The Good News Chronicles by The Good News Chronicles

MARCH 2011

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

| FREE |

347.792.0073 / 347.737.8729

www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Ye Must Be Born Again

MARCH 2011

thegoodnewschronicles@gmail.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

These are personal questions that should cause hat does the Bible have to say about each of us to take a look inside and allow the light of GOSSIP? Well, let’s first define what the Holy Spirit to reveal what is really hidden in our gossip means.

Gossip: scandalmonger, tattletale, Nosy Parker, chatter, blather, rumormonger, blabbermouth, bigmouth There are many people who profess to be Christians. Yet, professing one’s fidelity and love to Christ is more than mere words. It should be seen through the light of Christ within us on a daily basis. Don’t be fooled, it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure some things out. People will know us by the fruit hanging on our tree. Scriptures tell us what is improper for God’s holy people. It admonishes us to keep away from all moral filth and evil. How many people have you heard say “Uh-huh, amen, and preach pastor”, yet, forget all that was taught in the lesson immediately as they walked out the church doors. James 1:22 says that we should not be hearers of the Word only but DOERS. We live in a world where a corrupt society seeks to influence and defile our godly character and integrity. But a lack of vigilance and wisdom can lead you into the pitfalls of indiscretion and impudence, and before you know it, you are swept away and caught up in the dirt. Proverbs 20:19 reads “He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore meddle not,” in other words, do not interfere, snoop, and gossip, “with him that flatters with his lips”. There are a number of reasons why we should refrain from gossip: 1. Gossip separates and hurts friends (Proverbs 16:38) 2. Gossip causes damage by betraying confidence (Prov. 11:12-13) 3. Gossips are usually half-truths and distorted information Those who behave in this manner do nothing but stir up trouble and cause dissention and division. That is why the Bible tells us to RUN (emphasis mine) or keep away from people who behave this way. A negative spirit is like poison ivy; it spreads quickly. Let’s define the word deed: something done, an intentional act, actions. James 1:25 tells us that if we hear and do what is right that our deeds would be blessed. Have you ever wondered why your “deeds” were not successful or prosperous? Is the deed matching up with laying aside all moral filthiness and evil? Or are you operating in a deceitful spirit?

Tilt your hearts toward the Son! Narda Goodson Ministries P.O. Box 624, Whitewright, TX 75491

903-357-0492

Website: http://nardagoodson.org Email: narda@nardagoodson.org Women’s Network: Predestined by God @ http://predestinedbygod.com Teen Network: Damsels in Virtuous Attire @ http://damselsinvirtuousattire.com Government & Civic: First Ladies of the Round Table @ http://firstladiesoftheroundtable.org Find Narda on Facebook & Twitter @nardagoodson

hearts. When the unveiling begins, repent and then allow the grace of God’s forgiveness and faithfulness to cleanse and change you. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. If we put on the mind of Christ daily, our life will be transformed, our deeds will be blessed, and we will be a blessing to others. In His Image, Pastor Narda Goodson First Lady of Whitewright, Texas

GOSPEL PILL

Whoever Gossips to You A DAILY DOSE OF Will Be a Gossip of You

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Maxine Duncan

and Her Exuberantly Anointed Musical Ministry

“

’m not afraid to proclaim the word of God for I’ve faced death.” This is Maxine Duncan; confident, outspoken, and blissfully infectious in her love and enjoyment of preaching the gospel, through a ministry that includes

a notable list of powerfully delivered songs. And how could they not be? Duncan honed her skills as a singer over many years, beginning at the age of nine in her native Jamaica. Perfecting her

talent in church, she was groomed and divinely anointed to spread the gospel. Still, her courage and strength would be

tested over the years as she endured the murder of a brother, the loss of a sister through breast cancer, and eluded death herself on a number of occasions while being robbed at gun point. Her faith would remain unshaken and after moving to the United States, Duncan briefly sang with the gospel group Prophecy Sons of God, through which she came to the attention of popular radio personality Gil Bailey. Mr. Bailey’s introduction of Duncan to radio and concert audiences garnered her critical acclaim. The gospel industry took note and began to pay tribute, through a number of impressive awards, such as The Gil and Pat Bailey’s Certificate of Achievement in 2000 as well as their award for the Best Female Gospel Artist of 2008 and 2009; Hopeton Lewis’ award for Female Artist of the Year in 2009, and Love Gospel Radio’s Bishop Baker’s award for Female Entertainer of the Year in 2010. I’m Committed to Jesus is her latest CD for which she has prodigiously written eleven original songs, and judging by the tremendous international response to the first release, Glory and Honor to the King, her infectious ministry seems clearly destined to infect the entire world.

maxine.duncan@yahoo.com

Cheryl Linton

• singing evangelist •

he has saved souls, soothed troubled spirits, amplified the word of God, and celebrated His loving message through her exquisite voice for decades, all without the benefits and assistance of formal training. Still, this is not surprising, for Cheryl Linton was born to sing the gospel. Growing up in her native Barbados, where she was raised and baptized, Linton was fortunate to have had a mother who also sang the gospel and undoubtedly deserves some of the credit for her daughter’s chosen profession. Nevertheless, it was Linton’s exposure to the power of the music that ultimately filled her with an abiding dedication. As she describes it, “I grew up in the church,” an important cultivation for an artist who would eventually become one of gospel music’s most skilled practitioners. For over 30 years she has assiduously developed a ministry based upon spreading God’s promise through words, music, and the power of her incredible voice. This ministry has afforded her the opportunity to impact the lives of many through churches as well as through the mediums of radio and television. Linton sees her ministry not only as an opportunity to expose the world to inspiring music, but more crucially as a means of improving the lives of the spiritually vanquished, wherever they may be, including those who are incarcerated, as she has developed a grateful following of inmates in some of our most hardened prisons. “The song must have a message,” insists Linton. This credo is her most basic motivation for performing or occupying any stage, and it is this glorious message and her amazing talent that keeps us listening. Visit: www.cheryllinton.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

Pastor Leighton

astor Leighton D. Smith was born in St. Ann, Jamaica. In 1982, at about 23 years of age, the young aspiring Businessman was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 3rd stage. He spent over one year visiting three different Pastor Smith in Israel overlooking hospitals: Kingston Public Hospital, the Valley of National Chest Hospital, and the Megiddo University Hospital of the West Indies. A rigorous treatment plan involving Radiotherapy (400 rads of radiation) and Chemotherapy was administered. In the midst of the great conflict, God showed favor to Leighton though he did not know the Lord. In the spring of 1983 he was granted permanent residency in the United States, despite his medical condition. He attributes this to a praying mother and the brethren at her Church in New York. In New York, Leighton was admitted to Kings County Hospital, where he continued to receive Chemotherapy He is also the host of the popular program treatments. At the urging of COUNTDOWN heard across the Tri-state region his mother, he began to attend (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) on WMCA Church during the summer RADIO 570AM, every Friday night at 11:06pm. months of 1983. A hopeless, After being raised from the deathlost, dying sinner eventually surrendered to the Lord and has been bed by the Lord, Leighton was led to “FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF Wall Street. In November 1985, after working for a while with Merrill Lynch FAITH” ever since. The Bible says, “FAITH COMETH Inc., Leighton started his own business; BY HEARING AND HEARING BY a messenger company named Prompt THE WORD OF GOD” (Romans 10:17). Courier Service. Three years later, in Leighton began to tune in to the Word 1988, he met his wife Marjorie, who then of God, especially in the area of Divine took over the day to day administration of Healing and got the revelation that “BY the business. The business grew rapidly THE STRIPES OF JESUS WE ARE and at its peak had over 41 employees HEALED” (Isaiah 53:5). In the summer of various ethnicities. The Lord kept of 1983 he told the clerk at Kings County His hand on Prompt Courier for over 24 Hospital that he would not be coming years. At the end of 2009, Leighton felt it back. God honored that Word and surely was time to devote all his energies to the Leighton hasn’t been back for over 27 ½ Ministry. In 1995 Pastor Smith began to years. He is still cancer free today and has not received any prescribed medication conduct Bible studies in his Wall Street office. Subsequent to an overwhelming whatsoever during that time.

D. Smith

Pastor Leighton is in Israel on the Mount of the Beatitudes

At the Jordan River

a member of World Harvest’s Ministerial Fellowship. In 1998 Pastor Smith authored a book titled ‘SAY NO TO THAT MARK’, which reveals the upcoming cashless society, One World Government and Biblical prophecies as they relate to the end times. Believing that his Ministry is one based on Prophecy, Healing & Deliverance, PHD Pastor Smith with Jews at the Wailing Wall. as he calls it, the Lord has growth in attendance the Bible study allowed Pastor Smith to visit places soon transitioned into a Church, which is such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, U.K., today called Faith Evangelistic Ministries Wales, Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, or Wall Street Worship Center. The Kenya, India, Australia, Indonesia, ministry is located at 90 William Street Singapore, Canada, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, (between Maiden Lane & John Street) France, Belgium, Guyana, Trinidad, and is situated directly across from the Venezuela, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, Federal Reserve Bank. Pastor Smith was Barbados and several others. ordained by Pastor Rod Parsley of World Pastor Smith is also the President Harvest Church, Columbus, Ohio and is of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, New York City Chapter. He is also the host of the popular program COUNTDOWN heard across the Tristate region (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) on WMCA RADIO 570AM, every Friday night at 11:06pm. In addition, he also hosts the COUNTDOWN weekly television broadcast seen in Jamaica (CVM, Sat- 6:30am and Sun- 7:30am), Trinidad (TV6, Sun- 6:30am), Guyana (Channel2, Sun- 7:30am) and Barbados (Caribbean Broadcasting, Sun- 12:30pm) Leighton and his wife Marjorie reside on Long Island. He is a lover of Israel and has been leading tours to the Holy Land since 2000. Last tour was October 2010 and the next pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan & Egypt will be June 27th to July 7th, 2011. Price $2995.00

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Want to feel good again?

on’t let yourself be “lulled” into a false sense of security. Look around you; cancer is more prevalent than ever. Millions are suffering with heart disease, arthritic pain, 0steoporosis, migraine, gout, acid reflux, depression, sexual dysfunction, kidney failure, fibromyalgia, sickle cell, and other anemias. Diabetes is rampant, and now, also epidemic in our children on a national basis. Why are we “complacent” and so willing to accept a terribly poor health delivery system? What does that mean? It means that we are living in the 21st century, sending astronauts into outer space; everyone has his or her own personal phone, push a button and your car starts, e-mails have made international conversations “easy as pie”. Satellites beam down on our cars and tell us “turn left” “make a u-turn” etc. So, incredible advances in daily life are at our fingertips..and yet, our society is sick and getting sicker. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF JUST BY MAKING SOME SIMPLE CHANGES IN YOUR DAILY LIFE.. YOU COULD WORK TOWARD OVER COMING CHRONIC ILLNESSES...Would you like to know how? OK..but, first we need to look at the statistics especially in the AfricanAmerican community. Heart disease and cancer are the first and second leading cause of death. The rate of high blood pressure is among the highest in the world. African-American men are more likely to develop and die from diet - related cancers such as prostate and stomach cancer than white men. Women are

“rethink”..we need to “back off” a bit on the material things that we all put too much emphasis on. We need to go back to “basics”..We need to follow our teachings. The time has come for US to “take charge of our health destiny”. IT’S NOT FAIR, THAT PEOPLE ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE OK.. AND NEED TO KEEP RENEWING THE PRESCRIPTION.., that’s what needs to be done in some, cases...But, people with chronic disease cannot depend on just a prescription drug! It’s not that easy. You won’t get better.. health will continue to decline.. Drugs were never developed to take the place of your own lifestyle- foods, ways to improve your blood circulation, sleep habits etc. There are ways to actually “Get Over” diabetes, high blood more likely to die from diet-related pressure, joint pain etc. cancers such as colon and rectum and stomach cancer than white women. CONCERNED PHYSICIANS The National Center on Minority FOR HEALTHY LONGEVITY... Health and Health Disparities has been OFFER FREE ROUNDTABLE awarded a number of grants to further MEETINGS WEEKLY IN A NUMBER the research on these diseases. OF CITIES. With all of this being said..I must The “Round Table” gives people point out that, inasmuch, as we live in a an opportunity to hear others talk about highly advanced technological society; how they overcame various illnesses the daily practice of medicine is still in and also find out for themselves the last century. how they can overcome their health Doctors need to regain “control” of a “runaway” prescription drug Industry. The FDA, supposedly, the “watchdog” on risky drugs, has approved too many prescription drugs that have led to heart attacks, strokes and even deaths. Vioxx, a drug for joint pain relief, which ended up with thousands of wrongful death lawsuits, was finally taken off the market, by Merck (the manufacturer). However, “Celebrex” which has the exact chemical component as Vioxx, is still happily advertised on TV daily; Avandia, which was the world’s largest selling (3.2 billion dollar profit to Galaxo/Smith just last year alone) diabetic prescription, finally was taken off the market 3 months ago only after the NY Times printed an article summarizing the findings of a United States Senate Subcommittee 2 years study which stated that “about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be averted -every month- if the popular drug Avandia was removed from the market”. The Lord did not create us with a drug store on the corner! He created wonderful human beings with highly complex systems that have a tremendous “resilience” against disease and cellular breakdown. We all need to

PROVEN FACTS: • Stress adds acid to your blood cells • Stress speeds up aging. • Cancer cells love sweets.

problems. PROVEN FACTS: Cancer cells love sweets. Cancer cells thrive in an “acidic” environment. Sugar is Acid! Drink Coke, Pepsi etc and look forward to bone deminerlization..(ost eoporosis). Find out more at the next “roundtable”. Find out which vitamins (nutrients) will lower high Cholesterol blood levels and which popular cholesterol Rx, has caused thousands of cases of “rhabdomyalosis” (irreversible) muscle wasting disease. Learn how to build a strong Immune System. Learn how to rebuild your mitochondria and the telomeres that are part of your cellular makeup to lead into healthy Longevity. Learn how to “recapture” the “energy” that you’ve been losing over the years. STRESS ADDS ACID TO YOUR BLOOD CELLS, STRESS SPEEDS UP AGING. LEARN ABOUT THE NUTRIENTS THAT THE ASTRONAUTS ARE TAKING ON THEIR EXTENDED SPACE MISSION. NASA HAS APPROVED “AMERISCIENCE” FORMULAS.

863.509.9059 for more

Call information

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

METRO PLUS AD (FULL PAGE BLACK&WHITE) (SEE NEWSPAPER)

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

editor’s cor ne r CRY OUT BEFORE CRYING

Crying is common their souls fainted and can be seen and in them. Then they heard throughout the cried unto the Lord universe. Many cry in their trouble and He delivered them out because they feel hopeless and are saddened of their distresses.” Even though we have by their thoughts; many cry because they displeased God and have turned to our own have lost someone or something special; ways, God’s mercy unto us is everlasting. many are losing their homes, their sanity and One of the reasons that we suffered others are crying because of hunger and other and cried is because of separation. Sin has circumstances. separated us from God, and we have taken Too long our children have been dying Him away from our dinner table, out of our in our streets, leaving mothers crying; too schools, and from many other places in often our men are put into prison leaving our society. The question is, “When was the last children as wanderers, seeking a father figure, Veronica Thawney time you sat with your family at the dinner sometimes aligning themselves with the Editor-in-Chief/CEO table and ask someone to grace the table? wrong person. What are we doing to save our children The whole world has something to cry about, but this kind and the world at large? Are we willing to just sit back and of crying will earn us nothing but sickness and heart failure. Let continue to be carnally minded or come together and cry us begin to change this cry of hopelessness and fashion our out to God? Psalm 107:17, 19 mentioned, “Fools because cry in the way God instructed us. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my of their transgressions and because of their iniquity are people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, afflicted. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and and pray, and seek my face, then will I hear from heaven and He saves them out their distresses.” will forgive their sins and will heal the land.” Our God is waiting Even when you are close to the gates of death, for us to love one another and care for each other; He’s waiting don’t give up; hold back your tears and cry out to for us to come before him and cry out instead of being divided God. Remember that where two or three are gathered among ourselves. He is waiting to lift our burdens and to dry touching anything concerning Him, he is there to bless. our tears. He is listening for us to cry out instead of crying. So let us come together with a heart of concern and cry Psalms 107:4-6 says, “They wandered in the wilderness in a out to God for our future generation for, ‘United we stand, solitary way; they found no city to dwell in, hungry and thirsty divided we fall’.

Enduring Spirit

Good News Chronicles staff and contributing writers Veronica Thawney: Rev. Linus Baptiste: Dwayne Hudson: Maizie Vassell: Rev Douglas Gooden: Andre Frith: Herbert Pinnock: Min. Joanne Nicolls: Marcia Duncan:

Editor-in-Chief / Co-Founder/CEO. Founder/CEO Vice President Editor/Reporter International Public Relations/ Marketing Sales/Marketing Manager Marketing Adviser Layout Designer Web Designer

Contributing Writers Dr. Michael A Frith: Question & Answer Apostle Keith Elijah Thompson: Prayer Rev. Linus Baptiste: The Lord’s Master Plan Bishop M .M. Hendrikson: Spiritual Columnist Rev. Douglas Gooden: International News &Views Rev. Trudy Davis: Inspirational Columnist Maizie Vassell: Inspirational Columnist Evang. Veronica Lyle: Educational Columnist Pastor Femi Akojenu: Spiritual Warfare Betty Ann Barazzah: Marriage Columnist Claudette (Cee) Josephs: Nutritional Columnist Patrick Josephs: Real Estate Columnist Dr. Sophia Mattis, MD: Health Columnist Dr. Allan Barton, D.C.,D.O. : Health Columnist Deborah Gooden: Youth Columnist Paula Holder: Financial Empowerment Published by Veronica Thawney - Good News Chronicles Distributed by: Outreach Soldiers.

Good News Chronicles Gospel Network Multimedia Communication Resource Network

We at the Good News Chronicles provide a wide range of services as listed below: • Artist Management • Graphic Design & Printing • Artists /Pastor Agency • Song Writer • Gospel Consultant • Record Label • Music Production • Event Planning • Photography • Hosting • Limousine of the finest • Radio/TV Programming • Image Consultant • Publicist • Promotional Analyst • Video Production/Editing • Web Design • Motivational Speaking For any such service call the Christian Multimedia Resource Network at:

347-792-0073 or email us at:

gncmedianetwork@gmail.com

MARCH 20TH - DEADLINE FOR APRIL ISSUE The Good News Chronicles is a FREE monthly Christian Publication Gospel Newspaper that circulates throughout the Tri-State area. To get this publication delivered to your church or business, or to advertise: Please call: 347-737-8729 OR 347-792-0073 If you would like to plant a seed or give a donation to help with printing and distribution, you can send us a check or money order to: The Good News Chronicles P.O. Box 120077, Saint Albans, NY 11412 We truly appreciate your help for the advancing of the Kingdom of God. God Richly Bless You!

Subscribe TODAY! SUBSCRIBE TODAY Yes, I would like to subscribe to The Good News Chronicles Newspaper Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ City: ________________________ Zip: ______________ State: _____________ Tel: _________________________ Fax: ________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________________

Rates $25 - 6 Months $50 - 1 Year

Enclosed: Money Order or Check for $____________ payable to “The Good News Chronicles” The Good News Chronicles Caribbean Christian Publication, LLC P.O. Box 120077, Saint Albans, NY 11412 E-mail: thegoodnewschronicles@gmail.com

FOR ADVERTISEMENT CALL 347-737-8729 OR 347-792-0073

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

THE PRAYER LINE (LOGOS IN PREVIOUS PAPER - REPLACE)

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Brother Cash

Still Spreading His Musical Wings after All These Years

rowing up he enjoyed the singing styles of Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, but long before Brother Ezekiel Cash had ever heard of those two famous gentlemen his purpose in life and in music had already been determined. “I wanted to sing the gospel at conception,” said Brother Cash, as he noted an overwhelming desire to become a gospel singer from a very early age. Many years, twelve albums, and several international awards later, including the Caribbean Gospel World Achievement Award for his lifetime contribution to the field of gospel music, Brother Cash is acknowledged by peers and respected by gospel fans the world over for his superlative musical gifts. Although a native of St. Thomas, Jamaica, Cash is well embraced within the Southern contemporary gospel music industry. In fact, over the years many have compared his sound to that of legendary television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Considering all of this, it is no surprise that many of his musical efforts were recorded in the United States, in places such as Nashville, as well as in studious under

Special Teaching Continued from last issue The fourth step to revival is to turn from our wicked ways. I have spent many years in many different churches in New York City, preaching and teaching the Word of God. In Spanish churches in Washington Heights, Manhattan, African American churches in Harlem, in African churches in the Bronx, teaching Christians in Brooklyn. Different denominations, different races, different backgrounds. There is nothing more wonderful on this earth than being with and ministering to the people of God. Nothing! Many wicked ways are creeping into the churches. Christians are being infected with something called the “Dirt” disease. Divorce rates are just as high now in the Christian churches as outside in the world. Wives are in rebellion against their husbands. “You can’t tell me what to do”, is the common yell of the wives. Our church children are lost in computer games and T.V violence. We have more young people by far in our prisons all over America, than any other country in the world , including Russia and China! There is an old saying: “Monkey see, monkey do”! We see crime on T.V every night; we do crime in our family and on the streets. Men have sex and sin on their minds, sex words in their mouths continually!

the auspices of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). It was in Nashville where Cash first stepped into a recording studio to record a musical testament to his relationship with the Lord. So overcome with emotion was the seasoned engineer at the controls, following Cash’s performance of his first song, Farther Along, that the gentleman was compelled to take a break before continuing with the session. This of course was not a surprising reaction to the voice of a man who has been imbued with the powerful spirit of the Lord from his earliest recollection, an ordained minister with an anointed musical talent to counsel those who are troubled and ease the pain of those who are suffering. For more than ten years Brother Cash has built a ministry dedicated to helping the poor and others in need. Through his ministry he has fed many children and has shared the inspiring word of God throughout the Caribbean, North America, and Europe. Spreading My Wings is his latest release from the CD of the same name, and, since its

By BISHOP M. M.HENDRIKSON

How do we turn from our wicked ways? The prophet Hosea wrote this, “Break up your follow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you”. (Hosea 10:126,NASB) What does it means to break up your fallow (unplowed) ground? If a field is left idle without planting or cultivation, it will develop a hard

Continued on Page 15

“Many of Bro. Cash’s musical efforts were recorded in the United States, in places such as Nashville, as well as in studious under the auspices of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)” release, it has become an international hit, making it one of the most requested songs in all of gospel radio. After all these years, it is abundantly clear that Brother Cash’s musical ministry is still just as powerful as ever. ****** For more on Brother Cash, please contact: ezekielcash@hotmail.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

The Privileges of Dwelling in Zion The Prayer for All People

by Rabbi, Rev. Dr. Keith Elijah Thompson, Chief-Apostle

HOU art our God who is in heaven and on earth.

Thou art mighty, powerful and strong. The standard bearer of tens of thousand; at your Word, things came into being at your command. For the Spirit of the Lord God Jehovah is upon me, for He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to all people. For in the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy and at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Holy God, at your command all things were created; at your voice they stood still. Your name is everlasting, your name is eternal, your name is most Holy; you liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Selah. Your purity can be seen all around. Your crown means salvation forever and for all. Your government is the fullness of righteousness; justice is the habitation of your throne, your Robe is the fullness of zeal. The faithfulness of your council is forever true. The workings of your truth in the hearts of men make them free. Holy Father, our God Jehovah-Adonai, Yahweh; we pray for all leaders: Clergy men and women, the body of Christ, the President of the United States and his family, Congress, Judiciary branch, Senators, Governors, Mayors, Assembly men and women, Councilmen and women, District Attorneys’, Law enforcement officers, Fire-fighters, our Armed Forces, Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Educators, Entrepreneurs. We also pray for Kings and Queens, those behind bars, those in the hospitals, our youth (our children) and those around the world, we pray for all nations and kindred. We pray in the name of Yeshua-Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Amen.

[Obey Consistently, Repeat Faithfully]

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

WHO are

YOU

Written by Maizie Vassell

he disciples were with Jesus in a town called Caesarea Philippi, right outside the province of Galilee when he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say you are John the Baptist, others say you are Elijah and still others, you are one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:27-30). Can you imagine how perplexed the disciples were when Jesus asked them this question? Now it’s your turn, “Who are you?” Perplexing, isn’t it? Maybe you have never being asked this question before; but now and then we all need to ask ourselves this question, “Who am I?” We need to pause and examine ourselves in order to truly find out who we are. A lot of us are lost. We just can’t find ourselves. Sometimes during the examination you may conclude that this is not me. I was on top of the world at one point having everything to my convenience, having control of my life, but look at me now! I am nowhere. I have lost myself. But somehow I have to find myself again. I must do something about the state I’m now in. I will say like the prodigal boy, “I will arise and go unto my father.” There are three kinds of people in the world: the Quitter, the Camper and the Climber. The quitter always looks for the easy way out. He never seeks to try again. Sometimes even before he tries, he gives up. A Quitter’s famous words are, “I can’t.” And no matter how hard you’ve tried to convince him otherwise, he

will not budge. He will take his seat in the ‘I can’t camp’. He will find all the reasons in the world to convince you as to why he can’t. The camper is like the Quitter but to lesser degree. He will try, but gives up easily when the going gets a little harder. He will become comfortable thinking that what he has achieved is enough. The Climber on the other hand, never gives up. The tougher the going, the more strength he finds. He is selfmotivated and faces challenges with optimism. There’s nothing you can do to discourage him. The more you fight with him, the more determined he is to succeed. The Climber believes in his potential no matter how you try to convince him otherwise. He is a fighter; a go getter, a person of perseverance and integrity; he believes in himself. He is a person of faith; he is a Job, a Joseph, a Daniel. In Jamaica, he would be described as “Yu pick ‘ im up, yu lick ‘ im down, ‘ im bounce right back, what a hard man fi dead.” In other words, nothing that you can say or do will ever stop him from reaching the top of the mountain. He does not measure the height of the mountain until he reaches the top. The million dollar question now is, “Who are you?” Jesus already knew who He was. So in asking the disciples the question, “Who do people say I am?” He wanted to see if they really knew who He was. Jesus is the Christ, and upon that truth the church is built. While Jesus was on earth he demonstrated to us what it means to be a climber. No matter what the Pharisees did, he never gave up and when the burden of death

P ro m i s es . . .

by Rev. Trudy Daley,

Tri-Une Healing and Restoration Ministries, Inc. www.tri-uneministries.com

God is a faithful God and His promise to never leave us nor forsake us will stand the test of time.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb.13:5…that is God’s promise to us, and we can count on it. We recently celebrated Valentine’s Day and many cards, flowers and words of love will be exchanged. Most were sincere and truly meant. Each year we witness many people standing before God and their families and friends, confessing their love for one another and promising to stay together “until death do us part.” That promise is far easier to say than it is to keep. The problem arises when all our issues collide with all of their issues. We go into marriage with many expectations, most of which are unrealistic. There are those who want to be the center of their mate’s lives and don’t want even God to hold that spot. That is not love but idolatry. No human being can anticipate or meet all our needs or fill in all the holes we feel inside ourselves. I find when counseling that many young women expect their mates to read their minds, and when he can’t they get upset and feel unloved. With one couple I was counseling, the woman kept saying that she just wanted her fiancée to understand her. After listening to her for awhile, I told her

maizierose@hotmail.com weighed him down he cried, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” In other words, “Father, I am not a quitter. I will fight to the end, for I know you are with me.” Orison Warden says, “Deep within humans dwell the slumbering powers, powers that would astonish them, that they never dreamed of possessing; focus that would revolutionize their lives if aroused and put into actions.” Which category of people are you in today? If you are a quitter, it is time to get back to the task of climbing your mountain. Pick up your dreams and go for them with perseverance. If you are a Camper, your rest period is over. It is time to start climbing again. And if you are a Climber, a shout of Hooray!! I lift my cap to you. Keep climbing; you are almost there. Whoever you are, don’t allow adversity to weigh you down. Be a victor and not a victim.

that he couldn’t understand her but that fact didn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to support her in using her abilities, and also that his lack of understanding did not mean he didn’t love her. How do you define love? How does God define love? Love is a choice and one we need to make every day. It is not just emotions that make us feel good inside but can change quickly. It should be deep and abiding and not changed by passing circumstances. God defines love by service and sacrifice. God says that if you love Him you will keep His commandments ---- not once in awhile, not just when you feel like it but all the time---- that is service and it takes sacrificing. When you love someone, God calls you to serve them and sacrifice for them just as He has done for you. The world does not teach us to love this way. In fact, it teaches just the opposite: make sure it works for you; make sure your needs are being met and if not, get out. God is a faithful God and His promise to never leave us nor forsake us will stand the test of time. If you want to know what real love looks like, look at how God loves us. He listens to us (He hears our prayers). He answers us (In His time and in the way that is best for us). He cares for us (He meets

our needs). He sacrifices for us (“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” for us - John 3:16). He protects us (No weapon formed against us will prosper). He delivers us from evil. He heals us. He goes before us and makes a way for us. He is patient with us, and His goodness and mercy pursue us. He forgives us. He delights in us, and He goes before us and prepares a place for us in heaven that we might be with Him and dwell with Him. How do you show love to the people in your life? Not everyone feels loved in the same way. Try to find out what makes the people in your life feel loved and then do it as much as possible every day. Big gifts on special occasions are wonderful, but it’s the small loving things that are done consistently that allow someone to feel loved and valued. There is no one on earth who I ever have heard complain that he has too much love in his life--- in fact, just the opposite. Saying the words, “I love you” are wonderful to hear but need to be backed up with consistent action. God chooses every day to show us that He loves us. Choose today to be the most loving person you can be in word and action.

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

hsuosens. e t La Gir xe

a . noti

t. Yan. pole o ep. . c r

. eh tt na . ub

nis

. s i. A . p e o ra

Find and complete the bible verse by using the letters on the wheel to fill in the blanks

R __ __ h __ e __ u __ __ e __ s

__ u __

__ a __ __ __ n

__ __ n

r __ __ r __ __ c __

__ __ __ __

MARCH 2011

Risk-Free Fundraising

Girtehsuosens. Laxetteh. a. notina. ubt. nis. si. A. peorahrc. ot. Yan. poleep.

__ __ a __ t __ __ h

a a __ __

__ e __ __ l __

JOHN CHAP. ? –––– Verse ? ––––

GAME 4 Here is how it works: WHEN is ACOP where W is A, H is C, E is O, and N is P. So, you are to find the corresponding letters. The length and formation of the word are clues.

Have fun! BOCVA TEXP NWDDRNN D CSRN B FRGWXBXECV HCF T E N K C S. RWFEGEJRN

Both churches and nonprofit programs need to fundraisethat’s a fact. The most challenging part of this process is finding a fundraiser that works best for you. Whatever you are looking to raise money for...whether to purchase new equipment, reduce participation costs, defray travel costs or cover registration fees...our fund-raising products, programs and project management services can work for you! Getting started is easy… 1. Sign up for a free fundraising kit by calling our office. 2. Review the contents which include your personalized order form and product samples. 3. Assign a coach or parent to handle all fundraising efforts for your organization. 4. Plan ahead and make sure and make sure you have all paperwork needed for your fundraiser at least 2 weeks before you plan to start and that all your questions are answered. 5. Hold a meeting and distribute all of the fundraising materials needed for your participants to begin and make sure everyone is on the same page—before, during and after your fundraiser. 6. Motivation is the KEY to success so hold contests and parties as ways to encourage your team to raise funds! 7. Set a”Selling Goal” for your team. 8. Collect order forms and checks on a weekly basis. 9. Send in your order forms. 10. Spread the Word! You won’t be disappointed. Valerie Samuel is an Author, Educator, Entreprenuer & Fundraising Expert with more than 13 years experience in grant writing, project management and marketing nonprofit programs. She offers a variety of business, finance and management services to churches, nonprofits, universities, businesses and individuals, including individual and group coaching. Email your questions or participate in this forum by submitting inquiries to sales@valeriesamuel.com or calling (212) 292.5127.

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

• testimony • testimony • testimony • testimony • testimony •

Out of the Darkness – Into the Light A Short Life Story of Rev. Chatman Payne

This is a story about darkness, destruction, death, and deliverance. It is a story about my life – and about the goodness of God.

was brought up with 11 brothers and sisters. Many of the male adults in my family were alcoholics. My mother and father stayed together for about 8 years off and on, but it was my grandfather who raised us because my father was never able to help us or to care for us properly. As a young boy, I began to understand what it is to be abused and treated with cruelty and ungodliness. I was locked in closets for hours at a time, severely beaten by my mother and other adults, and sexually molested by one of my uncles. Adults often don’t realize how devastating and long-lasting the effects of violence done to children. With 11 children, and many adults in the extended family all living together, there was rarely enough of whatever was needed. Clothes had to be shared or passed down to younger ones when they no longer fit. We were getting surplus food (public welfare), but even so, there was always a sense of lacking, always living in the shadow of poverty and desperation. My mother owned a speakeasy and always had alcohol around. And so, in the early years of elementary school, I began to drink. One time a teacher said that she smelled alcohol, but I told her it was just Listerine. The teacher believed me. That was my first lesson in being slick and conniving. I wasn’t yet 10 years old.

When I was 14 years of age, I joined a neighborhood gang that hung around at 12th and Oxford Streets. This gang regularly terrorized the surrounding North Philadelphia community. We would hang around the neighborhood doing everything that we could think of to do – none of it right. During my high school years I got really involved with alcohol, so much in fact that I was drinking off and on morning, noon, and night. Although it didn’t interfere with my schoolwork, it started me on the road to alcoholism. It was a long, hard, nasty road trip that lasted 25 years. I had another companion on that trip – drugs. When I was first introduced to heroin I was told that it would make me feel so good I wouldn’t need anything else. They were right. As time went on I got more involved with alcohol, more involved with gangs, and more involved with drugs. My mother kicked me out of the house because of my violence and use of drugs and alcohol. I became a thief, stealing anything I could just to get my drugs. I also got deeply involved with pornography and deviant sexual behavior. I had no more respect for myself than a dog in the street. For years the center of my of my life was hopelessness. I was a hardcore drug addict, living in abandoned buildings, covering myself at night with old carpets. One icy winter night when it was about 10 degrees below zero, I

slept in a doorway, huddled up with another homeless addict. I woke up next to a corpse my companion had frozen to death overnight. It was a life of insanity. The drugs and alcohol were slowly making me crazy. I still had no incentive to stop. I just moved. I returned to West Philadelphia with some uncles I had. The only thing that changed was my location. I didn’t need a job because I was on welfare. All I did was drink and party – all day, every day. When I was 18 years old I realized that I had to get out of there or else I would probably lose my mind or kill myself, so I went into the Marine Corps. First I enlisted for 6 months as a reserve, and then went on active duty for 18 months. When I returned to Philadelphia, almost nothing had changed except that I was a little older. It took almost no time at all before I was back doing the same old things – getting drunk, taking drugs, engaging in violence, and living a life of mindlessness. I got into an incident at my uncle’s house during which I was hit on the head with a steel bar so hard I was knocked unconscious and woke up in the hospital. When I got out of the hospital, I went back to the house, grabbed a .38 caliber pistol, and confronted the guy who hit me. I took all the money he had and for the next two years, every time I saw him in the street, I would take all his money. There was nothing he could do to stop me. I was

As a young boy I was locked in closets for hours at a time...severely beaten... and sexually molested.”

strong, tough, crazy, and he knew that I would hurt him in the blink of an eye and not even think about it. I got involved with a female who was quite older than me. We would drink and party, but whenever we got into an argument, she would try to stab me. One day we went to a bar. It happened to be a gay bar, but that didn’t mean anything to me. We sat there drinking until, of course, we were drunk. When it was time to leave, a woman sitting next to us at the bar gave my girlfriend a passionate kiss. I got up, walked around to her and slapped her off the barstool onto the floor. I turned to walk out of the bar but my girlfriend reached around and stabbed me right in my heart. I was gushing blood, stumbling around, clutching at the bar. I remember the bartender yelling for me to get out of there because he didn’t want me dying in his place. When the cops arrived, one of them said that there’s no need to rush me to the hospital because they could see I was going to die before they get there. The cops sat me on the curb. I could see blood pumping

out of me at every heartbeat. I heard the ambulance coming, but both sound and sight were becoming dimmer and dimmer. I knew I was dying. At the hospital- I was told later- doctors called my mother and asked her to come down because I was badly hurt. They had pulled the sheet up over my face and pronounced me dead. As I lay there, I was aware of being in a long, dark tunnel. There was a bright light at the end of that tunnel and I had started walking towards it. Two times, I heard my name being called out as I walked toward the light. But then, the third time the voice out of that light said, “Chatman! Go Back!” By that time my mother and sister had arrived, and when they pulled back the sheet to identify my body I opened my eyes and started crying. My mother and sister were stunned. My mother was so shocked that if she had not sat down she would have fallen. I’m sure she felt that she might drop dead herself right on the spot.

Continued on page 26

If you would like your testimony to be published, please email us at mytestimony@thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

HEALTH

don’t eat vegetables because when I was young my father forced them on me, and now I hate them” So said a gentleman to me the other day. Many of us grew up eating ‘barefoot food’ – meaning only the meat and starch. Whether it was because access was limited, or you just did not like fruits and vegetables – it is a fact that many of us did not, and still do not eat enough of these very important foods. But here’s the thing (and I am going to keep it real). Black men (and women) are more likely to have high blood pressure than white men. They are also at higher risk for suffering from a stroke or dying from heart disease. In addition, HIV/AIDs is rampant in our community, and men are more often diagnosed with some cancers. According to scientific reports - compared to people who eat only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts — as part of a healthful diet —are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases. Frankly, I am tired of singing at funerals of relatively young black men, the overwhelming cause of death being heart disease. Of course, coupled with HIV/AIDs, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and/or overweight it becomes doubly important to eat right. As part of a healthy diet, eating fruits and vegetables, instead of highfat foods may make it easier to control your weight. You may also feel full on fewer calories. That is because most are also lower in calories and higher in fiber than other foods. To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, foliate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, or white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly. The Asian corner store, and now many Mediterranean foods are available in the community. Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects, including decreased risk of coronary heart disease, and diabetes through the lowering of blood sugar levels. Many of us suffer from constipation. Well guess what? Eating fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to regulate your bowels. Great fruit and vegetable sources of fiber are:

MARCH 2011

Diet in the Key of Cee – Eating Well Serves Living Well

Can Your Family and Friends Count on You to Be There?

Claudette (Cee) Josephs, MS, RD • navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, white beans, soybeans, split peas, chick peas, black eyed peas, lentils, and one that we may not be too familiar with, artichokes. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from infections and chronic ailments – by boosting your immune system; • Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure • Magnesium supports normal muscle and nerve function, a steady heart rhythm, and a healthy immune system. • Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections • Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Some of these nutrients may also be found in other healthy foods. Eating more fruits and vegetables ( about 2 to 4 cups a day) as a part of a healthy diet is a smart thing you can do for your health. ****** A registered dietitian and advocate for improved health care Claudette (Cee) Josephs provides medical nutrition therapy, education and cooking instructions to the HIV and substance abuse community, and makes nutrition and health presentations largely to the African Diaspora. As singer/songwriter, she is dedicated to freeing the world through the truth of the gospel. http:www.ceejosephs.org www.dietinthekeyofcee.wordpress.com.

“...those who eat more generous amounts — as part of a healthful diet — are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases”

Sweet Indulgence

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are here and so are the foods that many of us love – sweets. Sweet indulgences are welcomed by so many of us especially around this time of the year. We have an excuse to take in a bit more of that wonderful inexpensive comfort food- chocolate. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate galore and more chocolate is the central theme! Some people receive loads of chocolate as a gift while others buy tons of chocolate for themselves or as a gift for a loved one. Normally, feelings of guilt consume us as we decide to indulge and delight ourselves in this decadent treat. From the mere aroma to the silky consistency on our palate, we can’t help but to feel euphoric as we satisfy our taste buds. Yes the guilt may linger, but I am here to tell you that you don’t have to feel quite so guilty the next time you have a chocolate moment. A recent study showed that the seed of the cacao plant (where chocolate is derived from) is loaded with a substance called flavonoids. Flavonoids are agents which fight against toxic substances in our body. Flavonoids provide antioxidant protection, protecting cells from free radical damage. A study in 2008 showed that consuming approximately 6.7 grams of chocolate daily resulted in decreased levels of a certain protein in the body which is linked to inflammation. Additionally, platelets in the blood tended to clump together more slowly resulting in decreased amounts of blood clots. Improvements in hypertension, coronary artery disease and blood flow are all associated with moderate chocolate consumption. This sounds amazing doesn’t it? Well it is, providing you consume the darkest chocolate possible. Even better, eating raw unsweetened cocoa powder will provide a substantial amount

By: Dr. Sophia Mattis, MD, MHSA of health benefits. The fact is that flavonoids are bitter tasting and as a result, manufacturing companies will vigorously process the cacao while making chocolate in order to remove this bitter taste - the flavonoids. Hence, the more processed = the lighter the chocolate = the worst it is for you. So the next time you eat chocolate, as long as you consume a small amount of dark chocolate, you can release the feeling of guilt. Be careful not to overindulge in too much chocolate since too much of anything is unhealthy. One ounce daily is sufficient. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save your health. So my friends until next month, be healthy, stay strong and may God be your guide as angels walk by your side. ***Warning: If you suffer from an estrogen dominant disorder, chocolate is not recommended as chocolate produces its own estrogen.

Dr. Sophia Mattis, MD, MHSA Founder/CEO Just One Step to Women’s Health ~ JOSH (954) 536-9444 Web: http://www.justonestep1.com/ Blog: http://justonestep1.blogspot.com/

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

7 Steps to Revival in New York City Continued from Page 9 crust. If seed is sown on it, the seed will not penetrate. Rain water will not soak in. the seed dies. In order to bring such a field into cultivation, a massive turning plow must be run through it to break up the clots into fine earth so it can receive seed and water. The spiritual life of people is like that. First there is a lack of Bible reading and prayer. Then attendance at worship begins to slip. Things that once caused our spirits pain now are tolerated. Instead of desiring the approval of God and fellowship with Jesus, we want money things, and more and bigger possessions. We fill our minds with worldly pictures and ideas and music. Our language becomes coarser. The most frequently used words in America today, by almost everybody, are profanity words. We have dirty mouths flowing out with perverted profanity. No other country in the world has as much profanity as America. Are we a Christian nation? As I was in the library writing this article, profanity flowed all around me. Young and old, man and woman and young person, has the “Dirt” disease in their mouth. We hang around more and more with those who are rebels against God. Our hearts are hardened and that fallow ground crust must be broken. How do we begin? Here is the plan. Take a writing pad and a pen. Get on your knees and tell God that you have come to Him to repent of your sins and ask His forgiveness. List your sins one by one. Tell Him what you have done, one by one. Mention the prayers of the Psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer” (Psalms 19:14, KJV). Then, “Search me O God and know my heart; ….. And see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139: 23a, 24a, KJV) Allow the Holy Spirit to begin the process of bringing to mind what you should write. As you write be brutal on yourself. The object is to confess and forsake, find mercy and forgiveness, then enter the presence of the Lord. Go slow! First, we start with the great commandment…”Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength (Mark 12:30 KJV). We all have broken this one, so write it down. Second, there has been deadness and coldness in your prayer life. You have neglected study of the Bible. You have lost your first love. Write it down clearly. Third, Jesus said when we stand praying if we have ought against any, forgive. Think now of people who you have mistreated, you perhaps hate them. Write their names down, and ask God’s forgiveness that you hated them. Fourth, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. What lies have you got outstanding? This can be painful, but write them down, all of them. You will find honesty brings relief. God forgives! By the way, this does not mean telling your spouse every romantic escapade before your marriage. Some things are under the blood of Jesus, leave them there. Fifth, the chances are there is something lurking in your spirit dealing with sexual sin. There is an overpowering amount of sexual solicitation (sex attack on your mind through your eyes and thoughts) in our world aimed at the carnal nature of every adult. God the Father understands the temptation, but He still wants you to lay before Him your sins and failures. The Bible says, “He made a public spectacle of them (sins of the flesh), triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15 NIV). Tell Satan that this is all covered by the sacrifices of Jesus Christ, and that Satan has wasted his effort to destroy you. Sixth, let the Holy Spirit show you the times when your words have grieved Him, the times that you have disobeyed Him, the times you have slandered others, times you have wounded others. Think of the people whom you have cheated or abused. Think of what you have stolen that is not yours.

Seventh, the Bible tells men to make peace with their wives lest their prayers be hindered. This also applies to other relationships in your life, such as those with your parents and children. Husband and wife, wife and husband relationship fixing is critical in importance. Remember the two of you are one in everything, in every way. Oneness is God’s way. Two directions, two separate ways that is Satan’s way. A husband with honor is no more. Do not try your actions. God knows what is right and what is wrong. The Bible says “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17b KJV) Think also of the wrong done to your children. Have you loved them? Have you bought them up in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord? Have you been so rigid and authoritarian that they have rebelled against you and the Lord? They then did not want church. When you have finished writing, you may have quite a long list of your sins. At each one, earnestly ask God’s forgiveness. Then take the list and pray, “Lord all of these sins and transgressions I place under the blood of Jesus Christ. I accept your gracious forgiveness and praise you for setting me free.

I humbly ask that I may hear your presence, that you may hear my prayer and send revival to heal my land. In Jesus’ Name. Amen”. Then spend some time worshipping and adoring God for who He is and what He has done for you. God has forgiven you. You are free. You are cleansed. As we live our lives in His presence, there is an ongoing cleansing from sin. The Apostle John said it this way, “As we walk in the light as He himself is in the light… and the blood of Jesus His Son Cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7, NASB). Now that your conscience has been made tender before the Lord, you will naturally walk with Him in His light. He has prepared you for revival. Here are again the 7 steps to revival in New York City. It will happen! 1. Humility 2. Prayer 3. Seeking God’s Face 4. Turn from our Wicked Ways 5. Unity 6. Perseverance 7. Love Your Christian Family. ….to be continued in the next edition PIETAS -GRAVITAS-DIGNITAS Bishop M.M Hendrikson 478 Central Park West Apt. 4A New York, N.Y 10025 • Call 718-775-6777

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

INTERNATIONAL PAGE by Rev. Douglas Gooden

In The Midst Of Life….

including a baby, died. The accident, which occurred near York Town, involved a Honda Civic motor car and truck. This family left home thinking that they would reach their destination safe and sound but it was not to be. Tomorrow was never promised to anyone. Today is sure; and that is why we need to live each day in awe to God. Live each day as

n February 3, 2011, four people-a baby, two women and a man- were travelling in Honda Civic motor whey they crashed into a truck along the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon, Jamaica W.I. All

four were pronounced dead at the hospital hours after the crash. According to the Jamaica Observer, the Honda Motor car was travelling from the direction of Manchester towards Kingston and the

though it is the last we have on earth; live life serving God and our fellowmen. Let’s stop fighting against each other. Let’s be our brother’s keeper as in the midst of life there is death.

(Photos: Llewellyn Wynter)

truck was travelling in the opposite direction when the crash occurred. Police at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon yesterday in which four persons,

how important is the gospel in the teenage

world?

Why is the gospel so important? What is the gospel? Have you ever asked these questions? I think it’s something that we need to cover more often in churches and Sunday school. The gospel should be the center of our ministry and the motivation in everything that we do. The gospel can be summed up in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh came to earth for one purpose, that He might die on our behalf. We could never pay for our sins; all of our works are as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6).

When you die and come before God, what will you bring? Having a long ministry list will not get you into heaven. Attending church, singing in the choir, or reading your Bible will not get you into heaven. Only having the righteousness of Christ that comes through faith will save you. Have you truly trusted Christ, or have you been trusting in yourself? The gospel should be important in the teenage world! It has the power to save souls; it has the power to change lives. If you are a teenager reading this, may I ask you, have you trusted Christ? Read 1John to know for sure. If you are a believer, how important is the gospel to you? I know how

By Deborah Gooden

important it is to me. Christ saved me, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, and all I want to do is share this good for it is the power of God for news so that others may experience salvation to everyone who the same believes”. salvation! How important is it Paul says in to you today? Romans 1:16

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

Bishop Mervin E. Harding The Man and “The Man of Prayer” His Ministry

ishop Harding - a dynamic man of prayer, preacher and teacher of the word. Since his acceptance of salvation in 1971, the call of God has been evident upon his life. He has been active in ministry ever since. He migrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1983 and continued his ministry with the Church of God, with its International Offices in Cleveland, Tennessee; serving in areas such as Christian Education, Youth and Life Builders Ministries and Evangelistic Outreach and shelters which showed his passion and true call. He is a worshipper and intercessor. When he stands in the pulpit, the atmosphere is charged by his prayer empowering God’s people. Bishop Harding operates under the five fold anointing power of God, where he ministers prophetically, and imparts deliverance and restoration through his anointed prayer and preaching; and healing, through the laying on of hands. He carries a deep burden to minister to souls who are being destroyed, he quotes the scripture: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord

delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34v19 stating the people of God are afflicted and their homes destroyed by the powers of darkness and he’s zealous to bring deliverance to them. He knew that the ministry of deliverance was the road to which the Lord was leading him. This path has proven true. In August 1997, the man of God gave birth to Grace Deliverance Tabernacle Church of God, a ministry with the emphasis on healing and deliverance evolving from years of evangelizing and crusading. Bishop Harding then felt the need to go beyond the walls, thus on March 25, 1999 both he and Sis. Harding, with the help of many supporters began a second cycle of bringing hope to those in need through – The Grace Deliverance Gospel Hour, a radio program aired throughout the Tri-State area every Monday night on WPAT 930 AM stereo; having the most dynamic interactive prayer line with inspirational gospel music; the radio program has attained numerous accolades and awards. A third phase of Grace Deliverance Radio was launched on November 1, 2010 on GDR 92.1 FM stereo, 24 hours/ 7 days and is globally accessible at gdradio.org.

Today the powerful gift of prayer that is housed in Bishop Harding has spread far and wide. Many have testified of their deliverances. Bishop Harding has traveled throughout the United States and the Caribbean preaching the word. His vision is to bring deliverance to as many souls as possible. Bishop holds ordinations with the Church of God International Office Cleveland, TN and Doctorate with the Canon Bible College. He’s a sought after conference and seminar speaker. He is an Entrepreneur and has great passion for health and wellness of the entire man. Bishop Harding is also the father of four Nicole (Colden), Leighton, Simone and Alyssa and one grandson Jordan. ****** Bishop Harding would like to thank everyone who attended and worked hard to make their recently held concert a great success. THANK YOU ALL! ******

If you would like prayer, please call (718) 841-9980.

“Bishop Harding’s vision is to bring deliverance to as many souls as possible.”

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Gospel In Songs, Praise Him In Advance

“Let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” he G ood N ews Chronicles in con-junction with the Family of Christ Church of God located at 1448 Ferris Place, Bronx, New York, host an evening of spectacular Gospel In Songs, Praise Him In Advance concert on January 15, 2011. The special guest artistes consisted of the One Accord Gospel Sensation, Shannia Philips (The youngest of the Artists), 1 Family 1 Blood, Cee Josephs, Agnita Green, Desmond White, Caldwell AME Zion Choir, Liberty Hall Cathedral of Praise Choir, Brother George, Pastor Son and the Praise Dancers from FOC. The Performances were superb and though the concert got off at a late start, all the artistes got the opportunity to demonstrate in praise to God, the talents they are graciously blessed with, each with his/her own unique style of performance.

The MCs were comedian Nethia Heyward with her jocund personality and Sis. Sylvia from FOC. They both contributed to success of the concert. The guest speaker was Bishop Dr. Michael A Frith, Pastor of the Family of Christ Church of God (FOC), who delivered a spiritual, soulfilling sermon and though it was brief, the hearts of the congregants were blessed. Special thanks to Brother Andre Frith and all participants, who have contributed to the success of this concert. May

God continue to bless you as you seek to exalt the name of the Lord through your talents.

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Is Cyber Bullying on the Rise?

By The Educator Veronica Lyle

he recent spate of tragedies from bullying is an alarming reminder of how much work still must be done to educate society, including our children, about tolerance and mutual respect. Let us bear in mind that more than 160,000 children nationwide stay home from school every day to avoid bullying. What is bullying? Bullying is purposely aggressive, negative and repetitive behavior

within a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Bullying may be physical (hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing), verbal, (taunting, malicious teasing, name-calling, threatening), or psychological (spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships or promoting social exclusion or intimidation). With the sophistication of modern technology, comes a more subtle and therefore a more dangerous form of bullying; Cyber bullying refers to electronic bullying through e-mail, instant messaging, texting or posting to social media like Face book. Roughly one in three teenagers-and nearly half of 15 to 17-year-old girls-say they have been the target of an online rumor, threat or other form of bullying. • Cyber bullying is not done face-to-face, often leaving the target wondering who the bully is. • Electronic media let bullies operate anywhere and at anytime. • Kids often do not report bullying because they’re afraid that their computer or phone privileges will be taken away. • The psychological distance created by electronics may lull bullies into be3lieving they’re not hurting anybody. Bullying is a very common phenomenon which is subtly rising among students; most studies show that between 15 and 25 percent of American students are bullied with

“Cyber bullying refers to electronic bullying through e-mail, instant messaging, texting or posting to social media like Facebook”

Sales Reps needed

for all Boroughs of New york Interested persons may call

(347) 737-8729 or (347) 792-0073 or email your Résumé to thegoodnewschronicles@gmail.com

some frequency. Targets are more likely than other children to be depressed, lonely, anxious, have low self-esteem, feel sick or think about suicide. Bullying often takes place in areas not well supervised by adults. It can be subtle and hard to pin down; Children also may not report it, fearing retaliation or punishment.

What can Educators do? Bullying can be reduced when there is a school wide commitment to end it. Educators, staff, parents and students all have a role to play. It should be an important objective to create a safe environment in which bullying is unacceptable. • Develop post and discuss rules and sanctions. • Take immediate action when bullying is seen or reported. • Refer students affected by bullying to school counseling or mental health staff. • Hold class meetings during which students can talk about the social climate. • Share your concerns about bullying with colleagues, so you can monitor the environment and

investigate whether bullying is taking place. • Contact the police in a severe case of bullying. Threats of physical harm, sexual harassment, the posting of nude or compromising photographs, extortion or stalking should be reported immediately • Have students critically analyze television shows and movies to observe different facets of bullying, such as exclusion and public humiliation. This exercise encourages students to develop critical analysis skills and to recognize the prevalence of bullying in pop culture, and how it can come to be accepted as “normal.” • Discuss and design rules for appropriate internet behavior so that students can take greater responsibility for online citizenship. Consider developing safety pledges that teacher and students are willing to sign. Educators and school staff can play a significant role in addressing the dangers of bullying and creating a warm and inviting environment for learning. This kind of environment may be established by treating everyone equally with warmth and respect.

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

A Prayer for God’s Wisdom in Life

“F

by Rev. Linus Baptiste,

Senior Pastor, Global Life Prayer Faith Healing Ministries

ather, you said if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of you who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. Therefore, I ask in faith, nothing wavering, to be filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Today, incline my ear unto wisdom, and I apply my heart to understanding so that I might receive that which has been freely given unto me. In the name of Jesus, I receive skill and godly wisdom and instruction. I discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight. I receive instruction in wise dealings and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness and integrity, prudence, knowledge, discretion and discernment are given to me. I increase in knowledge. As a person of understanding, I acquire skill and attain to sound counsels (so that I may be able to steer my course right), wisdom will keep, defend, and protect me; I love her and she guards me. I prize wisdom highly and exalt her; she will bring me to because I embrace her. She gives to my head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty glory will she deliver to me. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor. Jesus has been made unto me wisdom, and in Him are all the reassurances of (divine) wisdom (of comprehensive insight unto the ways and purposes of God and all the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden). Away sound and godly wisdom and store it up for me; for I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I will walk in paths of uprightness when I walk my step shall not be hampered- my path will be clear and open; and when I run, I shall not stumble.

I take fast hold of instruction and do not let her go; I guard her, for she is my life. I let my eyes look right or (with fixed purpose), and my gaze is straight before me. I consider well the path of my feet, and I let all my ways be established and ordered aright. Father, in the name of Jesus, I look carefully to how I walk! I live purposely and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as a wise, sensible, intelligent person, making the very most of my timebringing up every opportunity in the name of Jesus. Amen

”

Inspired by God: Global Life Prophetic Faith Healing Ministries Written by: Rev. Linus J. Baptiste

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

by Betty Ann Berazzah

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New King James Version)

ove suffers long and is kind; Love does not envy; Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 International Version)

(New

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Beloved brothers and sisters, take this word from our father, and the gift of love, meditate on it and apply it to your marriage. We need to live this scripture in our marriage daily. Love is Not a feeling; Love Is An Act. Love sometimes requires us to make sacrifices through long suffering for our marriage and for our partners to preserve

our marriage and for the happiness of our marriage. Do not hesitate to go the extra mile for your partner. In this scripture, God is saying that it is okay to suffer, and to suffer long Is to Love. Be Kind to your partner at all times, even when he/she is not deserving of it. Be not envious of your partner when good things happen for him/her, and not for you; be happy for your partner, you are both one in flesh. The word of God said, Genesis 2:24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Love does not allow you to be boastful to your partner of how much more you have achieved than he/ she or how well you can do things better. Love is sharing; about denying oneself and helping each other up, every time. Love does not say hurtful words to your partner for revenge. Love does not let anger control your relationship with your partner. Love does not do evil acts to the one that you are suppose to love till ‘death do you part.’ Love encourages, it builds each other up; Love says “I am sorry” as much as is needed. The words,” I am sorry” are powerful words in any relationship, it is life changing, situation changing words, which we all should use to empower our relationships. A good soldier protects their fellow soldiers, and so a good partner, always protect each other. The bible says, “Two shall become one”. This indicates that we should do nothing to bring hurt or harm to yourself, as your partner is a part of you. Two became one when God brought you together. You first have to trust yourself before anyone can trust you; a good marriage needs trust. Your partner needs an inner peace about your relationship and marriage that will allow him/her to know, ‘I can look away and know that you would do nothing to harm me, or our relationship.’ Trust in a marriage can make “The Difference”. When times get rough and your marriage seems like it may fall apart, search deep and far, and let Love strengthen you to persevere towards success at your marriage. Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. I know a man that loved us all, so much that he allowed His only Son to die for us. That is God’s great love. We were first loved by God, who created us out of love; we all were born with Love in our hearts and soul, but our love is challenged by the enemy who roams the earth to destroy the love that God placed

in us from the beginning of earth’s creation. Romans 5:5 “because the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ We are over comers by Christ, as we have overcomed the works of the enemy, and so we have to work hard and persevere to let this Love inside of us rise above and beyond and spread throughout the world; we were born out of Love, God is Love, and we were created by God, so we are Love. Proverbs 17:17 (New King James Version)

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 (New King James Version)

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (New King James Version)

14 Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 John 4:9-12

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Let Love turn Anger into Joy, Sadness Into Happiness; Discouragement into Excitement; Loneliness into Companionship. Ask God He Will Do it for you. ******

My Book: ‘Marriage Scriptures’ are available for purchase at www.amazon.com and www. barnesandnobles.com To order books by Bettyann Berazzah: Marriage Scriptures – “What God Had Joined Together, Let No Man Put Asunder” Matthew 19:6 - call 347 229 7016

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

THE LORD’S MASTER PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE January

(Genesis 22:1-2)

And it come to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said to him, Abraham, and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountain which I will tee thee of.

April

February

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore, and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because though hast obeyed my voice.

(1 Kings 9:3)

And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever, and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

July

May (Psalms 146:1-2)

While I live, I will praise theLord. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

August

(Isaiah 45:1-3)

Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of Kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron. And I will give thee, the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches in secre places, that thou mayest know that I, the lord, which call thee by my name, am the God of Israel.

October

(Luke 20:17)

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written. The stone that the builder rejected, the same become the head of the corner?

November

(John 14: 21)

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Out of the Darkness – Into the Light A Short Life Story of Rev. Chatman Payne Continued from page 13

I was in intensive care for two weeks. I had tubes inserted in just about every opening in my body. My lungs had collapsed, and even though I was alive by some miracle, I was still close to death. For any sane person, this would have been enough to make them go straight – but not me. Within a short time, the same girl who had nearly killed me came to visit me. I smoked some marijuana and had sex with her. Later an uncle bought me some gin and I drank that. Of course my vital signs went crazy again. The doctors asked me what happened and said that they smelled alcohol. But I denied everything. Even though it had driven me right to the edge of destruction, I embraced insanity again like a long lost lover. Life hadn’t changed me and neither had death. My girlfriend’s mother had a prescription for Thorazine. I can’t tell you how many times I took her Thorazine along with alcohol and other drugs. Once I woke up with no clothes on in an abandoned lot full of glass and trash. I overdosed on heroin 9 times! Each time I wanted to go back to the same drug dealer and get some more. Once I woke up sitting in a garbage can.

(Genesis 22:17-18)

June

My son, keep thy words and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the tablets of thine heart.

For a small amount have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid thy face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer.

September (Luke 11:9-10)

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

(Galatians 6:9-10)

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the house-hold of faith.

Although the Lord must have been protecting me, Satan had his hands around my throat. I had become a homeless drug addicted alcoholic of the worst kind, living on the street in a cardboard box. I would often eat out of garbage cans. I went months without taking a bath. My clothes were little more than filth-encrusted rags. I was crawling with lice. The stench was so awful even I could barely stand it. But my time of change was coming. One day, even in this wretched condition, I was approached by a team of outreach workers. I was drunk and stinking as usual. They asked me if I wanted new life in Christ. I told them that there was no such thing as that. Not very politely I told them to get away from me and let me drink my vodka. But they were persistent and invited me to their church. I stayed overnight at the church refuge. But before the night was over, I awoke, stole everything I could find: radios, watches, anything of value, went out and sold it for drugs and alcohol. Incredibly enough, the next day these same people came back and again invited me to their church. They said that it doesn’t matter what I did to them. All that matters is that I get a new life in Christ. This time when I returned I stayed for a week during which I rid my body of years of poison. After seven days I truly did feel like a new person. It turned out that these well-meaning Christians were really cults. But even the things that are not of the Lord serve his

(Exodus 31:3)

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship.

(Proverbs 7:1-3)

(Isaiah 54:7-8)

December

March

purpose, and three years later, just as He set me free of drugs and alcohol, He set me free from these people. I was in New York now, still broke, and still homeless. But I was different this time. I knew I was never going back to the old lifestyle. Every night I would meet the truck from Midnight Run, a compassionate ministry that delivered food and clothing to homeless men and women. I spent a few nights sleeping in the park until I returned to the Bowery Mission. They offered me a bed and eventually a job. I grew and progressed in the things of God and the things of men. I learned of God’s Love and His Word and as a result I began to experience the wonder and abundance of His Blessings. I received degrees from college and Bible school, and after tumultuous courtship, I was blessed with the wife I had always dreamed of. I’ve been walking in the light of His Grace and Love ever since. I have learned that the promises of God are true. That His Love is so great it cannot even be imagined. And I have learned that no pit is so deep, or darkness so complete that we cannot be reached by the Hand of God. He has rescued me from the edge of destruction. He has delivered me from death, from disease, and from the worst consequences of my own sin. I am reminded of the words of a friend who wrote in his own testimony: When you have tried as hard as you can And you have reached the very end

Extra (James 1:2-4)

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this, that the trying of your faith worket patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. And it’s late and you’re tired And you can’t go on anymore If you reach out to Him, God will come to you And rescue you. Even if you think God is not watching, He is Even if you think that God doesn’t care, He does Even if you think that He cannot save you, He can Even if you think He won’t – He will! Rev. Chatman Payne is an ordained minister and Bookstore Manager at the American Bible Society where he provides support and resources to churches, ministries and outreaches. He attends First Baptist Church in Queens and assists in street evangelism and outreach at International Missionary Ministry Fountain of Love, Inc. in the Bronx. Rev. Payne has his Bachelors in Biblical Studies and has served as a substance abuse counselor at The Genesis Project in Philadelphia and then in the Bowery Mission where he still preaches once a month. At UCOP, he is in charge of resources, distribution of materials, curriculum development, promotions, recruiting and training. He is also a Pastor of Living Hope Church in Brooklyn New York.

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Spiritual Warfare: Common Warfare Dreams (Pt.1) Matt.13:24-25 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” ccording to this passage, the enemy waited till the men who were supposed to be watching the field were asleep before the enemy sowed tares in his field. The time most people are asleep is at night. Many times evil is done to many people’s lives at night time, especially between the hours of 12 midnight and 3 am. While the evil work is being done, you are likely to have a “bad” dream that wakes you up badly shaken. Unfortunately, because many people are ignorant of spiritual warfare, they thank God it was just a dream and go back to sleep. What they don’t know is that it wasn’t just a dream. It was a revelation of what is going on against their life. The best action a dreamer can take is to spend some time in prayer to use the revelations to destroy the “tares” sown in his field. If action is not taken, the enemy can have his way as long as

he chooses. Before I go on, I want to make a few important points 1. When you have a negative or warfare dream, it signifies either what has taken place, what is taking place or what your enemies are planning against your life. All of this cases require that you pray against what was revealed to you in your dream. 2. Just because you have a negative dream about someone doesn’t mean the negative thing you saw has to happen. For example, if you dreamt that somebody died. It doesnt mean they have to die. God is just alerting you to the plans of the enemy so you can stand in the gap for the person you saw in the dream. If you will pray against the plan of the enemy, the person will not die. Many ignorant christians have become messengers of doom. Instead of praying to avert evil, they turned themselves into messengers of evil messages. Many times, God allows you to see the evil coming against someone so that you can pray and fast if need be to stop the evil from happening in the life of the person. 3. Not having dreams at all or always forgetting your dreams is an attack against you. If the

FINANCIAL 3 John 2:2 NAS – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” Giving in the form of tithes and offerings is important to ensure Financial Empowerment. There is a distinct difference between tithes and offerings. They are mentioned separately throughout the Bible, even though the Lord required both to be brought to Him. The word “tithe” comes from an old English word meaning “the tenth” and is the regular practice of setting apart the first tenth of your income. Tithing started with Abraham in Genesis 14: 1217 where he had given a tenth of all his spoils to the High Priest Melchizedek. Then, if we are the descendants of Abraham, we are to walk in his faith model (Romans 4:11-2; 16) to enjoy God’s

means God uses many times to tip you of of the enemy’s plan is blocked, how will you know what is going on against you so you can pray against it? If that is your problem, please pray against the demonic attacks working against your dream life. There was a period in my life when I was under intensive warfare. While there wasn’t any visible manifestation in the physical in my life at that time, there was serious warfare going on against me in the spiritual realm. Eight different times I dreamt about being shot at or someone throwing a big rock at me. Around the same time two family members dreamt that I died. A pastor friend of mine called me to tell me about a revelation he got about the spirit of death following me. It was a serious warfare. I had to declare fasting and prayer to cancel every plan of the enemy. Every casket that was set up for me was destroyed by the power of God. That was about 10 years ago. Obviously the devil lost and he will continue to lose. Let me also mention that not every dream indicate warfare. If you go to bed with a nagative thought, you may have a negative dream connected with that thought. I will like to show you

how to trace the presence of spiritual warfare in the life of the dreamer. These dreams listed below reveal the Devil’s hand:

1. Sexual encounter in dreams. This is a very common warfare dream, but since most people find it embarrassing, they usually will not talk about it. There are two spirits the enemy sends against men and women in their dreams. The first is known as Incubus, which is a spirit that sleeps with women in their dreams. The other is Succubus, which is a spirit that sleeps with men in their dreams. These spirits may use the faces of ex-lovers, friends or such. They may even come as people of same sex. Unless you wake up and wage serious spiritual warfare, one or all of the following may take place in the life of the dreamer: # Difficulty getting married. # Difficult marital problems. # Difficulty getting pregnant. # Difficulty in the area of finances.

2. Dreams that result in affliction with the spirit of poverty. There are so many people today suffering serious oppression from the spirit of poverty. Usually people are tipped off in their dreams but because

E M PO W ER M ENT

Tithing

blessings. Offerings are gifts brought to God beyond the tithes. This must be seen as a form of worship in that it is giving back just a fraction of what God has given to us. These instructions are clearly stated in Malachi 3. God has a plan for our money as he does for all areas of our life as summed up in one word “Prosperity.” In order to foster your prosperity you must manage your money based on a budget and be creative using the talents and abilities that God has given to you. Since your money is a major part of you and represents your talents and abilities, time, strength and even your inheritance, your attitude towards money

By Paula Holder, MBA

reflects your attitude towards God. Giving to the poor is also your insurance during any disaster (Eccl 11:1-2). Oswald Jeffrey Smith, who started the Peoples Church in Canada in 1928, stated that during the Great Depression, hundreds came to his church for financial help. He would always ask each man if they were faithful in tithing when they had an income to give. He reported that in all his experience, no one who ever came for help had been faithful in tithing. Paul talks about the GRACE of giving (2 Cor. 3:3), which comes from within and which can only be done by the Holy Spirit. Faith in giving is the only way that we can appropriate the Grace of God. Giving has

also been proven to be a cure for GREED. So when you give, pray and make your requests known to God and expect to reap your financial harvest in due season. God is a God of increase so as you plant seeds, you should expect an increase, not where you have planted but because you have. Failure, defeat, frustration and poverty are not the will of God, so let us try tithing and giving again in 2011, remembering that the Lord Almighty says in Malachi 3:7-8 “…Return to me and I will return to you…” If you are not financially empowered and still have doubts of not being able to give, I recommend listening to David C. Pack on www. worldtocome.org

By Pastor Femi Akojenu of lack of knowledge, nothing is done until the manifestation takes place. If you find yourself in the following situations in your dream, you need to start praying against the spirit of poverty: # Possession of counterfeit money. # Wallet stolen from you. # Wearing rags, shoes with holes. # Begging for money, food, etc. # Loss of cash, wallet, checkbook or paycheck. # Bank door closing in your face. (See next issue for Part 2 of this article).

****** Pastor Femi holds deliverance and spiritual warfare services every week in Jamaica and Saint Albans. For more information or for prayer, please call 718-787-5268.

S ERIE S ****** FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SERIES is by Paula Holder, MBA/ Evangelist Executive Director, Caleb Health and Wealth Institute 162 Fifth Avenue #3, NY NY Empowerment Center4117 Avenue J/ 42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY – Mondays 6:30pm Call 516 668 5507 for Personal Development Seminars and Financial Workshops.

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

65 CENTS PER WORD, MINIMUM OF 15 WORDS & MAXIMUM OF 45 WORDS

CLASSIFIED ADS

Earn the money you deserve! Overcome the economy, become part of or team. We build with and for youEarn $2000 a month

Part time/call Today (954)-537-3025

Sales and Marketing Representative

Work with a production company. No experience necessary. If you are 18 years or older send your resume to a.m.CircuitEnt@gmail.com or call 646 787 7517

Free Health Workshop

Water has become a serious problem in our society. 2.2 million people died last year from drinking contaminated water. 7 million got sick! You need to attend our FREE Health Workshop which will give you updated information on How to provide “Pure Water” for your loved Ones. These events are Sponsored by Concerned Physicians for Enhanced Health Awareness.

Learn how to REVERSE: Diabetes, Heart disease, Acid reflux, Sickle cell and other Anemias, Overcome Sexual Dysfunction, Etc You can attend Free meetings at the following location, Thursdays Noon-1pm and 7pm-8pm • At the African Community Empowerment Center • 111-20a Farmers Blvd, Queens, NY 11412 • or call for more information (954)-537-3025

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

ADVERTISE

today in our Church Directory

SPECIAL RATES FOR 1 YEAR Call: (347) 737-8729 or (347) 792-0073

WRITING SERVICES

Tell the world about your Ministry: We will create your Church literature at an affordable rate! Your crisp concise copy will inform the public and the business community of your great ministry.

Call: (347) 792-0073 or (347) 252-4587

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

Do you want to get people aware of where your Church or business is located? Well...ADVERTISE with The Good News Chronicles

Do you want to make your products or services known? Well...ADVERTISE with The Good News Chronicles

Are you having a concert, a conference, a dinner or some other special event? Well...ADVERTISE with The Good News Chronicles

Do you want thousands of people to see your ad? Well...ADVERTISE with The Good News Chronicles

ADVERTISE TODAY with

Call: (347) 737-8729 or (347) 792-0073

Church for rent Vacant church for rent in

Ridgewood, Queens (Approximately 28 sq ft.) Please call

718.740.0651

• • • • • •

Uplifting Worship Relevant, Practical Messages Exciting Kids Ministry Quality Nursery Care Genuine, Loving Acceptance A Safe Place to Meet New Friends

For more information contact: Pastor Dalton Stephens

646-322-1505

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

R E A L E S TAT E

How do we get from here into our dream church?

know several religious leaders are currently battling with this question as they observe their congregations grow and the space they occupy seems to shrink on a daily basis. Some will argue that with this depressed real estate market for the last 3 to 4 years, it is the best time to purchase that new building or that site for the construction of a new building that your congregation will be proud to call home. However, there are many challenges and religious leaders may be well advised to weigh them carefully before taking that plunge. The Property Knowing what to look for in a church property may seem simple but you don’t want to miss out on some of the key ingredients. First, the intended use (public assembly) must be legally permissible. You want to check the zoning and the certificate of occupancy for the building to ensure that the intended church use is legal. It can be rather expensive to obtain changes in use and/or zoning variances. Adequate parking is a must and I would suggest that a good rule of thumb is 300 square feet of land area per parking space and one on-site parking space for every person to occupy the building (that is maximum legal capacity as determined by the fire department). The zoning requirement will be more specific but it usually states the minimum requirement. Even where the zoning regulations call for less parking, the more on-site parking you can secure the better. It is a bad idea to buy a building with the hope to secure parking later. Find a building in a location that is convenient to you congregation.

You may find that it is more difficult to move the people than it is to move the building. Your congregation may desert you if they have to disrupt their entire lives to get to service on Saturday or Sunday and sometimes in the week because you have decided to acquire a great building miles from the old neighborhood in a too-good-to- refuse real estate deal. It is better to purchase an existing building, even if it means extensive renovation and expansion, than to purchase land and construct a new building. There are time delays and costs involved in developing vacant land that can be avoided by acquiring an existing building. Plan to take advantage of city, state and federal grants by offering community services such as daycare, immigration counseling, career counseling and after school programs. It means therefore that in the very early stages, the building layout should be so designed as to make this possible.

The People Who is the church? Before entering into a real estate transaction it is very important that the “entity” called the church is on solid legal footing. Religious organizations are generally granted nonprofit status by government authorities and they generally enjoy exemption from various forms of taxes (income, real estate, sewer, transfer). However, it is important to take the time to consult with an attorney and ensure that the organization is properly incorporated. In real estate transactions, resist the temptation to take title of church property in the names of individuals or to sign leases in the names of individuals. The composition of the church’s Board of Directors and its leadership may change over time but the church must

be able to continue notwithstanding. Get quality people to become board members even if they are not members of your congregation.

The Payment Let us assume that you are currently renting a building and you are dreaming of the day when you can move into your own building. One of the main concerns of church leaders is that, as tenants, someday they expect the lease to expire and/or the good relationship they currently enjoy with the landlord to go sour. When that day comes, they will have to move at a time when they least expect or at a time when the congregation has grown significantly, is stable and settled. It is better to relocate on your own terms and at your own pace. Today’s depressed real estate market presents a lot of buying opportunities, especially if you have a lot of cash on hand. The fact is that your rental payment today may be 50% when it would cost you to own the building you are currently occupying as a tenant, notwithstanding the low mortgage rates. Getting a loan from a financial institution today is very difficult. However, it is even more difficult if your house, pardon me, your church is not in order. Many banks have Community Lending Departments that you should be talking with if you are looking for a loan to purchase a building to be used as a church. Most loans of this type will be non-conventional, especially if it is for new construction instead of the purchase of an existing building. First, it is best not to expect to borrow more than 70% of the purchase price of an existing building. It means therefore that the church will have to find a down-payment (equity investment) for the remaining 30% of the purchase price plus closing cost (say another 5%) plus the cost to renovate the building, if necessary. It is key to understand how much the monthly obligation will be and to square that with the collection/revenue that the church is presently getting from its members. It is not wise to expect collections to double just because you move into a new building. I heard that collections generally increase in bad economic times but even if that is the case, we should not be praying that these bad economic times last much longer. Second, the creditworthiness of the board members is critical. You should know the background of the people seeking to become or that are being petitioned to become members of the church’s Board of Directors. They

By:

Patrick A. Josephs,

MS, MRICS, MAI Principal : PATJO Appraisal Services, Inc. State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser Licensed Real Estate Broker Patjo91159@aol.com 800-977-2856

must have good jobs, good credit, solid financial background and stability in the community.

The Protection Most lenders today will be expecting personal guarantees from the people standing behind the loan to purchase or build a new church. In real estate lending, the real estate being acquired typically stands as security for the loan. However, because a church does not typically have an income stream in the form of rent to be paid by tenants in occupancy, it is not such good security for the lender by itself. It is not wise for one member of the church, the pastor, to offer his personal assets such as his home or private business as security. It is a better idea to spread the risk by having several signors offering other types of assets such as stocks and bonds, investment real estate and other business assets as additional security for the loan. The Process If you are interested in selling your building, it is very important that before calling a real estate broker to list it, you should find out how much it is worth and what is a reasonable estimate of marketing time. The same is true if you are thinking of acquiring a property, it is important to know its market value before you sign that contract of sale. A professional appraisal is recommended and this must be done by an appraiser with the experience and the qualification to handle such assignment. Ask for a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, not a residential appraiser. In addition, find someone with a minimum of 10 years experience and one who is familiar with special purpose properties such as churches. ****** For free consultation, you may call 1-800-977-2856.

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011

« www.thegoodnewschronicles.com

« THE GOOD NEWS CHRONICLES

MARCH 2011