November 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

Transcription

NOVEMBER 2015
WHY DOES THE CHURCH
WANT MY MONEY?
WHAT’S
INSIDE:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Orlana Darkins Drewery
SOUTHPOINTE
MONROEVILLE
WAYNESBURG
MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Senior Pastor
VISIT WAYNESBURG.EDU/GRADUATE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rev. John A. Knight,
Staff Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Estelle Christian, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Veniecia Robinson, Chief Financial Officer
Director of Communications
FEATURES
Do You Live to Encourage Others? 2
Local Student Crowned
Miss Lincoln University 10
The Business of Being Christian 12
The Intentional Giver 14
LESS STRESS THIS
THANKSGIVING
ANDREW
MCCUTCHEON:
THE FACE OF
THE PIRATES
PAGE 41
Min. Dwayne Fulton
Director, Fine Arts Department
Rev. Trini L. Massie, Minister of Worship
COUNSELING
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
EDUCATION
NURSING
Audrey Portis, Accounting Assistant
Saving and Spending Tips
for Millennials 36
Three Steps to Improve
Your Credit 38
PHOTO
RECAPS
PAGE 34
Rev. Sharon Dennard, Dean of M.A.T.A.
BUSINESS
Less Stress this
Thanksgiving: 7 Easy Steps
to Your Best Turkey Yet 34
PAGES 20-24
Rev. Linda Oliver, Minister of Special Projects
Robert Carter, Maintenance Supervisor
How to Celebrate
the Holidays for Less 32
Ways to Give Back
Rev. Robert James
Youth Pastor & Min. of Technology
Rev. Sherry Brooks-Faulkner
Administrative Assistant
Striking a Balance: How to
Get a Great Workout Without
Sacrificing your Hairdo 24
Easy Time-Saving
Holiday Survival Tips 30
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
Dania Arrey
Deneen Childress
Paula Cox
Susan Frazier Delaney
Darnell Drewery
Garfield Griffin
Charles Hammond
Merecedes J. Howze
Lora Hubbard
Tiffany Huff
Michelle D. Jackson
Shaunda Miles
Laura V. Norman
Ray Porter Jr.
Dr. Anthony Robins
Veniecia Robinson
Minerva White
ADVERTISING
Deb Cavrak, Graphic Design
Mount Ararat Counseling Center 21
Beyond Vitamin C: New Ways to
Strengthen Your Immune System 28
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Camille Clarke
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
Rev. Sharon Dennard
Merecedes J. Howze
Deacon Kathy Hunt
Michelle D. Jackson
Deacon Claudia Mason
Deacon Dwight Mosley
Ray Porter Jr.
Dawn Williams
Our graduate and professional programs are designed to serve
working professionals in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.
The New Pittsburgh Courier 16
Save Your Money and Health 26
MANAGING EDITORS
Shaunda E. Miles
Dr. Anthony Robins
Minerva White
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Ask A Deacon 8
ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Scene Queen: The Walk 41
Andrew McCutcheon:
The Face of the Pirates 42
Mount Ararat Celebrates
109 Years of Ministry & Service
20-24
Food Bank 25
Activity Center 27
Mount Moments 29
TH E MO U NT O CT O BE R 2 0 15
SEVEN FIELDS
ADVISORY BOARD
Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis
LIFESTYLE
1
BY R EV ER END DR . W ILLI A M H. CURTIS
THE MO UNT N OV E MBE R 2 015
I
2
n my book, Dressed For Victory: Putting On
the Full Armor of God, I discuss the Apostle
Paul and how many of us—even Paul
himself—might question how we could
possibly be an encouraging example to
anyone. He’s in prison, so why would any of
us, or any of his peers during his time, want to
follow his example? How would his revelations
as he observes his captor, the Roman soldier,
inspire any of us? And, further, why wouldn’t
we question what he observes with the soldier?
In reality, Paul went on to inspire many. He
advocated for others and was an effective
ambassador for his people and his faith—
trusted, revered, and respected. His story, instead
of becoming one that would upset people,
became one that encouraged others.
In chapter 10 of my book, I talk deeply about
how many would-be mentors would never see
their inspiration through to fruition if they gave
their mistakes too much thought. Many times,
it is those very mistakes or mishaps that inspire
people, yet most people will stop themselves
from sharing these valuable stories simply
because they feel shame or don’t want to relive a
difficult time. When you rebound from challenges, however, you do inspire others. We can learn
from Paul and see clearly that the pressures in
life are abundant, and the situations that we find
ourselves in might not always be desirable, but
we can come back from adversity to incite others
to greatness. At the very least, we can inspire
others to move out of their less than desirable
situation into a better one, knowing that, someday, they too could have a valuable experience to
share with others.
God does work in mysterious ways. We hear
that all the time, and we usually see it as a bit of
a cliché or a trite statement when people don’t
know quite what to say. However, I maintain that
He does work through us in ways that we don’t
always understand right away. If we can see the
value in whatever situation we find ourselves in
and understand that, with His guidance, we will
emerge better for it, we can become His instruments of joy, hope, and, at a very human level,
the very example of what to do in dire or difficult situations. This is how we can inspire and
encourage others.
It is easy to forget that our experiences can
be inspiring, especially when we are in recovery mode ourselves or have moved on to less
challenging days. Also, when we are searching
for a direction in our own lives, it does require
some effort to reach out to others and share
experiences. In these times, we must remember
to live in Paul’s example—to put on the Armor
of God—and to inspire and encourage when
the opportunities present themselves. As I say
in my book, “Remember, He tells us and shows
us that it is not position, problems, pressure, or
predicaments in life that provide guidance and
good examples; it is the capacity, the space, and
the faith you have given to God in your life so
that God might show Himself through you and to
reach others through you.”
Facebook: WHCMinistries
Twitter: @PasCurtis
Website: WHCMinistries.org
“...IT IS NOT POSITION, PROBLEMS,
PRESSURE, OR PREDICAMENTS IN
LIFE THAT PROVIDE GUIDANCE
AND GOOD EXAMPLES;
IT IS THE CAPACITY,
THE SPACE, AND THE FAITH YOU
HAVE GIVEN TO GOD IN YOUR
LIFE SO THAT GOD MIGHT SHOW
HIMSELF THROUGH YOU AND
TO REACH OTHERS
THROUGH YOU.”
TH E MO U NT NO V EM BER 2 015
DO YOU LIVE
TO ENCOURAGE
OTHERS?
3
CONGRATULATIONS...
O
O
PR
TO ONE OF OUR YOUNG ADULTS FROM MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST
CHURCH, BRADLEY HILL, THE 2015 HOMECOMING KING OF EDINBORO
UNIVERSITY OF PA. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!
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Special Guests Include:
THE M O UN T O CTO B ER 20 15
[AND MANY MORE!]
6
Dr. Taunya M.
Tinsley, Director,
Mount Ararat
Counseling Center,
Pittsburgh, PA
Rev. Dr. William H.
Curtis, Senior Pastor,
Mount Ararat Baptist
Church, Pittsburgh,
PA
Dr. Lance Watson,
Senior Pastor,
St. Paul’s Baptist
Church, Richmond,
VA
Dr. Marcus Cosby,
Senior Pastor,
Wheeler Avenue
Baptist Church,
Houston, TX
Larry Fitzgerald,
Arizona Cardinals
Dr. Janice Hilliard,
Vice President,
National Basketball
Association
Johnny Shelton,
Team Chaplain,
Baltimore Ravens
Be the first to be informed when tickets are available
OR TO REQUEST SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION!
SEND AN EMAIL WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO [email protected] OR CALL 412-441-3501
ASK A
Q:
DEACON
8
What does Mount Ararat Baptist Church
do with the money it receives?
This section is designed to answer questions that you may have about the Bible or
Christianity. In the church, Deacons function as servants, ministering to the church body
in practical ways, including, but not limited to: discipleship, assisting with baptism, prayer
and visitation to the sick. If you have a question that you would like one of our Deacons to
answer, please submit your question to: [email protected]
You ask what does the church
(Mount Ararat) do with the money we
receive? We pay our bills, according
to expenditures incurred against
the Church approved budget. The
following budget categories listed here
represent just a few of the approved
budgeted categories. They are:
salaries and benefits, utilities, office
supplies, and equipment, facilities and
property maintenance. Please keep in
mind, for accountability purposes, the
Church approved Board of Trustees
provide excellence in the oversight
of church finances and facilities
management. Additionally, the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
gives the church periodic updates on
church revenues and expenditures
throughout the year.
Obviously, the budgeted
categories mentioned are primarily
financed by the monies received
through Tithes and Offerings.
However, there is something more
that Mount Ararat does with the
money it receives that exemplifies its
corporate Stewardship responsibility.
Mount Ararat is a Tithing church, we
are a church that does not just receive,
but through our community tithing
program we give to others outside of
the walls of our church. Additionally,
we feed the poor and our seniors
on a monthly basis through our
Caring and Sharing ministry, and
the Food Bank. We give through
our benevolence ministry, our
Thanksgiving meals, the Christmas
makeover to where we reach out to
deserving families and share the
love of Christmas, and we support
the efforts of our youth ministry in
the giving of back to school supplies
to young boys and girls throughout
various neighborhoods who otherwise
might not be able to afford them,
and we have an annual church and
community wide picnic. Thanks be
to God for a membership that is not
inward focused on our own needs,
but it is a church that “cares.” It is a
church that looks outward and sees
SUBMIT TED BY: DEACONS CL AUDI A M ASON,
K ATH Y HUN T, DW IGHT MOSLEY
the importance of embracing and
supporting the community at large.
I don’t know about you but for us it
is more important to do what God
has commanded us to do in regards
to financial stewardship--the giving
of the Tithes. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says
“Each one must give as he has decided
in his heart, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver.” ESV
In Malachi 3:7-10 God asked
a question and then gives us the
answer: “Will a mere mortal rob God?
Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How
are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and
offerings. You are under a curse - your
whole nation because you are robbing
me. Bring the whole tithes into the
storehouse that there may be food in
my house. Test me in this,” says the
Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not
throw open the floodgates of heaven
and pour out so much blessing that
there will not be room enough to
store it.” (NIV). We want our church
to be able to operate in a way that is
beneficial to the community we are
located and to meet their needs both
spiritually and financially. If we as
members do what God requires of
us then we know that he is pleased
and will continue to bless us due to
our obedience to him. The blessing
may not always be financial but it will
always be for our good.
This is the promise of God
through our sacrificial giving, “Give,
and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured
to you.”” Luke 6:38 NIV. We are
expected to be good stewards with
whatever God has blessed us with,
including our money. We are to be
good stewards of our time, talents
and the Tithes. And one day we will
stand before God to give an account
of what we’ve done with what He has
entrusted to us. And He will say, “Well
done, my good and faithful Servant!”
A:
This is a great question
that many people may
wonder about. Churches
allocate their money
differently depending upon the
needs of their specific church. Your
question also makes it a good time
to specifically discuss how Mount
Ararat uses it’s Tithes and Offerings
and how the Congregation is involved
in this process. The Tithes and
Offerings that you give as well as other
contributions given to the church are
used to finance the day to day church
operations and its ministry activities.
The purpose of our giving is to ensure
that God’s vision for Mount Ararat is
realized. The church as a whole is a
hospital for the poor and the sick, and
a place to reverence God collectively;
however, it costs to run a church.
The Bible clearly speaks
about our Christian Stewardship
responsibility. First Peter 4:10
teaches, “As each has received a gift,
use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God’s varied grace.” In
other words use your gift of Time,
your gift of Talent, and your Tithes
that God has freely given to you to
glorify His name. As members of the
Body of Jesus Christ (Mount Ararat
Baptist Church) you/we are called
to be good stewards of our finances.
This not only applies to you but
also to Church Leadership and the
Congregation at large.
No church, home, business or
any establishment can function
without a consistent flow of income,
i.e. MONEY. If you think about how
our church functions, although we
are not a business, we meet to get
the congregational approval of the
budget. The church depends on the
financial contributions given by the
congregation in order to operate.
Malachi 3:10 states, “Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse, that there
may be meat in mine house…” God
wants his household to be provided
for in order to carry out the mission of
the church.
9
MISS LINCOLN
UNIVERSITY
2015-2016
BY MER ECEDES J. HOW ZE
10
Her platform as Miss Lincoln University is clear. In Swahili, Imani means
“faith.” She plans to remain genuine,
and wants fellow students to have
‘faith’ in her.
According to Milliones-Roman,
those are the essentials to the college
student experience at Lincoln. “I care
about their journey and I want them
to be involved in mine,” said Milliones-Roman about the 1600 student body.
“The goal is four years. Although we
are only here for four years, essentially,
we are preparing for the rest of our
lives,” said Milliones-Roman.
The 21-year-old credits four key
things with her undergraduate collegiate success: faith, family, early education, and financial aid. A member of
Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Milliones-Roman says despite her name’s
meaning, she had a hard time understanding what it means to actually
have faith. “He put faith in my heart so
I could learn to have faith, and wait on
His guidance and His will,” said Miss
Lincoln. “Pastor RJ and Pastor Curtis
have both been instrumental in the
growth of my faith.”
Locally, the name Milliones rings
many bells. Milliones-Roman’s grandparents, Margaret and Jake Milliones,
whom she never met, were former
school board directors, educators, and
activists.
“I feel like having the name
Milliones in Pittsburgh prepared me.
Everyone knew my family and I was
well taken care of. Those connections
and networking really helped with my
social life.”
Her high school years also played a
significant role. In 2012, Milliones-Roman was a part of the first graduating
class of Pittsburgh Barack Obama
Academy of International Studies.
Pittsburgh Obama is where she says
she was best prepared for college, with
most credit going to Assistant Superintendent and Principal Wayne Walters.
“Dr. Walters opened up my eyes to a
lot of things culturally, socially, and
academically,” said Milliones-Roman.
From paying for her black college
tour to traveling abroad, Milliones-Roman said, “Pittsburgh Public Schools
prepared me. Because of the International Baccalaureate program, my
first year of college was a piece of cake.
Some of my counterparts were struggling in classes where I was like, ‘This
is easy’.”
Like thousands of other Pittsburgh
Public Schools graduates, Milliones-Roman was eager to take advantage
of the Pittsburgh Promise when she
headed to college. “The Pittsburgh
promise is the reason why I am not in
debt. I have no student loans,” said
Milliones-Roman.
The Pittsburgh Promise is a
last-dollar scholarship for qualifying
Pittsburgh Public Schools students
that provides a maximum scholarship
amount of $30,000. “I am eternally
grateful to the Promise. We depend on
that for our education.”
Surrounded with lots of love and
support, Milliones-Roman has advice
for every young girl, “Anybody can be
me! I haven’t done anything unreachable. My dreams became reality
because I had people around me who
believed in me. Pittsburgh has the
same resources; you just have to take
full advantage of them.”
Upon graduation, Milliones-Roman plans to attend graduate school to
major in Educational Leadership.
F.A.I.T.H.
Finding ourselves
Achieving academic success
Interacting with the Community
Time management
Humbling ourselves
Milliones-Roman created
an acronym for her name’s
meaning. FAITH stands
for: Finding ourselves.
Achieving academic
success. Interacting with
the Community. Time
management. Humbling
ourselves.
LOCAL STUDENT CROWNED
On Sunday, October 4, Imani Milliones-Roman was crowned Miss
Lincoln University 2015-2016. The
historical black university’s coronation comes after a lengthy selection
process and pageant. Contestants
are judged on oratory skills, talent,
evening gown, student vote and
an interview. Milliones-Roman’s
versatility and positive spirit put her
ahead of the pack. For her talent
she performed a piano medley
including Beethoven, Alicia Keys,
Sam Smith, and Forever Jones.
11
“We are the
ninety-nine
percent.”
The Business of Being Christian
O
12
“Beware! Don’t be greedy for
what you don’t have. Real life is
not measured by how much we own
. . . Yes, a person is a fool to store
up earthly wealth but not have a
rich relationship with G od.”
n September 17, 2011 in
New York City, adherents
to the Occupy movement
first shouted the slogan,
“We are the ninety-nine
percent.” They were protesting the
concentration of wealth in just one
percent of the world’s population.
Tent cities across the globe sprung up
disrupting commerce and denouncing
elitism. The glaring disparity between
economic classes was exposed. Steve
Scalici comments, “Believers seem to
possess the same attitude and approach
to money as does the society in general.
They want more of it because they
are convinced it will solve most of
their problems.” These questions
come to mind: How should a believer
live in a material world? Is attaining
wealth compatible with Christianity?
Are riches to be disdained? Will I
ever have enough? Will it continue
to be enough? How do we avoid the
character-crippling attitudes that mark
prosperity as the only barometer to
gauge accomplishment?
Between it’s acquisition,
conservation and
allocation we become
subject to numerous
snares and temptations.
Our difficult duty is
to honor Christ in a
culture of affluence.
Wealth is
neither good nor evil.
Although morally
neutral, money is
highly ranked as
both a stressor and
motivator in life.
Material resources
can be used to
forge and cement
eternal, spiritual
relationships
where the real and
BY R EV. SH A RON DENNA R D
permanent value of life everlasting
is found. Debra Smith Pegues offers,
“Your overall financial vision as God’s
child should be to be an excellent
manager of the money God entrusts
to you. Your goals versus your vision
are the long-term and short- term
achievements you plan to accomplish
in order to make your vision come to
pass. Your goals should emanate from
the heart of God rather than your own
fleshly nature.” Accordingly money,
which has no intrinsic righteous
weight, becomes a force and means for
blessing humanity and glorifying God.
It is easy to misinterpret the
worth of capital. For some, having it
denotes:
— Status - wherein it symbolizes
superiority to other people
— Security - whereby spending is
conservative and hoarding is acceptable
— Independence - thereby severing
societal and relational ties
The Scriptures contain 2,350 verses
about money and finances. Our Lord
dedicated 16 of the 38 parables He
told to this very subject. He sharply
condemned the inordinate affection
for it, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for
what you don’t have. Real life is not
measured by how much we own . . . Yes,
a person is a fool to store up earthly
wealth but not have a rich relationship
with God” Luke 12:13, 21.
Our personal finances are
private and spiritual. Deception is
an affront to divine omniscience.
God is continually connecting the
dots between our profession and
our practice. Dishonesty never ever
confines itself to just one domain of our
existence. Jesus forewarns, “Unless you
are faithful in small matters, you won’t
be faithful in large ones. If you cheat
even a little, you won’t be honest with
greater responsibilities. And if you are
untrustworthy about worldly wealth,
who will trust you with the true riches
of heaven? Luke 16:10-11” The ‘small
thing’ of managing property, money
or possessions is indicative of one’s
faithfulness in the outright ‘big thing’
of the spiritually committed life. We
are directly responsible to Him for our
administration of both God’s material
and intangible resources. Apparently,
Christ thinks of service in the fullest of
terms such as attendance to, obedience
and submission. Thus he emphasizes,
“Neither you nor anyone else can serve
two masters. You cannot serve both
God and money” Luke 16:13. Each
makes demands upon us – only one
of which we are capable of satisfying.
Being controlled by any possession
and/or with the attainment of wealth
will cause us to patronize God. When
Jesus is our Master we manage our
resources so that they work for His
glory.
“Money is the key to happiness”
may be an American creed. Rhetoric
like, “Greed is good” is a mantra on
Wall Street. Nevertheless, wealth is
a poor and ineffective god. From the
beginning, the Godhead conferred to
take better care of us than we deserve
or expect. Financial expert Ron Blue
explains the Christian ethic, “Don’t
plan God out of your finances. Because
of your faithfulness with regard to
what he has given you, you will hear
him say, Well done, good and faith
servant.” Those of us who call
ourselves by God’s name believe,
think, give and live differently than
the culture. Without regard for our
economic strata and with a renewed
holy passion, our resources are
designated a trust for which we will
be held accountable; a tool utilized
to serve others and a testimony of
loyal love for God, our provider.
13
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15
MOUNT MAGAZINE NEWS PARTNER
newpittsburghcourieronline.com
BY COUR IER N EWSROOM
PITTSBURGH—The University
of Pittsburgh Press is proud to
announce that its author Ross
Gay is among five finalists for the
National Book Award in the poetry
category for his collection Catalog of
Unabashed Gratitude. The winner,
who will receive $10,000, will be
announced on November 18.
Gay described his third collection
as a sustained meditation on that
which goes away—loved ones, the
seasons, the earth as we know it.
“This is a book that studies the
wisdom of the garden and orchard,”
he said, “those places where all—
death, sorrow, loss—is converted into
what might, with patience, nourish
us.”ALA Booklist had this praise
for the book: “These are accessible,
alive poems that give one the sense
of sitting and talking in the poet’s
kitchen. Often vulnerable and selfconscious in tone, they dig deep in
the dirt of memory and unearth
powerful images.”
ROSS GAY
(COURTESY PHOTO)
16
COURIER COMES OUT BIG AGAIN IN PENNSYLVANIA
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
BY ASHLEY JOHNSON, COUR IER STA FF W R ITER
Gay also teaches in the lowresidency MFA program at New
England College and is a Cave
Canem Fellow.
The New Pittsburgh Courier,
America’s best weekly, proves once
again that it is one of Pennsylvania’s
as well. On Oct. 15, the Pennsylvania
NewsMedia Association (PNA)
Foundation announced the
recipients of its 2015 Newspaper
of the Year Awards. The Courier
earned seven awards in its division,
including a tie for second place for
Newspaper of the Year for weekly
publications. The Wellsboro Gazette
also won second place.
Along with Newspaper of the
Year for weeklies, the Courier
also won first place in its division
in the categories of Advertising
Excellence, Editorial & Commentary
Excellence, Diversity, Promotion
and Community Service, as well
as honorable mention in the News
Presentation Excellence category.
The Newspaper of the Year
Awards contest showcases the work
of an entire news organization’s staff
while recognizing the outstanding
work across all departments and
including all products, with an
emphasis on overall excellence.
“The PNA Foundation is
delighted to honor Pennsylvania’s
outstanding news media companies
through our Newspaper of the Year
contest. Excellence is recognized
for not only news coverage and
presentation, but also advertising,
photography, diversity, special
sections, promotion, community
service and video,” said Melinda
Condon, CMP, executive director of
the PNA Foundation.
“Through these awards,
we are able to showcase and
reward the amazing work that is
produced each day and week by
our member newspapers. Through
their products and services, PA
newspapers continue to be vital
sources of information with great
impact on their communities.”
Newspapers from the greater
Pittsburgh area proved to be strong
during this competition. The Beaver
County Times won first place for
multi-day publications and the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette won second
place.
This is the fourth year that
WINNING STAFF--FROM LEFT: STEPHAN BROADUS,
CHRIS MORROW, BRENDA HILL, ULISH CARTER, ROD
DOSS (STANDING), KATHLEEN BRADLEY YOCUM,
KATHY NEELY AND ASHLEY JOHNSON. MISSING FROM
THE PHOTO ARE ERIC GAINES AND ALLISON PALM.
(PHOTO BY ERIC GAINES/FILE)
PITT PRESS POET ONE OF 5 FINALISTS
FOR NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
According to the American
Poetry Review, “I’m bowled over by
how Ross Gay reaches again and
again toward stating what’s beautiful,
what’s sweet, what’s most emotionally
moving to him: he is genuinely
‘unabashed.’ He is definitely
interested in the sentimental, but
the poems don’t feel remotely treacly
to me. They feel bold and wild and
weird.”
Gay is assistant professor of English
at Indiana University and the author
of two other collections: Against
Which and Bringing the Shovel
Down. His poems have appeared
in American Poetry Review, Atlanta
Review, Harvard Review, Gulf
Coast, and Ploughshares, among
other publications.
17
OPRAH GOES ON DIET, GAINS
WEIGHT WATCHERS DEAL
BY JOSEPH PISANI, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
THE ASSOCI ATED PR ESS
the Courier has participated in this
contest. Last year, the newspaper won
ten awards including Newspaper of
the Year for weeklies.
The awards will be presented at
a brunch during the PNA’s annual
convention, Nov. 11-13, at the Hotel
Hershey in Hershey, Pa.
For more information on the PNA
or the Newspaper of the Year Awards,
visit www.panewsmedia.org.
NEW YORK (AP) _ PBS’ popular
“Finding Your Roots” series,
temporarily shelved after an
episode omitted references to the
slaveholding past of Ben Affleck’s
ancestor at the actor’s request, will
return to public television for its third
18
season in January.
The show has hired a new factchecker and two new genealogists
as part of its reforms, said the
network’s Beth Hoppe on Monday.
PBS had suspended the series
after determining that the show’s
producers violated standards by
allowing Affleck undue influence on
its content and failing to inform the
network of his request.
“It has become a more
transparent process and a more
rigorous process,” Hoppe said,
“but essentially at its core these are
personal stories about people who are
finding out about their histories. That
hasn’t changed.”
“Finding Your Roots,” which is
hosted and written by Henry Louis
Gates Jr., returns on Jan. 5. Julianne
Moore, Keenen Ivory Wayans,
Sen. John McCain and television
producers Norman Lear and Shonda
Rhimes are among the 28 new
celebrities whose backgrounds are
traced.
Given the sensitivity of the
Affleck case, the series makes
certain to mention if its experts find
slaveholding backgrounds for any of
the celebrities featured this season,
even if that isn’t a central part of the
story being told, Hoppe said. That’s
the case with several people in the
new season, but PBS would not reveal
which ones.
Hoppe said Gates has done
everything PBS has asked to ensure
the show has no further problems.
To boost its earnings, the company announced $100 million in cost cuts earlier
this year.
Winfrey’s weight has yo-yoed over
the years, and she’s been very open publicly about her struggles with dieting.
In fact, weight was a frequent subject of
her talk show, which ended nearly five
years ago after 25 years on the air. In 1988,
a thin Winfrey famously walked out on
stage wheeling 67 pounds of fat in a wagon, representing the weight she lost. But
her weight has fluctuated over time.
Her weight was still an issue as “The
Oprah Winfrey Show” came to an end.
She told the TV interviewer Barbara
Walters that one of her goals was to “make
peace with the whole weight thing.”
Since then, Winfrey has talked about being uncomfortable with being the subject
on the cover of her magazine because of
her weight gain.
She now can trade weight loss tips
with her best friend, Gayle King. The host
of TV news program “CBS This Morning”
told her Instagram followers five weeks
ago that she joined Weight Watchers. Last
week, King indicated in an Instagram post
that she had lost more than seven pounds
on the plan.
Representative for Winfrey and King
did not respond to requests for an interview.
Meanwhile, Weight Watchers is hoping to tap into Winfrey’s ability to turn
ordinary products into the latest trend.
A stamp of approval from Winfrey
during her talk show was powerful. Books
she recommended skyrocketed up best
seller lists and products shown on her holiday gift guide episodes would sometimes
sell out.
But it might be harder to get her
message across now. “She has less contact
with people on a daily basis,” said Craig
Garthwaite, an assistant professor of
strategy at Northwestern’s Kellogg School
of Management. In 2012, for example,
Winfrey relaunched her book club, but it
doesn’t hold the same power. “Most people don’t know that it exists,” said Garthwaite.
Besides the OWN network, Winfrey reaches fans through O, The Oprah
Magazine and Oprah.com. She also has a
strong social media following with more
than 29 million followers on Twitter, 11
million on Facebook and 4 million on
Instagram.
The Weight Watchers endorsement is
a departure for Winfrey. Throughout her
talk show reign, Winfrey did not make
money off endorsements, Garthwaite said.
Since leaving the talk show, she has also
lent her name to Starbucks Corp., which
sells Oprah-branded tea drinks.
Winfrey is buying about 6.4 million
shares of Weight Watchers at $6.79 per
share. She will also receive options to buy
an additional 5 percent of the company’s
fully diluted shares. She is also joining
the company’s board.
Shares of New York-based Weight
Watchers International Inc. soared
6.68, or 98 percent, to $13.47 in afternoon trading Monday.
Associated Press writer Michelle Chapman in
New York also contributed to this report.
PBS BRINGING BACK ‘FINDING YOUR ROOTS’ AFTER
BEN AFFLECK SCANDAL SHELVED SERIES
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey, who
has publicly struggled with her weight
for decades, is going on a diet again. But
this time she stands to gain a lot of money
from her efforts.
Weight Watchers signed a five-year
deal with the former talk show host.
Winfrey, a co-owner of OWN: The Oprah
Winfrey Network, is paying about $43.2
million for a 10 percent stake in the weight
loss company.
The deal is already paying off: Weight
Watchers shares doubled after the partnership was announced, earning Winfrey
more than $40 million on paper.
Winfrey will use the Weight Watchers mobile app and work with a personal
coach, the company said. She has also
agreed to let Weight Watchers use her
name, image and likeness for its products
and services. Additionally, she will make
appearances on the company’s behalf.
“Weight Watchers has given me the
tools to begin to make the lasting shift
that I and so many of us who are struggling with weight have longed for,” Winfrey said in a statement. “I believe in the
program so much I decided to invest in
the company and partner in its evolution.”
Weight Watchers is no stranger to celebrities. It has paid singers Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Hudson to promote its
plan. But the deal with Winfrey is a shift
to focus on overall health and wellness,
rather than just dropping pounds.
“We are expanding our purpose from
focusing on weight loss alone to more
broadly helping people lead a healthier, happier life,” said Weight Watchers
President and CEO Jim Chambers said in
a statement.
The company has been hurt by the
popularity of fitness trackers and other
health apps. MyFitnessPal lets users track
steps, workouts and the amount of calories they eat for free on its app. Buying a
FitBit tracker unlocks similar free online
tools. Weight Watchers charges for its online food tracking, and weekly meetings
and weigh ins have been a hallmark of its
plan. Its shares were down 73 percent for
the year through Friday. The company’s
earnings have fallen every year since 2011.
19
PHOTO
RECAP
MOUNT ARARAT
CELEBRATES 109
YEARS OF MINISTRY
& SERVICE
20
Mount Ararat celebrated 109
Years of Ministry and Service
on Saturday, October 10 and
Sunday, October 11, 2015. The
worship services featured a
powerful sermon by Bishop Walter
Scott Thomas, Sr., Mount Ararat’s
Choir “Majestic Praise” and Dance
Ensemble “MADE In His Image.”
The celebration also featured a
processional of our youth and
seniors and included recognition
ceremonies for long-term
members who helped establish
the strong foundation the church
continues to build upon today.
A special thank you to our Deacon
Board, Staff, Ministries and
Volunteers that made our church
anniversary a very special one.
21
REV. JOHN KNIGHT
PHOTO
RECAP
MOUNT ARARAT
CELEBRATES
109 YEARS OF
MINISTRY &
SERVICE
[continued]
22
BISHOP THOMAS,
MRS. & REV.
CURTIS
23
BY CA MILLE CL A R K E
I am probably the wrong person to write
about this topic. However, if not me,
than who? One of my biggest pet peeves
is hearing the excuse “I don’t workout because I don’t want to sweat my hair out.”
This is the answer many of my African
American sisters give when questioned
about why they don’t workout. Believe it
or not I get a similar response from my
mother. I know some of you are saying
“that couldn’t be! I’ve seen her at the
gym.” Yes, you have…but she like most of
us is challenged by our hairdo. To this
day when we talk if I should ask “Did you
workout today?”…Her response (one that
I’ve come to know as a constant)…“No I
workout on Thursday, Friday and Saturday because I get my hair done on Saturday”. I smirk and brush the comment off
as an excuse. Is it an excuse? Should I be
more sensitive to hair care needs? That
is, should one’s hair do impede one from
getting the necessary workout that fosters good health? As a seasoned trainer
with years of experience, I have struggled with my clients and potential clients
over being compliant to workouts due to
challenges of the “do.” I had a client who
24
even scheduled her sessions around hair
appointments. Finally after struggle, she
gave up and opted to go natural because
she did not want to be a slave to her
hairstyle. Throughout the years I have
received several questions asking how
I maintained my fresh do with working
out as much as I do. This month I will
tackle how to workout and save your do.
I’ll share my secrets.
African American women who
chooses not to workout due to hair challenges could be at increased risk for poor
health outcomes. The African American population is disproportionately
challenged by most chronic diseases to
include cancer, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. All of these can be
prevented with increased physical activity. African American women just cannot
afford to let the excuse “I don’t want
to mess up my hair” keep them from
meeting the recommended guidelines for
physical activity. A survey conducted by
Wake Forest University showed that 31%
of the women surveyed were less active
on purpose out of concern for their hair
and style maintenance. This is a valid
WEIGHT TRAIN OVER CARDIO
So how can you save your do and still
workout? First change your workout
routine. If you have been following my
articles you know I am a big advocate
on choosing weight training over cardio.
The benefits of weight training for a
woman’s physique, especially an African
American woman, is tremendous (i.e.,
increased metabolism, toned physique,
decreased belly fat and improved mood).
I recommend weight training 3-5 times
per week. Use weights that allow you to
do 12-15 reps and about 4 sets. Split your
body parts (e.g., Back/Bi, Shoulder/Tri,
Legs OR Full body routine) every other
day.
SCHEDULE CARDIO AROUND
HAIR APPOINTMENT
If you just have to do cardio, schedule
cardio the day of your hair appointment.
Lifting 3-5 times per week and one day of
cardio are perfect as the effective weight
loss regime.
daily caloric burn without sweating
your hair out.
WEAR A “SAVE YOUR DO”
WRAP
I have tried this. It’s not a save all,
but it does allow my hairstyle to last a
workout. I sweat in my head so it still
leaves my hair kinky in the middle,
especially if I need a relaxer. My stylist Karmyn has warned that I should
not wrap my hair while working out (if
doing cardio like running) because the
wrap will cause my hair to sweat and
leave my edges damp. Instead, she
says to wrap my hair after working out,
while getting ready. If I wrap the edges
and let it dry or add heat then it would
give some longevity. For my long hair
girls, use lose clips and clip the tips of
your hair.and then wrap the edges .
Leave the wrap on until the edges have
dried. Hope this helps all you ladies, now
go out there and get active.
PHOTO
RECAP
FOOD BANK
Representatives from UPS
assist Mount Ararat
Community Center volunteers
in setting up our monthly
food bank.
FOCUS ON YOUR DIET
During the week, eat low carbs and low
calories if you’re trying to lose weight.
Remember diet is 80% of any weight
loss routine. Strength training doesn’t
burn a substantial amount of calories,
but like I mentioned above it keeps you
active, builds muscle (which burns more
calories than fat, tightens up areas that
gravity and aging has sagged). If you’re
doing cardio on hair day, this is a boost
in calorie burn. You can make this a
cheat meal day. More than likely this is
the day you plan to go out anyway.
BECOME MORE ACTIVE
IN DAILY ACTIVITY
Instead of doing hours of cardio, get
more active during the day. Park further
from the entrance. Go for a walk during
lunch time. Take the stairs instead of the
elevator or escalator. Sit on a Physio-ball
instead of a chair. This will boost your
Camille Clarke is an IFBB Figure Pro, Fitness
Model, Nutritionist and owner of Camille’s
Fitness Inc. Camille holds an MS in Exercise
Physiology and is currently certified through
ISSA, ACSM and NASM. Camille’s experience
as an obese adolescent weighing in at 283lbs
gives her a firsthand understanding of those
who struggle with weight loss. Camille’s quest
to change her health and appearance has
pushed her to motivate, inspire and educate
others to do the same!
Website: camillesfitness.com
Striking a balance:
How to get a great workout
without sacrificing your hairdo
concern since African American women
spend an average of $100 on salon visits
or the negative effects sweat has on their
hair.
25
MONEY TIPS FOR PRACTICAL PEOPLE:
Save Your Money
and Health
PHOTO
RECAP
BY DAW N W ILLI A MS
1. ELIMINATE THE SODAS, JUICES,
SWEET TEAS AND COCKTAILS.
Order water infused with lemon, lime or
cucumber. When dining out often the
menu items tend to be highly salted, sugared or saturated in oils. Ordering a couple
glasses of water can help with proper digestion and cleansing, as well as cut down
on calories. Depending on the beverage
it can cost up to $8.00 in some spots and
if refills are not free, well you can do the
math.
26
2. PERHAPS YOU CAN DO THE
BUDDY-MEAL MY SISTER AND
I OFTEN PRACTICE.
Split a meal the two of you find equally
desirable to your palate. You’ll find in
restaurants today the portions are massive and splitting an entree will allow
fewer calories to rest on our waistlines.
I’ve dined in places that will gladly split
17TH ANNUAL
RECOGNITION
CEREMONY
one meal onto separate plates, including
the salad, soup and bread for two people
with only a $1.00 surcharge added to the
price of one meal. The portions are satisfying and there’s never a need for a take
home box.
3. CUT THE APPETIZER.
An appetizer today is not an appetizer
by my standards. A starter plate once
consisted of a few grapes, handful of
cheese cubes and raw veggies. Now it’s a
whole high-calorie meal in addition to your
entreé with a mini loaf of complimentary
bread. Appetizers tend to be around the
same price as a meal item with a large
calorie count. I suggest picking one or the
other to fit your budget.
4. NOW, TO MY FAVORITE PART,
THE DESSERTS!
I have to tell you I live by the motto “Life
Is Short - Eat Dessert First.” Without hesitation, on occasion, I order dessert first!
Eliminate the standard meal altogether,
just order dessert and a side salad. In my
world, that’s a meal! Why do we continue
to practice the ritual of eat your dinner
first then you can have your dessert. We
are not five-year-olds any more! Adults are
allowed to have chocolate cake for dinner
(if we want)…just not every day of course.
Often it’s healthier and cheaper to get
exactly what your taste buds desire and be
done with it. Fewer calories, less mental
food stress and fewer dollars spent if you
go with your gut and not your rut. Dessert
portions are so huge these days…share
that too. Everyone gets a spoon…a couple
bites…is happy, guilt-free and satisfied.
I know these money saving methods when
dining out to be tried and true. Deprivation is punishment; I don’t believe in
deprivation, I believe in balance. Practice
these methods and see how your bill will
stay within your budget and your health
improve while dining out. Typically, my
bill ranges between $8-12 in mainstream
restaurants and often just $3-5.00 if it’s a
big deli sandwich and pickles split at lunch
with a colleague. Also, if you have a generous nature, think how much more you can
tip your server for their great service if you
dine out financially wiser.
Mount Ararat’s Community
Activity Center hosted their
17th Annual Community
Recognition Celebration at
the Rodef Shalom Temple
located at 4905 Fifth Avenue in
Oakland on Sunday, September
20th at 2pm. Congratulations
to this year’s Honorees that
include: Roland Criswell from
Coston Funeral Homes, Ron
Lawrence from 100 Black Men
of Western PA, Colleen Fedor
from The Mentoring Partnership
of Southwestern PA, Bob
Nelkin from the United Way of
Allegheny County, Linda Lane
from Pittsburgh Public Schools
and the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center.
PHOTO CREDIT: GREG TOT
AND ORLANA DARKINS
One of the first things we cut out of our
budgets to save money is the pleasure of
dining out. In some critical financial cases,
this makes a wallet- full of common sense.
However, no matter one’s financial circumstances, we could all cut back a bit. We
don’t want to be left out of the gatherings
at eateries and food events or some of us
home cooks may just be a little weary from
cooking all the time. If you’ve ever been in
my shoes during a tough financial season,
I find one of the most disturbing ways to
upset the energy of a good meal while out
with good company is when the bill arrives
at the table. Instantly, you begin self-talk
and calculate the costs while pasting on
the grin and pretend smile. In your private
mental chats, you ask “did I really order
that much food? Will I have enough bus
fare till payday? Should I have used this
cash to put gas in my car, pay down a
credit card or been a little more generous towards a donation? Or could I have
simply just saved it?” We’ve all been there
one time or another. All hope is not loss.
There is a way to have a meal out once in
a while, keep a few extra dollars in your
pocket and become a little healthier. Here
are a few tips:
27
Beyond Vitamin C:
New Ways to Strengthen
Your Immune System
HEALTHY HABITS
One of the most effective
strategies for maintaining a
healthy immune system may
just be common sense. Harvard
Medical School calls healthy-living strategies a “first line of
defense.”
To boost the immune
system and every other part
of the body, treat your body
right. Drink in moderation.
Quit smoking. Eat a well-balanced diet. Get regular exercise
and plenty of sleep.
SUPPLEMENTS
Many people believe that taking a multivitamin or vitamin
C is enough to maintain a
strong immune system, but
the truth is you may want a
more multifaceted approach to your supplement
regimen. Robinson recommends looking for a natural
immune supplement, particularly one that contains
EpiCor, a whole food yeast
fermentate supplement
comprised of proteins, fibers, polyphenols, vitamins,
28
amino acids, beta-glucans and
beneficial metabolites that
work together on many levels
to support a strong immune
system.
EpiCor can now be found
in many natural, trusted
brands, including Hyperbiotics
Immune: Daily Immune & Wellness Formula, which also offers
targeted probiotic support,
zinc, vitamin C and Echinacea in
a time release tablet.
Another immune boosting supplement to consider is
Natrol Immune Boost, which
contains EpiCor, vitamin C,
vitamin D, Zinc and Selenium,
clinically-validated ingredients
to help support your body’s
ability to stay healthy. The
brand has consistently achieved
the highest “A” rating from the
Natural Products Association.
SNAPSHOTS
TAKE A VACATION
The mind-body connection is
powerful, and studies have
shown that stress -- both temporary and chronic -- can compromise one’s immunity. Be
mindful of the stressors in your
life and take steps to reduce or
eliminate their causes.
While you may not be
able to quit your job, you can
make a point to schedule a
vacation or make better use of
your leisure time. You can also
take stock of what causes you
stress and think about ways
of managing your reactions to
troubling people and circumstances.
You may not think about
how to strengthen the immune
system until falling ill, but it
works to protect you every day.
Think beyond vitamin C and
take comprehensive steps to
support your immunity now
and in the future.
[STATEPOIN T ]
Daily stress in a busy life can
challenge immune system function. No matter what season it
is, it’s important to continually
build robust immunity, say
experts.
“The immune system is
incredibly complex and we’re
learning more each day about
what weakens it and how we
can strengthen it for better
health,” says Larry Robinson,
PhD, vice president of scientific
affairs at Embria Health Sciences, a manufacturer of natural,
science-based ingredients that
support wellness and vitality.
With your optimum health
in mind, Robinson and the
experts at Embria are offering
some tips for warding off illness
with a healthy immune system.
PHOTO
RECAP
29
THE CENTER
THAT CARES
MOUNT ARARAT
COUNSELING CENTER
Easy Time-Saving
Holiday Survival Tips
With the holidays comes
stress. The shopping, cooking,
preparing and cleaning before
and after guests are all part
of the “joy” of the season. But
there are a number of easy
ways to save time during the
holidays and better enjoy the
company of friends and family.
HOME PREP
AND CLEANING
With all the cooking and guests
visiting, the holidays can get
quite messy. These tips can
help you keep the mess under
control:
SCRUB. Cooking, stovetops
and ovens are bound to
get dirty. Make a simple
scouring solution using
baking soda and water to
help scrub off any baked-on
grime.
30
GET EXTRA LAUNDRY
DONE QUICKLY. Large
capacity appliances, like the
new GE topload washer,
make it more convenient
to do extra laundry from
your guests. With the
largest agitator capacity on
the market at 4.2 cu. ft., these
new ENERGY STAR washers
allow you to do fewer loads
of laundry with less time and
hassle.
PACK THINGS UP. Do some
pre-holiday cleaning to store
away or get rid of extra clutter
in your home. Less clutter
means less to clean up after
your visitors leave.
GIFT PLANNING
AND PURCHASING
Whether you’re a shopping
mall veteran or an online
shopping maven, gift-buying
can be time consuming either
way. Streamline with these
strategies:
MAKE GIFT LISTS. List who
you need to buy gifts for, your
gift ideas for each person and
a back-up idea in case you can’t
find what you were originally
looking for.
SHOP ONLINE. Stores can get
hectic during the holidays,
even if it’s not Black Friday.
Oftentimes you’ll find that
online stores have the same or
similar offers as their brick-andmortar alternative.
PREPARE FOR AN
EMERGENCY. Plan ahead and
buy some extra cards and small
gifts for when you’re in need of
a last-minute gift.
FOOD PREPARATION
For tasty and easy holiday
meals, remember these three
guidelines:
THE FREEZER IS YOUR
FRIEND. Any foods that
will withstand freezing and
thawing can be made weeks in
advance, allowing you to spend
holiday time mingling with
guests and preparing dishes
that can’t be made ahead of
time.
STICK TO THE TRIED AND
TRUE. If you want to introduce
a new dish during the holidays,
make sure you have a few
test runs of it under your
belt before its big debut.
Otherwise, use recipes you
know will turn out great.
SAY “YES” TO GUESTS.
If your guests offer to bring
something, don’t turn them
away. Even something simple,
like a bottle of wine, is one less
thing worry for you.
The holiday season is one
of the busiest times of the
year, but you can make sure
that preparation is less timeconsuming and less stressful so
you can spend more time with
friends and family.
[STATEPOIN T ]
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
MOUNT ARARAT COUNSELING CENTER
(MACC)
271 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.441.1800 Ext. 270
THE GOOD GRIEF CENTER
2717 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.224.4700
RE:SOLVE CRISIS NETWORK
333 North Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
1.888.796.8226
PEER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY NETWORK
(PSAN) WARMLINE
1-866-661-WARM (9276)
MERCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE
1-877-637-2924
WESTERN PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE AND
CLINIC
412-624-1000 or Toll free 1(877)-624-4100
NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL
ILLNESS) SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, McKnight Plaza,
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-366-3788 or Toll free: 1-888-264-7972
The Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) is designed
to fill the gaps identified in
both the Church and in the
greater Pittsburgh community
by providing affordable and
accessible services as well as
trained licensed mental health
professionals who incorporate
culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate counseling
services that include spiritual,
Christian and faith-based interventions.
GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
MACC’s approach to addressing client needs integrates
spiritual, Christian, ethical and
religious values. It is MACC’s
belief that the infusion of
these elements into the counseling process is essential for
the overall development of
those that will be served. Another goal of MACC includes
providing Christian-based
psychological and emotional support, as well as social
services to clients, who may
or may not be members of
Mount Ararat Baptist Church
(MABC), but who are in need
of professional guidance and
advocacy in dealing with issues
that may prevent effective and
responsible conduct of their
daily lives.
TARGET
POPULATIONS
The target clientele for MACC
are individuals, couples,
families, and groups across
the lifespan (i.e., children,
adolescents, adults and older
adults). MACC will be targeted to members of MABC, to
other church congregations,
to members of the East Liberty
area of Pittsburgh, and to
members of the greater Pittsburgh Community.
COMMON CONCERNS
ADDRESSED BY
MACC
Depression; Anxiety; Stress;
Abuse; Crisis Support; Relationship Issues; Grief, Death
& Loss; Self-Esteem; Alcohol
& Substance Abuse; Identity;
Development; Career Planning
& Development; Anger; Life
Skills; Deficits; Retirement.
MACC STAFF
Trained professional or clinicians (i.e. licensed or masters-level) with diverse qualifications and backgrounds,
including professional counseling, marriage, couple and
family therapy, psychology,
pastoral counseling and counseling psychology, conduct
the Mount Ararat Counseling
Center (MACC) counseling
sessions. Some counseling
services may be provided by
qualified students enrolled
in masters-level and doctoral
degree programs under the
supervision of MACC licensed
mental health professionals
and faculty members or doctoral interns who are licensed
mental health professionals.
INSURANCE & FEES
Highmark, UPMC, and Community Care Behavior Health
(CCBH) insurance companies
cover MACC’s services, and
we also offer fee-for-service
and sliding scale for those who
may not have insurance and/or
may have difficulty paying. In
extreme cases of financial
hardships and lack of insurance, pro-bono assistance
may be available. Please
contact MACC for further
information on the rates for
counseling services.
OVERVIEW
31
How to Celebrate
the Holidays for Less
The delights of the holiday
season can add up quickly.
From cooking and baking to
shopping for the perfect gift,
the season can take its toll on
your wallet.
With some smart planning,
you can enjoy everything the
holidays have to offer without
breaking your budget, say the
discount experts at Dollar General, who are providing some
shrewd tips to help keep costs
down.
DECK THE HALLS
The holidays are marked by
festive decorations. This year,
consider a new theme or try
your hand at DIY decorations.
Create a rustic holiday feel with
mason jars, fresh greenery and
candles. Or for a more formal
look, go chic with gold bulbs,
white accents and burlap. Experiment with different
materials and ornaments to
create a one-of-a-kind, inexpensive display for your home.
GREAT GIFTS
Gifts for friends and family can
get expensive. Save money
with DIY ideas. Try making a
homemade soup mix in a jar.
Purchase canning jars and fill
them with soup ingredients like
beans, spices and pasta. Discount retailers like Dollar General carry a variety of supplies
and delicious ingredients to
make any DIY gift tasty. Finish
32
the jar with a ribbon and use
the gift tag to include cooking
instructions on the back.
For the person who has
everything, pick up a gift card
to his or her favorite restaurant or store. Attach a bow or
ornament to give it a seasonal
touch. Or, consider giving the
gift of time. Gather friends
together for a baking day or
cookie swap.
CLASSIC RECIPES
One of the most iconic aspects
of the holidays is the food.
Baked treats, rich casseroles,
roasted meats and holiday
candy are all wonderful enjoyments of the season. And the
more you prepare yourself,
the more you save. This year,
try new recipes and have fun
with unique ideas. Check out
delicious and easy dishes for
your holiday gatherings at dollargeneral.com/easy-meals.
Display your spread on
a beautiful tablescape with
a decorative wreath as the
centerpiece. Add a holiday
table cloth, holiday bulbs and
decorative LED lights to give
family and friends a warm and
festive place to share meals.
Enjoy this holiday season
with affordable, fun and easy
tips to make the most of your
special celebrations.
[STATEPOIN T ]
Less Stress this
Thanksgiving: 7 Easy Steps
to Your Best Turkey Yet
MOUNT ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH
AND COVELLI ENTERPRISES
LAUNCH CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM
WITH FULL CLASS
Mount Ararat Baptist Church and Covelli
Enterprises have partnered to create a Culinary
Arts Program, a six-month free training course
for those interested in pursuing careers in foodrelated industries.
The training program, developed by Rev.
Linda Oliver, minister of Special Projects at
Mount Ararat, will teach participants everything
from menu planning to business practices and
sanitation requirements for working in the food
industry.
1. PLAN AHEAD:
Frozen turkeys can take several
days to fully thaw. The safest
method is by placing it on a
tray in its packaging to catch
drips, and put it in the refrigerator on the lowest shelf. Plan
for one full day of thawing for
every five pounds of turkey. If
you’re short on time, put your
turkey in a leak-proof wrapper
and submerge it completely
in cold tap water. The water
should be changed every 30
minutes. Plan for 30 minutes of
thawing time per pound.
2. RESEARCH:
There are many different types
of turkey to choose from. Some
grocers carry a variety of birds
and additionally have in-house
butcher experts behind the
counter to help you choose
what is right for your taste
and budget. Here are the
five types of turkey found
at Whole Foods Market:
• Organic: fed organic feed
(that means no GMOs,
among other things) and
given access to the outdoors.
• Classic: known for their
trifecta of flavor, quality,
and value.
• Heritage: rich, succulent,
34
old-world breeds cherished for
flavor.
• Heirloom: robust flavor with
a higher percentage of dark
meat.
• Kosher: certified kosher.
turkeys raised with these standards, such as Whole Foods
Market. Their turkeys are also
5-Step Animal Welfare rated.
3. SIZE MATTERS:
Soaking turkey in a saltwater
solution for four to 24 hours
before roasting keeps it tender
and juicy. Try a brine kit for a
simple and easy recipe.
A good rule of thumb is to
buy 1.5 pounds of turkey per
person, providing everyone a
healthy portion while allowing
for those sought after leftovers.
4. READ THE LABEL:
The best birds are raised with
the highest standards. This
means no antibiotics, no animal
by-products in their feed, no
added solutions or injections
and no added growth hormones. To make it simple, shop
at a store that only carries
5. BRINE:
6. TIME IT:
It takes approximately 13
minutes per pound to cook a
turkey at 350 degrees, and the
turkey is done once it reaches 165 degrees. Use a meat
thermometer and insert it into
the thickest part of the thigh
(without hitting the bone) to
test the temperature.
7. REST:
Wait 30 minutes before carving
the turkey. Giving the turkey
time to rest allows the juices to
redistribute for better flavor.
More turkey tips are available
at www.wholefoodsmarket.
com/turkey.
When it comes to choosing and
cooking your holiday turkey,
preparation is key. Do your
research, know what you like,
and enjoy the rest.
[STATEPOIN T ]
“So many members of our community lack
the training and education to land decent jobs
where they can advance,” said Rev. William H.
Curtis, pastor of Mount Ararat. “This training
program will give participants strong and
marketable skills as well as an understanding of
the food service industry.”
Covelli Enterprises, the nation’s largest
franchisee of Panera Bread cafes, is cosponsoring this training program because it
is committed to giving back to the Pittsburgh
community and is also looking for people who
want to develop careers at its restaurants.
Sam Covelli, chief executive officer of Covelli
Enterprises, said he is excited about the program
and hopes it will become a model for other
markets where his company operates Panera
Bread restaurants.
“We define our roles in the communities
where we operate Panera Breads as far more
than just a business offering food for sale. We
believe we have a real responsibility to give back
in as direct and meaningful ways as possible,” he
said. “After careful study and discussions with
community leaders, we decided that this culinary
institute will serve an important need in the
community by providing people with tools that
will help them obtain quality employment.”
Rev. Curtis made similar remarks: “I absolutely
love the underpinnings for Covelli and that
is, giving back to the community, respect and
dignity. If that doesn’t match the very things that
we’re about then I don’t know where else I can
find a closer synergy, so, that was a genuine fit for
us.”
Covelli said he hopes that many of the
graduates will decide to apply to work at
Panera Bread and be interested in advancing to
management positions.
The Culinary Arts Program began in October
with its maximum class of 50 students. Program
leaders are planning to launch a second class in
April. For more information, send an email to
[email protected] or call 412-441-5402.
Selecting, preparing and cooking the centerpiece of your
family’s Thanksgiving meal can
pile on a lot of stress. However
there are some easy ways to
simplify the process.
“There are a lot of great
choices, but they can certainly
be overwhelming during a busy
holiday,” says Theo Weening,
Global Meat Buyer for Whole
Foods Market. Here are seven
basic rules to ensure you have
the perfect turkey for your
holiday meal.
35
SAVING AND SPENDING TIPS FOR MILLENNIALS
Nearly half of Americans describe themselves as “good savers,” according to the
TD Bank Saving and Spending Survey, and
Millennials are leading the charge. Fifty-six
percent of Millennials report they are good
savers, compared with 43 percent of Gen
Xers and 48 percent of Baby Boomers.
Although encouraging, there is always
room for improvement. Ryan Bailey,
Head of Deposit Products, Payments and
Non-Real Estate Lending at TD Bank, recommends the following smart saving tips
for Millennials:
36
• Nearly seven in 10 Millennials admit to
indulging on impulse purchases. Create a
budget to help curtail impulse spending to
ensure you have money for your rainy day
fund.
• Use banking and financial apps to track
and control spending, as well as to manage
savings at home or on-the-go.
• Take advantage of company retirement
savings plans, contributing up to your
company’s matching policy. Remember,
even small contributions could make a big
difference down the line.
• View salary increases as an opportunity
to boost savings. Allocate a portion of raises to savings, setting up a direct deposit
into savings accounts.
Saving for the future may seem like a distant issue for young professionals already
saddled with high costs of living and
student loans. But by establishing good
saving habits today, Millennials can ensure
a lifetime of financial health.
[STATEPOIN T ]
Three Steps
to Improve
Your Credit
“We didn’t choose
Good credit is a key ingredient
in succeeding financially; yet
building a strong foundation
takes time. If you are new to
credit or are working to improve it, there are many steps
you can take to put you on a
path to stronger credit. Here
are three essential steps that
help you get started:
to have cancer.
But we did
choose UPMC.
”
CHECK YOUR CREDIT
REPORT:
Experts recommend checking
your credit report at least
once a year. Your credit report
contains details of your credit
history, including balances,
credit limit and payment
status. Lenders, apartment
managers and some employers
may check your credit report
to see how responsible you are
with money.
When you check your report, make sure it contains current and accurate information.
If you find errors, correct them
as soon as possible because
they may negatively impact
your credit score and even
indicate possible identity theft.
You can request a free copy of
your credit report from each
of three major credit reporting
agencies -- Equifax, Experian
and TransUnion -- once each
year at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call toll-free
1-877-322-8228.
38
MAKE SURE YOU’RE
PAYING YOUR BILLS
ON TIME:
Life happens and you may
find yourself forgetting to
pay a bill on time. Because
your payment history is
one of the biggest factors
in your credit score, it’s
important that you stay
organized and keep track
of all your bills. This applies
Within a year and a half, the Taylors
were both diagnosed with cancer:
James with prostate cancer and Pat
with breast cancer. But with a house
full of foster children, they couldn’t
let this news slow them down.
“When the other hospital missed
my husband’s cancer,” they turned
to UPMC. “I needed to know that
we were in the best of hands. And
fortunately, both of our cancers
were very treatable when caught
early,” said Pat.
to more than just credit card
bills, but also when it comes
to rent, utilities and cell phone
payments.
Using free online tools,
often available through your
financial institution’s online
banking, can help your develop
a budget and create an automatic bill payment schedule.
Many financial institutions
also allow you to change your
payment due dates for one
that is convenient for you. If it
helps, you can organize all your
payments to be due on the
same day of the month.
MAKE A BUDGET AND
STICK TO IT:
One of the best ways to keep
up with your bills is to closely monitor your spending.
Creating a budget can help
you decide when to use credit
and when to hold off on a
purchase. Keeping a budget is
also helpful because lenders
look at the amount of debt
a consumer has compared to
their income.
As an important rule of
thumb, keep debt at no more
than 35 percent of your income
or lower. This will tell lenders
that your debt is at a manageable level relative to your
income, and you are likely to
have money left over for saving
or spending after you pay your
bills.
In addition to the steps
listed above, there are many
free resources available that
can help you improve and
manage your credit. Wells
Fargo recently launched Path
to Good Credit, a new website
that offers videos, tips, quizzes
and infographics that illustrate
how good credit can help consumers succeed financially. For
more information, visit www.
wellsfargo.com/buildcredit.
Take steps now to improve
your credit for a solid financial
future.
To learn more about UPMC services,
call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762),
or visit UPMC.com/Choose.
[STATEPOIN T ]
4105_upmc_sr_choose_taylors_8.25x10.875_mountmagazine_c.indd 1
5/15/15 8:58 AM
MOVIE SCENE QUEEN
MER ECEDES J. HOWZE
Merecedes J. Howze started Movie Scene Queen to share her thoughts about the latest movie happenings
with fellow movie lovers. She’s studied journalism at Clark Atlanta University and Duquesne University,
while practicing the discipline for nearly a decade. The New Pittsburgh Courier named her one of their Fab
40, Under 40 recipients in 2013 for her vast volunteering endeavors, while being the single mother of two
young children and maintaining her post as a project coordinator with the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
WAYS TO GIVE BACK
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
When making this year’s holiday gift list, consider how you
might also give back to your
local community. The holiday
season is the perfect time of
year to do this, when volunteer
and donation opportunities increase. Here are a few ideas to
give back in your community:
THE GIFT OF LITERACY
40
Only one-third of all students entering high school
are proficient in reading,
according to a National
Assessment of Education
Progress report. Brighten
children’s smiles this holiday
season while also giving
them an opportunity to succeed at school and beyond.
The Marine Toys for Tots
Foundation has given new
toys to children in need for
more than 60 years. The
organization also extends its
reach through a partnership
with The UPS Store through the
Toys for Tots Literacy Program,
which provides economically
disadvantaged children an
opportunity to succeed in
school and beyond. Donations
can be made at The UPS Store
locations nationwide or online
at toysfortots.org/literacy.
One-hundred percent of
all proceeds go to support local
children and literacy programs.
Your donations go even further
thanks to the Marine Toys for
Tots Foundation, which is able
to purchase books at a deep
discount. To find a participating location near you and make
a donation that will help ensure families everywhere have
access to books, visit theupsstore.com.
YVONNE SHIELDS, COMMUNITY CHEF AT
BROADWAY COMMUNITY, NEW YORK
BAKE SALE
When you’re busy making trays
of cookies for your big holiday
party, consider making an extra
batch or two, and encouraging
friends and neighbors to do
the same. With your combined
efforts, you can host a bake
sale, which can be a lucrative
and enjoyable way to raise
money for your favorite charity.
If you don’t have time to
organize an event like this,
you can still give back through
your baking. Wrap packs of
cookies or other goodies in
bags as thank you gifts to your
children’s teachers, coaches
and others in your community
who have served or been kind
to your family all year.
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
One of the best ways to give
back is by donating your valuable time. Make a trip to a local
nursing home and spend time
with residents who may not
have family or anyone else to
visit them this season. Additionally, soup kitchens are often
in need of extra hands during
the holidays. Ask your local
organizations about volunteer
opportunities.
While holiday wish lists
are often full of fun gadgets,
clothes and toys, there are
still many in your community
lacking more basic necessities.
This season, think beyond your
personal wants and do your
best to give back.
[STATEPOIN T ]
Joseph Gordon-Levitt brilliantly stars in The Walk.
Based on a true story, this movie tells the world how
Philippe Petit used the high-wire to perform death
dying stunts. On August 7, 1974, with the assistance
of others, he successfully walked on a tightrope that
he placed between the north and south towers of the
World Trade Center.
The movie is amazing. It’s filled with suspense
and surprises. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with his cheesy
impression, is still the cool kid from next door. His
attempt to portray Philippe Petit was convincing and
true. So good that it prompts you to research the actual
daredevil.
The story of Philippe Petit is almost unbelievable,
but inspirational. It makes me think how many people,
even with high-wire walking abilities, would not dare
to walk between buildings that stood 110 stories tall.
Fear is encumbering; weighing down on some
of life’s most difficult decisions. Should I go back to
school? Should I buy a home? Should I move? Should
I trust him/her? Should I forgive him/her? These question possess doubt, fear, and worrisome—all spirits
that are the exact opposite of how God wants us to feel.
The spirit of fear completely negates the idea of
faith and believing. Fear puts a period in situations,
whereas faith puts a semicolon. We must be like
Philippe Petit, who without fear or regret, continues to
chase his dreams.
Three of the most resonating scriptures about fear
come from the book of Psalm:
PSALM 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
PSALM 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my
life—of whom shall I be afraid?
PSALM 118:6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
These verses serve as constant, consistent reminders as I work through my own doubts and fears. Hopefully, they’ll encourage you just the same.
4 STARS:
E E E E
‘THE WALK’ TRUMPS FEAR
AND PROMOTES FAITH
41
the Face of the Pirate
42
BY R AY PORTER , JR .
Firstit was Roberto
Clemente, also nicknamed ‘The Great
One.’ He was indeed great for the
Pirates from 1955-72 as he proved to
be not only one of the best baseball
players in Pirates history, but also the
best in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He won numerous awards, including
the 1966 National League Most
Valuable Player (MVP) award. He led
the Pirates to the 1971 World Series
Championship & he also had a huge
impact on the African-American and
Latin American communities. When he
tragically passed away in 1973 (in a plane
intending to send supplies and food to
Nicaragua), MLB held a special election
to waive the 5-year rule and promptly
inducted him into the Baseball Hall of
Fame. Former Commissioner Bowie
Kuhn described him as one who “made
the word ‘Superstar’ seem inadequate.
He had about him a touch of royalty.”
Then there was Willie Stargell,
nicknamed ‘Pops.’ He was known for
his bat; he has more home runs than any
player in Pirates history (475). He played
in 2 World Series, leading them to the
1979 championship. He was an All-Star,
won the 1979 NL MVP and the World
Series MVP. He had a huge impact on
the African-American community and
was often seen in many neighborhoods
across the city of Pittsburgh.
Stargell also worked to raise
awareness of sickle cell anemia. He
formed the Black Athletes Foundation
shortly after President Richard M. Nixon
identified the disease as a “national
health problem” in the early 1970s.
For a decade, BAF renamed the Willie
Stargell Foundation, raised research
money and public awareness about the
disease. In 1981, sickle cell awareness
and fundraising was gradually being
assumed by The Sickle Cell Society
Inc. The Willie Stargell Foundation
the Face of the Pirates
Andrew
McCutchen
transitioned to raising
money for research
and treatment of
kidney disease.
He was
inducted into the
Baseball Hall of
Fame in 1988 and was
described by former
manager Chuck
Tanner like this,
“Having him on your
ballclub is like having
a diamond ring on
your finger.”
Following
those two dynamic
athletes, there were
good Pirates players
who did well on the
field and impacted
the community off
the field, but they
just didn’t measure
up to the impact that
Clemente and Stargell
made. It wasn’t until
2005 that the next
great and impactful
Pirate was discovered
in the person of
Andrew McCutchen.
At 28,
McCutchen has
already played in MLB
for 10 years and has
done some amazing
things on the field.
He’s a 5-time All-Star,
(2-time starter) and
won the NL MVP
award in 2013. He has
also led the Pirates to
the playoffs 3 seasons
in a row and is easily
recognized as one
of the top players in
today’s MLB. He’s so
feared when he comes to the plate, that
opposing teams will opt to intentionally
walk him-rather than pitch to him. He’s
also won a Gold Glove, which is given to
the top defensive player at his position
(Clemente has 12) and has carried the
team on his back on many occasions.
It’s what he does off the field that puts
him in the same category as Clemente
and Stargell. McCutchen has already
made a huge impact in the community
working with kids. On March 25, 2015,
McCutchen cut his dreadlocks and
sold them through MLB’s website via
auction. All the proceeds benefited
Pirates’ Charities. He also supports
several charities and has been committed
to assisting the greater Pittsburgh
area through numerous charitable
and fundraising programs which will
benefit the community in various ways.
Andrew’s goal is to encourage the
involvement of the Pittsburgh community
through volunteerism and fundraising
to help better the lives of those around
them. He created Cutch’s Crew in 2010,
which mentors inner city youth baseball
players and at-risk children throughout
the greater Pittsburgh area. Cutch’s crew
raises money to donate into various
community programs throughout
Western Pennsylvania.
He’s the official spokesperson
for Habitat for Humanity of Greater
Pittsburgh. He assists with the
organization’s fundraising and promotes
its various programs which benefit
Western Pennsylvania.
Get this: He is a finalist for the
Roberto Clemente Award, given to a
baseball player who pays tribute to
Clemente’s achievements and character.
It recognizes current players who truly
understand the value of helping others.
He’s a born-again Christian and
makes it known: “In my life, I want
people to see that I’m not just a baseball
player. I want them to know me as a
Christian and as someone who is not
afraid to make God’s name known” and
“I am thankful for every single day the
Lord has given me and for what (He) did
for me when He died on the cross for my
sins”.
Being the face of a team is about
more than what he does on the field. It’s
also about what he does off the field to
give back to the city that has supported
him over the years. He is touchable and
is truly willing to make a difference.
McCutchen is continuing what Clemente
and Stargell have done in years past.
Both Clemente (21) and Stargell
(8) had their numbers retired. When
McCutchen retires, you can expect his
number 22 to be retired too.
Ray Porter Jr. is a freelance sports writer for
Urban Media Today (www.urbanmediatoday.
com). Follow him @urbanmediaRay on twitter.
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Call Mount Ara
[email protected]
at 412.441.1800 x222 or email:
JOIN OUR MARC C ARD PARTNERS:
Uber, SAVOY Restaurant, Kelly Strayhorn Theatre,
Ellis Moving Company and Surge Three Sixty-Five Travel Agency
Physical and
Nutritional Health
Health Insurance
12 MONTHS
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE:
Saturdays at 7 p.m.
NEXT LEVEL SMALL CELL GROUPS:
Every Tuesday* *Except the first Tuesday of the month
BODY
NOVEMBER
6 MONTHS
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
4 years old to Adult at 9:30 a.m.
INSURANCE
2015
Get “The Mount”
delivered straight
to your door!
Healthcare is a necessary part of our lives, but it
can be very expensive. Health insurance is a type of
coverage that people use to lower the out-of-pocket
costs of their healthcare. The Affordable Care Act (ACA
or ‘ObamaCare’, as you may know it) has made health
insurance more comprehensive and accessible to people
all over the country. Under the ACA, most people,
regardless of their health status, are eligible for health
insurance through Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace, an online and phone
resource where individuals and families can get information about and sign up for insurance.
For many, health insurance is a very complex system with an unfamiliar language.
‘Deductible’ and ‘coinsurance’ may make it hard to understand how your insurance
coverage works. ‘Preventative’ and ‘in-network’ may make it hard to understand when
your insurance covers services. Trying to navigate health insurance can be frustrating,
especially in times of medical need. For that reason, it is important to learn about health
insurance – how to get it, what it covers, and how it works – before you need it. This way,
when the time comes, you can focus on your health, not how to pay for it.
READ MORE! For more information about health insurance, including where to go to get assistance with
health insurance and current research, check out the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page in the New
Pittsburgh Courier on Wednesday, November 4.
Physical and
Nutritional Health
LET’S TALK! Come to a Lunch & Learn at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh on Thursday, November
5 from noon to 1 p.m. This is a great chance to get your questions about health insurance answered. The
Urban League is located downtown at 610 Wood Street. Lunch is provided.
MIND
Take Charge Of Your Health Today.
Mental and
Emotional Health
SPIRIT
Spiritual
Health
HOME
Environmental
Health
MONEY
Financial
Health
@HealthyComm365
Healthy Communities 365
HealthyComm365
3 Things to Know about Health Insurance
1) Find a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) or Navigator.
These persons can help you weigh your insurance coverage
options if you need more information or help you get
insurance through the Marketplace or Medicaid. Their
services are free.
2) Ask your insurance company for a “Summary of Benefits
and Coverage.” This summary will help you to find out
what you’re covered for and what you’re not covered for.
3) Take advantage of wellness programs offered through
your insurance. These are programs that help you stay
healthy and ‘keep the doctor away’. For example, some
insurance plans may discount a gym membership.
For more information visit healthycommunities365.org
or call (412) 578-9189.
December
Health Focus:
Alcohol Abuse
Healthy Communities 365
is proud to partner with
the Urban League of
Greater Pittsburgh and
University of Pittsburgh
Clinical and Translational
Science Institute (CTSI)

November 2015 Issue - Mount Ararat Baptist Church

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