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7B FIELIGION/tirtie C^rlstte S(tft Thursday, February 19, 2004 Ministry’s work goes beyond prison to help inmates Continued from page 8B bers would decline ” Larry Sarratt and John Jennings were helped by Return Ministries. They are former inmates who now minister to other inmates. “I’m a successful man because of Return Ministries and other prison ministries like it,” said Jennings. “I have a business, I’m married and now I’m returning back to prison to talk to other prison ers. Recently, I had the oppor tunity to minister to a man that was my roommate about 10 years ago. 11 made him feel good to see me come back.” Sarratt says Jesus wants all people to go back and assist people in need. “He wanted everybody to go back and help the poor disad vantaged,” he said. “When a man comes out of prison he needs to be retrained on how to live. He needs to be trained and showed how to be on time, how to dress for a job and how to hold on to job.” The ministers say the only limit is resources. “We load up in cars and vans to do what some people want to do but will not do,” said Jen nings. “We are that extended arm to your loved ones who are locked up.” Although the ministry is lacking funds, York says Return Ministries will press on. “We need financial sup port but this is a ministry that will move forward with out it,” he said. “We serve a CEO that supplies all of our needs. “I think the public would help more programs like this if they could see more success coming from more communi ty-based programs. “I tell people in the churches I visit I would much rather see an ex-inmate go to work when I’m going to work instead of watching me go to work.” Return Ministries needs volunteers. “We need volunteers that can spend time with ex offenders,” York said. “We need a person that can pick up the phone and talk to a man that has pounded the pavement all day long and has been rejected. We need a person who can provide an encouraging word to a per son. “We need someone to say something like “Hold on things are going to get better. We need people with the will ingness to give of themselves to help people get back on track. We ask volunteers to stay in the life of a ex-offend er six months.” Return Ministries, isn’t a church, but when ex-offend- ers are looking for a church Scott says he usually sends them to one of the five that are big supporters of the min istry. “I send them to First Bap tist, Manna Bread of Life, Greenville AME Zion Church, Garr Memorial Church and Mount Carmel. “Those churches will let the former inmates come in the house and they will help them,” he said. “These pas tors will welcome the inmates.” Scholars find a unique and varied American version of Jesus Continued from page 8B In some ways, both books fit into a growing body of ht- erature that is finding new things to say about Jesus, despite all that has been pre viously written. Elaine Pagels’ best seller, “Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas,” has attracted wide spread notice for shedding further light on the very dif ferent ideas about Jesus that some early Christians held. “I think part of the reason is (Prothero) and some other people as weU realize if there was ever a kind of monopoly claim by the Church or churches on who Jesus was, the significance of Jesus, that monopoly is now gone,” said Harvey Cox, a Harvard Uni versity scholar, who is also finishing a book on contem porary depictions of Jesus, due out later this year. The range of American interpretations of Jesus testi fies to a power and flexibility in Jesus’ message. It also says something interesting about America, Prothero argues. “Jesus is on the agenda because of the public power of Christianity,” Prothero told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "The kind of Christianity that now dom inates is Jesus-focused. But we have the First Amend ment. We have a culture that highly values religious tolera tion and even, I think it’s fair to say, diversity. In such a cul ture, Jesus won’t become a national figure unless he can move outside Christianity.” The new books survey the transformation of Jesus in Weeping Willow AME Zion Church “Moving From Salvation To Discipleship” p 2220 Milton Rd. • Charlotte, North Carolina 28215 Morning Worship: 8:00 AM 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:30AM Wed. riaise & Prayer: 7:00 PM (704)532-9125 “THE CHURCH THAT CARES” Pastor Warden Henderson & Wife Myrtle FAITH SOLDIERS WORD MINISTRIES "Where Jesus Is Lord’’ Pastor and Mrs. Carl R. Turner SERVICES Sunday -11:00 am • Wednesday - 7:00 pm Friday - 7:00 pm (Intercessory Prayer) 857 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 567-2128 FSWM is located right behind Cityside. We are in your neighborhood. Cal! Church For Van Ministry’'. (^reenUille JHemorial S.Jil.C. Hton CI)urcf) Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday Sch(X)l: 9:45 a.m. (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., 1st Sunday only) Bible Study; Tuesday 7 p.m. and Wednesday 12 Noon Cluld Development Center 6116 Montieth Drive • Charlotte, N.C. 28213 (Ph) 704-596-4742 (FAX) 704-597-8317 “A Word of Hope” Television Ministiy Mondays @ 6 p.m. Channell 21 (Public Access TV)” Rev. Sheldon R. Shipman, Senior Pastor It Word Of Faith West Pastor, Rev. Samuel Guthrie, Jr. 2300 Sanders Ave. Charlotte, NC 704-358-1709 A Qmrch that cares for your soul 2 Chron. 7:14 Adults & Children’s Sunday School: 9;45am Sunday Services: 11:00am Wed. Bible Study/Prayer 7:00pm 4th Saturday Youth Group at 2:00pm Senior Pastor, Rev. & Mrs. Samuel Guthrie, Jr. Mother’s let us pray for our Children led by Evangelist Selma Bordeaux 1st & 3rd Saturday 12:00 Noon till 1:00 pm (greater filount ftloriah Brimitihe iBaotigt Clmrcli 747 West Trade Street • Charlotte, NC • Thomas W. Samuels, D.D., Pastor Sunday School: 9:30AM • Sunday Worship: lltOOAM Senior Saints Bible Study: Wed.l2NC)ON • Wed. l^yer Hour: 7:30PM America from the detached figure of the Puritans — more “principle than person” in Prothero’s words _ to the rationalist Jesus who sur vived the Enlightenment to the humane presence domi nating the current evangeli cal movement. While the colonists were “God-fearing rather than Jesus-loving,” Prothero said, they revered Jesus as the sac rifice of an awesome God. But Calvinist theology empha sized the distance between a perfect God and sinful man — and a part-divine, part- human bridge did not fit neatly. Both authors credit Thomas Jefferson for helping to make America the kind of place where Jesus could evolve and flourish. It was Jefferson who used a razor blade to cut out the por tions of the New Testament he couldn’t accept, such as r RINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH ^^Tellins and Livins the Good News of Jesus Christ** - Outreach & Nurture Ministries For .All Ages - Spirit-led Sunday Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Wed. Prayer, Praise & Bible Study: 7pm Radio Ministry: Fri. 10am, WGSP 1.310 AM - Rev. Quentin G. Poulson, Pastor ■ .3001 Beatties Fd. Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216-3731 704-392-6098 • E-mail: POPAX@bellsouth.net ^ Phone: Website: www.LutheranOutreach.org/Prince of Peace, htni T Producing Kingdom Citizens thmugh Evangelism Discipleship. 'IPorship. Fellowship, and Service Pastor Claude R. Alexander, Jr. Lniversity Park Baptist Church 6029 Beatties Kurd Rd. • Cliarlotte. NC 28216 • 704-392-168! The Park South South Mecklenburg High School 8900 Park Rd.. Charlotte, NC 28210 • 704-941-0019 Sunday 'ti'ofship. H:00am & Sunday School. 930am Worship Times At University Park Baptist Church Sunday School 730. 8:00, & W:00am Sunday Worship 7:00,9:00 & 11:00 am & Youth Church. 11:00 am Women's Bible Study. Monday 6:30 pm Men s Bible Study. Monday 7:00 pm Bible Study. Thursday 6:30 pm www.theparkmintstries.org Charlotte $!lo6t CHURCH DIRECTORY AME • AME ZION East Stonewall AME Zion Church Greater Bethel AME Chureh 1729 Gtier Grove Road 201 Grandin Road Rev. Dr. Claude T. Wiliams Dr. Walter V. Howard, Jr. (704) 394-2540 (704) 376-4346 Greeer Getisemane ATvE Zicn Churit 531 Campus Street Rev. Calw L. Miner (704)375-3900 Greenville Memorial AME Church 6116 MonOeth Drive Rev. Sheldon R. Shipman (704) 596-4742 Weeping Willow AME 2on Church 2220 Milton Road Pastor Warden Henderson (704) 532-9125 BAPTIST First Bac*st Church - West tSOI OaMerwn Avenue Dr. RjlAy A Woods (704)372-10TC GaMee Baptist Church 233 Shady Lane • Rev. F. A- Griffin (704)3330610 Macedonia Baptist Church 300 l-(atteras Averxie Dr. John H. Wa»er (704) 392-8496 Friendship Baptist Church 221 W. Bradley Avenue Pastor John A McCuUou^ (704)065-9016 Mt Carmel Baptist Church 3201 Tuckaseegee Road Flev. Dr. Casey R. Krmbroogh (704)304-3525 Reeder MerTx>r1al Baptist Church 3725 Beatties Ford Road Dr. Don Steger (704)398-2914 Mayfield Memortgd Baptist Church 700 Sugar Creek Road (704)596-7935 St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church 1600 Norris Avenue Rev. Clifford Matthews. Jr. (704) 375-9650 Pleasant HiB Baptist Church 517 Baldwin Avenue Ftev. .1A rtuthbertson (704) 376-1201 Sliver Mount Baptist Church 501 W. Arrowood Ftoad Dr. Lincoln C. Lee (704) 522-1528 Greater Providence Baptist Church 2000 Mdton Road Dr. Fred Gibson (704) J SL Paul Baptist Church 1401 North AKen Street Pastor Gregory K, Moss. Sr, (704)334-5309 University Park Baptist Church 6029 Beatties Ford Road Rev. Dr. Claude R. Alexander (704) 392-1681 First Mt, Zion Baptist Church 1515 Remoont Fload Or. C. V. r>«ens (704)3 CME SEVENTH DAY Paikwood Insttutiorial CME ChusJh 802 Tom Hunter Road Rev. Roderick O. Lewis, Sr. (704)921-4915 Northeast SDA Church 827 Tom Hunter Road Pastor. Frank L Haire*. Sr. (704)394-5615 EPISCOPAL St. Michael ans Al Angels Episcopal Church 4228 Hovis Road Rev. Wendell PhiUips (704) 399-3151 LUTHERAN Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 3001 Beatbes Ford Fload F^. Quemin G. Poulson (704)392-6096 NON-OENOMINATIONAL God's Mooting Place Faith Sokkers Word Ministhes 857 Eestway Drive Pastor Carl Turner (704)567-2128 God's Meeting F>lace Word of Faith • West 4100GaJlant LnJSteelCraek Elem. 2300 SandersAverxie F3ev. Chartes W. Fteid Rev. S»nuel Guthne. Jr (704)825-4017 (704)358-1709 Greater Salem Church 5318 Salem Church Ftoad Dr. Anthony L Jinwright (704) 3r Greater Salem at the Lake Comekus Elementary School 21126 Catawba Avenue Or. Anthony L Jinwright (704)399-5448 New Birth Ovtsbah Fellowship Cochiarie Middle School 6400 Star Haven Drive FTaslor Christopher Harris (704)531-1291 Shepherds Fold Church 5101 Nations Ford Road Rev. David Staddxiuse PRESBYTERIAN Memorial Presbyterian Church 2600 Beatbes Ford Ftoed Rev. Or. Edward B. Newberry (704) 392-4752 UNITED METHODIST Simpson-Gbtoapie Untied Methodist Church 3545 Beatties Ford Road Dr. Andrew Brown (704)388-2717 the virgin birth. He was left with just one in 10 verses, but he found in them a true Jesus who could be reconciled with the rationabst thought of the Enlightenment. Similarly, Benjamin Franklin retranslated the Lord’s Prayer into a version more compatible with his version of Jesus, as moral exemplar. “By the late 18th-century, Jesus is made into a kind of democrat, and therefore you can keep him,” Fox said. ‘You don’t have to throw him out when you throw the estab lished church out.” Both Jefferson and Franklin, of course, influ enced the formation of a republic where there was no established religion in gov ernment, which made possi ble the competitive milieu in which conceptions of Jesus rapidly evolved in popular culture. ^ God’s Meeting Place Christian Fellowship Sunday .Morning Worship...9:45am Temporary LocatiomSitek Creek Elementary’ Sch(X)l 4100 Gallant Lane • Charlotte, NC For Information Call: 704-825’4017 Rev. Charles Wesley Reid, Pounding Pastor 'Tfs Your Time - Walk Into Your Season ^tnnetuall African iJlletIjobiSt (Epteitopal Zion Clpirtl) 1729 Griers Grove Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28216 • (704)394-2540 “A Magnetic Church with a New Vision” Sunday School 9:45am Sunday Worship— 11:00am Children's Church— 1st Sunday Youth Church 2nd Sunday Bible Study Wednesday 10:30am & 7;(X)pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday 8:00pm Intercessory Prayer- 1st Saturday 6:00am Rev. Di: Claude T. Williams HOT LUNCH PROGRAM EVERY WEDNESDAY Unoon - 2:00pm (FREE for those in need) Friendship Baptist Church 221 W. Bradley Ave., Gastonia, NC 28052 704‘865~90ie •Fax: 704-865-9057 Website: www.fTiendshipgastonia.org - Schedule of Services - Early Flo'w Worship 8:00am Church School 9;45am Spirit Flows Celebration ,ll:00ani Wednesday Bible Study and Lunch 12 Noon Wednesday Bible In stitute 6:30pm j Saturday Intercessory Prayer 8:00am / Sunday Intercessory Prayer. 7.00a.m. Radio Ministry.. 1370 daily at 5:05pm 1540 Wednesday • 10am - Saturday • 9:30am TV Cable Access Channel 9 • Wed. - 5:30pm & Tue. & Thur. - Midnight • WBTV Channel 3 Sun 12:30a.m. Rev. John A. McCullough, Jr., Senior Pastor GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. F.A. Griffin, PASTOR Rev. EA. 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 First Baptist Church - West 1801 Oaklawn Ave. • Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 372-1075 Office - (704) 372-2309 Fax Dr. Ricky A. Woods, Senior Minister MAKING FiRSI THINGS FIRSI Early Morning Worship 8:0()a.m. Sunday School 9:45a.m. Worship Service 11 :(X)a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:(X)p.m. Worship Missions Discipleship Evangelism Memorial Presbyterian Churcti • Church School 9:45 A.M. • Morning Worship 11 :(X) A.M. BWIknei P iemorial@infionline.net 26(M> Beatties Fd. Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216 • (704)392-4752 WWW.memorial prcsbytcrian.com Rev. Dr. Hdward B, Newberry. Pastor