Proclaim Sept2011

Proclaim Inaugural Issue September/October 2011

Michelle Nuzzo Victory Family Church’s First Lady

It Is Possible To Date And Glorify God

September Is Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sonya M. Toler Founder, Editor in Chief, Publisher

Founded in 2011

e d i S n I s ’ t a Wh

HEAR FROM YOU! Submissions

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Send a query letter describing the proposed article to stoler@proclaimmag.com. All articles approved for publication will be published in the digital magazine.

MIC HE LL E NUZZO FIRST LADY VICTORY FAMILY CHURCH CRANBERRY, PA

In leading women toward finding their strengths, she found her own.

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Proclaim Magazine is published bi-monthly: Jan/Feb, March/ April, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/ Oct, Nov/Dec by Proclaim Magazine LLC. Membership is $20 per month.

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DIONNE EDMONDS PITTSBURGH, PA

Ministry offers women insight into dating according to the Word of God.

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Cover photography by Sidney Davis.

Cover Story

PROCLAIM WANTS TO

From the Publisher believe it is okay to hold my own pride higher than God’s forgiveness?

When I got a grasp on God’s love for me the value God sees in me, my whole way of thinking changed. That love affected my family in life changing ways, too.

You see, through Jesus’ death we were ransomed from sin and to right standing with God. Our value to God is the very blood of his son, and there’s no other name on which we can call for salvation.

Michelle and Pastor John reflect God’s love for people, and I am so blessed to have been a member of their congregation.

By no means do I present myself as an authority of some sort on Biblical teaching. I am only someone who believes in Christ and I believe that the Holy Spirit has led me to this very point in time.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

PHOTO BY SIDNEY DAVIS/MARVELOUS PHOTOGRAPHY

Pastor John & Michelle Nuzzo.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

II Corinthians 5:21

Sonya M. Toler

7IRH &SYUYIXW JSV %R] 3GGEWMSR JSV *Minimum product and accessories purchase of $29.99. Does not apply to gift cards or certificates, same-day or international delivery, shipping & handling, taxes, or third-party hosted products (e.g. wine). Offer expires 11/15/2011.

It is with the deepest and most sincere gratitude that I welcome you to the pages of Proclaim magazine. This is only the beginning of the work that He is doing. It is my prayer that, on these pages, you will find inspiration and information to spur women along life’s journey in a manner that glorifies Jesus Christ who was crucified, died and rose again so that we all may be saved from having to pay the penalty for our sins.

Part of me wants to take up this space explaining the journey that has brought me to this point in time, but I will resist that urge. We will have lots of time to share with one another.

Instead, you will find a piece of me in every edition. This inaugural issue features a cover story on a woman who is very dear to me Michelle Nuzzo.

Michelle is the first lady of Victory Family Church in Cranberry, Pa., and the wife of Pastor John Nuzzo. I came across the church years ago when we held service at the cinemas and had to rush out to the smell of popcorn as the establishment prepared for the Sunday morning crowd. I didn’t come to the Lord through this church, but it was through the teaching of the staff at Victory that I gained an understanding of the value each of us hold to God - no matter where we believe we have failed.

Often our image of how God views us is not Biblical. For instance, I remember holding on to guilty about past wrongs and really beating myself up. Pastor John asked a series of lifechanging questions: Why did God send his only begotten son to die on the cross? Why do I

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Affirming its immigrant roots, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to support two resolutions that encourage support for immigration reform and called on congregations to actively protest punitive state legislation like Arizona’s SB-1070 and Alabama’s HB-56.

“America has been built by the hard work of generations of newcomers who have cherished education, committed themselves to hard work, and have returned great benefits to our society, churches and local communities,” said ELCA Presiding Bishop Rev. Mark S. Hanson in a letter to Congress. “The children who would benefit from the DREAM Act should have the opportunity to continue to pursue

their educations, to work, to earn a path to citizenship in the United States and be protected from being returned to a country they do not know.”

Pope Calls On World Youth Day Attendees To Be Apostles, Avoid Individualism

MADRID, Spain – Wrapping up the 26th international World Youth WORD Network of Detroit Day celebration Aug. 21 before more Presents 2011 Leadership Summit, State Of The Black than 1 million participants, Pope Benedict XVI challenged youths to be Family The WORD Network will present “apostles of the 21st century” by a 2011 Leadership Summit meant to sharing the Gospel with their peers. gather some of the most respected “They will wonder what the Black leaders in the United States to secret of your life is and they will discuss the theme “State Of The discover that the rock which Black Family.” underpins the entire building and The Sept. 9 event will include upon which rests your whole speeches, workshops, and health existence is the very person of Christ, screenings, and will be hosted by your friend, brother and Lord, the Greater Grace Temple Bishop Charles Son of God incarnate, who gives H. Ellis III. meaning to all the universe.”

For more information and to The Pope also warned against register, visit pursuing Jesus outside of church. www.thewordnetwork.org or contact “Following Jesus in faith is to Terra DeFoe at 248-357-4566 or walk with him in the communion of terra@thewordnetwork.org. the Church. You cannot follow Jesus alone,” he said.

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President Barack Obama, in May, named Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook to head the Office of International Religious Freedom in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the State Department.

Officially, Cook’s title is ambassador at-large for international religious freedom. Watch her confirmation hearing here.

The office is responsible for monitoring religious persecution and discrimination worldwide, recommending and implementing policies in respective regions or countries, and developing programs to promote religious freedom.

A Baptist minister from New York, cook is the founder and president of the Wisdom Women Worldwide Center. She served as senior pastor of the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in New York, the Wall Street Congregation and was chaplain of the New York Police Department.

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month During the month of September, organizations across the nation will be raising awareness about Sickle Cell, a common inherited blood disorder affecting an estimated 100,000 Americans, according to many estimates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says another 2 million people have the gene that allows them to potentially pass the disease on to their children.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines sickle cell as a disease in which red blood cells form an abnormal crescent shape. (Red blood cells are normally shaped like a disc.) These fragile bloods cells deliver less oxygen to the body’s tissues and often get stuck in small blood vessels, and break into pieces that interrupt the healthy flow of blood and causing pain in the body where ever blood flows.

As more and more people with sickle cell are mobilizing and becoming vocal, more progress is happening to help find better treatments and, potentially, a cure for this disabling disease.

Most notably, North Carolina A&T State University and Piedmont Health Services have partnered to address the issue of sickle cell trait and related deaths among athletes by sponsoring a campus summit Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

This is the first of a series of similar collaborations at other NCAA approved universities.

Also 25-year-old Shakira Martin, the reigning Miss Jamaica, is utilizing her platform to raise awareness about Sickle Cell. She recently hosted a fund raiser for the Sickle Cell Research Unit in Kingston, Jamaica.

Martin, who was born with Sickle Cell, will compete in the Miss Universe competition, which airs live from Brazil Sept. 12 on NBC. Pennsylvanian Dominique Friend, also a sickle cell patient, is partnering with churches for a national awareness campaign. For more information about Friend’s advocacy, visit her website.

To learn more about breaking the sickle cycle, click here to visit the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (Proclaim will be posting various messages about Sickle Cell on its Facebook page throughout the month of September.)

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PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

6 Ways Churches Fail With Their Website

By Drew Goodmanson Over the last 5 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving numerous churches and organizations to help them translate their mission into a web strategy. We’ve met with the key leadership of some of the largest, fastest growing churches in North America, turn-around churches and church planting networks through our Church Web

website. When we work with churches, we like to see goals created that drive the design/ strategy process. For example, one church wants to go from 60% of their church in small groups to 80% and their website design facilitates this. Another church sought to more than double the number of people visiting the New Visitor info (see

about Oasis? I’m guessing you don’t know what those are. Often churches become too organization focused, designing for internal people & ministry leaders not end users/visitors. How can a new person find what they are looking for without knowing your internal language?

4. The Blind leading the Blind –

screenshots.)

2. Ministry Schizophrenia – Ministry schizophrenia often strikes in larger churches with many ministries. Too many cooks are in the kitchen and they want their ministry front-and-center. In our strategy sessions, we often uncover that as the senior leadership clarifies their vision/mission, ministries either don’t know how to connect what they do to this or have competing agendas. It’s incredibly powerful when an organization can align their ministry leaders behind the key strategic initiatives of a church. As one person on our team said, “It’s amazing how often an indicator of problems and communication is within the church by looking at the website.” How are you aligning your ministries to work together to achieve what God is calling your church to do?

3. Enough about you, let’s talk about ME – Would you like to join the Elevate ministry? Or how

This occurs when no one has thought through the reason for a website, there is a clear lack of clarity of vision and purpose. Sadly, we’ve seen several churches handoff the website design process to people who do not have the experience to navigate the complexity and buy-in to lead the vision to succeed. The end result is noise/clutter and unclear direction for the website.

5. Death by Committees – Many churches we’ve come across suffer from this bureaucratic malaise. It seems like by the time you make a decision on the web strategy, because of the process (committees/ bureaucracy), what you originally planned is already out of date by the time you finish. The web changes so fast, it requires a more responsive approach. Who can lead in this agile environment? Who is going to ensure you have your Twitter handle or you have a Social Media Policy to respond to criticism?

Technically Speaking Strategy Sessions and Communication Roundtables.

Here are the 6 most common ways I’ve seen churches fail when they seek to translate their vision online: 1. Skymall Syndrome – This syndrome often strikes when someone in leadership sees something shiny and (usually) unnecessary, like when while flying we think we need to buy something in the Skymall magazine (confession: I’ve done this once).

After seeing this flashy object, a church leader wants it for their church. The failure of this strategy is that often people spend a lot of money on a flashy website but it does not make a substantial impact on their organization. Pretty website are a waste of time and money because they are not enough. Today, a thought out strategy is essential because a new generation of digital natives are growing up, where the new front-door to your church is the 6

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

6 Ways...

continued

6. Volunteer Hostage Situation – I cannot tell you how many times we’ve run into this situation: When a volunteer has control of the site, it leads to failure. Usually it is a techie or key member. If I had a nickel for every time someone shared a story of a church member who managed the website and then moved away, leaving the church in a lurch. Or a techie who programmed something only they could use. We’ve found very few churches who succeed when they have volunteers lead the online communication channel. We often coach communication teams to act as consultants to ministry leaders not gatekeepers. If only one person controls adding content online, there is a serious bottleneck.

Another time a church with a school had a key giver run the website who was unwilling to relinquish control.

The school was not able to be found online because of poor programming and code, and the site looked like it was from the 90s.

When a separate website was built that addressed several of these shortcomings, enrollment increased by 1/3. They’ve hit capacity in preschool and kindergarten since the launch of this new website.

An online presence has become an essential element of interacting with people. Churches need a clear leadership plan to establish their vision, align their ministries and build a plan with specific goals in mind. With how fast things are changing, this can’t be a roadmap that becomes obsolete by the time it’s created, it needs to be a learned rhythm that constantly triages the situation to focus on where the church needs to go.

ServiceU Offers Debit-Only Option For Electronic Giving To Churches and Faith-Based Nonprofits.

The traditional collection plate is increasingly becoming a thing of the past as technology continues to make access to cash increasingly electronic.

As more Americans have turned to credit/ debit cards and to paying bills online, many faith-based organizations are following suit. Some churches encourage members to give online via church websites or even mobile applications, while others place ATM-like kiosks in the lobby.

ServiceU offers a debit-only option to online giving and payments for churches and faith-based nonprofits in an effort to comply with the debt-free lifestyle to which many church-goers subscribe.

7

“ServiceU believes the church should decide whether or not it will accept credit cars, not the software,” says CEO Tim Whitehorn. “We now have an option for churches who want to make it easy for members to give online, but don’t feel comfortable with the idea of tithing using a credit card.”

“Churches should be able to choose the types of cards they accept and for what purpose,” he adds.

“This new feature makes debit-only giving convenient for members via their mobile phone, personal computer, or giving kiosk.”

This means no interest, no annual fees, an no late fees, which means church members are donating money they actually have.

If you need help, we offer a 3-step consulting framework for Church Web Strategy Sessions that address these concerns and give you a way forward based on what we’ve learned leading many organizations successfully through this.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Drew Goodmanson serves as CEO of Monk Development and is co-founder/ pastor at Kaleo Church. Monk is an internet strategy and development company. Monk created Ekklesia 360, which is used by thousands of churches and ministries.

Drew often speaks at conferences and has written for several national publications about how churches/ ministries can use the Internet.

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PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

“The greatest fulfillment I have is to see people that were broken and hurting, just like me, be able to get whole and heal, and step into the plan God has for their life. That’s what ministry’s all about to me.”

Photo by Sidney Davis/Marvelous Photography

Mission Possible: Finding God’s Plan For Your Life

By Deborah M. Todd

Expectations put upon ministers, first ladies and others who fall within the realm of church leadership often rocket beyond the atmosphere fit for human habitation.

Unrealistic as it may be, many church leaders shoot for the perfection of the sky, binding their missions to serve God and congregants to projecting images of unwavering faith, no personal turmoil and perfect families.

And as leaders aim ever higher toward those expectations, flying above the complexity of their true selves and choking on the increasingly thin air that comes with the climb, many find themselves looking down at a congregation that likens 8

them to distant stars in the sky; untouchable creations who couldn’t begin to understand the ups and downs of their pedestrian lives on Terra Firma.

For Michelle Nuzzo, the climb toward being an effective first lady of Victory Family Church in Cranberry, Pa. wasn’t an attempt to elevate above the church members. It was more about pulling herself from the depths of a painful childhood and crippling depression. It was more of an attempt to believe she was at least as good as the congregants.

Today, her life’s mission is to show people how much more life has to offer beyond their own pain and to show how much they can offer the world

once they find courage to confront their traumas.

“It’s like a boil,” she begins softly, her southern lilt still perceptible despite being in Pennsylvania for more than 17 years. “At first when you cut it open it’s very painful, but then all of that gook has to come up and ease out for it to heal.

“To let God in to heal, you have to be willing to go through pain emotionally to do that. But oh, the other side is far worth it! God will always lead you to such a wonderful place you can never dream you can be in,” she continues.

Michelle says she has always been a Christian in name, but not in spirit. Coming up in the small town of Mayo, Fla., she had a difficult time after her parents divorced when she

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

CONNECT WITH VICTORY Website Facebook Vimeo

was 8. Her mother attended a church that offered little in the way of spiritual guidance.

Michelle found herself steeped in depression and seeking approval from her peers.

“Growing up, I had very poor self esteem, being raised in a single parent home and not having a dad. I was a really depressed, insecure teenager,” she states. “On the outside it wouldn’t look like that but I really struggled with finding a purpose for even living.”

At the age of 18, she grudgingly attended Lighthouse Christian Fellowship in Mayo, with her mother. She became born again and started attending services regularly. She found new understanding in scriptures that had previously only been conveyed as a series of parables. She also met John Nuzzo, the man she would marry not long after Michelle’s twentieth birthday.

After traveling to churches across the country, the couple set out on a missionary trip to South Africa, returning to establish a church at God’s instruction.

“I had a tough time learning to let God mold me and teach me how to be a pastor’s wife. At first I was so afraid,” she states, “afraid of people; really, of disappointing them. I’m a people pleaser type of person. It was a struggle learning how to balance that and to be true to myself and God, learning to only please him.”

As the church grew from 17 members to more than 2,500, Michelle embraced the challenge with much prayer. After taking over the church’s women’s ministry, she transformed it to an engine that encouraged spiritual growth

“The women I’ve always ministered to would say [they’re] never a good enough wife or mother or good enough in [their] careers. But that’s such a lie of the enemy. You have a great purpose in life and God has a great destiny for your life.”

Michelle Nuzzo

while forging friendships through bowling trips and pajama parties. She also planted ministries for young adults and single moms, all while raising three children, who are now teenagers.

In leading women in the ministry toward finding their own strengths and callings, Michelle was able to find her own.

“I think women struggle so much in their identity that they feel like they’re never enough. The women I’ve always ministered to would say [they’re] never a good enough wife or mother or good enough in [their] careers.

But that’s such a lie of the enemy,” she states.

“You have a great purpose in life and God has a great destiny for your life.”

“The greatest fulfillment I have is to see people that were broken and hurting, just like me, be able to get whole and heal, and step into the plan God has for their life. That’s what ministry’s all about to me.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deborah M. Todd is an award winning journalist currently reporting for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

Two Sides Of The Coin

By Amy Trosen

I met an abused husband the other day. It was one of the saddest sights I have ever witnessed. No, his wife did not beat him with the frying pan, nor did she try to poison his food, She abused him nevertheless. How? By refusing to accord him the respect God says is his due. She will tell anyone within hearing distance that her husband is useless, selfish, unloving, and that she wants a divorce.

Do you know women like that? I encounter them often in my "Christian" world, women who refuse to respect their husbands and who, without conscience, heap abuse on them to anyone who will pause to listen. But my husband doesn't love me, they say. He won't lift a finger to help me, they whine.

There are two sides to this coin.

True, the husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church, but equally true is that the wife should

ry a t n me m o C

respect her husband. Do you respect your husband? Do you admire him in his areas of strength and refuse to

DO YOU ADMIRE [YOUR HUSBAND] IN HIS AREAS OF STRENGTH AND REFUSE TO BELITTLE HIM? belittle him in his areas of weakness? Did you know that men crave respect from their wives and that we have a duty before God to admire them.

God showed me a few years ago that it is as hard for men to love their wives as it is for women to respect their husbands. As women we tend to think of ourselves as lovable, but in marriage, frequently we are not. In fact, it is more likely that in a marriage, the wife is the abusive partner, not the husband.

Oftentimes the reason a husband retreats to the safety of the couch and television or all-consuming hobbies is to avoid interaction with his wife that may invite acrimony, anger, discontent, and whining such as he never encounters out in the world. At work he is sought out and

admired. At home he is shouted at and snubbed. Sisters in Christ, these things should not be! If we belong to Christ, we must treat our husbands as Christ treats us...with compassion. The wife is the helpmeet; she is not the Holy Spirit.

God hates divorce. It scares me when I encounter belligerent women who insist on their rights over their precious husband's feelings. A woman can make or break a man. So look for the good in your mate. Praise him in his areas of strength. Pray for him in his areas of weakness. Never, never allow anyone...not your mother, not your father, not your children, not your friends, not your co-workers, not his enemies to belittle him in your presence. He may know nothing else for sure but this one thing: My wife is on my side.

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE." Proverbs 31:11-12 Sisters in Christ, let's purpose together to begin today to honor our husbands, to publicly admire his strengths, and to leave his weaknesses to God's correction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR For more devotional thoughts from this contributing writer, you can visit Amy Trosen's blog.

Grants For Ministries That Give Life Around The World Dan Maclellan and Russell Courtney, founders of The SoulCare Project, and Kerry Bural, principal and founder of The Resonate Group, are working together to give Christian ministries a financial and promotional boost.

The SoulCare Project offers leaders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether in ministry, the marketplace, or at home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the opportunity to find an intentional place of rest and solitude with Christ. The Resonate Group, Inc. helps ministries, churches, and 10

leaders enlarge their footprint through strategic and creative thinking, branding, and communications.

At GivingOfLife.com, ministries with an annual budget of $4 million or less can apply for a financial grant through a simple online process. In Maclellan's words, "Giving of Life is different from the traditional grant process. It captures the reach and power of social media to allow smaller yet vital ministries to share their stories with a larger

audience than they would otherwise be able to access."

Ministries apply online and are then viewed and voted on by site visitors. The Giving of Life Grant Committee will review the top 50 finalists and the top three winners will be chosen on December 16 to receive a grant of $50,000, $20,000 or $10,000.

Furthermore, an additional 17 ministries in the top 50 will be given a $2,000 grant as a result of contributions made by supporters.

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

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11

This Tiny Word Contains The Power Of A Thousand Hydrogen Bombs

By A. Brother

Brothers and Sisters, Are you in the middle of hard times? Do you wonder when God will act on your behalf? Has God asked you to put away t hings that you love, and take up things you don't? Have you lost your sure path, and wander now in the wilderness, only able to say, "Your will be done?"

Barely able to pray, are you exhausted with weeping, and lonely beyond words?

For you, I share a word. This word is short, but powerful to the pulling down of Satan's strongholds.

This word is three letters long. It is seldom thought of, and seldom used. It is a word fallen out of favor in the English language.

We are to be people of the Word of God. And this is one word that we would do well to add to our arsenal of weapons against the enemy and his schemes.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior."

– Habakuk 3: 17,18

ry a t n me m o C

"Though He slay me, YET will I hope in Him." – Job 13:15 The word YET is strong and powerful. It is a declaration.

When all else fails, YET will I have faith and hope in the Lord.

If the world falls apart around me, YET will I love God and serve Him. If my friends and family forsake me, YET will I have my Savior.

Though my money is gone, and I am hungry and afraid, YET will I declare the praises of my God. Though my job disappears, and there is no car in the garage, YET will I hold onto Jesus Christ and His Word.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

This Tiny Word... continued Even when people stand against me, and abuse me, and watch for my failure with great expectation, YET will I not despair, but stand firm in my faith.

When those I have counted on for care and mercy are pitiless and hardenedâ&#x20AC;Ś When my enemies triumph over me, sing songs over me, count me out of the raceâ&#x20AC;Ś When the worst thing happens, and the best thing is a distant memoryâ&#x20AC;Ś When the earthquake destroys, and the tsunami rolls inâ&#x20AC;Ś When the foundations of the earth are shaken, and my greatest efforts produce nothingâ&#x20AC;Ś When evil prevails around me, and sin dominates the society I live inâ&#x20AC;Ś When my heart is pounding in fear, and my lungs cannot breathe, and my legs will not move with terrorâ&#x20AC;Ś YET WILL I! YET WILL I! YET WILL I! The worst happens, YET God is God, and He will not forget me or forsake me.

Oh, storm-tossed children of God, may we know the power of this little, three letter word that contains the seed of a thousand spiritual hydrogen bombs.

Though ______________ , YET will I trust in the Lord.

Christ died, YET He was resurrected in power.

So shall we be with Him, if we hold to the same love and faith handed down to us.

YET WILL I HOPE IN HIM.

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Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

- Proverbs 14: 1

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IRS Alert: Church Congregations Victimized By Tax Scammers The Internal Revenue Service is warning local churches to beware of scammers who promote programs that supposedly offer free government money. The IRS is issuing an urgent alert because some of these promoters have tricked church leaders into allowing them access to congregations.

“These scammers are preying upon the good intentions and credibility of churches,” said Dan Boone, IRS spokesman for Alabama and Tennessee.

“People must be vigilant in order to discern the truth and avoid becoming victims of tax scams.”

According to Boone, promoters of these scams often prey upon low-income individuals and the elderly. Flyers and advertisements for free money from the IRS, suggesting that people can file with little or no documentation, have been appearing in many community churches across the country. In fact, the IRS has heard from or become aware of victims who have bought into this scam in nearly 2/3 of the states in the U.S.

Boone says these scams appear to spread like wildfire. “In some communities, it seems like the scam shows up one day and dozens of these claims are filed overnight,” he said. “But when the IRS starts contacting people about the bogus claims, the scammers are long gone with the victims’ money.”

The promoters often lure victims with testimonies from people who have supposedly received checks from the IRS as a result of filing these refund claims.

“While these promises of free money may sound tempting, people should remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Boone said. “Remember, too, that if the IRS issues a check based on a false claim, that money will have to be repaid, probably with interest and penalties added.”

He also pointed out that people who share their private information with someone they don’t know are risking possible identity theft. “It’s sad that someone might pay good money for bad advice, then also end up having their personal information misused,” Boone said.

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received, plus interest and civil penalties.

But, he said, the IRS can and does pursue criminal charges against scam promoters who willfully advocate the filing of these false claims and welcomes tips from the public that might help the agency stop them. People can send tax fraud tips to the IRS using Form 3949-A. The form is available at www.IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM. Tips can be sent in on the form or in a letter mailed to: Internal Revenue Service, Fresno, CA 93888.

Boone urged people to always check directly with the government regarding benefits or programs that are unfamiliar or sound questionable. Anyone with questions about a tax credit, rebate or program should visit www.IRS.gov, call the IRS toll-free number at 800-829-1040 or visit a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.

How does one recognize these tax scams? People should be wary of any of the following: • Fictitious claims for refunds or rebates based on excess or withheld Social Security benefits.

• Claims that Treasury Form 1080 can be used to transfer funds from the Social Security Administration to the IRS enabling a payout from the IRS. • Unfamiliar for-profit tax services teaming up with local churches.

• Home-made flyers and brochures implying credits or refunds are available without proof of eligibility.

• Offers of free money with no documentation required.

• Promises of refunds for “Low Income – No Documents Tax Returns.”

• Claims for the expired Economic Recovery Credit Program or for the Recovery Rebate Credit.

• Advice on claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit based on exaggerated reports of selfemployment income.

Ancient Burial Box Offers Biblical Clues TEL AVIV, Israel (UPI) – A 2,000year-old burial box could reveal the location of the family of Caiaphas,

the high priest involved in the crucifixion of Jesus, Israeli researchers say.

Ossuaries – ancient limestone burial boxes – are common archaeological finds from the first century B.C. to the first century A.D. Researchers at Tel Aviv University say the inscription on an ossuary confiscated from antiquities looters three years ago could reveal the home of the family of the Biblical

figure and high priest Caiaphas prior to their exodus to Galilee after A.D. 70, a TAU release reported.

While most ancient ossuaries are either unmarked or mention only the name of the deceased, the inscription on this one is extraordinary, in that the deceased is named within the contest of three generations and a potential location, says Yuval Goren of TAU’s Department of Archaeology, who was called on to authenticate it.

The full inscription reads: “Miriam daughter of Yeshua son of Caiaphas, priest of Maaziah from Beth Imri.”

The Maaziah refers to an order of high priests during the second temple period of Jewish history, Goren said. The ossuary is thought to come from a burial site in the Valley of Elah, southwest of Jerusalem, the legendary location of the battle between David and Goliath.

Beit Imri was probably located on the slopes of Mount Hebron, the researchers said.

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Christian Advanced-Placement Courses Garner Excellent Exam Scores

PURCELLVILLE, Va. – It's an increasing trend: advancedplacement courses taught from a religious perspective. These courses cater to home schools and private schools, and in addition to being approved by the College Board as official Advanced Placement (AP) courses, they offer a strong Christian component.

"One of the distinctives of Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy is a Christian worldview," said Adam Rohner, program director of an online course provider for home schooled and private-schooled students. "We want our students to gain a deep understanding of academic subject matter while viewing it in the context of their faith. Our students grapple with questions like, what does the Bible say about this subject?

How have Christians throughout history dealt with it?"

The approach seems to be working. According to the College Board's AP Subject Score Roster for Online Providers, 83% of students who completed a course at PHC Prep Academy during the 2010–11 academic year and took the corresponding AP exam in May 2011 received a score of three or higher. Scoring high on AP exams can qualify students to receive college credit or advanced placement when they begin their undergraduate studies.

"The latest score results demonstrate that PHC Prep Academy's combination of rigorous academics with a Christian worldview gives students excellent preparation for success on AP exams," said Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Chairman Michael Farris. HSLDA is a national advocacy organization for home schoolers.

The AP Subject Score Roster for Online Providers displays scores for each exam taken by PHC Prep students who identified PHC Prep as their online provider when they took the exam. AP exams are scored on a scale of one to five, indicating whether the student is qualified in the exam's subject and recommended to receive college credit or advanced placement.

Most colleges consider three or higher to be a passing score.

PHC Prep Academy students shone on each AP exam they took, with 24% receiving a three, 36% a four, and 23% a five. In all subjects, PHC Prep students' average scores were dramatically higher than the average of all AP scores in the same subjects, as reported by the College Board for 2010. (The College Board has not yet released global AP exam score data for May 2011.)

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

Buy The Book Reading For The Mind, Body & Soul

An American Woman Risked Her Life, Family & Faith To Bring Jesus To Muslim Women "Women began to arrive in the entry hall, peeling away their black outer coverings. I watched in amazement as shimmering bodies emerged from the black shrouds.

One woman sparkled in a purple silk caftan, her arms gleaming with gold jewelry. I smiled to myself. If people only knew what was under those veils.

I looked at their faces, artfully painted with makeup, not at all how they appeared in public: dark eyes in narrow black slits. They were like the beauties of Arab folklore. I was awed by the transformation."

With only prayer and a faith that always seemed too small, Audra Grace Shelby departed with her husband and three children on a one-way flight to Yemen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; deep into the heart of conservative Islam.

She shares her harrowing journey as a Christian woman in a culture dangerously different from her own.

From the friendships she forged, to her gnawing doubt and fear, to her offers of hope when her new friends' religion failed them, she gives us glimpses of a world most have never seen: behind the veils of real Muslim women, and how the grace of God touches lives in the midst of an Islamic stronghold.

Available at Chosen Books.

The Entire World Now Downloadable In Minutes Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Operation World, the definitive prayer guide to every nation, from Biblica Publishing is now available in multiple electronic formats to support any e15

book reader, including iPad, Kindle, Sony, Nook and more.

Operation Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-book includes easy-to-follow summaries of every nation, and updates on church growth, population, people and language statistics; explanations of major currents in economics, politics, and society; and challenges for prayer and specific answers to prayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The exciting part is now anyone, anywhere in the world, has immediate access to this powerful resource. Until recently, Operation World was only available as a traditional book, CDROM, or DVD. Ready to download immediately, the prayer guide is available in every format imaginable,â&#x20AC;? said Mike Dworak, director of marketing for Biblica Publishing.

The e-book is fully searchable in full color when devices are colorcompatible.

Operation Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table of contents is hyperlinked and has bookmark features. Operation World is available for purchase at BiblicaDirect, and GMI. For more than 40 years, Operation World continues to be the primary global resource encouraging readers to pray for world missions and evangelism. Since the original edition as printed in 1974, more than 2.5 million copies have been sold.

Are America's Churches Helping People Grow?

(Christian Newswire) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; How do you measure the effectiveness of a church?

Budget? Attendance? Or do metrics exist that not only measure the spiritual health of a church, but also help a church create deeper levels of discipleship, satisfaction and ministry.

The new book, MOVE, by Greg L.

Hawkins and Cally Parkinson reports the findings from a comprehensive spiritual life survey administered to more than 280,000 people in more than 1,200 churches across every size, denomination, region, ethnicity and demographic in the country.

The MOVE study provides leaders with insights to evaluate their programs and help attendees achieve spiritual growth. In addition, the study reveals eight startling insights that the authors urge church leaders to read and heed.

For more information visit Zondervan.com/move.

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PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

Ministry BornThrough Discipling Young Women

By Sonya M. Toler

An area of struggle for single Christians is deciding what is acceptable or unacceptable as they enter into dating relationships?

After discipling several young adult women, Dionne Edmonds, of Pittsburgh, PA’s Macedonia Baptist Church, realized that God had equipped her with the skill to counsel these young ladies in the area of dating, and a ministry was born.

Live Well Love Well teaches women how to date in a manner that honors God. Edmonds partners with churches, campus ministries and other organizations to provide workshops and conferences that are Biblically based and culturally sensitive.

“Once I realized that the Lord had given me some wisdom in that area, the more I realized that he was calling me do something more,” she explains.

In January of 2011, the ministry became official and “Minister Dionne,” as she is known, continued

16

fulfilling her calling to teach young women how to “date well.”

The teaching material offers sound Biblical doctrine mixed with a good dose of first-hand experience.

“My mother and father did what they could in raising me with the resources that they had,” Edmonds says. “They talked to me about waiting, but there really wasn’t much beyond that. Part of what I’m sharing is a deeper understanding of what the scripture says and how to apply that.”

Live Well Love Well offers a customizable teaching for workshops and conferences. Some of the topics include: “Calling Up Your Boas And All That In Between,” “So I’m Going On A Date Now What,” and “Loving Well: A Conversation About Godly Love.”

To find out more about the Live Well Love Well ministry, visit the website and e-mail Amanda Ludwig to arrange a workshop or conference for your organization.

MARRIAGE R E T R E AT CENTER OPENS The National Institute of Marriage (NIM) cut the ribbon for its new retreat center located at the newly renovated Sunset Inn, in Branson, MO. Now serving as the home of the Marriage Intensives retreats NIM has facilitated for more than a decade, the new facility boasts views of Lake Taneycomo, private guest rooms, and a main dinning hall.

The ministry began as part of the Smalley Relationship Center and, in 2003, Greg Smalley founded NIM to save marriages and inspire couples toward greatness.

Today, the ministry serves hundreds of couples from around the nation through its intensive programs.

According to data released by NIM, 84.6% of the participating couples remain married after two years.

“We know this will be a place of refuge for many marriages, giving couples with painful and complex situations hope for a new beginning,” says Mark Pyatt, NIM co-president.

Three, two-day Couple Experience conferences are scheduled through year’s end, of which two are free events for pastors and spouses. Check out the website for details.

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com

A PI CT URE IS WO RT H 1 ,0 0 0 WO RDS GRACE CHURCH (PHILADELPHIA, PA) HOLDS A PRAYER VIGIL CALLING FOR AN END TO STREET VIOLENCE.

PASTOR NELLIE BRYANT OF HARRISBURG, PA’S NEW BIRTH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SPEAKS AT A WOMEN’S EVENT AT NEW HOPE LIVING BAPTIST CHURCH, STEELTON, PA, IN APRIL.

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON PANUSKA COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES DEAN DEBRA PELLEGRINO (HONOREE/ LEFT), WITH DONNA SIMPSON, OF THE UNIVERSITY’S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ARE SHOWN DURING THE JUNE NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TOP WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS. SCRANTON IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CATHOLIC AND JESUIT UNIVERSITY.

MEMBERS OF ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (HENDERSON, KY) POSE WITH CHILDREN DURING A MISSION TRIP TO KANKOOLE, UGANDA IN JULY.

17

PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - www.proclaimmag.com