Revive Us Again! - Reid Temple AME

Premier Issue of
the Magazine
Revive Us
Again!
Spring Revival 2005
Women of the Harvest
Identity Theft
Let’s Promote Wellness
Homeownership:
Taking the 1st Step
Have Faith
In
God
Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington
Senior Pastor
Reid Temple
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
Rev. Matthew Watley
Executive Minister
Rev. David Clark
Director of Ministries and Outreach
11400 Glenn Dale Blvd.
Glenn Dale, MD 20769
Rev. Cary James
Youth Minister
(301) 352-0320
www.reidtemple.org
Joshua’s Journal - A Reid Temple A.M.E. Church Publication
From the Commission on Public Relations
Editor-in-Chief: Sandra L. Thompson, Public Relations
Commissioner
Opportunities for Worship
Editorial Staff: Janice Aycox and Sandra Daniel
IT/Graphics Staff: Vernon Jones, Jr. and Camille Chapman
Sunday Morning
7:30 AM
10:30 AM
Layout and Design: Scheré Johnson-Jordan
Staff Writers & Columnists: Lauren Phelps, Nekeya O’Connor,
Rev. Dr. Glenda Hodges, Shawn Jones
Staff Photographers: Danita Delaney and Clifton Hoffler
Sunday Evening
6:00 PM
Church School
9:15 AM
Holy Communion
1st Sunday
Baptism
2nd Sunday
Ministry of Instruction
Bible Study Classes for
Adults and Youth
Wednesday
7:00 PM
Editorial Note: Joshua’s Journal aims to provide all members of
Reid Temple A.M.E. Church with an opportunity to convey scriptural
interpretation; to report on events and activities of the church; and to share
their unique gifts of creative writing. The views and opinions
expressed by columnists, staff and contributing writers are based on their
knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Feel free to send your comments, suggestions and submissions, etc.
to: [email protected].
You may also place any correspondence in the Public Relations mailbox
addressed to the attention of Joshua’s Journal.
The Editorial Staff of Joshua’s Journal reserves the right to edit and/or
change a portion or exclude in its entirety any written or photographic
submissions due to space constraints or if it is determined to be contrary to
the mission and purpose of Reid Temple A.M.E. Church.
Copyright is pending. All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine
cannot be used or reproduced without written consent.
Joshua’s Journal
Contents
Summer 2005
On the cover: Pastor Washington exemplifying
worship during Spring Revival 2005.
Photograph by Danita Delaney.
4
Dedication: A special dedication to our Pastor,
the Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington.
5
Letter from the Editor
Sandra L. Thompson commemorates the 1st
issue of Joshua’s Journal – the magazine.
6-11
Spring Revival 2005
God sent a revival! We celebrated our 1st revival
in our new worship complex.
12-13
Women’s Day 2005 - Women of the Harvest:
Sowing, Reaping & Rejoicing
14-17
Evangelism & Outreach:
Answering the Call
On a Mission
Young People’s and Children’s Division
18-20
I Hear the Music in the Air
An interview with Evangelist Myrna Summers,
Minister of Music
21-24
Spirituality & Medicine
Let’s Promote Wellness: “P” is for Prevention
25
Homeownership: Taking the 1st Step
26
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
27
Extra, Extra!
On the Court with Freddie Stanback III
Dear Reverend Washington:
We would like to thank you. We are so grateful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for allowing us the
opportunity to worship under your leadership. Truly, you have been an inspiration. You bless us each and every
Sunday with the unadulterated truth of the gospel and you have been instrumental in our growth and development
in Christ. You continue to teach us to put God first in our lives and you challenge us to be all that God would have
us to be. Your bible-based teaching gives us clear understanding that our Father owns everything and all that we are
and all that we have, comes from and belongs to Him. Thank you for teaching us to be good stewards of our time, our
talents, our treasures and our temples. Reverend Washington, thank you so very much for your character-building
preaching and teaching; thank you for not being afraid to tell us the truth about how God expects us to live, whether
we want to hear it or not; thank you for planting the seeds in our hearts and in our minds so that we can be stronger
Christians. Thank you for challenging us to be obedient to the Lord, so that our beliefs coincide with our behavior.
Those of us who have been called out of the world to do the work of the Lord, have the continuous struggle of
trying to ensure that God is reflected in the things we do and the words we speak. Each week, you remind us that
Christ must be preeminent in our daily lives, under all circumstances and in every situation. You encourage us
to be intentional in our walk with Jesus Christ and you give us all that you have each and every time we see you.
Thank you for helping us identify and nurture our God-given gifts, so that we can use them to the glory and honor
of our Lord. Thank you for showing us, through your own behavior, how to be servants. Thank you for treating
each and every one of us with dignity and respect and thank you for showing us the importance of forgiveness.
Thank you for teaching us how to overcome adversity and how to press forward. Thank you for reinforcing, every
chance you get, that God is in control and because He is in control, there are no challenges we face that can occupy
our souls. You tell us time and time again, that there is no reason to fear anything because God is on our side.
Thank you for teaching us how to find comfort in Christ. You consistently remind us that things of the world are
temporal and things of God are eternal.
Thank you for instilling in us, the proper way (God’s way) of dealing with one another and thank you for teaching
us to encourage and build each other up. Thank you for ensuring that we have reverence for God and thank you for
teaching us how to love one another unconditionally. You’ve taught us that we in our own strength have no power
to do good work that is pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God through Christ our Lord. We are
accounted as righteous before God only because of Jesus Christ and by faith and not for our own works. Thank you for
challenging us to develop a serious relationship with Christ and not settle for a casual one. Thank you for reminding
us not to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping us to evangelize and be a witness for the Lord. As we
know, there is no greater accomplishment than that of saving a soul. Thank you for reminding us not to take one
second or one minute or one hour for granted; that each breath we take is a gift from our Lord and we ought worship
and praise Him, every chance we get.
We love you, we pray for you and your family and we ask that God continue to show you favor in all of
your endeavors.
Blessings,
From all of us!
W
elcome to the inaugural issue of Joshua’s Journal,
The Magazine. We are honored to present this new
publication to our Reid Temple family. The primary
purpose of this magazine is to exalt our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
by highlighting the activities that take place at Reid Temple. We seek
to enlighten our membership with useful information on relevant,
topical issues. The Lord has truly blessed us. We have a multi-faceted
talented congregation, and each article was written and edited by a
member of Reid Temple. What a blessing it is to have saints who are
willing to take time from their already busy schedules to share their
experiences. We start our magazine with a letter to our phenomenal
Pastor, Reverend Washington (page 4). Sis. Lauren Phelps, Sis.
Wanda Scott, Sis. Sonya McCall and Sis. Chandra Johnson capture
the essence of the powerful Spring Revival, which was the first revival
held in our new location (page 6-11).
Sis. Tish Dickens and Sis. Renee Edwards write about the awesome Women’s Day 2005
services (page 12-13) and Sis Hilda Hudson and Sis. Chandra Johnson cover the Prison Ministry
Annual Prayer Breakfast (page 14). Sis. Lillian Rollins writes about her involvement in missions
and outreach activities (page 15) and Sis. Shirley Watson details the activities of our youth. The
Young People’s Division of the Missionary Society is very active; an overview of their monthly
outreach activities is detailed on page 16. Sis. Nekeya O’Connor interviewed our very own
Minister of Music, Evangelist Myrna Summers. She shares insight on the journey that led her to
Reid Temple (page 18-20).
It is critical that we take care of our temples. African Americans are particularly vulnerable to
weight gain; Rev. Dr. Glenda Hodges provides an in-depth analysis on promoting wellness (page
21) followed by a short quiz. Other lifestyle issues include an article on first time homeownership
(page 25) where Sis. Shawn Jones provides a list of critical steps for prospective buyers. I wrote an
article about the fastest growing financial crime, identity theft (page 26) and we end with a story
on our own basketball star- Freddie Stanback III (page 27).
We hope you enjoy the magazine and we pray that relationships with Christ are strengthened
so that we can live effectively for Him.
Warm regards and Blessings,
Sandra L. Thompson
Commissioner Public Relations
Reid Temple’s First Night of Spring
Time Revival is Like Honey
By Lauren D. Phelps
A modern day songwriter once said, “It’s
like honey when it rushes over me. Sugar
never ever was so sweet, and I’m dying for
you, crying for you, I adore you!” These
words couldn’t have been truer the first
night of Reid Temple’s Spring Revival
“The Challenges of Kingdom Growth: The
Mandate, The Management, The Ministry”
when the Holy Spirit rushed over the
thousands of saints in attendance and had
us crying out, “I’m dying for you, crying for
you, I adore you Lord!” The esteemed,
enthusiastic, and animated Rev. Dr.
Lance Watson, Senior Pastor of The Saint
Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond, VA
proclaimed to us that “these hands are full
of honey”—and that first night of revival
couldn’t have been sweeter.
The evening kicked off with the traditional revival
hymn and we reached new heights when the
Reflections of God Dance Ministry worshipped God
through dance while incorporating contemporary
movements bringing the saints to their feet in praise.
However, the highlight of the evening by far was our
guest revivalist, the Rev. Dr. Lance Watson, a preacher
with incredible insight into the Scripture and a
tremendous gift of homiletics, applying the sacred
text to any and every situation that we face today. He
describes himself as a hip-hop, “urban” preacher that
likes to keep it real and have fun, and that’s exactly
what he did preaching on Samson the first night of
Rev. Dr. Lance D. Watson
Senior Pastor
St. Paul’s Baptist Church
Richmond, VA
revival. At one time during the sermon, he proclaimed
that “Samson should have checked himself, before he
wrecked himself” playing upon a popular old school
rap song. His laid back style and natural use of modern
day slang captured the attention and commanded
the participation of the congregation, but nothing
enraptured us more than the word that he brought
forth; “These hands are full of honey.”
“Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned
aside to look at the lion’s carcass. In it was a swarm of bees
and some honey, which he scooped out with his hands and
ate as he went along.”
Judges 14:8b-9a (NIV)
All Revival Photos
by Danita Delaney
Preaching from Judges 14:1-9, Pastor Watson,
admonished us to not spend tremendous amounts time,
energy and power in trivial pursuits making parallels
with Samson’s trivial pursuit of the Philistine woman.
He further encouraged the congregation by reminding
us that God chose Samson at an early age to accomplish
great things and despite Samson’s lack of focus and
growing pains, he would ultimately do what God had
ordained him to do. “Now see to it that you drink no
wine or other fermented drink and that you do not
eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and
give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head,
because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from
birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from
the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:4-5).
As Pastor Watson continued “doing the doggone
thing” by walking us through the text, he warned
us that Samson’s problems started early because the
devil knew what type of man he would become in the
Lord, and he said that the same thing would happen
to us as those chosen by God. He pointed out that
the lion represents our negative circumstances, and
Samson raising up and slaying the lion represents
how we can overcome and come out victorious every
time. The high point of the evening came when
Pastor Watson declared to us that just as Samson’s
hands were full of honey that faithful day; our hands
are full of honey. He reminded us that we could have
sweetness in life and fullness of joy even in the midst
of our circumstances. He told us to “scoop out the
honey” and share it with others.
All of the saints that night left with sticky, sweet
hands full of honey, and we eagerly anticipated the
next two days of revival.
We Are Exceptional, But...
Part II
By Wanda L. Scott
On Tuesday May 17, t he
second night of t he Spring
Revival, Rev. Dr. Lance Watson
had the whole audience “dippin”
and “dealing with their ‘but’!”
The Youth and Young Adult Choir
ministered to us, awakening our
spirit in preparation for the word
of God. Rev. Washington incited
the choir back into praise as they
finished ministering with the song
“No Way (The G.A. Chant)”
during the offering. He stepped
forward reciting the lyrics,
making them personal.
The sermon came from 2 Kings 5:1 on the familiar
reminded us that no one is perfect and the sooner
story of the acclaimed worrier Naaman. Naaman
we realize that, the easier our life will be. We were
was an exceptional worrier, who consistently led the
told that we all have to have a ‘but’ somewhere in
Syrian army to victory. Naaman was praised by his
the sentence of our life. This ‘but’ represents the
king and by the Syrians, but he had leprosy. Now
work that the Lord has to do in cleaning up our
if you had leprosy in Israel, you were
lives. Although to the
Finally,
we
got
our
‘dip’
on
as
forced to live outside the city, but
common Syrian eye,
we were told,
amongst the gentiles you could still
Naaman seemed to
be accepted, and in Naaman’s case,
“don’t be trippin when we ought have it all together, but
exceptional. Rev. Watson admonished
under all of that shiny
to be dippin.”
us that the more ordinary you are the
armor was a seething
less exceptional you will be. Ordinary is the salt that
skin disease. As we “deal with our buts,” God can
has lost its flavor, and our God has called us to be the
keep us marching toward exceptional. “Exceptional
salt of the earth, not ordinary. As children of God
gifts come out of exceptional grief,” warns Rev.
we are called to be exceptional, but we have to work
Watson. Naaman had exceptional grief with pain
at it with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have
and the incurable disease of leprosy.
to keep our eyes focused on the Lord as He brings
Second, we must be careful to whom we reveal
us to exceptional. We must hang around those who
our ‘but’. Naaman did not walk around in all that
challenge us and will take us to the next level.
armor constantly because it was comfortable; we
First we were taught that between ordinary and
assume part of the reason was to hide his skin.
exceptional there is going to be trouble! Rev. Watson
As great as he was, he still did not want everyone to
find out about his leprosy, because they would
look at him and treat him differently. Naaman
needed to maintain his respect and be able to
lead the army, so not just anyone could know
of his issues. We as children of God should
also take heed to the fact that not everyone can
handle our ‘but’. We must use discernment
in who we should share our issues with. Rev.
Watson taught us that we have to be careful of
those people in our lives who constantly forecast
doubt into our situations.
Finally, we got our ‘dip’ on as we were told, “don’t
be trippin when we ought to be dippin.” Naaman
was offended when he was not properly greeted and
healed by the prophet Elijah. After all, he was the
great worrier, Naaman, and was used to the praise of
his people and his king. Elijah simply sent his servant
to speak with him and tell him to dip seven times
in the Jordan, one of the dirtiest rivers around. This
was unacceptable to Naaman and he was about to
miss his blessing, if one of his maids had not stepped
up to minister to him. We are a lot like Naaman
sometimes, close to missing what God has for us
because it does not come in the way we expect it
or in a way we think it should. Our ego gets in
the way. Rev. Watson reminds us that, “grace is
learning to receive in humility what
you do not deserve”. If we are to be
elevated, our ego has to be put aside. If
the Lord says dip, we must dip even if
after the 5th dip we don’t see a change.
We have to keep pressing forward in
what God has told us to do, expecting
that on that next dip we will receive our
promised miracle; on the next dip we are
moving closer to the exceptional. The
whole church was dipping in expectation
of the move of God.
Rev. Watley came forward and
continued to let the Spirit move in the
place encouraging the body to ‘dip’ for
we never know when our blessing is
just around the corner. He opened the
doors of the church, and souls where
saved and members
were added to the Reid
Temple body. A visitor,
Audrey Carroll whose
daughter is a member of
Reid, stated the sermon
was “Very inspiring.”
Lisa Dawson, a member
of Reid, was at a loss
for words at first, and
then stated that “It was awesome.” She felt that it
was hard to put into words what she received that
night. Lisa then said, “It was a blessing on top of a
blessing.” We left Reid Temple once again revived
and looking forward in expectation to the third
night of revival and to what the Lord would do
through the dynamic Rev. Lance Watson.
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!
Part III
By Sonya McCall and
Chandra Johnson
From Rev. Gould to Evangelist
Myrna Summers and the Mass
Choir to the entire Reid Temple
family, we had a “scoopin,”
“dippin,” hallelujah good time on
the third and final night of Spring
Revival. Praise and worship was
filled with great anticipation as
brothers and sisters in Christ
waited anxiously to hear what
thus saith the Lord through his
anointed man servant, the Rev. Dr.
Lance D. Watson. If you missed the
first night of revival you probably
did not understand why Pastor
Washington went home and asked
Reid Temple’s first lady for “some
of that honey.” If you missed the second night you
could not possibly understand why Ms. Myrna
rallied the congregation to “dip…dip-dip…dip-dipdip.” Pastor Washington, the reserved man of God
that we know and love, even broke out in a little Holy
Ghost dance before assuring us that if we “tuned into
channel G-O-D” and it was “the right frequency,” we
would certainly “hear a word from God” on the third
and last night of revival.
Rev. Watson’s sermon, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing
Yet,” empowered us concerning David’s conviction
about four qualities of praise. First, he showed us in
the text that Real Praise is Redemptive.
2 Samuel 6:21, David said that it was because God
chose him that he was praising God. As God chose
David, He has chosen each of us in spite of our
messed up lives. Secondly, in the text, David shows
that Real Praise is Reflective – David remembered his
anointing 13 years ago and thanked God for His love.
Rev. Watson explained that we must have flashbacks
of what God has done for us; we need to have times
in our lives when we look back and think of where
the Lord has brought us. Thirdly, David explains that
Real Praise is Responsive. Praise is not silent. We
can’t keep silent if we are praising.
2 Samuel 6:12 shows how David not only rejoiced
and praised God for his anointing, but he rejoiced for
the blessing God had given to the household of ObedEdom. Rev. Watson informed us that we should not
be jealous about the blessings of others because when
God is blessing our neighbor, it means that He is in the
neighborhood with our blessing. He continued with
a story about his children eagerly awaiting the ice
cream truck to come to their street, even though they
did not see the truck, they heard the music and knew
it was on its way. Therefore, rejoice in others blessings
because we know our blessing is on the way. Finally,
Rev. Watson reminded us through David that Real
Praise is Resilient – Although David’s wife Michal
was so incensed over David’s praising, she did not
fully understand the depth of David’s love for God.
Rev. Watson encouraged us that if someone does not
10
like your praise, do it anyway; you
should not care what the person
on the pew next to you thinks,
“do you.”
Here’s what members attending
the Wednesday night services
had to say: “Kisha and I got so
much from Rev. Watson last night
that is was difficult to narrow it
down to a few thoughts. What
we talked about most though
was his insight on praise.
Rev.
Watson preached that real
praise is redemptive, reflective,
responsive and resilient.
He
really hit home with us when he
said that you can worship quietly,
but you can’t praise God quietly.
Kisha was reassured that when
she gives God praise it does not
have to be pretty and cute. To
understand her praise you would
have to understand her story. I was
reminded that even when things
are going good, you still need
to give God his well deserved
praise. Kisha and I left church
knowing that praise is about God
and not about us.” — Marlon and
Kisha Broady.
Rev. Watson encouraged Reid
Temple to get up and praise God
like we’ve never done before. As
good as God has been to us, we
could not help but comply. We
praised God in the sanctuary!
We blessed His holy name! We
shouted victory! Then, we turned
to our neighbors and reminded
them, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!
Many came forward seeking salvation,
a church home, prayer and a deeper
commitment to ministry.
Rev. Dr. Lance D. Watson got a chance to meet
fellow Reid Temple members and guests as he signed
copies of his book “Maximize Your Edge”
in our book store.
11
“Breakfast of
Champions!”
The Rev. Dr. Rita Twiggs
blessed our socks off at the
7:30 service for Women’s
Day 2005! She noted that
everyone present at the
early service had purposed
in their minds to press
their way to praise the
King! She used as a title for
her sermon “He’s got the right one baby
– Uh, huh!” and her scripture text was
old and new as found in Genesis 24:12-18,
26-29 (Isaac’s servant searching for Isaac’s
wife who would be Rebekah) and John
4:1-7, 28-30, 34-36 (Jesus and the Woman
at the Well).
Rev. Twiggs repeatedly encouraged
and reminded us t hat it is about “Us”,
“Him” and “Them” and the
importance of “Us” understanding
“Him” to go after “Them”.
She noted that the job of soul
winning, sowing and reaping
for the Kingdom is not about
singing in the choir or being a
Trustee, or any of the other various
ministries we have here at Reid
Temple, but rather, it is truly about
doing the business of the family
– gathering the by-products of
Jesus’ production.
In the Old Testament scripture, the search was on
for a woman that God could use and it had nothing
to do with fingertips, lips or hips! Rebekah was a
working woman, a virtuous woman with something
to offer. Rev. Twiggs noted that Rebekah was in a
By Tish Thomas Dickens
Photography by Cleveland Bryant
submitted mode, not subservient, and she
highlighted the importance of women
willing to stand under a covering,
waiting to assist. The revelation came
when Rebekah not only offered water
to “Him” but also to his camels, or
“them,” and then it was clear that she
was “The Right One, Baby!”
If it’s truly about “them” then we
will tell people about Jesus; we will
go forth bearing His precious seed.
We will choose to be a blessing to
someone else, not just looking to
be blessed ourselves. Rev.
Twiggs masterfully related
the Old Testament to the New
Testament by stating that
Jesus came down through
42 generations to complete
the work begun in the Old
Testament – the fulfillment
of the Law.
In essence, when Jesus met
the woman at the well He had
been sitting there waiting for
her for a long time, just as He’s been waiting for many
of us for a long time. But, Rev. Twiggs reminded
us that just as Jesus was willing to wait for that
woman at the well, He is equally willing to wait
for us to give our hearts and souls to Him.
12
SPEED THE HARVEST UP: SOW, REAP & REJOICE
By Renee Anne Edwards
With regard to reaping the
harvest, Rev. Twiggs said if we
could see it, perceive it, conceive
it, and believe it, then we could
receive it. In the process of
reaping, we receive seeds that
need to die and be sown again
into the ground before the
real harvest is birthed. In the
meantime, she instructed us to
shut the door, don’t listen to
what we hear and use the power
of agreement. Get down on your knees, stretch out
and worship. Bow down and lie prostrate at God’s
feet and pray. Have faith and trust in God when
you pray. Do something that you have never done
before when you want God to answer you now.
Call those things that are not yet as though they
were already here.
Rev. Twiggs said that new birth and new
beginnings follow new praise, she identified four
types of praise
u “Because of” Praise – because God watched over
me, because God kept me, because God protected me
from my enemy
u “In spite of” Praise – in spite of what I’m
going through, God is still worthy; in spite of what I
feel, God is still a healer; in spite of what I know, God
is still my best friend
u Radical Praise – praise in the midst of the
storm, praise God for the substance of things hoped
for and the evidence of things not seen
u The Best Is Yet To Come Praise – God blesses
me so that I can bless others. God wants me to be
content with more than enough, not satisfied with
just enough. I’m already blessed, but I praise God
for my blessings now and I’m getting ready to reap
a mighty harvest now and more harvest later. God, I
see it coming and I’m willing to praise you now like I
want it now.
The congregation clearly enjoyed the powerful
service. Michelle Davis exclaimed that the overall
service was “enlightening, power-packed, and
praiseworthy!” Lisa Purvis, president of the Singles
Ministry, declared, “Rev. Rita Twiggs was phenomenal.
She inspired me to continue striving to walk by faith
and not by sight. Her towel analogy was very apropos
for Women’s Day. Reid Temple was truly blessed to
have such an anointed, gifted preacher and teacher who
inspired us to continue to press on seeking God’s face.
On June 26, 2005 at the 10:30
a.m. service, the tone of worship
was immediately established with
the Declaration “Praise Him.” The
Invocation Prayer that followed
was powerful and prophetic.
Evangelist Myrna Summers
and the Women’s Day Choir
illuminated the loft with their
white and off-white ensembles
while singing “Praise You”
and “Mountain, Get Out of My
Way”. The Reflections of God liturgical dancers also
ministered to us accompanied by Martha Munizzi’s
“Glorious”. This was just the beginning of the
powerful 2005 Women’s Day service where the theme
was “Women of the Harvest: Sowing, Reaping &
Rejoicing”, from Psalm 126: 5-6.
Sis. Wanda Scott introduced our guest preacher, the
anointed Rev. Rita Twiggs from the Potter’s House
in Dallas, Texas, who delivered the Word of God in a
sermon titled “Preparation for Reaping: Speed it [The
Harvest] Up. The text and parenthetical references
came from the 4th chapter of 2 Kings verses 8–17
(The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life) and 1-7
(The Widow’s Oil); Psalm 71:10-14 (Have Hope &
Praise God More In Troubled Times); and Matthew
15:21-28 (The Canaanite Woman’s Faith). In each of
these references, there was a great need or a lack of
resources, but God sent a word through a prophet to
extend favor or grace. Rev. Twiggs stated that pigs
wallow in the mud and complain with their “Oink,
oink”; however, sheep don’t want to stay in their mess
so they continually call on God with their “Baa, baa”
to get them out of their situation. The lesson I learned
was that all of the people involved used what they
already had to get what they needed from God.
In preparation for reaping, Rev. Twiggs emphasized
that we must have traits of a great “towel” servant:
u Be bendable (flexible, do whatever God asks
us to do)
u Be dependable (faithful, stay where God plants
us instead of church hopping)
u Be sendable (disciple, go anywhere God sends
us because God will go with us)
u Be mendable (restorable, move past offenses
quickly)
u Be expendable (stretchable, reach out and
bounce back when God needs us and make room
for the holy servant of God).
13
A
nswering the
Call to be
Workers for Christ
“Remember those who are in prisons, as
though you were in prisons with them”
Hebrews 13:3
By Chandra Johnson and Hilda Hudson
Photography by Leonard Brown
are changed and souls are converted.
We would like to see more people participate
in this essential area of ministry so that the love of
Jesus Christ can be reflected within the prison walls.
Dr. Felder challenged the Black church to secure
grant monies to support prison ministry aftercare
programs for ex-offenders.
Dr. Felder is the author of Troubling Biblical
Waters: Race, Class and Family, editor of Stony
the Road We Trod: African American Biblical
Interpretation; and general editor of The
Original African Heritage Study Bible. The
Prison Ministry is under the leadership of Rev.
Joyce Pugh. If you are called to be apart of this
evangelism and outreach ministry, please sign up
at the welcome desk.
The Prison Ministry held its 5th Annual Prayer
Breakfast on Saturday May 21, 2005. The theme
was “Answering the Call to be Workers for Christ,”
and the theme scripture was Ephesians 2:10. Reid
Temple was honored to have guest speaker Rev.
Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Professor of New Testament
languages and literature from Howard University
School of Divinity. Dr. Felder emphasized the need
for the Christian community to become redemptive
suffering servants on the forefront of ministry to
those who are incarcerated. He reminded us that
there are a disproportionate number of African
American males in prison in comparison to nonminorities. A renowned scholar on the African
presence in the Bible, Dr. Felder’s writings are
widely used in prison ministry. The vast majority
of African Americans that are incarcerated often
embrace other forms of religion, and dismiss
Christianity as being “the white man’s religion,” in
part because they have never identified themselves
in the Bible. However, when inmates are taught that
they are a “royal priesthood and a holy, nation,”
created by God in the image of Jesus Christ, lives
Additional Information:
The Prison Ministry regularly ministers to the
incarcerated in the Upper Marlboro Correctional
Facility, Oak Hill Youth Detention Center and
Patuxent Institution.
14
O
n a Mission:
In the Service
of the Lord
By Lillian Rollins
I give honor to God and am very grateful for my Pastor, Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington and the Reid Temple
family. It is truly a blessing to receive the rich spiritual food that Rev. Washington pours out each week. I thank
God for this anointed Shepherd and all the ministerial staff. I thank God for all the ministries birthed in Reid
Temple. I have been a member of Reid Temple for more than 10 years and have been blessed by the word of
God and the many ministries at Reid.
On Saturday, March 11, 2005, I had the
opportunity to join the Queen Jefferson Missionary
Society, under the leadership of Dorcas Hart. This
is a ministry that I have been compelled to be a part
of for many years and I felt that it was only right
for me to be a member of the missionary society at
Reid Temple. My first meeting with the missionary
society was truly a blessing. I was welcomed by
all in attendance. I was put to work as soon as I
walked in the door. Sister Lillian Hill handed me a
hymnal and asked me to lead the song for devotion.
At this meeting Sister Hill requested that this
article be written. I thank God for Sister Hill and
her continued encouragement to me now and over
the years as a member of Reid Temple.
I have been involved in missions and outreach
ministry since 1976. My first missions trip was
to Monrovia, Liberia. My first exposure to street
ministry took place in 1986 when I was attending
New Life Assembly of God in Capital Heights,
Maryland under the leadership of Revs. Mike and
Kay Zello. These were rich spiritual experiences
and training which birthed my purpose and plan
in God’s kingdom building. Outreach ministry,
whether it’s on the streets, in jails, prisons,
correctional centers, special outreaches, hospitals,
nursing homes, etc. are truly avenues to reach the
unsaved, hurting, broken hearted, and many times
just to lift people’s spirits. On many missions trips
we have worked hand and hand with the Teen
Challenge Ministry.
I have truly been blessed to be a part of a
missions team, Gerald Mayhan Ministries, which
travels annually across the country and overseas.
The ministry team is made up of individuals from
different churches, denominations, ages, and races.
Gerald Mayhan Ministries has sponsored mission
trips to Ghana, West Africa, Jamaica, St. Lucia,
Belize, Dominica, West Indies, and New Mexico,
where thousands of lives have been transformed.
They have also led local Convoy of Hope outreaches
in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In
the D.C. outreach, over 6,500 people were fed and
1,200 received salvation. Gerald Mayhan started
out as a Teen Challenge graduate and now is a
minister of the Gospel.
It has been my desire to share the life changing
Gospel with those in need. I take the Great
Commission seriously – “Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost
(Matthew 28:19).”
I’m excited about the opportunity and the
experiences that lie ahead. There is no greater
reward than to know that you are helping to change
lives forever.
In August 2005, I will have the opportunity
to take part in a missions trip to Belize, Central
America with the missions team. During this trip
we will be sharing the gospel through various
forms of ministry – street meetings, preaching and
teaching in churches, prison ministry, hospital
visitations, Bible and tract distribution, and working
with children.
15
Y
oung People’s and
Children’s Division
By Shirley Watson
Young People’s and Children’s Division of the Women’s Missionary Society
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Sunbeams (ages 2-6)
Young People’s Auxiliary (ages 13-17) Allen Stars (ages 7-12)
Young Adult Auxiliary (ages 18-26)
The YPD, Mentors, Advisors and Director are compelled by the teaching of the Word of God to go outside the
box. We evangelize to the homeless along the “K” Street corridor in Washington, D.C. every first Saturday of
the month. The Missionary Society along with members of the YPD, help to prepare meals for the homeless.
We minister and feed an average of 110 persons each first Saturday. Many people have accepted Jesus as their
personal Savior. We also fellowship with the residents at the Independence Court Assisted Living Home in
Hyattsville, Maryland on the third Sunday of each month.
Outreach Testimonials:
Enola Amore’ Fisher, Sunbeams - “I love to read,
pray and sing. I enjoy helping to give out the food
and water to the homeless. I enjoy singing, praying
and reading to the seniors at the Nursing Home. It
makes me feel good.”
for the people we are ministering to. What used to
be done simply out of a sense of obligation to the
YPD and not God, has progressed into ministry and
anticipation of how the Lord will show up and use
us for His glory.”
Dante Woody, Sunbeams - “I told my mommy and
Marcia Woody, Young Adult Auxiliary - “It’s like
grandmother that I want to help. I help shop for the
homeless. I love going to the Nursing Home.”
Aaron Kitt, Allen Stars - “I enjoy going to the K
Street corridor to witness, feed and give clothes to
the homeless. I thank God for my gift of playing
the piano and organ. I use my gift at Independence
Court by playing Hymns, praying and witnessing to
the residents.”
Christina Mickens, Young People’s Auxiliary - “When
I do an Outreach, it’s done with great joy and love
going to visit your grandparents and wishing you
could do more. We fellowship, show them love and
respect, and give them hugs. My son Dante gets
excited when he knows we are going to the Nursing
Home. He proudly tells his grandparents in North
Carolina that he went to the Nursing Home or to
feed the homeless.”
Guyanna Fisher, Mentor - “It has given me the
opportunity to see how blessed I am. Everything
isn’t always the way it seems, just because you are
saved, you never know who you will encounter
16
“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me:
I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
Matthew 25:35-36 (KJV)
in the street. Because people are homeless, doesn’t
mean they aren’t saved. God is present in all
situations and everyone is worthy of His love, peace
and prosperity.”
that you are training the children at a young age
so when they are old they will not depart from it.
Please bring more men to worship with us!”
Robyn Williams, Mentor - “Going out feeding and
while they were witnessing. I also thanked God for
sending the young people of Reid Temple to witness
and care for our needs.”
witnessing to the homeless every first Saturday gives
me such joy — it’s truly an honor. I have come to
realize that a simple word, smile or hug can go a long
way. I have even had the opportunity of befriending
one of the men to whom we witnessed. Besides, I feel
like this is the least I can do for my Heavenly Father
considering ALL that He has done for me! It was when
I began witnessing that I knew God had answered yet
another prayer. I asked Him to use me to do His will
and to speak to others through me.”
Homeless Person - “I saw a light around the youth
Special Thanks: Daughters of Faith, Masters Touch
and the Prince George’s County Chapel Oaks, Engine
38 Company and Ambulance Black Volunteer Fire
Department, for all their assistance in helping with
our outreach to the homeless.
We will continue to “Grow, Glow and Go for Christ.”
Seniors at Independence Court - “We are thankful
17
By Nekeya O’Connor
It is no secret that the worship
of Reid Temple has increased and
reached a new level within the last
three years alone. Now that Reid
Temple has moved into the new
edifice, more persons are coming
to Christ, and God’s presence has
never been felt the way that it is
now. The worship experience
allows the Christian, the sinner,
the human, to feel their burdens
being lifted. This is the vision of
Evangelist Myrna Summers—to
bring the worship experience at
Reid Temple to a new level that is
so high that you will literally feel
as if you are in heavenly places
rejoicing with the angels.
Many don’t know the personal
history of Evangelist Myrna
Summers—her music, worship,
and her professional singing career,
which led to her becoming the
Minister of Music at Reid Temple.
In fact, Evangelist Summers
first served as a Choir Director
at Refreshing Spring Church of
God in Christ in Riverdale, MD.
Growing up in a Pentecostal
church, Evangelist Summers
quickly learned that God had
given her a gift and a talent that
He would allow her to use so that
He would get the glory. Myrna
Summers’ music is rooted and
grounded in the Word. Her soul
I HEAR
THE MUSIC
IN THE AIR!
● Song and Album of the Year
awards from the Gospel
Music Workshop of America
● Mahalia Jackson Award
● A Grammy nomination for
“Give Me Something To Hold
On To” (1979)
● Album titled “We’re Going To
Make It” (1988) became one of
her best selling albums
● Stellar Award for Best
Traditional Gospel Artist
(Female).
Evangelist Summers was
gracious enough to grant this
interview with Joshua’s Journal.
Read on for more insight into the
road she traveled that ultimately
led her to us, here at Reid Temple.
Evangelist Myrna Summers
Minister of Music
Reid Temple AME Church
stirring alto voice distinctly
sets her apart from others. She
has a message for the people of
God. Her gifts and talent have
brought her much acclaim.
Her musical accomplishments
include:
● A Grammy nomination
for “God Gave Me A
Song” (1970)
18
How did you first get started in
the music industry, and then in
particular gospel music?
I was invited to appear at a place
called Rockland Palace in New
York in the winter of 1970. I was
completely unaware that the talent
scouts from Atlantic Records were
there. Unable to reach me at the
time, they talked with my organist
and he gave them my number.
They contacted me the following
week, flew my mom and I to New
York, and I sold the master copy
of “God Gave Me A Song,” which
I had introduced earlier that year
viewing the videos
of Rev. Washington
preaching, I just
knew that Reid was
my next assignment.
About two weeks
later, Rev. Washington
called, met with me
and in May 2001
I came to Reid. I
love my Pastor, Sis.
Ann and the Reid Temple family.
Surprisingly, it’s like being home.
in Detroit, Michigan
at the Gospel Music
Workshop of America
under the leadership
of the late Rev. James
Cleveland.
What are some of the
challenges that you
faced while you were
in the music recording
industry?
Approximately two years later, I
was released by Atlantic because
“God Gave Me A Song” could not
reach the status that “O Happy
Day” had reached, although, “O
Happy Day” had crossed over
into the secular arena and was
making gospel music history.
However, Atlantic Records did
make me an offer that I could not
refuse. They offered me a deal to
sing secular music.
What was your reason then for
returning to gospel music if you
found that you were able to make
more money singing secular music
and still do what you love most,
which is singing?
Well, I was immediately flown
to Philadelphia where I worked
with writers of the Gamble/Huff
Production Staff. To make a
long story short, one night while
sitting behind the console during
an “O’Jays” recording session, a
young man who was a fill-in for
Eddie Levert recognized me and
the Lord used him to chastise
me for even being there. I didn’t
even know his name but I’m so
grateful that he knew me and that
he allowed God to use him to wake
me up. Within 3 weeks I was out
of that commitment. To God Be
the Glory!
As the Minister of Music, what
are some of the goals that you see
for Reid Temple, in regards to the
music ministry?
First and foremost, not just to
make a CD, but to develop a
church-owned label. Second, to
establish an institute of musical
arts instruction and finally, to
develop an orchestra.
What do you think is the driving
force behind most of the music
that is made today, whether it is
secular, contemporary gospel, etc?
Money! Every artist desires
a “Hit.” Every label is
demanding a seller.
So how did you make the decision
to come to Reid Temple?
Aah. It was a set-up. A divine
plan originated from God of
course. After the untimely
death of my friend and
accompanist, Patrick Roche,
returning from his home going
service in Pittsburgh, riding
on the bus with Reid Temple
Choir (Combined Voices) and
19
The worship level at Reid Temple has
definitely increased in that more and
more persons are beginning to become
more open to the fact that you are free
to worship at Reid and not be ashamed
about it. Where do you see the worship
of Reid Temple in the next five years?
Well, God’s timing is everything.
As we continue to yield to the
spirit of God we will go from glory
to glory. This is my prayer. This is
my desire, “Until He Returns.”
Reflecting on this interview with
Evangelist Summers, I can truly
say that it was a blessing learning
from her perspective the challenges
of the music industry, and how
God is able to get the glory out of
every situation.
Photography by Clifton Hoffler
and Danita Delaney
The Reid Temple
Orchestra:
The Music
Continues
Photography by
Clifton Hoffler and
Danita Delaney
It was a personal vision of
Evangelist Myrna Summers
that an orchestra would
be established within the
Music Ministry. The plans
came together in the Fall
of 2004. The purpose and
mission of the orchestra is to
allow others to express their
gifts and talents through
instrumental worship.
Alan Young was named the
Conductor for the orchestra.
Evangelist Summers states,
“I attended one of his
previous performances and
was overwhelmed by his
wonderful talent. I later
asked, “Would you consider
leading the orchestra at Reid
Temple?” I was glad his
response was “Yes.”
Reid Temple is looking
forward to expanding the
orchestra. Musical genres will
include Hymns,
Spirituals, Gospel, and
Christian/Inspirational Music.
If you are interested in
becoming active in this
ministry contact David
Thompson (Coordinator) at
(301) 785-7670 for more
information and requirements
for participation.
20
Let’s Promote Wellness: “P” is for Prevention
By Rev. Dr. Glenda Hodges
It has been said that an ounce
of prevention is worth a pound
of cure. Stated alternatively, one
yearly, scheduled appointment
with our health care professional
is worth more than several
subsequent, mandatory sessions
to fix a problem that could have
been easily detected during a
regular office visit. The American
Cancer Society’s Guidelines on
Nutrition and Physical Activity
for Cancer Prevention have
suggested that eating a healthy
diet and being physically active
may help us lower our chances
of diseases such as hypertension,
diabetes, heart disease and some
types of cancer. The National
Cancer Institute recommends
eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits
and vegetables each day.
Additionally, it is recommended
that we devote at least 30 minutes
to some type of cardiovascular
activity, 3 to 4 times each week.
This could include paced walking,
jogging, swimming or any other
aerobic activity that one finds
enjoyable. These are important
steps to take on the road to
good health, they guard against
obesity and they characterize the
American Cancer Society’s plan
for “Living Smart.”
What is Obesity?
Much of what we suffer
from is precipitated by what we
consume. As such, preventive
medicine continues to echo one
raging challenge to prevention
– the battle against obesity.
Typically, one is considered
“obese” or suffering from
“obesity” when there is an excess
accumulation of fat in the body.
In normal adults, fat constitutes
15 to 22% of the body in men and
18 to 32% in women. As such,
where the fat content is greater
than 22% in males and 32% in
females, there is a condition of
obesity. There are a number of
methods for determining total
body fat, but the most practical
approach is the body mass index
(BMI). These calculations are
easily done in the physician’s
office and are good indications
for establishing baselines for ideal
body weight.
A sedentary lifestyle and poor
21
dietary habits have made a
number of African Americans
particularly vulnerable to weight
gain. We use food as a comfort
in times of crisis, a panacea when
we are “going through” and
a source of celebration during
our high times. Until recently,
the result of mismanaged
consumption was viewed as
a rather benign condition not
necessarily requiring treatment.
As health professionals have
become more aware of the health
risks associated with obesity,
its prevalence has increased
remarkably. In the United
States, the costs of situations
associated with obesity have
been estimated to be 68.8 billion
dollars. While biological
determinations may account
for 25% to 40% of the situations
of obesity, more than 50% of all
cases are directly associated with
lifestyle, dietary habits and the
way we view food. Persuading
persons to eat healthier to
prevent obesity is more than a
notion! More often we opt for
seemingly quick fixes to the
problem – such as crash dieting,
surgical interventions, and brief,
aggressive exercise regimens.
The better recommendation is
to become empowered to the
extent that we are able to follow
appropriate nutritional guidelines
and ultimately conquer obesity.
Health Disparities
Many obesity related
diseases, including diabetes,
hypertension, cancer and heart
disease are found in higher
rates among African Americans
as compared to Whites. The
research indicates that diabetes
has been reported to occur at a
rate of 16 to 26% in Hispanic and
African Americans, aged 45 to 74,
as compared with 12% in Whites
of the same age. Among African
Americans, the high prevalence
of obesity and obesity-related
diseases such as hypertension
and type 2 diabetes, are factors
that are reported to contribute
to the increased death rate from
coronary heart disease. The
high prevalence of obesity is also
reported to be a contributing
factor to the occurrence of
hypertension in minority
populations, especially among
African Americans.
The economic indications
also suggest that obesity is
more prevalent among African
Americans than Whites.
According to a study done by the
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality, one in four adults
below the poverty level are
obese as compared with 1 in 6
households with an income of
$67,000 or more. Formerly, this
assumption was substantiated in
part because poor people were
making bad food and lifestyle
choices, i.e., doughnuts instead of
whole wheat bread. Recently, this
conclusion has been tempered as
we factor education and income
levels. Cheap foods tend to be
based with sugar, fat and refined
grains, i.e., cookies and chocolate
bars. In general, processed foods
have become a larger portion of
all American diets. A pound of
lean steak costs much more than
a pound of hot dogs. Processed
foods are cheap, tasty, filling and
22
easily accessible. Depending
on our income levels, cheap
processed foods may be staples
and not merely poor selections.
Because of the scarcity of grocery
stores in some African American
neighborhoods, many of our
brothers and sisters purchase
much of their daily groceries from
convenience stores.
We Shall Overcome
The best way to significantly
affect the prevalence of obesity
is to prevent it. Generally, there
are two simple approaches that
may be utilized in order to ensure
that we win our battle against
obesity. The first approach is
dietary management. Food
is fuel; make it work for you.
Eating the right foods can make
all the difference in practicing
prevention and promoting
wellness. What you put in your
body can help you go the extra
mile and present your best you!
It’s time to stop making bad food
choices and begin to take steps
toward living healthier lives.
“The truth of the
matter is there
is no secret for
preventing disease
and promoting
wellness. It is as
simple as balancing
the calories we eat
with the calories we
burn...”
Rather than counting calories and
wasting time with yo-yo diets,
let’s begin to look for foods that
are minimally processed, offer
good dietary fiber (read the labels
for fiber content) and have 15
grams of sugar per 100 calories
(to limit sugar). A good selection
of fiber rich foods include cereals
(oatmeal, bran flakes); breads
(whole-wheat, rye); beans (kidney,
garbanzo, navy, black); and fruits
(apples, oranges, dried figs, dried
apricots). Always remember that
caffeine-free beverages and waterrich foods maximize fluid intake
and help to fight fatigue. We are
what we eat – remember the five
food groups: bread, vegetable,
fruit, milk and meat.
The second approach is to
include sufficient exercise in
our daily regimen. This helps
to maintain weight loss and
redistribute body fat into muscle.
Remember to start small with any
exercise program and gradually
increase to avoid possible loss
of interest and discouragement.
Create the exercise commitment
and include it
as a part of your
regular routine.
The American
Aerobics Association
has indicated that
exercise improves
your mental health and
outlook, increases everyday
energy levels, improves sound
sleep and enhances self-esteem.
Consider the following exercise
tips if you are pressed for time:
get off public transportation a few
stops early and walk the rest of the
way to your destination, use the
stairs instead of the elevator, join
a nearby health club and exercise
during your lunch hour, take
advantage of a speaker phone and
get up and move around during
calls, sign up for a community
sports team and finally, loose the
remote!
Our bodies are our holy temples
unto the Lord. Let’s work to
make sure that they are fitly
framed together and pleasing
unto Him. God cares about every
aspect of our lives. His desire for
23
us is that we prosper and be in
health, even as our souls prosper.
Unfortunately, many of us are
contracting diseases that could
be prevented by merely making
a few changes in our daily lives.
The truth of the matter is there is
no secret for preventing disease
and promoting wellness. It is as
simple as balancing the calories
we eat with the calories we burn
and as practical as following our
physician’s advice such that we
may add quality to the days that
God allows.
?
Living Smart Quiz
Are you living smart
Yes No
Check Yes or No next to each question, then check below
to see how you rated.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
I eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits every day.
I eat a least six servings of bread, rice, pasta and cereal every day.
I drink reduced-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt, and seldom eat high fat cheeses.
I rarely eat high-fat meat like bacon, hot dogs, sausage, steak or ground beef.
I take it easy on high-fat baked goods, such as pies, cakes, cookies, sweet rolls and
doughnuts.
I rarely add butter, margarine, oil, sour cream, or mayonnaise to foods when I’m cooking or
at the table.
I rarely (less than twice a week) eat fried foods.
I try to maintain a healthy weight.
I am physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
I usually take the stairs instead of waiting for an elevator.
I try to spend most of my free time being active, instead of watching television or sitting at
the computer.
I never drink alcohol.
How do you rate?
0-4 Yes answers
Diet Alert!
Your diet is probably too high in fat and too low in plant foods like vegetables, fruits and grains.
You may want to take a look at your eating habits and find ways to make some changes.
4-8 Yes answers
Not Bad! You’re halfway there!
You still have a way to go. Look at your No answers to help you decide which areas of your diet
needs to be improved or whether your physical activity level should be increased.
9-12 Yes answers
Good for you! You’re living smart!
Keep up the good habits and keep looking for ways to improve.
References:
American Cancer Society, Guide to Eating Healthy and Being Active: Living Smart. 1999, American Cancer
Society, Inc. www.cancer.org
Kaul, Lalita, Nidiry, Joseph and Williams, Henry, Jr. Multidisciplinary Approach to the Management of Obesity:
Handbook for Physicians and Health Care Professionals. Medical and Engineering Publishers, Inc., 2005.
http://www.mepublishers.com
24
Homeownership: Taking the 1st Step
By Shawn Jones
C
ongratulations
on deciding to
purchase your first home.
Although home ownership
brings a sense of pride, it
can also be a hair-raising
experience. Surely, you
probably have good
reasons in mind. Perhaps
you are ready to settle
down in your community.
Maybe you need more
space for your family. Or,
maybe you want more
freedom than you currently
have as a renter.
From securing a
mortgage loan and, finding
the “right” property and
getting to the settlement
table can create a roller
coaster of emotions. For
most of us, purchasing a
home is the largest financial
investment we will ever
make. Often the emotions
of homeownership
can cloud our business
judgment. Doesn’t it
make sense to become as
completely informed as
possible before you buy a
home? The right real estate
professional can help you
make good sound business
decisions based on your
personal circumstances.
Home Buying Tips
1. Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get pre-qualified
for a mortgage before you start looking. It is very important to
know what you can afford.
2. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be
sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and
closing costs.
3. Be picky, but not unrealistic. There is no perfect home.
4. Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically
what features you want in a home and which are most important
to you.
5. Get help. Hire a Realtor® as a buyer’s representative. A buyer’s
representative is working only for you.
6. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy.
Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second
opinion.
7. Decide when you could move. When is your lease up?
8. Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the
idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this
home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home
you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that suit you
best.
9. Don’t let yourself be “house poor”. If you max yourself out
to buy the biggest home you can afford, you will not have any
money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for
other financial goals.
10. Don’t be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and, if possible, get a
warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.
REALTOR® Magazine Online (Source)
25
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
By Sandra L. Thompson
These days, your personal and financial information can be as good as cash to a fraud artist. Here are some
things that you can do to keep your identity to yourself.
Protect your Social Security number, credit card and debit card numbers, PINs, passwords and
other personal information. Never provide this information in response to an unsolicited phone
call, fax, letter or e-mail—no matter how friendly or official the circumstances may appear. In case your
wallet gets lost or stolen, only carry the identification, checks, credit cards or debit cards you really
need. The rest, including your Social Security card, are best kept in a safe place.
1.
Protect your mail. Chances are that your mail carrier will deliver a credit card or bank statement,
an envelope containing a check, or other items that can be very valuable to a thief. For incoming
mail, use a locked mailbox or other secure location, such as a P.O. box. If your mailbox isn’t locked or
in a secure location, try to promptly remove mail that’s been delivered or move the mailbox to a safer
place. For outgoing mail, deposit it in a U.S. Postal Service blue collection box, hand it to a mail carrier
or take it to the post office.
2.
Carefully dispose of your trash. Thieves known as “dumpster divers” pick through garbage
looking for pieces of paper containing Social Security numbers, bank account information and
other details they can use to commit fraud. Your best protection against dumpster divers is to shred
these items before throwing them out.
3.
Keep a close watch on your bank account statements and credit card bills. Monitor these statements
each month and contact your financial institution immediately if there’s a discrepancy in your
records or if you notice something suspicious. Contact your institution if a bank statement or credit
card bill doesn’t arrive on time.
4.
Avoid ID theft on the Internet. You can do a lot to protect yourself while shopping, banking,
e-mailing or surfing on the Web. For example, never provide bank account or other personal
information in response to an unsolicited e-mail or when visiting a Web site that doesn’t explain how
your personal information would be protected.
5.
Periodically review your credit report. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
allows you to get one free credit report each year from each of the three nationwide credit
bureaus—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—with just a single phone call, letter or e-mail. Review
your credit report for warning signs of actual or potential ID theft, including mention of a credit card,
loan or lease you never signed up for, and requests for a copy of your credit record from someone you
don’t recognize.
6.
Your personal and financial information can be as good as cash to a criminal. So, take ID theft seriously.
Start by following our simple suggestions for keeping your sensitive information under wraps. It’s a lot
easier to rethink your habits and behaviors now than to repair the damage after identity theft occurs.
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On the Court with Freddie Stanback III
Freddie Stanback, III is a member of Reid Temple
AME Church. He is the son of Fred and Connie
Stanback and the grandson of Oreese Stanback
who are also members of Reid Temple. Freddie
graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School in
Arlington, VA last year with a 3.3 GPA and received
several athletic scholarship offers from Division
I schools to play basketball. He accepted a full
Athletic Scholarship to Loyola College in Baltimore,
Maryland. Freddie excels in the sport of basketball
and was recruited by the new Head Coach at Loyola,
Jimmy Patsos who is the former assistant coach
to Gary Williams, head coach at the University of
Maryland, College Park.
Freddie was named to the Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team, the league
office announced on March 3, 2005. Stanback, 6’5”
power forward from Lanham, Maryland, joins C.J.
Anderson (Manhattan), Ryan Stilphen (Marist),
Jason Thompson (Rider) and Jack McClinton (Siena)
on this year’s All-Rookie Squad. He was runner up
behind C.J. Anderson who won Rookie of the Year.
“Freddie was the cornerstone of our
recruiting class a year ago,” says Loyola
Head Coach Jimmy Patsos “He
hung in there all year and did a
very good job playing a lot of
minutes as a freshman.”
Stanback netted double
digits in 12 games during
his rookie campaign. He was
named the MAAC Rookie
of the Week once this year
when he scored 19 points in
non-conference play against
Pittsburgh. He finished the regular
season with team-high 139 rebounds,
with 36 assists and 18 steals and is the team’s second
leading scorer. He also averaged 9.6 points per
game and connected on a team-best 35 three-point
field goals. Freddie scored 19 points against both
Navy and Marist and pulled down a season-best 10
rebounds at Manhattan.
Before Loyola, Freddie won three varsity letters
and two state championships at Bishop O’ Connell
... was team captain both junior and senior seasons
... led team to WCAC title with season averages of 18
points, eight rebounds and four assists senior year
... named first-team all-state as a sophomore, junior
and senior ...named Virginia Player of the Year
senior year ... was also on the All-Met Team senior
season ... named team Most Valuable Player senior
year by his coaches ...
also made Top-150 list
for the McDonald’s
All-America game….
selected to play in the
Jordan Brand game but
decided because of the
experience he would
gain, chose to accept the
offer to play on the USA
18 and Under Junior
Olympic Team in the
Albert Schweitzer Tournament
held in Manheim, Germany
where he was selected as the Best
Defensive Player for the USA
Team.
The first organized basketball
team Freddie played on was the
Reid Temple Basketball Team in the
summer of 1992 at the age of 6.
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For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed God is ready to help you
right now.
Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)
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