11A
RELIGION / The Charlotte Post
Thursday, January 2,1997
Internet aids church missions
Continued from 10A
about the church, its parish, a
newsletter, a parish electronic
mail directory and links to other
religious sites.
Calvary Baptist Church main
tains a similar information site
at www.wctc.net/
7/8cbcwirap/index.html.
“I think we’ve barely scratched
the surface of what we can do
with the Internet. We are very
much on the threshold of how
useful this can be for us,” said
the Rev. David Culver.
“In a way, we’re still in the
process of developing a complete
home page for the church.”
Culver said the page, which
went online this spring, mainly
features information that can be
found in a church bulletin or
newsletter.
“We give a description of our
church, a schedule of weekly
services, information about our
ministries and some other
Christian connections,” he said,
adding that he uses e-mail
extensively to communicate
with missionaries and members
of the congregation who are
away at college.
For those close to home,
Culver said, maintaining the
page is very useful.
“It is good to keep the message
up to date so that they know
this is the latest information. It
is an easy way to communicate.”
Weight loss taught in churches
Continued from 10A
start eating, Fd keep going until
I was so full I felt sick. I’ve
learned that my weight problem
•was just God’s way of getting
my attention.”
, In the six weeks that
Hackett’s group has been meet
ing, the 18 participants have
lost a bit over 100 pounds —
proof, she says, that improving
your relationship with God can
truly change your weight.
But even though the weight
loss can be inspirational, most of
the participants in the work
shops say the important thing is
that they’ve gained control of
their lives - even in areas not
having to do with weight, such
as their relationships with their
families and their Vandal situ
ations.
“It helps with everything,”
says Maryann Kowalsky, a
Guilford mother of three, who
for two years has been running
the workshop at St. George’s
Church in Guilford.
“It’s very spiritual, very per
sonal. The facOitator has noth
ing to do with inspiring people
to lose the weight; there’s noth
ing I say to the workshop people
that brings about this change.
It’s as though once people are
willing to turn their problems
over to God — whatever those
problems are - they can get
solved. It’s a real re-directing of
life.”
But, Kowalsky cautions, it
isn’t a quick-fix process, and
partidpants often struggle with
painftil issues, the ones that led
to their being overweight in the
first place. j
“People learn to follow God’s
will instead of their own, and
through that, they learn to face
things in their lives. It can be
painful, but they also see that
God is with them through the
process,” she says.
Participants, Hackett says,
also learn to desire the foods
that are truly going to help their
bodies - and they learn to limit
themselves so they are eating
like thin people, instead of like
there’s no tomorrow and there
will never be another slice of
pizza in their lives again.
And you know how experts
say that most Americans gain
between five and eight pounds
between Thanksgiving and New
Year's? Kowalsky just laughs.
“It won’t be the Weigh Down
crowd,” she says.
• For information about the
Weigh Down workshops and for
a list of churches near you offer
ing them, call the national head
quarters at (800) 844 5208. The
workshops are ecumenical and
are open to anyone, regardless of
religion.
Church services held despite fire’s damage
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
' LUEDERS, Texas - In the
'wake of a fire that ravaged
'the First Baptist Church in
this small north Texas town,
the community on Sunday set
its mind on Sunday’s services
and rebuilding its sanctuary.
' The Rev. Mark Chadwick,
iWho assumed his first pastor
ship at the Lueders church
less than six months ago, was
treated for smoke inhalation
after the fire, but still planned
'to give a sermon Sunday.
“It’s going to be oh prayer -
'‘ which we’re going to need a lot
of right now,” Rebecca
Chadwick, the pastor's wife,
'said Saturday. Her husband
!was resting his vocal cords to
’prepare for the sermon.
The First Baptist Church
burned to its foundation
Thursday night. Authorities
have not determined the cause
of the fire, but say they have
' no reason to suspect arson.
° “In some ways it was devas
tating — for me and for the
community,” Chadwick said
Friday as church members
prepared the unscathed
Children's Building for ser
vices.
Chadwick said Saturday
that the Children's Building
had been cleaned up and
would accommodate 50 to 60
people. On an average
Sunday, she said, about 40
people attend services.
It was the second time the
First Baptist Church has
burned in Lueders, which is
about 30 miles north of
Abilene. After a 1975 fire, the
congregation built on top of
the ruins by caving in the
church basement and pouring
a new foundation over it.
“We still have the lot, and
we have the foundation,” said
church member and Lueders
Volunteer Fire Chief Russell
Mullins. “It’s the second time
I’ve seen it bum in 20 years.
We’ll rebuild just like last
time.”
The fire began in the front
portions of the sanctuary,
Mullins said. He said it
appears the fire spread into
the rest of the building
through the attic.
About 30 firefighters from
Lueders, Stamford and Anson
battled the blaze for about
four hours.
“It was almost as if we (fire
fighters) had more at stake,”
Mullins said. “There’s a lot of
sentimental value that went
up with the smoke - a lot of
rriemories.
“My daughter was married
here in August. She was bap
tized here. My grandparents
and parents went to church
here. I was on the church’s
first rebuilding committee,” he
said. “For a while there, I Fire Marshal Don Turk of
thought we might have had it Anson.
under control.” The full investigation of
An investigation will begin church fires began earlier this
on Monday, said Deputy State year.
GALILEE BAPTIST
CHURCH
Rev. F.A. Griffin, PASTOR
I
Rev. F.A. Griffin
Sunday School 9:45a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00a.m.
Sunday School Study - Wed. 7pm
Prayer Service - 8pm
2933 Shady Lane • Charlotte, NC 28208
333-0810
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Correction
The Salem C
ALEM V^HRISTIAN XTlCADEMY
Ac
^liib
Shawna Alexander
Alexander-Ford
Shawna Alexander and
. Wilson Ford were united in holy
matrimony Nov. 30, 1996 at
Clanton Presbyterian Church.
IThe reception was held at The
Senior Center.
>■ The bride is the daughter of
Mrs. 'Tina Desm and Mr. Lany
‘Alexander. She is a graduate of
West Mecklenburg High School
■'and Johnson C. Smith
‘-University. She is currently
‘ employed with First Union
National Bank as a cash man
agement coordinator.
The groom is the son of
Carolyn and Wilson Ford and a
graduate of South Mecklenburg
High School and Johnson C.
Smith University. He is
employed with Hannaford Food
and Drug.
The Maid of Honor was
Kathryn Goins. Bridesmaids
were Cheryl Bennett, Carmen
Benson, Angel Manage, Harriet
Simmons and Cynthia Wilson.
Junior bridesmaids were Ashley
Alexander, Temeka Dean and
Kyla Alexander. The flower girls
were Shaina and Samira Ford.
The Bestman was Antoine
Ford. Groomsmen were Reggie
Ford, James Harris, William
Ford, Wilson Davis and
Clarence Ford. Junior grooms
men were John Mahatha,
Remington Simmons and Marc
Simmons. The ringbearer was
Meister Cameron Alexander.
Hostesses were Chanel
Howard, Lydia McCullough,
Audrey Foggie. Ushers were
Darryl Simmons and Cedric
Simmons.
Proudly
Announces
Its
Second Semester
On
Tuesd^.^iiiary21,1997
REGISTRATION NOW IN PROGRESS
The Post is looking for ministers to write for “The
Pastor’s Study.” To participate, please submit an essay on
the religious topic of your choice to P.O. Box 30144,
Charlotte, N.C. 28230
ATTEND
CHURCH
THIS
SUNDAY
Greater Mt. Moriah
Primitive Baptist Church
Thomas W. Samuels, PASTOR
Church School - 9;45AM
Morning Worship - 11:00AM
Evening Services - 6:00PM
747 West Trade Street
376-8806
"We are laborers together
with God."
ROCKWELL
A.M.E. ZION CHURCH
“Celebrating 128 Years
of Christianity’’
William M. Jordan III: Pastor
6301 Rockwell Church Rd.
- WEEKLY HIGHUGHTS -
Sunday ScliiN)l-9:45a.m. Sunday Worship-11;00a.ni.
Tuesday “Youth In AcliDn”...7-9p.m.
Wednesday - Prayer Seryice/Bihle Study... Gp.ni.
Tutorial Prog. The. S Thur. all ages 4;00-GdlOP.M.
Chaitotte, NC 28269
596-8279
SIMPSON - GILLESPIE
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
Dr. Walter McKelvey, Pastor
Sunday School 9:30a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00a.m.
3545 Beatties Ford Road
Dr. Walter H.
McKelvey
(704)399-2717
^ittroducin^
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Christian Snpplies
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Gips • and much more...
North PhrkMaU • 101 Eastway Dr. Ste. E-11 • Charlotte NC• 704-599-3727
Wnow
A M 1 0 3 0
P.O. Box 23509
Charlotte, NC 28227
704-33'i-8764 Bus. Line
704-882-9669 Studio Line
704-882-1330 Fax
Interracial Interdenominational Christian
Programming for The Carolinas
Jay Sekulow
"LIVE"
Monday - Friday
12:00PM - 12:30PM
Fasten Jay Sekulow
The Salem Christian Academy Will
Offer Before And After-School Care
For Your Convenience. All Are
Encouraged To register Your Child
Now. For Additional Information
Contact.
The couple hone3nmooned on
Hilton Head Island, S.C. and
win reside in Charlotte.
OPENING
OURHOME
b) you whatever you need}i$.
Our nev/ funeral home stands as a sign of
our commitment to the families of Charlotte.
This community has been very supportive
during the constmetion and opening of our
home. We want you to he as comfortable
when visiting as you are in your own home.
That is why we offer a formal chapel vyith
an organ, stained glass window, beautifully
decorated gathering rooms, skylights
and a custom music system.
We hope you will visit us any time for
a personal tour and allow our staff to
answer any questions you may have.
m.-y