Conference
from page B4
pie how they can live
beyond what others have
labeled them as. He told
the audience that they have
to deconstruct the labels
and recognize how they
have been harmful in their
lives. He said "The most
important label in life is the
one God has placed on
you."
There were other work
shops, such as how to
deescalate a situation when
approached by a police
man, messages from indi
viduals who have come
through the program and
successfully changed their
lives and a word from
District Court Judge-elect
Carrie Vickery, to name a
few.
One of the presenters
was Alphonsa Mabry, who
touched on financial edu
cation.
Mabry is known from
an online video that went
viral as it showed he was
followed and stopped by a
policeman in an upscale
neighborhood while on the
way to one of the proper
ties he owns in Trinity,
N.C. The officer did not
believe he owned the prop
erty and followed Mabry to
the property, where the
officer was shown Mabry
did in fact own the proper
ty
Following this video,
Mabry was invited to be a
guest on the Steve Harvey
show to talk about the inci
dent along with his finan
cial plan of flipping prop
erties. Mabry happened to
run into Bishop Mack on a
plane, and the relationship
grew from there.
"What I'm looking to
do is put an end to the
excuses," Mabry said. "No
more relying on the gov
ernment and if you want it,
it's out here. Every prob
lem has a solution, and I
want to address the solu
tion. If they are out here to
make money, how can we
meet them where they are
today? "
Many individuals who
have come through the
conference come back year
after year. Deborah
Lipscomb, a graduate of
the conference, said she
gets strength and love
every time she comes back.
"No matter what you
have been through, you can
make a change," Lipscomb
said. "I used to be out
there in the streets, and I
know a lot of things about
drugs. It took strength and
hope and Christ's love to
change me. My strength
really came when I stepped
into Union Baptist Church
and accepting Christ and
the church has embraced
me."
Willie Blue and Sam
Youse were in the life on
the streets when they
attended the conference.
After graduating from the
conference, they ngjv own
their own businesses. Blue
owns his own moving
company and Youse owns
a car-detailing business.
"I was married for 13
years but I got caught up in
the streets and hanging
around the wrong people
drinking and drugging,
which led me to lose every
thing that I had," Blue said.
"1 wound up in the rescue
mission and I started com
ing to Union Baptist every
day. 1 give God all the
praise and just thank Pastor
Mack for this conference."
Youse added "I wasn't
in the streets, I came to the
streets. 1 was loving the
streets more than I was lov
ing God, and I let the
streets determine my char
acter but I didn't let it grab
my integrity. I was living
in the shelter and I came to
Union because I was hun
gry and Bishop Mack
reconstructed my life
where I wanted to go."
After absorbing what
the conference had to offer,
those who completed the
program were honored
with a cap and gown cere
mony following Union
Baptist's Sunday worship
service.
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
The senior pastors of the churches are Dr. Nathan E. Scovens, left; Bishop Sheldon M. McCarter, middle;
tnd Bishop Sir Walter L. Mack.
Service
from page B4
The service on Nov. 20 began with songs of worship
that had many in the congregation standing on their feet.
Pastor Scovens delivered the official welcome. After
Scovens was a mime routine and a crowd-raising dance
routine.
An offering was collected. All of the proceeds will be
donated to the victims of Hurricane Matthew. Bishop
McCarter said that this is the time for thanks and definite
ly a time for giving to those who are in need.
Bishop Mack delivered the sermon, titled "Living
Between Trump and My Next Praise." He said regard
less of who is in office, God is still in charge. He touched
on the fact that God can take what is meant to be evil and
make it good.
McCarter said he loves having these services because
it builds such comradery with the members of the differ
ent churches.
"The reality is that we pastor to the same people, just
at different locations," McCarter said. "We just tear
down that wall that people say churches have up. We just
band together in unity. The city needs this awakening."
Mack added: "We don't get a chance to hear each
other preach because we are in our pulpit on Sunday
mornings. So when I come here, I know I'm going to
hear a true and powerful sermon between the two of
them."
Scovens said, "The service is always for a cause, so
we are supporting community efforts, and this year we
are supporting Hurricane Matthew relief efforts. There is
a purpose in the party. When I came to this city, they were
two of the first to embrace me as a pastor, so it's just a
great fellowship."
i I
Lesson
from page B4
are disobedient and unrepentant. Jesus
says emphatically "I Jesus have sent mine
Angel ..." the angels were sent to the
seven churches of Asia Minor, who were
the first recipients (1:11). They are repre
sentative of the status of churches today.
Jesus continues identifying Himself as the
root of David (all kings and the ultimate
king of kings all came thru David's line
age). Christ is the source ("root") of
David's life and line of descendants which
establishes Christ's deity. He is also a
"descendant" of David which establishes
His humanity. As the bright moming star,
this star is the brightest and announces the
arrival of day. When Jesus comes, He will
be the brightest star shattering the dark
ness of man's night and heralding the
dawn of God's glorious day (vsl6). (The
Mac Arthur Bible). The Spirit and the
church say come.. .this offer of grace and
salvation is unlimited to all who desire to
have their thirsty souls quenched by the
"water of life" (vs. 17). Verses 18 and 19
warn of the penalty of adding or taking
away from the prophecy that's written in
the book of life. Anyone who tampers
with the truth written here will incur the
judgments described in the verses. The
lesson concludes with Jesus saying again
"Yes, I am coming quickly... (vs20). So
be steadfast (read 2 Peter 3:11-18).
For Your Consideration: How does
Jesus' promise to return soon, along with
the promise of eternity with Him change
your behavior? How seriously do you
take His words?
Life's Application: To receive the gifts
of eternal life in the New Jerusalem and
the waters of life requires obligation and
investment on our part. Though we all
have to deal with the day to day routine of
life we need to take the time to think on
these areas of ultimate significance.
Eternity is a long time.
Lovefeast
from page B4 '
service runs approximately 90 minutes.
The services are free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Videos of both Lovefeasts will be streamed live. To watch, visit
http://go.wfu.edu/lovefeastlive.
A Lovefeast service is dedicated to Christian love and seeks to remove social barriers
and encourage unity and respect. Luminaries will line Hearn Plaza and Christmas deco
rations will adorn the Chapel.
In 1965, Moravian student Jane Sherrill Stroupe ('67) organized the first Lovefeast
at Wake Forest University with 200 students. More than 50 years later, the Wake Forest
Lovefeast is the largest Moravian-style Lovefeast in North America and a favorite
University and community tradition.
L i ' ?
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