January
Transcription
January
Volume 16 Issue 1 January 2010 Voice of Hope “Redeemed From the Enemy” Isaiah 44.22 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church 182 Hunter Street Norcross, Georgia 30071 Dr. William L Sheals, Senior Pastor Fulfilling the Great Commission through the Printed Word Established 1994 Publisher HMBC Publications & Marketing Dept. Staff Senior Editor Desiree’ Cherry Associate Editor Lynn Bailey Asst. Dist Mgr. Shana Finks Finance Manager Faith May Asst. Bus. Mgr. Margaret Rogers Journalism Team Yvonne Gordon Lead Asst. Mktg Mgr. Vincent Harris Staff Members Mother Margery Smith Sharon Cherry The Voice of Hope is the official newsletter of Hopewell Baptist Church. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide informational news and inspirational articles to the Hopewell body. The newsletter is published monthly and is distributed on the first Sunday of each month following each morning service. The Voice of Hope is inspired by the Holy Spirit to inform, educate and inspire the Body of Christ. Christians who believe in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ submit messages, articles, and writings. The scriptural reference for the newsletter is Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The Voice of Hope reserves the right of reproduction and publication of all articles in this newsletter. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff. Articles are due the 12th day of each month to be considered for publication in the following month's issue. Articles may be placed in the Voice of Hope mailbox located in the Information Center or sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Please leave us a message at 770-448 5475 ext 139. If you would like to see a particular topic addressed or have contributions you would like to have included in the Voice of Hope, please contact us by email at [email protected]. We welcome and encourage your opinions and suggestions. May God richly bless you! REDEEMED From the Editor’s Desk Desiree’ Cherry This year The Voice of Hope will bring you articles for the mind, body and soul. The content will include things you should know to enlighten the mind, articles on health and wellness to promote healing for the body, and stories of hope and encouragement to heal the sin-sick soul. Like everyone in this country, we’ve made some noticeable cut backs. However, we will never fall short on bringing you the word of God. At Hopewell, preaching, teaching, speaking and writing the word of God is our assignment as partakers of the Kingdom of God. If you’ve always enjoyed our publication continue to do so. And with all our hearts, we pray that this year will be the best one yet. On a personal note, I’m excited about what the new year will bring. There will be new experiences and opportunities to serve God. I invite you to yield your will to the will of the Lord and let Him prosper you. Though the world’s economy may be stalled, in God’s economy there is no lack. Be recession-proof. Participate in God’s economy by giving to the Kingdom and working in the vineyard. Below is my editor’s article for the month. I trust you will be blessed by it. Enjoy! Everybody loves Marcy. She’s a pretty little girl that’s witty and smart beyond her years. She’s always willing to offer a smile and a kind word. Today, Marcy decided to cut across the field of flowers on her way home from school which she did quite often. Something caught her eye. It was the beautiful majesty of a butterfly. She crept closer slowly until it was within her reach. She promptly placed it in an old jar with tiny holes which she’d found at school today. Well, thought Marcy, the butterfly can breathe in there. Wait! There’s another, she spied, and another. In all, she captured seven small beautiful butterflies. Marcy had been at it a couple hours. Tired, she headed home. On the other side of the field, she greeted Pastor Rogers of the local parish. “What’s that you have there Marcy?” he asked. “A collection of butterflies,” she replied. “May I see them?” he asked. “See,” she said as she lifted her jar up toward the pastor’s face. “Beautiful,” he said “and what are you going to do with them?” he asked. “Well, I don’t know yet,” she replied with a sheepish grin on her face. “How long did it take you to catch them?” he asked. “Two hours,” she replied. “Sell them to me,” said the pastor. “I’ll give you two dollars for each of them,” he offered. “Deal!” she shouted and took the newly earned fourteen dollars while handing over the fruit of her labor. As she began walking away she turned and asked, “What are you going to do with them?” Opening the jar and giving it a shake, he said, “Set them free, of course.” “But why?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face. “You just bought them!” “I know,” said the pastor. “And therefore I can set them free.” All too often, we are bound by the confines of our sins. Like butterflies captured in a jar, we are lulled into believing that no one knows or can see our sins. But the truth is that God can see our sins. Bound by our thoughts which falsely lead us to believe that because God knows our hearts everything else we do is alright. But when we sin, God knows that what is actually in our hearts is sinful. So there is no excusing the act or thought of such behavior. Being bound in a jar allows us the opportunity to see all that God has prepared for us. But without God, we cannot obtain it. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came and committed Himself to an unmerciful death so that we would be set free. Through salvation we can be attached to Christ like a branch to a tree. For we have been bought with a steep price for our sins. We have been REDEEMED! So begin anew today with a mind that is stayed on Jesus. Learn of His ways and His will for your life. Seek His face and God will show mercy upon you. Start the New Year off right—with a made up mind on Christ! Happy New Year! Stay connected to Christ 2 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope Inside Every Issue Contents Volume 16 Issue 1 Jan 2010 Ministry News 4 Birthday Scripture 4 New Members Inside Front Cover Editor’s Page Back Inside Cover A Word from the Bishop 5 Sunday School 4 Words of Wisdom 18 Something to Ponder 21 Just for Laughs Back Inside Cover When a Painful Loss Shakes Your Faith — pg 5 A Fresh New Year — pg 9 Thankful for Health — pg 6 Angel Food Ministries — pg 8 Prayer of Salvation Contemporary Story Church Events Candle Lighting Service — pg 10 Papa’s Corner — pg 6 Angel Tree — pg 7 State of the Church Address — pg 10 Youth Christmas Program — pg 11 Commentary The Trial — pg 15 Kids Corner Puzzle – Eutychus —pg 11 Prayer Closet Valentine Shout OUT! Shout it so the world will know “I love you!” Make a Decision — pg 18 On The Wing of Prayer — pg 7 Are you ready for your blessings — pg 20 A message from Mother Margery Smith — pg 4 Redeemed-Bought with a price — pg 15 Fast for 2010 — pg 12-13 Feature Article Counterfeiting Christianity Part 1 — pg 14 Voice of Hope The Voice of Hope will list your special love message in our February issue. Say “I love you” to your spouse, that special someone, your parents, friends etc. Just submit your brief message of love to [email protected] on or before January 12th, 2010 to qualify. Thank you… Jan 2010 3 Welcome to the following new members who joined Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in December 2009 Jonathan Tubbs Keiffer Miller Trenell Hollis Quentin Fennell Charmagne Renea Sahota Candice Tillman DeJion Andrews Yetunde Blount Cera Andrews Solomon Williams Kimberly Andrews Sharonda Jones Ariel White Howard Boulware, Jr. Mardaeus Townes Kyria Boulware Kimberly Andrews Amir Boulware Dolmeshia Barr Nigel Haynes Tavante Gammage Kita Burton Chauncey Barr cynthia Gray Tony Gammage Saliim Jones Tisvan Barr Vaughn Jones Carlos white Laylam Adolphus A message from Mother Margery Smith A wish for EACH OF YOU in the NEW YEAR is that you may have . . . Enough happiness to keep you tranquil; Enough trials to keep strong; Enough sorrows to keep you human; Enough hope to keep you happy; Enough failure to keep you humble; Enough friends to give you comfort; Enough faith and courage to banish depression; Enough wealth to meet your needs; and Enough determination to make the New Year better than the last! REFERENCE: The Klinknecht Gems of Thought Encyclopedia . . . all those having birthdays in the month of January from the Voice of Hope and the entire Hopewell Church family. Birthday Scripture January 2010 Submitted By Margaret Rogers Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Every time I turn around – Words of Wisdom He’s blessing me Every time I turn around – By Mother Margery Smith He’s blessing me Every time I turn around – He’s blessing me Hallelujah! He’s blessing me. Praise the Lord, all of my father’s children! Bless His holy name! Happy New Year to you as we greet the year 2010 together. O how sweet it is to be here. The Father has granted us the privilege of ushering out the year 2009. Many things occurred during last year’s reign. Because we are blessed to wake each morning in our right mind, we possess a bank of memories. If we compare our bank of memories to a bank account, we realize that our life account is stored in our memory. You may withdraw the contents of a bank account, but your bank of memory is as secure as a vault. It keeps a running account of those things that affect or has affected our lives. Our mind registers incidents that occur, whether good or bad, happy or sad (and anything in between). Life is a conglomeration of experiences. Do you remember a song entitled “Precious Memories”? As the writer’s lyrics indicate. O’ how they linger – feelings of joy and happiness verses those of anxiety, disappointment, and sorrow. Songs are capable of lifting our spirits, encouraging our efforts, and/or dampening our outlook on matters that concern us. There are songs, however, that we can use as a rebuttal against negativity. The dictionary explains the word rebut: to refute, especially by offering opposing evidence or arguments. When your problems become a burden “Take your burden to the Lord and leave them there”. As you square your shoulders and bend your knees regarding your situation, be aware that you are following in Jesus’ footsteps – “There is a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.” “In everything give thanks; for (Continued on page 22) 4 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope Christ, the Fulfillment: Evidences of Jesus as Messiah Submitted by Dr. Vincent E. Harris Happy New Year! This month’s (January) adult international Sunday school lessons give us five lessons on the evidences of Jesus as the Messiah. Lesson 1: (Matt. 3:1-6, 11-17) Recounts the baptism of Jesus and the voice from heaven proclaiming Him God’s beloved son. Lesson 2: (Matt. 4:1-11) Deals with the temptations in the wilderness. Three times Jesus turned aside those challenges by quoting from the same book of the Old Testament. When Satan left the scene, angels were waiting to minister to Jesus. Lesson 3: (Matt.9:27-34; 11:2-6) We examine the evidence of Jesus’ wonderful works. He restored sight to the blind, cast out demons, and did many awesome works. Lesson 4: (Matt. 11:25-30) We see the evidence of His prayer life. He talked freely with God the Father and invited us to do the same. Lesson 5: Our final lesson (Matt.13:54-56) for the month examines how some people can examine all the evident for Jesus as the Messiah and still reject Him. It is not so much that cannot believe as it is that they will not believe. As we study this month’s lesson, let’s keep our focus on the overall theme: Christ, the fulfillment. He is the fulfillment of all our needs! Source: Sunday School Superintendent. Winter Quarter. Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, TN. Debra Barnes-Homer and F. Levecque Flewellen slipped rings on each other’s finger and made a promise for life. It gives us great pleasure to announce that we were married in a private ceremony on Thursday, the thirty-first of December 2009 Congratulations! Mr. & Mrs. F. Levecque Flewellen Grief Support Ministry When a Painful Loss Shakes Your Faith Submitted by Alberta Jenkins This dilemma is not restricted to a romantic relationship. It’s often the experience of believers in God after the loss of a loved one, especially under sudden or particularly tragic circumstances. Whether a believer is very religious or just matter-of-factly sure that God exists, convictions about God’s love and caring are shaken. The loss is immense. Someone precious is gone; so is the comforting faith in a comforting security of faith in a benevolent, loving God. If you were accustomed to regarding faith as an unchangeable framework that supported every aspect of your life, you may be considerably shaken. If in the past you could not understand how everyone could possibly doubt God or God’s goodness, you may feel strange to be in that position now yourself. If others see you as a person –perhaps even a role model-of faith, you may feel hypocritical for letting them continue to think that. • Be open to redefining faith. Many of us were taught that faith means knowing, or at least have access to, all the right answers, even to thorny questions such as “why did God let this happen?” You have probably heard the standard answers: Our trials have a positive purpose: God wants us to mature through trials. They make us stronger and better. Good always comes out of evil; gain comes from loss. Undeniably, those outcomes happen very frequently. But “always” may seem too much of a stretch. The idea of good or gain coming from your loss may seem both impossible and insulting to the memory of the loved one you’ve lost. We do not need to see exactly how the path we’re on will lead us through the forest in order to trust that it will do so. We can survive painful losses and stumbling blocks along that path without fully understanding why they are there. Changing familiar and comfortable ways of seeing faith is not easy. But growth almost always requires change –in fact, it’s nearly the same thing. • Communicate your doubt. As business consultant George Gates has pointed out, “The enemy of hope (Continued on page 22) Voice of Hope Jan 2010 5 Hopewell’s Ministry of Thankful for Health Submitted by: Annesha Lovett We have so many things to be thankful for this year. As we celebrate CHRISTmas and prepare for 2010 let us remember to thank God for good health. Whether we ate healthy and exercised this year or have goals to improve for next year, it is God who has kept us through it all. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 reads, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." Good health is an honor and a privilege. We cannot take it for granted. Health includes mental, emotional, physical, social, but most importantly spiritual well being. As you make plans for the coming year, don’t forget to honor God with your body! Here are a few tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wash your hands often. To avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. Stay warm. Cold temperatures can cause serious health problems, especially in infants and older adults. Stay dry, and dress warmly in several layers of loosefitting, tightly woven clothing. Manage stress. The holidays should not take a toll on your health. Keep a check on over-commitment and over -spending. Balance work, home, and play. Get support from family and friends. Practice time management. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Watch the kids. Keep a watchful eye on your kids when they’re eating and playing. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, choking hazards (like coins and hard candy), and other objects out of kids' reach. Learn how to provide early treatment for children who are choking. Make sure toys are used properly. Get check-ups and vaccinations. Exams and screen- 6 Jan 2010 ings can help find problems before they start. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Ask what vaccinations and tests you should get based on your age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history, and family health history. Fire Safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees, and curtains. Never leave fireplaces, stoves, or candles unattended. Don't use generators, grills, or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Test them once a month, and replace batteries twice a year. Handle and prepare food safely. As you prepare holiday meals, keep you and your family safe from foodrelated illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs (including their juices) away from readyto-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Refrigerate promptly. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours. May God continue to bless and keep you! On the second Sunday of the month Bishop Sheals host ‘Papa’s Corner’ where he invites all the children prePapa’s sent during the service to come down Corner front and sit around him as he share words of wisdom, impart knowledge and just plain love on them. He often; asks for participation from the youth, sometimes to sing a song, recite something or expound on what was just taught. As usual, they brought the comedy in their sincerity. But today was a little different; the Bishop read prayer requests some of our middle school children had submitted. He only read a few but they were enough to bring tears to your eyes. Most requests asked God to stop family members from fighting, drinking and cussing. These behaviors are now being learned by the next generation and so the cycle will continue. Families in America are under attack. These children recognize that there is no peace, thus no happiness in their homes and asked you to intercede on their behalf. Don’t fall asleep on the job. Pray for our youth, their parents, and the future of our nation. Thanks, dbc Voice of Hope 2009 Angel Tree Program “Angels Are Always There – Giving From the Heart” By Yvonne Gordon What a joy it is to give and to receive! And the biggest gift is Jesus! That seemed to be the premise of the evening. On December 13, 2009, approximately fifty-five families made their way through the doors of Faith Hall at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. Most were non members, who were there to receive their gifts and celebrate the birth of Christ. Hopewell servants, along with those who amiably shared in the gift-giving, served and united with the families over a scrumptious meal as one big family at Christmas time. First Lady Patricia Sheals graciously extended a warm welcome to the crowd. Mistress of Ceremony, Minister Kathy Young, did a marvelous job in pumping up the Christmas cheer, pulling in a host of participants. As she passed her mike around to the different tables, we found that, most people were grateful for family and the love of family. Songs were sung, the Ministry performed…and the puppet show was a colossal hit for the kids and adults. Speaker of the evening, Minister Vanessa Brooks, brought forth the message. She asked “Do You Remember When?” In paraphrasing, she asked, “While in your struggles, do you remember when God saved so many different people in the Bible? For example, he saved Daniel in the Lion’s den. Do you remember how he healed so many of them? For instance, the Lady with the issue of blood.” She asked, “Do you remember when He saved you in your different circumstances and came to your aid in the past?” In summary, “Don’t give up but wait on God”, she said. She quoted, “Don’t tell God about your circumstances, but tell your circumstances about God.” Two ladies accepted the invitation for prayer and salvation. The angels were rejoicing! Two other ladies stepped forth with powerful testimonies. One had been homeless with her children, but God has given them a big house. One lady lost two of her children in an acci- Voice of Hope dent, “but God took them home, away from troubles they could face,” she said. Both ladies were grateful that God is restoring their joy. The planning committee of the Mercy Ministry was introduced. It was evident they were diligent in making this event happen. An expression of gratitude went out to them. We also acknowledged the many volunteers who gave their time and talent, and to all the Hopewell members who gave to the Angel Tree families. Based on the atmosphere and the smiles on the faces of the kids and their parents, it was all worthwhile. The families marched out, some to have free pictures taken and all to receive their gifts. It was a joyous time! Enter the New Year “On the Wings of Prayer” Submitted by Mother Margery Smith Just close your eyes and open your heart And feel your worries and cares depart, Just yield yourself to the Father above And let Him hold you secure in His loveFor life on earth grows more involved With endless problems that can't be solvedBut God only asks us to do our best, Then He will "take over" and finish the restSo when you are tired, discouraged and blue, There's always one door that is open to youAnd that is the door to "The House of Prayer" And you'll find God waiting to meet you there, And "The House of Prayer" is no farther away Than the quiet spot where you kneel and prayFor the heart is a temple when God is there As we place ourselves in His loving care, And He hears every prayer and answers each one When we pray in His name "Thy Will be done"And the burdens that seemed too heavy to bear Are lifted away on "the 'Wings of prayer." Jan 2010 7 JANUARY 2010MENU Please support our Angel Food Ministry. For more information contact Rosa Wright in the church front office. SIGNATURE BOX 5 LB. ALLERGEN-FREE FOOD BOX SENIOR & CONVENIENCE MEALS Balanced nutrition and variety with enough food to feed a family of four for a week 1.5 lb. 2 lb. 2.5 lb. 2 lb. 1.5 lb. Choice Beef Roast Baby Back Ribs IQF Split Chicken Breast Mac & Beef Dinner Entrée Fully Cooked All White Meat Breaded Chicken Breast Patties 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef 1 lb. Bratwurst with Cheese 1 lb. Frozen Sliced Carrots 1 lb. Frozen Whole Kernel Corn 8 ct. Frozen Heat & Serve Buttermilk Pancakes 10 ct. Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls 3 lb. or 4 ct. Large Russet Baking Potatoes 32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk Dozen Eggs Processed to eliminate the eight top serious allerFor Seniors or People on the Go! Ten perfectly seasoned, nutritionally balanced, fully cooked gens: Peanuts, Soybeans, Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacea, Tree Nuts and Gluten (wheat, rye and barley). Great meals—just heat and serve. Each meal has been developed for children and adults! with the dietary needs of senior citizens in mind, and contains 3 oz. of protein, a starch & two vegetables or fruit. Chicken Cacciatore with rice, cauliflower & lima bean/corn blend Fettuccini Alfredo with Brussels sprouts & zucchini Salisbury Steak & Gravy with cauliflower, peas & carrots Breaded Fish Sticks with wild rice, corn & peas Chicken & Noodles with corn, Brussels sprouts 1 lb. 1 lb. 1 lb. 1 lb. 1 lb. Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets Breaded Cubed Steak Breaded Chicken Wings Breaded Chicken Tenders Battered/Breaded with water, white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika. Breading is pre-browned in Canola oil. Spaghetti & Meatballs with corn, peas & carrots $23.00 Chicken Teriyaki with rice blend, sugar snap peas & carrots Meat Lasagna with green beans & cauliflower Chili with Beef & Beans with corn/red peppers & peas Cheese Manicotti with green beans, peas & carrots Desserts: Assorted Cookies, Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Cup, Pineapple Fruit Cup, Peach Fruit Cup, Orange Juice, Fruit Punch $30.00 6 LB. SEAFOOD PACK Six pounds of the finest quality seafood assortment available. 2 lbs. Jumbo Lightly Breaded Shrimp – Bakeable (42-50 shrimp) 1 lb. Oven Baked Stuffed Flounder with Crab Stuffing - 4 stuffed Flounders (4 oz. each) 2 lbs. Tilapia Raw Fillets (2 - 1 lb. bags per box each bag contains 3-4 fillets which weigh 3-5 oz. each) 1.1 lb. (17 oz.) Oven Ready Crab Cakes 5 crab cakes (3-4 oz. each.) $28.00 $35.00 ***Specials may be purchased with or without the purchase of a Standard Box above*** JANUARY SPECIAL #1 7 lb. Assorted Meat Grill Box 2 lb. Ribeye Steaks (4 x 8 oz.) 2 lb. Pork Roast 1.5 lb. Lean Hamburger Steak Patties (4 x 6 oz.) 1.5 lb. Italian Sausage with Cheese JANUARY SPECIAL #2 5 lb. Assorted Meat & Chicken Combo 2 lb. Sirloin Steak Strips (4 x 8 oz.) 1.5 lb. Bacon Wrapped Beef Fillets (4 x 6 oz.) 1.5 lb. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Fillets (4 x 6 oz.) JANUARY SPECIAL #3 10 lb. Battered Boneless Wing Box 10 lbs. Boneless Battered White Meat Chicken Breast Chunks/Boneless Wings Orders Due: Distribution Day: $23.00 $22.00 $18.00 January 18th, 2010 January 23rd, 2010 *Please note that some host sites have earlier order deadlines. Please contact your local host site for information. Visit our website to locate a host site near you JANUARY SPECIAL #4 7 lb. Premium Meat Box $32.00 3 lb. T-Bone Steaks (4 x 12 oz.) 2 lb. Boneless Pork Chops (4 x 8 oz.) 2 lb. Gourmet Flavored Chicken Breasts 1 lb. Italian Flavor (2 x 8 oz.) 1 lb. Honey Mustard Flavor (2 x 8 oz.) JANUARY SPECIAL #5 Premium Fresh Fruit and Veggie Box $22.00 1 Large Golden-Ripe Pineapple 1 3 lb. Combo Pack (Washington State Red Delicious Apples, Granny Smith Apples and Tree-Ripened California Oranges) 2 Large Tree-Ripened Ruby Red Grapefruit 1 Large Premium Haas Avocado 1 lb. California Carrots (Cello Bag) 3 lbs. North Carolina Sweet Potatoes 2 lbs. New Crop Red A-Size Potatoes 2 lbs. Large-Medium Yellow Onions 1 head Large Green Cabbage 1 (8 oz.) Package New Crop Georgia Shelled Pecan Halves 1 Package Wiley’s Sweet Potato and Yam Seasoning AFM January 2010 Fruit & Veggie Recipe Sheet Angel Food Ministries Reserves the Right to Substitute Any of the Above Items Due to Availability, Cost and Quality. We Accept Food Stamps (EBT). Angel Food Ministries is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, DC 20250-9410 8 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope The Marriage Covenant Ministry A Fresh New Year By Desiree’ Cherry ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.’ Genesis 2:24 Many people look upon January 1st as an opportunity to begin anew. We start off by making declarations of change with great vigor and rejuvenation. But all too soon we fizzle out and revert back onto what feels comfortable or familiar – doing things the way we always have. Although we may not be satisfied with the results, we plod along as though everything is alright. Well change will never come unless you modify something. Perhaps your reluctance to change is fear of the unknown, frustration from past actions or behaviors, lack of how to begin, lack of commitment to the process. In this article I will offer you suggestions of how to begin your ‘Fresh New Year’. Marriage appears to be the toughest relationship we have, when in fact it should be the most comfortable. It’s usually tough because of a lack of communication – everybody’s talking but nobody is listening. It should be the most comfortable because of the intimacy you share which should lead to a greater level of trust and respect. More often than not these elements are missing or weakened in the marital setting. In this ‘Fresh New Year’ we want to make some positive changes toward a more favorable outcome. We want to begin to make a fresh start, to wipe the slate clean of past mistakes. Below I will give you a measurable way to determine which areas of your marriage require immediate change. You should begin the process there. Priority When God designed the marriage covenant, He did so with the intent that this special commitment between a man and a woman would be more important than any Voice of Hope other human relationship. In Genesis 2:24 God instructs us to leave our parents when we marry. This sets the standard for where to begin in restructuring your marriage. In a marriage, both spouses have moral obligations to God and to each other to protect their relationship from being violated by people or things of lesser importance. We cannot allow our jobs, children, parents, friends, recreational activities, or anything else take precedence over our spouses. Many problems and failures in marriages today are the result of misplaced priorities. Repentance We all make mistakes. Even the Bible acknowledges that we all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23). With this in mind think about your past indiscretions; offer a sincere prayer to God then take your spouse by the hand; look them in the eye and repent. To repent is to acknowledge the wrong you’ve done, apologize for your part and take action to change your ways and not repeat these offences again. An honestly sincere apology will go a long way in mending a broken heart. Communication No matter what else is said about marital relationships communication is the key to a fulfilling and rewarding union. When communication is awry it’s followed by frustration, which leads to manipulation that turns into aggravation which is followed by confrontation. Did you know that the difference between and argument and a conversation is the inflection of your voice? The moment you raise your voice the conversation ceased and the confrontation began. When we communicate in confrontation mode – nobody is listening. We are each trying desperately to get our point across. It is vitally important that we recognize the level of frustration building on either spouse’s part and desist in the topic for now. Ask your spouse to stop and pray with you; invite the Holy Spirit into your discussion and call on Him with brief prayer whenever you realize you’re off the path. Good communication can be a marvelous thing but it requires real work and active listening. When a statement is not clear ask your spouse to clarify it and seek an equitable compromise. Learn to listen with your heart as well as your mind. Passion Return to ‘Courtship 101’. When you first began to date, you worked hard at impressing your spouse. Planning was key to the success of the courtship. You (Continued on page 17) Jan 2010 9 CANDLELIGHT SERVICE December 6, 2009 State of the Church Address 2009 Desiree’ Cherry By Yvonne Gordon Hosted by Hopewell’s Music, Arts & Media Ministry, the Candlelight Service at Hopewell in December 2009 was a celebration…a memorial service with high praise! The service spread wings like an eagle, flapping over the congregation as they were giving glory to God in the highest. For many years this has been one of the tradional events of the Christmas season, in all it’s splendor, with each congregant lighting a candle at the altar…a memorial in honor of loved ones who have gone ahead to be with the Lord—a very somber event. This time it was positively different. Not only did the congregation take time out to remember our loved ones, including those from our Hopewell family, but to know they’re at home with our heavenly Father, and that we will see them again, we celebrated! The Inspirational Choir rendered a special dedication song of remembrance called “Going Home”, as Debra Herring called the names of Hopewell members who left us in 2008 to be with Jesus. The congregation also had the opportunity to call out names of others, who are now with Jesus. Then the praise was on! Hopewell’s Praise & Worship Ministry lead the congregation in the glorious and most inspiring Christmas carol, “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him”. The little children of the Shield of Faith Choir sung “Away in the Manger”, and the Inspirational Choir continued to set the atmosphere with “Peace and Favor Rest on Us”. Hopewell’s Mime Ministry performed a rendition of “Now Behold The Lamb”, and people were in and out of their seats, rocking, clapping…simply praising God. The group’s performance was heart-felt and appeared full of the Spirit. I believe the devil was angry. In the beginning, a musical stumbling block tried to stop them. They had to bow out for a moment due to technical difficulties, but after offertory prayer, they were back and ready to behold The Lamb. It was wonderful, “Emmanuel”, as sung by the Shield of Faith Choir…as always, was so meaningful…a reminder that God is with us. The congregation then had the awe-inspiring pleasure to watch Hopewell’s Signs of Faith Ministry in action. This humbling ministry is obviously assigned to the hearing impaired. They signed to “Oh Holy Night”. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Christmas carols didn’t stop there. The old familiar sounds of the Temptations bellowed sweetly as the Men of Faith (Continued on page 17) 10 Jan 2010 This year’s annual ‘’State of the Church Address’ was themed, Advancing the Kingdom of God with Excellence. The meeting began as others of the past, but almost immediately you could feel the intensity of the message to come in the air. Within the confines of Bishop Sheals opening speech we were admonished to come together as one for Christ and being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united with the same spirit and intent on one purpose. Our mandate is to become a great church physically and more importantly spiritually. We must advance the vision, while being directed by and employed by the Holy Spirit with dunamis power. We understand that attendance is down but we will strive for spiritual quality not congregational quantity. The major goals for 2010 are the same as last year: Spiritual Maturity, Active Evangelism and Financial Freedom. But in order to advance the Kingdom in 2010 we will commit to the following: 1. Evangelism – We must actively promote evangelism in a mighty way by encouraging congregational participation in our evangelistic efforts and Global Missions. 2. New Website – Pastor Sheals announced that we have enlisted a professional to re-vamp our website. Mrs. Patricia Sheals will head this project. 3. New Direction – Pastor Sheals invites all leaders to stop wondering aimlessly around the mountain and cross over into the Promised Land. He encouraged leaders not to murmur but to be proactive in their efforts for Christ. 4. The Academy – Advancing the Kingdom is higher learning. We must step up to the plate and support the academy. Its success is our success. It’s our school, let’s keep it going. 5. 1Kings 19:18 Leave this movement with a vision of Spiritual Advancement. We are called to action as a remnant of seven thousand of God’s people moving into greatness. We will begin this great movement with fasting and prayer. Min. Veta Blanding outlined the plan to lead the church forward in fasting and prayer as we begin the new year. (See instructions within this issue.) Pastor Sheals detailed the plan to retire the church’s debt. He strongly encouraged his leaders to do likewise with their own personal debt. (Continued on page 16) Voice of Hope Youth Christmas Program 2009 Desiree’ Cherry Awe-some! Is the word I’d use to describe the wonderful Christ-Day Celebration as performed by our youth. As I sat in Faith Hall on Sunday, December 13th taking in the manifestation of God’s Glory in all the beautiful children; I became overjoyed. The very thought of all those children giving their best to us as they honor the Lord our God made my heart pant in joy. The actors were great, the dancing angels were heavenly divine, and yes, we applauded in laughter at the smallest member of the Mime. There were moments when we sighed and others when we erupted into laughter – everything you’d want your program to be. It was simply delightful! The show was gratifying and well orchestrated by the youth department’s leaders. Thanks for serving God in this magnificent way and focusing on the real reason for the season. JESUS. Photos courtesy of Sonya Perry K I D S C O R N E R Voice of Hope Jan 2010 11 PRAYER AND FAST SCHEDULE ‘THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT!’ Bishop William L. Sheals Sunday, January 3rd – Sunday, January 10th, 2010 PSALM 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. PRAYER AND FAST SCHEDULE DAY 1 Sun. Jan.3 Prayer of Consecration 7:30 am and 11:00am Service DAY 5 Thurs.Jan.7 Prayer for peace and rest in your mind, your body (healing), your home, neighborhood and this world Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down. DAY 2 Mon. Jan. 4 Prayer of Cleansing and Renewal (Monday-total fast if possible) Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul. DAY 6 Fri. Jan.8 Prayer for prosperity in your family, the church and in the community at large. Psalm 23:5 My cup runneth over DAY 3 Tues. Jan.5 Prayer for Bishop Sheals and Family DAY 7 All leaders, their Families and Your Family Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd. Sat. Jan.9 Prayer of affirmation, believing that all you have prayed and fasted for will come to pass. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. DAY 4 Wed. Jan.6 DAY 8 Prayer for our President and Family Our Leaders, Our Nation, Our World, Local Govt. The Wars, Our Soldiers and all Servicemen Psalm 23:4 For thou art with me. Sun. Jan.10 Prayer of Thanksgiving 7:30am and 11:00am Service .WHY SHOULD WE FAST? Prayer and fasting enables us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and allows His anointing to break the yoke that binds. Mark 9:17-29 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. 20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21And he asked his father, how long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. 12 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER AND FAST Isaiah 35:3 With this news, strengthens those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you…For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. This fast will begin with a prayer of consecration and end with a prayer of thanksgiving. Monday is the only day that a total fast is requested if possible. Please fast according to your health limitations and restrictions. When a total fast takes place, please drink water. For the remaining days (Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) please fast accordingly: refrain from any sweets, caffeine, carbonated beverages, fried foods, etc. Please make water your primary beverage and stay away from foods that are unnatural and prepared with unnatural ingredients. Also refrain from unholy conversation, unholy activities or communication. We are also fasting unnecessary and unclean communications through the use of technology (e.g. social networks, texting, cell phones, twittering, telephone, television, etc.). Please ask your children to participate in these activities and fill their time with prayer, acts of encouragement, acts of kindness and words of encouragement. DAY 1 Sunday – This is the first day of our prayer and fast; a day of consecration and sanctification meaning to set ourselves apart to be used by God. Thank God in advance for all that He has done and is going to do with us and through us. DAY 2 Monday – Total Fast if possible. Please pray that God will forgive, cleanse, renew and restore you. Focus on your spiritual well being first and fill your day with prayer and scripture. This is important! DAY 3 Tuesday – Please pray for the pastor and under shepherd of this church/his wife and family. Pray for all leaders in this ministry and their families. Pray for your family. On this day, please write a card or letter and mail or give it to the person(s) that you are praying for to encourage, uplift and inspire. Address for leaders: Hopewell Baptist Church, 182 Hunter Street Norcross, GA 30071 c/o the leaders name. We are asking that everyone participate in this activity. DAY 4 Wednesday – Please pray for our President/his wife and family. Send a card or letter to him to encourage, uplift and inspire him. Include your name and Hopewell Baptist Church on the return address. We are asking that everyone will participate in this activity. We want to bombard the White House with letters from believers letting our President and leaders know that we are praying for them. There are other ways to contact the president such as email, etc. but please mail a letter or card to the following address below: The White House, President Barack Obama, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 I stress: On the return address, please print: Your church name, Your name, HMBC Address (as listed above in red) Locate the address of a service member in Iraq and Afghanistan and send them a letter or a card to show your support and appreciation. Remember to mention the names of our service member’s in prayer (e.g. enlisted men, police officers, firefighters, etc.). DAY 5 Thursday – Please pray for healing. Call, write a letter, send a card, visit someone, and prepare a meal for someone that needs encouragement in this area. We are asking all to participate. DAY 6 Friday – Please pray for prosperity for your home, your church and community. Call or write a letter, give a gift to someone that is in need. Recommit to tithe, to give to others, to share your time and talents at your home, your church and your community. We are asking all to participate. Day 7 Saturday – Please rejoice and speak positive affirmations out of your mouth. Witness to someone that you know is not saved. Contact a friend and witness to them and invite someone that has not been to church to come share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are asking all to participate. DAY 8 Sunday- During your prayer and fast time, I am sure that we will give thanks to God for all He has done and is going to do. On this day, we will end our fast in prayer and thanksgiving corporately for all His wonderful blessings. Note: Remember if you are not praying, then you are simply dieting. This is a great opportunity to include your entire family. Write down your requests, your prayers, scriptures and instructions that the Lord is speaking to you. Please remember to pray God’s will, remember to read and study His word and allow your heart to be filled with joy and joyful expectation. Smile a lot and worry none! May God Bless You Min. Veta Blanding Voice of Hope Jan 2010 13 Counterfeiting Christianity Part 1 By Lynn Bailey Where is the Church in the 21st Century? That’s a valid question especially considering the ever-increasing erosion of the moral fabric of our society. What is the Church doing to combat the move towards freedom from religion? What is the Church doing to combat the war on Christmas and all things Christian? What is the Church doing to fulfill the Great Commission? (Matt. 28:19-20) Though the questions are simple enough, the answers may not be readily apparent. Reason being, the Church, the universal Body of Christ, does not operate like a body. It does not think with one mind—the mind of Christ. It does not speak with a unified voice. And it does not act like one body—a collection of cells working in concert to sustain life. Instead, the Church operates like a federation, a collection of member organizations united only in their claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. Since the Christian community spans multiple continents, countries, cultures and demographic communities, some differences are to be expected. However, most of those differences should revolve around simple matters such as styles of worship (e.g. dynamic/spirited versus conservative/buttoned-down services). The differences should not revolve around fundamentals of the Christian faith (e.g. the Holy Trinity, the Bible, sin, redemption, salvation, baptism, virtuous living, the rapture, eternity). To be certain, God is not the author of confusion and Jesus is the Prince of Peace. So, it must surely grieve the Lord’s heart to see so much confusion within His church. Yet it persists. And the fact that it persists begs the question, Where are Christians in the 21st Century? Where are the people who genuinely seek to emulate Christ? Where are the people who genuinely seek to do the will of God? Where are the people who desire to please God the Father despite the cost or consequences? Perhaps those questions must be answered in order to answer the question, Where is the Church in the 21st Century? By definition, Christians are people who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as Savior and Lord. Professing faith in Christ entitles believers to experience an intimate relationship with Him. That relationship further grants believers certain rights and bene- 14 Jan 2010 fits including but not limited to the following: access to God the Father, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, eternal salvation, citizenship in Heaven and guardian angels. In addition, a relationship with Jesus Christ entitles believers to share joint-heir status with Him. It gives them power over all the power of the enemy; and, it gives them the right to be called by His name. (For reference, see John 14:6, John 16:7, John 3:16, Luke 10:20, Psalms 91:11, Galatians 4:7, Luke 10:19, Acts 11:26.) Bear in mind, the aforementioned items represent the tip of the iceberg where Christians’ benefits and blessings are concerned. With so much at stake, it’s easy to understand why so many people want to be Christians. However, entering into a relationship with Christ is analogous to exchanging marriage vows with a fiancée. The life-changing experience should not be entered into lightly. It should only be entered into after much consideration. Furthermore, it should only be entered into with a sincere desire to become like Christ. Accepting salvation half-heartedly or practicing Christianity for superficial reasons may only serve to dilute the Body of Christ. It may, in effect, counterfeit Christianity. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, to counterfeit means to imitate or feign; to make a fraudulent replica of something of value. Each year, the US government spends millions of dollars pursuing and prosecuting individuals who traffic counterfeit US currency because circulating fake money dilutes the value of the dollar. Left unchecked, such activities could completely upend the US economy and effectively destabilize the global economy. For similar reasons, companies spend millions of dollars each year fighting piracy— creating inferior “knock offs” of designer clothing/ accessories or creating “bootlegged” copies of CDs and DVDs. Companies pursue and prosecute purveyors of pirated products because the existence of inferior goods in the marketplace dilutes legitimate brands, infringes on their market share, threatens their profitability and ultimately jeopardizes their companies’ viability. Not surprisingly, counterfeiting anything is considered a despicable crime. But for all its evils, nothing is more deplorable than counterfeiting Christianity. What does it mean to counterfeit Christianity? Counterfeiting Christianity may be demonstrated in various forms. It can be demonstrated by imitation or by dilution. We’ll explore the two methods in the following passages. The clearest example of counterfeiting Christianity by imitation can be found in the scriptures. In the book of Acts, the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons by imitating acts performed through the Apostle Paul. The (Continued on page 16) Voice of Hope The Trial Author Unknown After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.' He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him. The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.' The prosecutor rose and said, ‘My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.' He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done? Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.' When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address the court. 'Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.' Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.' My Lord continued with, 'His name is written in the Book of Life, and no Voice of Hope one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.' As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, 'There is nothing else that needs to be done.' 'I've done it all.' The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips. 'This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. 'Case dismissed.' As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.' I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?' Christ lovingly smiled and said,' Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ~Paid In Full~ 'You must stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!' REDEEMED – Bought with a price $0.00 If my life was a credit report and I was trying to obtain salvation based on my score; I wouldn't get it. My history shows that I've been delinquent in praise, past due in prayer, my worship has been in collections and I've missed a few payments (tithes) or only paid half (you know how we put $20 in the basket and feel like we've done God a favor). Not to mention that my debt (sin) to income (blessings) ratio is too high. BUT I thank God that I was able to file bankruptcy (repentance) and it cleared me of all of my debt (sin). Now I have a co-signer (Jesus) whose score is FLAWLESS... Not one blemish (sin) on his report. So now, I QUALIFY for EVERYTHING! Most importantly I've inherited eternal life and I didn't have to put one penny down. All of my closing costs were covered when Jesus laid down His life for me!!! I hear that my future home has all of the upgrades too. Hardwood floors? Please! I'll be walking on gold! Thank You Lord for Your unmerited mercy, grace & favor. Author Unknown Jan 2010 15 (Counterfeiting Christianity — Continued from page 14) (State of the Church Address 2009 — Continued from page 10) scriptures state, “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits (in) the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19: 13-16) As in this case, the consequences of counterfeiting Christianity by imitation can be dire for individuals. Similarly, counterfeiting Christianity by dilution can be equally dire not just for individuals but for the entire Body of Christ. As with currency or products, counterfeiting Christianity may be devastating to the Body of Christ. Left unchecked, it will shake, if not completely undermine, the very foundation of the Church. How do we dilute the Body of Christ? The number of ways in which we dilute the Body of Christ includes but is not limited to the following: 1) by adopting the ways of the world; 2) by compromising our values and beliefs especially in an effort to be politically correct; 3) by shirking our responsibilities as disciples of Christ; and 4) by ignoring sin or tolerating sinful behavior (by Christians) particularly in an effort to gain popularity or wealth. While this list is in no way comprehensive, it does show how/why there is so much dissension and discord within the Church. And the longer it persists, the more devastating its effects on the Body of Christ. In recognition of outstanding service and commitment to the service of the Lord, awards were given. For service over and above the call of duty in 2009 awards and certificates were offered to outstanding persons or ministries that embody pure servitude. This year there were more categories and recipients. The actual awards were absolutely beautiful. The list of recipients was extensive and not available at the time I completed this article, but I will publish those awards and their recipients in our next issue. However, the coveted ‘Cross of Nails’ award was bestowed upon two recipients this year – The Ushers Ministry and the Transportation Ministry. Certificates of recognition were handed out and we were asked to continue to think outside the box in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. A presentation by Brother Stephon Lee was given regarding our personal finances. ‘Living Debt Free during the recession’ is the theme for his yearlong training, guiding and mentoring plan for our financial freedom. All are invited to participate for self improvement. In conclusion; Pastor Sheals boldly stated that we will feed 5,000 hungry souls for Christ by delivering them from the bondage of debt. I don’t know about you but I am inspired to do my part in the advancement of God’s Kingdom. The movement has begun so let’s heed the call and accept the challenge to provide nothing less than excellence to the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Thank you Pastor Sheals for applying yourself, guiding your people and adhering to the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit. The Prayer Closet is a new column dedicated to prayer requests and testimonies of God’s victories over our adversities. You may submit a brief prayer request for intercessors and prayer warriors to collectively petition God on your behalf. All submissions must be received no later than the 12th of the month to be considered for print in the following month’s publication. Keep it brief, there is no need for full disclosure. Submit it to [email protected]. Your submission may be edited. James 5:16 pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Just wanted to say thank you Lord! I was diagnosed with the beginning stages of follicular lymphoma cancer. It was detected in my colon. I went on a 49 day fast and when I went back to the doctor and had a PET scan there were only 2 small low grade spots found. I had a bone marrow test and it came back negative and I had an ultra sound and it detected nothing. Thank you Jesus!!! I will go back in a month for my follow-up Pet-Scan. I just want to thank God for my healing. I have faith and believe that when I go back the test will show no cancer. I pray that God will continue to BLESS PASTOR, his family and the church. Thanks Submitted by Gladys G. *** I have been unemployed for 20 months. Lately it seems that a lot is going wrong in my life. I know that it is spiritual warfare but I’m not sure I’m strong enough to win. I’m in a second apartment that I may lose shortly. I believe in the power of prayer. Please pray for me. Sandy *** 16 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope (A Fresh New Year — Continued from page 9) planned where you will go, what you would do and even down to what you will wear. You were on your best behavior; opening doors, holding the chair, offering compliments and other such words of affection. But now that you have reached your comfort zone you have begun to take one another for granted – the romance is gone. But when God instructed man to "cleave" unto his wife, He knew that the secret of staying in love is hard work. God's command in Genesis 2:24 is for a man to passionately pursue his wife and to enthusiastically cling to her for the rest of his life. If you will make the decision to return passion back into your relationship with vigor and diligence, you will find that it is a labor of love with satisfying results. Possessions Marriage is a complete blending in which all things previously owned and managed individually are now owned and managed jointly. Anything in marriage that is not willingly submitted to mutual ownership and control will lead to division and problems. People have divorced because of their self-centeredness and unwillingness to yield material possessions one to another. They refused to surrender their money, time, family, children, careers, sports, education, future plans, or other aspects of their lives, causing damage to the trust and intimacy of their relationship. Marriage is designed by God to be a place of deep intimacy and "oneness." For this to be possible, we must be completely surrendered to our mates and not hold anything back. We must strive to be one as God intended – in our mind, body and soul in order to achieve wholeness. The total sharing of our lives brings intimacy and fulfillment in marriage. Transparency In the beginning, God intended marriage to be a place of total "nakedness," physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, without fear or shame. This is the condition Adam and Eve enjoyed in Genesis 2:25. They were completely exposed before God and before one another. In that condition, they shared themselves totally in an atmosphere of intimacy and openness. That is God's picture of a perfect marital relationship. By God’s design the nakedness of marriage would include every area of our lives. Physically, we are to enjoy our bodies together sexually with optimum pleasure and oneness. Mentally, we are to share our thoughts with one another without fear. Emotionally, we should be able to share our feelings without being rejected or embarrassed. And spiritually, we should be able to pray and Voice of Hope worship together in the most beautiful and intimate way. Make a commitment to create an atmosphere of transparency for your relationship. True transparency in your relationship will allow love and intimacy to find their deepest and most beautiful expressions. Seek God's forgiveness daily for your sins. Guard your tongue; not to speak ill or harsh words to your spouse. None of us are perfect; but we can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. Assess your relationship. Determine which area to begin the transformation. Discuss each section with your spouse to see how you will begin. Remember to: • Prioritize that which is most important to your marriage as designed by God • Repent for your part in any wrong doing or hurt feelings in your marriage • Strive to be a better communicator – is it more important to be right or be married • Don’t forget the passion – return to courtship 101 and begin to date your mate all over again • Relinquish your hold on material possessions – it is true; you can’t take it with you • Become nakedly transparent before God and your spouse – remember honesty is the best policy as you work together in rediscovering the love you have for each other. As you begin the New Year, make a commitment to work at your marital relationship as never before. With a willingness to obey God's commandments, a bit of hard work, you can live in a marriage where love and satisfaction are the rule and not the exception. The year 2010 can be the best year of your marriage, and it can keep getting better and better! Stay connected to Christ (Candlelight Service — Continued from page 10) Choir crooned “Silent Night”. The falsetto and baritone vocals of the lead singers brought the congregation to its feet. Dancing to the music from the combined choirs was the Hallelujah Dance Ministry. The dancers gracefully flowed, leaped and twirled up and down the aisles, some carrying victory flags, waving in the air. They paid tribute to the King of Kings. Finally, the flames from candles standing tall at the altar were smothered and Bishop Sheals made final remarks. Quoted by an unknown author, “Yes, Christmas in heaven happens every day”. Jan 2010 17 Something to Ponder MAKE A DECISION Minister Bobbi Tait WRITTEN IN STONE TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE. THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND, TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE. THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST RIEND SAVED MY LIFE'. THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?' THE FRIEND REPLIED WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT. LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. Following God and believing in his son Jesus, is a decision to be made. Choose this day who you will serve God or Satan? You have a God given free will to choose Heaven or Hell? Your choice, brings you to eternal life or eternity burning in Hell? This is the most important decision you will have to make? JOSHUA 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but as for me, and my house, we will severe the Lord. The decision that you make will have lasting consequences. God guides us with our big decisions. Psalm 23:3 Will you make your decision today? Romans 10:9-10(NLT) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. It is your duty as a Christian to tell someone about Jesus. If you’re not a Christian you need to make a decision today. Some of us have tried every-thing, but have never tried Jesus. Give Him a chance. He never fails. Won't you try Him...? God is about Love and He is the answer to your every problem. Proclaiming God's Word with Power and Authority THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN; AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM. 18 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope Let’s Pray in 2010 If you’re looking for something to do this year and you want to commit to serving God, we would like to invite you to be a part of our team at Atlanta Live - Channel 57. Atlanta Live is a Christian television production that airs nightly from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Each night, prayer partners from the metro Atlanta area, volunteer their time and talent to pray for the viewers who call in. Last Year we received 19,925 calls and 305 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As a servant of Christ, this community outreach program, allows us to use prayer as a tool of evangelism. If you are an intercessor, prayer warrior, love to pray or want to increase your prayer life this is the place for you. Matthew 9:37-38 says “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” We are praying for the laborers to come forth in Jesus Name. For Additional information please contact Minister Dana Tillman @ 678.615.3125. Thanks and remember Prayer Changes Everything! Voice of Hope Jan 2010 19 Are you ready for your blessing? WHO AM I? By Perry A. Williams By Victoria E. Sellers "Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep {me} from harm that {it} may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested." 1 Chronicles 4:10 Most people today are familiar with the Prayer of Jabez and how he dared to ask God to bless him indeed. Many of us may have memorized and even recited Jabez's prayer in hopes that God would likewise respond to our prayers and bless us in a like manner. Many of us have asked God to do something extra ordinary in our lives but we don't have the capacity to handle or properly manage what we've asked for. We've asked God to pour out rivers of blessing upon us but only have a cups capacity. If God were to give us what we've asked for much of it would be wasted. God will never give us something that we are not ready for. There may even be some who have been preparing themselves for expansion but have forgotten God in their preparation. You can't build a barn big enough to hold what God can pour out. Only God knows the measure and integrity of the container needed to possess His blessings. However, I believe one of the major reasons many of our prayers have not been answered is because we have forgotten or simply do not understand a principle that Jabez understood. This principle is: "God blesses those who have prepared themselves to be blessed". When Jabez asked God to bless him indeed, he was asking God to do something neither He nor anyone around him had experienced. He asked for something out of the ordinary and supernatural. Recognizing he did not have the capacity to handle such a blessing, He petitioned God to provide him with the necessary capacity by expanding his borders. Jabez said, God bless me indeed, but don't forget to correspondingly increase my ability to handle what You are going to do. This is the key to experiencing God's abundance in your life. What have you asked God to do in your life? Do you believe that God will answer you? Are your preparations adequate and in line with what you've asked Him for? Have you included God in your preparations? I believe if Jabez were here to share with us the key to experiencing abundance in our lives he would say: First, believe that God will bless you, and second, be prepared for your blessing before it comes. 20 Jan 2010 I remember the day when I made the choice. I shook hands, received hugs and saw the people rejoice! I went to a room for instruction and prayer. I sat with others listening to a few people share. When the instruction was over and it was time to depart, I was still overwhelmed by the feelings in my heart. My mind was still filled with the events of the day. They continued to play as I drove the expressway. There was an Orientation I was scheduled to attend. I wondered what it would be like and if I would make a new friend. Do I need a new outfit, should I buy something new? No, on second thought, what I’ve got will have to make due! Well, Orientation day finally arrived but, there was nothing to dread. It was a memorable day with-- food, fun, fellowship and helpful teaching instead! I’m adjusting well and pressing my way because of a good foundation. But, there are times that, I must fight loneliness and hold to my future expectation. I will trust the Lord for an increase in friends and a ministry where I can belong. I will acknowledge the Lord, He will direct my path and as I wait, He will make me strong! Will you reach out to those who are just like me? Will you show them love consistently? It takes time for a person to become understood. But when you show the love of Christ, you’ll both feel good! PLEASE REACH OUT to me because, I now belong to this local assembly. Surely, you must know who I am by now: A NEW MEMBER! [1 Corinthians 12: 12-26] Voice of Hope Just for Laughs Quote of the Month January 2010 Little John the Baptist "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And who ever welcome’s a little child like this in my name welcomes me. " Matt. 18:4-5 When praying don’t give God Instructions; just report for duty. Johnny's Mother looked out the window and noticed Him "playing church" with their cat. He had the cat sitting quietly and he was preaching to it. She smiled and went about her work. A while later she heard loud meowing and hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the cat in a tub of water. She called out, "Johnny, stop that! The cat is afraid of water!" Johnny looked up at her and said, "He should have thought about that before he joined my church!" Smile, it gives your face something to do! Voice of Hope Hopewell Health Ministry Ask-a-Health-Question Drop Box The Hopewell Health Ministry announces the August 2009 Kickoff of ‘Ask–a- Health-Question’ drop box. Do you have a health related question that you’ve always wanted to ask, but did not have the time, opportunity or possibly resources to make a doctor’s appointment? Well, the Hopewell Health Ministry and Parish Nurse are here to serve you by assisting you with health related questions and concerns. Please drop off your health questions/concerns in the Information Center Health Drop-Box (forms are located next to the box). The box will be checked weekly and you will receive a prompt and caring response. Plus, participants who submit questions will be entered into a raffle for a free gift! We look forward to sharing the love of Jesus as we assist you with your health needs! III John 1:2 reads, ”Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Jan 2010 21 (When A Painful Loss Shakes Your Faith — Continued from page 5) (Words of Wisdom — Continued from page 4) is isolation.” It’s wise to include other peopleincluding God. There’s no need to stop praying or worshiping until you have everything sorted out. Your relationship with God is no different than any other: The key to resolving difficulties is communication. Honest prayer arises from reality of here and now. “I’d like to believe in your goodness, your love, and all you have revealed. But I have problems and doubts about it. That kind of prayer will not get printed in a devotional booklet, but it’s brimming with honesty and sincerity. God respects such prayers. Doubt, confusion, dejection, and anger appear over and over in the Psalms. The man who pleaded with Jesus on behalf of his son admitted up front that his faith was imperfect: “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). But words are not always needed for prayer. Simply sitting quietly and letting God look into you, hurting from your loss, is an excellent prayer in itself. Confiding in others is helpful-if they are more concerned that you find peace than that you believe exactly as they do. Opening up to a bereavement support group has helped countless people who were devastated over losing a loved one. Be open to others’ experience. • See the positives you still have. If you saw your love one as a gift from God that was and still is true. Replay treasured memories that will live as long as you do. These, too, are gifts. The pain of your loss testifies to their value. All the beauty and wonder you ever saw in the world is still there, difficult as it may be to see at the moment, and is a communication from God. A loved one’s death is only a temporary good-bye. All faiths speak of an afterlife of endless joy, a basic part of which is reunion with loved ones. • Take heart. An often-quoted prayer by Thomas Merton contains the lines, “I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.” You, too, cannot know where the doubt that afflicts your grief-stricken faith will take you. Take heart in knowing that for many “doubting believers,” their very uncertainty was the way of arriving at a firmer, stronger, consoling faith. this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thess 5:18) Thankfulness should characterize the Christian life in every circumstance, not thanks for everything but thanks in everything. As you study the WORD of GOD, you find a comforting thought Psalms 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ask the Savior to help you, He will carry you through. As you know, I like to use the phrase “the King’s Kids”. It depicts ownership, and establishes family relationship. It bespeaks love, which provides protection; it stretches the word protection to its limits. We are protected from hurt, harm and danger – seen and unseen. This does not mean that we are sheltered from life’s challenges totally. Jesus experienced every challenge that we would be faced with while here on earth. The highway to heaven is not free of bumps in the road, or of unexpected detours. I like to think of Psalms 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” In the secret place: the person who trusts in God is the one who lives close to Him. The title Most High emphasizes God’s majesty. One of the dictionary definitions of shadow is a mirrored image or reflection. Most high is parallel to the term Almighty, a translation of the divine title Shaddai. Together the terms Most High and Shaddai speak of God as a mountain like majesty, in whose presence there is a “secret place” or a shadow. I’m sure that you have a passage of scripture that you like to refer to as well. Have you decided in your heart, how you will ‘Give of your best to the Master’ in the year 2010. Keep in mind that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Phil 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Will guard imply that the mind is in a battle zone and need to be protected by a military guard. The peace of God operated in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep it focused on God’s truth. No one knows of our destination in this New Year – 2010, but God. He knows the connection between what we plan and what will actually be. I hope, trust and pray that you have decided to follow Jesus, NO TURNING BACK. Our next Grief Support meeting will be held on Monday, January 18, 2009 at 7:00PM – 8:30PM in the Ministry’s House Room #1. For more information, please call 770-237-8476. Footnotes and scripture reference are from NKJV Study Bible. 22 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope A Word from the Bishop Walking by Faith “The Just Shall Live By Faith.” Hebrews 10:38 Walking by faith is not easy. When you make up your Bishop William L. Sheals mind to trust God the odds are usually stacked against you. Remember Noah? When he built the ark there had never been rain! And the outcome isn’t always what you expect. Walking by faith doesn’t mean your problems suddenly evaporate. Sometimes faith doesn’t change your circumstances, it changes you by giving you the tenacity to hang in there when the check doesn’t come in the mail, the doctor says, “it’s malignant,” your spouse asks for a divorce, the kids are running amok, or the place you’ve worked for 30 years closes its doors. Faith gives you the fortitude to endure these things, confident that God is working on your behalf. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for (Heb 11:1-2 NIV)”. So walking by faith means: 1. Trusting in the faithlessness of God; 2. Following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things; 3. Using your faith, because it’s the currency of heaven. When the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith,” it doesn’t mean little sporadic bursts. No, it’s talking about a lifestyle! Anybody can go the first few rounds in the ring; it’s when you’re knocked down in the ninth that you need the faith to get back up and keep fighting. When the plane you’re flying encounters turbulence you don’t throw away your ticket or bail out, you sit still and trust the pilot. So discount your circumstances, dethrone your doubts, and start walking by faith! Come visit us at Hopewell, where “the word of God is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.” Psalm 119:105 Voice of Hope Prayer of Salvation A personal relationship with God begins with an event Jesus called a new birth (John 3:3). When we are born spiritually into God’s family we become His children and members of His spiritual kingdom. To begin this personal relationship, take these steps: Admit your need. We come into this world physically alive but spiritually dead – missing out on the quality of life for which God made us. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23), “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), and “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Realize what God has done for you. God loved us enough to send His own Son into this world to rescue us from the devastating effects of our sin (John 1:1-14; 3:16). Jesus died in our place, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice, He paid for the least–and the worst–of our sins. Personally believe and receive God’s gift. No one is saved by trying to be good. We are saved by trusting in Christ. The Bible says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT). God loves you – no matter who you are, no matter what your past. God loves you so much that He gave His one and only begotten Son for you. The Bible tells us that “…whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus laid down His life and rose again so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven and experience His absolute best on earth. If you would like to receive Jesus into your life, pray the following prayer out loud, with feeling from your heart and believe in Him. Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus name to You, admitting that I am a sinner. Right now Lord, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, died on the cross to take away my sins. I also believe that He rose again from the dead so that I might be forgiven of my sins and made righteous “Knowing Christ through faith in Him. I call upon the died-that’s history. name of Jesus Christ and confess Him to be the Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus, I Believing He died choose to follow You and ask that You for me-that’s will fill me with the power of the Holy salvation.” Spirit. I declare that right now I am a child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen If reciting this prayer was an honest expression of your heart, you have entered into a personal relationship with God. If you prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior for the first time, please get connected with a church. We are not recruiting for Hopewell but for the kingdom of God. However, you are welcomed to stop by and worship with us at 182 Hunter Street, Norcross, GA 30093. We have two Sunday services 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM under the leadership of Bishop William L. Sheals. You may contact our church office for additional information at 770-448-5475. God Bless You. . . Jan 2010 23 Sunday Services: 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p. m. Join us for Wednesday Bible Study 7:30 pm Voice of Hope POSTAGE HOPEWELL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 182 HUNTER STREET NORCROSS, GA 30071 REQUIRED 24 Jan 2010 Voice of Hope