go, and sin no more. - Apostolic Church of God

E d i f i c at i o n • I n s p i r at i o n • B o o k s • C o m m u n i t y & O u t r e a c h • He a lt h & W e l l n e s s • M i n i s t r y • Y o u t h
a
p u b l i c a t i o n
o f
t h e
A p o s t o l i c
C h u r c h
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J ANUARY 2 0 1 2
“go, and sin no more.”
John 8:11
AlsoInside
2
A Special First Communion | ACOG Staff Up Close | See Yourself through Fresh Eyes
9
14
aroundACOG
Honoring Faithful Service
T
he Board of Ushers celebrated its outgoing director in grand style with a dinner and program last October.
Barbara Trotter served in that position for fifty years. Held in the church’s banquet hall, the dinner
surrounded Sister Trotter with close friends, colleagues, and family. The ushers begin 2012 with new
leader Linda Johnson fully at the helm. Photos by Leonard McGee
Pastor
Dr. Byron T. Brazier
Founding Editor
Therese McGee
Managing Editor
Jennifer LuVert
Editors
Darlene Dennard, Reginald Griffin
Samira Robinson, Sharon Prince
Church Office Assistant
Doris Williams
Photography
Donnie Hampton
Tyrone Mason
Leonard E. McGee
Editorial Assistant
Sharon Prince
Distribution
Eric Owens
Mary Robinson
January Contributors
Jacquelin McCord-Harris
Sharon Prince
Samira Robinson
Latatia Washington
editor’sLETTER
Design/Layout
W
A Fresh Start
hen The NewsLetter was transitioning into The Cross & Crown a decade ago, founding editor
Therese McGee had a vision that the new version of the church’s newsletter would include
regular columns addressing the needs of specific groups of believers, and particularly as they
tied into the various ministries of the church. That didn’t happen, but the idea never died.
From time to time, whenever the The Cross & Crown team would gather at the table toward the end of the
year, we would bounce around Therese’s original vision. Issues of space and resources often scared us away
from it, but when we came to the table this past fall, we brought with us a greater determination to pull it off
as we thought about what readers may really want and need as they daily seek a closer walk with God. So with
a bit of trepidation (will it last?), we are introducing columns written specifically to and for men, women,
young adults, married couples, singles, and new members. We have also reworked the youth page to create a
parenting column that offers parenting tips and tools for “training up” children. Some of the columns will run
in each issue. Some will run periodically.
In this month’s issue, Renewed Minds Mentor Ministry leader and former Cross & Crown writer Latatia
Washington answers the question “I’ve Received Jesus, Now What?” She offers tips to new members for
maintaining that initial fervor and jumpstarting their spiritual growth. In this month’s parenting column,
ACOG staff member Carol Stanley-Robbins shares ways she has intentionally bestowed blessings on her
children to have meaning and lasting impact. And as many women prepare to join the slim-down-quick
bandwagon at the start of the year, they can read about how to do it without trying to achieve a look defined
by Hollywood and by embracing their bodies just as God made them.
We hope you enjoy The Cross & Crown this year; we hope your walk with the Lord is impacted in some way
by what you read. We are grateful to everyone who makes The Cross & Crown what it is, from the writers, the
occasional contributors, and the editors, to the typists, the distribution crew, the photographers (perhaps our
most popular contributors), and you, the readers. Of course, we cannot forget Jesus Christ, the Editor-inChief, who makes all of it possible. We pray you have a blessed, prosperous, and life-changing year.
Sincerely,
Jennifer LuVert, Editor
2 | The Cross&Crown
LaShaunn Tappler
LT ComDesign, LLC
The Cross & Crown is published
monthly by the Apostolic Church of
God, 6320 South Dorchester Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois 60637 © 2012.
All submissions are welcome and
will be reviewed for publication.
The deadline for advertisements is
the first Sunday of each month prior
to the month in which the ad will
appear. Submissions should be left
in the newsletter folder in the
administrative office.
ISSN: 1543-9712 Volume 9 Issue 11
aroundACOG
ministryNEWS
From Start to Finish:
Accomplishing Our Goals
weeks—interrupt our programming (if not for
good, until the next New Year).
As we set our goals for 2012, I hope that’s not
the case. I pray that each of us are more determined than ever to finish what we start, especially as we set out to draw closer to God in our
individual and collective ways.
Speaking of a collective effort to strengthen
our faith in 2012, I am particularly excited about
one of the spiritual-growth tools we will be using
as a church family this year. We recently published
continued on page 15
From the Pastor’s Study
How to Study the Bible
Dr. Brazier recommends that we read a verse
at least four times to gain an understanding of
it. Following are brief definitions of the simple
but comprehensive four-step process for
studying Scripture that he has been teaching in
Wednesday night Bible class:
1. Observation: What is happening in the
Scripture?
2. Interpretation: What does it mean? What
is it saying?
Dr. Brazier serves communion to Jayeden Smith
E
ight-year-old Jayeden Smith asked the
Lord for two things before heading to
church one Sunday last month: that the
choir would sing his favorite song and that he
would be able take Communion. Baptized this
past September—and on his birthday—
Jayeden would discover that God answers
prayer when the Sanctuary Choir sang
“Freedom” that Sunday, but he was a bit baffled
and clearly disappointed when the
Communion service commenced, but he
wasn’t allowed to take part. “I thought the
children would be served in Children’s
Church,” said his mom, Celeste Smith. When
she looked over at Jayeden during the service
and saw him crying, she was “heartbroken.” As
soon as service was over, Celeste and her
husband, Arbin, set out to find out when and
how Jayeden could participate in a
Communion service for youth when they saw
Dr. Brazier in the hallway. They decided to just
ask the pastor, and what happened next would
exceed their expectations. Dr. Brazier led them
to his office, where he prayed with Jayeden and
served him Communion. That day Jayeden
learned that not only does God answer prayer,
but He also does so “exceeding abundantly
above all that we can ask or think.”
3. Correlation: How does it connect to
related Scripture?
4. Application: What is it saying to me?
To learn more about this way of studying
Scripture, pick up a copy of Studying,
Interpreting, and Applying the Bible by Walter
A. Henrichsen and Gayle Jackson, and—of
course—attend Wednesday night Bible class
from 8 to 9 p.m.
pastor’sCOLUMN
photo by Leonard McGee
Photo by Victor Powell
A
new year is always exciting. For most
people, it means a fresh start—a new opportunity to make right something that
went wrong mid-way through the year. It’s a time
when we renew commitments to personal goals,
like striving for better health, building better
relationships with our families, or jumpstarting a
dream like starting a business, writing a book, or
saving for a major purchase.
A new year is also a time we look to invest
more in our spiritual growth, into something
that will have an eternal impact on our lives. That
something is namely our relationship with the
Lord. When the New Year rolls around, we strive
to pray more and to read our Bibles more (how
many of you plan to read through the entire
Bible this year?). Often, Wednesday night Bible
class is full at the start of the year because many
members commit to seeking God more in the
New Year. However, as with our personal goals,
we often lose sight of our spiritual goals somewhere between the
fading of winter
and the budding
of spring. Life’s
“commercials”—
a special event
that causes us
to abandon our
healthy diet for
a spell or a
major project
at work that
keeps us
from Bible
study for
a few
by Dr. Byron T. Brazier
photo by Leonard McGee
First Communion
Dr. Brazier prays for Jayeden
January 2012 | 3
aroundACOG
Someone You Should Know: Curtis Dunbar–At Your Service by Jennifer LuVert
N
eed photocopies of a flyer, a Sunday
school lesson, or music sheets? Then
you need staff member Curtis Dunbar.
You’ll become acquainted with his ready smile,
jovial spirit, and readiness to serve.
An employee of Apostolic Church of God for
twenty years (he worked part time for sixteen
years before joining the staff full time), Curtis is
stationed in the copy center on the second floor
of the Dorchester building, where he dutifully
fulfills the duplication needs of the church. And
when he’s not in the copy center, he may be
delivering mail to staff or chauffeuring a guest
speaker or artist—the other hat that Curtis wears
that many may not be aware of. “My primary
responsibilities are to make certain that I provide
godly hospitality to our guests,” Curtis says about
his job in the travel department, which involves
safely transporting guests between the airport,
the hotel, and the church during their visits.
In addition to his job at the church, Curtis
has volunteered with several auxiliaries over the
years, including the Internal Security Ministry,
the Board of Ushers, and the Covenant Partners
Marriage Ministry, which he serves with his wife
of twelve years, Veneia. Curtis met Veneia when
they both served on the Junior Usher Board, but
they didn’t start dating until a few years later.
He and Veneia don’t have any children, but they
are the proud pet parents of three cats: Puff, 14;
Socks, 11; and a kitten named Grayce Mae, who
is the most recent addition to their family. When
Curtis isn’t working or hanging out with his
family, he can be found either watching a good
basketball game (he’s known as Air CDD!) or
reading a good book.
Curtis’s life has been influenced by the
ministry of the Apostolic Church of God in
more ways than one. “I was born and raised in
the Woodlawn community, right at 6635 South
Kenwood; so I have seen the impact that the
life and ministry of ACOG, primarily Bishop
Brazier, has had on this community.” Curtis has
witnessed Woodlawn, once a community riddled
with gangs, drugs, and poor housing, transform
into “an integrated community where people of
all class levels can live together, worship together,
and develop better schools, programs, and
community living for their families.”
A member since he was nineteen, Curtis, who
is now forty-seven, says that the impact of the
church and Bishop Brazier on his life “have made
me a better man and a better person.” For that
reason (besides the fact that he loves his job),
Curtis will remain on his post for as long as the
church will have him. “I enjoy working with the
staff of ACOG and serving the various auxiliaries
of the church.”
newMEMBERS
Rejoice! The following people were baptized in Jesus’ name and received the Holy Spirit in October and November 2011:
October 2011
Cindy Acosta
Amber Adams
Kyrie Adams
Marjorie Adams
Kaylan Allen
Linda Anderson
Shackire Anderson
Dwight Ballinger
Sabrina Barnes-Williams
Marlene Blanton
Brigitta Boda-Boyd
Tracy Bonds
JC Bradford
Monica Broderick
Raymond Burnett
Aaron Calmes
Yvette Calmes
Rhonda Cannady
Tyeshia Cannady
Kaleed Chandler
Joe Cross
Darren Davis
LaShanda Davis
Taliyah Davis
Eva Delt
4 | The Cross&Crown
Jamar Dotson
Deshany Drain
Tara Flowers
Serena Foster
Tia Griffin
Brian Gross
Damon Gunn
Dashawn Haralson
Elizabeth Jackson
Melikah Johnson
Theresa Johnson
Zion Jones
Algerita Jones-Hykes
Sulay Kemokai
Demetria Keys
Courtney King
Takia Lanza
Denny Levi
Diane Lewis
Dong Liu
Latoya McCarroll
Deangelo McCoy
Everett Mcintyre
Ivier McSwine
Adam Means
Larry Miller
Kenneth Motley
Letoria Overton
Alvon Parker
Tyree Petties
Lasasha Plunkett
John Randolph Jr.
Angie Renfro
John Riggins
Jonathan Sanders
Joseph Sands
Markesha Shelley
Antoinette Simmons
Ziff Sistrunk
Carlisa Smith
Chyna Smith
Indeia Smith
Glennet Smith-Vivens
Peggy Theodore
Shierika Thompson
Yerubbaal Timms
Edward Turner
Jason Vivens
Paris Vivens
Trajan Vivens
Martha Washington
Johnathan Westbrook
Kenisha Williams
Khalil Williams
Gregory Wood
Esther Wright
Weng Yan Yun
Johnathan Young
November 2011
Angela Bogard
Chante Bogard
Curtis Bogard
Wesley Bogard
Adrianne Bolling
Charles Boyd
Dorothy Brown
Darlene Chester
Leonard Cureton
Amos Davis
LaStarza Davis
Stephanie Davis
Chantriss Flakes
Nehemiah Ford
Porsche Ford
Djonne Fullilove
Vanity Gilmore
Jasmine Green
Calvin Hardwick
Dottie Harris
Ronald Harris
Charles Hubbard
Keenan Jackson
Charles Johnson
Jarv’e Johnson
David Jones
Hallie Kemp
Robert King
Terry Lowe
Gino Martinez
Bernadette McGinnis
Malik Miller-Prince
Jessica Mitchell
Carla Moore
Erica Moore
Curtis Morris
Roman O’Donnell
Mario Ortega
Iyannah Perkins
Shawntae Perkins
Ashley Powell
Gabriel Redd
Donald Rose
Leona Seay
Yvonne Smith
Willie Walton
Katena Willis
New Members
Saturday Class
The next Saturday class
for new members is
January 21, from
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Right Hand of
Fellowship
The Right Hand of
Fellowship is Sunday,
January 29, at the
9:10 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.
services.
If you have questions,
please call 773.256.4204.
lifeAPPLICATION
Body Image Versus True Image
T
o be sure, the world puts a lot of pressure
on women to look a certain way. Turn on
the television, pick up a magazine, or surf the
net, and the message is loud and clear: thin is in,
and so is airbrushed beauty.
Sadly, many women—even the Jesus loving,
sold-out-for-Christ variety—struggle with issues
of body image. According to Michelle Graham,
author of Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets
Victoria Won’t Tell You (InterVarsity Press),
nearly every woman feels the pressure to look a
certain way. Whether it’s an issue of weight,
shape, facial features, or even hair, women often
struggle to embrace what God has given them
when they don’t look like what the mass culture
says is the right size, the right shape, the right
look. Consider this confession from Graham:
“My body grew into the form that my Maker
designed it to be. But I’ve struggled with the
belief that unless I am physically ‘perfect’—a
perfection that is unattainable and unrealistic—
I’m somehow not as valuable as everybody else.”1
Sounds—or feels—familiar?
As women we tend to compare ourselves to
others who appear to look prettier or “have more
going for them.” When we determine that they
have it made by how they look or what they
have, we have bought into the lie that such
things lead to happiness. But here’s what God’s
Word says about true happiness: “BLESSED
(HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has
forgiveness of his transgression continually
exercised upon him, whose sin is covered”
(Psalm 32:1, AMP).
The solution for combating the lie that we
have to look a certain way to be acceptable is
replacing it with truth that can be found only in
God’s Word. And here it is: “Oh yes, you shaped
me first inside, then out; you formed me in my
mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re
breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously
made! I worship in adoration—what a creation!”
(Psalm 139:13–14, The Message).
1 Graham, Michelle, Wanting to be Her: Body
Image Secrets Victoria Won’t Tell You. (InterVarsity Press: Madison), 2005, p. 13
forYOUNGADULTS
Transforming Young Adults…
One Ministry at a Time
W
ho better to reach a young adult for Jesus than a
young adult? That is, someone who can speak the
“language” without compromising the Truth. That’s what’s
happening in ministry to young adults (one of the groups
Dr. Brazier cares a great deal about) at the Apostolic Church
of God.
It can be seen in the pulpit (there are five young adult
ministers who preach periodically on Sunday mornings); in
the classroom (there is a Sunday Morning Bible Study class
for young adults taught by young adults); and in Young
Adult Ministry programming, such as Conversations Café.
Beginning this month the church will launch Transformers
College Ministry (TCM), an outreach program designed to
meet the spiritual needs of young believers away from home,
as well as to spread the Gospel.
TCM’s mission is to “save the lost, train them in the Word
of God to be leaders, and then send them out in the world to
build others.” ACOG member Gary Foster, a college student
who attends Morehouse in Atlanta, is one of the leaders of
the program. As a college student away from home and his
church, Gary has firsthand knowledge about the pressures
students are under on college campuses and how important
it is to have the “right” resources—such as a strong spiritual
base—to navigate the choices before them. In it’s inaugural
phase, TCM will transport students from Columbia College
continued on page 15
forNEWBELIEVERS
forWOMEN
I’ve Received Jesus,
Now What?
by Latatia Washington
I
t was indeed a glorious day when
you gave your life to Christ! Being
baptized in the redeeming name
of Jesus was the beginning of your new
spiritual journey with Him. Becoming a
Christian brings forth hope of a brand
new day, welcoming change, security
in Christ, purpose, and tremendous
joy. Along with excitement, you may
experience other thoughts or feelings as
you struggle to grow, understand yourself
as a new Christian, and strive to better
know and please God. You may be “fired
up” and ready to move forward but unsure
about where to begin.
As a new Christian (and member),
you should commit yourself to attending
church each Sunday and weekly Bible
study. Pray throughout your day and
develop a daily Bible reading plan to
help facilitate your spiritual growth and
to obtain biblical understanding and
knowledge.
It will be very beneficial for you to
receive the “Right Hand of Fellowship”
(welcome service) and take new member
classes so that you may learn more about
ACOG, serving God, and living a Spiritfilled Christian life. Regularly connecting with your
assigned Christian mentor will be quite
rewarding. Your mentor will be available
to help you reach spiritual goals, overcome
challenges, and answer any questions you
may have.
Always remember how deeply God
loves you (John 3:16) and that you truly
can do all things through Christ who
strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)!
To learn more about the next welcome
service for new members, call 773.256.4204.
To reach your mentor, call 312.933.3784.
January 2012 | 5
featureSTORY
by Evangelist Samira E. Robinson
“Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”
Colossians 3:9b, 10
P
icture yourself perfect! One of the gifts that we have from
God, but perhaps don’t often use in our spiritual walk, is the
ability to image, or imagine. We live with images in our mind
all the time—usually negative, unproductive, or violent
images that come to us from the world through movies we see, news
stories, books we read, music we listen to, or even what we experience
in our lives. God has given us the power to picture—to see good. We’ve
utilized this ability in the act of daydreaming, not only thinking about
the good that we desire but having the feeling for it as well.
God has the power to see all things and to create whatever it is He
desires. “I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from
the beginning…saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my
pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9b, 10). We are created in the image and likeness of
God, and day by day we are being conformed to the image of Christ
Jesus, transformed through our thinking (Romans 12:2). We can see
ourselves and our future the way God sees us, anticipating all the good
things that God plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).
As we image the life we want—either the continuation of some good
that we already have or the bringing forth of some new good, we can
keep in mind Scriptures to help us: “The LORD will perfect that which
concerneth me” (Psalm 138:8a) and “Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it [bring it to
completion] until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Image a fresh start
At the start of a new year, it is not uncommon to want to have a new
start at something. Maybe you are seeking a new relationship, a new
job, a new health regimen, or a new place to live. At some point most of
us feel like we need a refreshing change, or a new beginning. The
feeling might come while we are in the middle of a crisis like marital
problems or debt issues, or in the midst of an unrewarding job.
Imagine the good you seek for yourself, your family, your church,
and your community. As you exercise your faith—believe it, see it, and
speak it. Jesus taught us,
“Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed … and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass;
he shall have whatsoever he saith…. Therefore, I say unto
you, What things you desire [imagine for yourself] when
you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have
them.” (Mark 11:23–24)
Oftentimes, new beginnings are the results of bad or abrupt endings—like a divorce, death, or job or financial loss. In such instances,
starting fresh can be challenging, but we must stay open to the move of
God and watch Him work in and out our situations for our good.
We can more easily receive the blessings of God when we give
ourselves the space to experience the presence of God in new ways.
Before the Lord might have saved you from trouble; today He might
want to give you strength to handle the trouble and get through it with
a new way of thinking, new joy, new purpose, and new strength.
To gain the triumph that we are granted in Christ Jesus, we have to
be willing to see every experience as an encounter with God. To see it
as an opportunity to grow spiritually, to know God better, and to learn
more about ourselves in relation to God.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the norm
We can create the conditions or channel for the new thing we desire of
the Lord. Like in the case of the woman who had been sick for twelve
years with an “issue of blood,” she had faith to be healed and said
within herself, “If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark
5:28). Although we have instant access now through prayer, that
woman knew she might not have been able to get close enough to Jesus
to tell him her concerns. Had she seen that type of healing before? The
miracles that Jesus provided often came in unusual ways. Have faith, act
on your faith, and be bold enough to have a new encounter with God!
featureSTORY
The power of God is with you
You already have the power within you to do whatever this life requires—to overcome every obstacle, meet every goal, handle any
pressure or stress:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
(Colossians 1:27)
Your desire for good, and the fact that you can see something better
for yourself is the first inkling of truth that the Lord has something
more for you.
And at those times when it seems like we can’t make it, God’s
amazing grace is there to lift us up and secure us in the protection and
strength of the Father. As the apostle Paul tells us, “And he [Jesus] said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Have faith in God
God is faithful, He loves us, and nothing can stop His plan or purposes.
He is our Source, and we are not separated from our Source, but rather
connected to it. What we have to do is find or become more aware of
our point of contact with God. What is yours? Is it when you pray or
meditate on the Word of God? Could it be when you sing gospel songs,
or listen to inspiring music? How about when you are serving God, or
helping others in the work of the Lord? Is it while you are at church?
Know it so that you can tap into it more.
Expect a blessing in embracing the new
Have you ever done something that you thought you could never
do—like learning a new skill, developing a hidden talent, or doing a
new kind of work? It might have been getting through a tough time or
having some sort of test. There was something in you that just came to
life! You did what you thought you could not. In the natural it might
have been scary, maybe even nerve-racking, but you handled it. The
Scripture says that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians
4:13), and God always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus as a
testimony to Him (2 Corinthians 2:14). Moving forward in God is to
embrace the new without looking back.
See it now
Get the image of Jesus Christ in your mind and know that the victory
you see in Him is the same victory you should see for yourself. Get the
image of Jesus in your mind and know that the same assurance He had
in God is the same assurance you can walk in, in your life experience.
Get in your mind the image of Jesus—the resurrected Lord and King
who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. This is your destiny.
This is your reality now (Ephesians 1:3)!
A Fresh Start by Jacquelin McCord-Harris
A
group of scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus
at the temple. They had caught her in the act of adultery.
The Mosaic Law required such a person be stoned to
death, but they wanted to know what Jesus would do in
this situation. Jesus responded by saying, “He who is without sin, let
him cast the first stone.” Convicted by their conscience of their own
sins, beginning with the eldest, they walked away. Jesus said to the
woman, “there is no one left to condemn you and neither do I. Go now
and sin no more” (John 8, NIV)
Jesus calls us to examine our own behaviors and perhaps like the
accusers, we too will put down our ‘stones’. Romans 3:23 says, “for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NKJV).
Miracles await us
This is a time for living a supernatural life. God takes pleasure in
proving who He is through us. God proves out His promises to us—as
children of God in relationship with Him as we walk in the principles
of His Word.
When miracles happen, we have connected in consciousness with
the Truth that already exists in God and lives in us. Suddenly, His
reality becomes our reality—we are well, we have peace, we are made
whole, our needs are met! God’s reality of good becomes our own. This
can be more the norm than not.
About the writer: Samira E. Robinson is a communications consultant and a
leading lecturer and speaker in the community. She is the author of This Side of
Heaven – A Book of Poems, Prayers and Spiritual Writings available in
bookstores everywhere, through online booksources, or by calling 1.888.795.4274,
and a contributor to The Spirit-Filled Journey devotional. Visit
www.samirarobinson.com for more information.
Therefore, before we condemn and judge others, we should examine ourselves. Like the woman here, Jesus has compassion on us. Romans 8:1 says,
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”
(NKJV). We can give thanks and praise to God for His grace and mercy, that
through Jesus we have been given another chance. We can say I used to do that
or I was that kind of person, but not anymore. Like the woman in this story, we
have been given a fresh start. As we embark upon this New Year, let us be more
Christlike and be less condemning and give others a fresh start, too!
Instant Message
A New
Beginning
A New
Beginning
We live in a world that defines us by our past. However,
with the repentance of our sins, we receive the gift
of grace and begin a journey of righteousness. For
salvation defines not our past but the person we each
become because of our relationship with Christ.
— Sharon Prince
January 2012 | 7
photoGALLERY
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ACOG in Photos. Detroit was in the house Friday, December 9, when two of its biggest gospel music artists joined the Sanctuary Choir, Elizabeth NormanSojourner, and Dwayne Lee to celebrate Jesus in song at the annual Christmas concert. Deitrick Haddon and Grammy-award winning artist Fred Hammond were
this year’s guest artists. Inspiration 1390’s Sonya Blakey was the evening’s host. Photos by Leonard McGee.
1) Deitrick Haddon signs copies of his CDs for happy listeners of his music. 2) The first couple, Dr. Brazier and First Lady Evangelist Mary Brazier—greet one
of the special guests. 3) Minister of Music Herald “Chip” Johnson directs the choir. 4) The congregation enjoys the music. 5) Deitrick Haddon finishes with a
rousing rendition of “Well Done.” 6) Dr. Brazier welcomes ACOG members and guests to the concert. 7) Dwayne Lee sings “Peace.” 8) Fred Hammond gets an
assist from the bookstore personnel. 9) The Felker boys, Christian and Cameron, hang out with Fred Hammond. 10) Fred Hammond saves the best for last: a
medley of some of his most popular songs. 11) ACOG’S own Renee Felker, Andrea Morris, and Terrance Felker sang back-up for Deitrick Haddon. 12) Detroit’s
finest come to Chicago to celebrate Christmas. 13) Deitrick signs autographs for his youngest fans. 14) Elizabeth Sojourner gets ready to sing. 15) Elizabeth
Sojourner sings a beautiful rendition of “This Christmastide.” 16) Ray Nuckolls directs the choir. 17) Tameka Conley and the Sanctuary Choir open up with “Go
Tell it on the Mountain.” 18) Inspiration 1390’s Sonya Blakey works the crowd. 19) Dr. Willeta Johnson directs the choir.
Behind the Scenes: Many auxiliaries and ministry groups help make the Joy of Concert flow, including: Coat Roam, Directors, TV Room, Volunteers
8 | The Cross&Crown
photoGALLERY
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January 2012 | 9
parentingPAGE
Blessing Our Children
O
utside of “blessing” our children with
the occasional Happy Meal, field trip,
or favorite toy, are we intentional about
blessing our children in ways that have a lifeaffirming impact on their lives? John Trent, author
and president of Strong Families, says there are
five features of the kind of blessing we can bestow
upon our children. ACOG parent Carol StanleyRobbins shares how each of those features have
played out in her parenting over the years.
• Appropriate and meaningful touch – From
the time Carol’s sons, now young adults,
were young boys, the first thing they had to
do each morning was share a hug with their
mom. Knowing some people suffer from
a lack of human touch, Carol didn’t want
that to be the case for her sons. The practice
particularly benefited her youngest son, for
whom hugging “didn’t come…as naturally”
as it did for her oldest son.
• Words of love and acceptance. Think of the
popular line from the movie The Help: “You
is kind. You is smart. You is important.” For
Carol such words were “tempered with the
truth.” Sometimes that truth wasn’t easy to
•
•
hear, but Carol believes it was necessary for
teaching her children that we must always
look to grow and become better.” It was also
important to Carol that her children knew
love, acceptance, and accountability beyond
her. “I would convey this to them by asking
who was the head of the house. As a single
parent, I wanted them to know the covering
of God and His standards over the house.”
Value placed on the child. Some adults
have a “children are to be seen not heard”
mentality as a way of teaching them to not
question the adults in their lives, but Carol
never subscribed to that kind of thinking.
“Children learning respect is not only born
out of demanding that they respect you as a
parent but also in them being respected by
their parents.”
Acknowledgment of a special future. Carol
taught her sons that “God has a path for
you. They grew under the teaching that you
need not worry about the path of anyone else
because what God has to do with and for you
is not the same as anyone else.”
•
Genuine commitment. This involves
following through, modeling the kind of lives
we want them to live, and making sacrifices
to show we care. Carol says that parents
should allow the time they spend with their
children to be natural so that the thought of
spending time with them is not strange once
they get older. “We prayed, we had family
devotions, attended church together; they
always had to sit with the family at church
(at least one of the services if they stayed for
both).
Carol established a more formal blessing, or
rite of passage experience, for her children, which
lasted over a period of months. Each month, her
sons would meet with an adult who represented a
particular value she wanted them to embrace and
exhibit in their lives. When it came to spiritual
values, they met with Bishop Brazier; family
values, they met with their grandfather; women,
they met with their aunts; and community, they
met with their godfather.
Source: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/
spiritual_growth_for_kids/blessing-your-child.aspx
Tools for Training
Point your kids in the right direction—when
they’re old they won’t be lost. (Proverbs 22:6,
The Message)
F
un and kooky characters like Buck
Denver, Sunday School Lady, and
Pastor Paul help kids understand the
entire Bible in the new DVD series Buck
Denver Asks…What’s in the Bible? The first
six DVDs (available now) cover Genesis
through 2 Chronicles. $14.99. To see clips and to learn more
about the series, visit www.whatsinthebible.com.
Don't Miss It!
January Youth Calendar
Tweens
PIVOT — 2nd, 3rd, 4th Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 p.m.
Teen Guys
Lions of Judah — 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th Fridays, 7 p.m.
Teen Girls
Carol sent a letter to the various members of the “village” who participated in her
sons’ rites of passage experience.
10 | The Cross&Crown
G.R.A.C.E. — 1st Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. — 1st, 3rd, 5th Fridays, 6:45 p.m.
For a complete listing of Destiny1212 Youth Ministry activities,
visit www.acog-chicago.org
lifeAPPLICATION
RealEstateNotes
5 reasons it’s time for a
home in 2012
New Beginnings
I
n 2011, the Health and Wellness Ministry provided
information and tools to assist you in promoting health
and wellness. We challenged you to adopt the philosophy
of wellness and disease prevention. At the 2011 health sessions,
everyone was encouraged to be proactive about their health—to
make and keep health appointments and to ask your primary care
practitioner questions until you are satisfied that you understand
what he or she is saying.
As we usher in the New Year and continue with the philosophy
of wellness, the Health and Wellness Ministry challenges you
to “Live Your Best Life.” Collect all the information you learned
and apply it. We ask you to begin a health campaign that you can
embrace: pledge to begin a fitness regime, make a healthy food
choice daily, and enlist a support/prayer partner. In 2012, we will continue to provide you with
information on heart health, nutrition, cancer preventions, and mental wellness. Our Web site will
be enhanced to provide resources to assist you in living your best life.
continued on page 15
Tips for Cutting Back and Saving More in 2012
A
re you looking for ways to make your dollars stretch and save more in the New Year?
Consider the following penny-pinching tips that can lead to significant savings:
Brown-bag it. If you work outside your home and buy lunch every day, depending on
where you eat, you can spend anywhere between $30 and $50 (or more) per week. Just think, if you
spend at least $30 a week on takeout (and that’s if you’re eating a $6 value meal every day), that’s
$1560 a year. Packing a lunch (even if you only do it a couple days out of the week) will not only save
you money, but it may also save you a few pounds.
Push the Envelope
Avoid the vending machine. Let’s say you don’t buy
the value meal and opt to purchase a soda from the
vending machine each day because it’s cheaper. If the
beverage costs $1.25 per bottle, you will spend at least
$6.25 a week, or $325 a year. You can save up to $221 a
year doing this: purchase a 12-pack of your favorite soda
for less than $4, and it will last you more than two weeks
(unless you share, of course).
Go Red. At nearly $20 a month for as many DVDs
A great budget-keeping tool is Dave
as you can watch and send back within that time and
Ramsey’s Financial Peace University
unlimited streaming, Netflix is without question a better
envelope system. After you create a
deal than going to your local video store. However, you
monthly cash flow plan (which you
can save even more money if you rent movies from Red
adjust each month), you select the
Box at just $1 per movie instead. The catch: Red Box has
categories that will be cash only
a limited movie selection compared to Netflix—and the
(e.g., food, gas). Mark those
DVD costs $1 each day you keep the movie.
categories on the envelopes and
Renew Your Library Card. If you plan to read a book
put the designated amounts in each
only once, consider borrowing it from the library instead
one. The challenge is to not dip
of purchasing it. It can save you anywhere between
into another envelope when one
$10 and $30 (depending on whether it’s paperback or
is tapped out. To learn more about
hardback).
how this works, visit daveramsey.com.
I
t’s true that money can’t buy happiness,
but knowing that the value of your assets
will grow over time does give you peace of
mind. Negative press is leaving some homebuyers stuck on the fence, but here are a few
reasons to climb down.
In the long run you come out ahead; in the
short run you enjoy your home. The paper
value of your home won’t rise much in the next
couple of years. But if you want a home where
you can raise your children or retire for the rest
of your life, the paper value will rise significantly, or probably double or triple during that
time. The recent survey by the Hartford/MIT
Lab’s Home for a Lifetime survey shows that
half of all homeowners prefer their current
home for retirement. Another 10 percent may
choose to retire there, but aren’t yet sure.
A home is like a savings account. Your
initial costs of home buying will come back to
you many times over during the life of your
mortgage. Your stake in the home builds every
month. You’ll have more than rent receipts in
the future.
Mortgage payments are fixed; rental payments rise. On a fixed-rate mortgage, you
know what your payment will be each month
for years to come. (As inflation rises, you’ll be
making those payments with less expensive
dollars.) Apartment rents through the third
quarter of 2010 were up 2.4 percent nationwide for the year and up twice that amount
in larger cities. Nice apartments were hard to
find because the national vacancy rate is the
lowest since 2006, according to a study by real
estate research firm Reis, Inc. There are many
more reasons for having a home of your own,
reasons that have little to do with the financial
aspects.
Stability and community. You get to know
the neighbors. Your kids won’t have to change
schools. They can keep their friends. You
get to know their teachers and which parks,
neighborhood facilities and merchants are best
for you. Studies show that as people develop
positive relationships with neighbors, they have
more happiness and less stress.
You get to be the boss. Dealing with a
landlord and negotiating repairs are hassles
you won’t have to deal with. As the boss of your
own place, you can paint, renovate and redecorate as much as you want and in any color or
style you want.
January 2012 | 11
Books & Music
mediaMATTERS
Make a fresh start with any of the titles
The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer L. Towns
Although this book focuses on the benefits of the Daniel Fast, it
offers guidelines for experiencing spiritual breakthrough on any
fast you undertake including the fast of time the pastor is calling
the congregation to this month. $12.99
Living Beyond Your Feelings by Joyce Meyer
In her latest book, Joyce Meyer teaches you how to master your
emotions so that they don’t master you. $22.99
Every Day a Friday by Joel Osteen
If you’re determined to complain less and give thanks more,
Joel Osteen’s most recent book will show you how to do that.
$24.99
God’s Promises for Your Children by Mike Shreve
This book outlines sixty-five biblical promises concerning your
children. All you have to do is pray and believe. $14.99
The 40-Day Soul Fast by Cindy Trimm
For eight weeks, embark on a transformational journey that will
teach you how “to live from the inside out.” $15.99
Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
by Walter Henrichsen and Gayle Jackson
Follow along with Dr. Brazier’s Wednesday evening Bible classes
and learn how to study Scripture with greater ease and impact.
$14.99 (Get 20% off)
Unmerited Favor by Joseph Prince
Being successful begins with knowing who you are in Jesus
Christ and understanding that the Lord wants you to “succeed.”
$22.99
Courageous (DVD)
As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes,
David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused.
Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them
are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. Protecting the streets is
second nature to these men. Raising their children in a Godhonoring way? That’s courageous.
The Power of a Lifestyle Change by Lorraine Allen
“Losing weight is a perfect start to your lifestyle change.” Low
self-esteem or poor body image weren’t culprits by Lorraine
Allen’s weight gain, but she soon realized that, although she was
comfortable with being a “big girl,” her health was more
important; therefore, the weight had to come off.
A Book of Poetry a Sister Can Eat To by Meochia Thompson
While the previous book inspires you to lose a few pounds, this
one says a little comfort food won’t hurt you. Thompson uses a
unique combination of poetry, personal stories and recipes to
inspire women and bring comfort to their minds, bodies, and
souls. $19.99
inREVIEW
PrayFit by Jimmy Pena with Jimmy Page and Jim Stoppani, Ph.D.
Sometimes when a book sets out to accomplish several things in one, it will hit a home run in one area
but only get a base hit in another. PrayFit (overall a good book worth the investment) is such a book. A
28-day guide to building your body and your faith, the devotions are great. Each entry is impactful—
particularly Day 3, which expounds on the power of forgiveness. Each devotion is followed by a series of
questions, a prayer, and a “Walking in Him” challenge. Pena and company only offer a sample menu for
seven days, and not all 28 days (unlike the meal plans offered on each day of Hundley’s 40-day Fit for the
King, a similar book). And those who prefer following along to an exercise routine may find the exercise
regime a bit challenging, but overall PrayFit’s method is effective, especially if you patiently follow
through—which is the point. If you prefer doing aerobics to a video over following a demonstration in
words, you can easily substitute Pena’s exercises for ones you prefer.
12 | The Cross&Crown
aroundACOG
Alternatives (CommunityCalendar)
SUNDAY
January 1
New Year’s Day
MONDAY
January 9
LIFE Courses Begin
SUNDAY
January 15
MLK Day is January 16
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for
others?’” Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn’t just a day we take off from
work to honor one of the most important figures of the 20th century. It’s a
national day of service, a time to roll up our sleeves and find a way to
meet the needs of others. To learn more about the MLK Day of Service,
which is part of President Obama’s service initiative, as well as look for
service opportunities in your area, visit http://mlkday.gov
MONDAY
January 16
Sisterhood
Connection Kickoff Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Day
3:45 p.m.
SATURDAY
January 21
Brotherhood
Kickoff, 8:00 a.m.
SUNDAY
January 29
Ushers Worship
Service, 4 p.m.
JANUARY ‘12
CALENDAR
The Chicago Sinfonietta Presents
“The journey, the dream: A Tribute to MLK
January 16, 2012 • 7:30 p.m.
Symphony Center • 220 S. Michigan Avenue • Chicago
The Chicago Sinfonietta honors the American icon and civil rights leader
Dr. Martin Luther King. Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra founder Jeri Lynn
Johnson will join Maestro Chen, and renowned flutist Nicole Mitchell
premieres her own composition. The ACOG Sanctuary Choir will also
be featured. Tickets are $26–$50, with special pricing for children and
students. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit
http://cso.org or call 312.236.3681 ext. 2.
comingUP
Enlightened, Empowered & Engaged. This
year, the Brotherhood is asking every man to get
involved by helping the pastor in his efforts to make
Apostolic Church of God a beacon of light for our
community. Getting involved begins with attending
the ministry’s annual kickoff breakfast Saturday,
January 21 in the Banquet Hall. Elder David Hollis
will be the speaker for the breakfast and the 4th @ 4
service the following day. The cost is only $10. Signup begins Sunday, January 8, in Fellowship Hall. Registration also takes
place online at acog-chicago.org.
Discipleship & Leadership Classes for Men. Over the past sixteen
years, more than 1600 men have completed the dynamic and Spirit-filled
discipleship class, designed to help men experience God in a very personal
way. The next ten-week session begins Thursday, January 5, from 7 to
9:15 p.m. The leadership class (for men who have completed the
discipleship class) begins that same night at the same time. To register for
either class, stop by Fellowship Hall after first service.
Sisterhood Connection Kickoff. “A Renewed
Mind for a Spiritual Breakthrough” is the theme
for the Sisterhood Connection’s 2012 ministry
year. Before it kicks off the year with a special
worship service on Sunday, January 15, at 3:45
p.m. with assistant pastor Dr. Jeanne Porter, the
Women of Faith will open the year with its first
fellowship of 2012. All women are encouraged
to join the women’s ministry Monday, January 9,
at 7 p.m., in Fellowship Hall. The topic is “Being
Secure in Christ” with speaker Evangelist Nettie Ratcliffe.
Covenant Partners Marriage Ministry is inviting all married couples
to come away on a “Treasured Love Getaway Weekend” February 10–12
at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott in Oak Brook, Ill. It will be a time for
couples to get away, relax, and enjoy one another while making new
friends and learning new ways to treasure their love. Couples who
cannot attend the entire weekend can join the ministry for Friday night’s
activities. The cost is $45 per couple for the Friday night event. For
married couples who want to stay overnight, hotel accommodations are
$87 each night, which includes a breakfast buffet. Registration begins
Sunday, January 8. To make hotel reservations, call the hotel directly at
630.850.5555. Mention the Apostolic Church of God Marriage Ministry
to get a discounted rate. If you make hotel reservations using your
Marriot Rewards points, call Yolanda Williams at 773.256.4184.
Winter LIFE. The 2012 winter quarter of LIFE
begins the week of January 9. Classes include
Freedom in Jesus: Part 1; Spanish, French, and Sign
Language; Smoking Cessation; Create Your Own
Web site; Law 101: Know Your Rights; and more.
To register, pick up a LIFE brochure from kiosks
throughout the church or download the brochure
at www.acog-chicago.org.
January 2012 | 13
extendedPHOTOgallery
Christmas with our Children. “Our young people don’t perform; they worship the Lord.” That’s what Dr. Byron Brazier said about the various youth
ministries who ministered in the Christmas Troika, an annual program that celebrates Christmas in dance, music, and drama. Held in the Kenwood Sanctuary on
December 4, the program featured the Youth Orchestra, Children’s Church Choir, Ecclesia Praise, Mime Ministry, Liturgical Dance Ministry, Drama Guild, Youth
Concert Choir, and W.O.W. Praise Team. Photos by Donnie Hampton
14 | The Cross&Crown
Ads
inTHEknow
The classified advertising in The Cross & Crown is a free service. The deadline for ads is the first Sunday of each month. All ads will be placed in the
first available issue (typically the month following the Sunday you submit your ad). At the church’s discretion, The Cross & Crown reserves the right
to not print any ad for any reason. Classified advertising in The Cross & Crown does not necessarily imply the endorsement of the church.
For Rent
Real Estate
■ Hazel Crest—spacious 4-bdrm, 2-bath house
w/attached 2.5-car garage on corner lot,
708.359.6709.
■ Offering home purchase loans as low as 2%
down. Contact Rod Atkins at Wells Fargo for
details, 773.239.1330.
■ 7949 S. Yates—two 3-bdrm, 2-bath apts.
Close to Metra & CTA. Tenant pays heat,
312.437.0889.
General
■ 7020 S. Cregier—2-bdrm home for rent. Call
Mr. Kendricks, 773.324.7655.
■ Riverdale—1-bdrm apt, heat/AC, laundry &
parking, close to Metra. Rent is $675/mo. plus
1-mo sec. Call Joseph McCree, 708.921.2365.
■ Bronzeville—remodeled English basement
apt., near train and bus, 1-bdrm/1-bath studio,
utilities included. New kitchen with new gas
range/refrigerator/washer and dryer included,
$700/mo plus 1 mo. sec. Call Lillian Davis,
773.538.1262.
■ Looking for 2-bdrm apt on 1st floor, or
garden apt located between 63rd and 95th streets,
between Dorchester and Ashland avenues. Can
pay up to $850/mo. Must be wheelchair
accessible. Call Willie & Bessie Williams,
773.285.0811.
■ Dora La Couture—specializing in wedding
gowns. Designs are especially selected to your
interests, specifications, and measurements.
Designer pays attention to details to ensure
every patter pattern is perfect. Call for an
appointment, 773.374.8863 or e-mail
[email protected]. Location: 8246 S.
Kimbark Ave. 10a–6p.
■ To buy or sell Avon, contact B. Brawner,
773.805.1434, e-mail [email protected] or fax
773.374.1663.
■ “O” Taste & “C” Carrmin Dessserts—
scrumptious delights that will make your taste
buds want more. Carrmin Sims, Proprietor,
773.430.8298 [email protected]
■ Garden of Eden Landscapping is open for
winter. For snow removal—commercial or
residential—call 773.459.4132.
Employment
■ Gina’s Unbelievable Learning Center is
looking for a teacher with an associate’s degree
in child development or another field with
30 hours of child development. Must have
knowledge of headstart curriculum, and
experience with diverse and challenged
students. Applicant must love working with
children and reinforcing positive attitudes.
Please contact Gina Thomas, 773.848.6155.
■ Homestead Senior Care—Caregivers
needed to provide in-home care and help
ensure the quality of life for seniors. No
experience, training, or certification needed
but appreciated. For more information,
call 773.334.9865 or e-mail resumes to
[email protected].
■ For sensational Web-site design, graphic
design, and interior decorating services, visit
www.toniferreira.com or e-mail: tonicreations@
gmail.com
Goals, continued from page 3
Transformers, continued from page 5
the first of several devotionals called The Spirit-Filled Journey: Experiencing God’s Love (Xulon Press). Led by Dr. Jeanne Porter, a team of
ministers and members put together a 366-day devotional based on the
tenets of our faith as a Pentecostal church. The devotional also unpacks
the theology of grace; it’s a tribute to my father, Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, who was known for preaching and teaching about the saving grace
of God. While each of us will likely read the devotional in the privacy of
our quiet time with the Lord, we will also “travel” through it together.
This month, I am continuing a teaching series I started in December on
“How to Study the Bible.” I will use the Scriptures from the devotional
entries as a base for teaching Wednesday night Bible class; we will learn
how to break down each verse in order to discover even more truth that
we can apply to our lives.
I believe that committing to read through The Spirit-Filled Journey
devotional as a church family will take our relationship with God—and
each other—to another level. The whole idea is for us to grow spiritually
by growing in the Word. When we grow in the Word, our lives mature;
our hearts becomes mature, and we’re able to handle life differently and
better because we know the Word.
And as we share with one another how the Bible class and the devotional readings are impacting us, we most certainly will grow closer as
brothers and sisters in Christ who are committed to growing up in Him
together.
and the University of Illinois at Chicago from their campuses to church
on Sunday mornings. “All college students are welcome, but they’ll have
to be at one of the pick-up locations,” says Gary. TCM eventually hopes
to widen its presence on the campuses, including developing Bible study
groups that focus on topics such as love, purity, integrity, and identity.
The shuttle service begins January 22 and runs through May 6, 2012.
Students have to sign up to participate. To learn more about the
ministry follow TCM on Twitter: @acogtransformer, or contact ministry director Gary Foster at [email protected].
Health, continued from page 11
In January, the 2012 Health Calendar is observing:
• Cervical Health Awareness Month. Visit www.nccc-online.org/
awareness.html to learn about the advances and research in the
prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer or HPV.
• Thyroid Awareness Month. Every time you look in the mirror, a
key to your well-being is staring back at you: your thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the
lower front of the neck, above the collarbones, and below the voice
box. Visit the following Web site to learn about the neck check:
https://www.aace.com/sites/alt.aace.com/files/pdfs/neck_check.pdf.
Watch for important Health and Wellness Ministry activities this year
and have the healthiest New Year ever!
January 2012 | 15
Apostolic Church of God
6320 South Dorchester Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
www.acog-chicago.org
Visit us on the Web at www.acog-chicago.org!
Happy New Year!
ACOG SERVICE TIMES
Sundays
9:10 a.m., First Service
11:40 a.m., Second Service
4 p.m., Afternoon Service
Tuesdays
10 a.m., Daytimers Bible Class
Wednesdays
1 p.m., Prayer
7:30 p.m., Bible Class
Fridays
7:30 p.m., Intercessory Prayer
Television Broadcasts
Sundays, 8 a.m.
WCIU/TV, Channel 26
■ Cable stations may vary