Got Life: January/ February 2014

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NEW LIFE !

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

GOT LIFE Don’t Get Busy Doing Nothing By Pastor Mel Perry Many years ago there was a song done by Larnelle Harris titled “I Miss My Time With You”. It shares the story of God sitting in a usual meeting place waiting for a person who has become so busy and overwhelmed with what they think is God’s work. When the person tries to tell God the reason they have been absent from their meeting, due to serving and working so hard for God, God’s reply is “How can you serve me when your spirit is empty? There’s a longing in my heart wanting more than just a part of you. It’s true, I miss my time with you.”

In fact, too many times we go head long into working for God, thinking we are doing good, never noticing what a mess we are leaving behind us, all because we either continue to reschedule our special time with God or we rush through it like an express line at a fast food spot.

Then we wonder why we are so drained, so frustrated, so annoyed with everyone, constantly being offended, experiencing sever burnout, hating everyone, feeling like everyone else is against us, feeling like God has forsaken us...all the while God is trying to get our attentions and let us know, “You are not working for Me. You As we start a new year, it’s very are just busy doing nothing.” easy to become consumed with all the things we need to do. We set So as we began the new year all of our new year’s goals, with a time of consecration, let’s mapping out how we will really sit down with God on His accomplish each of them. And in veranda over looking the sea of the hurry to make sure we start His blessings and hear what He the year off with good momentum, wants from us. We’ve already told it’s very easy to become busy Him what we want from Him. doing nothing. Now, let’s learn what He is desiring for us. It doesn’t matter if it’s things for our personal enrichment or if it’s “church” related. If we fail to hear from God, get His direction on how to follow through with HIS PLAN, what we set out to do becomes nothing.

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NEW LIFE By now you should have heard the sound ringing in the air. If you haven’t heard it, then maybe you have seen it. But in case you have not, then let me share the news with you. New Life Temple Church, as we have all known it, has undergone a slight name change. That’s right! There has been some changing going on. So don’t think it strange when you hear a person say on Sunday morning, “Praise the Lord New Life!” Bishop Brenda Perry shared with the staff in November that 2014 is a new year for New Life. You can check out more of what she said in this month’s article titled “New Life”. -Pastor Mel

As we learn of Him, we wont wast another year scurrying around doing nothing. Instead, we will be earthen vessels being used for the Master’s good works.

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and hurts along the way, as well as good things that have transpired. Bishop Brenda K. Many times people hold on to Perry, things, whether good or bad, yet Sr. Pastor of NLTC they do not help in promoting the gospel, growth or liberty of freedom.

NEW LIFE

Romans 6:4b reads, “….even so we also should walk in the newness of Life and in Acts 17:28a Apostle Paul tells us, “….for in Him we live and move and have our being.” We have New Life in our Savior Jesus Christ, our Lord. God has graced me for 15 years to Pastor a flock of His sheep. The name on the door is “New Life Temple Church, Inc.”. I stand amazed at the grace of God working within me, and the body of NLTC. We have been through hardship and stormy waters, but our God, with His loving kindness, has brought us through. May I pause for a moment and say to all “Happy New Year, 2014”. May God’s grace and peace shine upon you throughout the year. “New Life” has a ring within my spirit. During the later part of last year in my heart I wanted to change the greeting of our guest from “welcome to New Life Temple” to just “New Life”. My desire is to promote Jesus Christ, because He is our Life. I want to challenge their hearts and mind to forget the past and focus on the present and future. Many things have transpired during the 38 years this May in the existence of this church. There have been great men of God who have pastured before I became Senior Pastor. But there has also been some pain

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Apostle Paul said, “…such were some of you”. All of us, that are a believer, were a sinner before New Life came to us.

Our new life is truly a gift from the Father, as the Father draws us with His convicting The challenge to the body of power, we yield to Him. Yes, one New Life is to forgive and forget must believe, but it’s more to it those things that cause pain and than just believe. One must hurt, and press forth to those surrender their life and will to things that are ahead, and if the Christ, and repent and turn from good things cannot help you to the old way of thinking and doing. move forward then let’s forget Then we have an opportunity to those things as well. Many church be buried with Him into His death people hold on to things, good or through baptism. Calling on the bad, that do not push the work of name of our Lord, here at New God forward. Yes, I believe we Life we baptize in the name of must look back and reflect and see Jesus Christ fulfilling the great what we can learn from the past, commission. From there being but not to stay there and see no filled with the baptism of the Holy progression. Spirit, as the Spirit give them the utterance. Yes, you want the New Life, to me, is all about baptism of the Holy Spirit in your Jesus Christ, lifting Him up and life. This is a part of the New Life. letting the world see the glory of the Lord. We are drawing near to Jesus promised us to send the the Last Day, if we are not in them Holy Spirit to aide us in our new walk in Him. I challenge each and already. The hearts of mankind everyone to spread the “good has begun to take that what is news” about Jesus Christ. He is good and began to say it is evil, and that which is evil has become our New Life. good. Yet, the Lord still has His Lastly, I stand before the body Light and Salt in the earth, the that I’m honored to underbody of Christ, to bring the gospel shepherd, under the Chief of Jesus Christ, the good news to a Shepherd, and admonish you to loose and dying world. It is a time take on that Spirit of “New Life.” for the redeemed to rejoice and be glad in our salvation. We are not haters, as the world tries to say we are. We just hate sin because we know that it will destroy, kill and steal the very life of a soul. It keeps us from true fellowshipping with the Father. Christ, the Lamb of God, became that perfect sacrifice that saved and set us free from the power of darkness. We cannot hate. As the

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Looking Ahead Birthdays & Anniversaries

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming events for January & February

JANUARY 1 New Years Day 5 - 26 Sowing –Seed Offering $125 6 - 13 Daniel Fast 11 Leadership Prayer 12 Evening Service 20 MLK Day Office Closed 25 Leadership Prayer & Meeting 26 Church Business Meeting FEBRUARY Celebration of Blacks in American History - Each Sunday 8 Leadership Prayer 9 Evening Service 18 Bishop preaching Little Rock, AR 22 Leadership Prayer 23rd Evening Service

Jan 2!

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Jada Jones

Jan 13! !

Justin Recotor

Jan 18! !

Jeremiah Jones

Jan 22! !

Betty Davis

Jan 22! !

Madelyn Gabriel

Jan 25! !

Michael Hardiman

Jan 26! !

Margaret Darden

Jan 26! !

Pam Wright

Feb 6!

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Evan Bates

Feb 7!

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Billy Williams

Feb 7!

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Nicolette Davila

Feb 14! !

Lonnie Cardwell

Feb 18! !

Larry Hunt

Feb 20! !

David Bates

Feb 24! !

Mother Ida Morgan

Feb 28! !

Edna Johnson Anniversaries

Anniversaries Thomas & Tameka Clark Jan 7

Clayton & Denise Bates Feb 18 Larry & Mary Hunt Feb 23

SHARE YOUR MINISTRY.... Whether you are ministry leader or a member, if you have something you would like to share with the readers of Got Life, we would love to hear from you. This is a great opportunity to minister and encourage other believers in their Christian walk. To submit your article or inquire about articles, please email

melanne@me.com !

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New Life Ministries Words from our ministries

A NEW YEAR BUT THE SAME LOVE

Ironically when I turned on my computer, waiting for me in my email was an article on love. It was written by Thomas Rainer, who serves as president and CEO Elder Edna of Life way Christian Resources. Johnson, This article challenged me to Outreach Director think hard to see if I had anyone that I really, really have a hard time loving. The following is a part of his article in the December issue of Church Leaders magazine entitled, “Why We MUST Love Unlovable Church Members.”

I am always amazed at how our Lord orchestrates things in order to get a particular message to us. Sometimes it may be Here are 8 reasons why we dealing with a matter we didn’t must love even unlovable church realize we has issues with it. And members. other times it may be to remind us 1. God loves them. of His concern for us to reflect Him in all we do. I take these words literally: “For God loved the world in this Bishop Perry made a way ... ” (John 3:16). He loves the statement recently that really arrogant church member, the impressed me. She stated, “…so person caught in sin and the be prepared to practice love follower who denies Him. unannounced every day.” To me, this is such an awesome That’s the point: He who loves statement, and I really like all of us with an amazing love it. No matter what/who shows expects us to love others similarly. up, I am prepared to give you Love 2. We show the power of the because I practice doing this every gospel by loving all people. day. Jesus said our love for one This caused me to remember another would be one way to show what the Apostle John said in I the world His love (John 13:34-35). John 4:21. “And this The church is indeed a miracle— commandment we have from people from varied backgrounds Him: that he who loves God must and different races, all loving each love his brother also.” other as a family brought together by the blood of Jesus.

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Being family means we must love even those who occasionally drive the family crazy. 3. We live in Christian obedience when we show love toward all. Christian love, while not being devoid of emotion, is an active love, a doing love—evidenced by how we act toward others. Our faith does not allow us to say, “Because I just don’t love you any more, we can no longer be in relationship.” Rather, Christian love means we act as a Christian toward all people, even when our feelings aren’t there. 4. Some unlovable church members need Jesus. Let’s face it: Jesus had a fake in His followers, and we’re not going to do better than He did. Among a church family are likely to be those who believe they’re Christian, but who never truly repented and believed. They sometimes act as nonbelievers act ... because that’s who they are. They need to see genuine Christian love so they might recognize their need for Christ. 5. Some unlovable church members are undiscipled believers acting like undiscipled people. Continue on page 6

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Christ like. We, too, will have those days when we need undeserved love. Perhaps others Some believers have never been taught. Their churches led them to will model then the love we’ve first shown them. the Lord and baptized them, but they often did not pour In wishing you a blessed New themselves into these believers. Year, I will leave these words with Consequently, some church you, “…so be prepared to practice members are still babies in Christ, love unannounced every day.” despite their years in the church.

good report (reputation); virtue (integrity); anything praiseworthy (deserving)…… put into practice those things we have learned, received, and heard. Sounds simple enough? Give it a try. Stop yielding to the negative. The moment you entertain that thought, you open the door to be held captive.

They need someone to help them see how much they need to grow—but it needs to be someone who truly loves them.

I went to the optometrist last month. Part of the eye examine was to follow this instrument held by the doctor. You look up, down, right, left. All the while I’m laughing to myself, how silly is this? Not once did it occur to question this event. So on this particular day, I asked what the purpose was. She explained while I’m following the instrument, she’s observing whether or not both eyes are moving in the same direction. There have been cases where one eye is moving and one eye is not. I was stunned and found it to be interesting. Just imagine. The word of God is the instrument and as we are following, God is observing whether or not we’re moving in the direction we should be going.

6. Love motivates our praying for unlovable church members. We can’t change unlovable people. No program will fix the person who is power-hungry or judgmental. Lasting transformation occurs only under the power of God—and that means we must pray for even the church members we like the least. 7. Loving unlovable church members is an act of faith.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

Sis. Sharon Clay Singles Ministry Director

No, I’m not talking about the movie (never watched in its entirety). I’m referring to our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ! Happy New Year! Wow, where did the time go? One thing for sure, time does not discriminate, and we all had the same amount of time.

Jesus called 12 men to follow Him, and they were not always lovable. They fought among themselves, didn’t always listen, The first of a new year, we and sought the best places in the reflect on the past. In most kingdom. Still He loved them, cases, it’s the negative, all the hard knowing what the Father would do times and struggles, what should through them. have happened that didn’t happen, We must love unlovable etc. I give you permission to church members with that same think on it five minutes. Time kind of trust and faith. up! We just had a “news flash”. Headlines read: PHILLIPIANS 8. We are all sometimes 4:8-9. The answer on what to unlovable. reflect on is this: THINK ON All of us sometimes act less THESE THINGS...noble than Christian. Maybe nobody (qualities of high moral character); sees it, and perhaps it doesn’t just (honorable and fair); pure (not happen often—but it’s still uncontaminated); lovely (pleasing); of

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Don’t make any new year’s resolutions; don’t get stuck in last year’s struggles for we are aware that we can’t undo what has been done. Every day, in every newspaper, there’s HEADLINE NEWS.…let the WORD OF GOD be our HEADLINE NEWS so that here, at New Life, we can move forward. And yes, it is A Wonderful Life!

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Ministry Events...great things are happening LADIES SECRETE PRAYER PARTNER FELLOWSHIP

OUTREACH @ST. JOHN

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Don’t miss out...serving is so rewarding! CHILDREN WITH PURPOSE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

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PROCRASTINATION SOLACE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 I know it came from God) for the literal saints. I understand when Bishop says the word is for her first, then us. **Sidebar: For those of you who may not have understood what just happened, as I typed that sentence, it sent some conviction my way….end of Sidebar**

But honestly, that's all it means is lazy. I personally have these little bible studies with God himself. I mean, sometimes if there is something he wants me to Obviously, I think we all know learn he will take me on this short what this will be about. journey and show me. I will give Procrastination. Well, technically you an example from some yes, but no. We all have our times months ago. When I, in all when we procrastinate, but in seriousness, decided to commit to order to PROcrastinate it must be having a relationship with God, I practiced. began to doubt. I think we've all been there at one point in our life. As a college student, it is While doubting, when I would honestly and extremely hard not read my bible I would read certain to fall into this category. I'm not passages concerning who God is. sure why though. I have But it didn't stop there. He would experienced this and have prayed to God to give me the motivation. show me things that I knew were I thought this was the right prayer him and only him. I was riding in the car on the way to church, and to pray until I thought about it. What really needed to happen was I had been in an OK mood, when I decided to look up. just do it. Start doing the things you need to do. The prayer to **Another Sidebar: I really like follow that would be Lord give me nature and looking at the sky and strength to continue. feeling mysterious, and taking scenery pictures, and acting like The truth is, we can pray for I'm in a movie looking out the motivation all day but if the day window, and green stuff yada yada goes by and still nothing gets done, what really did you pray for? yada ok….end of Sidebar** Your attitude has not changed. So, this being my Another prayer, I guess you could interpretation, God knowing all say, would be for your attitude that awesome stuff about me had towards the matter. I had become me look up. I started looking at a PROcrastinator. You wanna the random clouds when all of the know what I see behind this fancy sudden….the heavens began to word? Laziness. Wow, I think I open and it was like something out just gave myself a revelation (F.Y.I.

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of a movie….okay so that's not what happened, but this really meant a lot to me at the time. I saw a face. Not just any face, this face was smiling. Not just randomly smiling, but at me. It was the sweetest gesture that could have happened. God knew I was not feeling the best but he still was smiling, which in return, inspired me to continue smiling. From looking back, I'm not sure why I got off topic. But any who, God indeed sent some reinforcements to help me get "motivated" and that was through a friend. My friend and I were talking and he began to ask me questions that I really did not have the answer to, but I should have. I hated the approach, but before the conversation was over God let me know why my friend was questioning me. He was concerned, and he was my motivation. Too bad I didn't think of that. I really do enjoy these mini bible studies I get with Him. They make me feel like I am the only person walking this earth. They make me feel special. The fact that He takes the time to really teach and show me different things means more than anything. I never thought I could be so close to someone I've never seen.

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Side

I kept telling her, really myself, hasn’t spoiled him by holding him that she was my favorite niece and too much, he seldom cries. I was her favorite auntie. Grandmothers can truly ruin The truth was, I really wanted things can’t they...but that’s another article in another lifetime. to be as far away from that little

The

Lite

s Babie ying r C o “N e” for M ry . Per Mel A

screaming banshee as I could.

If I had to keep my nephew, I would eventually come around because he is a little sweetie...well that is apart from the poopy diapers. Hey! I lack maternal whatever it is that some other women brag about.

As much as I loved her, she was not my favorite little person to be around. I would put on the Oh, the folly Brave Heart face each morning of children. when I first met her. But I kept How precious thinking to myself, just put me they are in all back on the Greyhound and let me When I look at my niece and of their go home. nephew playing, I can’t help but innocence. think how much I love them both. I warned everyone that I was They can In fact I get very excited about not to be left alone in the house laugh, play seeing my “favorite niece”. Things with her. Otherwise, they may cry, be selfish, have really changed over two years. come home to find me outside laugh some crying as hard as her. I’m sure I As God sends babies into the more, endure punishment, then wasn’t lying, though no one ever church, most of us get excited. But later laugh some more. asked me to keep her. for the most part we pray and Though I’ve never desired to That child cried for no reason hope that they will behave like my give birth to any little ones myself nephew. We want them to be other than to just prove that she (how un-Christian of me to say sweet little happy baby saints, who could send everyone running in a that), my little niece has just don’t make much of a fuss. panic. squeezed her little self into my Reality Check! Thank God she has since heart. grown out of that stage! Most babies that are coming We both seem to have this in the church today are going to Now, my nephew on the other little pact between us that says be more like my niece. They are hand is one of those babies who “we get each other”. Our coming from a messed up world personalities work so well at least seem as if he is able to live that has beat them crazy or that peaceably with all men. for the most part. has confused them beyond At six months he laughs and It was often said that my sister comprehension. More than likely, plays with everyone. At first his and I were like night and day. they are going to scream for no crying sounded like a kitten lost Clearly the same can be said for reason, make us want to throw up under a basket of clothes. It was my niece and nephew -midnight our hands and say I’m not made so faint and sweet (if a babies and high noon. for this kind of babysitting. crying can sound sweet). None the less, when the two If we can only see how much Unlike his sister, he smiled are playing together no one really joy they will be once the focuses on their differences. It’s a when he was just a week or two “momma’s” and “daddies” love on old and never stopped. warming sight to watch big sister them through their growing pain. and little brother enjoying each Though I’m not eager to baby Here is the scary truth, even other, sharing laughs. sit him either, he is just a big for me, most churches today wont However, at 6 month my niece oversized bundle of giggles and grow because they would rather sit kisses. didn’t laugh. Instead she would on the curb than tend to the scream like someone was frying As an infant he is the ideal babies who just wont stop crying. her little bony legs for supper. baby. When his grandmother

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The purpose of New Life is to instill the faith of Jesus Christ into the lives of all people, bringing them into spiritual perfection with a spirit of excellence.

Weekly Service Schedule

NL Ministry Leaders

Bishop Brenda K. Perry, Senior Pastor pastor@newlifetemplechurch.com

Mel A. Perry, Assistant Pastor & Global Relations Director

Statement of Faith

Sunday Sunday School! !

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9:00am

Sunday Worship !

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10:00am

global_relations@newlifetemplechurch.com

Wednesday Pastor Steve Stephens, Associate Pastor Pastoral Bible Study!

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10:30am

Pastoral Bible Study!

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7:30pm

Young People On Fire! !

7:30pm

Children With Purpose! !

7:30pm

Couples In Unity!

7:30pm

sstep72508@sbcglobal.net

Pastor Elmer Powell, Associate Pastor elmerpowell@sbcglobal.net

Donna Ross-Powell, Administrator donna.ross@newlifetemplechurch.com

Deacons Roy & Veronica Seivwright, Head Deacons rs5587@att.com

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(1st & 3rd Wednesday)

Pastor Elmer & Cathy Powell, Marriage Min. elmerpowell@sbcglobal.net

Music Ministry! !

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Donna Stephens, Ladies Minstry

Saturday!

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dmstep2003@yahoo.com

Intercessory Prayer!

Elder Roy & Min Pam Clark, Perfecting Light Ministry pamlarclark@yahoo.com Elder Edna Johnson, Outreach ednajohn1945@att.net Sis. Sharon Clay, Singles Ministry sgsclay@gmail.com

We believe this one true God, who revealed Himself as Father in Creation, as Son in redemption, and as Holy Ghost in regeneration. We believe that - in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell. We believe in the death, burial and resurrection.

Thursday

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We believe in one eternal God; infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose, as well as omniscient and omnipresent.

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7:30pm

9:00am

*NLEC Senior Connection Monday - Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm for all seniors 60+

We believe in being born again of waterby immersion in the name of the Lord “Jesus� Christ for the remission of sins, and in Spirit baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. We believe in divine healing, communion and foot washing. We believe in presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. We believe in expressions of praise with lifted hands, hand clapping, playing of musical instruments, voice of praise and dancing.


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