Power And Spirit
Church Blesses Group
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) - If you
were looking to be entertained by a
rap group, a church is probably the
last place you’d look.
However, it is a small, non
denominational church in Humboldt
where the group Righteous Rappers
make their music.
The church’s pastor, the Rev. Bob
j Williams, Sr., watches as four young
men step behind the altar of the emp
ty church. Two are holding
microphones. Lamondra Green holds
a mike to his mouth and percussion
throbs from the speakers. Bob
Williams, Jr., prepares to rap:
“Two thousand years ago a man
was born. His name was Christ, King
and Lord.’’
Unlike most popular rap songs,
which are rife with obscenities,
violence and degradation of women.
the Righteous Rappers croon about
Christianity.
“We heard rap and decided to start
rapping about tilings in the Bible,"
said Williams the group’s lead singer.
On stage, Williams, 18, sounds
much like rap superstar Ice Tea
without benefit of electronic mixing.
No mixing, no profanity and no in
struments. The group’s booming
drum beat originates in the mouth of
a 15-year-old boy.
Make no mistake, The Righteous
Rappers are good, and not just in a
religious sense.
“When I walk down the street, I see
a lot of girls. I do not lust because I’m
in another world,” read the lyrics to
one of their raps.
They also rap against crack,
alcohol and other earthly tempta
tions, instructing young people to
pray, not prey. ■
Bible rap fuses the power with the
joyous spirit of gospel.
“We just try and have fun and
praise God,” said Williams, the mort
talkative of the group. The other,
group members are Williams
brother, Maranatha Williams, 13; An
dre Gross, 15; and Lamoodra Green,
^Although fairly new, the group has
already created a stir in the com*,
munitv. v.
MAGIC IN BELIEVING
There is a genuine magic In
believing and magic there win he far
belief will supply the power which
will enable us to succeed In
everything we undertake. Back cur
belief with a resolute will and we
become a master of ounelves.
—Claude Bristol
SPECIAL RECOGNITION - Recognition was ghraa la Lall la right Janyatta
Sutton, Ranaa Banks and Jasan McKay tar that oatstandMg afferts daring Ida
preparation of a spodal youth program recently at First Caamagagtan Baptist
Church.
PRESENTM6 PLAQUt — A pkfN was pmcMM'li Ms. WmsArIm Lewis by
Mrs. Psrtfaa Mr yam sf MIcaNaa an* sanies it First faaw^afa Baptist
Cbarcb dsttap a prayram racasBy.
i* -
Vacation Bibla School
Cloaaa Summer Saaaion
BY MRS. ANNIE THORPE
Rush Metropolitan AME Zion
Church, with its very efficient
coordinator, Mrs. Joyce Hawkins and
her staff and teachers, closed a week
of successful Vacation Bible School
June 19-23.
The theme for the weak was Its
Good News and Grace Upon Grace:
The Book of God’s People.
The school was divided in several
groups with teachers appointed to
instruct them. Classes began each
evening at • p.m. and closed at S p.m.
Refreshments were served each
evening of which everyone enjoyed. A
general review of the lesaons taught
SSL-given by the teachers or ml
appointee in the class.
Friday evening we held the
presentation of certificates by the
teachers from the various dassss.
Music always (days an important
part in any service and thanks goss to
Mrs. Ethel Jeffreys for tbesante.
Remarks were given by the
superintendent, Jesse Degraffenreidt
and the pastor, Rev. C. E. Willie, III.
After these the coordinator, Mrs.
Hawkins thanked everyone for the
fine cooperation given. She also
thanked her husband, Clifford
Hawkins, for supporting her and
working with the students in arts and
crafts. We adjourned and retired to
the fellowship hall where we enjoyed
a special treat.
Congratulations and thanks goes to
the members of the staff who did a ■'
marvelous Job. They are Rev. Elsie
Degrmffenrsidt, Rev. C. E. Willie, in,
Mrs. Linda Willie, Mrs. Dorothea
Sanders, Etfasl Ridley. Paula Jones,.
Brenda Baker, Patricia Burnette,
Mrs. Laverae Harrison, Mrs. Battle
Douglas, Mrs. Cynthia McKay.
The following persons served
refreshment*; Ms. Yvonne Moore,
Mrs. Paula Jonas, Mrs. Minnie;
Flagg, Mrs. Thsbna Moser, Mrs.
Linda Willie and Mrs. Joyce
Hawkine. Ws say thank you to aU.
Religious Convictions
Help With Bereuveuient
strong religious convictions and
healthy family relationships seam to
be important factors affecting how
people will deal with the suicide of a
loved one, says a sociologist studying
bereavement.
Mark Reed, Ph.D., who will Join the
Duke University faculty this fall,
says that of people coping with the
suicide of a loved one, those who pray
often and attend church seem to have
a greater guilt and strongwr feelings
of abandonment than lose religious
less anger. He isn’t sure why.
Among his survey group,
«rwyrty»aHy health)' familke who
shared feelings dealt beat with the
emotions caused by the suicide of a
loved one.
“When dysfunctional families
experience a crisis they don’t know
how to deal with it,” he said. Also
victim the stronger the feelings of
denial, guilt, anger and
abandonment," Heed laid
Reed says that by studying
bereavement he hopes to help people
deal with the loss of a loved one. “If
we can find out what factors grieving
them we’ll know how to deal with
survivors...we can predict
reactions”
Reed, who studios the wetyl
psychological consequences of
violence opudufted a’stuy on suicide
bereavement in Dallas County, Tx.
He surveyed survivors of suicide and
accident victims’ and compared the
I Laowcea United
CHURCH OF CHRIST
8004 Rook Quarry Road
Ralolyh, N.C. 87010
Rhonot §88*8704 •'
"Upward And Outward”
The Rev. e. C. Hawkm
parnM
ST. AMBROSE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
lit Darky StrMt
Phone: 833*8058
Rev. J. Arthur Coliwiy, Rector
ERVCE SCHEDULE:
a.m. Eack Sunday_Italy CwmmmUm
10 a.m. Eack faafey.... Ckarck Ickaal
1 a.m.Hety Camawalac 0 Oarmaa
11:30 a.m. Wadaaadays.Lacaaaa
Eackarist
Only Adult Closus during
ummer Vocation
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2410 CrMoh Road
Raleigh, N.C. 17410
Phono 832-4704
Rav. Donald R. Ingram, Rattar
Sunday School..10:00 a.m.
Mamlno WariNg.....11:00 a.M.
Evading WartMy.6:08 a-m.
Prayar Sarvlca.Wad. 7:80 g.a.
HaurafPratsaSarrica.Fit. 0:00 p.in.
“Tho Church of the Open Door'*
HIST COSMOPOLITAN
BAPTIST CHURCH
HIBCranMIlMd
Limt Your Church
” _-_ _
In This Space
TLetfSSOU
DELIVERANCE AND
DISOBEDIENCE
Mount Gilead Community
Church in eaat Texas had been a
bastion of the faith for seventy
five years. Its members were
farmers who lived close to the
land.
Then one day oil was
discovered beneath that rich toil.
Soon two wells were pumping on
the church’s property. Its bank
account swelled to six digits.
Homes began springing up as
workmen moved their families to
the area. Many of these
newcomers started attending the
Mount Gilead church. The
leaders In the church began to
fear that the “new people” would
steal the leadership from them.
One night It was voted that the
membership of the church be
closed.
The once warm spirit of the
church cooled, and soon
vanished. The membership
dwindled to a handful. Finally,
with fewer than a dosen members
attending, the vote was taken to
close the church.
No images of Baal or Ashtaroth.
violated Mount Gilead
Community Church’s . altar. On
the contrary, a gold-plated cross
was central there. But the Christ
of that cross had been replaced
by the gods of pride, tradition,
and greed. These reigned In the
hearts of the people.
The nation of Israel was hern
with the First Commandment
resounding In the ears of the
people: "Thou ska It have no ,
other gads before me” (Exod.
M:3>. But when they entered
Canaan, they quickly forgot that
commandment. The attraction to
the gods of the Caaaaafteo among
whom the Israelites Uved became
increasingly powerful.
The Book of’Judgeo contains
the record of Israel’s first
centuries In the promised land,
describing the period extending
from the death of Joshua to the
reign of Saul. Those wore'
crucial years of tooting tar the
tribal alliance. The Israelite*
were engaged la many Isolated
battles In theta- effort to gain
MARTM STREET
BAPTIST CHURCH
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