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Local NAACP chapter President, Rev. Alvin Carlisle, says he wanted to support the Muslims in any way he can. Rabbi Mark Cohn of Temple Emmanuel brought many from his congregation to stand with the Muslims. Ban from pageB5 Community Mosque of Winston-Salem and the local chapter of the NAACP to air their griev ances with the travel ban. The press conference was held at the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem last Tuesday to show soli darity with the Muslim community. The ecumeni cal event brought together hundreds of people of dif ferent faiths for a common theme. The Rev. Alvin Carlisle, president of the local branch of the NAACP, said the idea came about as he and Bishop Todd Fulton were having a conversation about the travel ban. He says after some conversing back and forth, they reached out to Rabbi Mark Cohn of Temple Emmanuel and the idea grew from there. “Whenever there is division, we all lose, so when we are able to come together to support what’s right, it’s always better for our community,” Carlisle said. “I think the best way for us to resist Trump and some of the things he has set forth is to stand togeth er.” Bishop Todd Fulton, head of the social justice committee of the MCWSV, says it’s wrong not to stand up for your neighbors. “This is where we are, when they start coming for Muslim brothers, after they are done, they will come for the African Americans,” he said. “So we have to all ban together and say we are not going to let it happen to the least of us.” “This type of event is powerful because from the Trump administration we will see more fear monger ing and more xenophobia, so we will keep coming out and organizing.” Rabbi Mark Cohn said, “The benefit of coming together is that the people here are already like-mind ed. We already agree but it gives us the strength to see we are not alone. The ener gy in this room is so strong and beautiful, I think that really inspires us to go out and take action and do more.” Cohn continued by say ing that the travel ban has ironically woken a lot of people up to the injustices being committed against the Muslim religion. He says the ban brought many Photos by Timothy Ramsey Bishop Todd Fulton, head of the social jus tice committee of the MCWSV, says he could not stand by and watch what was happening to his Muslim brothers without doing some thing to help. people together. Imam Khalid Griggs of the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem said it’s very important to see Muslims in their “natural habitat” at the mosque. He says it helps break the anx iety and stereotypes some people have about entering into a Muslim space. “It allows people to see that we are just people just like anyone else,” Griggs said. “I think it was an excellent event and a great start for those who have never had an encounter with the Muslim communi ty. It starts a dialogue and from this dialogue we will be able to move forward and address some of the issues that are coming upon us.” “I think the ban is hav ing the opposite impact this administration desired. The problem is I'm really doubtful demonstrations, no matter how massive they are, will actually affect this administration because I don't think they really care. It’s almost like whatever they can force down somebody's throat, this is what they intend to do.” Photo by Timothy Ramsey Inez Gearlds blows out the candles on her birthday cake at her 95th birthday party celebration. 95th from page B5 As a Surprise, Sharon Cunningham, a close friend of Gearlds, decided to reach out to St. Paul Senior Pastor Donald Jenkins to put together a party for Gearlds. With only around a week to coordinate efforts, Cunningham was able to reach out to close friends and church mem bers and held the party at one of Gearlds’ favorite restaurants: North Point Grill. Everyone in attendance had nothing but praise and admiration fordearlds. “She is truly a wonder ful person and you could not meet a nicer person anywhere,” said Lessie Hatton. “At her age she is so sharp and her mind is so clear, I wish I had her mind right now. Billie Matthews said, “Inez and I have been bridge partners and friends for a number of years. She's got more energy than I do and we have had a lot of fun together. We just enjoy some of the same things, and I love her. The well wishes contin ued throughout the Gearlds evening, including a .visit from WXII news anchor and St. Paul member Wanda Starke, who came by to wish Gearlds a happy birthday. Cunningham was glad the party turned out so well even though she only had a short period of time to put things together. She says she was honored to be able to celebrate Gearlds birth day in this manner. “She is such a special, strong, spiritual, wise and encouraging woman,” Cunningham continued. “It was important that we continued to celebrate her life. She still gives so much of herself to the com munity and it’s amazing to see how God is still bless ing her.” Gearlds says she was overwhelmed by the turnout of her party. She says she wasn't expecting this but was so happy. “I just feel great and wonderful to have people think that much of me,” she said. “I'm just elated, com pletely elated. It does my heart good for me to know that people still think about me and think that I'm a good person. It makes me feel good that people think enough about me to come out and celebrate with me because I had no idea.” Rev. Jenkins says he was more than happy to assist in the party for Gearlds because she is so important to the church community at St. Paul. “This is a blessing and I'm really happy to be here on her 95th birthday,” Jenkins said. “She is a blessing and she is an inte gral part of everything we do. She is a positive spirit and she is an inspiration to all.” Phyllis Harrell-Vaughn added, “I was invited to come to St. Paul by Ms. Gearlds and I joined the church after the first serv ice I attended. I just love her and she is so genuine. She just accepts you for who you are.” Church from page B5 Eighth and Taylor streets near the Augusta Canal's third level, the structure has found a friend in the Augusta Canal Authority. The authority last year announced its "Saving Mother Trinity" initiative and delayed Atlanta Gas Light Corp.'s plans to tear it down. "This is one of the most important projects facing this community," said Dayton Sherrouse, executive director of the authority. Sherrouse made the comments while providing an update on the plans dur ing a recent Augusta Commission meeting. Those plans include mov ing the church building and redeveloping the area, he said. While Atlanta Gas Light bought the church and many surrounding parcels, which are now vacant, to remove contami nated soil, "the worst con taminated soil is under neath the (church) build ing," he said. Moving the church had never been considered a viable option, commission ers noted, when the Trinity congregation accepted a buyout and built a new church on Glenn Hills Drive. But now, the authority has "talked to some movers and we've found that we can move the church over on some addi tional gas property that's already been remediated," Sherrouse said. The move might involve removing the church's brick facade, which was added in the 1920s, and possibly leav ing its original wood exte rior, but the exterior remains "up for debate," he said. "Our plan is a little larger than just saving the church," he said. "It's also to try to make it a catalyst for redevelopment around the church." The authority has agreed to serve as interim owner of the church and is trying to raise additional funds for moving the build ing. The church will move to a site Atlanta Gas Light will donate for that pur pose, Sherrouse said. Later, the group will develop plans for renovat ing the Church and deter mine its new use as an art or performance space, museum, business incuba tor or some other purpose, he said. The authority has obtained a grant from the group Partners for Sacred Places to assist as well as agreement from Atlanta Gas Light to pay for mov ing the church, Sherrouse said. Lesson from page B5 and faith that makes our relationship with God right, not the Law (verse 5). Verse 6 concludes that faith manifested in love is what counts in Christ. Paul urges the Galatians to stay on the right course in verses 7-12. He acknowledges that the Galatians started out well in their Christian life and asks now “who is the hin drance?” The teachings they are getting now are certainly not what Christ stood for or what Paul has taught them. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul used yeast and leaven, today we would say “one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.” This is the reference to the poisonous tongue of the false teachers who should not go unchecked (verse 9). Paul’s prayer for the Galatians was that they stay strong in Christ and that the false teachers be dealt with by God (verse 10). The false teachers were also teaching that Paul had preached that cir cumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul states the paradox is that he is being persecuted for the exact opposite (verse 11). Verse 12 expresses Paul’s exasperation with the whole thing. Bringing the lesson to a conclusion is Paul’s expression that the Galatians were called to be free. They are reminded that their call to freedom from the “yokes of bondage” should not be used as an opportunity to sin, but they should rather serve each other in love. Paul quotes Leviticus 19:18 “Thou shalt love your neighbor as yourself’; this is the whole law in summation. Paul steers them away from conflict with one another, noting that it would only destroy their community (verse 15) . He entreats the Galatians to live lives led by the Holy Spirit to avoid their old sinful ways (verse 16) . There is a warring within Christians that pre vents us from doing what is right; the only way to win is to let the Holy Spirit lead (verse 17). For Your Consideration: Walking in the Spirit, let this mind be in you ... Christ Jesus, Love your neighbor as yourself; we have to regard these as more than “platitudes” if we are to truly live in the freedom of Christ. How do you begin to truly enjoy this freedom? Life’s Application: The Holy Spirit is a bless ing from God to guide us in the right direction, but we have to want to be led. We have to open our hearts and minds to the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit’s leading. We are urged to commit a daily walk with God, which necessitates reading His word daily and not out of habit, but with urgent need. We need to know how to please God in pur actions and re-actions to life’s complexities. There is a “word from the Lord” con cerning every area of our being. Propel yourself for ward in your daily walk ... don’t “walk through,”... “cross over.” Have a Story Idea? Let us Know letters@wsckronicle.com r Have an Opinion? Let us Know IWee6en(( of Women in (Prayer Conference Pamela Simmons fnaay, marcn 3 ana Saturday, March 4 St. John CME Church, 350 NW Crawford Place Pastor Reverend Omar L Dykes Register online: www.anointedprayerwarrior.com/local-registration-for-w-o-w weekend-of-women-in-prayer-conference/ (336) 575-5676 • psimmonsl 5@triad.rr.com
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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