nnive A rs hatr 4 y 2 Larry Reece stands in front of

Transcription

Anniversary
24th
Larry Reece stands in front of
the sculpture he designed at
Virginia Tech. Read more on page 3
By Linda Mae Baldwin
For us to be successful, we must learn the art of standing. And then, after
we have done everything, we need to keep on standing.
The apostle Paul exhorted believers to “take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand” (Ephesians 6:13). What does “having done all” entail? I believe
everyone's situation is a little different, but all of our situations have similar
requirements: obedience, prayer, fasting, and worship. After you have done
everything the Lord has instructed you to do concerning your situation—after
you have prayed, fasted, and worshipped Him—you have done all. But we
need to do all every day that we are in the season of standing.
The times when we're asked to stand on God's promises while we're
awaiting their fulfillment are designed by God to test and to strengthen our
faith and character.
James 1:2–4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may
be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When we submit to these tests of faith, we develop perseverance. To
persevere is “to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of
difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.” Perseverance
is a vital quality to develop in order to mature as Christians and be equipped
to fulfill our calling. We can't just quit when things get difficult.
God is a God who moves at the speed of suddenly. Suddenly, things
change. Suddenly we move from the season of winter into the season of
spring. Even if the weather in the spirit seems as though it's still winter, it's
not. Things are about to change and they are about to change suddenly!
The pressure you have been feeling, the discomfort you have been
going through, is because your season is changing. It's like you feel pressure
when the baby is positioned for delivery. You feel like you can't go another
day because of the pressure. The baby is being positioned for birth. This
word, this dream, this vision that you have been carrying is about to be
birthed. God is getting you positioned for delivery. Turnaround time is coming
for you, too. Father is about to resurrect your dead dreams, revive your
lagging visions, and resuscitate your choked-out hopes.
After many years of faithfulness, Joseph was suddenly promoted. After
standing their ground against mixture and compromise, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were suddenly promoted. After losing it all, Job
suddenly stepped into double blessings.
Although Job and Joseph both went through challenging times, neither
one of them ever went back. Neither of them ever had to go through what they
went through again. I believe the Lord is saying the same thing for you
today—you will never have to go back. You will never again go through what
you went through. It's promotion time! Welcome to the season of suddenlies!
You must be dressed and ready for where you are going when your day
of suddenly arrives. Joseph was clothed in character which is much more
important than any gift or talent. Joseph's call took him to a place of great
authority and power. But, he had allowed the Lord to develop his Christian
character and his integrity to the point that he was ready for his God-ordained
position. When Joseph's suddenly arrived, and he was ready and prepared
for it. God had positioned and prepared him to be a great success.
All too often, someone's gifts and talents take them to a place that their
character can't keep them. They become a shooting star for the Lord and
they just fizzle out due to their lack of character and integrity.
How about you? Are you dressed and ready for where you are going?
Don't be caught off guard concerning your suddenly. Don't give up hope and
miss your suddenly when it does arrive.
I believe you are about to step into your suddenly. So, get “shaved and
ready,” because your suddenly is just around the corner. Allow God to shave
off the things of the past. Allow God to shave off the flesh, and clothe you with
new garments in the spirit. Suddenly God is going to turn everything around
for you, like He did for Joseph, and you are going to see the fulfillment of your
dreams and visions!
As a little girl, I attended church in
a beautiful old brick sanctuary with
stained glass windows. We had neat
little padded kneeling things that flipped
down for prayer time, but you could also
sit on it and rest your head on the pew to
sleep until church was over.
I remember my dad dropping us off
in his taxi and waiting for him to be out
of sight before I stomped up the
walkway trying to undo the dress bow
that would poke me in the back and get
me in trouble when I tried to wiggle
against the pressure from the back of
the pew.
I don't remember hearing about
Jesus coming to die for my sins, or that
he rose again, and that it is possible to
have eternal life with him in my
confirmation classes though.
What could have, should have
been an event that showed me the one
true King and how I can have him in my
life, was not. I was a good religion
person but knew nothing of the real
relationship I could have with Jesus.
When I finally did meet Jesus, I
was 22 years old. Up until then I had
been on a sort of remote control from
my childhood religion. My kids knew the
song Jesus Loves Me and we prayed,
Now I lay Me Down to Sleep at bed
time. We attended a church that was
unlike the church of my child hood, and
there, I met Jesus.
When I fully understood that God
loved me so much He gave His one and
only Son to die for me, (John 3:16) and
that because of my separation from
God – this death was necessary to heal
the rift and make a way for us to be right
with God again. And, that if I accept this
free gift of grace, I could have a full life
and eternal life with Him, (John 10:10)
I felt as if my eyes and my heart were
opened. I wanted nothing but to live for
Him and love Him and receive the love
He had for me. see in me took over.
Living for Jesus was truly amazing.
Until the Pharisee in me took over.
Besides the great introduction to
Jesus, a whole lot of stuff I should no
longer do was presented in the form of
the church covenant (and people's
opinion). These things included: no
drinking alcohol, no makeup, no R
rated movies, no worldly music, and
Christian fiction only, please. We
should only sing old hymns in church,
no mixing up the order of service.
When my husband was licensed to
preach I learned more things for the list.
According to some, I did not look like,
dress like, talk like, and behave like a
Pastor's wife. Not sure what that
meant, I contemplated wearing my hair
in a bun, cat's eye glasses and
gingham dresses.
This after all is what my thought of
a Pastor's wife was. It was very
frustrating, until a wise older Believer
(sis in Him) told me to be who Jesus
made me to be because if I tried to mold
myself to people's ideals of who I
should be, I would always disappoint
someone ... but worst of all, I would
have a wall between the real me and
Jesus.
That was liberating. While
sometimes I annoy even myself, I am
who He made me to be and I do seek to
improve, but I am what I am.
All these extra rules of how a
Christian must live was a real struggle
for me and other people.
Like the Pharisees in Jesus' day,
some religions have opted to add a lot
of extra rules for us to abide by.
Matthew 23 tells us all the rules and
regulations the Pharisees imposed on
the people. And how they loved to have
special things to make them seem
more righteous than everyone else.
They made rules for everyone else that
they did not follow themselves, and
they wanted special titles to
differentiate themselves from the
common folk.
In modern churches, in my
opinion, church covenants or rules that
I reckon started out with good
intentions, actually bind people. With all
the extra rules you turn into a sort of
nanny state, with other believers toeing
the line, but also watching lest
someone else stray. It happened to me
on both ends.
I became a good Pharisee. I told
my teenage brothers they were going to
hell, not because they didn't know
Jesus, but because they listened to
rock and roll and had questionable
posters on their walls.
I told my parents they were going
to hell because they didn't know Jesus
and because they smoked and drank
beer. Also, they bought lottery tickets
and were known to dance at parties.
My intention was that they would
see the error of their ways and come to
Jesus, but for a while it was simply a
barrier between us. Me judging and
them living their life thinking their
daughter had become some sort of
Jesus freak.
I do own up to being a Jesus
Freak, but back then, ashamed to say, I
was also a Pharisee freak.
We had a pretty bad break off at
one of our churches which turned me
off the church and it's people for quite a
Continued on page
Senior Pastors Rodica
and Tim Lambert
Christ's life while on this earth
might be characterized as unselfish
servanthood.
He even admitted to that in Mark
10:45 when he said, “For even the Son
of Man did not come to be served but to
serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many.” The apostle Paul agreed that
we should all have the heart of a
servant when he wrote, “Each of you
should be concerned not only about
your own interests, but the interests of
others as well (Phil. 1:4).
As a believer, do you have the
heart of a servant? Can you see this as
a mark of spiritual maturity and
leadership?
But to be more and more like
Jesus, it isn't what is seen on the
outside … our labor/works … but what
is going on in the inside … our heart …
that matters.
You can see that maturity in the
ministry of Larry Reece.
Larry has been the pastor of
Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship
since 2000. He doesn't do it for the
money, because he doesn't get paid
(hasn't taken a salary in 13 years). He
does it because he loves people, and
he loves God. Larry would pay for the
privilege of being the pastor of the
church he shepherds, and I am sure
that he has many times over.
His church in Virginia Beach
started out with small beginnings as a
house church … meeting in a living
room. His wife, Nell, would help lead
worship and Larry would preach a fresh
Word. As the church began to grow,
moved out of the house and into
various hotels around Virginia Beach.
For years, he and his faithful team,
Roy and Trudy Saxman, Kevin Swann
and others, would show up at the
church hours before the meeting, set
up all the sound equipment, run cables
to speakers, and pray for those who
came early. He'd preach a message,
followed up by a time of fellowship, and
then he'd spend time to counsel those
Tidewater Area
Christian Fellowship
Senior Pastors
Larry and Nell Reece
who needed a word from the pastor.
Most Sunday nights, he and Nell didn't
leave the church … or hotel … until
after midnight, after which the two of
them would rush home to get a few
hours sleep before heading to their
“paying” jobs in the morning.
So every Sunday night for more
than 10 years ... he, Nell, Roy, Trudy …
would pack up their cars with sound
equipment, computers, and whatever
else they needed … set it all up before
anyone ever came through the doors
… preach, teach, chat … take it all
down, box it all back up, put it into their
cars … and do it again the next week.
They never took an offering, never
took a salary … in fact donations to the
church went to buy equipment when
needed, fund ministries, and help those
who were hurting financially. Their time
and service came from their hearts,
because they loved serving their God
and serving the family that can only be
found in the church.
Up until about two years ago,
was meeting at the Virginia Beach
Resort and Conference Center on
Shore Drive.
Larry believes that God called for
this church to be along the shores of the
Chesapeake Bay where the settlers
first set foot some 400 years ago and
placed a cross.
But space is rare along this neck
of road in Virginia Beach. There are not
too many spaces available for a church
to grow into.
Then about two years ago, God
revealed favor and blessing. The
space used by Grace Bible Church in
an old Belo building was being vacated.
Grace had built a brand new beautiful
building along I-64 near Lynnhaven.
It was only by the grace of God,
that this tiny little church was able to
move into this rare open space along
Shore Drive.
But God likes to show off. He
loves to perform miracles, least we not
forget just how big He is and how much
He loves us. He blessed Grace Bible
Church and then they in turn blessed
TACF with thousands and thousands of
dollars in church furniture, lighting and
sound equipment.
What a joy it is to no longer have
to truck around a car load of sound
equipment, and spend hours setting up
and tearing down the equipment before
and after each service. God is so good.
Pastors Larry and Nell have proven to
be faithful leaders, putting their trust
and faith in Him, and because they
were faithful with the little things, God is
blessing them with bigger things.
The church in its new location is
continuing to grow, it is reaching more
and more people, lives are being
touched, and the community is being
blessed.
God also blesses Larry and Nell
outside of the church. Now at 64 years
of age, one would normally be counting
the days until you could retire.
But God has other plans for Larry, and
He likes to show off His miracles in
every aspect of our lives.
This past December, Larry was
laid off from his job. He felt God wanted
to bless Him with His own company,
and that company would then be able
to bless His church.
After a few months of examining
the possibilities with his bank, God sent
someone into Larry's church one
Sunday morning, and during a time of
conversation and fellowship at the
church, God revealed to Larry through
this “sent” individual, that there was a
company for sale in Virginia Beach ... a
company in which Larry had the
experience to manage, and could be
purchased at an affordable price.
Larry immediately began to tune in
to what God was showing him, and with
God's guidance and lead, the bank and
the SBA approved the loan to buy this
company. The loan sailed right through.
I failed to point out that during the
seven months that Larry was involved
in developing his business plans to
purchase his own company, he had no
income. He and his wife, Nell, lived on
her income … yet they continued to
tithe to the church, and God took care of
all their bills ... as well as the bills of the
church.
The company, Beach Iron Shop
continues to serve as the residential
division of this new company in the
manufacture of ornamental railings.
His commercial division is called
“MOM” which stands for Miscellaneous
and Ornamental Metals, Inc. and it
continues to grow with new equipment,
new clients, and new employees every
day. Just another example of God's
favor and blessings when you are
sensitive to God's Word and you listen,
and do what God is leading you to do.
Even if you are 64 years-old.
You are encouraged to visit TACF
and watch God show off ...If you are
searching for God, you'll find Him there.
2961 Shore Driv
Formerly Beach Metals and Fabricating Incorporated
You
ThankYour
For ort
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Every year my family, like many
Stockings were all but forgotten as
families around the world, hangs we ripped open our presents with
stockings on our fireplace mantle, one parental supervision and heightened
for every member of the family.
anticipation. Forgotten that is, until next
It's a wonderful tradition that brings year when the Christmas stocking
childhood memories of Christmases would once again become the most
long ago. Though nobody knows important gift of early pre-dawn
precisely when the tradition began, it is Christmas.
said that originally, children would put
Even today as I hang the stockings
out a regular sock or a shoe in hopes of for my family, precious memories flood
receiving a gift from Saint Nicholas or my head. Sadly, one stocking won't be
Father Christmas.
x
hanging on our mantle this
I remember my Grandxx
year. It still remains with the
father telling us when we
xx
others ... carefully packed in
were kids ... “if we weren't
XX
our box of decorations. Our
good we would get a lump of
XX
family pet, Buzzy, the most
coal or an old piece of
XX
beautiful collie I've ever
cornbread in our stocking.” I
XX
seen, passed away after
had no use for a piece of coal
XXX
battling a long illness. Three
but the consolation prize of
XX
times she was at death's
cornbread never bothered
XXX
door. Three times the Vet
me. I thought that as long as
XXXX
sent her home to die. Twice,
Gene Markland
I could put it in a glass of National Prayer
XXXX
Center our prayers were answered
milk, it would be just fine. Ha.
XXX
and God miraculously
When I was a kid, the Christmas spared her life, but on the third time, it
stocking was the only present we were was time for her to go.
allowed to open before our parents got
Even the Vet was amazed at her
up. So before dawn, my brother Chris incredible recovery the first two times ...
and I would get our stockings, and which were several months apart ... but
crawl back into the bed.
on the third time, we had to finally
With only the glow from the release our good friend to the Lord.
streetlight beaming through our shared
With the passage of time, sorrow
bedroom window, we would hurriedly weakens and the joy of fond memories
empty the stocking of all its contents. grows strong.
Sifting through our new found treasure,
As we hang our family stockings
we whispered to each other, “I got a on the mantle with care, the one with
car” ... “I got hard candy” ... “I got a Buzzy written in glitter brings a smile to
tangerine,” ... “I got a set of Jaxs,” ... our faces and warms our hearts, as we
and so it went. Eventually we became remember her and how we used to fill
tired and dosed back off to sleep with her stocking with chew toys, balls, and
stockings in hand. Later we awoke to treats. Then we carefully place it back
open the “real” presents.
in the decorations box.
If you have lost a loved one, friend,
or even a beloved pet, and are facing
the Christmas season in grief,
remember the good times, just for
Christmas. Treasure the precious
memories with an inner peace. Depend
on the Lord Jesus, whose birth we
celebrate, to fulfill His mission to you.
The mission that this season
proclaims, peace on earth, good will
towards men.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and
peace on earth to those with whom God
is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT).
Jesus gave us encouragement in
the Bible where these words were
recorded.
“I have told you all this so that you may
have peace in me. Here on earth you
will have many trials and sorrows. But
take heart, because I have overcome
the world”(John 16:33 NLT).
God loves you, and offers to you a
spiritual Christmas stocking
overflowing with love and peace. Merry
Christmas!
Photo by Jan Wall
Gene is an Author and Evangelist. He resides in
Virginia Beach with his wife Martha and daughter
Laura. Send Gene your Comments. Blog:
www.spiritfellowship.blogspot.com
In 1971, Ray Tomlinson was experi- menting with ways people and
computers could interact. When he sent a message from his computer through a
network to a different unit in his office, he had sent the first e-mail. Now decades
later, more than a billion e-mails are sent every day. Many contain important news
from family and friends, but others may carry unwanted advertising or a
destructive virus. A basic rule governing e-mail use is: “Don’t open it unless you
trust the sender.”
`God has sent us a message in the Person of His Son, and we can trust the
Sender. In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through the prophets and
many rejected God’s Word. But it was all leading to this: “God, who at various
times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in
these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1-2).
`
We may be awed by the inexplicable mystery of Almighty God entering our
world as a baby, yet remain hesitant to embrace Christ fully and place our lives in
His hands.
Christmas is the unforgettable message of love, redemption, and hope sent
by God. Will you trust the Sender and open His message today?
Pastor Billy Collins is taking the
neighborhood and the Prentis
Place Community of Portsmouth by
storm with a message of hope in
Jesus Christ!
In August, 2013 Pastor Billy
Collins was installed as Senior
Pastor of Centennial
Baptist Church, a
predominantly African
American congregation. The church is
located on the corner
of Lincoln St. & Atlanta
Avenue in Prentis
Place, a community of
Portsmouth, Virginia.
Pastor Billy, as
affectionately known
by his congregation, is
on FIRE for the Lord
Jesus Christ. He takes
his congregation out in
the neighborhood, introducing
himself, shaking hands, offering
prayer and inviting them to the
church.
Pastor Billy says that, “God
does not look at skin; He looks at
sin!”
He and his wife, Stacie (an
interracial couple) have been
married for 16 years, and have
imparted vision and direction that
has rekindled the church.
Since his installation, Pastor
Billy and the Centennial Baptist
Church family have spearheaded
the following: A Radio Ministry was
started “Reaching Out Radio
Broadcast” – Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.
on 100.9 FM, A Welcome Center was
x
opened for visitors, the
xx
church held its first ever
xx
community block party,
xxx
they organized a
xxxxxx
church-wide cleanup,
xx
they spearheaded
xxxxx
painting, repairs and
xxx
renovations to various
xxx
building areas, the
xxxxx
congregation has
xcxxx
t traveled to North
xxxxxx
Carolina for a revival,
xxxxxx
they have revived the
xxxxxxx
Men's Ministry, they
xxxxxx
have taken the
xxxxxxxx
Women's Ministry on a
retreat to Williamsburg, the church's
Facebook page has been revamped,
the church now has its first ever
Website at cbcportsmouth.com, and
the membership has increased
substantially!
Centennial Baptist Church
(CBC) is located at 1910 Atlanta
Avenue in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Sunday morning worship service is
11:00 a.m. What's next for Pastor
Billy and the CBC family? Whatever
the Lord says… God knows no limits!
You
ThankYour
For ort
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By John Piper
One November a friend of mine
almost lost her child. By Christmas the
crisis was past, but they still were not
sure of the long-term implications. She
e-mailed me the following message in
mid-December, during the season
which before this, had always been her
favorite:
Surprisingly, I'm finding Christmas
hard. A little bit I resent all the hoopla;
sometimes I want to shout: Don't you
know my baby could have died?!
At the same time I'm very grateful
she's alive and very aware that she
might not have been. So you'd think I'd
be really, really happy!
In spiritual terms, Christmas is not
very meaningful to me this year one
way or the other. I feel a bit like God and
I are on a journey together, seeing and
doing a lot, but certainly not staying
anywhere for any length of time.
If you are bearing a difficult load, it
can weigh even heavier as you look
around at all the holiday excitement. It
may seem that everyone is happy,
except you.
Maybe you wonder how you can
celebrate when you feel so numb. May I
the letter I sent my friend? I pray it might
be an encouragement to you.
It's not at all surprising that
Christmas is hard for you this year. The
reason for Christmas is the same as it
ever was, and nothing is more essential
to our lives than the incarnation.
What's different for you, I expect,
is that the traditions we wrap around
Dec. 25 to make it different from other
days, those traditions and activities are
as nothing to you this year. In fact, the
thought of them probably weighs like a
lump of lead in your belly. So what!
Our ears pick up sounds that
I would hear the sound of HOPE
capture our attention, cause us to when seven priests raise their rams
wonder about their origin, or do not stir horns and blast to all in earshot that
us at all. A complaint about life, a cry the God Who Dwells Between The
for help, the humming of the car's Angels is present.
motor.
I would hear the sound of
If I could place myself there, LOYALTY in men who refused to
outside of Jericho, during that fateful murmur and complain about the futility
w e e k w h e n t h e s e e m i n g l y of circling a city for six days and seeing
impregnable walls of that doomed city no results. LOYALTY!
would fall, no doubt the
On the seventh day, I
sounds would stay with me
X
would hear the sound of
for a lifetime. What are
X
TRUST from men who arose
those sounds? They are the
X
earlier, this time to make the
sounds of a relationship with
X
3½-hour revolution around
the God of All the Earth.
XXX
the city seven times -- the
What would I hear?
XXX
steady marching feet, the
I would hear the stirring
XX
silent voices refusing to
sound of FAITH in an army
XXXX
retaliate to the jeers from the
Juanita Weiss
rising early, gathering their
XXXX
fated soldiers of Jericho, and
Weiss
Ministries
spears and shields, not to
XXXX
the mature priests blasting
attack a city -- but to take a
XXX
their shofars in unison.
thirty-minute walk around it! FAITH!
And I would hear the sound of
I w o u l d h e a r t h e s o u n d o f COURAGE (ever heard it?) from
OBEDIENCE in the rhythmic march of Joshua who raised his voice, signaling
thousands of soldiers to the cadence of his men to shout. And thousands of
the heartbeat of God.
united voices in one conglomeration of
FAITH,
OBEDIENCE, HOPE
Trees are nothing. Feasts are
nothing. Lights are nothing. Music is
nothing.
Only Christ matters. He is the only
reason that you can be on any sort of
journey with God, that you can have
anything at all to do with God.
Only Jesus matters. Hold on to
that. One time I told someone in hard
times, "Just hang in there." But she
corrected me, "I'm not just hanging in
there. I'm trying to hang on to Jesus."
So please, just keep hanging on
to Jesus.
Sometimes, when things are
going well, we might too easily forget
that we have only one sure,
immovable, dependable strength:
Jesus, who was a baby once, and is
always and forever God. That is what
holds us and keeps us, whether or not
we can carry out our traditions.
May our decorations, gifts, and
festivities—or lack of them—never
block our view of Him, but always point
us toward Him.
Adapted from Noel Piper’s book, Treasuring
God in Our Traditions, published in the Dec. 3,
2003 issue of the Minnesota Christian
Chronicle. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation.
Website: desiringGod.org
LOYALTY, TRUST and COURAGE
joined their voices, the courageous
sounds rising to the sky where dwelled
the God who made the essence of
brick, mortar and men!And on this day,
the seventh day, every brick of that
once impregnable city fell in upon itself.
Let the sounds of Jericho
encourage you to trust in silence apart
from complaints; in faith against the
jeers of others; in shouts of
acclamation to the One worth our loud
praises. I believe that we have the
promise of a SEVENTH DAY in all our
troubles!
PRAYER: Abba, The negative sounds
of this life always seem to compete for
our attention. However, today, we
choose not to participate in the
negativity of the day, but to drown out
those voices with the sounds of FAITH,
OBEDIENCE, HOPE, LOYALTY,
TRUST, and COURAGE. We commit to
charge our environment and every
seemingly impregnable obstacle with
the “sounds of Jericho.” And when we
do, you always answer amazingly . . .
AMAZING GOD!
Read other blogs by Juanita Weiss at
www.weissministries.org.
Everyone needs to be loved. It's God's will for us to know and experience
His unconditional love and have a personal relationship with Him (see John 3:16
and 1 John 4:16). He created us for acceptance, not rejection, and connection,
not separation and abandonment.
When we receive God's love, we can become stable, mature, healed,
whole and vibrant individuals and have the great lives He wants us to have. But
when people don't get unconditional love, they end up with damaged emotions,
trying to function day to day in their brokenness. And often, the result is an
addictive behavior.
Understanding Addictions
An addictive behavior is a habit that's gone wild or something you can't
do without. We can get addicted to just about anything, from alcohol, cigarettes
and drugs, to food and eating disorders. People can also be addicted to
pornography, hoarding, gambling, and exercise. Then there are addictions to
behaviors like worrying and being indecisive or the need to be approved by
others.
When people become addicted to something, they are usually trying to
feel good about themselves or latch on to something that makes them feel they
have worth. But addictions are actually bondages that keep us enslaved to a
behavior that is destructive.
The truth is, you are valuable because God loves you. And He loves you
because He wants to—not because of anything you've done or can do to earn
His love.
You've Got What It Takes to Overcome
If you're struggling to overcome an addiction, the good news is you can
do it with God's help. The first step is believing God's Word more than you
believe what you think or feel.
See, when you received Christ as your Savior, a seed of everything God
is came into your spirit. When a person is born again, 1 John 3:9 (AMP) says,
“God's nature abides in him.”
For the seed of God's nature to grow, we must water it with the water of
His Word. When we do this, the fruit of the Spirit develops in our character: love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).
Having self-control means God has given us the ability to control
ourselves. We can discipline ourselves to do what we know we should do, even
when we don't feel like it or want to do it. But we have to stop saying things like, “I
can't control myself. I just can't help it—it's my problem.” Because God's Spirit
abides in us, as born again believers in Jesus Christ, we can confidently say, “I
have self-control, and I can do whatever I need to do through Christ who
strengthens me!”
I realize it's not always easy. When I wanted to quit smoking, it was hard
to do, and I had to start over several times before I made it. But through it all, I
learned that anytime we're willing to do what's right and we depend on God, His
grace is activated in our lives to do it. We just can't give up!
Trade Your Addiction for True Freedom
I really want to encourage you to be determined to have the abundant life
Jesus died to give us. If we want the freedom He promises in His Word, then we
need to set aside time to study the Word and spend time with Him. Many times
we fail because we're trying to do what we need to do in our own strength,
leaving God out of the loop. But we have to stop trying and start depending on
God for everything. So don't try to do anything without praying, “God, I can't do
this without You. Help me. I need You.”
Remember, there's nothing more valuable to you than your personal
relationship with God and the time you spend with Him. Put Him first and you'll
find that the power of God's Word will always prevail over the messes in your life.
You don't have to settle for a life in bondage to any addiction, because in Christ,
you can do it!
For more on this topic, order Joyce's Beauty for Ashes Action Plan. Joyce Meyer is a New York
Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored 100
books, including Battlefield of the Mind and God Is Not Mad at You (Hachette). She hosts the
Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For
more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Spring and summer have passed; we've heaven, to come into flesh and blood and be born
celebrated their triumphant holidays including on earth. “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me”
Memorial Day and Independence Day; “Fall” is (Psalms. 138:8). There is no changing God's
on its way out and we've enjoyed festivities purpose for your life, but you may not necessarily
associated with Columbus coming to America fulfill it because there is free will involved in that
and the Pilgrims' resilience to practice their own process. Psalms tells us that we have an assigned
religion.
portion (purpose and destiny).
What is the world missing without your gift? I
Yes, Thanksgiving was a day of great
festivities and family time filled with all the recipes have no gift you shriek. John 3:27, AMPLIFIED,
you had not enjoyed since what seems like a quotes our Lord saying, "John answered, A man
can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can
lifetime, although it was only one year ago.
Now, we are approaching one of the most take unto himself nothing] except as it has been
esteemed seasons and holidays of the granted to him from heaven. [A man must be
x
content to receive the gift which is given
year—winter and Christmas.
x
him from heaven; there is no other
Although some grapple with the
xxxxx
source]."
spiritual meaning of Christmas, few
This Scripture contends that all of
ignore that it is a time to give gifts. Yes,
xxx
us have a gift granted to us from
giving is good; it's better to give than to
xxxxxxx
heaven. And that you must be content
receive, we've heard, but what do we
xxx
with the gift that God has given you.
give?
How can you be content? By using
One gift that is often neglected and
xxx
that gift on behalf of humanity.
that is far superior to “things” is the gift of
Jesus tells us this is the recipe to
“you.” Give yourself as a gift? Why sure.
If you've been around Christendom Dr. Belindaxxxxx
G. Moss total life fulfillment (John 17:4) and it is
xxxxx
your birthright. The source of much
any length of time, you've probably heard,
Soteria Christian
xxxxx
frustration for many is they sell their
"For the gifts and calling of God are Center International
xxxxx
birthright (living the life God placed
without repentance.” (Romans 11:29).
Still, this is a conundrum because many fail them on this earth to live and do) for a paycheck – a
to recognize their gifts (talents) and the origin and job. This, of course parallels Esau who sold his
wealth of them. Perhaps if you understood that birthright for a meal.
Vision protects life and gives life meaning; a
you have a God-given purpose for living on this
earth, you would recognize that you also possess sense of clarity and destination. Without vision, you
gifts to fulfill this purpose. “And I will give him a will feel unfilled and become a spectator. You will
white stone, and on the stone a new name written become complacent and settle for a set of pom
which no one knows except him who receives it” poms to cheer on everyone else. No! It's time for
you to get in the game yourself and fulfill your God(Rev 2:17).
Each of us has a name in Heaven that given destiny.
You are the gift. Therefore, this holiday
uniquely fits us. I heard a prominent preacher
say, “there is a life-sized cutout of each of us in season, do something that you've never done
heaven.” One day you will have the opportunity before. First make a decision that your most
to see just how close you measured up to that important gift to you and your family is to become
someone you've never been; discover your Godcutout.
Our purpose in life is chosen by God and it is given gift and then allow your gift (s) to service
not negotiable (Romans 11:29). God had a plan mankind. Don't settle for a meal, fight for your
in mind when He allowed your spirit, which was in birthright—and prepare yourself for the life of
eternal bliss. The world awaits 'You'!
More Local and National News for Christians
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More Ministries and Local Outreaches That
Want to Offer You Their Help and Assistance
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More Up-to-the-Minute Listings and Info
on Christian Events in Hampton Roads
Over the past few generations
there has been much interest in the
Bible's teachings about future end
time events, although there has
not been agreement within the
church concerning the millennium
or the timing of the rapture.
Concerning the rapture, the
three common teachings have
been pre, mid, or post tribulational.
Each view puts Christ's return at
different times either before, in the
middle of, or at the very end of the 7
year period popularly known as
the tribulation, or Daniel's 70th
week.
Good Bible teachers have
chosen to hold to one of these
positions while others would
conclude that we cannot know for
sure because it is so confusing
and still others claim “It is not that
important.”
This last statement grieves me
since Jesus took the time to
answer the disciple's questions
about end time events, and God
chose to make prophecy a large
part of the Bible. I have always
been interested in eschatology
and found myself believing the
pretribulation position because
that is what I was taught as a young
believer and later at the seminary I
attended.
However, I began questioning
whether the rapture could be
before the seven year tribulation
when I studied the other two
perspectives and saw the Biblical
support they had. I still continued
to teach pretrib because it had
fewer problems than the other two,
but there was a shadow of doubt
and only a little conviction that it
was the truth.
A few years ago a friend gave
me a book teaching a fourth
position about the timing of the
rapture called The Prewrath
Rapture of the Church by Marv
Rosenthal. I read it and saw it had
merit, but I was not convinced by it.
I reread it later and began thinking
maybe this teaching answers the
problems the three traditional
positions have not been able to
solve concerning of the timing of
the rapture.
I studied it a third time and saw
how it really made sense and
interpreted the major passages
concerning the second coming of
Christ without contradiction. In
short, prewrath says the rapture
takes place sometime between the
middle and the end of the
tribulation. This means the church
goes through the persecution of
the antichrist and the rapture
occurs near the end of the
tribulation just before God pours
out His wrath on the unbelieving
world.
I will develop this in more
detail from the Bible and post it
complete and in greater detail on
TheChurchGuide.com.
But right now I want to deal
with one of the common teachings
about the rapture … that it could
happen at any moment, possibly
before you finish reading this
article.
The “thief in the night” and
“nobody knows the day or the
hour” passages lead some
teachers to conclude that nothing
has to take place before the
rapture occurs. However there are
many places that the Bible implies
that this is not true.
The Great Commission in
Matthew. 28:18-20 is given to the
church for the gospel to be
preached in the whole world
before the end comes (also see Mt
24:14). The rapture is not
imminent if this task is to be
accomplished, it would take a long
time to go to all the world.
Continued on page 11
Formerly meeting on Indian River Rd., Virginia Beach
and Mapleton Avenue in Norfolk is now meeting at the
Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center
5655 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach 23462
Sundays at 10:00 am
Mid-week services are being held at various locations
and times around the Tidewater Area at 7 pm (TBA)
For More Information: [email protected]
Faith Christian Center
Sunday Worship at 10:00 am
Wednesday evening services at 7:00 pm
Pastors Nathaniel & Karen Perkins
1066 Norview Avenue, Norfolk 23513
757.857.1336
www.fccnorfolk.com [email protected]
Loving God, serving people and changing lives.
We believe that the teaching and preaching of
God’s Word, the Bible, is the greatest spiritual
service we can render to anyone who attends our
worship. We also desire that Faith Christian
Center be a place where people receive Biblical
instruction and encouragement for living.
Sunday Services at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm
Wednesday Services at 7:30 pm
Pastors Larry and Nell Reece
2961 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach 23451
Lynnhaven Beach Square
www.TACFVB.org
We are a non-denominational, Pentecostal,
Holy Spirit led, Bible loving church. We are
here to introduce people to a life changing
relationship with Jesus Christ that is supported
by vital relationships with others in the family of
God. For those visiting Virginia Beach, we are
only one mile north from Seashore State Park.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Sunday Services: 7:30, 8:30 and 11:00 am
Rector John A. Baldwin
5181 Princess Anne Rd., Va. Beach 23462
757.499.1271
www.emmanuelvb.com
Emmanuel Episcopal Church has been
faithfully serving the Kempsville area for almost
170 years. Our membership is diverse,
exuberant, and filled with the fruits of the Holy
Spirit: love, kindness, gentleness & joy. We are
a strong, vital and vibrant parish and observe
our faith in Jesus Christ seriously, yet joyfully.
while. But, the Word does say you should
not give up meeting together with other
believers (Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us
consider how to stir up one another to love
and good works, not neglecting to meet
together as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more
as you see the Day drawing near.)
Thing is we were wounded, and while
some of it had scarred me, I was afraid
some wounds would rip open and start
bleeding right in front of people. Meaning I
would blow up, throw up or have a
meltdown in front of them. Not the kind of
first impression one wants to make.
Finally, after much prayer we went
back to a church. When it came time to join
the church we read the covenant and at the
top it said, 'you agree to not drink alcohol'.
That was it for me. I'm not a lush but I had
determined that I was not going to live a life
that was framed in a bunch of extra rules
and regulations that were outside of the
Bible just because some person or
organization thought it should be that way.
The Bible says that when I am saved I am a
part of the church.
Acts 2 is an excellent testament to
this. Nowhere does the Bible say I shouldn’t
wear makeup, abstain from alcohol, wear
You
ThankYour
For ort
Supp
only suits and ties on Sunday, or
pantyhose, not cut my hair, not have music
in church, only sing old hymns, only sing
contemporary songs, don't lift your hands,
you must lift your hands.
The list of manmade rules is quite
exhaustive, ever changing, and completely
binding. Sometimes the rules, regulations
and the arguments that ensue cause more
than strife, it can make us ineffective in
doing His work. We face the same danger
the apostles had when dealing with
legalistic people.
In Mark 9: 14-29 we are told the
accounting of the disciples arguing with the
Scribes (or religious teachers) and Jesus
comes up and asks what's happening.
They explain the situation, seems a demon
won't come out of a kid, and the dad
implores Jesus to help.
At the end of the chapter, the disciples
ask why they had been unable to perform
this particular miracle and Jesus says
because that kind of thing required MUCH
PRAYER.
The disciples had been too busy
arguing with the religious teachers that
they had neglected the most important
thing ... PRAYER.
I reckon being a Pharisee is hard
work. I think of Paul who confronted Peter
in Galatians 2.
Poor Peter, always doing the wrong
thing, it seems. I readily identify with him.
Here Peter is in Antioch and living a free life
with the gentiles. But when the religious
folk arrive, he stops doing that and starts
following the rules again.
Hypocrite and so wrong. He was
putting what man thought over what he was
there to do! He was called to spread the
gospel to the gentiles, and Paul was called
to spread it to the Jews .... and even worse,
others starting following his pattern of
hypocrisy.
It's got to be draining to hold fast to a
bunch of man-made rules and regulations
when Jesus Himself says He came to die
so we can be free.(John 8:36 ... So if the
Son sets you free, you will be free indeed).
It's kind of missing the point.
Sometimes I slip into the Pharisee
role, and the Holy Spirit nudges me almost
immediately and I repent.
The freedom of living in Christ's love is
not even comparable to living the bound life
of hypocrisy and rules. Now, I know some
folks reading this will think maybe I'm being
judgmental of those who live their religion
this way, but believe me, I am not. I simply
don't want folks to miss the free and
wonderful life they can have in Jesus.
Because if the Son makes you free, well,
you will be free indeed.
Hundreds of Pages
Now Online, Updated
Constantly For You!
December 2013 ~ Page 11
Christmas Story
“That I may publish with the voice
of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy
wonderous works.” Psalm 26:7
If this is the first time you have read
The Church Guide, or if you have
never taken this survey ... please
take a moment to quickly answer
the following ... (thank you!)
1. Has anyone ever told you that
God loves you and has a great
plan for your life? q Yes q No
2. If today were your last day on
earth, do you know for sure,
beyond a shadow of a doubt that
you would go to Heaven?
q Yes q No
3. If you answered, “yes” to the
above question, is that because
you are a good person and/or
because you attend church
regularly?
q Yes q No
4. Have you ever heard that the
Holy Bible reads, “for all have
sinned and come short of the glory
of God.” And “For the wages of sin
is death but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.” And “Whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved?”
q Yes q No
5. Did you know that you are a
“whosoever”? q Yes q No
Here’s a quick prayer for you; Lord,
bless each person who reads this
survey that they have long and
healthy lives. Jesus, do a quick
work in their heart and make
Yourself real to them. If they have
never called upon Your name, I
pray that they will do so right now
and continue to say the following...
Dear Lord Jesus, come into my
heart. Forgive me of my sin. Set me
free. Jesus, thank You that You died
for me. I believe that God raised
You from the dead. Fill me with the
Holy Spirit, the peace of God, and
the joy of the Lord. Give me a
passion to reach the lost, a hunger
for the things of God, and a holy
boldness to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. I’m saved. I’m bornagain. I’m forgiven, and I’m on my
way to Heaven because I have
Jesus in my heart. Thank You
Jesus!
Silence blankets the hillside, and sheep were still sheep, in need of a
broken only by the crackle of the shepherd. Surely, though, some could
campfire and the rustle of another go for who could keep silent after what
shepherd coming ‘round to warm his they’d seen. Who could stem the rising
hands. Leaning back on the hard tide of curiosity among them without
ground, the shepherds savored what going to see and report back?
After all, the sheep were asleep.
we all savor when we’re out of the
So off they went, taking time away
city…thousands of stars dotting the
x
from their charges to see the
river of the evening sky.
x
One who would be known as
The peaceful setting
x
the Shepherd. And then,
belies the ready-status of the
xx
having done that, bearing
shepherds gathered there.
xxx
witness to what they saw,
Danger lurks around the
xxx
telling Mary and Joseph a
flock, and every new sound is
xxx
part of their baby’s birthday
gauged by its familiar ring …
xxx
story only the shepherds
is it trouble, or just the sheep
xxxx
could have told them. Small
being sheep?
xxx
wonder Mary “pondered all
Like parents whose
xxx
these things.”
sleep is wakened by the Randy Kilgore
And so it is for us…
slightest sounds from cribs Made To Matter.org
xxxxx
We’ve been put in the hills of
and bedrooms, these
xxxxq
the workplace or the home,
guardians of the meek know
every twig snap, every rock-slide, our community or our family, shepherds
every frightened bleat calls them to among sheep who need to know the
true Shepherd.
action.
For the most part, the sheep are
It was in this moment that the
asleep right now. It’s time to leave the
angel of the Lord burst on them.
Think about how startling that campfire to visit the stable. It’s time to
must have been. First to see the come down out of the hills; to hear the
darkness broken by a being not known Shepherd’s story.
We’ll tend the campfires, and
to them … then the silence pierced by a
watch the sheep, ‘til its our turn to head
voice sure to
scare even the hardiest sheepherder… to Bethlehem. In the meantime, from
…They had to look at each other in the bottom of our hearts, may your
wonder. The angel was gone, the Christmas journey be joyful, peaceful
heavenly host (defined as an “army of and full of the presence of the Savior.
angels”) had also disappeared, and Randy Kilgore is the Senior Writer & Workplace
now the darkness and the silence were Chaplain for Made To Matter. He received his
M.Div. after a twenty-plus year career in
back. What to do?
business, most of which was spent in senior
There was only one thing to do. Go human resource management positions. You
and see the baby. But who would watch can enjoy more about Randy writings @
the sheep? Danger was still danger, madetomatter.org.
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Great Commission and that begins right here
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National Prayer Center
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Joyce Meyer Ministries
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Jesus told Peter that he would
become an old man in John 21:18, but
this would make Jesus a liar if the
rapture would have taken place at any
moment before Peter could age.
In Acts 21:10-14 a prophet of God
named Agabus prophesied that Paul
would be arrested and persecuted in
Jerusalem when he arrived there. Later
when Paul was in Jerusalem, Jesus
appeared and told him that he must
travel to Rome to be a witness for Christ
(Acts 23:11). Later during the boat trip
to Rome, an angel appeared to Paul
(Acts 27:21-26) telling him two future
events that will transpire. First, their
boat would be lost, and second, Paul
must stand before Ceasar.
The rapture could not happen
before any of these prophecies were
fulfilled.
A final reason for why the any
moment rapture cannot be accepted is
because of what Paul says in 2 Thes.
2:1-4. Those saying the rapture is
secret but begins the Day of the Lord
must explain why Paul says two events
must happen first. He says the
“apostacy comes and the man of
lawlessness is revealed.” So again,
prophesied events must occur before
the rapture happens, the rapture is not
a secret imminent work of God until at
least these things are accomplished.
What about “the thief in the night”
and “no one knows the day or the hour
passages”? If you read the contexts,
the thief in the night passages are
referring to those who are unprepared,
not to expectant believers. The
unknown day and hour verse does
teach an any moment rapture, but only
after the remaining signs that have
been prophesied occur during Daniel's
70th week.
I will explain in greater detail on
TheChurchGuide.com from the Bible
what these unfulfilled signs are before
Christ can rapture His Church to
Himself. I hope you will find many of
your questions clarified in these studies
of God's Word.
Tom Keeley is a graduate of
Dallas Theological Seminary
and former pastor, staff
member of Campus Crusade
for Christ and Youth for
Christ. He is presently a
volunteer staff member of the
Jesus Film Project and does
Bible teaching & discipleship
in the Tidewater area. Send your comments and
questions to [email protected]
Pages 12 and 13 ~ December 2013
The day after I picked up the
November issue of The Church Guide,
I was in my van distributing the paper in
the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake.
I had somehow managed to get
through a disappointing October, and
was PWD … Praying While Driving.
I was seeking the Lord's help
because I had just depleted my
savings account in order to pay for an
earlier printing of The Church Guide. It
was my buffer because normally
enough funds come in to replenish
what was going out … but not in
October. I was asking God, “What do
you want to do? It's your paper, just let
me know and I will do it.”
I was then overcome by a
powerful sensation of cutting the cord.
I don't know if you have ever cut with a
brand new pair of super sharp scissors,
but it is effortless … there is absolutely
no resistance. That was the
overwhelming sensation I felt, and I
immediately knew it was time to cut the
cost of printing The Church Guide.
As I continued to drive, I continued
to speak with my Father, seeking
assurance and confirmation that I was
really supposed to stop printing the
monthly Church Guide. That was not at
all what I expected to hear from Him
that morning. If I had known earlier, I
probably would have put something in
the November issue that I had just
picked up from the printers only hours
earlier about the final printed issue.
To not print The Church Guide
went against everything I had believed
up to that point. The Church Guide was
an end-of-times newspaper. “Lord, I
asked … are we at the end? If we are,
isn't it even more important that I
continue to publish?”
Truth be known, it was a lot harder
for me to accept that I was to stop
printing The Church Guide, then it was
to continue to print and wonder how
God was going to pay for it the next
month.
I was both troubled and relieved at
the same time.
As I continued to pray and speak
I was then concerned that I
He then showed me how to read
to my Father throughout the day, He wouldn't be able to reach them any between the lines.
began to reveal that The Church Guide more, if I were to quit publishing. But
I've written in the past how
was about to enter a new day, a new God eased my pains and assured me Jeremiah 29 is so relevant to me. God
season, a broader purpose and that it that that season had passed. I was had a plan for me and The Church
was going to be more relevant, more about to enter into a new season where Guide. He orchestrated my entire life,
important, more timely … it was going there were no boundaries as to whom I for such a time as this in publishing this
to reach and touch more people … and can reach, encourage, inspire, and end-of-times newspaper.
it was going to take up more of my time. share the good news of Jesus Christ.
When God created the heavens
I began to feel a sense of
But I won't lie to you and tell you it and the earth in the book of Genesis …
excitement, because the Lord began to didn't hurt deep down inside.
He rested on the seventh day. This rest
fill my thoughts with visions of what The
And the devil began his lies was not a physical rest, but was a rest
Church Guide was about to become. It attempting to convince me that I had signifying His work was finished.
was bigger, it was broader in scope, it been a failure. But that was short lived.
God was telling me as I read those
went farther than Hampton Roads, it Almost immediately my phone began words that this season in my life was
touched more people, and it would
finished. Rest! Be at peace!
Summer 1999
continue to minister
Just as He would
iFirst issue of the glossy
to those who have no
x
stop at the end of
iiad magazine that I
relationship with Christ.
iistill have copies of.
xxxx
each day to review
I kept to myself for a
xxxx
His work … He was
few days all that God was
xxxx
telling me that “it
revealing to me. I then
xxxxx
was good.”
began to share it with
Rest is an
some very close friends,
xxxxxxxx
undescribable
partly for confirmation
xxxxxxxxxxx
peace that only
and partly hoping for
xxxx
Jesus
can give. He
encouragement.
December 2005
xxxxx
says,
“come unto
Some were excited
First issue ofi
xxxxxx
me all ye that labor,
The Churchii
September 2011
about the changes to
xxxxx
100th printed issue
of The Church Guide a n d a r e h e a v y
take place, others wanted Guide newspaperii
is publishediii
xxxxxxx
laden, and I will
me to do whatever I could
give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
to continue printing. “What if you were
Rest is the closure that takes
to get the extra money you need right,
place because your work is finished.
now. Then would you continue to
to ring, and I was getting emails from Think about it. After you put in a hard
publish The Church Guide in print?”
people who wanted to share with me days work, you go home and rest. If
I thought about that. There were
t h a t t h e y h a d b e e n h e l p e d o r you work out or exercise, after you
plenty of individuals who still hadn't
paid for past printings. There was a encouraged by The Church Guide. complete your laps, or sets, or routine
significant amount of money floating These calls were coming in almost … you rest. It makes you stronger and
out there. Should I continue to print, if every day … and I hadn't even told ready for what you are about to do next.
I am not finished with publishing
all of a sudden it were to show up in my anyone that I was about to stop
publishing in print.
The Church Guide … oh no … only in
mailbox?
That was God reassuring me, that printing it. The best is still to come.
I went to God in prayer … what if?
God answered that He would support those were lies spinning around in my That was one season; I'm about to
enter into another.
me in whatever decision I made. But head.
So I sought encouragement
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 tells us that
then He added, “is it the money in the
bank that drives you to continue through the Word. I picked up my Bible “For everything there is a season, and
and began to search for scriptures a time for every matter under heaven: a
printing?”
N o ! I t ' s a n e n d - o f - t i m e about quitting or stopping what I was time to be born, and a time to die; a time
newspaper, I publish because there doing. I couldn't find any. There was to plant, and a time to pluck up what is
are still one million of our neighbors plenty about running the good race, not planted; a time to kill, and a time to
and loved one here in Hampton Roads giving up, keeping the faith and relying heal; a time to break down, and a time
that don't know Christ. There is still on Jesus. Lord I pleaded, show me a to build up; a time to weep, and a time
Word to bring me peace.
time to reach them.
to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to
dance; a time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together; a time
to embrace, and a time to refrain from
embracing; ...”
These past few years I've done all
of that while publishing the monthly
Church Guide.
Based upon all the feedback
through the years, it has reaped a
harvest of inspiring others,
encouraged those who were
struggling, helped those who were in
need of assistance, healed those who
were hurting, brought joy to those who
were depressed, but more importantly
… rescued many who were lost by
sharing the good news of Jesus. The
angels rejoice.
The vinedresser is pruning the
printed version of The Church Guide
from the vine. The ministry is about to
get bigger, stronger, and healthier as I
continue to abide in Him … and rest
before moving into this next season.
John 15:1-27 is very encouraging.
I am looking forward to the new fruit this
media ministry is about to bear …
“I am the true vine, and my Father
is the vinedresser. Every branch in me
that does not bear fruit he takes away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the
word that I have spoken to you. Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me. I am the vine;
you are the branches. Whoever abides
in me and I in him, he it is that bears
much fruit, for apart from me you can
do nothing…”
Every aspect of our life is a
season, and there is a purpose for
those seasons.
If you are like me, there are
seasons you didn't want to go through.
Pruning hurts, but through those
seasons you learn some mighty
important lessons. The Word says it
builds character. It makes us stronger.
Stepping into a new season brings
new changes.
Change is inevitable. We either
change with the world, or we change
with God.
In order to change, we have to quit
doing what we've been doing.
I’m finding that knowing when to
quit and doing so takes every bit as
much courage and quality of character
as it does to never quit.
Think about the Pharaoh of Egypt,
if he had quit pursuing Israel and
allowed Moses and the Jews to leave,
his son would have lived and he
wouldn't have lost his army.
And if the Israelites had quit
worshipping idols, they would not have
spent so many years in exile serving
the kings of foreign nations, or
wandering the desert.
If you hadn't quit relying on your
own strengths and your own
knowledge, you would never have
come to know Jesus as your Savior,
and be blessed with His grace, mercy
and salvation.
In Matthew 10:23, Jesus
admonished His followers to flee to
another city if they were being
persecuted in one city. This wasn't
cowardice; it was the smart thing to do.
Of course there are other times in the
Bible and in life, when there was or is
no alternative or no place to run. Like
when someone is forcing you to deny
Christ. It would be better to die than to
deny Jesus.
As Kenny Rogers used to sing in
The Gambler, “you've got to know
when to hold them, know when to fold
them, know when to walk away, know
when to run.”
I've got to listen to God. He's
telling me to walk away from what I've
been doing and walk into something
even greater.
Stepping into a new season
brings new challenges.
When I transformed The Church
Guide from a twice-a-year glossy
advertisement into a monthly Christian
newspaper a few years ago, I didn't
have a clue what a Christian
newspaper even looked like. Sure, I
was familiar with denominational
newsletters, but what was I to include
in an independent, all-denominational,
non-denominational contemporary
Christian newspaper.
Well I clung to the vine, and the
vinedresser fed me the knowledge I
needed to gradually create the
newspaper it is today. I had twenty
years of experience working for The
Virginian-Pilot (little did I know at the
time that God was grooming me), so I
knew how to put out a newspaper, and
God showed me what to put into it.
He's continued to equipment me,
teach me, give me knowledge, and
bless me. I am now able to build
websites on my own. I'm mastering
social networking. I have a network of
friends and colleagues willing and
ready to write articles, provide advice,
share their expertise, etc. … all in
preparation of where God is taking me
next.
God's created an overcomer.
I'm ready for this next season of
The Church Guide. I pray you will
continue to support this media
ministry; read it online often; share it
with your friends; and contribute
information and ideas that will make it a
blessing to others.
Let me share with you why I’m so
excited. I want to give you a taste of
what is about to be launched online at
www.thechurchguide.com.
At the bottom of this page is a
sample of the header or “masthead” for
the online version of The Church
Guide. Let me take you into the pages
of what is to be offered hopefully at
least by the tenth of December (wish it
could be sooner, but I need to distribute
this printed edition as quickly as
possible).
The home page, or “Front Page”
will have an introduction to all the
current news stories found in the
various sections of The Church Guide.
See an article that catches your
eye or nudges your curiosity, click on
the link and it will take you to the
section in which the full story can be
read.
News and Commentary
One of the areas that we could not
cover well in the printed version of The
Church Guide was current news and
commentary regarding Christianity
and those things affecting our faith
throughout the country ... or even here
in Hampton Roads.
We published monthly and were
only limited to a few pages. We wanted
the news to be fresh and relevant to
you our readers.
Now, hopefully, we will be better
able to present news that addresses
our faith and beliefs.
Churches and Ministries
Up-to-date information and
listings of Churches and Ministries in
our area, has always been paramount
in this media ministry.
With a vision to change statistics
that show less than 20% of Americans
go to church on a regular basis, we
have always published the more than
2000 churches in Hampton Roads.
We try to make it easy by listing
the churches by zip code so you can
find a church near you. We also have
further broken the listing to include
churches where services are given in a
language other than English, or where
church is attended by believers of a
certain ethnic or cultural background ...
Chinese, Filipino, Hispanic, Korean,
Russian and Vietnamese.
Some people are led to The
Church Guide website because they
are hurting and want to find Jesus. We
want them to know that Jesus did not
come to destroy lives, but to save
them. We encourage those readers to
get a Bible and begin to spend time
with Him in His Word, and to begin to
attend one of the churches they find
listed on our website.
There are more than one million of
our neighbors here in Hampton Roads
who do not know Jesus and have no
relationship with Him. It has long been
the mission field of The Church Guide
... to “Save One Million Souls” right
here in our own backyards.
But we can’t do it alone, we seek
your help. For those who are inspired
to make a difference for the Kingdom of
God and are ready to reach out to
families, friends and loved ones, we
provide videos, scripts, and training on
our website so you can have the tools
needed to win souls.
Christian Help and Assistance
Sometimes we need a little help,
and “thank God” there are hundreds
and hundreds of outreach ministries
throughout Hampton Roads to do that.
We strive to provide the most
complete listing of Christian
outreaches, assistance ministries and
support groups in Hampton Roads for
those individual and families that might
be in need of some form of support,
counseling, help or assistance. Most
are free or of minimal cost ... covering
such areas as addictions, clothing,
depression, homelessness, food
assistance, and abuse.
If your church or ministry hosts
programs that are not listed, please let
us know so that we can include them
on this website. It’s free. Just email the
information to [email protected].
In this area of the website, we will
also be providing articles, videos and
more to inspire and encourage you in
your walk ... to help you overcome
whatever it is you are going through.
Yes, we said going through, because
we are going to help you get through it.
One of the biggest changes is the
expansion of information for Christians
in business ... or in the marketplace.
It is our desire to promote integrity
in the marketplace, and embrace the
time, talents and resources that God
has entrusted to us.
Front Page News and Commentary
Churches and Ministries
Whether you are a small business
owner, self-employed, work for
someone else or manage a large
corporation, The Church Guide will
provide live feeds to the news you
need to be successfully competitive in
today’s global community ... business
news, market analysis, technology,
and finances.
The Christian Marketplace will link
Christian consumers with Christian
product and service providers.
To better educate, equip and
encourage you in your workplace
ministry, The Church Guide offers a
series of articles and videos prepared
and presented by some of the most
knowledgeable Christian men and
women to help you be all that God has
called you to be in your calling in the
marketplace.
Christian Schools
Education is extremely important
for the future and welfare of our
children. The new Church Guide online
will bring you news stories that touch
and address issues concerning our
faith and our children’s ability to live out
their faith.
The world is influencing what we
think and do by first implanting such
thoughts, actions and behaviors in our
children ... beginning in their first days
of school.
We hope to address current
topics, like bullying, sex education,
expressions of belief, etc. We will also
provide current listings of all Christian
schools in the area for those parents
wanting their children to receive an
education with an eternal perspective
based on a personal relationship with
God.
Christian Events and Happenings
Probably the most read and
primary destination for people on our
website is to learn what God is doing in
and around Hampton Roads.
With the change, the news in this
area is expanding and will include
more news and information about
Christian music, Christian radio and
Christian TV.
The “What You Might Want To
Know Before You Go To The Movies”
will become a standard feature on the
website, allowing us to include more
frequent and current reviews of movies
as they hit the theaters.
We will share information about
DVDs, CDs and books that you may
find an interest ... not only nationally,
but locally as well. There are a lot of
talented writers and musicians here.
Christian Business
When printing a monthly
publication, we were limited to only
promoting those events and
happenings we were aware of weeks
or months before they actually took
place. So much information comes our
way after publishing that we were
never able to help promote and share
in the past. But no more, now we will be
able to include concerts, workshops,
conferences, etc. as we learn of them.
So that you can spend as much time in
God’s presence and experience His
hand in love in ALL that He is doing in
and around Hampton Roads.
One of the outreach ministries of
The Church Guide is the River Room
Christian Coffeehouse. It is a great
place to go on a Friday evening after a
hard week of work and just give God
thanks, and worship Him, and be at
peace and relax in His presence. We
will let you know more about all the
wonderful, talented and anointed
musicians, artists and music ministries
in Hampton Roads, because you will
find them at The River Room.
Lifestyle
This is a brand new addition to
The Church Guide.
As Christian men and women, we
work hard, we pray hard, and we play
hard. The older we get, the more we
realize that time is one of our most
precious gifts from God. It is our only
non-renewable resource; you can
spend it, but you can never make
more.
God wants us to honor Him with
our time and our bodies. He wants us
to put Him first, but also to rest, relax
and enjoy life.
We will begin providing news
articles and information about health
and fitness. Our bodies are temples,
the Holy Spirit dwells within us ... let’s
keep our temple healthy. Perhaps you
are called in this area, if so, we look
forward to hearing from you and pray
you will consider contributing to the
news and features presented here.
We will also provide news stories
on relationships. How to improve your
marriage, how to better parent your
teen, how to honor your mother and
father.
We welcome testimonies on how
God has changed you, helped you,
protected you in your life and in your
relationships. Others can learn from
your experiences, and they can see
hope and gain encouragement in
knowing that “they aren’t the only ones
to go through something.”
Anyway, I’m excited. I pray you
will continue to read and enjoy the new
and improved, online Church Guide.
Christian Schools
Christian Events and Entertainment
Lifestyle
Still Standing, Surviving Suicide - 2nd
Tuesday of month, 7-9 pm. Spring Branch
Community Church, 1500 N. Great Neck Rd.,
Va Beach. FMI: 464-9289.
www.stillstanding2.org.
Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center –
1100 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach.
Emotions Annoymous . Wednesdays at 7-8
pm. FMI: Anne 515-7552.
www.emotionsanonymous.org for more info.
Restoring the Hurting – Support Group
Ministry of the World Outreach Worship
Center. Thursdays at 7:00 pm. 874-1223. 1233
Shields Rd., Newport News
DIVORCE / SEPARATION
First Baptist Church of Norfolk, 312
These are but a few of the programs available to individuals and families in Hampton
Roads in need of support, counseling, and/or assistance. Programs are free or offered
at minimal cost. Some assistance programs have too many to print (for example
Alcoholics Annoymous), and in those cases, you can find a more complete listing and
hundreds of other outreaches at our website: www.TheChurchGuide.com
If your church/ministry hosts additional programs, and you’d like to have them
included on these pages or added to the website, please email your info to us at:
[email protected]. Please, if you use any of these services, please thank them
and tell them you saw it listed in The Church Guide. newspaper.
ADDICTIONS
Overcomers - Addiction recovery meetings.
Monday and Tues., 7:30-8:30 pm. Geneva
Park Baptist Church, 2400 Gilmerton Rd.,
Chesapeake. FMI: 487-2633.
12 Step Recovery Life Group – Open to
anyone with addictions. Overcome your
dependency with scripturally based principles.
New life Center, 3310 Indian River Road Ches.
FMI: 545.5093 ext.200
Regeneration Addiction Recovery
Group – Regeneration is a faith based
addiction recovery group that deals with all
types of addictions alcohol, drugs, gambling,
pornography, sexual addiction, eating
disorders, and cutting. we meet every Friday
and Tuesday night at 7:30 pm. Wave Church
1000 North Great Neck Rd. Virgina Beach.
Recovery For Life – a leader in the
provision of safe places, educational materials
& treatment for individuals and families
struggling with the challenges of addictions &
compulsive behaviors.
Recovery For Life Kempsville – Meets
Tuesdays in Life Center at Atlantic Shores
Baptist Church at 7:00 p.m. Also meets
Thursdays in The Shed 7:00 p.m., 1861
Kempsville Road, Centerville and Kempsville
Road, Virginia Beach. FMI: 456-0093
Beach Pentecostal – Meets Saturday at
8:00 am. 501 Baltic Ave. (Corner of 16th and
Baltic) Virginia Beach. Call Dallas: 572-5333.
Tabernacle Church of Norfolk – Meets
Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., 7000 Granby Street,
Norfolk. Call Ed: 757-440-8224.
Recovery For Life The Boulevard –
Meets Wed. at 7:00 p.m., 3333-28 Virginia
Beach Blvd. (behind Harris Teeter) Va Beach.
Call Gary: 463-0207.
Bethany Christian Services –
Counseling, assistance & support for
unplanned pregnancies. Offering pre-& postadoption services, and counseling and support
for women who chose to parent. Seeking
loving & stable environment that adoptive
children can call home. 499.9367 or 1-800BETHANY(24 hr hotline), www.bethany.org,
www.impregnant.org. 287 Independence
Blvd., Suite 241, Va Beach, VA 23462
BATTERED / BEATEN
FAMILY SHELTERS
Samaritan House – Safety from abuse ~
2620 Southern Blvd., Virginia Beach. Phone:
631-0710. Hotline: 430-2120.
Women In Crisis - YWCA – Serves
women over age 18 that are experiencing
battering. Provides shelter to abused women
and children. 5215 Colley Ave., Norfolk. FMI:
757-625-4248 - HELPLINE: (757) 625-5570.
www.ywca-shr.org.
Domestic Violence Prevention
Ministry - Apostles Lutheran Church, 370
Johnstown Rd., Chesapeake. 547-4692 Mary
Lou Taylor
Victory Home – Six to 12 month program to
help you gain independence. 2400 Gilmerton
Rd., Ches. 487-2633 victoryhomerecovery.com
Salvation Army – Emergency shelter,
emer-gency financial support, emergency
assistance. 1033 Big Bethel Rd., Hampton.
838-4875
Salvation Army HOPE Center –
Emergency shelter/assistance. 543-8100.
5525 Raby Rd., Norfolk.
Non-Christian sources …
Genieve Shelter – Victims of domestic
CLOTHING
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
– Offices in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake,
Norfolk, Suffolk, Newport News &
Williamsburg. 490-4931
Church of the Advent – 1097 Bells Mill
Rd, Ches. FMI: Shylene Thoroughgood 4103081
Wave City Care – Education services,
tutoring & mentoring. 965-8494.
www.wavecitycare.com. 2610 Potters Rd., Ste
206, Virginia Beach.
LINK of Hampton Roads – Professional
and Casual Clothing for persons returning to
work, for the homeless in need of a change of
clothing or casual/ professional attire or for
families who are unable to purchase needed
items for newborns, or elderly persons who are
incontinent. 10413 Warwick Blvd., Newport
News. 595-1953.
Little Blessing Thrift Store –
28 Harpersville Road, Newport News
Wed. 4-5, Sat. 10-4, Sun. 12:30-2:30
Open Door Chapel – 3177 Virginia Beach
Blvd., Virginia Beach. 340-1441 ~ Mon. &
Wed. 10-2. Must have valid ID for each person
for clothing.
Princess Anne Plaza UMC – 208 South
Plaza Trail, Virginia Beach 340-5775
St. Gregory’s Catholic Church –
Clearfield Avenue, Norfolk. 757-497-8330
Manna House Ministries – Provides
food, clothing, shelter, education and training
for families and individuals. FMI: 714-0331.
http://mannahouseministries-va.org/
Wave City Care -- assists hurting
Recovery For Life Chesapeake
Community Church – Meets Thursdays at
abuse. (757) 925-4365, 1548-C Holland
Road, Suffolk
7:00 p.m., 253 Saint Luke’s Church Rd.,
Chesapeake. Call: Phil 328-4096. Childcare
using Recovery for Kids curriculum
Celebrating Truth Ministries – Meets
Mondays at 7:00 p.m., 5295 Greenwich Rd.
Suite 103, Virginia Beach. Genise 456-2268.
HER Shelter – Domestic violence, teen date
individuals and families in Hampton Roads to
meet their basic and immediate needs for
food, clothing, and shelter. For help, call 9658494.
violence –485-1445
Other caring providers:
Chesapeake Battered Women
Children's Clothes Closet – Provides
24 hour hotline: 485-3384. Referrals for
assistance, community support groups, legal
advocacy for women.
clothing, primarily to school age children, for
families in need. No fee. 2708 Chestnut Ave.,
Newport News, 244-6121
ADOPTION / UNPLANNED
PREGNANCY
Our House Families – Emergency shelter
DEPRESSION
Crisis Pregnancy Center / Keim
Centers – Christ-centered organization
whose mission is to reach out to those women
and families involved in crisis-related
pregnancies offering them real help for the
present, hope for the future, and healing for
their past. To include: Limited Ultrasound,
Pregnancy Confirmation, Consultation by a
Medical Professional and Distribution of
Prenatal Vitamins. FMI: 499.4444. Services
are provided thru Keim Centers at:
Norfolk: 2121 Colonial Ave., Norfolk 23517
Virginia Beach: 3145 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Ste. 109, Virginia Beach 23452
Portsmouth/Chesapeake: 5000 Portsmouth
Blvd. Suite. 1, Portsmouth 23701
Suffolk: 302 N. Main St. Suite. A, Suffolk,
23434
for families. Max stay 30 days. Case
management, counseling. Call 545-4075. 405
D Street, Chesapeake. ourhousefamilies.org.
Transitions Family Violence Service –
Program to help gain independence for victims
of abuse. 722-2261, Hotline 723-7774. 240
Chapel St., Hampton. www.transitionsfsv.org
Suffolk Shelter 757-934-1353
Hampton/Newport News Battered
Women’s Shelter Phone: 723-7774
BANKRUPTCY
Credit Control – Debt Management and
awareness classes. Offered free by Safe
Harbour Credit Mgt.. Call 340-2564
Financial Counseling – assistance and
support in financial difficulties. Catholic
Charities of Eastern Virginia. Offices in Virginia
Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Newport
News and Williamsburg. FMI call 484-0703.
Emotions Anonymous – 12 Step
program designed to improve your mental
health. There is no cost in attending these
meetings. Three locations in Hampton Roads.
Virginia Beach United Methodist
Church – 18th Street and Pacific Ave.,
Virginia Beach, Tuesdays at 1 pm. FMI: Dave
351-3413.
Renewed Minds – “You Are Never Alone
Ministry” – we offer Hope to those suffering
from the life crippling and devastating effects
of depression. We offer one-on-one
encourage-ment, seminars, videos,
publications and a 6 week Bible Study class
teaching the Biblical tools that will empower
you to overcome the many aspects of
depression. Classes forming now! Call us to
schedule a seminar, join in a class, or just to
talk. FMI: 757-962-7571. Debbie Swain or
Nancy Green. www.neveraloneministry.org
Kempsville Rd., Norfolk. FMI/Register: Rev.
Brett Carroll ... [email protected].
Divorce Care – Weekly seminar to create
healing for divorced persons. Seminar is free,
workbook is $12. Scholarships available.
Sundays from 6:00 pm til 8:00 pm. Contact
Kathy Ahearn at 495-1886, x11. Church of the
Ascension, 4853 Princess Anne Rd., VaBeach
Divorce Care – Support Group Ministry of
the World Outreach Worship Center. Call for
times 874-1223. 1233 Shields Rd., Npt. News
Divorce Care – Weekly support group
meets Mondays at 6:45-9:00 pm. Contact Patti
Whitehurst 547-2319. Oak Grove United
Methodist Church, 472 Battlefield Blvd.,
Chesapeake.
meets Tuesday 7:00-8:30 pm. Contact
Rosemary Dorow 630-3367. New Creation
United Methodist Church, 4320 Bruce Rd.,
Chesapeake.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
First Baptist Church Denbigh
Outreach Center – Bread and other nonperishable foods every Wednesday (9:30am –
1:00pm) and Thursday (8:30am – 12:00pm).
USDA is issued every 2nd Wednesday of the
month 9:30am – 1:00pm (must meet USDA
guidelines for qualification).
13656 Warwick Blvd., Newport News
Jack Chase’s Bread Ministry – Help for
those destitute but make too much to qualify
for help from social service agencies. (757)
273-0818 www.chefnoah.com
Sixth House – Provides programs for those in
need of food assistance. Variety of programs
to supplement your needs every 3rd Thursday,
1-4 pm. Free bread every Friday after 3:00 pm.
2003 Kechoghtan Rd., Hampton. 244-6100.
Hope Community Church – Offers shortterm food assistance for individuals and
families in need. 826A J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Newport News. FMI: 595-8490
S.H.A.R.E. – a network of churches &
community agencies that serve as a food
distribution site. Participants contribute $17 in
cash, by check or EBT card, donate two hours
of volunteer time, and receive a food package
worth at least $40. FMI: 596-7188. 9912
Hosier St., Newport News.
One Harvest Food Ministry -- Everyone can
purchase food boxes at wholesale prices.
Great for stretching the monthly food budget.
FMI: 53901096. Radiant Life Ministries, 100
Kilby Shores Drive, suffolk 23434. Manna
House Ministries - Food provisional
assistance. FMI: 714-0331. Manna House
Ministries, Virginia Beach.
http://mannahouseministries-va.org
FOOD PANTRIES
HOMELESS
Church of the Ascension – 4853 Princess
Anne Rd., Va. Beach Monday thru Thurs.
10:00 - Noon (For Va. Beach Residents) (757)
495-1886
Judeo-Christian Outreach – 1053
Virginia Beach Blvd., Va. Beach, 491-2846
Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal – Thurs. 11:00
am- noon. 560 W. Olney Rd., Norfolk. FMI:
627-5665
New Jerusalem C.O.G.I.C. – 118 Erie Ave,
Virginia Beach, 425-8431 Our House Family
Shelter – Chesapeake residents. 757-5454075
Life More Abundantly Ministries -- 1080
Aragona Blvd., Virginia Beach 473-3084 –
Tues-Fri. 10:00 am- 6:00 pm Open Door
Chapel – 3177 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia
Beach. Wednesday only 10:00 am til 2:00 pm.
Must call first 340-1441 and bring valid ID.
New Beech Grove Church-- Tuesday and
Thursday mornings, from 11:00am – 1:00pm.
326 Tabbs Lane, Newport News.
Hope Lutheran Church -- Every 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of each month from 6 PM - 8 PM,
and, the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month
from 10AM-Noon. 5350 Providence Rd., Va
Beach. 424-4848.
St. Gregory’s Catholic Church – Clearfield
Avenue, Norfolk. 757-497-8330. Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday 12:15-1:30
St. Mark’s Catholic Church – 1505
Kempsville Rd., Virginia Beach 757-479-1010
York County Church Women United
Emergency Food Closet – Provides food,
where needed, on an emergency basis to York
County and Poquoson residents. Mon. Wed.,
Fri. 12:30 to 3:00 pm., 300 Ella Taylor Road,
Yorktown. FMI: 898-9057.
Visit Our Website TheChurchGuide.com For Hundreds of Outreach
Ministries To Great To List In This Newspaper. Include Your Church’s
or ministries outreaches by emailing [email protected]
Divorce Care — Weekly support group
meets Thursdays 7:00-8:30 pm. Contact
Brenda Sims 547-8537. Great Bridge
Presbyterian Church, Room 230, 333 Cedar
Rd., Chesapeake.
meets Thursdays 6:30-8:30 pm. Contact Karl
Oelke 418-3800. $12 registration fee.
Kempsville Presbyterian Church, Kempsville
Rd., Virginia Beach.
meets Thursdays 6:30-8:00 pm. Contact Tom
Armbrister 486-7900. $10 registration fee.
London Bridge Baptist Church, 2460
Potter's Rd., Virginia Beach.
Divorce Care – Weekly support group to
help you will learn how to deal with the pain of
the past and look forward to rebuilding your
life. Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:30. Cost is
$15, free childcare.
Safe Harbor Divorce/Separation
Crisis Marriage Recovery Group –
Monthly meetings, call for times. New Destiny
Outreatch Ministries. Call Pastor Michelson
288-8275. 10 Parkerson Lane, Chesapeake
EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
Christian Education Scholarships
Financial assistance provided for those
parents wanting to give their children a
Christian education but need monetary
assistance. For info (215) 870-9454 or
[email protected]. www.faithschoice.org.
Wave City Care -- offers educational
services to help empower people to become
more productive in the community, to improve
their quality of life and to maximize their
potential. FMI: 965-8494.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
and COUNSELING
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
Chesapeake Office 484-0703
3804 Poplar Hall Road, Suite A, Chesapeake.
Our House Family Shelter – Crisis
financial assistance. One time payment to
avoid utility cutoff, foreclosure, eviction.
545-4075.
Star of the Sea Catholic Church –
Assist Virginia Beach residents only. 1404
Pacific Avenue, Va. Beach. FMI: 428-1244
LINK of Hampton Roads – Limited
Financial Assistance for utilities, bus tokens,
Greyhound tickets, vehicle repairs in special
needs cases. 10413 Warwick Blvd., Newport
News. 595-1953.
FOOD
& MEAL
MINISTRIES
Saint John's Soup Kitchen
– Saint John's AME Church serves a free
meal on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the
month. From 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. 545 East
Bute Street, Norfolk VA. 23501, Downtown
Norfolk near the Scope, FMI (757) 625-2713
Hope Community Church – hot meal every
Monday night from 6:30-7:30 pm. 28
Harpersville Rd., Newport News West
Hampton Baptist Church serves a free lunch
every Thursday from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in
the Industrial Park area of Newport News. 631
Aberdeen Rd, Hampton.
Judeo-Christian Outreach – Mon.-Fri. 6 pm,
Sat./Sun. & Holidays 3 pm Sunday morning
breakfast 8 am. 1053 Virginia Beach Blvd.,
Virginia Beach. FMI: 491-2846. People In
Need Ministry - PIN provides clothing, hygiene
supplies, food, medical care and a Bible study
each Sunday from 3:00-6:00 pm at Virginia
Beach Pentecostal Church, 501 Baltic Ave.,
Virginia Beach. Dallas 572-5333
Potter’s House - Tues. Thurs. Bag Lunches.
Virginia Beach UMC, 212 19th Street, Virginia
Beach. FMI: 428-7727 Star of the Sea Catholic
Church – Lunch provided Monday, Wed., &
Friday at 11:00 am. 1404 Pacific Avenue, Va.
Beach 757- 428-1244
Monday Soup Kitchen -- Serving up a hot,
nutricious bowl of soup with bread, Mondays
from 9:30 am til 11:30 am. Central Baptist
Church Ghent, 701 W. Olney Road, Norfolk.
FMI: 757.627.4571.
All Nations Church – Breakfast, fresh clothes,
toiletries, showers, and medical attention.
Sunday morning pick up 8:00-8:15 am at the
Farmer’s Market at 29th Street & Jefferson
Ave, NN and HRT bus station. Taken to church
for meal and needs met. Attend 11:00 am
service and taken back downtown afterwards.
941-5111. 853 Cloverleaf Ln, Newport News.
Oak Grove United Methodist Community
Dinner – Wednesday 6:30- 7:30 pm. 472
Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake. What’s
Cooking? – Pastors wife teaches those
interested how to cook a main dish. Bible
message taught while cooking. Saturday 6:308:30 pm. Trinity Baptist Church 818 Waters
Rd., Chesapeake
First Baptist Church Denbigh Outreach
Center – feeds the homeless on the 4th
Saturday of every month at 29th Street &
Jefferson Avenue beginning 12:00 pm, 3656
Warwick Blvd., Newport News
The NET Food Pantry is the 3rd. Tuesday of
each month from 11am 1pm. Mrs. Thomas
Cornerstone Assembly of God, 55 Tide Mill
Lane Hampton. FMI: 826-4322 ext. 118.
Cornerstone Assembly of God – Tuesdays
between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. 41 Tide Mill
Lane, Hampton. FMI: 826-4322
Faith Christian Center -- First Saturday of the
month 10am to Noon. 1066 Norview Ave.,
Norfolk 857-1336. www.fccnorfolk.com
St. Mary’s Food Pantry -- 1000 Holt Street,
Norfolk. Open daily 10 am – noon. Call first,
622-4487. St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen -- 1000
Holt Street, Norfolk. Open Mon., Wed., Thurs.,
and Fri. 1:00-2:00 pm. .
Calvary Presbyterian Church -- 150
Kempsville Rd., Norfolk. If you are in need of
assistance, please call 461-7043.
Holy Trinity Food Pantry – Food assistance
to Ocean View residents, Mon.- Thurs. 1-3 pm.
154 W. Government Ave., Norfolk. 480-3433.
East Ocean View Baptist Church – 9609 9th
Bay St., Norfolk. Food pantry open Mon. 10 am
Five Loaves Food Bank – USDA, salvage
food and bread every Monday from 6-8 pm.
Mosaic Campus, 28 Harpersville Rd., Newport
News. Food Bank is front left classroom at
Cornerstone Church from 6:00- 8:00 pm. A hot
meal is provided Mondays from 6:30-7:30 pm
in the Commons area. 595-8490
Courthouse Community UMC Food Pantry
– 2708 Princess Anne Rd., Virginia Beach.
Wed. 10 am – noon. Vineyard Community
Church – 4444 Expressway Dr., Virginia
Beach. Open first and third Thursday from
noon til 2:00 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am til
noon. By appointment only. FMI: 497-6909.
Sovereign Grace Church – 508 N. Centerville
Turnpike, Chesapeake. Every other Tues. from
5:30-8 pm. FMI: [email protected].
Ivy Memorial Baptist Church – 2200 Coliseum
Dr., Hampton. Wednesday at 10:00 am. Bring
ID, for Hampton residents only.
Covenant United Methodist Church – 2004
Dock Landing Rd., Chesapeake. Call first,
488-8968. Prince of Peace Catholic Church –
621 Cedar Rd., Chesapeake. Wednesday from
10 a – noon. Rear of church.
New Life Christian Center’s Storehouse –
3909 Pleasant Ave., Norfolk. Call first … 3628015. Harvest Assembly Church – Mondays
5:00-7:00 pm, Wednesdays 10:00 am-Noon
and Fridays 4:00-6:00 pm. Trailrer marked
HOB (House of Blessing) behind church. 525
Kempsville Rd., Chesapeake.
Trinity Christian Fellowship 5245 Challedon
Dr., Va Beach Call Rev. Thompson 739-0282
The Lighthouse Center – Temporary
evening shelter during the winter for the
homeless and their families. A day program for
homeless adults. The center offers shower
facilities, case management and life skills
training, plus an address and telephone
number for homeless individuals to receive
mail & phone calls. 825 18th Street, Virginia
Beach ~ 437-4911.
x
Potters House – Potter’s House provides
services to the homeless, the working poor,
and those in crisis situations, who are
residents of Virginia Beach. Assistance
includes: financial, food, bike, personal
hygiene, and ID assistance Tuesday and
Thursdays 9:30 till noon. Located at 1709
Pacific Ave., Virginia Beach. FMI: 428-3015
Hosted by Virginia Beach UMC.
Menchville House – Transitional shelter for
homeless and hurting women with children.
Assistance given to help the women become
independent and self-sufficient. Newport
News. 833-5980.
H.O.P.E. CENTER – Salvation Army
provides shelter to single women as well as
mothers with children, including males not
older than 17, for a stay up to 9 months. 2097
S. Military Hwy., Chesapeake. FMI: 545-6049.
PORT Emergency Homeless Winter
Shelter Program – Managed by LINK and
designed for interfaith congregations located in
any area of Newport News who come together
to open their parish or social halls and provide
food and shelter for individuals or families who
would normally spend their nights sleeping on
the streets. For locations and schedule go
online: www.linkhr.org.
Loving Care Ministries – 2nd chance for
homeless families. 2804 Salem Road, Va
Beach. 430-4101
The Dwelling Place – Providing safe and
secure emergency shelter for the homeless.
Norfolk 624-9879
Our House Family Shelter – Transitional
housing for homeless families in Chesapeake
~ 545-4075
Salvation Army – Men Only – Must have
picture ID. Opens at 6:00 am 203 W. 19th
Street, Norfolk. Phone 622-3471.
Salvation Army Hope Village – Women
Only – Community where women help each
other break the cycle of poverty. 5513 Raby
Rd., Norfolk. 543-8100
All Nations Church – Breakfast, fresh
clothes, toiletries, showers, and medical
attention. Sunday morning pick up 8:00-8:15
am at the Farmer's Market at 29th Street and
Jefferson Ave, NN and HRT bus station. Taken
to church for meal and needs met. Attend
11:00 am service & taken back after-wards.
941-5111. 853 Cloverleaf Lane, Newpt News.
PARC Place – emergency shelter for
families. Contact Bill Cunningham 393-4246.
Portsmouth
Samaritan House – Serves homeless
families 18 and over for up to 90 days. 2697
International Pkwy, Ste 108, Va Beach. FMI:
430-2642. Hotline: 430-2120.
Union Mission Women & Family
Shelter – Provides food, clothing, emergency
shelter, reha-bilitation programs and
supportive services to single women and
women with children. Open 24 hrs. Photo ID
required. 5100 E. Va Beach Blvd., Norfolk.
Union Mission Single Men’s Shelter –
Provide food, clothing, emergency shelter,
discipleship and training program, job and life
skills trainging. Open 24 hours. First come,
first served. Picture ID required. 5100 E. Va.
Beach Blvd., Norfolk. 627-8686.
Non-Christian support includes …
ForKids – Transitional housing for families
with kids. Families can stay for up to 2 years.
FMI: 622-6400.www.homesforkids.org
ForKids Haven House – Emergency
shelter for families with kids. Families my stay
for up to 120 days as they work towards selfsufficiency. 131 D View Avenue, Norfolk,
Phone: 587-4202
ForKids Suffolk House – Emergency
shelter for families with kids. Families my stay
for up to 120 days as they work towards selfsufficiency. Call 934-1353
Laura and John’s House – Provides
assistance to women with children less than 5
years of age. 1020 George Washington Hwy,
Chesapeake. 485-0833.
You
ThankYour
For ort
Supp
paren ting
I
I
TODAY’S TEENS
Hot Pants and
Feathered Hair
If you open an old yearbook, you’ll
probably get a good laugh from some of
the clothes and hairstyles you find
immortalized in there.
There’s a lot that’s different about
being a teenager today … compared to
when we were kids. But one thing
never changes: our obsession with
wacky, new fads. Back in the day, it
was hot pants, ABBA, and feathered
hair. Now, things like iPads, hipster
glasses, and dubstep are the rage.
It’s true, some of today’s trends
make no sense and drive us crazy, but
let’s be honest … we probably drove
our parents nuts with weird fashion
crazes, too! The most important thing
is that it doesn’t represent outright
rebellion or immorality.
If not, I say, in the words of a
famous rock-and-roll band, “Let it be.”
Video Games
Video games can be a confusing
topic for parents. Should I let my teen
play them? What about the violent
ones? How much should they be
allowed to play?
These answers will depend on
your teen’s personality and level of
maturity, but let me offer a few tips.
First, take time to play a new game
with your teen. If you see something in
it that contradicts your family values,
then switch it out for a different game.
Second, don’t let video games
consume his life. If he starts to spend
more time in front of the console than
anywhere else, give him some
boundaries.
And finally, if you feel that video
games are affecting your teen’s
motivation or changing his personality,
then take more serious action.
Video games can play a healthy
role … as long as Mom and Dad pay
attention!
Boomerang Children
www.ngycp.org/site/state/va
Have you ever heard the term
“boomerang child?”
Here’s what a boomerang child is:
an adult child who leaves home … and
then finds himself back under his
parents’ roof. Now, there might be a
good reason for it, such as recuperating
from a medical issue, or between jobs.
But in many cases, the adult ends
up back with his parents simply
because it’s easier! Hey, if we’re
constantly working to make everything
comfy-cozy for our kids, why would
they ever want to leave?
Mom, Dad, don’t let your
boomerang child become a permanent
boarder. It will take a change in
attitudes and principles — from both
parties involved — to move your adult
child out of your house and onto his
own, independent life.
Abusing Social Media
Do you keep track of how your
teen presents himself online?
Today … teens are using sites like
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and
Tumblr to interact with each other
online … and parents need to keep up
with what their teens are doing!
Viewing pornography or
downloading other harmful media is
not the only way your child could be
abusing the Internet—what he posts
online has the potential to be just as
dangerous. Sharing personal
information, making threats, spreading
lies … all of this is fair game in the
world of social media.
Mom, Dad, before things get out
of hand, discuss what sort of things are
unacceptable to post online. “Friend”
your teen on Facebook … keep an eye
on his YouTube channel. And, most
importantly, keep up the one-on-one
conversation!
Teen Jobs
How old were you when you got
your first job?
Many of us started our careers at
an early age. Remember those great
afternoons raking the neighbor’s lawn,
or the early mornings delivering
newspapers? But these days, you’ll
find adults graduating from high school
who’ve never had any sort of job!
Parents might be tempted to think
their teen is too busy for work—she’s
too involved with sports and other
extra-curricular stuff to have time for
anything else. Well, no amount of
after-school activities, social clubs,
sports programs, or music lessons can
ever replace the education and life
skills that having a job will teach her!
This isn’t the only time you’ll hear
me say this … every teen needs a job!
Mark Gregston is a Psychologist at Heartlight
Ministries, teacher, author and speaker. You
can read more of his teachings on parenting
teens at www.parenting todays teens.org.
1) Please don't say "I am sorry" or "I 4) Please recognize I am grieving and
know how you feel" • "I am sorry" mourning. My grief is what I feel inside,
makes me feel like I should say that it's the roller coaster of emotions. My
okay and start consoling you. It's not mourning is how I am expressing my
okay. It won't be okay for a while and grief on the outside. I may yell and
that's okay. "I know how you feel" hurts scream, cry, sleep, tell my story over
me. How could you know how I feel? My and over. It's is not only okay for me to
loss and my loved one are unique and feel and express all of these emotions,
individual, as unique and individual as it's it necessary.
you and I.
5) Please remember me
2) Please say their name –
x
and don't avoid me. Ask
Speaking and hearing my
xxxxx
me more than once to join
loved one's name is
xxx
you for coffee or the movies.
comforting to me. It lets me
xxxxxx
I may decline invites and
know you remember him/her.
xxxx
eventually I will have the
Not saying their name is like
xxxx
strength and energy to join
avoiding the elephant in the
xxx
you.
room. Talking about my loved
xxx
6) Please acknowledge
one, sharing stories, and Cynthia Gossman
xxx
that I am in a time warp as
Life After Loss
speaking of the death are all
xxx
my world has stopped while
Healing Solutions
ways to help me cope.
xxx
your world and everyone
3) When I ask "why" and talk about else's is still going. I am currently in slow
"what if's", answers and solutions are motion. I am grieving as fast as I can
not necessarily what I am seeking. This working on processing the loss as my
is a way for me to process my grief out heart and head are still disconnected. I
loud and start my mourning process. It ask for patience and understanding.
is not a cue for you to feel you have to 7) Please don't judge me. You are not
answer or fix the situation. Sometimes living my journey. I understand you are
the best thing you can do is sit with me concerned about how I am sleeping and
and be there for moral support while I eating. You may be tired of hearing me
try to make sense of my loss.
blubber my story. You may feel I am not
where I am supposed to be on my
journey. With kindness be my friend.
8) Please forgive me if I say or do
something to hurt you. I am not myself
right now. I need patience and
understanding. I may be mad or angry
and I am saying sorry now in case I
shout at you wrongly.
9) Please don't "SHOULD" on me.
Try not to tell me what I should be doing
or feeling. Be my friend and don't try to
fix me.
10) Please don't compare my loss. It
hurts and diminishes the significance of
my loved one and raw emotional
circumstance. My loss is all I can see,
hear, feel and breathe right now. I don't
have the capability to think about
someone else's right now.
11) Please don't say, "Call me if you
need anything". I have little capability
to recognize what I need. I have little to
no energy to pick up the phone. If you
would like to help out bring me a meal
or take the kids for an outing so I can
get some rest. Send me a card to let me
know you are thinking of me. Pick up
some groceries and toilet paper. Mow
my grass. Come sit with me and be my
friend.
12) Please don't say, "At Least". At
least we had 'X' amount of years
together? At least he/she is in a better
place? At least he/she is out of pain?
Saying things like this only hurts more
and diminishes the significance of my
loved one and the love we shared.
Cynthia Gossman is a Grief Coach, Grief
Guidance Specialist, Joy Restoration Coach,
Educator and Advocate. She is the founder of
Life After Loss Healing Solutions, LLC.
www.lifeafterlosshs.com
You
Thanrk 15
Fo of
Yearsort
Supp
The Steele household is not your
average American family, with fifteen
children, five grandchildren, and over
twenty-one fostered children through
the years.
Dana Wynn Steele, a
speaker on domestic, transracial, and open adoption,
shares her family's roller
coaster ride with ups, downs,
twists, and turns in her new
book, A Starfish at a Time,
scheduled to release this fall
with Carpenter's Son
Publishing.
“Adoption in the United States
through foster care takes commitment,”
says Steele, “but the rewards are much
more abundant than the commitment
itself.” Steele's book guides readers
through the challenging maze, seeming
insurmountable at times, of adopting
through foster care.
The author's personal stories of
difficulties and joys of parenting
children who have never experienced
heart warming. Parents, pastors,
teachers, social workers, and anyone
with a heart for vulnerable children will
glean spiritual truths, blessings, and
x
lessons through Dana and her
xxx
family's unique journey.
All proceeds from the sale of
x
A Starfish at a Time will go to
xxx
their non-profit organization,
xxxxx Homestead Ranch.
For more information on
xxxxx how to help these children,
xxxxx go to homesteadranch.net.
To learn more about A
xxxx S t a r f i s h a t a T i m e , v i s i t
christianbookservices.com.
About the Author: Dana Wynn Steele is an
attorney, former judge, author, and speaker on
adoption and adoption related issues. She and
her husband, Alan, have an ever growing family
including fifteen children (with probably more to
come), and five grandchildren. They have
fostered an additional twenty-one children over
the last twenty years. They are opening
Homestead Ranch for homeless girls who age
out of foster care, or are pregnant, on their ranch
in Suffolk, Virginia
Acad
emy o
f Early
Educ
tion
Hampton Road's premiere childcare
school based upon the proprietary
“LEAP” curriculum for children 6
weeks to 6 years.
The Learning Experience curriculum
is designed to provide an early education that will promote
competency and successful mastery of early development
tasks. Charlie Choo-Choo enrichment programs and
nutritious snacks/hot lunches included in tuition. All lead
teachers are college graduates.
Visit thelearningexperience.com for detailed
information on our facilities and educational
programs. Call for a tour of our beautiful school.
The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education
699 Brick Kiln Blvd. ~ Newport News, VA 23602
757-875-5437
(757) 624-8444
Faith
Broadcasting
1006 Park Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23504
Listen Online:
lifestream.tv/joy1270
By Sam Murphy
The festive season is upon us, and
that can only mean diet debauchery,
abandoned fitness regimes and sixhour TV marathons. But it doesn't have
to be this way. With a little forward
planning and a smidgeon of selfdiscipline, it is perfectly possible to
enjoy a happy Christmas and enter the
New Year feeling fit, not fat.
"Many people fall off the exercise
bandwagon at Christmas, or rule out
the idea of getting into shape during the
festive period, assuming there is no
point in starting until the New Year,"
says award-winning fitness consultant
Dean Hodgkin. "But given that one of
the biggest barriers to exercise is lack
of time, a break from the usual routine
can provide the ideal opportunity to
begin or maintain physical activity."
Staying active over Christmas not only
reduces your chances of gaining
weight, it also helps energize you,
reduces stress and gives you a break.
Exercising first thing may entail
getting up a little earlier than normal,
but it does ensure that you get your
workout done before other
commitments and crises get in the way
- and it will kickstart your metabolism for
the rest of the day.
Workouts don't need to be long to
be beneficial. "If you're prepared to
work hard, you can fit a super workout
into just a 30-minute window," says
Hodgkin. It's a trade-off between
duration and intensity: recent
Australian research found that 20
minutes of high-intensity interval
training burned more calories than 40
minutes at a steady state. And if time is
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, of the essence, you can even break
Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. down your daily exercise into short
bouts rather than opt for one single
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it prolonged session (research shows
with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD that activity bouts as short as 10
Almighty will accomplish this. ~ Isaiah 9: 6-7
minutes are effective).
Every
Genre of
Christian
Music
Available!
If an influx of family and visitors
make it difficult to do your usual
workout, try to get everyone involved in
something seasonal, like ice skating or
a winter walk.
You can rig the odds of getting
guests outside in your favor by buying
gifts that are just begging to be road
tested, like bikes, scooters, in-line
skates, footballs and Frisbees.
If you can’t drag yourself – or
anyone else – outdoors, look for indoor
alternatives to slumping on the sofa.
The ubiquitous Wii-Fit Plus offers a
realm of opportunities for hitting virtual
tennis balls and punching invisible
targets without leaving the living room,
or try one of the latest exercise DVDs.
As far as timing is concerned, it’s
better to schedule activity in after
eating rather than before. Research
from Old Dominion University shows
that post-prandial exercise attenuates
the glycemic effect of food, minimizing
blood sugar spikes and dips and
reducing the likelihood of further
snacking later. Gentle after-dinner
activity also helps to support digestion
a lot more than nodding off in an easy
chair does ...
While it would be rather Scroogelike to suggest that you forgo all treats
and extras at Christmas, you can limit
the damage by selecting your festive
foods more carefully. Try choosing
healthier nibbles like pretzels, roasted
chestnuts, unsalted nuts, dried fruits or
satsumas instead of chips and
chocolate. And think twice before you
open your mouth. Do you really want it,
or are you just eating it because it’s
there?
Starting Christmas day with
breakfast is a wise idea. You might be
tempted to skip breakfast, but this is
just likely to make you overindulge later
on. Add festive fruits such as dates,
figs, and cranberries to your breakfast.
One way of limiting the likelihood
of over-indulging is to choose your
outfit carefully. Steer clear of elastic or
loose waistbands – a fitted waistband
will give you a benchmark of tightness.
If the waistband fits in the morning, it
should still fit by the evening. It’s a
harsh wake-up call when you need to
undo your top button to cram in another
helping of roast potatoes or a pie.
Don’t feel obliged to eat more than
you normally would, just because it’s
Christmas. Turning down seconds
doesn’t mean you didn’t enjoy your
meal – it’s just you’ve had enough.
Similarly, there is nothing wrong
with politely putting your hand over your
glass when it still has wine left in it, so
that you can keep track of how much
you’ve had. Keep tabs on how much
you are drinking and intersperse
alcoholic drinks with soft ones and
plenty of water.
Let’s getting healthy and stay slim
as we enter into a new year.
Y2K Academy also offers online classes
that you can complete from the comfort of
your home or library computer to satisfy
court-mandated instruction in:
Anger Management
Basic Parenting
Alcohol Awareness
Minor in Possession
Sexual Harassment
Plus, Co-Parenting: 2 Parents, 2 Homes classes.
[email protected]
www.Y2Kacademy.webs.com
John Edwards
Owner
John Edwards Pest & Lawn Control
Environmental Health & Pest Control Specialist
757.421.7340
Specialist in ridding your home, church or
business of fleas, roaches, all types of pests,
as well as lawn and shrubbery sprayings,
structural repairs, and certified VA-FHA termite
inspections. Licensed, insured and state
certified. Angie’s List Super Service Award
winner.
Laura “Lee” Haber
Senior Security Consultant
Vector Security
349 Southport Circle, Ste 102, Va Beach 23452
757.822.0315
www.leehabersecurity.com [email protected]
Are your loved ones, home, and business safe
and secured? Call me for a free estimate on
burglary, fire, CCTV, Emergency Medical
Services, Access Control & UL Central Station
Services. Say you saw me in The Church Guide
and I will help you get your equipment Free,
install it for free, provide you with a free
smoke detector & give you a free key FOB.
With lots and lots and lots of
free prizes and give-aways.
Open to All Christian Business Men &
women. Bring plenty of business cards.
DCJS License # 11-2048 Contractor’s # 2705-020459A
Ron McKinney
Financial Advisor
Financial Security
MEMBER OF THE
CHRISTIAN BUSINESS CHAMBER
575 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Ste 310, Virginia Beach 23452
757.431.1414
Extension 6067
[email protected] www.gofsg.com
Creating prosperity takes careful planning, plus
considerable knowledge and experience. Let Ron
McKinney customize a sound plan for you. He has no
quotas to fill, no stocks to push – just a wealth of
information and the goal to realize your financial
independence. Highly sought after as a speaker and
advisor, Ron helps many people reach their financial goals.
Securities offered through Financial Security Management, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC
Colleen Dick
Station Manager
WEEKLY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
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Gathering of Men – Men’s
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Jesus Christ through the best in today’s praise
and worship music, and ministry programming.
Tim and Rodica Lambert
Fellowship Breakfast every Thursday at
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950 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
MONTHLY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Trusted Compass Christian
Business Network – Southside meets
2nd Friday each month. Noon til 1:30 pm
at Bonefish Grill, 3333 Virginia Beach
Blvd., Virginia Beach.
Peninsula meetings on 4th Friday of
each month, noon til 1:30 pm, The
Circuit, next to Christopher Newport,
Newport News. FMI: www.cbnhr.org.
Publishers
BUS. MEN & WOMEN PRAYER MEETING
The Shepherd’s Guide
757.896.1000
Christian Business Chamber –
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The Shepherd’s Guide is America’s premier
Christian business directory. Please call if you
would like to advertise your business, church,
school or ministry ... or, if you would like to
receive free copies. We also preside over the
Christian Business Network of Hampton Rorads
(cbnhr.org) with meetings twice a month.
God will always make sure that the “yes, and amen,’ then you have
people who are about His business absolutely nothing to worry about it.
have their needs met. I don’t know The only thing left to do is to believe
about you, but sometimes, even with and trust God. He will provide. He will
that knowledge, I worry about whether come through even if you can’t see
God will provide for me. I know it’s silly, how it will be done. But then again, you
but I’m just being real and hope that by don’t have to “see how” in order for God
confessing my fault, I can be healed to make a way out of no way.
(James 5:16). Being a business owner
However, if the answer to any of
is really a faith walk of the greatest the questions is “no,” if you want peace
magnitude.
x
of mind regarding the
I was talking to God
xxxxxxx provision of Almighty God,
about this one day and He
xxx
then you must shift your
asked me some pointed
xxxxxx paradigm in these areas so
questions. When you have
xxxxx
that you can eventually
concerns about the provision
xxxxx
answer, ”yes.” Once you do
of God, you need to ask
xxxxx
that, then you can have
yourself these same
xxxxx
confidence in God’s
questions:
xxxxxxxx provision for you, and your
1) Are you seeking God’s
xxxxx
faith will be fueled. That’s the
Kingdom first according to
xxxxx
way you gain confidence
Matthew 6:33? That is, is your
xxxx
that God will take care of
Tracey L. Moore
primary goal in life to promote
xxxxx
you, and you will be able to
Author, Speaker
God’s Kingdom and His
xxxxx
enter into His rest regarding
agenda above your own?
xxxx
your finances.
2) Are you a tither and a giver? Do
That being said, let’s do our part
you give 10% of your income to your and expect God to do His part. God is a
local church according to Malachi 3? If provider. His Name is Jehovah Jireh
you aren’t able to tithe or give, do you (Exodus 6:26). Once you are operating
have a desire in your heart to do so? under God’s financial umbrella by
Are you praying for God to enable you finding out what He promises in His
to do so?
Word and doing what He has asked
3) Are you applying biblical regarding your finances, you will be
principles laid out in God’s Word to your much better able to believe Him and
financial situation? Do you agree with take Him at His word. There will be no
the principle of “owe no man anything need to doubt His provision. He is your
but to love one another” as Paul stated shepherd and you shall not want.
in Romans 13:8? Do you “know the Tracey L. Moore is a poet, author and speaker.
state of your flocks” (Proverbs 27:23) To learn more about Tracey and her book,
Oasis for My Soul: Poems and Inspirational
and keep a monthly budget?
Writings for Spiritual and Personal Growth,
If the answer to those questions is please visit traceylmoore.com.
Every Wednesday morning prayer and
fellowship from 7:30-8:30 am. Pray for
each our business ventures and for
God's protection, guidance, and
anointing. Lets transform this region
together. CBC office at 824 Greenbrier
Parkway, Ste. 101, Chesapeake.
Every Tuesday morning, same time at
Interstate Corporate Center, Bldg. 11,
Conf. Room, 420 N. Center Drive, Norf.
Hundreds of Pages
Now Online, Updated
Constantly For You!
I can help you get your message aired on 91.5
FM, which broadcasts a mixture of Bible
teachings by national and local Christian
pastors and inspirational music, all across the
Hampton Roads area. As an evangelist, I am
also available to speak at your church/ministry.
Monday-Friday
8 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8 AM - 1 PM
They say hindsight is 20/20. Teresa Denham realized
quickly as an adult and even more as a CEO of a national
brand that she had made the best decision of my her when
she was just turning 8 years old.
Of course she did not understand the gravity of that
decision in her young life, but she most certainly noticed its
consistent clash with her selfish nature as a child and
teenager.
Life was all about Teresa and what she could get from
it. Who she wanted to date, where she wanted to live, what
she wanted to do, was all that mattered, and nothing else
paled in comparison.
Around her 23rd birthday, her life changed. She met
her husband, Billy Denham. Together he and God saved
Teresa from a life of selfishness that she had always
thought was normal.
Teresa says, “because of the unconditional grace and
love of God that I experienced in my personal walk with
Christ, and that I experienced through my husband, I
realized the amount of time I had wasted as a selfish
Christian.”
“As I grew out of my selfishness, the inspiration and
voice of God began to take over. Instead of hearing what I
wanted I was finally able to hear His voice.”
One year after marrying Billy, the idea of Spirit Fingerz
came to her. “Although I realized this was an inspired idea, I
did not realize that impact God would enable me to have on
others and in my community.”
At first, she viewed Spirit Fingerz as simply a product
that she wanted to design to wear to a college football game
and nothing more. At least that’s what she thought.
She was young, only in her twenties, and there were
very few mentors to help this up and rising entrepreneur.
There had never been anything like Spirit Fingerz.
As the idea became a business, Teresa quickly learned
how her belief in Christ and her ability to hear His voice
would give her power and wisdom and lead her in her
decision making in the various boardrooms, corporate
dinners, and contract negotiations. Because God’s hand
Teresa Denham with Spirit Fingerz at Virginia Tech game
idea, before she knew it, she had contracts with the NFL,
NBA, NHL, NCAA, Cracker Barrell and Target.
Her faith would play a role in every single business
decision she made. The Holy Ghost would speak to her, and
she would make decision from through gut instincts, and the
Holy Spirit would give her better ideas than she could ever
have thought up herself.
Teresa also learned how to align herself with people of
quality and integrity in her business and personal life. She
kept an open ear for opportunities that would allow her to
share the love of Christ in both word and deed.
“I’ve learned how edifying it is to be around people who
have substance and faith and a conscience ... people who
have integrity and do the right thing ... even though it may not
always be cost effective is a rarity in corporate America.
Putting God first and Profits second has helped me make the
best decisions for the legacy of Spirit Fingerz and building it
into a multi-million dollar brand for a purpose, and not just a
profile.”
This young entrepreneur is extremely happy with her
business and the direction it is heading ... UP! As the
founder and CEO of Spirit Fingerz, Teresa can proudly say
that putting God in the forefront of her business has helped
her remain confident as a leader and courageous enough to
stay true to her roots as an entrepreneur.
A Reminder to Create
Secure Passwords
Christian Business
Chamber
Hampton Roads
of
HOLIDAY
MIXER
Part time Administrative Assistance
position for River of Life Ministries: 24-25
hours per week. One who has a heart for
world mission with Admin, computer,
Facebook, website, accounting and good
writing and editing abilities can send the
resume to [email protected]
www.rlmva.org
Friday, Dec. 20th 4:00 PM
25th Floor, Dominion Tower, Norfolk
I THINK YOUR LIGHTS MIGHT BE
TOO BRIGHT THIS YEAR
There are generally two rules for maintaining a secure
password: 1) Change it frequently and 2) Use a hard-to-guess
combination of letters, numbers and characters.
Considering that fact, let’s add, “We never went to a
nuclear war with the Soviet Union” to our list of things to be
thankful for. The team at TodayIFoundOut.com posted this
story about how for two decades during the Cold War, the
passcode to launch nukes out of every silo in the United
States was eight zeros. “The Strategic Air Command went out
of their way to make launching a nuclear missile as easy, and
quick, as possible.” That meant making the password
extremely easy to remember. There’s also a high likelihood
that there was a hastily written sticky note on the president’s
computer monitor that read “PW: 00000000” ...
By Tyler Ward l Relevant Magazine
I used to think I had my stuff
together. Then I got married.
Marriage is great—but it rocked
everything I knew. I quickly realized my
basic goal in life, prior to getting
married, was to simply remain
undisturbed.
This “disruption” came suddenly
and was disguised as a 5-foot-nothing
Swedish-Filipino woman. When I
decided I’d rather not live without her,
I proceeded to ask her to marry me —
that is, to officially invite someone who
wasn’t me to be in my personal space
for the rest of my life.
This decision introduced my most
significant experiences and most
challenging experiences — none of
which I would trade for the world.
However, I wish I’d had a bit more
insight on the front end of our marriage
to help me navigate it all.
According to most research, more
than 50 percent of people who say “I
do” will not be sleeping in the same bed
eight years from now. And though
Scripture alludes to the fact that
adultery and abuse may be reasons
individuals might end a marriage, I’d
be willing to bet that most challenges
experienced in marriage are the result
of unawareness. Most people —
myself included — jump into marriage
with suitcases full of misconceptions
and bad theology, entirely unaware of
the unique beauty and paradoxical
intentions of marriage.
The following are three thoughts
on marriage that friends and mentors
have shared with me. I remind myself
of them often in hopes of keeping this
anomaly called marriage both
enjoyable and healthy.
1. Marriage is not about living
happily ever after.
Here’s the truth: I get annoyed at
my wife. But this is more a reflection of
me than her.
I’m intensely certain that nothing in
life has ever made me more angry,
frustrated or annoyed than my wife.
Inevitably, just when I think I’ve given all
I can possibly give, she somehow finds
a way to ask for more.
The worst part of it all is that her
demands aren’t unreasonable. One
day she expects me to stay emotionally
engaged. The next, she's looking for
me to validate the way that she feels.
The list goes on — but never ventures
far from things she perfectly well
deserves as a wife.
Unfortunately for her, deserving or
not, her needs often compete with my
self-focus. I know it shouldn’t be this
way, but I am selfish and stubborn and,
overall, human.
I once read a book that alluded to
the idea that marriage is the fire of
life—that somehow it’s designed to
refine all our dysfunction and spur us
into progressive wholeness. In this
light, contrary to popular opinion, the
goal of marriage is not happiness. And
although happiness is often a very real
byproduct of a healthy relationship,
marriage has a far more significant
purpose in sight. It is designed to pull
dysfunction to the surface of our lives,
set it on fire and help us grow.
When we’re willing to see it this
way, then the points of friction in our
marriages quickly become gifts that
consistently invite us into a more whole
and fulfilling experience of life.
There are over ONE MILLION people in Hampton Roads who have NO
relationship with Jesus Christ. We try each month to bring the “good News’
of Jesus to the marketplace, hoping to bring life and salvation to so many
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2. The more you give to marriage,
the more it gives back.
Over the past year, a few friends
and I have had an open conversation
about the highs and lows of marriage
— specifically how to make the most of
the high times and avoid the low ones.
Along the way, we happened upon a
derailing hypothesis that goes
something like this: If one makes their
husband or wife priority number one,
all other areas of life benefit.
It’s a disorienting claim.
Disorienting, because it protests my
deeper persuasion that success as an
entrepreneur, or any professional,
requires that career takes the throne of
my priorities and remain there for, at
the very least, a couple of years.
However, seeing that my recent
pattern of caring about work over
marriage had produced little more than
paying bills and a miserable wife, I
figured giving the philosophy a test
drive couldn’t hurt.
For 31 days, I intentionally put my
wife first over everything else, and then
I tracked how it worked. I created a
metric for these purposes, to mark our
relationship as priority, and then my
effectiveness in all other areas of my
life on the same scale, including career
productivity and general quality of life.
To my surprise, a month later, I
had a chart of data and a handful of
ironic experiences to prove that the
more you give to marriage, the more it
gives back.
Notably, on the days my wife
genuinely felt valued, I observed her
advocating for me to invest deeply in to
my work. She no longer saw our
relationship and my career pursuits as
competitors for my attention, and as
she partnered with me in my career, I
have experienced the benefits of
having the closest person in my life
champion me.
Of course, marriage requires
sacrifice. And sometimes it will feel as if
it takes and takes. However, when we
return marriage to its rightful place in
our priorities, it can quickly turn from
something we have to maintain and
sacrifice for into the greatest asset to
xx
every other layer of our lives.
u
o
Y
ThankYour
For ort
Supp
3. Marriage can change the world.
John Medina, the author of Brain
Rules and a Christian biologist, is often
approached by men looking for the
silver bullet of fathering. In one way or
another, they all come around to
asking, “What’s the most important
thing I can do as a father?”
Medina's answer alludes to a
surprising truth.
In my previously mentioned
experiment, I measured the effect that
making my marriage priority number
one had on different areas of my life.
One of those areas was my 16-monthold son’s behavior.
What I found in simply charting my
observations was that the majority of
the time, my child’s behavior was
directly affected by the level of intention
I invested in my marriage.
Re-enter John Medina, the
Christian biologist. After years of
biological research and several books
on parenting conclusions, what is his
answer to the question, “What’s the
most important thing I can do as a
father”?
“Go home and love your wife.”
Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam,
the authors of Babywise, say it this
way: “A healthy marriage creates an
infused stability within the family and a
haven of security for a child in their
development process.” They go on to
sum up their years of research by
saying, “In the end, great marriages
produce great parents.”
The point is that marriage has a
higher goal than to make two people
happy or even whole. Yes, the
investment we make into our marriage
pays dividends for us. But, concluded
by Medina and his colleagues, the
same investment also has significant
implications for our family, our
community and eventually our culture.
So men, women, the next time you
find yourself dreaming about living
significantly or succeeding in your
career or being a better parent than
yours were to you, do the world a favor:
Go home and love your wife. Go home
and and love your husband.
Tyler Ward creates and consults web-centric
businesses from Nashville, TN.
Just in time for the holidays,
"Black Nativity" arrives in theaters this
week complete with themes of
forgiveness, redemption, and even a
Christmas miracle.
Boasting a star-studded cast that
includes Forest Whitaker, Jennifer
Hudson, Angela Bassett and
newcomer Jacob Latimore, director
Kasi Lemmons was able to loosely
base the film on the famed play of the
same name by Langston Hughes.
Although the story may be best
enjoyed in its original setting offBroadway, the film brightly conveyed
the indomitable power of family and
forgiveness.
"Black Nativity" opens with
teenaged Langston (Latimore) living in
Baltimore with his mother Naima,
frustrated over their financial struggle
and combating peer pressure. Then,
faced with eviction, Naima tells her
sullen son he is spending Christmas
with his estranged grandparents in
New York City.
Once Langston arrives in the
Harlem home of his grandparents-Rev. Cobb and Aretha (Whitaker and
Bassett), he quickly realizes his
grandfather's stubborn attitude and
unrelenting devotion to faith. The
teenager initially refuses to accept his
grandfather's vocation, but as more
details about his family's history
emerge, Langston embarks on a
surprising and inspirational journey of
faith over the Christmas holiday.
"Black Nativity" comes with a
shining musical score that includes
Mary J. Blige. The iconic singer who
portrays a guardian angel in the film
also teamed up with Nas on the track
"Rise Up Shepherd & Follow," while
other gospel songs in the film include
Hudson's "Test of Faith" and "Fix Me
Jesus," among others.
In an appealing directorial
decision, Lemmons had each
character open in song in a very natural
way, as if singing were an extension of
their action and dialogue.
One scene in particular stands out
in "Black Nativity." Rev. Cobb's annual
Christmas Eve program closely
resembles Hughes' play with a dream
sequence, and the gorgeous scene
includes a stage decorated in black and
gold featuring an incredible choir that
includes Blige.
Furthermore, "Black Nativity"
takes an honest look at Christians who
are dealing with mistakes they have
made and asking for forgiveness. For
instance, Rev. Cornell Cobbs admitted
to meddling in his daughter's affairs.
While he was only trying to do what was
best for her, Cobbs acted disgracefully
and ultimately divided his family.
Also, the film follows Tyrese's
character, Loot, who is a convicted
criminal but trying to right his wrongs
and get off the path of delinquency.
All in all, "Black Nativity" offers
families a modern-day musical that
touches on real-life problems and
dangers that teens encounter today, all
w h i l e o ff e r i n g a n u p l i f t i n g a n d
entertaining story of one family's
journey in faith.
An upcoming film that challenges
Christians to boldly defend their faith is
generating considerable attention four
months prior to its release. God’s Not
Dead, scheduled for release on March
7th, fromf Pure Flix Entertainment.
The plot centers on a college
student who faces the task of standing
up to his ardent atheistic professor.
Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper), a
freshman college student, enrolls in a
philosophy class taught by an infamous
and dictatorial professor. Dr. Radisson
(Kevin Sorbo) demands that all of his
students must sign a declaration that
‘God is dead’ in order to get a passing
grade.
“This is Philosophy 150,” the
professor says. “I would like to bypass
senseless debate altogether and jump
to the conclusion which everyone is
already aware of: There is no God.”
“All that I require from each of
you,” the professor continues in his
lecture, “is that you fill in the papers I’ve
just given you with three little words:
God is dead.”
However, Josh boldly defends his
Christian faith in the movie and
challenges his philosophy professor’s
atheistic claims.
“And so the professor strikes a
bargain,” the movie synopsis outlines.
“Josh must defend his position that
‘God is alive’ in a series of debates with
him in order to stay in the class. If he
loses, he flunks. When Josh accepts
the challenge, he gets more than he
bargained for—jeopardizing his faith,
his relationships and even his future.
To The Movies
We won’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t watch, but we will forewarn
you of scenes or dialog in a movie that you might find offensive or prefer
not to see. If scenes or content are primarily adult oriented, we will note
that also, despite the movie’s rating. If we find a movie objectionable to
most biblical beliefs, it will be rated morally offensive. There are good
movies worth seeing, so don’t ruin your evening.
The WHOLE FAMILY
ADULT Viewing
Free Birds -- A turkey (voiced
12 Years a Slave -- In the
by Owen Wilson) pardoned at the White House and the
Turkey Liberation Front leader (voiced of Woody
Harrelson) join forces to save all turkeys from the
traditional Thanksgiving menu. The birds steal a topsecret time machine, go back to 1621 Plymouth and
attempt to change history, but meet an interesting flock
of native turkeys in the process. Also with the voices of
George Takei, Amy Poehler, Colm Meaney, Dan Fogler
and Keith David. The film contains a few mildly perilous
situations and some rude humor. PG
antebellum United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel
Ejiofor), a free black man, is kidnapped from his home
in upstate New York and sold into slavery. He spends
12 years trying to get back home, surviving under
horrendous conditions. Based on Northup's 1853
published memoir. Also with Dwight Henry,
Quvenzhane Wallis, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano,
Michael K. Williams, Paul Giamatti, Benedict
Cumberbatch, Lupita Nyong'o and Brad Pitt. The film
contains gruesome bloody violence -- including
hangings, beatings, whippings, torture and rape—full
nudity, nongraphic consensual but nonmarital sexual
activity and some profane and crude language. R
Frozen -- The Snow Queen (voiced by Idina Menzel)
exiles herself because everything she touches turns to
ice. Nevertheless, her sister (voiced by Kristen Bell), a
mountain man (voiced by Jonathan Groff), a living
snowman (voiced by Josh Gad) and a reindeer set out
to find the queen and bring her back to the kingdom.
They must battle monsters and an evil prince before
convincing the queen to return. The film contains a few
mildly perilous situations and a bit of slightly gross
humor. PG
TEENS and OLDER
Black Nativity -- Based on a
Langston Hughes play, the story follows a teen (Jacob
Latimore) from Baltimore to Harlem at Christmastime:
Evicted from his home in Maryland, he visits his
grandparents (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett),
but he does not like their rules and he is determined to
make money and return home to help his mother
(Jennifer Hudson). The film contains mature themes
and the occasional threat of violence. PG
Enders Game -- A teen boy (Asa Butterfield) is
recruited and trained to fight against an alien invader,
hoping that he will be saving Earth from another attack.
Based on Orson Scott Card's popular teen sci-fi novel.
Also with Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail
Breslin, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Aramis Knight, Suraj
Partha, Moises Arias, Khylin Rhambo, Jimmy 'Jax'
Pinchak and Nonso Anozie. The film contains a
number of scenes with fighting and bullying behavior
among teenagers, several classroom slurs, some scary
imagery, some mild innuendo, and one use of crass
language. PG-13
Last Vegas -- Four friends (Michael Douglas,
Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline and Morgan Freeman)
gather in Las Vegas for a bachelor party for one of them
the day before his wedding. What happens in Vegas
with these four senior citizens might be too much for the
casino city. Also with Mary Steenburgen, Jerry Ferarra,
Romany Malco, and Roger Bart. The film contains
fleeting side female nudity, mild sexual banter and
fleeting crass language and profanities. PG-13
ADIO
HIT R
E
IV
SIT
O
P
THE
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire -After being victorious in the 74th Hunger Games, a
young couple (Jennifer Lawrence and Josh
Hutcherson) find themselves thrown back in the arena
to fight against other victors in yet another attempt at
controlling the population, which is now moving toward
revolution. Also with Liam Hemsworth, Jack Quaid and
Taylor St. Clair. The film contains much action violence
with occasional gore, a scene of torture, a sexually
provocative act with implied nudity, a couple of bleepedover rough terms, at least one crude expression and a
few crass phrases. PG-13
Thor: The Dark World
-- After leaving Earth
and going back to his home world, Thor (Chris
Hemsworth) returns to find the woman he loves (Natalie
Portman) in mortal danger. Also with Anthony Hopkins,
Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje,
Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Tom Hiddleston,
Christopher Eccleston, Jaimie Alexander and Jonathan
Howard. The film contains intense but bloodless
combat scenes, and some scary sequences. PG-13
About Time -- A man (Domhnall Gleeson) finds
that he can time travel after his dad (Bill Nighy) tells him
that the men in the family have always been time
travelers. He decides to improve his life by going back
in time and making changes, and while in the present
he's found his true love (Rachel McAdams), a time
travel accident means that he has never actually met
her. Also with Tom Hollander and Margot Robbie. The
film contains semi-graphic premarital sexual activity,
brief nudity, several vulgar gestures, some
sacrilegious humor and sexual innuendo, and much
profanity and crude language. R
Delivery Man -- An inept but likeable sperm donor
(Vince Vaughn) that donated for cash in his youth,
discovers that he is the father of over 500 adult children
and many of them are suing to learn his identity. In
addition, he owes money to the Mafia and is estranged
from his pregnant girlfriend (Cobie Smulders), who
thinks he would be a horrid father. Also with Chris
Pratt, Bobby Moynihan, Simon Delaney and Andrzej
Blumenfeld. The film contains brief non-graphic
violence, acceptance of an incidental character's
homosexual lifestyle, a drug theme, some sexual and
mild scatological humor, a couple of same-sex kisses,
at least one use each of profanity and rough language
and a few crude expressions. PG-13
Homefront -- A former undercover DEA operative
(Jason Statham) tries to get away from his past life and
occupation and takes his young daughter (Izabela
Vidovic) to a remote parish outside New Orleans. But
the townspeople don't take to him and then he
uncovers a local meth operation. The film contains
pervasive bloody violence, a brief, semi-graphic scene
of nonmarital sexual activity, drug use, fleeting
profanities and relentless rough & crude language. R
Too Crass or Offensive
The Best Man Holiday -- In this sequel to "The
Best Man," college friends (Taye Diggs, Terrence
Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa
Lathan, Nia Long, and Regina Hall) decide to celebrate
the Christmas holidays together after 15 years. Old
rivalries and love affairs soon flicker back to life. Also
with Monica Calhoun and Melissa DeSousa. The film
contains pornographic images involving upper female
nudity and debased behavior, brief graphic marital
lovemaking, excessive sexual humor, drug use, mature
themes, including prostitution, about a half-dozen uses
of profanity and much rough and crude language. R
The Counselor -- A man (Michael Fassbender)
finds himself in financial difficulties and decides to
pursue a risky avenue to make some quick money.
When things go horribly wrong, he is left to suffer the
consequences of his actions. The film contains
gruesome bloody violence, sacrilegious humor and
ridicule of Catholicism, strong sexual content, including
graphic premarital sexual activity and masturbation,
numerous uses of profanity and frequent rough and
crude language. R
December 6 – 7:30-10:00 pm
An Eight Pages Christmas – Enjoy an
evening of fun and worship, and sing
along to a special evening of Christmas
songs and other favorites. Eight Pages
always brings the joy with them, as we
worship and praise our King. Free
admission, sandwiches and desserts
available, and joy, joy, joy. The River
Room Coffeehouse, 2961 Shore Drive,
Virginia Beach.
The Circuit is a storefront Wi-Fi Café with a very inviting atmosphere located in the
CNU district of Newport News at 63 Hidenwood Shopping Center. Every Tuesday
night you will find a power-packed hour of prayer, communion, fellowship and Bible
study from 7-8 pm with a new guest speaker every week.
December 7 – 6:30 pm
December 13 – 7:30-10:00 pm
The Magic of Christmas -- Join Terilyn
Daughters of the King plus Ugly Sweater
Contest – A joyful night of Christmas
Goins, family, and friends this holiday
season. http://www.sbcva.org/2013/11/the-magic-of-christmasdecember-7/The program is sponsored
by the International Community
Foundation, produced by G&P Enterprise
and is a benefit supporting orphans of El
Salvador and Honduras through Orphan
Helpers, Inc of Newport News, VA.
Seaford Baptist Church, 1311 Seaford
December 6-8
Bethlehem Walk – Imagine the tiny Rd., Seaford.
village of Bethlehem 2000 years ago …
register your family with the census taker
at the gate, walk the crowded streets,
visit the bustling marketplace and talk
with the vendors busy in their shops.
Hear a story at the well, worship with the December 7 – 8:0-10:30 pm
rabbi in the synagogue, but beware of Positive Hit Skate Night – The Current FM
the Roman soldiers who patrol the hosts a night of skating to the Current's
streets to keep order in this seemingly positive Christian music. $8 a person
insignificant town. See the shepherds includes skate rentals and all you can eat
watching their flocks under the winter pizza. Games, prizes and moore.
sky. Be there as angels announce the Haygood Skating Center, 1036 Ferry
birth of a very special baby. Bethlehem Plantation Rd., Virginia Beach.
Walk is a joint venture of King's Grant December 8 – 3:00-8:00 pm
Presbyterian Church and Saint Nicholas Gold Star Family Banquet – A night of
Catholic Church. Held at Kings Grant great entertainment and fellowship as we
Presbyterian Church, 745 Little Neck
honor the Gold Star families of those
Rd., Virginia Beach. Friday 6-8:30 pm,
heroes who have given their lives for our
Saturday 4-8:30 pm, & Sunday 2-5 pm.
nation. Evening includes live
December 6-8
entertainment, auction, dinner and
Christmas in the Aire Concerts – Live tribute. Tickets are $75 each, two for
nativity including animals. Free to the $100. Founders Inn, Virginia Beach. FMI:
p u b l i c . G i v e a w a y s a n d l i g h t www.honorandremember.info.
refreshments. Friday and Saturday 7 pm December 8 – 6:00 pm
outside, Sunday at 5 pm inside. First
Baptist Church, 12716 Warwick Blvd., Acts 2: The Upper Room Worship
Experience -- a night of dynamic praise
Newport News.
and worship and prayer. Come with
December 7 – 10:00 am – noon
expectancy in your heart! God Will
Call to Duty – Men only … informal Speak! Prayers Will Be Answered! Lives
ministry, fellowship and light food. Will Be Changed! Worship Will Go Forth!
Sharing testimonials, prophetic ministry AND GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED! We
and the Word of God. Freedom in Christ have such and incredibly anointed line
Church meeting at the Royal Courtyard, up: Vachele Slade, Lynese Nicole Slade,
329 Birchwood Park Dr., Virginia Beach. Tasheka Jones- Saunders, Demurio
December 7 – 2:00 pm – 7:0 pm
Pillmon, Micah-Abby Mahoney, Apostle
Prophetic Call -- Calling All Prophets, Sammie Black Dr. Kim Black, Apostle
Calling All Prophets. Our God has Demontae Edmonds, Pastor Nate Griffin,
released a plan to unite Tidewater for Prophet Cory Johnson, Pastor Michael
healing our Nation, and prophets and Chance, Pastor Carl Morant, Dr Antipas
intercessors are KEY to this move of Harris, and Special Guest Shawn C.O.
God! It does not matter how mature or Saunders, and Terry Gray. Dominion
immature you are in this calling. Come to Christian Center, 925 Old Buckroe Rd.,
pray, proclaim and intercede. Come for Hampton.
training. Come for impartation. Come to December 9 – noon
receive your assignment and get on your
post in your city and region! The Truth in Executive Leadership Series with
the Spirit, 15203-A Warwick Blvd., Congressman Randy Forbes – Learn how
you can lead with bigger vision and
Newport News.
greater impact at Regent University's
December 7 – 9:00 am
ELS. Tickets $35 includes lunch, get them
Peninsula Community Chapel Women's a t r e g e n t . e d u / e l s . 1 0 0 0 R e g e n t
C h r i s t m a s B a z a a r - - P e n i n s u l a University Drive, Virginia Beach.
Community Chapel welcomes you to
attend a Christmas Bazaar with crafts, December 12 – 7:00 pm
jewelry, accessories, holiday goods, The Story Tour – a musical journey from
home goods and the like. Sales support Genesis to Revelation and a Christmas
non-profit, fair trade and anti-human celebration of many of your favorite
trafficking organizations like WAR, Christmas carols by Casting Crowns,
FairGirls, 10,000 Villages. Please join Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant,
us for your Christmas shopping and Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman,
make a world-wide difference. Peninsula Selah, and Rawsrvnt. Tickets are $22,
Community Chapel, 4209 Big Bethel $38, $48 and $75. Norfolk Scope Arena,
Norfolk.
Rd., Yorktown.
music and fun with Daughters of the
King. Wear your ugliest Christmas
sweater and maybe you will win a prize
($100 and $50 prizes). Free admission.
Come hungry and enjoy great
sandwiches and desserts on sale. The
River Room Coffeehouse, 2961 Shore
Drive, Virginia Beach.
December 14 – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Vision & Fire IV Conference: Times of
Refreshing – Anointed worship, powerful
teaching and prophetic ministry.
Trainers: Markita Smith (Truth in the
Spirit) and Jacinta Walker (Overflow
Ministries). Admission is free, lunch is
$10. Register at overflowministries.org.
Shekinah Glory Ministries, 149 Business
Park Dr., Virginia Beach.
Pastor's 6th Annual Basketball Classic $5 admission. Coastal Christian Academy,
640 Kempsville Rd., Virginia Beach.
December 14 – 7:00 pm, 15th 5:00 pm
Christmas Musical: Our Love Gift to You
– Bring your family and friends for this
special time of celebrating the birth of our
Savior, Jesus Christ. Great Bridge
Baptist Church, 640 S. Battlefield Blvd.,
Chesapeake.
Concert of Christmas Classics –
Kempsville Presbyterian Church
Celebration Choir & Orchestra, Kingdom
Kids Children's Choir, and Media
Department are pleased to present a
concert of Christmas classics we hope
will bring back warm and treasured
memories and remind us to cherish the
joy of Christmas. Free. 805 Kempsville
Rd., Virginia Beach.
Southern Gospel Concert -- An evening
of southern gospel with the Master's
Hand Quartet. Free. The Well
Coffeehouse, 4351 Portsmouth Blvd.,
Portsmouth
December 14-15 – 5:0-7:0 pm
A Night in Bethlehem –Spend your
Roman denarii at the Bethlehem shops
and make handmade crafts while enjoy a
live animal nativity all under the watchful
eyes of Roman soldiers and tax
collectors. Free. Family Life Center
annex of Norfolk Apostolic Church, 3172
Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk.
December 15
What Christmas Means Tour – A holiday
music experience with Kem and friends.
Special guest Anthony Anderson. Tickets
available at Scope box office and
tickemaster.com. Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.
December 18 – 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Chesapeake Christian Women's Club –
Bring a covered dish to share, coffe and
tea provided. Special music by Jayne
Thurber-smith. Also bring a love gift to
exchange. a non-denominational group
so everyone is invited. Held at Great
Bridge Baptist Church, 640 S. Battlefield
Blvd., Chesapeake.
Dec.
Dec.
20th
20th
LIVE
MUSIC
First
Prize
$100
Restaurant
Gift
Certificate
A Very Special
Christmas Concert
And Unexpected Surprises!
Second
Prize
$50
Restaurant
Gift
Certificate
A Joyful Night of Christmas Music with
Daughters of the King
and our Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest ~ December 13th
December 19 – 7:00-8:00 pm
You Are Never Alone Ministry –
A Thrill of Hope – A Christmas Concert - njoy an evening of seasonal and nonseasonal music featuring local
Christian artist Timmy Williamson! With
Special Guests: Debbie Garrick, Jamie
Cloutier, Carson Burkett, and Kelli
Overmyer. A love offering will be taken
and CDs will be available for purchase.
Free refreshments to follow concert.
First Baptist Church, Virginia Beach.
Christmas party, come and enjoy the
holidays. Putting depression on notice
that you are going to enjoy Christmas …
Food, drama, music, games, and gift
swap. Free. Reservation required @
[email protected]. Or call
962-7571. Great Bridge Baptist Church,
640 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake.
Handel's Messiah – Presented by the
Chesapeake Community Messiah
Chorus and Orchestra. Held at Great
Bridge Baptist Church, 640 S.
Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake.
December 20 – 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Jingle Bell Rock with Crossword plus a
Rockin' Arts and Crafts Show – Looking
for that last minute gift for a loved one,
look no further. Unique, handmade,
quality gifts available to purchase for
those special people in your life. Enjoy a
nice deli sandwich, delicious desserts,
and the Christmas music program of
Crossword one of the best Christian
classic rock and blues bands in the
area. The River Room Coffeehouse,
2961 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach.
Life Builders Annual Christmas Dinner
for Families In Need -- Life Builders will
be ushering in the Christmas Holiday by
reaching out to our community in need.
Please join us for a wonderfully
prepared Christmas dinner, live
seasonal music, and gift baskets for the
ladies. Participants must call to be
placed on the list and seats are limited.
This Event is FREE! Contact @ 757952-6236. Downing-Gross Cultural Arts
Center, 2410 Wickham Ave. Newport
News.
December 21 – 3:00-5:00 pm
Christmas Family Movie Night: Merry
Larry and the Light of Christmas -Shown at Great Bridge Baptist Church,
640 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake.
Every FRIDAY
December 31 – 9:00 pm – 12:30 am
New Year's Eve Praise Party –
The River Room – Finish your week
in song & praise. Live contemporary
Christian music from local bands, coffee
and refreshments. 2961 Shore Drive in
Virginia Beach. An outreach of Tidewater Area Christian Fellowship. FMI:
Facebook.com/theriverroomcoffeehouse
Warrior Generation and Mickey & Anne
Rosenfeld will provide the praise music
as you close out 2013 and welcome
2014. Designated tables for singles,
Food, drinks and party favors included
in admission. Communion at midnight.
$20 a person, $35 a couple, $100 for a
table for six, and $25 a person at the
door. Get your tickets early online at
www.theriverroomcoffeehouse.com as
seating is limited.
The Circuit – Hiddenwood Shopping
Center, Newport News.
Every SATURDAY
The Well Coffeehouse – 7:00-10:00 pm
every Saturday. Live Christian Bands and
more, 4353 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth.
January 2 – 7:00 pm
Prophetic Training Course -- Training
mature believers with identified gifts of
discernment, intercession and
prophecy in foundational truths and
skills necessary to operate in the gift of
prophecy and/or the mantle of the
prophet, for the edification of the Body
of Believers and the advancement of
the Kingdom of God. The Truth in the
S p i r i t , 1 5 2 0 3 - A Wa r w i c k B l v d . ,
Newport News.
Every SUNDAY
"Life Tree Cafe - Participate in an hour of
stories and conversation that will feed your
soul every Sunday from 3-4 PM at Afton
Place, 86 Afton Parkway, in the Cradock
section of Portsmouth.
3rd FRIDAY of the month
Harmony House – Homey atmosphere
where you will find good music and food.
Social Hall of Wesley United Methodist
Church, 2510 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton.
2nd SATURDAY of the month
God’s Garage Band – Christian music,
The Dove Brothers Quartet – Free to all.
open mic, and snacks. Not really a
coffeehouse, but same kind of atmosphere.
Social Hall of West Hampton Baptist Church,
631 Aberdeen Rd., Hampton.
Deer Park Baptist Church, 826 J. Clyde
Morris Blvd., Newport News.
Sincerely Jude – at the Well Coffee
3rd SATURDAY of the month
The Lantern – House band, snacks
house, 4351 Portsmouth Blvd.,
Portsmouth.
available. Social Hall of St. Christopher’s
Episcopal, 3300 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth.
EVERY 3rd SUNDAY
Kad-A-Lac Restaurant – Creative
The Down East Boys Quartet – In
concert, free. Emmaus Baptist Church,
814 Yorktown Rd., Poquoson.
*No
*No alcohol,
alcohol, Drinks
Drinks include
include Coffee,
Coffee, Water
Water and
and Sodas
Sodas
Climate: An Open Mic Experience - from
7:00-10:30pm join talented and creative
poets, lyricists, singers, rappers, to glorify
God through their creative gifts. 448 Green
St., Portsmouth, VA. Admission: $5.

nnive A rs hatr 4 y 2 Larry Reece stands in front of

Transcription

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