I Nothing beats faithful determination!
Lesson ScriDturo * II HAn u: ?
Nehemiah 4:1,3, 7-9 n n
6:15 '
Lesson Aims: to summa
rize the Scripture lesson, to
recognize that opposition will
come when doing God's
Work, to commit to God's
Plan for our lives.
tf
Background: Nehemiah
led the third and final group
of exiles back home to jtidfch
between 445 - 444 BC. His
mission was clear - rebuild
the wall surrounding
Jerusalem. After quietly
inspecting the ruins of the
wall, he developed a plan to
rebuild5 it. With all0 of that
being done, Nehemiah
approached the priests, nobles
and local officials to encour
age them to follow his plan.
He reminded them of the dis
grace and trouble that a city
without walls faced. He also
shared that God's hand was
-Kuii mm ana that King
Artaxerxes gave his permis
sion (2:17-18) as well. The
work soon began and so did
the opposition. Nehemiah's
plan was thorough in that nil
Jews living in the region
(Judah) were given a specific
portion of the wall to rebuild.
Using that methods no part of
the wall was vulnerable to
attack. Chapter 3 gave the
specific assignments. From
the very beginning there was
opposition! The two major
forces were Sanballat (San
BAL ut), governor of Samaria
and Tobiah (Toe BYE uh) an
Ammonite official. Both
ridiculed the project thinking
that alone would discourage
them. As chapter 3 ended, the
rebuilding was coming along
fine when the enemies
stepped up their hostilities.
Nehemiah has fasted and
prayed every step of the way.
His prayer was that God
would use him to promote the
Mildred
Pepp ers
Sunday
School Lesson
welfare of his people.
Lesson: When Sanballat,
Tobiah, and the others hear
about the Jews' success, they
become furious. Their words
are mocking and very discour
aging as they play "mind"
games on the already weary
workers. They imply that the
Jews are weak and inept. In
the face of this ridicule, once
again, Nehemiah prays. He
asks God to turn the enemies'
insults back on them. Now.
the scoffers threaten to attack
the Jews thus ending the proj
ect. Nehemiah has a plan!
Half of the workers stand
guard (with weapons) while
the others work on the wall
with weapons in hand.
Because they are spread out. a
trumpet will sound to call
them to fight. They will live
inside the walls and take turns
guarding it during the night
To encourage them he calls
for them to remember God's
power and awesomeness and
to fight for the entire group
not just their family. The ene
mies find out that the Jews are
prepared, they do not attack.
In the face of rumors, they
remain focused' Chapters 5
and 6 record the djvisions
among God's People and how
the cupbearer handleslt^e sit
uations. In 52 days, the wall is
completed!
Application: How many
times has God given us tasks
to accomplish but we get side
tracked? There is more to this
lesson than simply ^u|lding a
wall. Are we faithful to God
in every aspect of our lives'?
The cupbearer consults God
on all matters. He not only
? prays but he fasts 'as well.
Let's be realistic - anytime
you do God's Work, evil will
show up!! That doesn't mean
give up. quite the contrary.
When any obstacle gets in the
way it is a testament of our
faith how we handle it. Don't
let your emotions get the best
of you Stop. Pray. Then fol
low Go>i! Nehemiah did it.
Why can't we? The central
figure in today's lesson also
points out what makes a good
leader for God Tfiese stan
dards will <?drlc for ttye tempo
ral wom^J-'-ff ^lhing j
beats ;iuJtMHl delermina- >
tion"| Remaining close
contact with the Master and
being obedient will lead to all
sorts of successes. Now v^en
that happens, don't forget to
give credit to God Almighty.
Each of us has been called to
work for Him, have
answered and did you get tne
job done? Faithful determina
tion along with prayer and
fasting art the keys to suc
cess. Ask believers to share
their faith story with you to
gain strength.
French to keynote
cnrr>i ? t ?
Ideal Club
s 5Uth anniver
sary
The Ideal Club of Goler
Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
will celebrate its 50th
Anniversary on May 18.
On Sunday, during the 11
a.m. worship service the guest
speaker will be the Rev. Dr.
James A. French, a former pas
tor of Goler Memorial. His
tenure of service in pastoral
ministry spans more than 35
years having served in the States
of North Carolina, Alabama and
currently in Florida as the pastor
A ? . ?
ui me nouser Memonal A.M.E.
Zion Church, Pensacola, Fla.
He is a graduate of the pub
lic school system of Salisbury,
N.C. He earned a B.A. Degree
from Livingstone College: the
Master of Divinity at Hood
Theological Seminary; the
Master's of Religion at Hood
Theological Seminary; contin
ued study at Candler School of
Divinity, Emory University; and
was awarded the Doctor of
Divinity Degree from
Livingstone College. ?
The community is invited to
share in the yearly tradition of
Women's Day. The 100 Women
in White sisters gathering cele
bration will also be held during
the 11 a.m. worship service on
Sunday.
The Ideal Club was re
organized under the pastorate of
Rev. N. A. Gibson in 1958. The
club has had four presidents
whose leadership has enabled it
to be a major contributor toward
church related projects. They
are; Johnnie Landingham, 1958
1960; Earnestine Bingham,
1960-1961; Margie
Scarborough, 1961-1996 and
Gloria Love-Mclver, 1996-pres
ent.
The church is located at 630
N. Patterson Ave. The Rev. Dr.
Seth O. Lartey is the pastor.
Gloria Mclver is president of the
Ideal Club.
For directions, transporta
tion or additional information,
contact the church office at 724
9411.
Rev. French
Appreciation celebration for Apostle Jordan
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
House of Faith will be having an
Appreciation and Birthday celebration for
Apostle Stephan Jordan. Services will begin
May 15 at 7 pjn. The guest speaker will be
Pastor Barr of St. Matthew's Pentecostal i
Holiness Church. May 16 at 7 p.m., the guest
speaker will be Pastor Beverly and Co-Pastor
John Milligan of House of Praise Deliverance
Church. The guest speaker on May 17 at 6
pjn will be Pastor Charlie Jenkins of Miracle
Temple Deliverance Church. On Sunday,
May 18 at 5 p.m., AjJUMle Stephan Jordan
will be the guest speaker at Shining Light
Cathedral of Praise Chivch.
Apostle Jordan's vision is to provide hope
by increasing member's faith through train
ing, empowering men and women to be effec
tive in society and building families. His stat
ed mission is to build faith and hope. Apostle
Stephan Jordan has been married to Co-pas
tor Pamela Jordan for 21 years.
The public is invited. For more informa
tion, contact the church at 788-4088 or 997- A
postle Stephen Jordan with his wife, Co-pastor
amela Jordan.
Macedonia to have
?
its holy convocation
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Macedonia Holiness
(Church of God of The
Apostolic Faith, Inc. will hold
its 28th Annual Holy
Convocation May 19 through
May 25. All services for the
week-long observance will be
hpld at the church headquar
ters located at 4111 Whitfield *
Rd.
Services will be held
nightly at 7:30 p.m. Several
local and area churches will
be participating. On Saturday
morning at 9:30 a.m.. Dr.
Robert L. Wise Sr., will teach
on the convocation's theme,
"Love of God is the
Foundation of Heaven."
The concluding service
will begin on Sunday after
noon at 3 p.m
Dr. Robert L. Wise Sr., is
pastor and general overseer.
Everyone is invite^ to
attend all services. For trans
portation call 7Q7-3700.
i
Women's
Day observed
at Mount
Sinai A.M.E.
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The women of Mount Sinai
A.M.E. Zion Church, in
Advance, will observe
Women's Day on May 18. The
theme is "Women Improving
Empowered Through Jesus."
The Rev. Dr. Karen R
Miller will be the 11 a.m
speaker. Rev. Miller is the first
la^y of the Winston-Salem
District of The African
Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church.
Dinner will be served
immediately following the
morning worship service.
Mable P. Allen is chairperson
The church is located at
488 Peoples Creek Rd. Dr. Otis
B. Robinson, Sr., is host pastor.
Calendar
from page BIO
Women in Red Fellowship
Reynolds' Chapel Baptist
Church, 327 Hibler Rd. In
Greensboro, invites you to their
Women In Red Fellowship on
Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. The
color red was chosen to repre
sent the blood and power of
Jesus. The guest minister is the
Rev. Victoria Johnson from
New Jerusalem Baptist Church.
The host pastor is the Rev.
Anthony C. Hopkins. For more
information, call 895-8928
Beginning May 21
Spring revival
Living Witness Baptist
Church will celebrate its spring
revival beginning May 21
through May 23 beginning at
7:30 p.m. nightly. The evangel
ist will be Dr. James Fulwood,
pastor of St. Mark Baptist
Church. The church is at 3758
Ogburn Ave. The public is invit
ed to attend. The Rev. Larry
Reynolds is host pastor.
May 25
Nurses Board anniversary
Mount Olive Baptist Church
Senior Nurses Board will cele
brate their 74th Anniversary on
May 25 at 4 p.m. The guest
speaker will be the Rev. James
Clement from Fairfield Baptist
Church, Mocksville.
The public is invited to attend.
The church is at 1301 C. E.
Gray Dr. Dr. Charles E. Gray is
the host pastor.
Pastor's anniversary
Greater St. Matthew Baptist
Church, 149 N. Wheeler St. will
have its 16th anniversary cele
bration for Pastor, William J.
Purvis .Sr. on May 25 at 4 p.m.
Dinner will be served. The Rev.
Kenneth Davis of Mt. Olive
East Christian Church, Va. will
be the guest speaker. *
Beginning June 11
Summer Camp
Emanuel Baptist Church is
sponsoring Kemet Academy
Summer Camp, June 11 through
Aug. 22, Monday through
Friday, from 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
at the Church, 1075 Shalimar
Dr. The theme is "The Art of
Leadership: Recognizing and
Cultivating Talent."
Their intent this summer is
r
to expose the youth to the full
and rich history of past and
present great leaders by engag
ing them in activities which will
allow them to explore and culti
vate their talents.
' Registration forms are avail
able. Call 788-7023 for more
information. The Rev. Dr. John
Mendez is pastor.
Macedonia Holiness Church Of God
Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc.
. Bishop RI.Ww, Sr.
D J); S.TJ). ? Pastor
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a m;
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
M.Y.P.U 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Services
Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m.
4111 Whitfield Drive
Phone: 336-767-3700
Fax: 336-761-7006
' ^.oulsa Smith Sumnwr Adventure Canip
First Baptist Church
700 North Highland Avenue
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
(336)722-5605
Rev Darryl .Aaron, Pastor
Rev. Glenn Pettiford, Assistant Pastor ?
'Com And Learn Nith Us '
June 16, 2008 - August 8, 2008
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
FEES
Registration Fee: $65.00 per child
This fee is non-refundable
Weekly Fee: $80.00 per week
The camp will provide a safe Christian program for children ages
5-12. Academics will be taught based on the North Carolina
Standard Course of Study Certified teachers will be teaching
each class. Fun activities will include recreation, sports and field
trips
Ms Alma M Peay - Camp Director
Mrs. Clementine V. Mauney - Assistant Director
Please contact the church office daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p m.
for more inf ormation.
Mount Zion Baptist Church's
2008 SUWtMSR ARTS CAWP
for Children Ages 6-12 9
June 16 - August 8 (8 weeks)
August 11 - August 22 (2 weeks)
7:00 AM until 5:30 PM
*
For more information:
(336) 722-2325