Road Trip - First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Transcription

Grace
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Women’s Ministry
Volume 10, Issue 1
Spring 2014
Magazine
By Women for Women
the
Breaking
Chains of Food
ESSENCE OF
ETIQUETTE
Road Trip:
ARE YOU THERE YET?
YOUR ROAD TO DESTINY
DIRECTOR, FAMILY LIFE MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT & WOMEN’S MINISTRY GROUP:
First Lady Trina Jenkins
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR:
Nicole Irby
Grace
Magazine
ADMINISTRATOR:
Roxanne Fails
DEPARTMENT WRITERS:
Chaé Carriere,
Mary Davisson, Norma L. Day-Vines,
Aisha Hilliard, Barbara Holt Streeter,
Judy Mitchell,
Connie Pulliam, Taunya Sills,
Michelle Singletary,
Cathy E. Smith, Mildred Stokes,
Ceol Tilghman and Mia Waldron
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Shena Anderson, Felicia Johnson,
Michelle Singletary and Kenya Ulmer
LEAD COPY EDITOR:
Verna Smith
COPY EDITORS:
Marguerite Brown, Roxanne Fails and
Gloria Nelson-Johnson
EDITORS:
Chaé Carriere, Latrice Davis,
Norma Day-Vines, Roxanne Fails,
Nicole Irby, Beth Wilkinson and
Dionne Windley
PROOFREADERS:
Roxanne Fails and Nicole Irby
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR:
Marguerite Brown
CREATIVE DIRECTOR:
Angela Hendrix Bell
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Chaé Carriere and Latisha Ferguson
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Photography Ministry
Contact Grace at
[email protected]
Ministry Statement: Grace Magazine is a lifestyle Christian women’s publication produced
by First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s Women’s Ministry. The magazine features inspiring
articles, ministry spotlights and information to
empower women in every season of their lives.
By Women for Women
FEATURES
WHAT IS A LIFE COACH?.................................................................. 8
MS. GOODWRENCH ....................................................................... 14
SEEING MYSELF OUTSIDE THE BOX ............................................ 17
DEPARTMENTS
FIRST LADY’S TOUCH....................................................................... 2
ADD YOUR MONEY WISELY............................................................. 3
IT’S TEA TIME.................................................................................... 4
YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT..................................................................... 9
ENTREPRENEUR............................................................................. 10
RELATIONSHIPS.............................................................................. 12
ESSENCE OF ETIQUETTE............................................................... 18
DID YOU KNOW?............................................................................. 19
INSPIRATIONAL .............................................................................. 20
PARENTING...................................................................................... 22
HEALTH............................................................................................ 23
TASTY TREATS................................................................................. 24
REFLECTIONS................................................................................. 26
First Lady's
Touch
Road Trip:
ARE YOU THERE YET?
Taking a road trip requires proper planning, key essentials and a guide for navigation. Whether it’s a short trip, a long
voyage,or an expedition, all travel requires a destination. Our trip needs the right provisions to manage the detours, the twists
and turns and even the rough terrain when the sun is shining, dark clouds are looming or the thunder roars.
It is my prayer that this issue of Grace Magazine prepares you for what is next on your journey.
The journey of life is similar to a road trip filled with peaks, valleys and the occasional unexpected detour. However, we must
be equipped to handle the tests and trials through:
• PRAYER for DAILY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE;
• The WORD of GOD for GUIDANCE and NAVIGATION;
• PRAISE and WORSHIP for FUEL to stay the course; and
• Maintain the FAITH that we will ultimately reach our DESTINY.
In this issue, you will read about many dynamic women and their journeys. We have a great piece about avoiding the pitfalls of
uncertainty when determining who has the "Right-of-Way" on the road. Meet a modern-day "Ms. Goodwrench," who can change
a tire, the oil in her car and is learning to transform a car back to its pre-accident condition. Additionally, you will read about
some of our sisters who answered the clarion call to fulfill their purpose while juggling a family and career in our "Tea Time"
series.
Also in this issue, discover how to help our youth manifest the road to their destiny. Find out why it is important to engage a life
coach to help you navigate the changes. In our pages, learn how to make portable, tasty and easy-to-eat snacks for your trip
and how to preserve your temple.
Our life’s journey can guide us along a straight path, take us on a scenic route or come to the end of the road. For Barbara Holt
Streeter, the editorial director of the Grace Magazine Ministry, her season of service within this ministry has come to an end.
Barbara will head up a new ministry and is transitioning the leadership of the magazine to Nicole Irby, assistant director of
Grace Magazine Ministry.
We are grateful for the dedication and commitment Barbara has provided for the past seven years. We embrace the new direction
Nicole’s leadership will take us.
Remain equipped for the journey!
FirstLadyTrinaJenkins
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ADD YOUR MONEY WISELY
Your information is out there.
What are you doing to protect it?
By Michelle Singletary
We have to face the truth: We’ve lost
the battle to protect our identities.
Once the information from our credit
and debit cards has been transmitted,
it’s out of our control. The latest highprofile data breaches confirm that we
are forever vulnerable.
In mid-December, Target said that
criminals had forced their way into its
computer system and gained access
to customer credit and debit card
information. Initially, Target said about
40 million shoppers were affected.
The retailer disclosed that the personal
data for an additional 70 million
customers — names, phone numbers
and e-mail addresses — had also been
stolen.
With your personal information,
identity thieves can do a lot of
financial harm. They can gain access
to your bank account, open utility or
mobile phone accounts or get medical
treatment using your health insurance.
I hear a lot of stories about identity
theft. A banker once told me that even
his information was stolen during a
data breach. In that incident, someone
was able to get an auto loan with his
stolen information. Because the crook
paid the loan on time, the victim had a
hard time clearing the matter up.
In a full-page ad that ran in major
newspapers, Gregg Steinhafel, Target’s
chairman, noted: “I know this breach
has had a real impact on you, creating a
great deal of confusion and frustration.
I share those feelings. You expect more
from us and deserve better.”
Now we’ve also learned that luxury
retailer Neiman Marcus was hit by
hackers.
People are asking me if it’s safe to
use their credit or debit cards at the
stores. Probably safer now, but you’re
still vulnerable because the bits and
bytes that make up your personal
information aren’t in your hands.
Do the recent data breaches mean we
should stop using plastic?
That won’t happen. Even though
studies show that people tend to spend
more when they use credit and debit,
we are a nation addicted to these
conveniences. It’s easier to swipe and
spend than to save up and use cash.
Target has promised customers
whose information was compromised
that they will not be liable for any
fraudulent charges arising from the
breach. The company has partnered
with Experian to offer one year of free
credit monitoring and identity theft
insurance to anyone who shopped at
Target’s U.S. stores.
Yet even with credit monitoring,
your information can still be used by
identity thieves. The notices you get as
part of a monitoring system are after
the fact, after something suspicious or
fraudulent might have happened. You
might catch something early but you
can’t totally prevent your information
from being used to commit identity
theft.
Grace Magazine | www.fbcglenarden.org
Still, we have to take whatever
precautions we can. In the case of
Target, go ahead and register. Go to
creditmonitoring.target.com before
April 23. You will receive an activation
code that then must be redeemed by
April 30. I thought it was ironic that
as part of the registration process,
I have to provide my name, e-mail,
address and Social Security number,
all to verify my identity. Then there is
this promise, “the process of sending
and receiving your information is
encrypted. . . . This technology helps
ensure that your credit card and other
sensitive information are protected.”
Right.
But here’s an example of why you need
to take steps to protect yourself. I got a
call this week from someone claiming
he could help insure me against
hackers. Since I frequently shop at
Target and did so during the period
of the data breach, I wondered if the
very suspicious call was the result of
that incident. The caller tried to get me
to divulge personal information. He
provided some convoluted explanation
about how he got my information. I
listened for a bit and then told him that
I thought he was trying to scam me and
hung up. If you want to file a complaint
about identity theft, you can contact
the Federal Trade Commission.
I’ve become paranoid about my
personal information. My husband and
I have set up systems where we get
continued on page 9
3
The Clarion Call to Destiny
By Mary Davisson
Typically when people hear the word
“calling,” it is generally associated with
ministry or in relation to the church.
However, in today’s culture, we’ve
discovered there is a shift in leadership,
especially regarding women. This
fluctuation is evident for women inside
and outside of the church. God is doing a
new thing.
Specifically in the church, the body of
Christ is witnessing an unprecedented
number of ladies who are answering
their clarion call to destiny. These chosen
women occupy a variety of occupations,
while simultaneously working full-time
and answering the call to be an entrepreneur
and a preacher, teacher, life coach, mentor
or counselor. Other ladies responded to the
call to lead ministries, facilitate various
classes inside the church, teach outside of
the church or return to college and pursue
higher education with aspirations to start a
new business.
Have you responded to your clarion call?
Grace assembled eight women who know
all too well what it means to hear God’s
voice to destiny and answer the request.
During their transition, God’s call required
them to grow, stretch, walk by faith and
learn the art of multitasking while wearing
a plethora of “hats” in the 21st century
church. Debora Barr, 50; Reverend Annie
B. Darden, 63; First Lady Rose Godlock,
46; Lynda Griffin, 40+; Jacqueline McCoy,
48; Patricia Padgett, 54; Sundae Padgett,
27; and Evelyn Reynolds, 60.
Grace: Share with us your endeavors,
vocation, educational accomplishments
and at least one ministry involvement.
4
P. Padgett: I’m a senior budget analyst
for the U.S. Department of State in
Washington, D.C. I am a facilitator for
the First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s
Women’s Ministry Focus Studies and a
member of the Healing Transitions and
Bereavement Ministry. Occasionally, I
volunteer as a grief support facilitator at
the Life Center in Largo Md.
in sociology and criminal justice. I have a
master's in urban planning and architectural
design. I’m a certified paralegal,
entrepreneur and the founder of Creative
Interior Designs by Lynda, LLC. I’m
the facilitator for two FBCG’s Women’s
Ministry Focus Studies and a member of
the Domestic Violence Ministry.
Barr: I’m a commissioned officer in a
S. Padgett: I’m the CEO of Israel Seven, uniformed service where I am a senior
manager in the federal government. I’m
the director and founder of All Things New
Ministry. My educational achievements
consist of a bachelor’s in geology, master's
in aeronautical science and a law degree.
Reynolds: I’m a graduate of Washington
Bible College, as well as Bowie State
University with a master's in teaching. I
teach English Language Arts in the Prince
George's County Public Schools.
and a fashion designer. I graduated from
The Art Institute of Philadelphia with an
associate’s degree in fashion design and
merchandise. In 2012, I became a licensed
cosmetologist.
Darden: I’m a graduate of the University
of Maryland with a degree in management.
I recently received a graduate-level
certificate of theological studies from
Bethel Seminary. I’m the director of the
Ministry Support Department at FBCG,
where I am also a staff minister. I’m a
team member of the Jessup Maryland
Correctional Institute for Women (MCIW),
and a facilitator in the Women’s Ministry
Focus Studies.
McCoy: I graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in psychology and a master’s
degree in educational leadership. I am a
facilitator for both Queen Esther and the
Women’s Ministry Focus Studies. I am an
educator currently working in the special
Griffin: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree education department for Prince George's
Godlock: I’m the director of the Women’s
and Dance Ministries. I am also the codirector of the Couples Ministry with my
husband and a minister in training (MIT).
Grace Magazine | By Women for Women | Spring 2014
IT'S TEA TIME
County Public Schools. I am a mom of
five, grandmother of three and a wife of 24
years to Lawrence McCoy.
Grace: Where were you? What were
you doing when you heard the clarion call
to destiny? How did God reveal it to you?
P. Padgett: I heard the call of God in
many instances while in prayer, studying
the Word of God, as a wife of 31 years, in
the course of journaling and during a time
of suffering. Recently, as a result of the
passing of my husband, Kimothy Padgett,
I feel I’ve been called to minister to those
who have suffered a great or devastating
loss through the death of a loved one.
S. Padgett: When I heard the call to
destiny, I must admit, I was crying out crying out to God and wondering why
things were not going the way I had
planned. During this period, God revealed
to me that He had given me gifts and
talents to be successful. All that I needed to
be truly happy was in me. I began to push
harder for my dreams, remained focused
and pursued them.
Godlock: I believe my call to my destiny
was heard and discovered during the premarital counseling with Pastor Jenkins in
1992. He asked why I wanted to marry
Darryl. I said “so that I could walk
alongside him and help him to become
all God planned for him to be.” I had no
idea what that would entail in the years
that would follow. But I was ready for the
challenge! Griffin: In 2004, while going through the
Living Life on Purpose training book in
Sisters in Discipleship Ministry (SID), I
heard the call to destiny. On my journey,
I discovered that my purpose and platform
for ministry was going to be through
interior design. While designing or
redesigning an individual’s home, I have
the opportunity to share the gospel and to
encourage others.
Barr: When I first arrived here in the
metropolitan area, I had already been
saved and delivered from nearly 20 years
of living as a lesbian and had recently been
through a two year healing process with
God. While I wanted to leave that part of
my life in the past and start over in a new
city and a new church where nobody knew
my story, God had a different plan for
me. He revealed to me that I was in a safe
place and for me to tell my story to Pastor
Jenkins and share my personal journals.
So, I did.
Reynolds: It was just before spring break
when MetLife Company contacted me
with an assignment offer I immediately
agreed to because my pay would double.
So, I notified the school’s substitute teacher
coordinator that I would be returning to
my insurance assignments. Immediately,
the Lord let me know that He had called
me to teach. I struggled with the call for
a minute. But soon after, I submitted to
God’s will for my life.
Darden: I believe my first knowledge
of the call on my life was the day I gave
my life to Christ at the age of eight. From
that day forward, I was on my journey
to fulfilling my destiny. As an adult in
my early 20s, I became a Sunday school
teacher. During my teaching journey, I was
elevated and received a call to ministry
of the gospel as an evangelist. Finally, I
accepted the call and pursued it. In 1985,
after an initial rejection, my call to the
ministry was reviewed again and approved.
continued on next page
5
wealth of knowledge gained and
my experiences. Also, I’ve met and
worked for phenomenally great
people. And I’m deeply thankful to
God for the people He orchestrated
to cross my path. The lows of this
journey have been the wrong turns
I’ve made in life, loss of loved ones
and giving up hope and faith too soon.
McCoy: In 1996, the Lord called me
to preach the gospel. It was difficult
for me to imagine myself being called
to serve in ministry because I was
trying to grasp hold of appreciating
being a homemaker versus a career
woman. Being unsure that it was God
speaking to me about the ministry at
the time I fleeced God. Unknown to
my husband, I asked God to speak
to me through my husband about the
ministry. God answered my prayer. As
I began to receive invitations to speak
and while ministering to other women,
my husband confirmed my calling.
Godlock: The high of the journey
was discovering that I do not have to
conform to man’s idea of who I should
be as a pastor’s wife. I realized I can
be who God created me to be and be
my authentic self, thus helping other
women discover their authentic selves
too. I learned along the way, we often
times overlook what God has placed in
us because we are too focused on being
like someone else or feeling inadequate. Griffin: The high of my journey is
that while designing or redesigning
a person’s home, I get to help them
spiritually as well. The lows of my
voyage are when sometimes God
tells me “No,” and when navigating
the world of the unseen periods in
my life. However, I press on because
I believe God and trust Him, too.
Grace: What has been a high
and low point of the journey?
P. Padgett: The high was watching
God make me what He had already
destined; it was well worth the wait.
As I look back over my life, I realize
the lows were necessary. Sometimes
my lows were very low and in some
instances they were unbearable to the
thought of death … yet God wouldn’t
let it be so. I had to remember in
my tough times in all these things, I
am more than a conqueror through
Him who loved me (Romans 8:37).
S. Padgett: The highs of my journey
have been what I’ve learned, the
6
Grace Magazine | Spring 2014
Barr: One of the highs was the first time
I witnessed a woman, whose life was
literally saved by my ministry, share
her testimony in public for the first
time outside of our ministry. Knowing
that my life and my obedience to
God helped save another person’s life
makes all of my pain, embarrassment
and heartache worth it! I experience
lows when I pour my life and passion
for Christ into a person struggling with
same-sex attraction and they don’t grab
hold of Jesus like I did. It really hurts
me to see them return to their old ways.
Reynolds: The lows of my journey
were that I didn’t have any education
credits to transfer after graduating
from Washington Bible College
and when I was rejected after my
admission to the Maryland Resident
Teachers Program. Then, after taking
continuing education courses, I reapplied only to be rejected again. My
high point came when I was advised
by WBC to submit all of my transcripts
and credentials to the Maryland State
Department of Education and ask for
an evaluation of my qualifications to
become a certified English teacher in
Maryland. The valuation was granted.
And because of this victory, I was able
to go on and receive my certification
to teach in Maryland public schools.
Darden: The high of my journey is
being in a place where God can use my
spiritual gifts of preaching and teaching
His Word. Another high point is that in
2009, I published a study curriculum
entitled, “The Ephesians Woman.” One
of the low points was after 32 years of
marriage, my husband passed in 2001.
McCoy: The lows of my journey have
also been the highs of my journey. The
very thing that has caused me hurt and
heartache has been the very same thing
to develop me. During the low times
of my journey, God used my pain from
those trials as a catalyst to speed me
into spiritual maturity and in a deeper
relationship with Him. The trials
that God allowed me to go through
became my teachable moments.
on this journey as a pastor’s wife. mentor to hurting and abused women.
Griffin: I’m moving forward, trusting
and letting go. I’m also looking forward
to what’s ahead with my husband
of 16 years, Deacon Paul Griffin.
Each of us has a contribution to
make to others to mature and to find
our niché in life. When we do, we
always find the perfect training ground
for our individual lessons as well.
Barr: I am continuing to help others
who struggle with unwanted samesex attraction (SSA) to find healing. I
provide training for parents and ministry
leaders to help them understand and
know how to respond to individuals
struggling with SSA. In addition to my
first published book in 2013, All Things
New, I published three workbooks
Grace: Where are you now on your
voyage?
P. Padgett: I am still facilitating
various classes and focus studies.
I have answered the call to further
myself in ministry by studying various
ministerial classes. Second, after
retiring from government service,
I plan to focus entirely on writing
and pursuing a degree in counseling.
S. Padgett: I manage my business. I’m
in the process of opening up a nonprofit
organization for young girls, starting a
chain of supply stores and so much more.
Godlock: God has given me a
passion for senior pastors’ wives.
I enjoy ministering to women in
general, but there is a special place
in my heart for other pastors’ wives.
I am so blessed to have First Lady
Trina Jenkins in my life and I do not
know what I would do without her. I
know that every pastor’s wife may
not have a role model/mentor and I
understand first-hand the importance
of having someone to walk with you
In Scripture, we are given the
opportunity to peek inside the lives of
various women who answered their
clarion call to destiny. I’m sure it wasn’t
always easy. Esther answered the call
to become queen; Sarah answered the
call to birth a son of heritage in her old
age; and Deborah answered the call
to be the first female judge. Similarly,
Rahab answered the call be courageous
when she hid the spies; Mary answered
the call to become a teenage mother
and Elizabeth answered the call to
birth John the Baptist, the forerunner
of Jesus Christ. Likewise, if you are
willing to answer your clarion call and
pay the “price,” likewise, the doors
will swing open against all odds and
you will find the courage and strength
to fulfill your destiny as well. Have
you answered your “clarion call?”
(1) by Gillian Holloway, Ph.D. (Dream
Discoveries Newsletter, Spring 1995)
http://www.lifetreks.com/cgiscripts/WebPages.asp?page=Articles/
Article02 |G|
and a facilitator’s guide for SSA.
Reynolds: I’m a teacher. In January
2014, I will have worked for two
years as a licensed, contracted
English
teacher
for
Prince
George's County Public Schools.
Darden: I’m a minister, part of a
team of women who minister at the
MCIW in Jessup. I also teach in
FBCG Institutes and I'm a mentor.
McCoy: I am a wife, preacher, teacher
of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
7
By Felicia Johnson
Everyone has a goal and vision they would like to fulfill in their life. We are pleased when we accomplish things we’ve worked very
hard to achieve. However, it takes motivation and encouragement to move us to the next level. We all need someone to be our lead
cheerleader to help us find our life's purpose. Although Christ is the center of our lives, He wants us to be connected with people who
can help us along our journey. A life coach can assist with making the right decisions to having a balanced lifestyle.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
What is a Life Coach?
According to LifeCoachSpotter.com, a
life coach “helps you get from where you
are in your life now, to where you want to
go.” Simply put, a life coach is someone
who can assist you in moving forward.
There are several areas where a life coach
may be needed, which may include:
Career Growth – When you want to
advance your career to the next level,
there are life coaches who are able to help
you in your decision process to make sure
the next job matches what you are looking
for. They are able to help you polish your
work skills, prep yourself for interviews
and make your resume marketable.
Relationships – We have certain
relationships that we want to strengthen
with family, friends, our spouse or even
Christ. Life coaches provide advice
on the steps you should take to help the
relationship grow. Sometimes group
therapy sessions are required to open
the communication between you and
the person in order for the life coach to
understand and help resolve the situation.
Finance & Budgeting – It is always
important to make sure our finances are
together. Financial coaches are experts
with providing tips for debt, credit,
spending, saving, retirement or even
saving for college. They can also help you
set up a budget plan.
Time Management – If your daily
schedule is overloaded without any time
to organize your tasks, a life coach can
help with prioritizing your time wisely to
avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Health and Wellness – Taking control
of your health is a vital goal in life. A
wellness coach can step in to help with
motivating you to reach certain goals such
as weight loss, exercising, dieting or even
examining your mental health.
God places special people in our lives
who are willing to be a helping hand. Life
coaches are considered the extra push
when we face high mountains too hard to
climb. A simple word of encouragement
and prayer for your fellow sister displays
a life coach in you. Despite what you’re
going through, God showers His blessings
among people who motivate each other.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, knowing that your
labor is not in vain in the Lord”
(1 Corinthians 15:58). |G|
YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT
Are You Destiny's Child?
By Aisha N. Hilliard
When people hear the term “destiny’s
child” they tend to think of the popular
singing group, but the truth is each of
us are destiny’s child. God created
each of us for a particular purpose. He
has a specific plan for our lives. Some
youth and young adults feel they are too
young for God to have a plan for them.
They may think that God’s destiny only
applies to their parents or other adults.
In actuality, you are not too young for
God to have a plan for your life. In
fact, Psalm 139:16 states “Your eyes
saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all are written,
The days fashioned for me, When as yet
there were none of them.” According to
this verse, your destiny was determined
before you were born. You are unique!
God knows you personally and is
always with you. Accept the way God
made you and do not compare yourself
to others.
The question often asked is “how do I
know my destiny?” Even some adults
struggle with this question. To know
your destiny you must spend time with
prayer and reading His Word. Talk to
Him and listen for His response. He will
tell you what He wants you to know.
Next, think about what excites you.
What you are passionate about? What
gifts and talents do you have? Do you
sing or write poetry? Do you act or play
an instrument? Do you like to dance
or play a sport? God has equipped you
with certain gifts and talents to fulfill
your destiny. Matthew 25:15 states
“And to one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one, to
each according to his own ability; and
immediately He went on a journey.”
Your gift is not like anyone else’s gift
and should be treasured. Use your gifts
to glorify God and you are on your way
to fulfilling your destiny.
God’s plan for your life is good and
allows you to look to the future with
hope and expectation. Jeremiah 29:11
tells us “for I know the thoughts that
I think toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose”
(Romans 8:28).
You were born for greatness! You do
not have to be part of the popular crowd
or give in to ungodly behaviors that
your friends may pressure you to do. If
people walk out of your life because you
don’t follow the crowd, don’t worry.
God will put the right people around
you to get you where he wants you to
be. Now you can be assured destiny’s
child is not just a popular singing
group. Destiny’s child is someone who
has hope for the future. Destiny’s child
is unique and talented. Destiny’s child
is you! |G|
Add Your Money Wisely
continued from page 3
regular text and e-mail alerts connected
to our credit cards and bank accounts. I
often call my credit card lender to let the
company know we’re going on vacation
and where. Otherwise, our charges may
not go through.
give you a future and a hope.” There
will be ups and downs along the road
of life but don’t get discouraged. Don’t
give up when bad things happen. If you
don’t make the cheerleading squad or
you don’t get accepted to your favorite
school, it’s alright. This is all part of
God’s plan for your life. Keep praying
and trusting God because “we know
that all things work together for good
Knowing that your personal information
can’t be fully protected, be as vigilant
as possible. Be your own privacy cop.
Scrutinize your credit and debit card
statements. And given the breaches that
have happened and will happen, don’t
trust until you’ve verified anything and
everything anyone says.
Reprinted with permission from the
Washington Post Writer's Group.
It has been noted that the dates referenced in
the article have passed.|G|
9
Following Life’s Road Map:
Benefits of a Life Coach
An Interview with Dr. Celeste Owens
By Cathy E. Smith
We often use traffic signs as we travel along our own road
in life. We take detours, cross bridges and, at times, come
to a complete stop. While the Bible serves as our compass,
sometimes we need a map to help us navigate through life.
Even if you have a map, a personal guide can serve as a great
resource to either tell you what to expect on the road that lies
ahead or narrate what you will see along the road. Take a
journey with Grace, as we talk to Dr. Celeste Owens, a true
survivor, and discover how she helps others along life’s road.
Grace: What are the key benefits of a life coach?
Dr. Owens: A life coach is a professional who “coaches” an
individual in all aspects of his/her personal, professional and/
or spiritual life. One of the key benefits of a life coach is that
he/she will help you to set concrete goals that are measurable
and obtainable. A second benefit is that a life coach helps you
in your decision-making. Learning to make good decisions is
the key to living your best life.
Grace: How do you conduct your coaching sessions? One-
on-one, group, online or in person?
Dr. Owens: Currently, I only do group coaching in the form
of online and in-person workshops. I also coach individuals
on how to fast properly. Twice a year, Dr. Celeste Owens
Ministries hosts "The 40-Day Surrender Fast." Each round of
corporate fasting is called a cycle.
Grace: What are some typical reasons your clients request
a life coach?
Dr. Owens: They are in transition or they will be in transition
as soon as they get unstuck. I am a certified natural health
professional, so many of my clients come to me for guidance
about making wise eating choices. They want to get off the yoyo dieting treadmill and finally “be in [good] health” the way
God planned. I offer an online program called "Surrender Your
Diet." This program is designed to help the client embrace
God’s tailor-made diet for them, so that they can live in optimal
health.
Grace: If you could offer three key tips for how to know if
you need a life coach what would they be?
Dr. Owens:
1. You are dissatisfied with your life. You know God has
created you for more.
2. You are feeling stuck. A coach will help you take action.
3. You are embarking on a major transition. “Where there
10
ENTREPRENEUR
to our diet, and changing your lifestyle and having a healthy
diet goes a long way in improving your health. I am now a
vegetarian.
Grace: Without revealing anything too personal, what client
has reminded you that you enjoy what you do?
Dr. Celeste Owens
is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of
counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).
Grace: Are there any key life lessons or common themes
that you have seen with your clients?
Dr. Owens: The enemy has used the hurts of the past to keep
them distracted. But I’ve witnessed major transformations when
my clients have decided to embrace all of them, including all of
their history, both good and bad. When they do this, they soar.
Grace: What inspired you to become a life coach?
Dr. Owens: My aunt died during my early 20s. When I heard the
news I remember thinking: 'I wonder did she do what she was
put here to do?' Since then, that same question has bombarded
my spirit. God has put a strong desire in me to help people fulfill
their destinies and life coaching is a platform in which I am able
to do just that.
Grace: What inspired you to become a certified natural
health professional?
Dr. Owens: I am a breast cancer survivor. Based upon my
experiences as a survivor, I decided to make changes in my
eating habits. Many of the diseases that we get can be linked
Dr. Owens: One of my clients experienced a natural disaster
and suffered a significant loss in the process. As a result, she
developed a habit of emotional eating and became overweight.
Through life coaching, I was able to help her identify the
emotional triggers from which her relationship with food
stemmed. We discovered that her primary triggers for excessive
eating stemmed from her experience in the natural disaster. We
were able to really dig deep and identify deeper issues that
tied to her eating habits, such as the anniversary of the natural
disaster and certain key events in her life. It was so rewarding
to assist her in identifying those triggers, work through her
relationship with food and identify the deeper, underlying
issues.
Grace: What core Bible verse is your personal favorite as it
relates to a person’s journey in life?
Dr. Owens: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
says the Lord, Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a
future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Grace: How can someone contact you?
I may be reached through my website at www.surrenderfast.
com or via email: [email protected].
As a result of her service to others, Dr. Owens has gained
national recognition, respect and attention for her thoughtprovoking and inspiring presentations. She has appeared on
cable television and has been featured in the local and national
media. She is also an avid writer. Her first book, “The 40-Day
Surrender Fast,” is a devotional designed to help the reader
develop a more intimate relationship with God. Dr. Owens
holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in counseling psychology
from the University of Pittsburgh. |G|
11
Mentoring - Your Road Map to Success
By Taunya Sills
Have you ever driven alone at night
when your parents or spouse told you
not to drive by yourself? Or have you
traveled somewhere on your own and
got lost? If you get in your car and drive
without directions or a map to where you
are going, you will make some wrong
turns. While you will eventually find
your way, you may have to stop and ask
for directions from someone who has
been there before. Nowadays, we have a
global positioning system, better known
as a GPS, to help guide us to unfamiliar
areas and locations by providing clear
directions and a convenient map. This is
essentially what mentoring is all about.
Mentoring is providing guidance or
assistance to someone else based on your
own previous experiences.
Having a mentor is similar to using a map
to help you to see the lay of the land or
the big picture. A good mentor is like a
seasoned traveler, who has been to many
different places and had many interesting
experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant.
These personal experiences shape their
perspective and influence how they
view life. On the road to success, a good
mentor will help you discover exactly
where you are and where you need to go
next, as you journey through life. A welltraveled mentor will help you determine
what goals you want to achieve and offer
advice and encouragement to aid you
along the way. Essentially, a mentor will
help you navigate the pitfalls that we
oftentimes face in life. These pitfalls or
dead ends can prevent us from arriving
at the destination God has planned for us.
These dead-end areas are places we do
not want to experience. They are merely
12
a detour on our spiritual journey that
takes us out of the will and presence of
God.
Mentoring is a long-term relationship in
which the mentor helps another person
reach their God-given potential. Ideally,
mentoring relationships last a lifetime,
but this does not always have to be
the case. A mentor usually has more
experience than the mentee and can assist
a mentee in various aspects of life such as
family and marriage, finances, personal
growth and development, spiritually and
professionally.
In the area of family and marriage, the
mentor provides guidance to strengthen
family relationships. Marriage mentors
are a couple that has walked down the
same path as you and your spouse.
They do not necessarily have to be your
parents, but they must be someone who
offers an honest and objective Christian
perspective. A family and marriage
mentor can help couples understand
each other better and successfully deal
with problems in order to strengthen
their relationship. A marriage mentor
can provide scriptural references for
situations and issues that you may
face. Overcoming those challenges will
ultimately bring the mentees closer to
God.
A financial mentor is someone who
offers guidance and advice about
finances. This type of mentor must
be capable of managing their own
money wisely and exhibit responsible
stewardship of God’s resources. The
relationship with a financial mentor is
NOT a professional relationship, as with
a financial coach or financial advisor;
rather, it is someone who does not charge
for his or her services. A financial mentor
will not necessarily discuss the details of
a budget, but would give general advice
on how to spend and save money wisely.
This mentor would integrate the biblical
teachings of stewardship, charitable
giving and financial responsibility to
ensure that their mentees use resources
to achieve financial success. A good
financial mentor is someone to respect,
trust and admire for his or her fiscal
knowledge.
A personal growth mentor guides their
mentee through life by encouraging and
inspiring them to become a better person.
You are not perfect! No matter how hard
we try, we will never be without fault.
Although perfection is unattainable, we
can always strive to be your best selves
in order to affect the world in a positive
way. We should always aim to become
better women, seeking to grow and
mature, specifically in relationships with
others. With a personal growth mentor,
a mentee can identify areas in their life
where they may need to stretch and
challenge themselves. In order to grow
spiritually, we must experience some
personal growth as well. A mentor can
help navigate the roadblocks that may
prevent the mentee from developing.
Turning back or refusing to proceed
down the road to personal growth is
never an option with a mentor who has
faith in God and understands the power
of prayer.
A professional mentor can help set
RELATIONSHIPS
circuit the potential of how far you both
can travel on the mentor/mentee journey.
short and long-term career goals. This
mentor does not need to know the exact
career or profession that the mentee
desires. However, the mentor can help
the mentee remain focused on their career
goals and give strategies to help achieve
them. A professional mentor will offer
advice and guidance to help develop and
expand their mentee's professional skills
and capabilities, as well as recommend
effective networking techniques. Most
importantly, a good professional mentor
will encourage their mentee to continue
learning and growing. A professional
mentor will not allow their mentee to
remain in a lane that is barely moving;
instead, they will help the mentee switch
gears and get back on the road to success.
Spiritual mentoring is a relationship
between mentor, mentee and the Holy
Spirit. A spiritual mentor is one who
creates a hospitable space of trust and
intimacy, and is able to discern the already
present action of God in the mentee.
The spiritual mentor is one who seeks
to live a life worthy of emulation, a life
of authentic holiness, spiritual maturity,
biblical knowledge and wisdom. They
are familiar with praying, listening and
practicing other spiritual disciplines. The
fuel needed in the spiritual mentoring
process is attraction, relationship,
responsiveness,
accountability
and
empowerment. A spiritual mentee
desires growth and maturity. They can
also be vulnerable in sharing intimate
issues of their life. Spiritual mentees
are responsible and respectful to the
directives of the mentor and are teachable,
faithful and obedient. A spiritual mentee
desires to serve God with her life.
Respect is the foundation for good mentor/
mentee relationships. An effective mentor
must want the best for their mentee and
believe that they have the God-given
abilities and skills to achieve success.
The best mentors are the ones who are not
afraid to respectfully pull their mentees to
the side when they are heading down the
wrong path. A mentee should enjoy the
company of their mentor because a strong
mentoring relationship requires personal
engagement and connection. A mentor
can only help when we are willing to
really open up about what’s going on in
our lives, whether discussing our fears or
our dreams. The mentee must trust that
this person is capable of giving good,
solid advice. If the mentee often questions
her judgment, she is not the right mentor.
When showing the way through
mentoring, a good mentor always
remembers her humanity. She is not
perfect and is also continuously learning
and growing. Some of the best things
to share with a mentee are the mistakes
made and lessons learned. A generous
amount of grace is needed for a fruitful
mentoring relationship. If an experienced
mentor gets lost, she will admit it and reroute the course. She won’t let pride short-
The mentor and mentee should agree
on the destination, as well as what a
successful journey looks like. What is the
goal? How do you know when you’ve
arrived? Clearly identify the skills or
character traits to be developed. Both
parties must stay open to new ideas and
ways of doing things, and make the effort
to see life through the eyes of the other
person. Travel the journey together.
Remain open to detours and delays.
Mentoring doesn’t always follow the plan
that was so carefully laid out. Navigating
hurdles and detours is part of the process.
These roadblocks may be spiritual,
emotional, social, intellectual or simply
skill related. Don’t resist or resent these
obstacles because God has equipped us
with everything we’ll need on this journey.
Remember, the journey is as important
as the destination. The steps of the
journey are just as important as the end
result. In some ways, they are even
more important. Enjoy each step and
make sure to share a heart connection.
Mentoring requires quality time, which
can result in deep, meaningful and
abiding changes in the lives of the
mentor and mentee. Laugh often, relate
with integrity and thank God for the
results, which are a gift from Him.|G|
13
by Kenya S. Ulmer
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God …
that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ …”(1 Peter 4:10-11).
While other young girls were in Barbie’s
dream house, dressing her in the latest
fashions and combing her hair, eightyear-old Tiffany Fails was living her own
dream of putting out fires with her fire
truck and creating battles with her action
figures. “I never cared for Barbie much,”
she recalls. When her cousins and friends
came over and wanted to play with dolls,
she would play as well, but it was never as
much fun as fighting crime.
Grace: What did you want to be when
you grew up?
Tiffany: When I was little, around seven
years old, I kept saying I wanted to be a
police officer. Then around 10 years old,
I switched it to a pediatrician. But then I
thought about it and I didn’t want to be a
pediatrician because I didn’t like needles.
The two wouldn’t be a good mix.
Grace: At what age did you start to
show interest in cars?
Tiffany: Actually, I was jumping all over
the place! I wanted to be everything,
including a firefighter and an artist. But
midway through high school, I began
looking at cars and trying to get a feel
of what they were. My dad was always
saying, “Hey, look at this car.” I’d be so
involved. He started showing me more
and more cars and I became more and
more interested. Why not learn about it,
I thought. Then that way I don’t always
have to take it to somebody. I could try
and fix it if I knew what to do. Most places
14
like mechanical shops and any type of
body shop try to take advantage of most
women because they figure they don’t
know about cars. That’s how the prices go
up. And that’s how they get you.
Grace: Do you have any funny stories
of that kind of thing happening and when
you started speaking the mechanic lingo?
Tiffany: Recently I did an oil change on
my car and I had to get the oil change
kit from the auto store. “Can I help you
with anything?” the worker asked. “Yes,
I’m here for an oil change kit.” “Do you
know what size engine you have or do you
have to run out and look?” he questioned.
“No, it’s a single,” I replied. “Oh. Well,
do you know what type of engine it is?”
he asked. “It’s a 2.2,” I said confidently.
“Wait a minute, did you go to school for
this and how do you know so much about
the car?” he asked shocked. “Yes, I go
to school for this and it wouldn’t be the
first time I’ve done an oil change on my
car.” The other customers were listening
as well.
Grace: Were you ever interested in
activities that most girls were interested
in?
Tiffany: No, I found myself more athletic
and in my free time I would draw on
things, like furniture, and get in trouble.
Then on top of that, my dad would buy me
fire trucks and action figures, so I found
those more fun to play with.
Grace: Did your mom protest to that?
Tiffany: Yes, she kept saying, “No, you
have to play with Barbie, Tiff; you have
to play with Barbie!” I would say, “No,
fire truck!”
Grace: Do you think that it was your
dad’s intention to make you interested in
cars?
Tiffany: No, he knew that I liked drawing
and I was drawing all types of stuff,
whether it was cars, cartoons or realistic
things. So he showed me a car and then
he’d paint it a different way— with some
type of design or character on the cars.
And that was one way for him to talk to
me about cars because it had some kind of
cool artwork on it. I don’t think those were
his intentions, but I just picked up on it.
Grace: Do you feel like you were
pressured to like or do “girlie” things?
Tiffany: I was never pressured about
liking action figures or not liking girlie
things. Whatever I wanted to do my mom
was there and supported everything. At
one point I was into soccer, basketball
and karate all at the same time. She said,
“Ok, wait. We have to cut something out;
you’re doing too much. And you’re going
to school. We have to eliminate something
because I’m driving everywhere.” It was
always whatever I wanted to do, and she
was always there to support it. I was never
pressured or anything.
Grace: What exactly do you do now?
Grace: Why this route?
Tiffany: I’m in a program called
Collision, Repair and Refinishing with
Custom Paint and Graphics. In other
words, it’s mainly auto body work when
cars have been in a collision. They come
in all dented and dinged up with the
bumpers hanging off. I do that type of
repair work on the car.
Tiffany: I originally went to Cleveland
State, a four-year university, and
received my degree in civil engineering
with a minor in graphic design. I didn’t
really like sitting in the classroom talking
and listening to different professors for
hours. I knew I was more of a hands-on
type of person. I wanted to go to a trade
school and learn about cars.
Grace: How does your dad feel about
having a daughter in collision repair?
Tiffany: He laughs and asks, “So are
you going to fix my truck?” I say, “No,
not yet. I haven’t learned it all.” In my
opinion, he just needs another truck.
Grace: How long is the program at
your school?
Tiffany: It’s an eighteen-month program
at Ohio Technical College. I will get my
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
certificate. That’s what they’re looking
for when you want to work in a body
shop.
Grace: Was that always the plan?
Tiffany: At first the plan was always to
play basketball. But I’m kind of injury
prone. In high school I played soccer
in the fall, basketball in the winter and
tennis in the spring. But in my senior
year, I tore my meniscus. I also injured
my knee in high school. I would have
played for Cleveland State, but couldn’t
participate on the team. To get myself
back together again and stay in shape, I
played intramural basketball in college.
Grace: What was the moment when
you said, “This is it; this is what I want
to do with my life.”?
Ms. Tiffany Fails
Tiffany: Well, I was in the Navy last
year. As a boatswain mate, I was able
to fix boat engines and keep up the
maintenance on the ship. I did everything
you could possibly think of for the ship,
including cleaning, painting, docking
the ship to shore, undocking it, tying
different lines and ropes. I pretty much
did it all and found that to be pretty cool.
Then I was medically discharged from
the Navy. I said, “Hmmm, I can’t play
with the ships right now, so until I can
get back in, I want to play with cars.”
Grace: What did you do immediately
after that revelation?
Tiffany: I did a search for which trade
schools in Ohio were the best. OTC,
the school I’m in now, kept popping up
during my search.
Grace: What is it about cars and
engines that give you a thrill?
Tiffany: Probably the auto body side of
it. You get to be creative being an auto
body technician. I like pulling the dents
out, fixing a door or replacing it, filling
in missing parts, stripping the car and
15
putting it right back together. When it’s
time to paint, you can be creative with
that as well. And since I like art, it fits
in with everything. When you see that
dent, you want to fix it. It’s like the car
has been in a battle and I need to get it
to “surgery!”
Grace: Do you have any family
members that have said you’d better put
down that wrench and go learn makeup?
you showed up for class on the first day?
Tiffany: They were just staring and
maybe thinking, “I wonder what she’s
here for.”
Grace: Did you feel that you had to
prove yourself?
Tiffany: It doesn’t. I still come to school
and everybody helps me out.
Grace: What advice would you give
to other girls and women who aren’t
brave enough to be themselves or feeling
family pressure to be something that
they’re not?
Tiffany: I felt as though I did, because
everybody was looking at me like I was
crazy. We females can still do anything
that we put our minds to. We can do
almost anything that males can do. I’m
feeling like I’ve been accepted now.
Grace: What role does faith play in
your life and the career you have chosen?
Tiffany: It plays a big part. All cars
start out in a safe state until they become
damaged. I have to have faith to put it
back into pre-accident condition so the
customer is safe. I’m pretty much saving
another’s life. As a technician, I have to
pay attention to every detail. If something
goes wrong with the car, it may fall back
on me because I was the last one to touch
the vehicle.
Tiffany: Yes, I do have a few family
members that asked, “So why do you
want to work on cars? Don’t you want to
do something less dirty?” I reply, “No,
why would I want to do that?” When
their cars needed fixing they would ask
if I could fix it. I’d say, “No, I don’t want
to get dirty!”
Grace: How many other women are
in the program?
Tiffany: I am the only one in the night
class, but there are a few other women in
the day class.
Grace: So how is it going?
Tiffany: It’s cool, but there’s a lot of
testosterone in there.
Grace: What was the reaction when
16
Grace: Is there a downside to your
job?
Tiffany: Yes, when people don’t pay
attention and I end up getting broken
bones.
Grace: What happened?
Tiffany: I was at school taking off the
door of a van. I was taking off the last
bolt and I asked my classmate if he had
the door. He said he did. I took off the
last bolt and the door just fell—right on
my foot! I spoke another language when
I looked at him and saw he was texting
on his phone. Now I’m in a cast for four
weeks. When I went back to school he
apologized and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean it. I didn’t know it was that bad.”
Grace: How does this hinder you
from taking your classes, if at all?
Tiffany: Own up to it for yourself first.
Then convince and show everybody else
you have what it takes to go beyond what
anybody else would expect. If you have to
get dirty and play with cars, then go do
it. You can’t let anyone else stop you from
living your life. In the end, you’re the
one that’s going to feel some kind of way
because you didn’t do what you wanted
to do throughout your life.
Tiffany is a very remarkable and
accomplished young lady who never
second guessed herself when choosing
this career path. She was baptized at the
First Baptist Church of Glenarden and has
been a member since she was about six
years old. Tiffany’s proud mom, Roxanne
Fails, is currently the administrator for
the Grace Magazine Ministry. Tiffany
will finish her schooling in November
2014 and plans to own her own shop one
day. When I asked her if she had forgiven
the classmate who dropped the door on
her foot, she didn’t hesitate to say, “Of
course. I don’t hold grudges or anything
like that. It could have been worse.” Her
resilient spirit was proven further when
she chose to get her cast in the school
colors of red and black. Let’s hear it for
the girl! |G|
By Shena Anderson
Three years ago, my birthday
could not compare with any other. I was
completely content with myself and the
life I was living. My friends surprised
me with a trip, my students gave me
warm wishes and most importantly –
my boyfriend finally looked at me like
he did when we began dating. I thought
God finally answered my petition for
my boyfriend to show me the affection
he did when we were intimate. I felt
that he was totally attracted to me and
that I didn’t have to secretly want to
be pregnant for him to adore me and
see me as someone worthy because I
would be the mother of his child. This
lie became the truth that woke me up in
the morning and haunted me at night.
I allowed myself to become completely
absorbed in him. We did not share the
same thirst for God, which caused a
decline in my personal relationship
with God. The more I talked about my
love and adoration of God, the more he
could not understand me. We became
the Tower of Babel. I thank God for
delivering me from the ridiculous
ideology that he was the root of my
value, worth and existence. The truth
is that the most insecure people place
their own shortcomings on other
people. The paradox of it all is that
his presumed cockiness was really
an insecure manifestation of his need
to feel worthy by being the father he
never had.
Who was I? I couldn’t answer that
before today or many years prior.
I never knew what it felt like to be
comfortable in my own skin. I was
one of the African-American girls
in a predominantly white Christian
school. I felt socially awkward with
females because of the guards and
idiosyncrasies I adopted from my
mother, who didn’t allow me to go
outside and play because of her fears.
She told me not to let people get close
to me because they will indeed fail me,
and to never leave the house without
makeup. From childhood through
adulthood, I viewed myself through
the seeds people planted in my mind.
Whenever I tried to figure me out, I
was embarrassed about what I learned.
I was whatever someone planted
within me as I allowed their thoughts
to overcome what I wanted to feel
within myself.
Shortly after my relationship ended,
I attended Singles Ministry and the
topic of discussion related to knowing
your value in order to maintain sexual
purity. I thanked God that I had
already been strengthened in the purity
department, but knowing my value
and worth honestly plagued me. At
that moment, I knew the Holy Spirit
was urging me to lay this insecurity
before God’s throne and completely
surrender every seed that grew into an
unfruitful vine. That night, I prayed for
God to show me how to lay hold of
these insecurities and to show me who
I am as His child. After a few minutes,
I closed my eyes and I saw brown soil
as my root and the foundation said,
“For no other foundation can anyone
lay than that which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
I then imagined this vibrant, healthy
green vine growing tall from this
brown soil. Inscribed in this vine’s
main stem was, “I am the vine, you
are the branches. He who abides in
Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing” (John
15:5). Amazingly, this vine contained
branches that had more inscriptions
that read: “For we dare not class
ourselves or compare ourselves with
those who commend themselves (2
Corinthians 10:12); The Lord doesn’t
see how man sees; the Lord sees the
heart (1 Samuel 16:7); I am sealed with
God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 5:10); I am
complete in Him (Colossians 2:10);
continued on page 21
17
Worshipping With Style and Grace
By Barbara Holt Streeter
In this issue, we want to empower you
to physically, spiritually, emotionally and
financially move in the presence of God.
When you are on your road trip to destiny,
you will face many strongholds of life.
You gear up for your road trip by taking
the first step to freedom from the stuff
that will hold you back from worshiping
God in the way that will honor Him. In
Psalm 150, God tells us to let all things
praise the Lord, “Praise the Lord! Praise
God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His
mighty firmament! Praise Him for His
mighty acts; Praise Him according to
His excellent greatness! Praise Him with
the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him
with the lute and harp! Praise Him with
the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with
stringed instruments and flutes! Praise
Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with
clashing cymbals! Let everything that
has breath praise the Lord. Praise the
Lord!”
The worship experiences at many
churches have changed over the years as
with the protocol. I remember growing
up in my home church and watching with
wide eyes because I was nervous when
Sister Fair yelled, danced and got happy,
as the mothers of the church would
say. But I watched my mommy crying,
clapping and raising her hands, but not
understanding why she wasn’t yelling,
dancing and getting happy. And, I was
scared when I watched an older lady
fall out when she was hit with the Holy
Ghost. All of these jargons, what did
they mean? Is there a protocol on how to
give God thanks for everything He has
given me? Should I worship with style
18
and grace and sit still with my hands on
my lap? Years later, I would understand
that we worship God differently based on
our background, church and culture, but
most importantly, learn how to embrace
our freedom to just worship God!
As society changes, the church is
changing as well. Church services
are now worship services; mistress/
master of ceremonies are now worship
leaders; music leaders/choir directors
are now ministers of music. And, music
has and will always be a major part of
the worship experience. We know that
when we worship through song prior
to the sermon, often times you feel the
presence of God ushering in His Holy
Spirit. Many times you want to move,
sing or shout, but you don’t. Pastor John
K. Jenkins Sr. often says from the pulpit,
“… I am amazed how some people can
sit in their seats and watch others praise
God.” I, too, wonder how people can just
sit. What are they are thinking? Are they
nervous? Do they not want to be seen? I
am an observer of people. Some may say
a people watcher. But I also like to learn
from others because I ask questions. I’ve
asked a few people about their worship
experience and they shared:
· “I will praise God anytime.”
· “I love to sing God’s praises.”
· “You know I will get my shout
on in a minute.”
· “I am a little nervous, I’m still
trying to find my way.”
· “I shouted once and everyone
looked at me.”
As you have read, praising God is a
personal reflection of your love for Him.
Personally, I love to give and show praise
to God! I’m not the best singer, but I love
to sing. I'm definitely not the best dancer,
because I lack rhythm, but I love to
dance. During my junior and high school
years, I was on the track team so I love
to run and walk. God allows me to show
Him my love through various praises.
As I take my road trip to destiny, I am
open and free to show how much I love
God. On many occasions, I will give God
a good run around the sanctuary with
three-foot high heels on!
About 10 years ago during a worship
service at our Ministry Center, I sat on
the back row in tears because I wanted to
break up with a young man I was dating.
My daddy had given me the ultimatum - I
needed to break up with him immediately,
or he would call and let him know the
relationship was over! (I was in my
late 30s – my daddy was very serious).
Pastor preached a sermon, “God will
make you free!” The Word was so pure
and it was directed to me. The prompting
of the Holy Spirit to move was so strong
and I started to run, run and run around
the sanctuary with my black knee length
boots. I ran so fast past the pulpit, my
girlfriends shared with me that Pastor
said, “Was that Barbara?” The run made
me free! After church service, I had the
best conversation with my parents where
I shared my heart with them on various
things in my life. And, yes, I broke up
with that dude, too. Even in sickness,
you can praise God. I have asthma and
I recalled twice during my shouting and
running, I needed my inhaler! What I
ESSENCE OF ETIQUETTE
love about God, He knew exactly how
much I could run and shout and when it
was time to sit and breathe!
As an etiquette specialist, my flesh
sometimes will try to push me to worship
with style and grace. But the Holy Spirit
will give me all the style and grace I need
to praise Him. I understand the concern
of women who wear more-trendy clothes
and want to give God praise, but I share
with them that God always knows when
you want to worship Him in spirit and
in truth, He will physically cover your
flesh. God shares in John 4:23-24 to
always praise Him in spirit and truth:
“But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the
Father is seeking such to worship Him.
God is spirit and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth.”
Over the past year, I have witnessed
a major shift in the way our church
worships God, particularly during
Sunday Communion service and the
Tuesday night Bible study. We worship
for hours and realize that time is not a
factor. God moves from the onset of
the service with our minister of music
Stephen Hurd, or assistant minister of
music Anthony Brown, ushering in the
Holy Spirit through song. Our Dance
Ministry praises God through their
graceful arm movements and high steps,
and the Banner Ministry waves the
banners in such a methodic rhythm that
you begin to sense and feel the presence
of God. In the words of Pastor Jenkins,
“It’s a sweet aroma.”
The beauty of the sweet aroma gives
presence to someone who is praising
God. Although you may not know why
the person is praising God, it’s our faith
that allows us to celebrate with them,
knowing our blessing is around the
corner. For example, one of our faithful
worshipers loves to march around the
sanctuary during Bible study. One night,
she started in one direction marching
swiftly that turned into a run. Pastor
started running in another direction. We
were all praising God and in a blink of
an eye while she was running, her wig
came off! Yes, off! First reaction, you
would think she would stop. NO! She
was giving God so much praise, hair was
not the priority, only God! There are so
many great praise stories to share about
our women in church, such as Mother
Rosie Woodrick in her purple ensemble.
She is always dressed in the royal purple,
but don’t let the attire fool you. She’s in
her 70s and will jog in the choir while
giving God her praise!
Worship can also be in silence. Being
still in the presence of God is worship.
Hearing His voice in the midst of noise
is the beauty of your closeness with Him.
In Psalm 46:10, God shares, “Be still,
and know that I am God; . . . .” One of
my girlfriends, Necie Canady, loves to
take a road trip where she can sit near
the water, on the beach. The breeze is
slightly moving, the calm of the ocean
is soothing her soul, the sun is basking
and the only sound she hears is God’s
whisper. Praise God, she reached her
destiny of God’s grace and mercy. Wow!
Give God all of the praise in spirit and
truth and He will give you style and
grace!|G|
Did You Know?
By Ceol Tilghman
In today’s world
of
modern technology, most cars are
built with a GPS (Global Positioning
System). This electronic device took
the place of road maps and removed
the fear of being lost on the road. Most
of these high tech devices are very
sophisticated and able to map out our
destination while communicating with
us to turn left or right in precise detail.
However, in the kingdom of God,
another GPS uses biblical principles
and are led by the Spirit on a journey
towards their destiny. They are called
God's Promise Seekers (GPS).
God's Promise Seekers start out by
seeking the Lord and they never give up
on searching the heart of God to fulfill
His promises for their lives. “But seek
ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). God
has promised that when you seek Him,
you will find Him, when you have sought
Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah
29:13).
God’s Promise Seekers also operate
in faith. They know that the race is
not given to the swift, but to those who
endure to the end; and to those who
diligently seek Him (Hebrews. 11:6).
continued on page 21
19
Whose “Right-of-Way” Is It?
By Mildred Stokes
One way to understand the heart and
mind of God can be found through
study in the Book of Jonah. It is an easy
story to comprehend on the surface.
Yet, it is a profound demonstration of
how wrong decisions can land you in
uninhabitable waters. The teaching
announces with clarion call, “You may
run, but you cannot hide!”
God is omnipresent, sovereign and able
to establish His will by every means
necessary. He is limitless, merciful
to heal and restore nations and still
display the sustaining capacity to love
us through our mess.
The story begins with the Lord giving
clear instruction to Jonah: “Arise, go to
Nineveh and cry out against it!” (Jonah
1:2). Upon hearing, Jonah chooses to
rebel and do things his own way. He
runs to Joppa, boards a ship to Tarshish
- rather than Nineveh - in his attempt to
flee from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah thought he had it all worked out
as we oftentimes do. Cloaked in the
garment of rebellion, he was confident
that he had the “right of way” in this
situation, which he did not own. Soon
after, God unleashed His wrath and
caused a massive storm to erupt on the
seas. The mariners not only unloaded
cargo, but discovered the necessity to
throw Jonah - the primary causal factor
in all of this - overboard, as well.
In His merciful wisdom, God prepared a
fish - a “customized underwater vessel”
- to swallow Jonah whole. Yet, Jonah
20
was preserved and brought to his knees
in repentance and submission to the
will of God. In that uninhabitable place,
Jonah experienced the righteousness of
God. And there he offered a sacrifice of
praise with the voice of thanksgiving.
Afterward, at the appointed time, the
Lord directed the vessel to spew Jonah
onto a dry, safe landing with the same
command: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that
great city, and preach to it the message
that I tell you” (Jonah 3:2).
Imagine his appearance. Jonah is ragged
and smelly, as he hurries exhaustedly
into the city after a three-day walk in
record time. He had to have been quite
a sight!
The Ninevites hear his announcement
of their pending destruction and
despair. With fearful hearts, they bow
to God confessing their evil violence.
The King of Ninevah proclaims a fast
throughout the region hoping to receive
God’s pardon. Deliverance is what the
Ninevites wanted, and believed would
come only through their repentance
and willingness to turn from their
wickedness in the sight of the Lord.
And they were right! God saw them
turning away from their violence and
relented. In His mercy, He canceled the
destruction they so rightfully deserved
and gave them another chance.
Thus, He performed this according
to His Sovereign will though it was
displeasing to Jonah.
This story takes a puzzling and
somewhat unsuspecting turn. Why is
Jonah angry? Why is he praying and
begging God to bring death to him as
we find in Jonah 4:3?
One thing seems compelling. There is
an unforgiving, vengeful spirit within
Jonah against the Ninevites. And it will
not be silenced easily. The Lord saw
Jonah’s relentless struggle with anger.
He had compassion on him despite
Jonah’s resentment. God provided the
shade of a plant “to deliver him from
his misery” (Jonah 4:6). But it was also
a test. The Lord removed that shelter
with the dawn of the morning and sent
a blast of unbearable atmospheric heat
in its place.
Would Jonah look deeply into the
mirror of his soul and see that all things
are purposed in the plan of God? Would
he release his rights and reach beyond
his anger and self-righteousness to
comprehend and embrace truth?
God did a righteous thing to relent. It
was God’s grace that spared the lives
of 128,000 repenting worshipers from
destruction. Jonah could not override
God’s judgment. And neither can any
of us. It is God who delivers vengeance
as He so determines. Psalm 30:5 gives
greater insight into the majesty of our
Lord:
“For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life; Weeping may
endure for a night, But joy comes in the
morning.”
INSPIRATIONAL
God’s forgiveness of the Ninevites
signaled a foretaste of the abundance
of His incomprehensible mercy. It is
God alone who showers grace upon
those who love Him and seek after
His will with their whole heart. Such
a marvelous reason to rejoice! And yet
Jonah did not.
Lessons Along the Way
In the end, it seems that what God
showed Jonah in the affliction of his
deep-seeded anger was not enough.
Jonah’s preservation in the belly of
God’s prepared fish and his expulsion
onto dry land and liberty was not
enough. God asks Jonah, “Should I not
pity Nineveh?”
salvation and abide in Him.
This ending of Jonah’s encounter with
the Lord has always caused me to
ponder the condition of man’s heart.
We justify and allow ourselves to
become comfortable with contrariness
and make wrong turns in disobedience,
even without apology. In our fallen
state, we have a thorn in the flesh to
remind us of our dependence upon
God. For we are prone to wander
away from Him, whether consciously
or otherwise.
The Word of God comforts and points
us in the right direction continuously.
The completion of Jesus’ ministry is
the clearest evidence of God’s heart
and love for us. His presence abounds
abundantly so that we are never left
alone. A way of escape is embedded
in any trial we encounter, so that we
will have the strength to bear it as
we find in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Most
assuredly, God is faithful.
We learn from this story that we are
works in progress undergoing God’s
continual pruning process to transform
us to His standard of righteousness.
Each of us has the opportunity to
mature spiritually, embrace the gift of
The book of Jonah allows us to see
the sufficiency of God’s grace on
many levels. In like manner, the
many road signs before us broadcast
the significance of compliance and
humble embrace of God’s sovereign
unmatched power and love. It is
always our surrender that concerns
God and a contrite spirit within.
Notice it didn’t matter that Jonah
sank into the lowest parts of the ship
to lie down and rest as referenced in
Jonah 1:5. God saw him. Jonah could
be found — just as we are, through
Christ. Obedience is the principal
thing. Sacrifices of praise offered to
God in reverent fear are well-pleasing
and a sweet aroma. Calm seas do
return!
Christ is the way - the “right of way” to guide and preserve you all the days
of your life. But you must yield to
Him willingly, recognize His call and
humble yourself. Then come to Him
with praise and thanksgiving in your
heart!|G|
Seeing Myself Outside of the Box
We are ambassadors for Christ”
(2 Corinthians 5:20).
When I opened my eyes, my entire
perspective on life and my role
completely altered. I no longer felt
confined to the various hats I wore
from day-to-day. I no longer felt like
the wayward sea, vacillating back
and forth. God indeed wants to show
us how “fearfully and wonderfully
made” we all are if we would take
the time to seek Him. The world
insists that we view ourselves through
wealth, careers, and even other people.
However, God’s revelation helped me
to not live in that box or any other for
that matter. There is indeed freedom in
true submission to the Lord’s will. By
God’s grace, He has blessed my heart
and given me the fortitude to stand
firm in His word as He shows me the
way every day.|G|
Did You Know?
They are also filled with love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol, (Galatians 5:22-23). Fruit that
is needed to fuel and keep them on the
journey while pursuing their destiny.
God's Promise Seekers are unlike
any of today’s short-lived technology
that’s here today and gone tomorrow.
Instead, they abide in Him knowing He
has promised that he will always be
with us, even until the end of the age
(Matthew 28:20). |G|
21
PARENTING
Helping Children Manifest
Their Road to Destiny
By Norma L. Day-Vines, Ph.D.
One weekend my daughter invited a friend to her sleepover.
During her stay, the friend borrowed an item of clothing. As
children often do, my daughter’s friend never returned the item.
My child complained and complained, until I finally reminded
her that she had borrowed some of her friends’ things without
returning them. Eventually, I agreed to replace the item, even
though she had not looked at or worn the item in months. In
fact, she never even liked the item. Despite my offer to replace
the article of clothing, my daughter continued to whine.
After I could no longer take the whining and complaining, I sat
my child down and reminded her about how Lot’s wife turned
into a pillar of salt because she ignored God’s command that
she leave Sodom and Gomorrah and not look back. I was trying
to explain to her that people look back, both literally by defying
God’s command, and figuratively by dwelling on a situation
from which God has delivered them. The parallel I was trying
to draw was between the refusal of Lot's wife to look forward
to God’s promise of a better life and my daughter’s refusal to
focus on the fact that what she lost would soon be replaced. In
any case, as I tried to recount the story I was fuzzy on some
of the background details so we read the Scripture together.
his teenage son to watch him make a major presentation.
Before the session started the son was talking on his cell
phone. The father asked the son to turn the cell phone off. The
son politely said, “I don’t need to turn the cell phone off, I can
just turn it down.” Like many children, this child renegotiated
the rules his father gave him, not realizing that his father, just
like our heavenly Father, sees the larger picture. For Lot’s
wife, renegotiating God’s directive had lethal consequences.
As parents, our challenge is to prepare children who can lead
godly, productive lives. When children argue with authority
figures, implicitly or explicitly, their disobedience may
result in compromises that have negative consequences.
If we are to help children manifest the road to their
destiny, we have to inspire them to respect authority and
act in accordance to God’s Holy Word. Jesus said, “If
you love Me, obey My commandments (John14:15).|G|
As we read, my daughter was able to recognize that like Lot’s
wife, she, too, disobeyed a direct command and instead chose to
dwell on the past rather than focus on the future. The blessing that
came from re-reading that passage was a new insight I had not
previously considered. As the angels led Lot and his wife out of
Sodom and Gomorrah and told them to escape to the mountains
so they would not be swept away, Lot tried to renegotiate the
angel’s command. Lot asked the angel whether he could go
to a small village instead of the mountains. I explained to my
daughter that if Lot and his wife had been obedient, the couple
would probably have been so narrowly focused on the physical
and psychological energy it would take to climb such a steep
hill, that Lot’s wife would have been too tired to look back.
As I read that particular passage, I was reminded of how in life
adults and children alike try to renegotiate God’s command.
Recently, I was sitting in a meeting with a man who had brought
22
HEALTH
Breaking the Chains of Food
By Connie Pulliam
Food is something we are all too familiar with. We have all
probably heard the old saying, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat.”
How does one live up to that? How does one not live to eat when
almost everything is centered on food? Business meetings,
funerals and special occasions, just to name a few, have food
as the anchor.
We know that food is a necessity; our bodies must have food in
order to function properly. However, what happens when food
has a stronghold on our lives? When food is used as response to
an emotion or feeling this has the potential to become dangerous.
As written in the Bible “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
When our heart decides how much food should be eaten and
how often it is eaten we may allow food to become a heavy
chain that needs to be broken.
What does emotional eating look like and how does it affect
the body? People may resort to eating unusual amounts of
food. Why do we emotionally eat? Sometimes food is used
as an escape or replacement for comfort. This behavior has
devastating effects on our bodies; from emotional eating can
greatly affect our sleep, weight and heart. Emotional eating also
affects our time spent with God. An unhealthy desire for eating
could cause unwanted pounds and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Emotional eating can develop into eating disorders that will
affect your healthy lifestyle. According to womenshealth.
gov there are many disorders associated with food, which can
include: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating.
If you or someone you know may be suffering from one of
these or any other disorder, please seek professional medical
help immediately.
If you are noticing that you are depending more on food to
get you through instead of depending on God, then maybe
the chains of food need to be broken for you. How can this
be achieved? Keeping a journal can help track your emotional
status and food intake at different times of the day. At the end
of a week, try comparing the food intake with the emotional
experience. This could be helpful in modifying your emotional
response and food intake behaviors.
How strong is your support system? It is important to have
a trusted person or group that you can go to and talk about
what you are feeling instead of going to the refrigerator to eat.
Surrounding yourself with positive people to encourage you
and to be lovingly truthful is vital.
Most importantly, how is your relationship with God? Is your
walk with God as strong as you would like it to be? Pray daily,
asking God to empower you to break the strongholds of the food
chains. Talk to the Lord about the things that may be weighing
you down. Only He can truly break the chains that bind you.
Remember, in conjunction with the suggestions mentioned
above and with your health professional’s approval, exercise
daily and choose healthy food options. Pray and meditate on
God’s Word and your food chains can be broken.
For more information about eating disorders please visit www.
womenshealth.gov. |G|
23
Tasty Treats
By Mia Waldron
MINI MEATLOAF
This recipe is a twist on the classic meatloaf. It is moist, tender and pairs well with salads.
Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef/turkey
½ lb ground lamb
½ lb ground pork
½ cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup minced/chopped onion
1 tbs worcestershire sauce
1 tbs soy sauce
2 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbs ground parmesan cheese
Cooking spray
Muffin tins
Directions:
1. Combine all dry seasonings in a small bowl. Spray muffin tins on all sides with cooking spray and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix ground meat, ketchup, egg, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce in a large bowl by hand.
3. Add seasoning mix, parmesan cheese and bread crumbs to the meat mixture; combine well.
4. Scoop approximately ½ cup meat mixture and make balls; press one ball lightly into the bottom of each
prepared muffin tin.
5. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour uncovered until meat thermometer inserted registers 160°F and the mini loaves
separate from the sides of the each muffin tin.
24
Serves 12
PUDDING PIE IN A CARAMEL COOKIE CRUST
This is a quick and easy summertime dessert that uses comfort foods. To lighten up the recipe, reduce
the fat and calories by using low or nonfat milk, sugar-free pudding mix, margarine and omit the
whipped topping.
Ingredients
1-4.6 oz box of cook & serve pudding mix
(vanilla or chocolate)
3 cups milk
2 cups Dulce de Leche Girl Scout Cookie crumbs
(approximately 40 cookies)
1/2 cup butter/margarine melted
Whipped Topping
Directions
1. Crush cookies into medium sized crumbs using a food processor or place cookies into a sealed plastic bag,
press the air out before closing and use a rolling pin to crush the cookies.
2. In a large bowl combine the crumbs with the melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a
9-inch pie pan. Bake at 350˚F for 7-9 minutes to set. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before filling.
3. Prepare pudding according to package directions, cool for 5 minutes, stir and pour into baked crust. Cover the
pie surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.
4. Serve with 2 tbs of whipped topping on each slice.
Serves 8
25
REFLECTIONS
Reflections … Life Lessons
By Barbara Holt Streeter
God blesses us daily with stuff we take
for granted: food, houses, clothes, gas and
other things that we are pretty confident
God will give us, right? Wrong? Everyday,
I thank God for what He gives me, most
importantly His unconditional love. As
women, we are nurturers, we love our
families, we are great girlfriends and
we often work hard to please others. But
throughout our seasons of life, we will
experience so many joys, trials, victories
and challenges. And out of these, the only
constant assurance is God’s love!
His love entrusted First Lady Trina Jenkins
to share her vision to relaunch a newsletter
for the women of First Baptist Church
of Glenarden almost 10 years ago. I was
honored to be in the group that listened to
her heart and was excited to share great
information and resources to women
within First Baptist and the community.
We started with a color newsletter,
actually an 11x17 double-sided paper,
which we printed on the color copier in
the office! The leadership team included
Sade Dennis and I as the team leaders;
project coordinator, Phenola Moore, lead
editor, Marilyn Stackhouse; lead copy
editors, Marguerite Brown and Verna
Smith; graphic designer, Khadijah Bey and
financial/project coordinator Keisha White.
We were honored to have many women
who also shared their professional gifts as
graphic designers with Grace Magazine:
Sherron Johnson, Darlene Powell and Chae
Carriere and today, our creative director,
Angela Hendrix Bell.
If we had a video camera to show the journey
of Grace, you would laugh and cry at the
behind-the-scenes production. Imagine 10
women in a small office, working at two
desks and on the floor, writing, editing,
26
designing and printing simultaneously!
We did it with love, humility and grace, of
course all while eating and laughing. Was
it challenging? Yes! Did we get along all
the time? No, of course not, because we
are women! But we did it because we were
assigned to serve God and fulfill the vision
of First Lady.
We created great resourceful “departments”
in Grace that women enjoy reading,
from Add Your Money Wisely; Beauty
from the Inside Out; Did You Know?;
Entrepreneur; Health; Inspirational; It’s
Tea Time; Parenting; Relationships; Youth/
Young Adults; Tasty Treats; and, special to
me, Essence of Etiquette, where I served as
the etiquette specialist. I salute the faithful
team of writers, editors and proofreaders
who helped launch and build the foundation
of Grace in 2005 – Pat America, Mary L.
Brown, Neader Chandler, Valencia Daniel,
Cynthia Johnson, Michelle Singletary,
Minister Sheryl Smith, S. Renne Stocks,
Dee Taylor-Jolley, Wanda Thomas and
Latashia Warren. They labored and prayed
as we grew the 11x17 color newsletter
printed in the office to a 28-page full-color
magazine that produces over 5,000 copies
a year!
As I am writing my last Reflections …
Life Lessons, my tears are flowing
because I know what God gave me was
an opportunity that I will forever treasure.
It’s almost surreal to the day I remember
when Phenola Moore's season ended
with Grace. She served as the assistant
director, the go-to person, my right and
left hand. I said, 'Oh God, now what?'
But God gave me the appointed time to
hand the baton to Nicole Irby, a beautiful,
spirited young lady with great leadership
and professional abilities who loves God
and has the passion to serve. Nicole served
as the second assistant director and the
faithful leadership team has supported her
during the transition.
Thank you First Lady for your love,
guidance and leadership; you allowed me to
walk with you to see the good in everyone.
You built my character and confidence
when I wanted to give up. You showed me
what and how God sees excellence in His
daughters. I have learned so much from
you, when and when not to speak and when
and how to pray. I am forever grateful to
and for you. You are a true Proverbs 31
woman in every aspect. I love you!
Ladies, let 2014 be your year to step out of
your comfort zone. Do what you have been
praying and dreaming to do. Be the person
that God has called you to be and enjoy
the life that God has given you. This is our
TIME and our season because “For You
formed my inward parts; You covered me
in my mother’s womb. I will praise You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
…” (Psalm 139:13-14). That's my favorite
Scripture. And remember . . . may the life
you live be a blessing to someone!
With love and grace,
Barbara
|G|
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is now available!
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donations from my cellphone???
That’s great, thanks!
7:47 AM, Today
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The Women of
First Baptist Church of
Glenarden have Spiritual
STYLE
&
Grace
Magazine
Developed by
women for women to
spiritually, physically
& financially empower.
We are currently
looking for:
Graphic Designers
Writers
Editors
Researchers
Meeting Date/Time:
2nd Thursday at 7 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Grace
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Magazine
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., First Baptist has grown to comprise more than 11,000 active members,
100-plus ministries and programs, four Sunday worship services and a well-attended Tuesday
night Bible study. 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!
S U N DAY W O R S H I P
WORSHIP CENTER
8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon services are held
at the Worship Center.
600 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
(Mailing Address)
Praise and Worship begins 15 minutes
prior to the start of the 8 a.m. and
10 a.m. services only.
M I N I S T RY C E N T E R
3600 Brightseat Road
Landover, MD 20785
6:30 p.m. service is held at the
Ministry Center, except on 4th Sunday
(Communion service) and special events
as noted.
Phone: 301-773-3600
www.fbcglenarden.org
Email: [email protected]
www.facebook.com/
firstbaptistglenarden
B I B L E S T U DY
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the
Worship Center and Wednesdays at
noon at the Ministry Center.
www.twitter.com/FBCG
Find FBCG on Facebook and Twitter!
ON RADIO
ON THE WEB
Saturdays
WPRS Praise 104.1 FM - 9:30 a.m.
WAVA 105.1 FM - 10:30 a.m.
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
O N YO U R S M A R T
P H O N E S A N D I PA D
FBCG Worship Services live at
www.fbcglive.com Sundays at 8 a.m.,
10 a.m. and noon;
6:30 p.m. service can be viewed live
at www.fbcglive.com/MC
Photo by Jim Kumorek, courtesy of Worship Facilities Magazine

Road Trip - First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Transcription

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