7B
RELIGION/S^e C^iarlotte
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Extravaganza explores Christian matrimony basics
By Victoria Elmore
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Planning a wedding can
be a tough job for event
planners and newly weds
who are new to the task.
Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church is hosting
its fourth annual Wedding
Extravaganza on Saturday
from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The pur
pose of the event is to help
brides, grooms, and wed
ding planners implement
Christian based principles
into their wedding and
marriage.
The idea was birthed out
of women’s confusion. Car
olyn Lloyd, chairperson of
the wedding ministry at
Friendship said that many
women were coming to
church to be married and
were clueless about how to
carry out a Christian wed
ding. ,
Lloyd feels many brides
prepare for weddings that
aren’t conducted from a
Christian perspective.
“Many brides are not
aware of the sanctity that
comes with bringing a wed
ding to a church. Brides
today are internet literate,
so they go to various web
sites or help,” Lloyd said,
“But they need to actually
speak with professionals.”
Brides will receive profes
sional guidance at the Wed
ding Extravaganza. Ven
dors will be set up for
brides to receive informa
tion about a variety of pro
fessionals in the wedding
field. “Brides will have the
opportunity to listen to pro
fessionals in 'the business.
Professional vendors will
help guide them into what
to do,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd believes that brides
are not aware of what a
Christian wedding should
look and sound like “A
Christian wedding is a wor
ship service. Brides and
grooms are taking vows in
front of the Lord,” the Wed
ding Minister said. She
feels couples need to \mder-
stand what it means to
walk down to the aisle and
get married.
In many ways the event is
targeted to women but
according to Rev. J.R. Cov
ington, the DeiVisional
Minister of Spiritual Guid
ance and Wellness at
Friendship, men play a
major role in not only plan
ning the wedding, but mak
ing sure the spark never
dies. “Men to recognize that
his wife is a precious jewel
and what someone sees as
precious they work to hold
on to it,” Covington said.
“Men must seek the things
that are important to his
wife.” The minister believes
that men should realize
that their wives are the
most previous gift that
they’ve been blessed with.
Covington will be one the
speakers at the event. He
will discuss the ways in
which married couples can
keep the glow lit in their
marriage. Covington and
Lloyd stressed their desire
teach couples the impor
tance of vows and holding
on those promises. “The
Wedding Extravaganza is
about planning a life
together, not just one day,”
Lloyd said.
For the previus three
years, the ceremony has
been called Bridal Extrava
ganza. This year the name
was changed to Wedding
Extravaganza, so the
importance of men. involv
ing themselves in the plan
ning process would be evi
dent. “We’ve foimd that the
grooms are interested in
the planning more than
they were before,” Lloyd
said. She said that men felt
left out because of the name
of the event, which was
another reason for the
name change.
The Wedding Extravagan
za will stress the impor
tance of a Christian wed
ding. During the event,
speakers will cover topics
that will define what it
means to create a Christian
wedding. “Christian cere- .
monies are based on the
principles of the Bible. The
vows come fi'om references
in the Bible,” Covington
said.
Tbny McNeil, minister of
music at Friendship, will
discuss the types of music
that is appropriate for a
Christian wedding. Nancy
Stroud and Daisy Walker
will discuss how the finan
cial side of planning a wed
ding. They will expand was
to create an inexpensive
and elegant wedding.
ADVERTISEMENT
Online site can locate church home
By Victoria Elmore
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Folks who are new to the
Charlotte area might stumble
across many stumps in the
process of looking for a church
home. Praisepreview.com is a
website designed to help new
comers do just that.
When co-founders Ron
Lewis and Earl McLaurin Jr.
moved to Charlotte they dis-
cova:ed how . difficult it is to
find a church home, they
sought a solution.
“The idea was bom out of
personal ejqjerience. I would
go to churches randomly,”
Lewis said. “I just couldn’t
find a church that I was rised
to.”
He said that he figured
there are many other fiiends
and family who feel the same
way “I decided to provide a
way fcr people to preview a
chinch before going to if it
was efficient.”
There are currently about
2,000 churches cna the website
with 25 of those churches
bedi^ in the Charlotte area.
“Our main target is the Char
lotte area. However, churches
finm Gastonia, Atlanta, and
F ayetteville have become
members of our site,” McLau
rin said. ‘We even have
church finm Arkansas that
has added their information
to our database.”
Praisepreview.com allows
people to search, for churches
throughout the Charlotte
area. The website even pro
vides a calendar for churches
to list its upcomii^ events.
Folks seeking a church home
will be able to go to the Praise
site and learn more about the
church, its congregation size,
and any other information
that church placed on the
site. “It’s a ministry first and
a business second. Praisepre-
view.com is a website for peo
ple to view churches and
learn more about it,” Lewis
said.
The co-founders are excited
about watching their vision of
the website come to life and
many people are open- mind
ed through the process.
“People have been encour
aging us. We have not experi
enced any resistance,” Lewis
said. ‘We’re optimistic that
it’s going to continue to grow.
McLaurin and Lewis
received Christian guidance
diuii^ creation of the web
site. ‘We asked Pastor
Alexander about our vision
for Praisepreview and he said
it was awesome,” McLaruin
said. “In the v^:y beginning
we experienced difficulties
because we partnered with
the wrong person
When we got further down
the road (in buildir^ the site)
we realized he didn’t have the
same vision,” McLaurin said.
The co-founder stressed the
importance of partnering
with people who same the
vision. “Our site is at ent^-
prise level. It is strong and
stable, with the most modem
technology,” McLaurin said.
The Prophet’s Column, inc.
6183 NCI 09 South
Wadesboro, NC 28170-9533
April, 2006 Newsletter - Part II
Several years ago, while teaching a Bible class, I was asked the direct question: Is God
reprobating sinners today?” My immediate answer was: “Right before my eyes.” The
unsaved religionist, no matter how orthodox, denies God’s reprobation this way, as a
preacher’s wife in the family did: ”1 just can’t imagine God hating anyone." I quoted the
Word to her: ‘JACOB HAVE I LOVED, BUT ESAU HAVE I HATED.” (Rom. 9:1$ The
preacher’s wife sat there amazed, dumbfounded and not knowing what to say. Itris partly
because, in religious circles today, the religious leaders only teach on the love of God.
Almost all religious leaders never teach on the hatred of God and God’s reprobation. It
will be an awful day when multitudes of you church members come down to press a
dying pillow and find out the “god” you worshipped was Satan, And you’ll have nothing to
go out into eternity on. Cain was the first sinner in the Bible who was reprobated. God set
a mark on Cain. (Gen. 4:11) I was visiting with an old retired school teacher several
years ago and his wife and sick mother-in-law. His wife, in speaking of her sick mother,
said: “As long as there is life there is hope,” All my life I’ve heard that statement. If they
mean that there is hope for a sinner to be saved as long as he is living, they simply have
never learned God’s reprobation. When God set that mark on Cain, there was no hope of
Cain ever being saved. That was the curse set upon Cain, God does not curse His elect!
Then look at Pharaoh of Egypt. The Lord hardened his heart. That was God reprobating
Pharaoh, (Gen.10:1) Sometime back we brought a study from God’s Word listing some
14 verses which set forth so clearly that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. And yet
preachers and Bible teachers will stand before their congregations and deny God’s
reprobation. I attended the funeral of my cousin’s friend on Thursday (March 23,2006).
Not one preacher or religious leader there could tell how God saves a poor, .lost sinner,
isn’t that sad?
1
Greater Providence Baptist Church
2000 Milton Road, Charlotte, NC 28215
704-532-6228 704-532-7568fax
“Experiencing God Day by Day”
St. John 17:3
Comejoin Us in Worship & Praise!
Sunday Worship 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Hour of Power 12 Noon - Wednesdays
Spiritual Renewal 7:00 PM - Wednesdays
www.8reaterDrovidence.or2
Weeping Willow AME Zion Church
“Mw*ys From Stdrotion To MsqpIffiWp’
zao mb™ M • Cbttoife NmIi Caiota SZ15
M
Morally Wof^hip: SiODAM
nmm
Wfid. Trtms & iV«5^-n 7;(ia PM
(M1S32-9125
‘THE tmmi niAToms'^
(greeiiOille Hkmorial 3.j!i.€. Zion Cbiirtl)
“A Teaching Ministry Making Spiritual Disciples”
Sunday Worship Service 10A.M. Sunday School 9A.M.
Bible Study: Tuesday 7 P.M. & Wednesday 12 Noon
Child Development Center
6116 Montieth Dr. Charlotte, NC 28213
(Ph) 704-596-4742 (Fax) 704-597-8314
“A Word of Hope” Television Ministry
Wednesdays @ 8 p.m. ChanneD 21 (Public Access TV)
Rev. Dr. Sheldon R. Shipman, Senior Pastor
Macedonia Baptist Church
of CHARLOTTE, INC.
"A Ministry of Love and Excellence ’
Dr. John H. Walker, Pastor dr
Minister, Rosie Walker
New Sunday 10am Wonhip Experience
“Family First Worship ”
“As For Me and My Home
We Shall Worship The Lord”
SUNDAY
' Physical Food - (serving breakfast.) 8 a.m.
■ Spiritual Food - Christian Education School 9 am.
■ Main Course - “Family First Worship” 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
"Hour of Power” .Midday Worship 12 Noon
WO.W. - Word On Wednesday Bible Study. 6:30 p.m.
TVand RADIO BROADCAST MINISTRY:
CMPAC 21 - 'Ilij:^- ♦ Rejoice Radio 1370am ‘Wed. 10:45a
704-392-8496 *1300 Hacteras Avc,,* www.macedoniaorcharlocce.org
jFtnst Jilt. Zion Paptisit ClnirtJ)
1515 Remount Rd. • (Tel.)332-8335 (Fax)372-7548
28208
Sunday Morning Worship Services... 8:30-9:30- 11:00am
Sunday School 9:45 - 10:45am
Singles Ministries (Mon.) 6:30 - 7:30pm
Senior Citizens (Mon.) 10:30 - 4:00pm
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:00am - 4:00pm
You are cordially invited to worship with us!
Greater Gethsemane A.M.E. Zion Church
Ihe Church with the Community at Heait’
531 Campus Street - Chartotte, NC 28216
(7m)375-3m ■ fax 372-0614
Worship Service 11:00AM
Sunday School: 9:30AM
Bible Study: Wed. 10:30AM Sr 7PM
Daycare & Afterschool Available
E-mail: gamez531@bellsouth.net
The Reverend CaMn L Miller ■ Pastor
a Karen Roberts Milter - Spouse
SIMPSON-GILLESPIE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
t “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
-Join Us For Service •
Sunday School, 9:30am • Sunday Worship, 11am
Wednesday; Bible Stud)’, 7pm
1st & 3rd Satiirda)’: “Contemporar)' Worship,’’ 6pin...’’Jeans Allowed”
Rev. Walter Pegues, Pastor
3545 Beatties Fd Rd, Char,, NC 28216 •704-399-2717 • VanMinistry
‘%'e Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Us”
Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church
“A Church Putting Love Into Action ”
700 SUGAR CREEK ROAD, WEST
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28213
Sunday Church School 9:30a.m.
Worship Service 11:00a.m. and 6:00p.m,
Baptist Training Union 5:00p.m.
Prayer Meeting & Bible Study Wednesdays 7:30pm
Ojfice (704)596-7935 • Fax (704)596-1204
Residence (704)597-1249
Greater Myers Chapel
PENTECOSTAL FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
- You’re Invited to Worship With Us -
Intercessory Prayer. 8:30am
Victory in The Word 9:15am
Worship 10:30am
Sunday Evening Total Praise 7:00pm
Hour of Power/liitorial avail.Wed....7:00pm
Visit our WebSite: www.greatermyerschapel.org
600 Jordan Place, Charlotte, NC 28205
“WAR Fellowship Ministry Covenant Partner”
^or Van Ministry
704-377-1799
His last
0t.^rAe commandment is
‘missionary ^ ,
our nni
BAPTIST CHURCH
iw«,s*uk8mBe,(jtg assgnment
Missionaht Baptist Church
Ww* '
ilKMteiB • ^tK3pia
Bm. Clifford MatIMw,, Jr. Pmur • SrS-msi)
lepOMorritAv.,.MC 88208 . FAX:SVa-SMT
PARKWOOD INSTITUTIONAL
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
802 Tom Hunter Road • Charlotte, NC 28213
704-921-4915 (Ph) • 704-9214917 (Fax)
Wedsite: www.parkwQodcme.coni
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 11:00 AM
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Bible Study
Wednesday 12 Noon Thursday 6:30 PM
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
Roderick D. Lewis. Sr.
Pastor
To advertise your
church,
call 704 376 0496
St. Paul Baptist Church
Our Purpose: “To convince the unconvinced
to be convinced and make disciples”
Sunday Worship at 7:30 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.
Sunday Morning Breakfast 8:45 A.M.
Sunday School at 9:25 A.M. -10:25 A.M.
Radio Broadcast Sunday 11:00 A.M. (1370 A.M. Dial)
Bible Study Wed. 12 Noon - 6:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Youth Church 2nd & 3rd Sunday 10:30 A.M.
^ J
1401 North Alien Street, Charlotte. NC 28205
Gi^ry K Moss Sr.
Office: 704-334-5309
Pastor