Matthew 4:19 - First Baptist Church of Glenarden

VISION
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GLENARDEN
MAY/JUNE 2012
Feature Articles
Let’s Go Fishing
Reel Them In
Bait
FISHERS OF MEN
Matthew 4:19
MaY/june 2012
1
through Discipleship, Discipline and Duplicaton
Developing Dynamic Disciples
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First Baptist church of Glenarden
CORE
VALUES
as a result of our love for God, we continually choose and commit to strive for unity in
the body of christ. We desire to SEE HIM reflected in everything that we do.
Seek God First
EvanGelism
Excellence
Honor
InteGritY
MentorinG
SEE HIM
We commit to seek God first for direction
in every decision, whether great or small.
– Matt. 6:33
Because it is God’s desire that no one should
perish, we are equipped to share the love of
christ wherever and whenever with anyone out
of gratitude for God sparing us from eternal
damnation. – Matt. 28:19
We strive to give God our very best! diligence,
responsibility and faithfulness are essential
ingredients to succeed in anything God has
tasked us to do, as demonstrated by daniel.
– Daniel 5:14, 6:3
esteeming others higher than ourselves,
regardless of their title, position or status, is our
priority because everyone was created in the
image of God. – Romans 12:10
Honesty is demonstrated by doing what we
commit to do. – Job 31:6
God has given everyone a purpose, and we
commit to impart in others lessons learned to
help them fulfill their destiny. – 2 Tim. 2:2
VIS ION
Visit us on the Web at www.fbcglenarden.org
May/June 2012
VOLUME 15/ISSUE 3
NEWS and announcements
4
Inside This Edition of Vision
35
Upcoming Events
5
FEATURES
5
Moving Forward
7 Fishers of Men
(Matthew 4:19)
9
Let’s Go Fishing
11Bait
12
Reel Them In
9
16
DEPARTMENTS
14
Global Impact
16
Ministry Spotlight
19
Senior Spotlight
20
Testimony Time
24
Health and Fitness
27
Black Facts
28
Book Review
29
Music Review
30
Enhancing Your Devotions
17
22
special sections
21 Children’s and B.O.D.Y. by Christ
Ministries
22
FBCG Health and Fitness Expo
MaY/june 2012
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VISION
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.
Inside
This
Director,
Communications Ministries
Reverend Belynda Gentry
Edition
“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”
(Matthew 4:19).
As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew. They were fishermen by trade and were casting their nets into the
sea. Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Peter and Andrew did not linger or look back at their nets. They immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.
As Jesus walked further, he saw two other brothers, James and John.
They were in a boat with their father Zebedee and were mending their
nets. Jesus called to the brothers and they did not linger or look back.
They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Just like these men, we must immediately respond to the call to serve
as fishers of men through Jesus Christ. It is critical that we not make
excuses or look back at what we are called to leave behind. In moving
forward there is loss, but there is much more to be gained through obedience and service to God.
Jesus’ earlier message and warning to others is the same for us today.
We must immediately respond to the call of God and not look back. We
must “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
We the staff of VISION magazine, pray that your obedience and service
to God would be immediate; and that you will continue to move forward
and not look back.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this
mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to
you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us be of the same mind” (Philippians 3:12-16).
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Vision Magazine
Editor-in-Chief
Michele Renee Woodfork
Art Director
Shevona Johnson
Staff
Audree Arrington,
Jason Atkins, Fredrica Bailey,
Tolu Bankole, Julio Barreto,
Alesia Barron, Minister Khadijah Bey,
Amanda Blackmon, Marguerite Brown,
Leatrice Burphy, Edna Butler,
Kissa Clark, Insana Collins,
Evangeline Covington, Terri Craig,
Stacey Crawford, Kirk Daley,
Marilyn Davy, Shontis Douglas-Jones,
Tyrone Eddins, Justine Elliot,
Dion Gray, Shanice Grooms,
Tyrone Guiden, Les Hamilton,
Pyper Harvey, Bianca Holman, Nikole Holt,
Le’Aun Inabinett, Patricia Clark Jackson,
Ollie Jefferson, Phyllis Johnson,
Sherese Johnson, Tami Johnson,
Nadine Jones, Jerry King,
Keara Lance, Anderlynn Mitchell,
Pleshette Monroe, Carmen Morgan,
Ursula Oliver, Shannon Outlaw,
Michelle Overstreet, Simmone Patrick,
Ebony Price, Aleysha Proctor,
Teandra Pyles, Rebecca Ramos,
Evelyn Kim Rhim, Valencia Richardson,
Mary Singleton, Robin Smiles,
Karen Smith, Patricia Smith,
Verna Smith, Kaylen Tucker,
Tameesha Tucker, Shirley Turner,
Janet Walton, Adrienne Whitehead,
Yvonne Willis, Larry Wilson
VISION is published five times a year by the
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Magazine Ministry.
Contact us at
[email protected]
or 301-773-3600.
ISSN 2164-7720 (print)
Based upon the Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, message preached by Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.
By Michele Renee Woodfork
I
n Genesis 18:20-21, God spoke to Abraham, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is
great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go
down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to
Me; and if not, I will know.”
The sin of Sodom was very grave. God decided to
destroy Sodom and He told Abraham. The reason
God told Abraham was because his nephew Lot
and family were living in Sodom.
Abraham made an appeal to God. In Genesis
18:23, Abraham asks “Would you also destroy the
righteous with the wicked?” Next, he appealed to
God by asking the number of righteous, from 50
to a lesser 10. God said that He would not destroy
from 50 to the lesser 10.
There were not 10 righteous people found, so two
angels were sent to destroy Sodom. Lot was sitting
at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw the angels
he rose to meet them and he bowed with his face
toward the ground. Lot offered his home for them
to spend the night, insisting strongly that they not
sleep in the open square of the city. The angels decided to stay with him. Lot made them a feast and
baked unleavened bread to eat.
The depravity and sin was so severe that the
men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and called
for him to bring the men staying there out of the
house. Lot stepped outside and closed the door
behind him. He offered to bring out his daughters,
but the men of Sodom came near to break down
the door. The angels opened the door and pulled
Lot back inside the house. They struck the men with
blindness, and they became weary trying to find
the door.
The angels told Lot to take his family members
out of Sodom because the city was going to be
destroyed. Lot warned his sons-in-law but they
thought he was joking and stayed in the city.
When morning came, the angels urged Lot to
hurry; to gather his family and leave Sodom. Lot
lingered, so the angels took hold of his hand, along
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Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.
with the hands of his wife and two daughters. The
angels brought them out and set them outside of
the city.
“So it came to pass, when they had brought them
outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look
behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape
to the mountains, lest you be destroyed” (Genesis
19:17). Lot asked the angels if he could go to a
nearby city and not the mountains. He desired to
remain close to Sodom and gave no thought to the
mercy of God in sparing him and his family from
destruction.
God favored Lot for the nearby city of Zoar and
awaited his safe arrival before destroying the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah. “But his wife looked back
behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis
19:26).
Lot’s wife received instant judgment from God
because she was disobedient.
Sin and disobedience toward God is a serious
matter. Jesus warned people about the coming
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judgment of God by reminding them to “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
In moving forward, we must not risk the judgment of God through sin and disobedience. We
must immediately respond to His call and not look
back.
Jesus’ earlier message and warning is the same
for us today – we must “remember Lot’s wife.”
“Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which
are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as
many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to
you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already
attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the
same mind” (Philippians 3:12-16). ■
Fishers
of Men
“Then He said to them,“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”
(Matthew 4:19).
F
ishing during the time of Jesus was a
thriving industry, especially in Galilee where
He called His first disciples into ministry. It
was not ironic that Jesus would call fishermen to
follow Him. Although fishermen may have been
considered less cultivated and refined during that
time, the first disciples possessed the qualities
that were needed to follow Jesus in public
ministry.
Fishermen were men of great patience and
endurance. They had the physical and mental
strength to withstand perilous circumstances.
They were also businessmen who knew their
trade well and had the ability to communicate
with people from many walks of life. These virtues
proved to be essential as Andrew, Peter, James
and John sacrificed everything to “fish for men.”
This was not Andrew and Peter’s first encounter
with Jesus. In John 1:35-42, Andrew heard John
the Baptist call Jesus the “Lamb of God.” Andrew
and another disciple of John followed
Jesus and remained with Him for a day.
Then Andrew found his brother Simon
Peter and brought Him to Jesus. Jesus
knew that Andrew would have no probBy Shirley Turner
lem following the Christ. Andrew passed
MaY/june 2012
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two critical tests for the ministry – faithfulness and
passion. This made him a viable choice for one of
the first disciples.
According to Scripture, Andrew and Simon Peter
“immediately left their nets and followed Him” and
James and John “immediately … left the boat and
their father, and followed Him” (Matthew 4:20, 22).
They recognized the authority of Christ and felt
honored to be called into His early ministry.
Without giving thought to the lives they were
leaving behind, they gave up everything to follow
Christ. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers and
sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My
disciple” (Luke 14:26). Indeed, that day when Jesus
walked on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and
called His first disciples, they gave Him first place in
their lives. James and John were even with their father at the time of their calling, but they didn’t look
back. They knew that greater things were required
of them. They knew they had “found the Messiah”
and were willing to follow Him (John 1:41).
Andrew and Simon Peter were actually fishing – casting a net into the sea, while James and
John were mending their nets. They were at work
in their earthly calling when Jesus redirected their
vocations. They would no longer cast their nets for
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fish; hereafter they would fish for the souls of men.
Jesus entrusted them to spread His message to the
world.
Although Jesus is not physically walking the
earth today, He is still calling us to follow Him.
“… if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”
(Matthew 16:24). We must be willing to make everything else – our families, careers, even ourselves
– secondary to Him.
You may be thinking that you should wait until
you have taken enough classes, attended enough
conferences, read enough books or heard enough
sermons to qualify as a messenger for Christ. You
might feel that you are not capable of witnessing
to someone because you have not been trained to
do so. The first disciples were not formally trained
before their calling. They were willing to follow
Christ, to imitate Him and to obey Him. If you desire
to follow Him, simply cast your net and be willing
to give Christ first place in your life.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always; even to the end of the age. Amen”
(Matthew 28:19-20). ■
Let’s Go Fishing
Y
ou don’t have to have a famous name or
title to be a fisher of men for the kingdom
of God. As a Christian, you have been commissioned through Jesus Christ to be a fisher of
men for His honor and glory.
To be fishers of men we have to go where
people are longing for Christ. In Part 5 of the
message and teaching series “The God of Much
More,” Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. said that we are
to take the gospel to places where it is needed.
There are places where people are hungering
for truth, hope and meaning in their lives. This
means that we must take the gospel of Jesus
Christ everywhere.
There is desperation in the world and
we have the answer in Christ. We must
be concerned about the spiritual condition of the lives of others and where
they will spend eternity.
By Alesia Barron
The places where you encounter
May/June 2012
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people on a regular basis are good starting
points to share Christ. In many cases, you may
have already formed relationships and may
know some things about them. You may have
discussed your favorite sports, hobbies, current
events, weekend plans and family. Use the same
ease and familiarity to talk with them about
Christ. Share how He has made a difference in
your life, supplied your needs and keeps you
going when you are faced with challenges.
Dr. Allen Farmer, in a 2010 sermon preached at
First Baptist Church of Glenarden, encouraged
us to talk Jesus up in such clear, creative,
winsome ways that more and more people will
believe. He noted that you can carry contagious
enthusiasm into many areas to be a fisher
of men. These are places where you might
volunteer to meet the needs of others, such as
homeless shelters, food banks, prisons, nursing
homes and youth detention centers. People
may be in these places for a variety of reasons,
but your presence and help through Christ can
manifest something good. Your closeness and
commitment gives you the opportunity to share
Christ with them. 1 Peter 3:15 says “…always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness
and fear.”
God has commissioned you to win souls
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for His Kingdom. The key is to connect with
others. The apostle Paul knew the importance
of this when he said, “I have become all things
to all men, that I might by all means save some”
(1 Corinthians 9:22). He didn’t change his
message, but he tailored his message to his
specific audience. He recognized that people are
different and that their culture, background and
life experiences influence the way they interpret
information. He sought common ground with
his listeners to help them relate to what he was
saying. He did this because of his passion for
wanting to see others surrender their lives to
Christ.
We should be passionate about our call to
be fishers of men. A confident fisherman goes
out anticipating a great catch. We should feel
the same way when it comes to being fishers
of men. But don’t stop there. Also, encourage
new Christians to attend a Bible-based church,
attend Bible study, study the Word on their own,
emulate Christ’s actions and live for Him.
As fishers of men, bringing others to Christ
is a major step, but making true disciples and
followers of Christ is just as important. If you
haven’t taken the step to become a fisher of
men, now is the time to move forward and
begin to reel others into discipleship through
the gospel of Jesus Christ. ■
Bait
When I was younger, one of my favorite things to do was to go fishing
with my father. We would leave early
in the morning because it was a long
trip. By sundown, we would return
with the fish. It felt good knowing that
we had accomplished something we
set out to do.
Fishing with my father was so much
fun. There were quiet times when the
fish were not biting, but there were also
exciting times when someone would exclaim, “You’ve got a bite!” Through fishing
I experienced patience, hope and victory in one day.
The worst part of the entire fishing process was
preparing the bait. I remember placing my hand in
a tin container of dirt to pick out a worm. The worm
was then attached to the hook on a fishing rod. Bait
was used as the lure to attract the fish. Although I
didn’t like this aspect, I understood it to be a necessary component for attracting fish. As with most
things, there must be an appeal in order to attract.
Have you ever wondered why live worms are used
in fishing? One possible reason may be that fish are
drawn to living objects. When attracting souls to
Christ, our lives should also be full of the attractive
living things of the Spirit and not the dead things of
the world.
Colossians 3:8 tells us “But now you yourselves are to
put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
language out of your mouth.” Colossians 3:12 says,
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”
There are many ways to draw people in. One way
is to allow our character and lifestyle to serve as the
bait in attracting others to Christ. People should be
able to detect something different about us. That
difference is the living Spirit of God working in and
through us.
If we want to be spiritually attractive, we must
demonstrate a loving spirit. If we do not have love
in our heart for others, it is difficult to draw them to
Christ. Galatians 5:14 says, “For all the law is fulfilled in
one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.’ ”
The shed blood of Jesus serves as the ultimate bait
to others. We can share how His blood saved and
transformed our lives. Through an act of love, Jesus
gave His life, and it is His blood that washes away our
sins and fills us with the Spirit of God (Hebrews 9:14;
10:19).
At the end of the fishing trip, I wrote on a white
piece of paper the number of fish I caught. My photo
would then be taken beside my bucket of fish as a
reminder of the occasion. I was so happy about the
fish, that I forgot about the tin container of dirt and
worms that marked the beginning. This brings to
mind that we may have to get our hands dirty, in
order to fish for lost souls.
What if Jesus kept individual photos of us bearing the number of souls we influenced
through Him – souls that were brought
to accept Him as Lord and Savior in their
life.
If that were so, what would be your
By Pyper R. Harvey
number? ■
May/June 2012
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Reel Them In
W
hen Jesus’ ministry began, He
gathered disciples. These disciples would become hearers and
preachers of His doctrine.
We have an account of the first two that Jesus
called. Peter and Andrew were brothers and also
fishermen. As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, He observed them casting out their nets. Jesus
called out to them to follow Him and that He would
make them fishers of men.
They may have thought, “Fishers of men? What is
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that?” They had followed Christ before as ordinary
disciples, but Jesus wanted them to follow Him and
fulfill their calling. Jesus was aware of their fishing
skills, but was calling them to a higher level. He was
calling them to their destiny. Even they, who have
been called to follow Christ, need to draw closer,
especially when they are destined for the work of
the ministry.
For example, David was called from being a shepherd over his father’s sheep, to become a shepherd
over Israel as its king. David’s transition reveals how
God allows things in our lives to prepare us
for destiny, so that we may become fishers
of men for His honor and glory.
Ministers are fishers of men and are called
to save others by bringing them into another element. They must not fish for wealth
or personal gain, but to bring lost souls to
Christ. One commentator put it this way;
that Jesus qualifies men for this work, calls
them to it, commissions them, and gives
wisdom in winning the lost.
Christ calls us to be fishers of men too.
What was necessary for the disciples to
become fishers of men? They had to follow
when Christ called. They had to separate
themselves. They had to humble themselves, imitate Him and follow Him as their
leader. The Disciples of Christ were prepared
for their work, by accompanying Christ
when he went in and out among the people. They listened diligently to His teachings.
It is a commandment of God that we go
out into the world and preach the gospel.
This shows our love for Him if we follow that
commandment. We are called by God to
pray for laborers to reach the lost. We need
to let people know that God came to seek
and save the lost. We are to let people know
the importance of being born again (Matt.
28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 14:15; Matt. 9:38;
Luke 9:10; John 3:1-7).
The best way to help reel in those who are
lost, is to share with them our testimony and
use “Romans Road of Salvation” to let them
know why we need a Savior. By doing this,
we have a chance of reeling our fish into the
net of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:10, 23;5:12; 5:8;
6:23; 10:9-10; 10:13).
We must share the good news about
Jesus Christ with the world. God sent His
only son into the world to die for our sins.
Jesus died, was buried and rose again. If we
confess with our mouth and believe in our
heart that God raised Him from the dead,
we shall be saved and Jesus will be Lord and
Savior in our lives.
Having done that, we will be further
equipped to fish for men by joining with
a Bible-believing church, praying, reading
the Bible daily and enrolling in classes that
teach us how to become disciples of Christ.
God will transform and equip us to become fishers of men. We will then be able
to help others build and sustain a godly life,
so that they may go out into the world and
teach the same.
Someone once said, “If you give a man a
fish, he can eat for a day. If you teach a
man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.”
We who are God’s fishermen – let’s
reel them in! ■
By Valencia
Richardson
MaY/june 2012
13
FBCG Missionary
Samantha Smith
Moving Forward
in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Samantha Smith, a member of First Baptist Church
of Glenarden, serves as a missionary in Burkina
Faso, West Africa. Currently, she is on a one-year
home assignment to mobilize and encourage other
believers to actively participate in missions by giving
financial support, going to the mission field or
praying for the work to be done.
Her motivation for entering missions was fueled
in 2001, after hearing Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.’s
personal testimony of his mission to Ghana in
a message entitled, “Go.” Subsequently, she was
called to missions and completed seminary studies,
mission candidate training and French language
training. Her first assignment was to Burkina Faso,
West Africa. From 2008 to 2011, her ministry to
the Fulani people in Djibo included evangelizing,
discipling women, literacy training and teaching
children Bible stories in Fulfulde, the Fulani language.
Islam is the dominant religion and influence of
culture in Burkina Faso. This provided Smith major
lessons of humility, patience, perseverance and
unconditional love. She also learned the significance
of building relationships, learning the Fulani
language, as well as understanding and accepting
Burkinabe culture.
Smith returns to Burkina Faso for a second term
in June 2012. Her primary focus will be continuing
children‘s ministry, establishing relationships with
Burkinabe living outside Djibo and adopting a Fulani
village, where she will live and teach. Smith states,
“A missionary is an ambassador of Christ who is
commissioned by God to share the gospel and make
followers and disciples of Christ.” From Genesis,
starting with Abram, to the account in Revelation of
the vision given John, we are shown God’s unfolding
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intent to have people of every race, tribe, creed, color
and culture throughout the earth evangelized.
This great love story also shows that God is a
missionary God. Further revealed is that missions are
for the purpose of His glory and for His beloved son to
take His rightful inheritance (Revelation 5: 9-13). The
mandate given by Jesus to the 11 remaining disciples,
“The Great Commission” in Matthew 28:19, and the
promise in Acts 1:8 that disciples would become His
witnesses, is also given to those called to latter-day
missions.
A first response to such a mandate is to determine
how to answer the call. FBCG’s Global Missions
Ministry is a resource that offers opportunities to
serve on local, national and foreign mission teams that
provide experience and training. Referencing FBCG’S
Global Mission Plan, the next response is to focus
on and develop individual areas of strength and to
research types of assignments and potential people
groups. One could also solicit church leadership for
assistance in obtaining necessary guidance, support
and mentoring. Another crucial step is developing a
plan to attain financial freedom, if necessary.
A noticeable lack of African Americans in global
missions has been called “The Great Omission”
by James W. Sutherland of Reconciliation
Ministries Network. Recently, David Cornelius,
former missionary to Nigeria and missional
church strategist, shared that of the 135,000 to
138,000 Americans currently serving as overseas
missionaries, fewer than 400 are African American.
He also shared that for the past 20 years, he has
endeavored to encourage more African Americans
to consider international missions and to listen
carefully while seeking God in this matter. He is
convinced that many have not responded in a
positive way and in obedience.
Providing tangible support to serving missionaries
is a viable alternative for individuals at
home who wish to participate in overseas
missions. Contributions to Samantha
Smith in Burkina Faso may be sent c/o
SIM USA, Inc., P.O. Box 7900, Charlotte, NC
By Evangeline
Covington
28241, or by visiting www.sim.org. ■
May/June 2012
15
STAR Ministry
Once a Star, Always a Star
On Saturday mornings, when many teenagers are
sleeping in or watching morning cartoons, a group of
50 teenage girls convenes. One of them carries a pink
camouflage bag, whose cover reads “Basic Training.”
Inside the bag is the Holy Bible.
If the Bible is “Basic Training,” the STAR Ministry could
be considered as a Bible boot camp for young ladies of
God. This is because the ministry prepares and equips
them for success. “We equip them with the only tool
that we know works, which is the Word of God,” said
STAR Director Nadiyyah Ishman. Ishman, along with
other committed leaders, assists girls ages 13-18 in
developing a strong Christian faith.
“The ministry is essential because there is a real battle
with teenage girls in their need for acceptance. Faith is
the basis of everything we do,” said Ishman, who prays
for God to reveal the needs of the girls as well as for
ministry activities for the year.
The STAR Ministry is based on the book of Esther.
“Esther in the Hebrew language means ‘star.’ Esther was
close to the age of many of our participants. Like Esther,
the girls are mentored to grow in their faith and learn
practical ways of how to apply God’s Word in their lives,”
said Ishman.
The teens get to be transparent with themselves,
their peers and God about real life matters. “I want to
develop a better relationship with my father,” said one
teen. “Pray that God provides my father with a job,” said
another.
Concerns are also put before God for teen issues such
as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, beginning driver’s tests,
grades in school, college acceptance and family relationships.
The ministry promotes servant leadership through
numerous outreach activities. The girls
participated in a “Teens for Jeans” combined outreach where they provided
over 65 pairs of jeans to homeless teens,”
said Eyana Esters, the ministry’s secretary.
By Pyper R. Harvey
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Vision Magazine
Ishman reflects on another heartwarming outreach
where STAR members washed the feet of children, talked with them about Jesus and prayed for them. Ishman
was once a STAR and understands how impactful the
ministry can be in a young girl’s life. The girls are transformed through God, and move into a godly boldness
and confidence as they mature.
In a session facilitated by Jualecia Malone, STAR participants engaged in a “Romans Road” activity where
they performed skits based on biblical truth. One group
of girls even rapped the Scriptures to be able to memorize them before presenting. Malone has been with the
ministry for seven years and shared her testimony as
a teenager, encouraging the girls to “Fight with everything you have to firm up your relationship with Christ!”
The girls close out sessions by reciting a STAR code. It
includes the words, “I am a beautiful young lady created
by God.”
“We want the girls to know they are wonderful, flaws
and all; to embrace their flaws and hiccups. It leads
them to the destiny that God has called them to,” said
Ishman.
One of the members exclaimed, “Get hip, follow us!”
Most importantly, the young girls are encouraged to
follow Christ.
The STAR Ministry meets every second and fourth Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Ministry Center. ■
STAR Ministry Director Nadiyyah Ishman (first row,
fourth from left) and ministry members.
P.R.A.I.S.E. Ministry
A
bout five years ago, Minister Sylvia Taylor
was teaching a Sunday school class of 2-3
year olds when a parent brought her son
with special needs to the class. He was a few years
older than the other students were and had been
having peer-related problems in his class. The
parent thought her son might be more successful
in a class with younger students. Minister Taylor
worked with integrating him into the class, but
later realized the need for a class that would
address his needs and those of other children like
him.
It was this realization that led to the P.R.A.I.S.E.
Ministry, which stands for “Providing Resources and
Instruction to Individuals with Special Needs to
Encourage Spiritual Development.” Minister Taylor
and co-teacher Zondra Johnson started out with
five children. As the class grew, they realized the
need to form separate classes by age.
The P.R.A.I.S.E. Ministry provides services so that
all members of First Baptist Church of Glenarden
can worship, learn and grow. Its mission is to let
no one’s disability hinder him or her from taking
part in all that FBCG has to offer. The ministry also
provides ways to integrate the disabled into the
church and community.
For children in Sunday school, there
are learning activities designed for
their needs. For example, so that
children know what to expect in
class, there are schedules posted with
By Alesia Barron
magnetic or Velcro icons. To help
May/June 2012
17
them develop fine motor skills, they search for
items in rice and also draw letters in lotion spread
onto a table.
Students also learn about salvation with the help
of a pocket chart. The chart shows elements like
pictures of a tomb or cross. Building blocks and
popsicle sticks represent the tomb and cross, and
serve as visual and kinesthetic aids to reinforce the
message.
There is also a Parents Support Group that meets
every third Saturday of the month. Parents discuss
their concerns and speakers share information
on topics such as advocacy, health education,
developmental disabilities and resolving problems
with health insurance.
P.R.A.I.S.E. is also available for developmentally
disabled adults. The ministry provides assistance to
those taking FBCG new members or Bible Institute
classes. This enables them to learn material in a
structured setting or to complete the same on a
18
Vision Magazine
computer.
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area MetroAccess
buses drop-off and pick-up P.R.A.I.S.E. members
before and after services. The ministry uses a pager
system so that members may be alerted when
buses have arrived.
Minister Taylor is a highly qualified director
and teacher. She holds two master’s degrees
in special education and enjoys the work she
does. She welcomes those who are interested in
working with P.R.A.I.S.E. and also shared that those
interested must be sincere in their desire, with
both passion and time to be a presence in the lives
of ministry members.
Minister Taylor said, “At least 95 families
have been touched by P.R.A.I.S.E. That is an
accomplishment worth praising!”
For more information, contact the P.R.A.I.S.E.
Ministry at [email protected] or
301-773-3600. ■
B
O
Denise Williams
Cheerfully Follows Christ
B
with Her Whole Heart
n a Sunday morning, I observed
Denise Williams wearing an “FBCG
Luvs Seniors” apron. She walked in
and out of the doors at First Baptist Church of
Glenarden coordinating the drop-off and pick-up
of members with disabilities, who travel to FBCG
via MetroAccess buses.
Williams shared that this arm of the P.R.A.I.S.E.
Ministry began in November 2011. MetroAccess
buses provide community-based transportation
for individuals with disabilities. FBCG members
are offered pagers to notify them when the buses
arrive to take them home.
“This service helps individuals with disabilities
to arrive at FBCG and back home in a safe and
stress-free manner. The service tugged at my
heart and I wanted to make a difference,” said
Williams.
Williams has been a member of FBCG for 11
years. She and her husband, Phillip, are natives
of Virginia. They made the Washington, D.C., area
their home after she completed college and
began her career. They have three adult children,
one daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, all of
whom live in the area.
Early on, Williams joined the Nursing and
Healing Transitions and Bereavement ministries.
She also serves in the special needs Sunday
school class.
The FBCG 2012 theme “Moving Forward” has
special meaning for Williams. A neonatal nurse
practitioner, Williams learned last October that
her job of 12 years was being eliminated. “It initially took my breath away, but I didn’t panic.
I began to look for my next opportunity,” said
Williams.
God rewarded her faith with a new opportunity
in January. Williams is now teaching at a nursing
school. “I love it! There is a difference between
teaching nurses and being a nurse,” said Williams.
Williams loves FBCG and attributes its growth to
Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.’s desire that all people
come to know Jesus Christ. She encourages all
members to be involved in ministry.
Williams loves to fellowship with other believers and read books. Her favorite Scriptures are
Psalm 27 and 91. The Scriptures encourage her to
wait on the Lord and to be of good courage.
“My mother used to say, ‘It’s going to be alright.’
If you trust and believe in God’s power and promises, difficulties will come to pass,” said Williams.
Williams, a “fisher of men,” willingly
follows Christ and cheerfully shares the
gospel with others. She is a Matthew
4:19 kind of woman and is blessed because she blesses others. ■
By Kim Rhim
May/June 2012
19
e
c
a
e
The P
of God
I
went to work one Tuesday morning in
November 2002, excited about the upcoming
holidays. Rumors had been circulating for
months about the company’s financial instability,
but employees were told that there was no
problem.
As I settled into my office, I noticed that some
employees were distressed and crying. The
looming job layoffs had begun and I was next
on the list. When my supervisor called me into
his office, I prayed and asked God to strengthen
me for what was to come and He did. As I left
my job with a three-month severance package,
I wondered how my bills would be paid. I had
never been laid off from a job before, so I did
not know what to expect or what to do. Driving
home I surmised that the Lord would make a way
and that everything would be fine. In spite of my
optimism, I did not find another job for an entire
year.
During that year of unemployment, I spent a
lot of time seeking Jesus’ strength and help. I was
overwhelmed with debt and the “not enough”
unemployment checks. Although I prayed and
read Scripture more than any other time in my life,
I had no job, no savings and my home was being
foreclosed. I was homeless for three months and
moved from place to place until a friend gave
me a place to stay. I read the book of Job daily
trying to understand how Job could
suffer so much and not curse God. I was
angry with God and told Him so. After an
outburst of anger toward God, I would cry
apologetically and ask Him to forgive me.
By Rebecca Ramos
His gracious love and presence was more
20
Vision Magazine
beautiful and powerful than my anger and always
comforted me.
Feeling better after an encounter with the Lord,
I went to visit my mother who was sick with the
flu. I became concerned about her because she
didn’t look well and refused to go to the hospital
that night. I went home, but later received a call
that my mother had suffered a massive stroke
and died. I was so numb with shock and guilt that
I could hardly talk. I wondered why I didn’t insist
on taking her to the hospital. The funeral and
family gatherings were all a blur. I was dead inside
and could not pray. My church family prayed me
through the loss of my job, a home foreclosure,
homelessness and the death of my mother.
Saddled with guilt and hopelessness, I
considered going back to my partying life, but
was reminded that, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians
5:17). I allowed myself to weep and grieve as I
read the Bible to ease the pain and wash away the
misery. I searched deeper into the heart of God
and was relentless in my pursuit of Him. “For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities nor powers, nor things present
nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 8:38-39).
Through the most challenging moments of
my life, I learned that Jesus can remove anger,
pain and guilt, and make us whole again. Jesus
provides us with “… the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). ■
Children’s and B.O.D.Y. by Christ Ministries
Childhood Obesit y
D
id you know that according to the Centers for
Disease Control, more than one-third of adults
in the United States are obese? That calculates
to about 35.7 percent of adults in America. The
centers also reported that approximately 17 percent
of children in America suffer from childhood obesity.
Although 17 percent doesn’t sound like an alarming
percentage, it calculates to about 12.5 million children
living with obesity and some of the health related
issues associated with being overweight.
We live in a society that has covered up the issue of
obesity by validating bad eating habits. While there
is nothing wrong with enjoying a meal, how do we
know when we have crossed the line into overindulging? The fine line of overindulging may be blurry for
adults. If the line is blurry for adults, it is most likely
the same for children.
On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, the Children’s and
B.O.D.Y. by Christ (formerly Fit for the Kingdom) ministries collaborated in educating youth regarding biblical, healthy eating habits. Two skits were performed.
In the first skit, a mother gave a child a plate with an
overwhelming amount of food. The child ate all of the
food and developed a stomach ache. This served as
an example of children eating in the manner in which
they are fed.
In the second skit, a mother gave a child a plate
with an appropriate amount of food. The child paced
herself and when she was satisfied in eating, asked
to be excused. She saved her leftovers for another
meal. This served as an example of excellent decision
making by the mother and child. A reasonable
amount of food was given by the mother, and the
child made the decision to stop eating when her
hunger was satisfied.
After the skits, there was a question and answer
session on obesity and its health-related problems.
The children were able to relate kidney disease, diabetes and heart failure as a few of the problems. They
learned how being overweight could bring health
problems into their future by not making wise eating
decisions while young.
Reverend Thea Wilson, director of B.O.D.Y. by Christ
Ministry, shared her testimony about being overweight as an adolescent. She also shared that after
giving birth, she had to make better decisions concerning her eating habits in order to be an effective
and healthy parent.
At the end of the session the children understood
that food is needed to fuel the body. However, just
like a car, if the body is over-fueled it will not function
properly. The children were also taught the biblical
truth of discipline and how premature death does not
glorify God (Isaiah 38:18).
For additional information,
contact the Children’s Ministry
at childrenandyouthministries@
fbcglenarden.org and the B.O.D.Y.
by Christ Ministry at fbcginfo@
By Tamisha Tucker
fbcglenarden.org. ■
MaY/june 2012
21
FBCG
Health and Fitness Expo
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
Who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your
own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
22
Vision Magazine
Getting Our Temples Together
If Not Now, When?
Mark your calendar, Saturday, June 9, 2012, for
First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s 19th annual
Health and Fitness Expo!
The Health and Fitness Expo will kick-off at
8:15 a.m. with the Men’s and Women’s Joint
Fellowship at the Worship Center.
The Health and Fitness Expo is held to educate
and empower individuals to move forward in
practicing healthy lifestyles that prevent chronic
diseases and premature deaths.
Did you know that a lack of exercise, fruit and
vegetables, as well as obesity, high blood pressure,
smoking and diabetes are the leading risk factors
for premature deaths in the United States? This
year, the Health and Fitness expo aims to heighten
awareness of six diseases that are prevalent in
Prince George’s County, Md.
They are:
➤ Heart Disease (ranked #1)
➤ Cancer (ranked #2 )
➤ Stroke (ranked #3)
➤ Adult and juvenile diabetes (ranked #4)
➤ HIV/AIDS (ranked #12)
➤ Hypertension/renal disease (ranked #15)
Dr. “Ro” Rovenia Brock, Ph.D., author of “Dr. Ro’s
Ten Secrets to Livin’ Healthy” will be the guest
speaker. She is an award-winning health journalist
and television personality known for her easy-toapply diet, fitness and health advice for women
and families. Dr. Ro was featured on the “Dr. Oz”
television show and was the former host of Black
Entertainment Television’s “Heart and Soul.”
There will also be health
screenings for the entire
family and an array of
workshops:
➤ Cooking
demonstrations –
Cookercize and Healthy
Cooking
➤ Fitness classes –
Cardio, Chair Aerobics,
Boot Camp, Zumba and Line
Dancing
➤ Health classes – “Is Stress Killing You?”; “How
to Eat Yourself Slim and Never Diet Again”; “What
About the Children? A Conversation About
Childhood Obesity and Diabetes”; and others.
There will be testimonies, vendors, giveaways,
a fruit and vegetable market and more. You will
have the opportunity to save a life by signing up
for the Bone Marrow Drive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive free
health screenings, hear dynamic experts and
speakers on health topics, and learn ways to
improve your health and the health of those you
love.
Plan to attend the Health and Fitness Expo and
bring your family, friends and neighbors. We look
forward to seeing you there!
For more information, contact
the Health Ministry at health@
fbcglenarden.org. ■
By Reverend
Belynda Gentry
MaY/june 2012
23
Colon Cancer Aware
C
olorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most
common cancer in the United States and is
the third leading cause of cancer death in
both men and women. One in three patients diagnosed with CRC will die from the disease. In 2010,
there were 142,570 new cases of CRC and 51,370
deaths from it. The five-year survival rate for early
stage CRC is over 90 percent, while only 10 percent for all other cancers. CRC rates increase with
age at the same rate for men and women. Due to
later stages of diagnosis, survival rates for African
Americans are lower than Caucasians, as only 40
percent of African Americans are screened for CRC.
An individual can develop CRC based on risk factors, family history and personal history of precancerous colon polyps. There are different types of
colon polyps, some are benign and will not cause
CRC. Precancerous polyps are an abnormal growth
of colon tissue that can cause CRC. Precancerous
polyps are found in 25 percent of patients ages 50
and younger and 50 percent of patients ages 70
and younger. The likelihood of CRC increases based
upon the size and amount of abnormal tissue
found in the polyp. Signs and symptoms of CRC are
24
Vision Magazine
rectal bleeding or pain; change in bowel habits,
especially new onset of constipation; change in
shape of stool; unexplained anemia; unexplained
weight loss; and new onset of lower abdominal
pain. Removal of precancerous polyps prevents
CRC and you should contact your primary care
physician if you experience any of these symptoms,
regardless of age.
Your doctor will determine the best screening
strategy based on risk factors such as genetics and
environment. Seventy-five percent of all new cases
of CRC occur in people with no predisposing risk
factors, while only 15 to 20 percent of new cases of
CRC are due to family history. Increased risk factors
for CRC include being 50 years of age or older, personal history of CRC or precancerous polyps, family
history of CRC, and chronic inflammatory bowel
disease. Environmental risk factors that increase
your risk for CRC are obesity, diets high in fat and
red meat, excessive alcohol, cigarette smoking,
diabetes, heart disease, prior pelvic radiation and
lower socioeconomic status.
The preferred choice of screening for CRC, is
an optical colonoscopy. This procedure is recom-
ness and Screening
By Melanie L. Jackson, M.D.
mended for persons starting at the age of 50, who
have no symptoms and an average risk for CRC.
The colonoscopy should be done every 10 years
if normal. Any individuals with a family history of
CRC or have a genetic disease that predisposes
them to CRC will most likely have a colonoscopy
before age 50. Patients with a high risk for CRC will
be screened more frequently.
A colonoscopy is performed by a gastroenterologist or surgeon. This procedure is used to detect
and remove colon polyps. This is not a painful
procedure because sedation is given. It is covered
by Medicare and most insurance companies. If CRC
is detected, patients are referred to a surgeon and
medical oncologist. Treatment usually includes
surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, depending on the extent of the disease. Patients are
monitored closely to prevent reoccurrence of CRC.
Primary prevention is the key. A sensible diet
with fruits and vegetables is important. Exercising
regularly, avoiding obesity, taking supplements like
calcium, vitamin D, folate and selenium, and eating
a diet low in red meat and fats can decrease your
risk for CRC. Participate in regular colon cancer
screening and know your family history to determine if you are at high risk for CRC. ■
References
Facts for this article were obtained
from numerous sources, including,
but not limited to, the following:
■ Cancer Facts & Figures for
African Americans 2009-2010, American Cancer Society
■ Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2008-2010, American Cancer Society
■ American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
■ American Gastroenterology Association
■ American College of Gastroenterology
MaY/june 2012
25
Want a
Healthier You?
Part 2
I
n the last issue of VISION, we shared with you
some tips on a healthy diet and the need to
get moving. Here are more tips to move you
closer to your goal of having a healthy lifestyle.
Drink lots of water – as you lose fat,
you need to have more water in your system
to compensate. Your body will tend to do this
naturally. That is why it is key, as part of any
healthy diet, to drink a lot of water. You should
never “lose weight” by losing water. That can
cause dehydration issues, which can be quite
serious. The average human body is estimated to
be about 60 to 70 percent water. The percentage
may be as high as 75% in infants, decreasing to
57-60% in adults.
Drink water before every meal. When your
stomach growls, it is most times due to thirst and
not hunger. One important function of water in
your system is to cleanse your pores. Your skin’s
pores are like a protective wall, blocking bacteria
and dirt from getting into your blood system. You
want to flush those pores out regularly. Sweat
helps that happen! Find an activity you enjoy and
engage in it weekly. Getting those pores open
and flushed is very good for your health!
One last thing on water – try a squeeze of
lemon or lime before drinking water.
This provides an internal cleansing
and the acids will kick your liver into
gear.
By Reverend
Belynda Gentry
26
Vision Magazine
Get plenty of sleep – make
sleep a priority. Adults need an average of seven
to nine hours of sleep nightly. You must schedule
sleep like any other daily activity, so put it on
your “to-do” list and cross it off every night.
But don’t make it the thing you do only after
everything else is done – stop doing other things
so you get the sleep you need. To pave the way
for better sleep, experts recommend that you
and your family members follow these sleep tips:
♦ Establish consistent sleep and wake
schedules, even on weekends.
♦ Create a regular, relaxing bedtime routine
such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to
soothing music – begin an hour or more before
the time you expect to fall asleep.
♦ Create a sleep-conducive environment that is
dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
♦ Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
♦ Keep “sleep stealers” out of the bedroom –
avoid watching television, using a computer or
reading in bed.
♦ Finish eating at least two to three
hours before your regular bedtime.
♦ Exercise regularly during the
day or at least a few hours before
bedtime.
♦ Avoid caffeine and alcohol
products close to bedtime.
♦ Give up smoking.
Source: The National Sleep Foundation
Black Angels over Tuskegee
The George Lucas feature film “Red Tails,” has drawn
attention to the Tuskegee pilots, a pioneering group
of African Americans who flew fighter planes in World
War II. They were so accomplished they blazed a trail
that led to desegregation of the military and eventually, society.
The men who comprised the Tuskegee pilots (the
term Tuskegee Airmen applied to all personnel responsible for flying, maintaining and servicing the
planes and pilots) were part of a grand experiment to
determine if “Negroes” could fly aircraft. At the time,
the military, like society, was segregated. In spite of
objections from the War Department, Congress passed
a number of laws forcing the Army to pursue a training
program for African-American pilots.
The Tuskegee Institute in Alabama was selected as
the training site due to its history of aeronautical training. Because Tuskegee had the facilities and climate
for year-round flying, it eventually became the center
for African-American aviation. It was recognized for its
role in the war by former President Bill Clinton when
he signed a law in 1998 establishing the Tuskegee
Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field to commemorate the accomplishments of those soldiers.
To undermine the success of the training program,
the Air Corps established rigid standards using the first
forms of standardized tests and other criteria to limit
the number of applicants it would receive. Ironically,
these high standards contributed to the program’s
success because only the most qualified individuals
were accepted.
A visit by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt increased
exposure to the pilots and hastened their deployment
to the combat theater. Popular culture depicts all the
pilots as fighter pilots. Not all Tuskegee pilots flew “Red
Tails,” the distinctive crimson paint applied to the tail
section of the P-51 plane. Some flew fighter planes
and others flew bombers.
Led by Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who became
the first African-American General in the U.S. Air Force,
the first group was deployed to North Africa. However,
in spite of their combat success, the group was almost
disbanded by those opposed to using African Americans on the front line. Thanks to the efforts by Captain
Davis, the group was assigned to escort heavy bombers during raids into Europe.
The airmen distinguished themselves in combat.
According to the National Museum of the U.S. Air
Force, the 332nd Fighter Group shot down 112 enemy aircraft (they also destroyed another 150 on the
ground); knocked out more than 600 railroad cars; and
sank one destroyer and 40 boats and barges. Their
losses included approximately 150 killed in combat or
accidents. During the war, Tuskegee trained 992 pilots
and sent 450 overseas.
Many of the airmen are still alive and continue to be
recognized for their achievements. In
2007, President George Bush awarded
the Congressional Gold Medal to the
Tuskegee Airmen. They were also invited
to attend President Barack Obama’s
By Julio Barreto
Inauguration. ■
MaY/june 2012
27
I
n today’s world
with high
unemployment
rates, profound
terrorism and
persecution against
Christians, how do
we react to desperate
matters? Take a
journey with Max Lucado on the road of faith.
“Fearless” is Lucado’s 25th book. It reaches deep into
the heart and has the potential to be a life-changing
read for everyone.
Mismanaged fear can creep into our lives and
imprison us. Lucado says, “Every season seems
to bring fresh reasons for fear.” He invites us to
consider Jesus’ invitation to courage, because “fear
will always knock on your door. Just don’t invite it
in for dinner. And for heaven’s sake, don’t offer it a
bed for the night.” How would you recognize fear in
fuzzy situations?
Each chapter of the book contains powerful,
written illustrations of fear factors. Lucado directs us
to safe zones, with eight “worry-stoppers”
for victorious living. We don’t want the
bondage of fear, but the spirit of the
“resurrection life” received from God
(Romans 8:15).
By Patricia Clark Jackson
Faced with caution every day, Lucado
28
Vision Magazine
reveals how to
recognize, manage
and dispose of fear. He
shares how courage
plays a recovery role in
each situation we face,
and how we can live
a content and joyful
life. He also shares an
understanding of how to live courageously through
the Word of God.
I experienced revelation while reading the final
chapter, which related to Matthew 17:1-8. God said
to the disciples, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased. Hear Him!” The disciples fell on their
faces and were greatly afraid. After reading this I
experienced what Lucado describes as a different
kind of fear – a holy, healthy fear.
Near the end of the book is Lucado’s study guide,
which is designed to give a better understanding of
how to examine, expose and battle fear. Why are we
afraid? What juncture does Jesus make between fear
and faith? Can we be joyful and afraid at the same
time?
I enjoyed reading this book because it brought
revelation and enthusiasm as I faced my thoughts
about fear. I now feel the same as the author –
at peace in knowing how to react to desperate
situations. ■
P
salmist and songwriter Earnest Pugh
said that his latest CD project, “Earnestly
Yours,” represents a major crossroad in
his walk with God. “I have gotten old enough to
be transparent, open and honest (earnest) with
God about every aspect of my life, my challenges, struggles and shortcomings,” he said.
There are 11 songs and a short reflection on
this CD which adequately demonstrates Pugh’s
five-octave range. His relationship with Christ
undoubtedly served as the catalyst for his
songs, “For My Good” and “He Already Knows,”
both written by Pugh.
“For My Good,” a moderately-paced song,
reminds us that it is not about the challenges
we go through but how we respond to them. It
features gospel vocalist Beverly Crawford.
Another gospel song bird, Lisa Knowles, joins
Pugh in “He Already Knows,” a more up-beat
contemporary arrangement.
The most recognized piece is the former number one hit, “I Need Your Glory.” It also received
significant airplay on urban adult radio stations
across the nation. This beautiful piece, arranged
by Pugh and written by gospel artist James Fortune, tells us to seek God because without Him
we can do absolutely nothing.
The powerful “Wait All the Day,” co-written by
Pugh and Williams McMillian, speaks of God’s
promise in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on
the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall
mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run
and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
The opening pieces, “Song of Adoration” and
“You Deserve It” encourage you to boost the
volume up a bit, pat your feet and praise God
in dance as suggested to us in Psalm 149:3 and
150:4.
Pugh demonstrates range and a clear, powerful voice in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which he
sings without instrumental accompaniment.
“Free to Worship,” captures the essence of
Psalm 51:10, in which the writer asks God to
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew
a steadfast spirit within me.” When God cleans
you up, you take on life’s challenges with calmness. Though lyrically truthful and powerful,
“Free to Worship” delivers like an easy flowing
smooth jazz piece.
In the moderate contemporary swinging
“Tailor-Made Praise,” we are reminded that only
God should get our custom-fitted personal
praise daily.
And when you want to sit quietly and praise
God for what He has done and worship Him
just for who He is, then “Thank You” and the CDs’
final song, “Perfect Peace,” will help you do just
that.
For all of us who have weaknesses to overcome, the songs on “Earnestly Yours” encourage
us to put God first no matter what
we’re going through. Our praise and
worship brings us closer to God, and
our faith in Him will give us the fortitude, determination and courage to
By Tyrone A.Guiden
face life’s adversities head on.
MaY/june 2012
29
Just Do It
“Just Do It” is a famous slogan by Nike. Many identify
with the desire to want to do something never done
before.
A leader with the gift of administration may desire
to assist nations, so that they may prosper. We see
this in the life of Joseph. A musician may pray for an
anointing to play instruments. David had this special
anointing. Yet, gifts may not be realized if steps toward manifestation are not taken (Gen.
41:33-40; 1 Sam. 16:23).
As Christians, we have been commissioned to make disciples of all nations
(Matthew 28:19). If you are not sure of
By Ollie Jefferson
your purpose or ministry, here are a few
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Vision Magazine
steps to assist you in moving forward.
◆ Write down your spiritual gifts and develop a plan to use them in service to God.
◆ Ask God which church ministry may best utilize
your gifts.
◆ Seek information about your ministry of interest.
◆ Pray for guidance so that all things are done for
the honor and glory of God.
“Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the
vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run
who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it
tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not
tarry” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). ■
Romans Road of Salvation
Romans 3:10
“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:12
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death
through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love towards us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 10:9-10
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 10:13
“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
MaY/june 2012
31
“Moving Forward”
Philippians 3:12-16
Based upon a series of messages preached by Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012
“Moving Forward Requires Change”
Philippians 1:3-8; Proverbs 23:7; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17
 Change in Thinking.
 Change in Attitude.
 Change in Behavior.
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012
“Moving Forward Requires Proper Money Management” Part 1
Ecclesiastes 10:19; Matthew 6:21; 19:16-30; 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 16:10-13; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
 It reveals the condition of your heart.
 It reveals your ability to be trusted with true riches.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
“Moving Forward Requires Proper Money Management” Part 2
Philippians 4:10-13
 Contentment.
 Learn the cycles of life.
 Learn the power of Christ.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
“Moving Forward Requires Proper Money Management – Debt”
Proverbs 22:7; Romans 13:8; Proverbs 11:15; Ecclesiastes 5:5; Psalm 37:21; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 17:24-27; 2 Kings 4:1-7
 Borrowing makes you a servant to the lender.
 Seek God for your needs.
 God can deliver you from debt.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
“Moving Forward Requires Proper Money Management –
Obedience and Priority”
Proverbs 3:1-10; Malachi 3:1-11
 Problem.
 Prescription.
 Promise.
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Vision Magazine
LEAD WHERE YOU ARE
Everyone has the ability to lead.
Whether you are a ministry leader,
business person, teacher, artist, student
or a parent, you can lead right where
you are. On Aug. 9-10, come be a part
of the 2012 Willow Creek Global
Leadership Summit and gain practical
insight and wisdom from some of the
brightest leaders of our time.
The 2012 Speaker Line-up Includes:
Bill Hybels
Founder &
Senior Pastor
Willow Creek
Community
Church
Condoleezza
Rice
Former U.S.
Secretary of State
Jim Collins
Nationally
Acclaimed
Business
Thinker
& Author
Geoffrey
Canada
President
& CEO
Harlem
Children’s
Zone
Craig
Groeschel
Founder &
Senior Pastor
LifeChurch.tv
Sheryl
Wudunn
Best-Selling
Author,
Pulitzer Prize
Winner &
Business Executive
REGISTER
TODAY!
FBCG Summit Ad.indd 1
Fulfill your destiny as a leader! The
Global Leadership Summit provides
an avenue for existing and emerging
leaders to be challenged, have their
skills sharpened and become refreshed
both spiritually and mentally. Join us at
the First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Ministry Center (satellite site #137)
for the Summit, broadcast live from
Willow Creek.
FBCG members can download the registration form at www.fbcglenarden.org.
Visit willowcreek.com/summit for a full list of speakers, bios, videos, general registration, free downloads and much more!
4/6/12 1:58 PM
May/June 2012
33
Member record
FBCG members:
We need you!
Help us go green with our membership records database.
To help us stay in touch with you, please review, validate and update your
membership information online:
n Visit
the church Web site at www.fbcglenarden.org and click
on the membership update image
on the home page.
n You
may also access your information at
www.fbcglenarden.org/membership-record-update/.
PLEASE NOTE!
you do not have an email address already in the FBCG membership
database, please contact us at [email protected]
(include your name, email and date of birth).
n If
n If
you do not have an email address, please call the
church at 301-773-3600, x 434.
n Your
information will not be shared with any third party entities.
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Online Giving
We have established the ability for you to make a financial contribution online.
This provides a convenient way to give once or on a regular basis. E-Giving
provides you with the capability to:
Establish and maintain your personal user name and password.
● Make debit card transactions.
● View and edit your member profile.
● View your transactions and their status.
●
In addition to the above features, all E-Giving transactions are secure.
To establish or access your E-Giving account, please go to our website at
www.fbcglenarden.org.
34
Vision Magazine
Upcoming Events
July/August 2012
Music and Arts
Ministries Day
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Church Closed
Couples Retreat
MERGE Experience
Thursday, July 19 - Saturday,
July 21, 2012
Newport News, VA
Friday, Aug. 3, 2012
Worship Center
8:30 p.m.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Independence Day
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Semi-Annual Church
Business Meeting
MERGE Experience
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Ministry Center
7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Worship Center
8:30 p.m.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Vacation Bible School
Monday, July 16 – Friday,
July 20, 2012
Ministry Center
8:30 a.m.
7 p.m. (Adults only)
Joint Discipleship
Graduation
Willow Creek
Association’s Global
Leadership Summit
Thursday, Aug. 9 - Friday, Aug.
10, 2012
Ministry Center
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Worship Center
2 p.m.
FBCG Magazine Ministry Invites You!
The FBCG Magazine Ministry invites you to join its writing, editing, copyediting,
proofreading and design/layout teams.
The ministry meets to conduct business on the fourth Monday of every month (except
August and December) at 7 p.m. at the Ministry Center, 3600 Brightseat Road,
Landover, MD 20785.
It is our goal to provide information that will develop dynamic disciples and bring
others to Jesus Christ.
For additional information, contact us via email at [email protected].

May/June 2012
35
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
is a progressive ministry with a strong emphasis
on relevant biblical teaching and preaching the
Word of God. Under the leadership of Pastor
John K. Jenkins Sr., God has steadily increased
the church membership from 500 to more
than 20,000. An average of 10,000 people
attend weekly Sunday services. Pastor Jenkins
and his devoted wife, First Lady Trina Jenkins,
have dedicated their lives to winning the
lost and developing dynamic disciples
to impact the lives of people in our
community and throughout the
world.
Worship the Lord with us!
Sunday Worship
ON SMARTPHONES & iPADS
Worship Center
8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon services
are held at the Worship Center.
View live services on your computer,
Smartphone or iPad:
Worship Center: www.fbcglive.com
Ministry Center: www.fbcglive.com/mc
600 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Praise and Worship begins 15
minutes prior to the start of the
8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services only.
on the web
6:30 p.m. service is held at the
Ministry Center, except on the 4th
Sunday (Communion service)
and special events as noted.
Live Worship Services Broadcasts:
Sundays at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon
and 6:30 p.m.
Bible Study on Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
24-Hour Television and Video on Demand
bible study
on radio
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Worship
Center and Wednesdays at
noon at the Ministry Center.
Saturdays
WPRS Praise 104.1 FM - 9:30 a.m.
WAVA 105.1 FM - 10:30 a.m.
ministry Center
3600 Brightseat Road
Landover, MD 20785
Phone: 301-773-3600
www.fbcglenarden.org
Email: [email protected]
ISSN 2164-7720 (print)