April 2015 Transformation Newark Magazine

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M I L L I O N

P A G E S

V I E W E D

APRIL 2015

BRINGING GOSPEL TO NEWARK

A. CURTIS FARROW

In This Issue Transformation Newark magazine is a monthly publication focused on the city of Newark.

Providing practical information and tips to transform lives.

FEATURE ARTICLES COVER STORY

BRINGING GOSPEL TO NEWARK A. Curtis Farrow

Understanding God’s Word

CONTRIBUTORS Curtis Mincey PUBLISHER Rick Greene A METRO CHRISTIAN MEDIA PUBLICATION 53 Burnet St. Newark, NJ 07102 MetroChristianMedia.com ADVERTISERS & CONTRIBUTORS WANTED EMAIL OR CALL FOR DETAILS Pub@MetroChristianMedia.com 862-888-8238

A Flag Is Raised Arise And Shine

TRANSFORMING YOUR: Life

Taking Responsibility For Your Life

In Every Issue

Ministry

9 Do’s & Don’ts For Ministry Growth

Relationships

Focus On These Things

Health

Strange But True Health Tips

Business

10 Business Start Up Tips

“We’re Partnering With Ministries to Advance The Kingdom”

Life Transformation

Taking Responsibility may sound like an easy step, but taking full responsibility for one’s life is nothing less than revolutionary. It means to stop blaming others – the demanding employer, ungrateful children, unpredictable weather, irritating spouse, unreliable friend, useless government, unfavorable circumstances, unjust God – and instead realize that you are the creator of your own life story.

Taking responsibility means a shift from being a victim to being a conscious creator.

Consciousness is the key element here. We tend to be conditioned: action A automatically triggers reaction B and therefore our days often resemble a movie on auto-repeat. Before automatically reacting to something in the future, let’s take a breath, realize that we have a choice and that the first choice is whether we want to simply react in a reflex-like manner or whether we want to make a conscious decision of what the best course of action is. Choosing the latter means to consciously create your life and to take responsibility for it..

But while it may sound frightening at first, taking responsibility for our lives soon becomes a very empowering prospect. The simple but powerful act of simply realizing our responsibility will create a shift in our

thoughts, our emotions, our actions and therefore our lives.

Going even further, accept that you are also responsible for everything that has happened in your life so far, even before you have decided to become a conscious creator. We cannot be anything other than creators. With every single thought, we create our reality.

The difference is that in the past we have created unconsciously which has often lead to undesired effects; now we decide to realize the intentional power of our thoughts and to create the lives we want to have.

Please, don’t mix up responsibility in the current context with duty or with the question of guilt and blame. Responsibility in the current context simply means the realization that you are the creator of your life through your thoughts, your actions and your decisions. It is a question of cause and effect and hopefully a shift from unconscious creation to conscious creation. The quality of our decisions is a different story and will be discussed in the following steps.

And once we have decided to become the conscious creators of our lives, a whole wide world of opportunity arises and opens up its gates to an ideally purposeful life.

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Ministry Transformation

9 Do’s and Don’ts for Ministry Growth

This isn’t for senior pastors. (Though these same principles apply to your ministry.) And this post isn’t about weekend services. (Though it could be.)

This advice is for every church leader who is responsible for a ministry, program or event that functions outside of the weekend services. (I’m pretty confident what I’m about to share is going to tick you off.) Here are: 1.

branding; however, it’s not going to make or break your ministry.

2.

the people who show up to a weekend service come with a friend who invites them. That same principle applies to your ministry as well. If people aren’t inviting their friends, that’s likely a ministry problem and not a promotions problem.

You don’t need a logo. A new logo isn’t the key to successful ministry. Life

Your fancy flyers won’t help. 80% of

3.

Put people first. Life change happens

change is the key to successful ministry.

most often within the context of

Only Jesus can change lives. Yes, there

relationships. If your ministry isn’t helping

are times when you’ll need to update your

people engage in relational connections

Ministry Transformation

4.

(inside and outside of the church), then

fewer events and less programs, more

your ministry will not grow.

people will connect with your ministry.

Lead your ministry. You should focus on

Stop confusing them and help them focus

that. You aren’t gifted at promotions (even

on the next appropriate step.

though you think you are). You should let

5.

possible, let staff support ministry and

that, and stop fighting against the people

encourage volunteers to be responsible

who are trying to help you. Spend more

for face-to-face connections with the

time doing ministry and less time trying to

people you are trying to reach or help.

promote your ministry.

When you take those roles out of the

Remember: print is dead. (this coming

hands of volunteers, you’ve essentially

from someone who writes books). It’s

limited the growth of your ministry…and

highly likely that whatever you’re printing

taken away their responsibility to make

for your audience will just end up in a

disciples.

9.

You are not competing against other

relying on print media is dying a slow

ministries. As soon as you sense “your

death. You should always think Web first

ministry” is competing with another

with an emphasis on interactivity and

ministry in your church for money,

building relationships.

volunteers, space, calendar time, platform

Don’t wait on the church to establish

promotions, etc., you should resign. You

o n l i n e c o m m u n i t y. T h a t ’ s y o u r

are not a leader. You are, at best, a

responsibility. Most people you’re trying to

manager of resources and, at worst, the

reach won’t visit your church’s website,

one holding the entire ministry back from

but they will engage with your Web

growth and unity.

presence on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, your blog, etc.

7.

Grow through volunteers. As much as

communications professionals focus on

trash can. Any business in America

6.

8.

You probably need to cut programs and events. Less is more. If you have

10.

If you TRAIN OTHERS or need to be TRAINED... VISIT US

FOCUS ON THESE THINGS! The Apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Phillipians with some practical advice, not only the church, but truly necessary for healthy, happy relationships as well. he writes...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8

In all of our interactions with people there are going to be ups and downs, disappointments and pleasantries, and times when your loved one does something incredibly stupid or Relationship expert Pastor hurtful. Either way it must be addressed and Rick is the author of the soon resolved.

However if it was not done with repeated malice (continuous intent to cause harm) then don’t dwell on the mistakes of your partner but focus on the good things of your relationship, the reasons why you are together in the first place. The fact that you love each other and care for each other.

Focusing on the strengths of your relationship will build a barrier to ward off any attacks and shore up any weaknesses your that relationship may have.

to be released book and ebook entitled “5 Secrets to A Great Relationship”,; He is also the host of the international internet radio show “Relationships with Pastor Rick”, and writes weekly about Dating, Love, Marriage, Sex, and Divorce; fi n d out more at PastorRickGreene.com

In 2008 he brought Internationally known Gospel Superstars to Newark!

The list of artists is too numerous to number but some you might be familiar with include Hezekiah Walker, Cissy Houston, Kirk Franklin Dottie Peoples CeCe Winans, BeBe Winans, Yolanda Adams Vicky Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, and Shirley Caesar just to name a few.

He is the producer, director, and host of the McDonald's Gospelfest and over the last seven years he has been nominated for a dozen Emmys.

He is none other than than the two time in Emmy award winning producer, and CEO and founder of Irving Street Productions Mr. A Curtis Farrow.

Self described as a “church boy” and coming from a solid Wall Street financial background he has lead the “Farrow production house” to reproduce classic black performances such as Ain't Misbehavin' and holds the Guinness world record for leading the largest Gospel choir in the US. Their other stellar services include theater production, event planning, marketing, and public relations, for some of the top individuals and companies in the world. You can find out more about this impressive godly man and his unique company at IrvingStreetRep.com

THE EVENT McDonald’s Gospelfest 2015

The McDonald's Gospelfest is an annual gospel music festival, talent competition, and fundraiser in Newark, New Jersey. The event, inaugurated in 1983, and sponsored by McDonald's, takes place in spring and has been held the Prudential Center since 2008.

The closing night contest and ceremony is produced, directed, and hosted by A. Curtis Farrow. The event, which can take several hours, has been recorded and broadcast variously on WABC-TV and WWOR-TV. Involving more a thousand performers it has been described as the "largest collection of gospel talent ever assembled" and the "most spectacular gospel celebration in the nation".[2]The event is followed up by McDonald's Inspiration Celebration which makes a national tour.

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Theme: When The Choir Meets The Quartet

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Featuring the TOP choirs and quartets in Gospel MusicONE NIGHT, ONE STAGE, WORSHIPPING ONE GOD!

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McDonald’s Gospelfest 2014 was nominated for an EMMY!!

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Produced and Directed by Emmy Award winner, A. Curtis Farrow

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IT’S THE MOTHER’S DAY GOSPEL EVENT OF THE YEAR

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Sponsored by McDonald’s – Deeply Rooted In The Community 365 days

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Go to the Prudential Center Box Office OR Go online to ticketmaster.com OR call ticketmaster at

THE ARTISTS Ricky Dillard Blind Boys of Alabama The Mighty Clouds of Joy Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites Bishop Hezekiah Walker & LFC Mississippi Mass Choir The Thompson Community Reunion Choir Greater Allen Cathedral Choir The Clark Sisters Special performances who will be backed by a dynamic choir are:

Vickie Winans Cissy Houston Donald Malloy R&B Diva Faith Evans

WHEN:!

Mother’s Day Weekend – Saturday, May 9, 2015

WHERE:!

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette St Newark, NJ

McDonald's Gospelfest originated in 1983 under the auspices of the McDonald's Corporation and the McDonald's Tri-State Owners' Association.

The event has been an important fundraising event which supports education opportunities within local communities. and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarship money. Over the years the competition performances have taken place at Palace Theater, the Hammerstein Ballroom, Westbury Music Fair, Newark Symphony Hall, Madison Square Garden, and New York City Center. Since 2008, the 25th incarnation of the event, it has been held at Prudential Center. Parts of the show have been broadcast by WABC, which in 2000 and 2001 garnered New York Emmy A w a r d s f o r WA B C i n t h e "Religious Progamming" category. The show is since 2008 televised on WWOR-TV The Gospelfest is produced by Newark-based Irving Street Rep and is directed and hosted by its founder, A. Curtis Farrow.

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City Transformation

Help The Local Economy If a city has a good local economy it provides jobs. What many people often fail to realize is that while some larger stores employ more people they also send profits out of the local area to head offices in other cities, or other countries. As such shopping at large chain stores should be balanced with shopping at smaller, locally owned stores. This will also mean more variety, and more interest, making for a better city to live in.

The local economy can also be helped by supporting things such as local craft markets and supporting local artists, crafters, builders, and service people.

Help To Lower Crime You may think it is hard to reduce crime in your area but it may start with the simple matter of being a good parent, keeping your kids out of trouble, and being home for them more. You can also start a community watch group. Encourage and support your local police force, and work to improve impoverished areas.

Be Neighborly If you are donating to charity consider donating to your local charity rather than a national (or international) one. You can donate food to the food bank to feed the hungry, or you can donate money to your local animal shelter to keep strays off the streets. You can volunteer your time!

You can also be a good neighbor to those around you, helping out the senior who needs their walk shoveled or filling in where ever there is a need. If you own pets, simply being a responsible pet owner and picking up after your dog, is a plus to your area as a whole.

Health Transformation

Strange But True Health Tips Drink coffee to have a better nap In a Japanese study that examined how to make the most of a nap, people who took a "coffee nap"—consuming about 200 milligrams of caffeine (the amount in one to two cups of coffee) and then immediately taking a 20-minute rest—felt more alert and performed better on computer tests than those who only took a nap.

Why does this work? A 20-minute nap ends just as the caffeine kicks in and clears the brain of a molecule called adenosine, maximizing alertness. "Adenosine is a byproduct of wakefulness and activity," says Allen Towfigh, MD, medical director of New York Neurology & Sleep Medicine. "As adenosine levels increase, we become more fatigued.

Napping clears out the adenosine and, when combined with caffeine, an adenosine-blocker, further reduces its effects and amplifies the effects of the nap."

For healthy teeth, don't brush after eating Don't brush your teeth immediately after meals and drinks, especially if they were acidic. Acidic foods—citrus fruits, sports drinks, tomatoes, soda (both diet and regular)—can soften tooth enamel "like wet sandstone," says Howard R. Gamble, immediate past president of the Academy of General Dentistry. Brushing your teeth at this stage can speed up acid's effect on your enamel and erode the layer underneath.

Gamble suggests waiting 30 to 60 minutes before brushing.

THE TRANSFORMATION CENTER 628 GROVE STREET IRVINGTON NJ

Business Transformation there a niche? Know your vision, develop a purpose and use it as your guide.

Thinking of starting a business?

Whether it’s home-based, retail, technology related, or not, start by re v i e w i n g s o m e o f t h e m o s t common steps and resources for starting your business below.

1. Assess the Viability of Your Idea. What is your idea – how can you best describe it? How big is the market? What is the demand?

If your idea improves on an existing product or service, what m a k e s y o u r i d e a d i ff e re n t ?

Research your potential market, understand what your customers want, review the potential competition big and small and assess where your business fits.

Are there opportunities abroad? Is

2. Project Your Costs and Review Yo u r F i n a n c i n g O p t i o n s .

Although, financial projections may seem daunting, projections help predict the financial health of a potential or existing business through analyzing costs, size of the market, prices, and other conditions. Your projections can assist you greatly with determining if you can move forward with your business.

3. Develop a Plan. Creating a plan is an important step to starting a business, some banks require a business plan for financing and it can even be required to lease space..

4. Choose a Structure. Review business structure options and decide the best structure – Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, Corporation, etc. Take your time choosing the right business structure and take into consideration cost, taxes, and

Business Transformation potential liability. Contact a few local attorneys that focus on business formation and tax issues.

5. Check Your Name. Is your business name already taken?

This will largely depend on the type of structure you choose- for LLCs and Corporations, 6. Setup Your Record-Keeping Systems. Setup your recordkeeping systems to help manage your business and its growth. This is great time to review CRM, Accounting, and project management software.

7. Understand Tax Obligations and Opportunities. Just about every tax agency has online publications and videos, many of which hold in-person workshops so you understand your tax obligations thoroughly.

8. Limit Your Risk and Protect your Investments. Whenever possible, transfer major risks to insurance companies (e.g. insuring against major facility damage or injuries)

or other suppliers (e.g. accounting firms, Payroll Services etc.).

Review your business insurance options (Commercial Auto; General Liability, Product Liability; Professional Liability; etc.) with your insurance provider and assess the potential liabilities that may exist in your business; most personal policies will not cover business activities.

9. Look Before You Lease. You may need space to start your business, however, before your sign the lease. ply).

10.Ta r g e t a n d M a r k e t . Yo u reviewed your potential customers when you began researching, now assess their behaviors and start marketing. Marketing online can be an inexpensive start; consider email marketing through Mail Chimp or Constant Contact, managing social accounts with HootSuite or Sprout Social, and creating your website with tools l i k e Wo rd P re s s t h a t a re considerably more user-friendly to manage.

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by CURTIS D. MINCEY

Now days it seems like everybody who has an education. You know the type, those people out there who hold various titles and degrees and positions of power are people who claim to be authorities of this and that.

But have you ever wondered to yourself, who made them an authority?

I think that’s a valid question, but trust me I am no authority. There are all types of “authorities” out there.

Religious authorities, government authorities, scientific authorities, philosophical authorities, even theological authorities. And well I guess that’s all good . God even ordained that certain types of authority be established. But the only authority out there that really matters is God’s authority.

That’s right, the highest authority that exist isn’t with the highest court of some nation. But it is the authority that exist in the highest heaven. But we mere mortals of flesh, bone, and blood have decided to replace God’s authority with our own. Thus making an idol out of ourselves and preferring to be the captains of our own destiny.

Which from the very beginning was not a part of the original design. But that’s another topic for another day. Now having people in positions of authority is a good thing, they have been appointed by God to maintain some type of law and order.

The unfortunate thing about our existence is that with an increased awareness and knowledge of the world around us, we find ourselves more

dependent upon the limited wisdom of sinful and wretched man than the infinite wisdom of an all knowing, all seeing, all mighty God. We have been taught to apply the wisdom of various men and women, while being trained to ignore and disregard the word of God. Which is the fatal mistake that is the cause of all of the chaos, destruction and confusion around the planet.

Demonically influenced human beings convincing the masses that they are smarter than God. With the sad reality being that this type of mindset exist within the Church. It has become a depressingly sad reality that many of those that claim to be men and women of God are not declaring the word of God to be the final authority. We find that to be more and more obvious as the Churches position has changed on various issues such as sex, sexuality, and a woman’s role in ministry.

What we have to consider is that while man’s position on certain issues change in order to appease and accommodate the sinful masses, God’s position never changes. What God calls sin is sin. What God classifies as the role of men and women in general and within the body of Christ is what He has declared and no human being on the face of this earth has the right, the wisdom or the sovereign power to override what God has decreed. For God alone is our Creator, our Savior through Christ Jesus and our Master.

This is a deadly mistake within evangelical leadership and it has to stop today. But the word of God tells us that there will be false teachers among us that have a strong desire to preach lies; and merely preach what we want to hear as long as it doesn’t take us out of our comfort zone; and keeps them in front of the crowd. It’s okay to preach and teach some of the truth. But the difficult parts of God’s word you know the parts about Jesus, sin, death, and hell have to be altered so as not to offend the listener.

But what we fail to do is to fully allow God’s word do what it do. Which is convict us the sinner of our sin, put us on our knees and make us cry out to a Holy God for forgiveness. The true word of God actually has the power to transform a person’s life. The true word of God has the power to transform a city. The power that is contained in the unaltered word of God has the power to transform a nation. We preacher's and teachers of the word of God have to proclaim the word of God so that the power of God can be seen and believed. so that God will get the glory.

Because word of God has the final authority.

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A FLAG IS RAISED

by CURTIS D. MINCEY

Newark, NJ is a city founded in 1666 by Puritans led by Robert Treat based on religious principles. It was to be known as the city where God would be the authority. But as the years went by this once thriving city has seen a decline in economic power and moral responsibility. At one point this city was on a list of one of the most violent cities in America. However that statistic has not taken away the faith of many of the cities most dedicated ministry leaders who have a desire to see Newark as a city where God would once again be the authority.

So on Sunday March 29, 2015 these leaders were allowed by the current administration under Mayor Ras Baraka to raise the Christian flag right outside of City Hall. It was a monumental occasion that began with a prayer by the Director of Police Clergy Affairs Reverend Louise Scott-Rountree. Then led to the raising of the flag, and a reading of the poem ”A Free Flag”. The ceremony then ended with Ministry representatives from the East, West, South, North and Central wards praying for the city. As one participant put it. “This was an important victory for the Church in the city of Newark”.

With the increase in various religious and non religious organizations seeking to gain validity within the community. The Church in Newark which is made up of many different congregations throughout the city, has been able to display the power of prayer, the results of unity, and most of all the power of God. The Christian flag which is seen inside most church buildings was designed in the early 20th century to represent all of Christianity and has been most popular among Christian churches in North America, Africa and Latin America. This event is a symbolic way of the members of the Church to stand in unity and to declare that Christ is Lord over this city.

Calling All Men of any age, race & nationality, You are cordially invited to Minds in Motion Ministries’ first Annual Men’s Conference taking place at the Transformation Center on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 10am- 2pm.

This Conference will empower Men to take their rightful place in their home, community and The Kingdom of God. Many men in the Church have suffered in silence while others have wandered aimlessly in the streets. The Men on the move Conference will provide direction and insight that’s necessary for a man to lead both a purposeful and successful life.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Come and be sharpened as a Man, Husband and Father as relevant issues will be discussed by Men who have gone through your familiar trails and circumstances.

Your Brother, Apostle AJ Roney

ARISE AND SHINE

by CURTIS D. MINCEY

Saturday March 28, 2015 was a very monumental occasion in the city of Newark. For it was on this special day that the Church body of Christ gathered together to wage spiritual warfare against the forces of evil that are plaguing our beloved city. Congregations in the East Ward at Polk and Ferry Street, the West Ward at 16th Ave and 17th Street, the North Ward at Roseville and Park Ave, the South Ward at Clinton and Seymore Ave and the Central Ward at Broom and West Kinney were outside the walls of the buildings and were out on the streets in full force. There was praying, praising, and preaching the Good News to all that were in hearing distance. Members of various congregations were out in the neighborhoods passing out flyers and offering prayers for the people.

Mayor Ras Baraka and the Newark Municipal Council along with Church leaders in all 5 Wards gathered together and initiated the Reclaim, Revive and Restore event for the city of Newark. This event was unique in that it was one of those rare times that the Church and the government would join forces to promote the

need for the Christian community to reclaim this city in the name of Christ; cry out to God to revive the hearts of the people and to restore a desperate and broken city.

This was a busy day for the Mayor as he was making the rounds to all of the wards with words of encouragement and inspiration. The Mayor declared that “We need more than just the strength of government, but we need a higher power to raise the spirits of the people of this city”. He also stated that “You don’t just go to church to pray and feel good, we pray to gain strength to go out and change what’s going on in our community.”

And change is something that this city is desperate for. With the rise of moral depravity and the increase of spiritual decay. The situation in this city seems almost hopeless. But the Mayor has chosen to work with the Christian community under what many would like to believe is the influence and leading of God. But only time will tell if this is a political move or an act of God.

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