What Challenges Are
There In Today’s Church?
By Rev. R. H. Leak, Pastor
New St John Baptist Church
Matthew 16:18: And I say abo unto
tea, dial thou ait Peter, and upon
thia rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell tell not pre
vail against it
Matthew 19: And 1 will give unto
thee the keys of the kingdom of
sinoe these words were spok
J Jesus, the church has been
■ power end the center of the
i Religion of this world. In
> article I would like to challenge
your thoughts and your mind about
the church of today-aa I see it; with
topics such as: A. How to work in
4* church, B. The chronological
age of the church, C. Working
around the church, D. Organizing
Spd planting the work of the
church, end B. Traits in Christian
experienced leadars.
The church was in the heart of Ood
since the beginning of time.' Israel
Was Clod's chosen representative for
Kb church. They organized and did
function for the master Jesus Ovist.
The nature of a church b: 1. A spir
itual organism; 2. A creation; 3. A
community of Faith, Hope, and a
fellowship of Lave; 4. A hospital.
r': but Christ being the head of the
body. Vj
An active church life b the most
■ tewifal and satisfying life one can
live in this modem civilization of
curs. Anyone actively engaged in
te ^development of life through
Jactivities will enjoy the
end respect of his
%_cmftnjLT
ing apd helpful when one love, his
work nod seeks to carry on an ktlsl
ligant program in every respect of
te church. Church work is not si-*
; .w tetg big things; but ifs do
: Ing little things in a big way. One
• must know how to do the work that
“ is to be done.
Our purpose today b to help people
2 y°un* and oold to develop and in
^ still more interest and enthusiasm
* Cor their church work. A lack of in
g tarest b sometimes caused by those
•> in charge failing to organize pro
£ grams with enough interest to hold
T the attention of those involved. The
« life of any church it good
U to young people and old people
alike. They must be kept engaged in
J promoting activities of the overall
5 church program.
3 Ip areas such as worshipping, teach
ing, witnessing, educating, and
singing, the church should be the
leading resource in the community
4—,
, Rev. Rabert Leak
in reaching people for Christ. The
minister is always looked to as the
leader of the total church programs.
However, that doesn't mean that he
knows more about everything than
anyone else. But it does mean that
he must stay on top. of his work,
and select qualified people to his
staff. This could be done better if
all programs and/or activities were
planned with a purpose and a goal
fat mind.
Some do's and don't's to be aware of
when selecting people to work: 1.
Don't select people just because you
like them; 2. Don't sclent people
because they are your friend:or ybur
uncle or aunt, sister, mother' or
' --3-'—
brother; 3. Don't continue to select
the same people for the job, yov
might be overlooking your best tal
ent. Do try to select people who are
best suited for the job. and who can
do a job well. It is unfair to have
people do a job and they have no
knowledge of what they are doing.
• To conclude, I believe the total
program of the church sis important
for those who are in leadership
roles for the year 1987. WE MUST
BE COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE
OF BRINGING OTHERS TO
CHRIST. This includes the deacons,
trustees, SS Superintendents, and
all church auxiliary heads—must ac
cept responsibility to work, to
learn and to produce.
I believe more profoundly in the
church every hour that I live. A man
can make his testimony go further
through the church than any inde
pendent movements. He can make
his money, his testimony, and all
his work go further. He can do more
constructive work through the
church than any other way in the
world. That is my deepest convic
tion. I have watched all kinds of in
dependent movements, and my con
viction steadily deepens that a
Christian is doing the wisest thing
possible when he links his life with
the church.
At New St. John in 1987, we plan
to be growing a better church;
knowing and believing that if we
"Seek ye. fust the kingdom of. Heav
en all things (hall, be added unto
-JlHP’.V 1 Sr-kki vT
\ -I- ,>• ‘ #
-—---U
American Heart
Association
Naturalized
SHOE SALE
/■■■■” ■ 1111 111 1 —1 1.IJ \
FALL AND WINTIR STYLIS
Reduced for ClearanceI
AS from regulor stocfcl
Not Every Size in Every Color... But Something
For Everyone) •
Hard to Find Sizes
SNm*>norrewi, medium* _
j m
_ * „a* • i4f_Sl*-X ..***
nXrjralizer?
2 LOCATIONS IN CMAMOTTI
lASTlANP/SOUTHFAKK Sh08S ,
Operation Care, Share Combats Hunger
Raleigh - Human Resources Secre
tary P. H. Kirk Jt. recently an
nounced that the N.C. Division of
Aging will take pert in President
Reagan’s unique nationwide hunger
initiative called Operation Care and
Share. £*' -'"'V* ' >
He added that North Carolina sen
ior centers. Triple AAA’s, and local
Councils on Aging will join other
community organizations and con
cerned citizens across the nation in
the battle to help end the hunger in
America.
"I am pleased that North Carolina
can be a part of the President's com
mitment to provide food and assis
tance to needy citizens," Kirk em
phasized. 'Oreat Americans Care
and Share’ is a very appropriate
theme for this special cooperative
effort. Although our first involve
ment will focus on needy older
adults, I hope that the project can
be expended in the future to include
all North Carolinians who are poor
and hungry."
President Reagan, in cooperation
with the White House Office of Pri
vate Sector Initiatives, as well as
numerous national volunteer,
church, and civic groups, has sug
gested the holiday season to kick
off the Operation Care and Share
drive, but the programs will be a
year-round effort, Kirk said.
Elaine Stoops, assistant secretary
of aging, explained that Operation
Care and Share in North Carolina is
designed to increase public aware
ness and understanding of local food
programs; stimulate new or existing
local efforts to support food pro
WomanReach
WomanReach will offer a support
group called "Welcome To Char
lotte: Newcomers Groups." begin
ning January 13 (Tuesday) from 10
11:30 a.m. at the WomanReach
Center.
For more information, call Wo
manReach Monday-Thursday 10-9
p.m., Friday and Saturday 10-4
pjn.. at 334-3614.
I J i " -
gram* through food collections,
cash donations, and volunteer in
volvement and strengthen coopera
tion with local food .programs each
as soup kitchens, food distribution
projects, food banks, meals on
wheels, charities, and volunteer
agencies.
"Many older North Carolinians
live in, poverty, and suffer from the
problems of hunger, malnutrition,
and improper diet," Stoops said. "I
strongly believe that Operation.
Care and Share can make a real dif
ference in helping our needy older
aduita.- l jx •
Stoops encouraged communitiea
and concerned citizens to get in
volved in this special cooperative
hunger drive. For more information
contact Wayne White, N. C. Divi
sion of Aging, Kirby Building,
1985 Umatead Dr.. Raleigh, NC
27603, 99-733-3983, or call CAKE
LINE, toll free from anywhere 'in
NC. at 1-800-662-7030.
rri * Offerint ': * ■ ; * *
PRE-ARRANGED FUNERALS
CREMATION ARRANGEMENTS
UPE INSURANCE
OUT-OP-TOWN ARRANGEMENTS
833-1167
» lit NtIIi Irwbi Atmm
’ Alfred LMta Alefcahicr,
. ‘Thk»k yo« Cfcartetie far standing,
with M...we are eternally Jj
iraMM hry«w miwt
THE
CHARLOTTE POST
For Only $jy76
Call 376-0496
For Detaila
FEAGUSOn
PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
I Calvin L forguton, Jr.
otfara you on*
COMPETITIVE MARKET ANALYSIS
•f your roaldontUri property at no cost or
•eve this valuable certificate with your
houeenotd document*
Your Touchberrv RapraMntatly* la
_SHERRY C. DOUGLAS
.. *
■l._t_- — ~ ^ H • . . . -
Thingt fire HOPPIN* At
The POST!
Don't Mi$$ Out. ✓
/J Subscribe Today!
Call 376-0496
We're In Your “
Neighborhood
DJA .
tMMOiDUY* MONOGKAMMtNC
596-3119
JOHN CANNON VWNON HAYIff SHtDNtCK WILLIAMS
••T-CN Tryonffc. t
Acro» rroo tfw Hidwry Houm Btr-B-Qu*