confidence within myself–being confident in what God has given me, trusting my gifts. The more you do a thing, the more you become more confident in and you can trust that it's going to work.
When I was younger, I used to have like a slight lisp only because when I was born, my tongue was longer than what it should have been. And so basically, they thought they were going to have to perform surgery to cut my tongue when I was an infant, but they didn't have to do that. The Lord worked it out. He worked a miracle.
So, I used to be discouraged about words I couldn't say, but the more I kept preaching and teaching and standing up before the people and being allowed to go forth, I overcame it and now you can't get me to be quiet. Now, I'm a people person. I love who I am and who God has called me to be.
Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc. 1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760
Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr.
Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com
We are living amid multiple ironies that have been encircled by a paradox. And according to the instruction that I have been getting from the Holy Ghost, we are living with the “Side effects of normalized sin.” Normalized sin is when a sin is no longer seen for its ugliness because it has become commonplace or normalized.
The two wealthiest and largest religious organizations in the world have stood for unrighteousness in basic doctrinal ways that have drifted toward cult status rather than Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church has covered up child sexual assaults for decades while claiming to be the protector of children because of a pro-life rhetoric. And the Southern Baptist Convention has been on the wrong side of history related to slavery, vagrancy laws, “Jim Crow” and normalized hatred from those that claim to represent Christ Jesus. These obvious ironies go unchallenged because the unrepentance has gone on for so long. And the sins have become so effectively “normalized” that the screaming hypocrisy falls upon deaf ears.
According to the Bible in 1Cor 5, the Apostle Paul gave us counsel on addressing the extraordinary sinful behavior of incest in the church. The sin had become commonly reported according to Paul. His response was to inform the church that he had judged the matter and that he was praying that the man’s body be delivered to Satan in hopes “That the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Cor 5:5).
I reference this passage because incest fits into the category I call “creepy sin.” Being a pedophile is also a “creepy sin.” It takes a specific demonic influence to provoke incest or pedophilia. Paul said in 1Cor 5:1 that the sin was even unusual to be named among Gentiles. Paul also expressed his displeasure that the people had not mourned that such an evil was in their midst (1Cor 5:2).
The next irony is in the Southern Baptist Convention of which we (Triedstone MBC) are a part. The Southern Baptist have made themselves too cozy with racism and white supremacy. Somehow these folks don’t see any conflict between racism and the “Great Commandment”. Maybe it is because they have mistaken Republican politics for Christian precepts.
For the record, they are not the same thing by a wide margin. God has responded by turning them over to strong delusion. Now the Southern Baptist Convention must cope with people who are willing to believe the most outlandish lies and conspiracy theories. People are showing up at Dealey plaza in Dallas looking for John F. Kennedy and his son to arrive from the dead and declare Donald Trump the king of America. If that’s not evidence of strong delusion to you, I don’t know what to tell you.
These two ironies have spiritual side effects. The normalized sin of molesting children and normalized racism has resulted in lowering the bar for righteousness and diming the light that the church should be radiating. Since our role as the church is to be salt and light, surrendering that position causes the world to lose access to the truth. Lies and hypocrisy become comfortable companions and reality is under attack.
As I have said many times, “A lie is a desperate attempt to alter reality.”
I mentioned earlier that we are living through a series of ironies that are encircled by a paradox. I’m going to pose a few questions that you may not have considered because of the sin that has been normalized in our American culture. You will note that the ironies related to sexual assault and racism in the church have the side effect of irony offspring (One irony giving birth to another irony).
First question: How can the Catholic church disregard the ordinance of marriage for the priesthood while enabling and covering up for pedophiles in the priesthood. That’s ironic!
How is it that the Roman Catholic church has appointed itself the defender and protector of the unborn but does not choose to address the molestation of children once they are born? That’s another irony!
How has the Roman Catholic church been accepted as a policy maker and judge in the “Pro-Life” movement while not addressing the “log” in their eye because of pedophile priests? That’s another irony!
Why have church leaders failed to notice that the Bible says the church should judge those within the church rather than throwing stones at the world? 1Cor 5:12-13 says, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked m a n f r o m among your selves.” That’s another irony!
Clearly the Bible has been ignored here and the approach implemented by the Roman Catholic church to pivot from their own error to emphasize the error of the world smacks of a distraction strategy from a marketing firm. Adding to the irony is the fact that this distraction strategy has worked tremendously well for them.
Let’s move on to the Southern Baptist Convention which has taken the same approach that the Roman Catholic church has adopted with the “Pro-Life” agenda. While their motivations may be different, heaping condemnation on the “unsaved” is an effective tool to pivot away from their own legacy of unrepented sin related to slavery, vagrancy laws, Jim Crow and our current incarnation of white supremacy.
Let’s look at some of their ignored ironies. First question: Why is it that the Southern Baptist Convention claims to support and defend the unborn and then chooses to disenfranchise all children that have the audacity to be born nonwhite? That’s ironic! And it is clear evidence of a lack of repentance and denial for the harm that slavery and racism has brought to America. Second question: If the Southern Baptist Convention is “ProLife,” how they can remain silent about the murder of thousands (including children) every year due to mass shootings.
Could it be that they love guns and gun rights more than they love their neighbor? Third question: Why did 73% of the Southern Baptist Convention endorse the election and re-election of Donald Trump who openly affiliates with white supremacists and a known pedophile by the name Jeffrey Epstein? Neither of these men have any affiliation
Pastor Quentin T. Oden Continued to page 24
True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins
Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon
Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service : 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sunday Worship: 10:45am Wednesday Food Bank: 9:00am-Noon Mothers of Murdered Youth/Children: Thurs by Appt.; (B.U.S) Blankets, Underware, Shoes: Thursdays Facebook Live•YouTube•Free Conf Call Arise Christian Center 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm In Westchester
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Pastor Nissan Stewart Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Prayer: 6:30pm Mid-Week Refuel/Bible Study: 7:00pm (Wednesday) Follow us: @GETFamilyNow
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Money Matters continued from page 9 market.
“There is affordability in the Bay Area, you just have to make a decision of where you want to live,” Beasley said. “You may have to get innovative and creative: Maybe you look for a fixer-upper.”
Assistance programs can only do so much to counterbalance a broader economic system that has left Black families and other communities of color on an unequal footing, she said. That’s why her organization promotes models outside of the traditional mortgage market, she said, including community and cooperative ownership models, as well as community land trust options.
When it comes to California home prices, Black families often face challenges including large student debt loads and pay discrimination, Beasley said. Possible solutions include student loan forgiveness and pay equity.
“The reality with a mortgage, or with financing, is you have to have income, you have to be able to manage your debt, and the only way you can combat that is either make more money or reduce debt,” she said. “So, either get more people of color higher-paying jobs, or figure out how to mitigate some of this debt.” This article is part of the California Divide project, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequality and economic survival in California. Sermon continued from page 23 with the gospel or the church.
Nevertheless, the infiltration of Republican politics as a substitute for rightly divided truth has caused people to believe that being “Pro-Life” equates to salvation. This self-righteous doctrine deceives the masses while supplanting the “Great Commandment” (Matt 22:36-40). Jesus declared that the “Great Commandment” encompasses all the law and the prophets.
Fourth question: How is it that the two largest and most wealthy religious organizations in the world chose a moral standard that is beneath the standard and counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Let me elaborate about the paradox encompassing this cluster of ironies that have been mentioned. A paradox is something that would be ridiculous to suggest, but under further investigation is proven true. 2020 began the unfolding paradox arranged by God to confront our issues with normalized sin.
God pulled our coattail through a pandemic, racial conflict, economic uncertainty, political unrest, and policing inequality. Then there were hurricanes so numerous that they nearly ran out of names. Thousands of forest fires were set by lightning strikes. Floods, earthquakes and mass shootings came more frequently. Lies, hypocrisy and conspiracy theories found their way to the mainstream to challenge reality itself.
Nothing can happen in this world without the approval of Almighty God. Unto this very moment, we don’t want to acknowledge that God has been intentional and angry. That is the paradox. We (those claiming to be the church) have decided that the wrath of God is not real.
God has chosen to get our attention through trials and tribulations and those who claim to believe in God are in full blown denial about His correction. The correction of God is foundational to being included in God’s love according to Rev 3:19. Nevertheless, our collective unbelief in the application of God’s word has left glaring hypocrisy and glaring attachments to falsehoods.
Spiritual warfare is the defending of the truth of God’s word above every lie and every philosophy of men. As Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he gives himself as the example in waging war against spiritual wickedness. At each response, Jesus proclaims the truth. Those who claim to represent Jesus have chosen silence or waiting until the news cycle changes rather than fulfilling the church’s role as declarer and defender of the uncompromised truth.
Could you have guessed that we would find ourselves living in a world so woefully short on the truth? It is because the church has failed to proclaim the truth while choosing political positions instead.
