L Stephen, "Take a Stand"
'? ? Lesson Scripture: Acts:
:6: 8-15; 7: 54-60
? Lesson Aims: Under
stand Stephen's ministry and
?affirm the work of the Holy
^Spirit.
? Background:
The followers of Jesus have
been growing in number since
the Ascension. By this time, the
apostles need help in carrying
out all of the ministries. In Acts
6: 1-17, The servants (deacons
or stewards) are called. All of
. them were Hellenists (Greek).
Their responsibilities are to
minister to the widows and
serve tables. Stephen' is one of
.the seven called.
? The Lesson: The scrip
ture opens with good con
fronting evil when Stephen, a
man full of faith and power, is
doing great works and miracles
for the Lord. These were
always signs of God's grace
'.and power being with people.
!The Jews do not like Stephen
because of his power. There
arises envy and jealousy among
them. The Jews are doing all
that they can to stop the growth
of this new group (followers of
;Jesus). Stephen is apprehended
and brought to the Sanhederin
(Jewish court with no real
power). There are false wit
nesses who accuse Stephen of
blasphemy (speakjng lightly or
.carelessly about God). As the
; council members hear the accu
sation, they look at him. His
'face is like Moses' after he
came down from the mountain.
Stephen offers his defense
as he looks toward heaven. The
; council members begin to yell
; and scream, closing their ears,
signifying that they will hear
no more. They cast him out of
the city and stone him. Stephen
then cries out to Jesus to
receive his spirit and not to
charge their crimes to thenft-'
people. He dies. There is no
formal trial nor verdict; the
mob has killed him!
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
By MILDRED PEPPERS
? Application:
As present day servants, we
are confronted with situations
where a stand must be taken. If
we analyze the lesson, Stephen
was falsely accused, then
stoned, and he asked that the
'people not be charged with
their crime. Powerful! We too
will be falsely accused, trapped
and attacked by the nvob (from
outside and within the church).
What response are we to make?
Like Stephen, we are to "do
the right thing." Even when the
consequences are grave, we
must see it through. In the face
of opposition, do we lose sight
of our aim? Do we quit? No,
with the love of Jesus, the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, we
stand. We stand because God
will hold uf accountable. We
stand because of Jesus' redeem
ing blood. We stand because
we are committed. We Stand!!
E\en unto death.
(Mildred S. Peppers is cur
rently teaching at Robert B.
Glenn High School. At
Emmanuel Baptist Church,
she teaches the intermediate
class of students, ages 13-16.
These lessons are based on the
Urban Ministries Publica
tions.)
Active church member of 42
i years preaches initial sermon
Brenda G. Sales will preach
? ? her initial sermon at the Galilee
? ? Missionary Baptist Church Feb.
? 9 at 4 p.m.
; Sales is a native of Winston
^ Salem, where she graduated
: from Atkins High School. She
attended Forsyth Technical
! Institute and Rutledge College
and has completed several min
istry classes through the continu
ing education program of the
Virginia Union University. Sales
is presently attending Shaw
University, where she is major
ing in philosophy and religion.
Sales has been an active
member of Galilee Missionary
Baptist Church for 42 years and
has served in many capacities in
the religious works of the
church. Her church ministry has
included being vice president of
the Evangelism Ministry, presi
dent of the Library Ministry, a
teacher with the Orientation
Ministry, as well as a member of
the Prison Ministry, the Senior
Choir, the Spiritual Choir, and
the Hostess Ministry.
Sales said she is answering
God's charge to her, which is,
"Get the Word out."
The Rev. Robert L.
McGowens Sr. is the pastor of
Galilee, which is located at 575
Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. in
Winston-Salem. The public is
cordially invited to attend. For
additional information call the
church office^^0)^k^^7.
P L<m W
3 Guaranteed to please your valentine. S
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VZ'jne j
777-0291 j
k 1310 Hawthorne Rd/
ffiyWinston-Salem. NC )
First Lady of New Faith Chapel Brenda Hairston Tate, stands with her
husband, Dr. Lawrence Samuel Tate.
First Lady of New Faith
Chapel to be honored
The New Failh Chapel will
honor Brenda Hairston Tate, the
fnrst lady of the church and orga
nization. The celebration will be
held Feb. 9 at 4 p.m.
Tate is the wife of Dr.
Lawrence Samuel Tate. She has
2 sisters, Ernestine Richardson
and Carolyn Hairston. she is a
resident of Winston-Salem, hav
ing graduated from Atkins High
School. She attended Winston
Salem State University, where
she studied early childhood edu
cation. Tate is actively involved
in her church. She works with
the Missionary Department, the
L.S. Tate Gospel Choir, the
Sunday School Department and
the Banquet Committee of the
church.
Guest speaker for the annual
service is minister Delores
Duren, associate minister of
Power House of Deliverance in
Greensboro, N.C.
The public is invited to
attend.
SciWorks to celebrate Black History Day
SciWorks will celebrate
Black History Day on Saturday,
Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to S p.m.
The day is free for all families to
enjoy.
Attractions for the day will
include the following.
Lorraine Johnson
Coleman, an African-American
folk culture specialist and preser
vationist, will perform a one
woman play on Madame C.J.
Walker.
Michael Jordan donated his
basketball shoes to be included in
our Black Scientists and
Inventors exhibit to complement
the Shoe Lasting Machine invent
ed by Jan E. Matzeliger.
RJR chemists will be in the
I.
classroom conducting experi
ments throughout the day.
Rente doth demonstrations
will be given on colors, a wed
ding dress, and head gear.
Gospel choirs from area
churches will perform.
There will be a recipe and
cooking contest. Contestants are
invited to bring a favorite recipe
to be drawn for a prize, or bring a
prepared dish to be judged for a
cash prize and enough for every
one to have a little sample.
Free planetarium shows
will feature the Drinking Gourd
and African skies.
(There is a minimal fee for
the Giant Insect exhibit.)
Call 767-6730.
? Gifts |
? Decor
? Art
? Instruments
? i
? Dresses j
? Drums
? Crafts
? Artifacts
Come & See...
Our Store Hours Are
Mon. - Sat. 10-5:30
> "If It's African you're after, you're after us I"
4945 Reynolda Road
(Old Town Area)
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