St John Beacon February - St. John Missionary Baptist Church

St. John Missionary Baptist Church
5700 N. Kelley Avenue • Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Address Service Requested
Non-Profit Organization
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The St. John Beacon
Oklahoma City, OK
Permit No. 1441
THE CHURCH THAT BELIEVES IN LETTING THE LORD DO IT
478-3344
May • 2012
The Pastor’s Pen
Dr. Major L. Jemison, Pastor
Beloved Members,
It is my prayerful hope that
this letter finds you and yours in
the best of health and spirit. The
recent month of activities were
quite soul stirring and spiritually
beneficial to those who attended.
I want to applaud every auxiliary
and ministry for their due diligence in making these church
wide functions a blessing and a
success. I want to also compliment the leaders for making excellence the standard. The Lord
honored your efforts and we were
richly rewarded as a result.
As we enter the month of May,
many will be attending graduation
ceremonies for our children. It is
so heart warming watching our
children take the next step in their
social, intellectual and professional development. On May
18th, the First Lady and I will experience this thrill as MaKinsley
graduates from Georgetown College. Congratulations to every
parent and student for this major
accomplishment. Remember,
the end is just the beginning.
In closing, we are living in an
interesting moment of history.
Perhaps like never before there
exist among believers a pronounce attitude of unfaithfulness.
It is not peculiar to this setting
but prevails throughout the spectrum of Christendom. It is impacting the Christian community
socially, morally, domestically
and yes, spiritually. As your Pastor, it concerns me because such
an attitude robs a believer of the
joys and blessings God provides.
It is difficult to remain spiritually
fit with limited exposure to learning and fellowship with other believers. It is virtually impossible
to not be victimized by the ploys
and exploits of the Devil when
alienated and isolated from the
company of the committed. Below are some passages that will
help us battle this subtle but lethal attitude in our walk with God.
Meditate and Be Blessed . . . . .
Psa.31:23; Prov. 20:6;
Prov. 28:20; Matt. 10:22;
Matt. 24:45-47; Luke 12:42-44;
Matt. 25:14-23; Luke 19:12-27;
Luke 16:10-12; I Cor. 4:2;
Col. 3:22; Eph. 6:5-9.
Mother’s Love
Her love is like an island in life’s ocean, vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter from the wind, the rain, the tide.
’Tis bound on the north by Hope, by Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South and on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro’ the changing scenes of life I find a haven there.
Author Unknown
St. John Will Honor Deaconess
During Annual Day May 13th
Members of St. John Deaconess
The Deaconess Annual Day
will be held Sunday, May 13,
2012. This program, traditionally held on Mother’s Day, provides an opportunity to highlight
and acknowledge the Deaconess
for their service to the Lord and
this, the Lord’s church.
They
serve in many ways. They visit the
sick and shut-ins in their homes,
hospitals and nursing centers.
They teach during the Enrichment
Hour, usher, work on the hospitality or are members of the Senior Choir. Their motivation
comes from a love and strength
of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
So on Sunday, St. John will give
honor to them and celebrate their
mission.
The speaker for this service
will be Mrs. Regina O. West. She
is the wife of Rev. Chester A.
West, pastor of the Emmanuel
Baptist Church in Oklahoma
City. She is mother of two daughters, LaDonna Post and Dana
Stevenson and the proud grandmother to Jordan, Brianna,
Amaya and James.
Regina is an Oklahoma City
native who graduated from Douglas High School and attended
Oklahoma State University. She
has spent over 24 years of service
with the Federal Aviation Administration. She is now retired.
Sis. West is very involved at
her church as a teacher of the
Women of Faith Sunday School
Class, member of the Adult
Choir, and member of the United
Women Mission Ministry just to
name a few. Her favorite scripture is “I can do all things through
Christ which strengthenth me”
taken from Philippians 4:13.
Her work for the Lord continues as she shares her passion
for the Lord in her community.
She is currently Chaplain of the
Baptist Ministers, Wives & Widows Club, Inc. She is active in the
district, state and national levels
of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. Sis.
Regina is an active member of the
Minister’s Wives Auxiliary of the
Central Oklahoma District Association and a member of the
Sis. Regina West
Minister’s Wives Auxiliary of the
General Missionary Baptist State
Convention of Oklahoma, Inc.
On that Sunday, Mrs. West
will explore the theme “Walking
In Love, The Fragrance Of
Christ”. This theme is taken
from Ephesians 5: 1-2 (NIV).
“Follow God’s example, there(“Deaconess”
continued on page 2)
The St. John Beacon
Page 2
May • 2012
St. John Scholarship Committee Prepares For Graduation Season
Submitted by Ruby Nichols, Chairperson
It is that time of year when we
look forward to graduations.
The St John Scholarship Committee is preparing to share in the
high school graduation of the
youth members identified below. Each has been provided
application materials to apply for
the Rev. W. K. Jackson Scholarship, in the amount of $1000 dollars, per person. The St John
Rev. W. K. Jackson Scholarship;
from the Church Family has been
in effect since 1983. It is designated to help active youth members who graduate from high
school to continue their educa-
tion, at any post-secondary school
(vocational/technical/career/twoyr-college/four-yr-university), the
following year. To date, youth
members identified as 2012 High
School Seniors are:
1. Clinton L. Blackwell
2. Yolanda M. Carrasquillo
3. Christian F. Contreras
4. Carlton DeFroe
5. DeJon A. Harris
6. Gabriel A. Houston
7. D ‘Marea L. Knight
8. Aurea V. Lawson
9. Quortney S. Lloyd
10. Kenneth R. McIntosh, Jr.
11. Trynae M. Stephens
12. Rickey M. Thomas II
13. Chanti M. Walker
14. Cameron R. Williamson
High school seniors, who have
not identified themselves to the
scholarship committee, should
do so, as soon as possible. ID
forms are on the Scholarship Bulletin Board, in the east/west halls
of the Rev. W. K. Jackson Educational Wing. The application
deadline is the close of church
office hours: Mon., May 21st,
2012. Late and/or incomplete
entries will not be approved.
The 23rd Annual Scholarship
Committee Awards’ Banquet will
By Trustee Cecil E. Emery
“When Doubting, Do
What the Lord Says Do”
By Deacon Raymond Payton
The Power of Prayer
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” James 5:16
mandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never
leave you” (John14:15-16). “But
if you stay joined to me and my
words remain in you, you may ask
any request you like, and it will
be granted!” (John 15:7).
When the righteous commit
their whole being to take hold of
God, prayer is powerful and effective. As Jacob said, “I will not
let you go unless you bless me”
(Genesis 32:26).
When the earnest prayer of
many righteous people comes together it is powerful. When two
St. John Members Will
Savor Trip To WK
Jackson Golf Tournament
Submitted by Deacon Jeffery Washington
St. John Members are preparing to tourney at the Annual WK
Jackson Golf Tournament. It is
set for Friday May 18, 2012 at
8:00 am at the Cimarron National
Golf Club, in Guthrie Oklahoma.
The entry fee is only a $65.00
donation per person, and includes: green fees, ½ cart, food
and beverages. The committee is
still taking reservations.
Men’s, women’s and youth
teams of all skill levels are welcomed. Team trophies will be
awarded for first and second
place. Prizes will be awarded for
longest drive, and closest to the
pin. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the St. John
Christian Heritage Academy.
It is not too late to sponsor a
hole or be a prize contributor. All
forms are available at the church
office and in the fellowship hall
each Sunday following the Morning Worship service. For additional information, please contact
tournament director, Deacon
Jeffery Washington at (405) 4783351.
able in the fellowship hall, following morning worship; April 21st
thru May 20th, 2012. Please secure your ticket in a timely manner, to help the committee plan
wisely. Parents of the high
school graduates are expected to
be present with the recipient to
receive their certificate. The
awards banquet will provide excellent food and fellowship! You
are cordially invited to attend.
Award payments, will follow
in two $500 award checks, after
students provide a copy of their
spring and fall semester class
schedules, to show they are actually attending school.
About The Lord’s Money
PASTOR’S
PARTNERS IN PRAYER
Prayer is effective with God.
It affects the history of His church
and people. Prayer is the one
power the church can exercise in
securing the working of God’s
omnipotence in the world.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. A
righteous person lives as the servant of righteousness (Romans
6:16, 19). The Lord loves the righteous, and their prayers have
power (Psalm 66:18-19; 1 John
3:22). When Christ gave His great
prayer promises, it was to those
who keep His commandments.
“If you love me, obey my com-
be held Saturday, May 26th, 2012,
at 6:30 pm in the fellowship hall.
The awards ceremony will congratulate high school graduates
and their family members for this
major accomplishment in their
lives. St. John Rev. W. K. Jackson Scholarship Certificates will
be awarded to graduates who met
the scholarship application criteria. Donations to attend the
scholarship award banquet are
$15.00 per person. Any 2012
high school graduate is warmly
invited to attend as a special guest
where they will be admitted free
of charge. Tickets will be avail-
or three agree, there is the promise of an answer. God will display His power even more when
hundreds and thousands unite in
earnest prayer.
Let us continue to pray daily
wherever you are at 12:00 noon
for our Pastor, Dr. M. L. Jemison,
his family, health, strength and
guidance. The Pastor’s Partners
in Prayer Ministry meet on the
second Wednesday from 6:15
p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the
conference room to pray with the
Pastor. Come join us and God
Bless You.
Luke 9:16 says, “then He took the five loaves and the two fishes,
and looking up to Heaven, He blessed them, and brake and gave to the
disciples to set before the multitude.”
The disciples seemed to
doubt whether a small donation
of five loaves and two fishes could
feed the multitude that sat at Jesus’
feet. They suggested sending the
crowd away to buy food. But with
Jesus’ blessing, the small amount
became more than enough; it became an abundance of food.
We should not doubt the effectiveness of our giving. Sometimes our gifts seem small in relation to a great need. However,
unlike the disciples who witnessed
the miracles, we do not always see
the results of our giving. We must
trust the Lord and do what He
(“Deaconess” continued from page 1)
fore, as dearly loved children 2
and walk in the way of love, just
as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”. The
Deaconess will give emphasize to
the unique role they play in the
church and give honor to all mothers. This program will feature a
special dedication from Pastor
Jemison for all babies born during the past year. The parents of
all infants that have not been dedicated are encouraged to bring
their children to Morning Worship on Mother’s Day for dedication.
Also, this Mother’s Day Sunday has been designated “Pink
Sunday” in order to raise awareness on breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
Members of the Deaconess will
wear a splash of pink to show support, honor the courage of St.
John survivors and in remembrance of those who have lost the
battle.
So, please join the St. John
Deaconess as they prepare their
hearts and minds to receive a
word from the Lord and for a
wonderful celebration of motherhood on Sunday, May 13th.
You Tell Us ... We Tell Them.
says do. The Bible teaches giving. This should be a sufficient
reason to give. If the Bible tells
us to do something, we should do
it.
Abraham began the tithe.
Moses commanded the tithe.
Jesus commanded us to “render
unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and
to God what is God’s.” So who
are we to change anything already
written and commanded in the
Word of God? The Lord has only
one way of financing His church,
and that way is through tithes and
offerings. If you want to know if
tithing works, ask the man or
woman who tithes.
Tithing is another way of
thanking God. It has developed
as a principle of religious devotion; as a way of thanking God
for His goodness, and acknowledging man’s dependence upon
the creative and sustaining providence of God. The tithe is the
response freely and voluntarily
given in gratitude for the matchless love, care and goodness of
God. God is the first creditor
and our debt to Him should be
paid FIRST.
I challenge each of you to trust
the Lord and don’t doubt Him.
Giving with God’s blessing will
multiply your gifts to abundance
just as it did with the lad that had
five and fishes and two loaves.
Present your gift to the Lord,
watch Him bless it, make it useful for His kingdom, and watch it
overflow to bless others as well.
See you at the Storehouse.
The St. John Beacon
Page 3
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY
By Rev. Keith Carter, Stewardship Minister
PARISH FELLOWSHIP NEWS
Diana Ross Franklin, Parish Fellowship Ambassador
Jeremiah 29:11, “for surely I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not
for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
Time
Enough
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes
3:1 (KJV)
Few of us feel we have enough
time to accomplish our daily tasks
and obligations. We are constantly on the go and in a hurry,
only to discover at the end of most
days, we have accomplished very
little. We find ourselves overwhelmed by life and our personal
responsibilities and feel that there
is not enough time in the day to
fit one more thing into our schedules or agendas. The phrase “I
don’t have enough time” is a common excuse that many of us give
to avoid taking on new tasks and
responsibilities.
However, taking the necessary
steps to understand God’s vision
for our lives should never be
avoided. It is through His vision
that we are able to accomplish
amazing things, in the allotted
time that God has given us.
Achieving the vision that God has
for our lives, is the very way we
please Him.
God has equipped us with every resource needed to complete
all He has assigned for us to do.
He has given us gifts and talents,
skills and abilities, strengthens
and intellect; that aide us in accomplishing His purpose for our
lives. He has not left us to our own
devices, God desires for us to
achieve His plans. We have all
been given what is needed to be
successful in the eyes of God, as
demonstrated through the life of
Isaiah.
God brought Isaiah into being in order for him to fulfill a
particular task. He had a vision
for Isaiah’s life, that of calling
Judah back to Himself. Many
people in Judah had reached financial prominence; there was
great wealth and prosperity in the
land. But, as is in most cases, as
the nation increased in resources
and riches it became more and
more corrupt. Isaiah lived to see
the worship of God diminish to
meaningless ritualism. And he
saw the nation of Judah gradually
abandon the one true and living
God.
In the midst of moral and
spiritual decay, God raised up
Isaiah, to call the nation of Judah
back to Himself and to tell others
of God’s salvation through the
coming Messiah. God filled
Isaiah with the courage and
May • 2012
strength needed for him to declare to God’s people, the need
for them to return to God and repent of their sins in order for their
relationship with God to be restored. Isaiah urged the people to
trust God’s promise of restoration, which He would provide
through the coming Savior. Isaiah
was able to boldly deliver this
most important message in the
midst of hostile crowds; he utilized the resources God provided
to aide him in calling Judah to
repentance. Isaiah was able to
complete every task God assigned
him, despite the opposition he
encountered.
Just as God had a vision for
Isaiah’s life, God has a vision for
each and every one of our lives.
And He has supplied us with the
resources we need in order to accomplish the specific task we
have been assigned. One of the
most significant resources, God
has provided to aide us in accomplishing His plan for our lives is
“enough Time”. God has given
each of us the exact amount of time
needed to achieve His plans and
purpose.
For many of us, our focus has
never been toward understanding
God’s vision for our lives our focus has solely been on achieving
personal goals that we have set for
ourselves or on living up to expectations that have been placed
on us by others. Nonetheless, accomplishing God’s vision for our
lives, from this point forward,
must be our highest priority. We
must be eager to understand and
accomplish God’s plans. We
must be more concerned about
pleasing God, and living up to His
expectation, rather than pleasing
others and living up to their expectations. “Whatever you do,
work heartily, as for the Lord and
not for men”, (Colossians 3:23).
Let me know how the Stewardship Ministry can serve you as you
commit to fully utilize the time
God has given you.
Special thanks to all those who
worked to make the Simultaneous Revival a blessing. Your
efforts are appreciated.
During the month of April and
the Simultaneous Revival, we
were reminded of the Good News
that Christ is not here! Christ is
risen as He said! This one act confirms that the resurrection power
of Christ is available for us all.
We still have the opportunity to
become one with the Lord. Our
only responsibility is to be willing to accept Christ’s power to
transform our lives. This is revival.
Prayer and meditation expands our availability for God to
use us. It also makes a positive
difference in the way we live and
function. When we spend at least
an hour each morning in quite
time with God listening carefully
to His whispers in our own soul,
we can immediately realize the
positive difference in our life.
This simple act of bathing in the
Lord, day after day without fail,
gives us what is needed to be a
greater vessel for God through
Jesus Christ to use in the world.
This is revival!
In our walk, the Holy Spirit
supplies the power for victory.
Christ transforms the areas of our
lives that we surrender to Him.
Each of us needs the touch of
Christ everyday in our lives. As
we change from the old to the
new, we become a testimony of
Christ’s power to change lives.
We also enhance our ability to be
used by Him for His purpose.
From this miraculous position, our spiritual philosophy is
developed. Our spiritual philosophy is the way we approach fulfilling our need to be clothed in
oneness with the Holy Spirit.
It is the foundation upon which
we can stand at any time, in any
situation, without fear of falling
or failing.
Our spiritual philosophy
should be moving us closer towards a demonstration of God
within. It should be moving us
away from everything that stops
us and leaves a dead space in our
walk with God. Our Christian
walk is dependent on God empowering us to do His work. We
need Him to be the center of our
joy. We need His love in our being. We need His peace in our
lives daily. We need Him within.
God needs us as well. He
created us. We are His vehicles
on earth. God uses us to show the
world that He is the “I AM”.
God empowers us to fulfill the
Great Commission and bring
others to Him. This is what revival is all about.
Our oneness is strengthened
by our participation in activities
that build us up including prayer,
Bible study, hearing ad sharing
the Word, then following God’s
directions. It is challenged when
our life experiences cause us to
deviate from our beliefs and
stumble. In spite of this, we can
always rely on the Good News
and keep doing His Will.
Parish Fellowship Workers,
keep sharing the Good News in
all of our contacts. Hold on to
the resurrection power of Christ.
The Lord can use each of us in
anyway He desires. Ain’t that
more good news! Let us get busy,
led by the Lord!
Acts 1:8, “ but you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you, and you shall be
witnesses to me in Jerusalem, all
Judea, Samaria, and to the end
of the earth”.
Attention Deacons, Monthly
Coordinators and Group Leaders:
The Quarterly Parish Fellowship Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 10:00
a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Your attendance will be appreciated!
Welcome New Members
To The St. John Missionary
Baptist Church Family
May
Winston Craven (Child)
June
Olando Hill
September
Vayzanae Friday (Child)
A blessing
and prayer
tribute to
all mothers
Blessed be all mothers
Who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving
Remain with us to guide.
Your inspiration in us
Made us strive in every way
Especially to remember
Helping others makes our day.
Mothers, this little tribute
Flows directly from my heart
You are so loved and cherished
Invaluable, one and all, you are.
Susan Kramer
“Pray Without Ceasing”
I Thessalonians 5:17
Periods of Prayer
1st Sunday of Each Month – Hour of Power ....................... 7:00 a.m.
2nd thru 5th Sunday – Lord’s Day Hour of Power ..... 8:00-8:55 a.m.
Morning Prayer Period
Monday through Friday (Prayer Room) ..................... 6:30-7:30 a.m.
Staff Prayer Period
Monday through Friday (Office Area) ................................. 9:30 a.m.
Noon Prayer Period
Monday through Friday (Prayer Room) ................ Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday Noon Prayer & Bible Study ................ Noon – 1:00 p.m.
(Conference Center)
Wednesday Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study .......... 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
(Fellowship Hall)
Evening Prayer Period – Monthly Parish Fellowship
(Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday) .................. 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Miracle Praying Monday – WMU (1st Monday) .... 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Partners in Prayer with Our Pastor (Each Sunday) ........... 10:15 a.m.
(Large Conference Room)
Pastor’s Partners in Prayer meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every
month in the Large Conference Room at 6:15 p.m.
You Tell Us ... We Tell Them.
The St. John Beacon
Page 4
May • 2012
Coach Green Announces Retirement
Submitted by Deacon Jeffery Washington
Coach Neal Green
“Coach” Neal Green,
will retire as the St. John
Judo coach after 23 years
of dedicated service to the
St. John youth, parents, and
the state of Oklahoma.
Coach Green began his career as the St. John Judo
coach in the summer of
1989. During his 23 years,
Coach Green has served as
a mentor, cheerleader, and
role model for countless
youth.
In 1966 at Central State
College in Edmond, Oklahoma, Coach Green started
practicing judo at the
House of Peaceful Men
Judo Club. Coach Green is
currently ranked Sandan,
third degree black belt.
Over the years Coach
Green has been associated
with American Martial
Arts Society, American
Judo-Jujitsu Federation,
United States Judo Association, United States Judo
Federation, United States
Judo, Oklahoma Judo Association, and St. John
Judo Club.
During Coach Green’s
competing years, he won
second place three times at
state competitions. Coach
Green was State Champion
five times and The Sooner
State Games Champion
five times. Coach Green has
been recognized twelve
years as “Coach of the
Year” by the Oklahoma
Judo Association.
During his time as Judo
Coach at St. John, the Judo
Club has earned fourteen
We Are Working Together Towards
A More Beautiful Place To Worship
We indeed have a wonderful place of worship and
we want to keep it the 5 Star
place we have grown accustomed to and it deserves to
be. The drive for the renovation and beautification of
our sanctuary is still under-
way. So, we’re asking each
member to give from the
heart, over and above your
tithes, to help complete this,
much needed renovation.
If you have not received
your pledge card, they are
still available. Please see
one of the Renovation
Project Committee Members. Committee members
are: Pastor Jemison, Deacons Cecil Emery, Bobby
Sharp, Leroy Kirk, III,
Cleo Ruck, Myron Knight,
Anna Sharp, Cynthia
Knight, Barbara Moss and
Cynthia Williamson.
Please complete and return your pledge card today! Most importantly,
make your contribution as
soon as you can. We cannot begin the project without the monies in the renovation account. Your contribution is tax deductible!
Our target date is May
6, 2012 to have the monies
in the account and to begin
Where:
the renovation in June. It’s
the Lord’s house! It’s our
house! Let’s “Beautify the
Lord’s House” as it should
be!
“We kept at it, repairing
and rebuilding the wall.
The whole wall was soon
joined together and halfway
to its intended height because the people had a
heart for the work.” —
Nehemiah 4:6
team trophies and the
youth of the Judo Club have
earned numerous individual trophies at various
competitions.
Coach Green and his
wife, Yvone, will celebrate
40 years of marriage this
year; they have two sons
Robert and Lee.
A reception honoring
Coach Green will be held
Saturday June 23, 2012 at
3:00 p.m. in the St. John
Fellowship Hall, all current and previous students,
parents, and supporters are
invited to attend to wish
Coach Green “Happy Retirement”. His last day will
be Thursday, May 31st.
Hats Off
Congratulations and
hats off to all high school,
college and J.M.B.I. graduates for your great accomplishments. Best wishes to
all of you.
En r o ll y o u r c h ild
St. John Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. M.L. Jemison, Pastor
5700 North Kelley Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
(405) 478-3344
To day!
C la ssr o o m A c t iv it ies a n d R a p Sessio n s:
Bible Study and Scripture
Customs Courtesies and Drill Movements
Vocational Goals and Good Study Habits
Peer Pressure, Bullying, Internet Predators, Gang Violence,
BOOTCAMP is NOW
3 WEEKS!
When:
June 11–29, 2012
Drug Abuse
New
Program
Activities!
Reading and Math Improvement
Computer Literacy
The Book Club
Mentoring
Commanders League of Excellence
Who:
Boys & Girls Ages: 5 – 18
OTBC Phase II (Parent Awareness)
$175.00 for one child ~ $87.50 for all other children in the same family. Group rates for ten or more available.
The OK HWY PATROL and OKC PD will interact with participants! Judge Kenneth Watson will hold an actual court!
For more information please contact:
Commander Adams ~ (405) 641-7265 or
St. John Missionary Baptist Church ~ (405) 478-3344
Email: [email protected]
Website: operationtruthbootcamp.com
The St. John Beacon
Page 5
May • 2012
Christina Carlton:
Miracle Child to Miracle Worker
This was reprinted from April 2012 of the
Kids Club Newsletter by the Children’s Hospital Foundation
Sis. Helen Clark (second from the left)
Happy Birthday Helen Clark!
Sis. Helen Clark is has
been a faithful member of
St. John for many years. On
Tuesday, March 27th,
WMU Circle #3 treated
Sis. Clark to a “happy birth-
day” celebration. You see,
on Saturday, March 31st,
Helen Clark turned 95
years young.
Sis. Clark was thrilled
especially when Pastor
Jemison
surprisingly
showed up to help in the
celebration. She was so
happy with the special party
her friends from Circle #3
arranged for her. Happy
Birthday Sis. Clark!
Christina Carlton is living proof that miracles happen. Diagnosed with a lifethreatening condition in
WMU Highlights
By Penny Emery, President
Pictured are (left to right) Gerchel Holbert , Yolanda Thomas, Joyce Smith, and other
supporters from Mt. Triumph Sherman AME Church.
First and foremost, your
St. John Women’s Missionary Union would like to
say, “Happy Mother’s Day”
to each and every one of our
beloved mothers. We
would also like to say
“thank you” for your continued support and prayers
this past month. Your
WMU is on the move and
ministering all over the city.
During the month of
April, the St. John WMU
came out in support of Sis.
Yolanda Thomas. Sis. Thomas was the Women’s Day
speaker at Mt. Triumph
Sherman AME Church on
Left to right: Dr. David Tuggle and Christina Carlton
Saturday, April 14th.
Circle #1 was very proud
of our member as she spoke
from the theme: “God’s
Will, God’s Work, God’s
Way. Sis. Deborah Jordan
was the Women’s Day host
for this event.
Also, in the month of
April, we hosted our Annual April Fellowship
“Spring Fling.” At this Fellowship, women brought
new or nearly new clothing.
Women were able to shop
for not only clothes but accessories as well. The left
over items of clothing were
then given to local charities.
We thank you for bringing
your best. Our salad luncheon was catered by Yvette
Curry owner of Sister’s
Down Home Cooking and
Catering. Our WMU chairperson of this event was Sis.
Cleo Perry. She was assisted by her committee
and our very able 2nd VicePresident, Sis. Davetta
Green. Great Job Ladies!!
The WMU participated
in the Progressive Oklahoma Baptist State Convention Women’s Department
Annual “Night-in-White”
held at Prospect Baptist
Church, Saturday, April
28th. This annual event was
held at 6:30pm and featured
a play in which women
across the state were represented. Our very own, Sis.
Barbara Bradford held a
starring role and as always,
did a stellar job in her performance.
The month of May will
be dedicated to helping
fund our Foreign Missions
Project, Maisha Orphanage
in Kenya, East Africa.
Each May, we are challenged to bring our BEST
OFFERING to help support over 450 orphans and
widows with clothing, shelter, and food. We are asking YOUR HELP in sending $1,500.00! This offering of $1,500 will provide
for these wonderful people
for a FULL MONTH!
What an opportunity.
Please help us in this effort.
This organization has been
a blessing to so many and
Sis. Beatrice Williamson,
founder and executive director, has enlisted our help
in this worthwhile effort.
For more information
on how you can activate
your membership in the
WMU, please contact us
through the church office.
To support the Maisha Orphanage, please send or
bring your donations to St.
John.
utero, she required 17 major surgeries in her first few
years of life, one of which
occurred when she was one
day old. The delicate surgery was performed by Dr.
David Tuggle, CMRI Paula
Milburn Miller Chair in
Pediatric Surgery. Dr.
Tuggle loves to brag that he
met Christina at one day old
and now she is working towards becoming a pediatric
nurse in the very hospital
that treated her as a child
over 20 years ago. Christina
credits her faith, as well as
parents, grandparents, relatives and friends for keeping her motivated and
strong throughout her child-
hood diagnosis. When
asked what her greatest challenge was she replied, “No
challenges. Just opportunities.” This is the true spirit
of a fighter. Best of luck in
the pursuit of your nursing
degree, Christina! From a
miracle child to a miracle
worker, we’re proud of you.
“My mother was told by
one specialist that I would
have brain damage and suggested to terminate the
pregnancy, and by the grace
of God I am alive and able
to function as a normal
young lady,” said Christina.
Christina is the daughter of
proud parents Deacon Lew
and Deaconess Vicki
Carlton.
“We’re Graduating!”
Demetrius Pugh
My brother, Terrance Pugh and I are graduating with
degrees in Biology from Langston University on Saturday,
May 12th. We have been members of St. John since the
ages of eight (8) and nine (9) years old, respectively. St.
John has played a vital role not only in our spiritual development but in our academic accomplishments as well.
We would like to thank Pastor Jemison, Rev. Kirk and
Mrs. Kirk, Rev. Myles, and our St. John family.
St. John, you are the best! Please continue to pray for
us as we seek to pursue our post graduate degrees. We will
always remember you and thank God for your support.
Love always, Demetrius Pugh
The St. John Beacon
Page 6
EVANGELISM MINISTRY
Submitted by Deacon Johnnie Nesbitt
I would like to thank all those
who participated in one way or
another, in our Simultaneous Revival the months of March and
April. We began the month, by
engaging our membership, in promoting the revival and sharing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our
members were asked to complete
a “Personal Witness” form with
their evangelistic results, for the
month leading up to the revival
and turn in their forms to their
auxiliary/ministry leaders. The
leaders were asked to calculate all
totals and submit them to me, prior to the revival. Members, not
affiliated with an auxiliary or ministry were asked to complete a
“Personal Witness” form with
their evangelistic results and place
those forms in the document bin,
at the information desk.
On March 15th an Evangelism
Training session was conducted.
The following three weeks, were
committed to evangelistic outreach campaigns at the Wilshire
Renaissance Apartments. The
results of our evangelistic efforts
for the Simultaneous Revival
were as follows. Individual members submitted “Personal Witness” forms for the month of
March. The Ushers, Enrichment
Hour, Nursing Home Ministries
submitted reports for the Revival.
A total of 189 contacts were
made, One person was assured of
their salvation and three accepted
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
To God be the Glory!
I would like to thank the following leaders and members, for
their evangelistic support during
the Revival. They are Rev. Melvin
Marshall, Bro. Raymond Norwood, Sis. Rhonda Hall-Williams,
Sis. Dianne Wright, Sis. Tamiko
Nesbitt, Sis. Carol Walker, Sis.
Katherine Mozee, Bro. Donnie
Smith, Bro. Roosevelt Calloway,
Bro. Herb Bailey, Sis. Stella Lee,
Bro. Cecil Dean, Sis. Frances
Grayson, Sis. Alois Nichols and
last but not least, Sis. Diana Franklin.
I am appealing to all auxiliary/ministry leaders to have your
evangelism contact persons to attend our monthly meetings. The
monthly Evangelism meeting is
the 1st Wednesday of each month,
from 6pm to 7pm. Our next
scheduled meeting will be May
the 2nd, at 6pm. It is vitally important that your auxiliary/ministry is represented at these meetings. Thank you for your support.
We Will Be Seeking The
Truth As ‘Truth-Seekers’
During Vacation Bible
School 2012
VBS Schedule
June 4 – 9, 2012
Monday–Thursday
Learning Sessions, Arts & Crafts,
Group Activities 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Dinner will be served each day
from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Adult and Young Adult
Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.
Friday
‘Truth-Seekers Part II’ Graduation Program, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
VBS Family Picnic
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
The VBS Family Picnic will
be June 9, 2012 from 10:00 –
2:00pm. There will be food and
activities for everyone. Activities
include: potato sack races, volleyball, water balloon toss,
moonwalk, ring and bean bag toss,
etc.
Vacation Bible School is a time
for all of us to get spiritually fed
and fellowship with other believers. It is also a great opportunity
to reach out to those that may not
know our Lord and Savior for
themselves. Our church is big in
number, which means we can
share how good God has been to
us in a big way. Invite family,
friends, and community members
to join us during our week to seek
the truth as ‘Truth-Seekers Part II.’
For more information, please
contact Tasha Miles at 600-8501.
Christian character portrayed in
the movie, “Courageous”. There
will be plenty of time for golf, fishing, playing games and reading.
The men will have a chance to win
a free weekend for two at any
Oklahoma State Park. You must
be present at the retreat to win.
The men are looking forward to
have a great time.
You are cordially invited to attend
The Lord’s Supper
This Sunday immediately following
the Morning Worship
The Lord will be expecting you!
Bowling
News
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Faison
May 1, 1998
Years Married: 14
Ken & Tamique Perry
Mat 1, 1993
Years Married: 19
Brian & Belinda Rhone
May 1, 2000
Years Married: 12
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Shepherd
May 1, 1981
Years Married: 31
Gregory & Victoria Hooks
May 5, 1990
Years Married: 22
Billy & Elizabeth Knight
May 6, 2000
Years Married: 12
Iowana Taylor
May 11, 1999
Years Married: 13
Men We Are Ready
to Go to Men’s Retreat
Attention, men we are ready
to go. The St. John Annual Men’s
Retreat is scheduled May 3rd, 4th,
and 5th. It will be held at Western
Hills Guest Ranch. This year men
from other churches will attend
and mingle with the men from St.
John.
The training at this year’s retreat will be centered on issues of
Happy
Anniversary
May
Couples!
Mr. & Mrs. Alva Pannell
May 8, 1992
Years Married: 20
Submitted by Tasha Miles
Vacation Bible School is fast
approaching. This year our
theme is ‘Truth Seekers.’ Our
children will become detectives,
agents, and investigators to seek
the truth from the Word of
God. We need volunteers that
will train our children to ‘Seek’
God’s ‘Truth’ in His Word. If you
are someone who loves children
and who can teach God’s Word
with enthusiasm, then we are looking for you. We can use your help
in the following areas: arts and
crafts, teacher, registration, and
food service. The teacher’s workshop is scheduled for Wednesday,
May 23, 2012.
Our VBS schedule will be as
follows:
May • 2012
The league is in its last week
of bowling the 30th week. Standings going into position night with
St. John Members are: second
place, Nine or Better with James
Davis; fourth place, Killer Bees
with Sharan Robinson, Maxine
and Kenneth Washington; eighth
place, Two Plus Two with Leonard
Cayton, ninth place Just Bad, with
Diana and DeSota and tenth place
M D “4” with Jesse Steele and
Yolanda Houston. Individual
standings with St. John members
are:
Men’s Scratch Game
Kenneth Washington
James Davis
DeSota Bell
276
235
226
Men’s Handicap Game
Kenneth Washington
Leonard Cayton
Jesse Steele
285
259
249
Brade & Jenail Willis
May 19, 1990
Years Married: 22
Men’s Handicap Series
James Davis
Jesse Steele
DeSota Bell
Leonard Cayton
715
702
700
675
Theodore & Carole Walker
May 25, 1965
Years Married: 47
Women’s Scratch Game
Sharan Robinson
Maxine Washington
192
179
Mr. & Mrs. DeVervelon Bell
May 13, 1998
Years Married: 14
Dr. & Mrs. Robert White
May 17, 1980
Years Married: 32
Yolanda Harris
May 18, 1996
Years Married: 16
John & Velma Collins
May 27, 1966
Years Married: 46
The Audio/Video/Visual
Presentation Ministry is
looking for people to join
their team. This would be
a wonderful way to enhance
your worship experience.
No experience necessary,
training will be available.
If you are interested, you
may contact Deacon
Charles Shepherd at 405620-5024 or email him at
[email protected].
Women’s Handicap Game
Maxine Washington
268
Yolanda Houston
253
Women’s Scratch Series
Sharan Robinson
520
Women’s Handicap Series
Diana Bell
747
Yolanda Houston
718
Men’s high average is Kenneth
Washington with 198 and the
women’s high average is Sharan
Robinson with 153. Final standings will be in the next issue of the
Beacon.
The St. John Beacon
Page 7
Thank You!
Pastor M.L. Jemison,
St. John Missionary Baptist Church,
Staff, Board Members, Organizations:
The Brown Family appreciates the kindness, the
prayers and the support you gave our family.
Thank you for being the blessing you are to all
who know you. Thank you.
The Family of George P. Brown
DON’T FORGET
The membership can keep abreast of what is going on at St. John by submitting your news to
the BEACON newspaper mailbox no later than
the Third Sunday of every month.
St. John Baptist Church
Schedule of Prayer Hour
Monday — Saturday
Early Morning
6:30 - 7:30
Noon Day
12:00 - 1:00
Wednesday Night
7:00 - 8:00
COME JOIN US
EAST TO BR
YANT
BRY
Bus Transportation
Services
“Need a ride to church services?”
CALL FOR THE BUS
DIAL: 478-5644
The Bus Transportation Ministry has
a new automated phone number that
will record your call for bus pick-up
for Sunday Worship Services, Prayer
Meeting and most other church programs. Please call this number two (2)
hours before the service begins and
leave your name and address.
Thank You, Brother Jim Harris
A blessed service, rendered by the church
WEST TO WESTERN
NORTH TO WILSHIRE
SOUTH TO FIRST STREET
The Beacon
Published monthly to communicate more effectively
the mission of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church.
Staff
Edward Green • Davetta Green
Edwina Romby • Diana Bell • Barbara Newton
Ronald Luper • James Nichols • Ruby Nichols
You may view the Beacon on the church website
www.stjohnokc.org
St. John is a Five Star Church in progress
You can now follow us on Facebook:
St. John Missionary Baptist Church of OKC
May • 2012
Nursing Corps
Submitted by Vernetta Johnson, Nursing Corps Chair
May is National High Blood Pressure Month
How Does Hypertension
Affect the Heart?
According to the American Heart Association,
over 73 million Americans
have high blood pressure.
The clinical term for having an elevated blood pressure is called hypertension.
Hypertension is a potentially deadly disorder that occurs when the pressure of
the blood running through
your circulatory system becomes too high. This is usually caused by plaque developing in the circulatory system over time. The higher
your blood pressure becomes, the more damage it
does to your body, especially your heart.
Coronary Artery Disease
One of the main ways
that hypertension can affect
your heart is by causing coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurs
when the arteries that supply blood to your heart becomes too narrow to allow
the passage of blood (as well
as the oxygen and nutrients
that the blood contains).
The blockage of these arteries results in chest pain and
may eventually cause a
heart attack.
Symptoms include:
chest pain (angina). You
may feel pressure or tightness in your chest, as if
someone were standing on
your chest. The pain referred to as angina, is usually triggered by physical or
emotional stress. It typically goes away within minutes
after stopping the stressful
activity. In some people,
especially women, this pain
may be fleeting or sharp and
noticed in the abdomen,
back or arm. You can also
experience a shortness of
breath. If your heart can’t
pump enough blood to meet
your body’s needs, you may
develop shortness of breath
or extreme fatigue with exertion. Coronary artery disease can bring on a heart
attack. If a coronary artery
becomes
completely
blocked, you may have a
heart attack. The classic
signs and symptoms of a
heart attack include crush-
ing pressure in your chest
and pain in your shoulder
or arm, sometimes with
shortness of breath and
sweating. Women are somewhat more likely than men
to experience less typical
signs and symptoms of a
heart attack, including nausea and back or jaw pain.
Enlarged Heart (cardiomyopathy)
When your body is experiencing hypertension,
your heart is forced to work
much harder than it normally does to pass blood
through the blockages that
are causing the blood pressure to rise. Since most of
this work is done by the left
ventricle of the heart, it can
build muscle and cause the
heart ventricle to grow beyond the normal size from
working so hard. This also
stiffens the heart ventricle
and makes it harder for it to
work properly.
Symptoms of an enlarged heart are extreme fatigue. Enlarged heart symptoms commonly found are
extreme weakness and fatigue. People with an enlarged heart find it difficult
to engage in almost any
kind of activity. Exercise is
nearly impossible. Activities of daily living like getting dressed, taking a shower, or walking down the
driveway to the mailbox can
be taxing for people with an
enlarged heart. You can
also have chest pain.
Chest pain is called angina and can be present
when a person is at rest or
when he tries to perform an
activity or exercise. People
with an enlarged heart have
difficulty with exertion and
are often restricted because
of chest pain symptoms.
Just like with coronary artery disease you can experience shortness of breath.
The heart cannot fully
empty blood out of its
chambers when it pumps;
blood backs up into the
lungs which causes shortness of breath and cough. A
person may need to sleep
with his head elevated on
several pillows, or even sitting up, because the short-
ness of breath is much worse
when reclining. Oxygen
therapy may be needed for
him to carry out activities
of daily living. Certain types
of cardiomyopathy cause
swelling, called edema,
throughout the body. The
National Heart and Lung
and Blood Institute explains how the heart cannot
pump blood out of its chambers. Blood backs up into
the venous system causing
edema in the feet, ankles,
lower legs, hands, and even
the abdomen.
Arrhytmias
Irregular heart rhythms
are a common and serious
symptom. Arrhythmias can
cause chest pain, shortness
of breath, fainting, and sudden death. The American
Heart Association explains
that people with arrhythmias symptoms often need
medication or an implanted cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, to control or
stop arrhythmias. An ICD
is like a pacemaker, but it is
used to deliver electrical
energy directly to the heart
when it senses a dangerous
arrhythmia.
Heart Failure
The most devastating
affect that hypertension can
have on the heart is complete heart failure. Just as
other muscles in your body
tire from working too hard
or too much, your heart can
also wear out. Hypertension
forces the heart muscle to
work harder than it is built
to. Eventually the muscle
can become weak from
overuse and give up completely.
Symptoms heart failure
can be chronic – meaning
your condition is ongoing –
or acute, meaning your condition has started suddenly.
These symptoms are:
•Shortness of breath
when you exert yourself or
when you lie down
•Fatigue and weakness
•Rapid or irregular
heartbeat
•Persistent cough or
wheezing with white or
pink-tinged phlegm
•Swelling of abdomen
(ascites)
•Sudden weight gain
from fluid retention
•Lack of appetite and
nausea
•Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
Acute Heart Failure
Symptoms are:
•Symptoms similar to
those of chronic heart failure, but more severe and
start or worsen suddenly
•Sudden fluid build up
•Rapid or irregular
heartbeat
•Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing
pink, foamy mucus
•Chest pain, if your
heart failure is caused by a
heart attack
There is Joy in the
Midst of Sorrow
Joy in the Midst of Sorrow, the St. John Grief Support Ministry meets each 2nd
and 4th Monday from 6:15
p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in classroom 200 in the south wing
of the church complex.
This is an educative grief
support group that provides
a confidential, open forum
for St. John members and
others to reconcile with the
realities of a major life
change be it death of a
loved one, loss of a job or
difficulties with health or
disabilities. The goal is for
participants clarify feelings
about loss; understand that
participants are not the only
ones going through the loss;
learn coping skills to embrace the pain; develop a
network of support to move
through the process and
most importantly grow in
your personal relationship
with God. If you would like
more information, please
contact Annette KirkBurleigh, chairperson at
405-820-9084.
Page 8
Thank you, ladies for participating in our WMU April
Fellowship Spring Fling. Our clothing swap was a blast!
And the ladies from Suited For Success are happy to receive your donations. Everyone went home with at least
one garment and a smile. It was so much fun to just hang
out with each other and fellowship. The food was delicious. We just might want to do this again next year.
—Penny Emery, WMU President
The St. John Beacon
Spring Fling Pics
May • 2012