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WILLIAMS
WOMEN NEED TO PRAY
The first topic in this series is on
prayer. Prayer is probably the most
mportant, yet most overlooked,
hing that a woman of God can do.
AH women of God need to pray for
heir communities, their families and
hemsehres. Women from all walks of
Ito need to pray.
I. Mothers need to pray. Mothers
vho are women of God need to pray,
fathers need to take time out from
wising their children to pray,
fathers need to stop housework for a
ittle while to pray. Mothers need to
way tor their children and their
msbands. Mothers need to pray.
I. Career women need to pray.
Women who have left home for the
sareer world need to pray. They need
to take a tow minutes in the morning,
lunchtime or afternoon to pray.
Career women need to pray for their
co-workers. They need to pray for
their work, that they would do a good
Job to the glory of God. They need to
bind the forces of the devil in their
workplace. They need to pray against
the spirits of lust, greed and
covetousness. They need to pray for
their bosses and administrators.
Career women need to pray.
3. Senior citizens need to pray.
Women of God who are retired need
to pray. Women of God who are at
home alone can spend much time in
terceding for their churches, their
families, their friends. Senior citizens
in retirement centers and rest homes
need to pray. They can pray for other ,
residents. They can gather together
with other residents to pray. Senior
citizens don’t have to be alone, they \
can spend time with God in prayer.
4. Teenage women need to pray.
Christian teenage children need to
pray. They need to pray for the
strength to overcome peer pressure.
They need to pray against the evil
forces of illegal drug use, illicit sex
and ungodly music. Christian
teenagers need to pray that they
would be able to reach their potential
in Christ. They need to pray for their
relationships, their academics, their
families and for their problems.
Teenage girls need to pray!
(Continued next week)
OuJSSSd h^NCLMeracv Battle
CHARLOTTE—Churches, such as
the AME Zion Church, which ha;
78,000 members in North Carolina
are a powerful force in fighting il
literacy, Gov. Jim Martin told people
gathered at a meeting of the
denomination.
"As one of the largest and most po
tent forces of our state, I call upon the
AME Zion Churches of our state to
Join us in ensuring a better life for all
our citizens,” Martin said last Thurs
day.
Martin said the success of North.
Carolina’s economy could be under
mined by the state’s continuing pro
blems of adult illiteracy and high
school dropouts.
“In practical terms, North Caroli
nians, if they are going to be part oi
the industrial development of our
state, must have at least 13 years of
schooling,” Martin told the General
Conference of the AME Zion Church
at the Charlotte Convention Center.
“It’s been estimated that we will
have at least 500,000 new jobs by the
year 3000,” he said. “Will we have a
, citizenry ready to take advantage of
expanding opportunites?
“It’s clear we must take decisive,
forceful action if we are to continue
our economic growth,” he said.
In his address, Martin said the pro
blem of illiteracy is directly related
to economic development and he
listed some of the actions taken by his
administration to combat it.
One of those, he siad, was last
week’s report of the Governor’s Com
mission on Literacy, which was
chaired by William Friday, the
former president of the University of
North Carolina System.
"The report contained 40 specific
excellent recommendations which, if
carried out, should go a long way
toward upgrading literacy in our
state.” Martin said.
Martin also lauded other state pro
grams, including one in which il
literate mothers go to school to learn
with their children, and another that
was featured on CBS-TV called
“Motheread” that teaches women
prisoners to read to their children.
Martin said he hopes to announce in
a few days a proposal to develop
daycare programs to serve four-year
old children “who are most at risk to
drop out of school later and become il
literate.”
Roman Catholic
Priest Removed
For Demonstration
OPELOUSAS, La. (AP)-The Rev.
A.J. McKnight, the Roman Catholic,
priest who led protesters in a sit-in at
the St. Landry Parish School Board,
has been removed as pastor of Holy
Ghost Catholic Church in Opelousas.
McKnight complained at his mass
last Sunday that the Diocese of
Lafayette gave him only 24 hours
notice to vacate the premises.
The Rev. Leonard Olivier, vicar of
black Catholics, has been sent to fill
in at the 10,000-member church, said
to be the nation’s largest black
Catholic church.
McKnight, who was Holy Ghost
pastor for more than six years, said
he plans to remain in St. Landry
Parish.
He took part in the 1987 protests
against the school board’s choice of
locations for three consolidated high
schools.
In February, McKnight was con
victed on a charge of obstruction
stemming from the protest. He chose
to go to jail for four days instead of
only one dav and pay a fine.
1
TWO MINUTES
ym THE BIBLE
SY COtNIUUS R. STAM MMS.
CHICAGO, ILUMOIS 60635
PRECIOUS HERITAGE
Blessed is the nation
whose God is the Ijttrd... ”
(Psa. 33:12).
The book, We Americans,
published by the National
Geographic Society in 1976,
depicts a family of eight
early settlers, four of whom
are holding Bibles in their
hands. The caption opens
with the words: "Book of
books, the Bible, was the
end and means of the edu
cation of early Americans. ”
This is confirmed by the
Encyclopaedia Britannica,
which declares that ‘The
New England Primer...for
ISO years widely used as a
textbook, was largely com
posed of Scriptural and doc
trinal material. Catechisms
were taught in the public
schools and prayer was
offered twice a day” (EB
under ffehool and Curricu
lum in-the United States).
This does not mean that
all obr Revolutionary fore
fathere were sored, or regen
erated by personal faith in
Chrift, but the evidence is
abufidant that they were,
as a whole. God-fearing
men, and this was bound to
have a significant effect on
(and their con
W*
duct. And, indeed, there
were among them many
born-again believers.
Revolutionary times eon-.
jure up in our minds such
pictures as Washington
praying earnestly it Valley
Forge, the members of Con
gress kneeling together in
prayer for divine guidance,
and the precepts of Scrip
ture being pressed home
again and again by those
high in government, while
the citizens in general trem
bled at God’s Word.
It goes without saying
that our nation plays a stra
tegic role in the affairs of
the world. Our influence is
great. However, America will
not again exert the right
kind of influence in the
world until the Church of
Christ recovers from her
spiritual illness and our
national leaders and the
populace once more become
at least Godfearing. The
fear of God does not in it
self save from sin’s penalty,
hut it is the first step toward
salvation. Moreover. God’s
Word declares:
"By the fear of the l/>rd
men depart from evil’’(Prov.
16:6).
SUPPORTING RIGHTS—The National Urban League's 1SSI theme, “Working
together to Make a DWerence: Rights, ResponsMIlles. Results,” receives eupport
from Eastman Kodak company’s exhibit at tho national eonforcnce in Detratt.
Kodak’s exhibit, produced In conjunction with Schamburg Cantor tar Research In
Black Culture, graphicaly depicts “The Rights at Alt Blacks and the United States
Constitution.” Tei-SIng Smith, left, Schamburg Center exhibit staff, and Essie
Calhoun, Kodak's Director el PubHc Affairs Planning, discuss Anal details before
show opening. This exhibit is part of the 8chemburg Center’s Travelog Exhibition
Pronram which Kodak Is supporting with a $800,000 ffve year grant
Modern Day Evangelisan
Viewed As Man-Centered
BY CORNELIUS ST AM
In his great Epistle to the
itoamans, St. Paul introduces
limself immediately as a “bond
slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an
jpostle,” to proclaim God's good
lews about Christ.
Paul's “Gospel of the grace of God”
vas essentially about Christ. He was
always talking about Christ. His
jpistles are filled with Christ.
Christ, in his message, was
everything. This is in striking con
trast to much of our modern
preaching and evangelism, which is
not Christ-centered, but man
centered.
The gospel Paul proclaimed was
God's good news about Christ and His
power and glory in defeating Satan,
overcoming death, paying for sin and
nailing the law to His cross.
This is why the apostle calls His
message “the good news of the glory
of Christ” (II Corinthians 4:4) and
“the good news of the glory of the
blessed God” (Timothy 1:11). To
enter experientiaily -nto the truth of
this good news is the greatest bless
ing one can possibly enjoy.
In verse 4 of his introduction to the
Roman Epistle, the anostle declares
mat innst was powertuuy geciarea
to be the Son of God “by the resurrec
tion from the dead.”
Now the resurrection of Christ had
been both prophesied and proclaimed
as a historical fact before Paul, but to
Paul was committed a special
message of good news in connection
with the resurrection. In his God
given mesasge, Christ was raised
from the dead to demonstrate that as
God the Son He had paid the full
penalty for sins that would have sunk
a world to hell. Thus the apostle
writes to Timothy, his son in the
faith:
"Consider what I say, and the Lord
give thee understanding in all things.
“Remember that Jesus Christ, of
the seed of David (this is how Christ
had formerly been known), was raisd,
from the dead according to my
gospel, wherein I suffer trouble as an
evil doer, even unto bonds” (II
Timothy 2:7-8).
Read the Epistles of Paul and see
how salvation by grace through faith
always hinges upon the finished work
of Christ for our redemption.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Freewill Baptist Wives Meet
At Fayetteville Church
The Freewill Baptist Cape Fear A
Ministers’ Wives met recently at the
Elliott Chapel Church, Fayetteville.
The Rev. Abe Elliott is pastor of the
church and Ms. Louise McLean, wife
of Bishop M.N. McLean, is president
of the alliance. The theme of the
meeting was “Journeying with a Pur
pose-Building a Sisterhood.”
The opening song was rendered by
the Elliott Chapel Senior Chi or. Ms.
Catherine Elliott offered prayer.
Ms. Viola Elliott extended words of
welcome and Ms. Cliffortine Spears
responded. Ms. Naomi Spence
presented each officer a bouquet of
red roses. Ms. Katie C. Foushee
delivered an address on “Tips and
Leads for Ministers’ Wives.”
Gospel Choir No. 2 of Dunn Chapel
Church rendered several selections.
echoes from me national conven
tion of Freewill Baptists held in St.
Petersburg, Fla. were heard from
Ms. Eunice Adams and Ms. Catherine
Elliott.
Ms. Missie Lee Freeman delivered
the gospel message. Ms. Lula Alford
was in charge of the offering.
Spouses were recognized. Presen
tations were made by Ms. Eva
Minter, chairperson of the program
committee.
A refreshment hour followed in the
church fellowship hall. President
McLean thanked everyone who had a
part in making the program a suc
cessful one.
i ne next meeting will be held in Oc
tober at Malloys Grove Church, St.
Paul.
Fifth Annual Carolina Gospel
Workshop Set For Local Church
The fifth annual Carolina Gospel
Music and Arts Workshop convention
will convene at the Deliverance
Cathedral of Love Church, 1700 Curtis
Drive, Raleigh, where Bishop M.S.
Nesbitt is the pastor, Aug. 0-13.
Seminars and classes will be taught
during the day and Workshop Mass
Choir rehearsals will be held each
afternoon. Evangelistic services will
higdight each evening at 8 p.m.
Guest speakers in order will include
Rev. P.C. Barnes, Rocky Mount;
Bishop Bennie Kelly, Fayetteville;
and the keynote speaker will be Rev.
Cecil Franklin. Detroit, Mich.,
brother of Aretha Franklin.
To climax the convention, the
Workshop Choir will be recording
“live” with Minister Jeff Jacobs, 1988
special guest artist. Jacobs is the
composer of "If You’re Happy,” “I
Don’t Have No Doubt7’ and
“Delivered.”
For more information concerning
the convention*, contact Glenn
McMillan, 8344014 or 7534878.
By the year 3000, the number of
people aged 66 and older will be ap
proximately 1 million, which will
be some 14 pensnt of the North
Carolina population. ,
FreewiU
Hold Kinston Co*
The General Woman’s Department
of the United American Freewill Bap
tist Church held Its annual homecom
ing celebration recently at the bead
quarters building in Kinston.
Theme of the annual event was
"Togetherness.”
Ms. Mattie A. Thompson of La
Grange is president of the General
Woman’s Department.
Devotional exercises were con
ducted by Ms. Betty McNeill of
Linden. Ms. Mabel Gerald, president
emeritus of Cape Fear A Home Mis
sion Convention, extended words of
welcome. Music was rendered by the
Bible Way Freewill Baptist Church
Choir of Linden.
Ms. Janie Harris of Kinston offered
a special prayer for worldwide condi
tions.
Ms. Mildred McNeill, pastor of Bi
ble Way, delivered the gospel
message.
Ms. Thompson, the president,
greeted the assembly and thanked all
who are continuing to support the
department. She pledged herself to be
the very best president that she could
be—working up to her highest poten
tial.
Ms. Virginia Woodard of Brown
Chapel, Wilson, delivered an address.
A pageant, the “Fifty State
Parade,” was presented under the
direction of Ms. Leola Dixon, Ms.
MabelMiller, Ms. Memory Brown
and Ms. Emma McIntyre. Ms. Joyce
Best of the Northwest Annual Con
ference reported $1,400 and was
crowned homecoming queen. The
reunner-up was Ms. Annie Gant of
Northwest B Conference who'
reported $435. The total raised was
$5,277.02.
Kemarns wwc
Bishop Johnnie E. Reddick. He:
thankoH those who attended die Na
tional Association of Freewill Bap
tists Convention at St. Petersburg,
Fla. He urged parishioners to con
tinue their efforts in kingdom
building.
A fellowship dinner was held at the
Antioch Freewill Baptist Church with
Northwest Conference serving as
host.
The officials of the Women’s
Department are Ms. Mattie A.
Thompson, president; Ms. Rosa Lee
Joues, vice president; Ms. L.M.
Durham, financial secretary; Bis.
E.M. Minter, recoding secretary;
Ms. K.C. Forshee, treasurer; Ms.
Carrie U. Best, executive board
chairman; Ms. Gladys Baldwin and
Ms. Mildred Dawson, chairperson,
program committee.
Dr. J.E. Reddick is general bishop
of the denomination.
Processing times for home
canned fruits and vegetables vary
widely. Recommended times and
pressures have been determined by
rigorous USDA tests. They are:
based on the food, jar size, and type:
of preparation. For up-to-date
figures, call your county home
economics agent.
ATTEND
CHURCH
BY MURIEL W. BURT
BY MURIEL W. BURT
Communication techniques are
among the marvels of modern
civilization. Countless numbers of
newspapers and magazines are
published throughout the world in
languages and dialects to reach
populations worldwide. The miracles
of radio, wireless, television,
telephone, and satellite bring con
tinents, nations, and people into in
stantaneous contact with one
another. Nations are closer now than
cities were when our country was
founded, i
The benefits of these inventions are
numberless. In the areas of health
and safety we are alerted and warned
of dangers from severe weather such
as approaching hurricanes, thunder
storms of unusual intensity, tor
nadoes, hailstorms anticipated,
possible freezing temperatures of
risk to crops and livestock, and blin
ding snowstorms of blizzard propor
tions.
' Medical science makes excellent
use of these resources to inform
citizens of health hazards. Such
dangers as hypothermia with sudden
drop in temperature, and the
possibility of skin cancer in over
exposure to sun are examples of war
nings brought to the attention of the
public through the media. Hazardous
waste sites have become a much
.talked-of danger on television pro
grams and are frequently discussed
in newspapers.
Facts concerning AIDS consume
much space in attempts to inform the
world population of this new threat to
health.
Financial ups and downs of nations,
political highlights of elections and
coups, drastic changes in laws,
upheavals in governments, world
crises such as droughts and impen
ding starvation, racial unrest and
resulting uprisings, prison riots,
breakthroughs in international rela
tions are all brought to the attention
of people worldwide through the
rapid means of communication which
science has brought to our eyes and
ears.
Although the media do come under
attack occasionally for the way they
handle coverage of certain situations,
we should all be grateful to live in a
land where freedom of expression is
uphold by law.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves if
we who live on this planet Earth are
always using the marvels of com
munication to benefit the human
race. Much of the print displayed on
newsstands is not uplifting or
onHghtoming to the mind. Television
is receiving more and more criticism
for the kinds of messages bring trans
mitted into homes. The movie
theater, once an important means of
conveying both news and enter
tainment, is frequently losing out.
The screen is no longer needed for
news as far more rapid methods now
transmit current events. Truly gnat
moving pictures for worthwhile
entertainment and edification are
few and tar between. As long as
mankind cannot live peacefully with
cooperation among peoples, races,
religions and political ideologies, the
news flashing before us on screen or
printed line will continue to be
depressing, degrading ana retiecunt
the violence generated.
Man has always communicated.
We can look to Jesus of Nazareth as a
perfect example' of one who*
understood articulate communica
tion. He spoke, taught, and ex
emplified love and fairness with obe
dience to a purpose and will on a
higher plane than the natural man
can conceive without spiritual In
sight.
Jesus Christ taught beautiful truths
in the Sermon on the Mount in a
poetic-type language. Some of IBs
parables are explained; others are
left to a spiritual interpretation by
His followers. The forthrightness of
His language when necessary is il
lustrated in the 2ist chapter of Mat
thew, verse 13, when angered by
those who demeaned the temple. Hie
compassion of Christ for all IBs
Father’s children is exemplified in
the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi, 1
chapter 17, when in verse 21 he says:
“Blessed are ye because of your
faith. And now behold, my Joy is full.”
As children were brought to Him He
spoke again: “Behold your little
ones.” He then summoned angels to
minister unto them.
Scripture offers many examples of
the power and influence of lettes in
personal correspondence. Paul was
the more prolific writer of epistles,
but James, Peter, John and Jude all
used this method to comm unicat*
among the members of the early
Christian church following Christ’s
resurrection. Should we not take
more time to write to our loved ones,
both family and friedds, to express
appreciation, encouragement, and
exchange of news and ideas?
In Galatians 2:2, communication
by divine revelation and preaching is
mentioned. The 6th chapter of I
Timothy, verse 18, reads, “That they
do good, that they be rich in good
works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate...” This passage men
tions other ways of communiQating of
great importance, good wefts or ser
vice, to our neighbors and communi
ty
instances in scripture indicating
times when the Deity spoke directly
to men emphasize the need for con
siderate and understandable conver
sation among human beings and bet
ween us and our God. In Exodus
33:11, we read that “The Lord spake
unto Mooes face to face, as a man
speaketh unto his friend.” The same
wonderful occurrence, man com
municating directly with his God, is
found in the Pearl of Great Price,
Chapter l, verse 2 in the Book of
Moses. “And he saw God face to face,
and He talked with him, and the glory
of God was upon Moses; therefore
Moses could endure His presence."
These are Just a few examples of
the benefits and evils of modern com
munication in our world. We can
learn if we will study sacred writhes
how effectively communication can
be used in Inringing obedience to eter
nal laws and the resulting hlsssings
into our lives if we the
necessary effort. God has given us
the materials and creativity to in
vent. Let us loam the real value and
capability of these scientific wonders.