What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in the Kingdom of God? Tee’S Spot 26 Tiera Burks a Kingdom Leader Is Foremost Humble

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Should Women Lead 1,3

Our Pastor—Word for 2 Month Daniel Fast 4-5 Julie Coleman | juliecoleman.com Fasting Together 6-8 I had just led the singing at Boys’ Camp, a woman directing a totally male EBLA Bible Study 9 audience. And this preacher was not having it. “Women are never to lead men,” he informed me, flinging a few Bible verses at me to prove his point. 3 Reasons Jesus Is 10-13 Weeping Over The Reduced to tears, I saw that I had inadvertently overstepped a line. The camp Church Today resumed without a competent song leader for the rest of the two weeks.

Outreach: Roof Above 14-15 Does God want women to lead? I have since found many indications in Money Wi$e 16-18 Scripture that He does. In the four different lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament, not once are any of the gifts limited by gender. Women Autoimmune Disease 18, 21 are commended by Paul for their leadership in several of his letters. Even Awareness Month in the Old Testament, women like Deborah, Hildah, and Miriam led males Historical Moments: 19 and females alike. Leadership is a spiritual gift (Romans 12:7). Willa Player We don’t get to choose our gifts. Paul writes that: Nail It To the Cross 20-21 Nichole M. Palmer “…one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing [spiritual Sculpture: An African 22-23 American “Last Supper” gifts] to each one individually just as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NASB). It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the gifts, including leadership. Books 4 YOUth 24-25 Jaci Newsom What does it mean to be a leader in the kingdom of God? Tee’s Spot 26 Tiera Burks A kingdom leader is foremost humble. In God’s economy, being a leader WinGS Celebrates 27 does not mean being more important than others. Jesus described the Women’s History Month religious leaders of His day: Brothers and Sisters In 28 Christ (BASIC) “They do all their deeds to be noticed by men…they love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in Advertisement: Church 29 Treasurer the market places…” (Matthew 23:5-7 NASB). —continued on page 3 6888th Central Postal 29 Battalion Rev. Alexis W. Anthony, Sr.. Pastor Greater Vision United Methodist Church 11901 Eastfield Road, Huntersville, NC 28078, 704-980-8228 Web: www.greatervisionumc.org Facebook: greatervision umc

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

really enjoyed reading an article written by Louie Giglio, that stated; Jesus wasn’t drawn to the people whose lives were per- I fectly put together. He was drawn to people whose lives weren’ t all together. People just like us. In fact, some of the people He interact- ed with were “tore up from the floor up.” Just think about the story of the thief on the cross. We see in Luke 23, even in Jesus’ last hours on earth, God chose to put Jesus in close proximity with messed-up folk, two Pastor Alexis W. Anthony common criminals. And one the audacity to hurled taunts at Him. Imag- ine; in his last moments of life, this thief chose to wound another person by insulting Him. Historians and archaeologists tell us that the little section of land called Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, was actually a landfill. We’ ve all seen landfills before, with all the flies buzzing and the piles of rotting, stinking trash. And Golgotha was the worst sort of barbaric landfill possible. When the Romans would crucify criminals, often there’ d be nobody to claim the bodies. So, the soldiers would toss the corps- es into the garbage heap. Then the wild dogs and other animals would eat the flesh off the bones. That’s the place where Jesus was crucified. The fact that Jesus told the thief on the cross, “You will be with Me in paradise,” is highly significant for us. We may be living in a garbage dump today, but paradise can still find us. Our lives may be disgustingly messy and flies may buzz all around us, but Jesus is always near. Regardless of what the world may think of you, or what you may think of yourself, for that matter; God loves you and died for you. I was listening to a song today by Travis Green; in it is a verse that says “You left heaven just to get me there with you.” I got to sing that song and Gods Spirit confirmed that truth with my spirit, and I immediately went into worship mode. We don’t need to be high and mighty to get to Heaven. We get to Heaven because of a simple by placing our faith in the one who is high and mighty. We must acknowledge that we have nothing to offer God, but our brokenness. We come to Him as helpless in our pain and despair. We look at Jesus on the cross beside us and say, “You’re God. You’re innocent of any crimes. You could get down off that cross if you wanted, but You’re there by choice, for a purpose; just please remember me.” Let us remember and reflect on the glory of the cross, and the power and splendor of the resurrection as we travel through this season of Lent. Rev.

2 2 March,March, 2021 2021 Volume 18,Volume Issue 18, 3 Issue 3 —continued from page 1 In contrast with those proud leaders, He then commanded the future leaders in God’s kingdom:

“Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader; that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NASB). Jesus Christ was the greatest leader of all time. He gave up the glory that was His in heaven, and

“… emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross…” (Philippians 2:6-8 NASB). God in the flesh gave us a perfect example of a humble leader.

In Philippians, Paul specifically addresses two women leaders: Euodia and Syntyche. He calls them co-workers and urges them to put aside their differences to adopt the humble mindset of Christ for the sake of the gospel.

A kingdom leader leads by example. She does not flaunt authority or seek to control. Peter qualified what leadership should look like in his first epistle.

“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness, nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3, NASB).

Jesus led by example:

“For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NASB).

Junia is mentioned by Paul to be exemplary in leadership (Romans 16:7), calling her “outstanding among the apostles”. Her reputation was well-known.

A kingdom leader works for the benefit of others. Paul clarifies that spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit. They are given to build up the church. “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Leading should give us a sense of responsibility to work toward the good of those under our influence.

We earn the right to lead by investing in the people God places in our path.

Again, Jesus demonstrates this kind of leadership:

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her…” (Ephesians 5:25- 27 NASB). Priscilla worked for the benefit of others. Paul wrote that she risked her life for his sake and faithfully ministered to bring others into maturity in their faith (Romans 16:3-5).

Is God calling you to kingdom leadership? Are you naturally a person of influence?

As with every spiritual gift, leadership may come naturally, but it will also require further development. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NASB). God is at work in us always, slowly conforming us to the image of His Son, the perfect leader (Romans 8:29).

Being a leader in the kingdom of God may look different than you might have imagined, but when we lead God’s way, with humility, by example, and investing in others, God will use us and our gift for His glory. There’s no greater honor than that. 3 3 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Daniel Fast Food List On the Daniel Fast, you eat plant-based meals that are nutritious and delicious, while setting aside other foods as an act of worship and sacrifice to the Lord. The following list explains the categories of foods to eat and foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast. However, keep in mind that not every item may be listed here.

FOODS TO EAT Whole grains Amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, freekeh, millet, oats, purple rice, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, whole grain pasta, whole wheat, and wild rice.

Beans and legumes Black beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, pinto beans, and split peas.

Nuts and seeds Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, peanuts (actually legumes but people think of them as nuts), pecans, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pine nuts, pistachios, poppy seeds, walnuts, sesame seeds, soy nuts, sunflower seeds.

Vegetables All vegetables are allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned).

Fruit All fruit is allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned). However, any dried fruit shouldn't contain added sugar (check ingredients to be sure).

Oils Oils (such as coconut, olive, and sesame, for example) are allowed but should be used minimally. For example, you can sauté foods in olive oil but avoid deep-frying them.

Other Unleavened bread (whole grain bread made without yeast, sugars, or preservatives. All herbs, spices, and seasonings are allowed, including salt and pepper.

Beverages Water should be the main beverage on your Daniel Fast. Distilled, filtered, sparkling, spring, and mineral water are allowed as well. However, you may have 100% fruit juice on occasion (just don't overdo it). —continued on page 5 4 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 —continued from page 4

FOODS TO AVOID

Animal products Meat (bacon, beef, bison, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey), dairy, (butter, cheese, cream, milk, and yogurt), fish/seafood, eggs.

Added sugar Agave nectar, artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, brown sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, honey, malt syrup, molasses, and raw sugar.

Yeast Yeast (and, therefore, leavened bread) isn't part of the Daniel Fast. (For an explanation on why it's excluded, see #1 under "Food" on my FAQs page.)

Refined grains White flour and white rice. Only whole grains are allowed on the Daniel Fast. A whole grain product contains the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm.

Processed food Foods that contain artificial flavorings, chemicals, food additives, and preservatives.

Deep-fried food Examples are corn chips, French fries, and potato chips. (Baked chips are acceptable if they don't contain restricted ingredients. Check the label for "baked" to be sure.)

Solid fats Butter, lard, margarine, and shortening.

Chocolate Milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, and cacao.

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages Alcohol, coffee, caffeinated tea, and energy drinks.

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Fasting Together FEBRUARY 22 TO APRIL 2 We Are In this Together...None Are Ever Alone At some point in our Christian walk, we will be called to fast. There are many ways to fulfill this call. The one we are going to embark upon as a church follows the fast Daniel chose instead of defiling himself with the king’s choice foods and drinks, Daniel 1:12. In this Scripture, Daniel ate only vegetables and drank only water. This is what we will do for the 40 days of Lent.

Fasting Is Scriptural

The EBLA leadership team guarantees that this churchwide spiritual journey will kick our prayer lives, patience, and humor in high gear! LOL! To be successful, we want to give everyone some foundational information on why we fast:

Spiritual Direction Esther called a fast when she needed God’s direction about how to save her people from Haman’s genocidal plot against the Jews, Esther 4:16.

Consecration for Ministry The Holy Spirit sends Jesus to the desert where He remained 40 days and 40 nights fasting and praying before being tempted by Satan and sent forth in ministry, Matt. 4: 1-2, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2.

Repentance God asks us to return to Him with a whole heart with fasting, weeping and mourning, Joel 2:12.

Life Breakthroughs The people had followed Jesus for three days and three nights without eating or drinking because they were so hungry for the Word, Matt. 15:32.

Prep the Body Now for anyone who has never embarked on such a journey, you must prep the body so it will accept the new foods that will be ingested as well as the slash of calories. From Thursday, Feb. 18 to Sunday, Feb. 21, eat only light meals that include the Daniel foods listed on pages4-5 of this newsletter plus fish (seafood is welcome, but NOTHING fried). This will help your body make the transition to the actual fast. —continued on page 7 6 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 -continued from page 6 Fast from February 22 to April 2 From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, you will ingest only water and/or natural juice. From 5:01 p.m. to bedtime, you may eat Daniel-approved foods (this means nothing with a face or that come from a face and DEFINITELY nothing fried)

Saturdays and Sundays, you may have light meals with Daniel approved foods and fish (again, seafood is welcome just nothing fried)

We break the fast together on Friday, April 2 @ 3 p.m. in commemoration of when the Lord gave up His spirit.

Daily Prayer Devotions Fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. So, we’re asking that during the times you would normally have breakfast and lunch, that you would spend your time praying. At the end of the day, get together with family for devotion. For single members, consider choosing a friend, neighbor, or another single member at church as a partner in the fast.

Church focus — Morning Devotion Personal focus — Afternoon Devotion Family focus — Evening Devotion

Medication & Healthcare Advice For those who take medication or are under a doctor’s care, please consult your physician before participating in this fast. We want to ensure that everyone who participates can do so in a healthy manner.

Testimonies During the fast, Pastor Anthony will call for the church to testify! Tell us how you are faring on your fast journey. What are you learning about yourself?

Scriptures for the Journey As with any journey, you’ll experience ups and downs, twists and turns. For help, we have compiled a list of Scriptures you may draw on for strength, encouragement and focus:

Ask God for Help 16 For indeed He does not [a]give aid to angels, but He does [b]give aid to the seed of Abraham. — Heb. 2:16/NKJV

Focus/Meditation 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. — Phil 4:8/NKJV

Encouragement 12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [a]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13 [b]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philip. 3:12-14/AMP —continued on page 8

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—Continued from page 7

8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; — 2Cor. 4:8-9/AMP Endurance: 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He[a] who is coming will come and will not [b]tarry. 38 Now the[c] just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” — Heb. 10: 35-38/NKJV

12 I know how to [a]be abased, and I know how to [b]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [c]Christ who strengthens me. — Philip. 4: 12-13/NKJV Keep Pushing: Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. — Rom. 5:1-4/NKJV 12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. — James 1:12/AMP ...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. — Romans 8:37/NKJV “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” – Philippians 4:13/NLT 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [a]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 There- fore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. — 1 Cor. 9:24-27/NKJV 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. — 1 Cor. 15:58/NKJV Testimonies Live testimonies during the church services throughout Lent.

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Please join us. We look forward to welcoming you in 2021!

7:00pm—8:15pm

Please contact Mike Gresham or Ron Hall for more information on the growth opportunity for your personal and small group fellowship life.

Zoom login information is sent out by email by Pastor Anthony on Wednesdays. Contact Shana, Nichole or Marie for log-in problems.

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. | Contributing Writer, February, 2021

There is an interesting picture of Jesus in the Bible that you don’t see very often. That picture is Jesus weeping. I know of two instances in Scripture where this happened. One is when he came to the tomb of his friend Lazarus in John 11, the Bible tells us Jesus wept. However, there is another instance in Scripture when it talks about Jesus weeping. This comes from Luke 19 when Jesus was entering Jerusalem.

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ‘How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you’” (Luke 19:41-44, NLT). We also see in Matthew’s gospel another perspective of what was breaking Jesus’ heart. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me” (Matthew 22:37, NLT). When you look at these two portions of Scripture, you see what broke Jesus’ heart was the missed opportunity and the consequences that would result because of their actions. In essence they locked Jesus out and what he truly desired to do he could not. —continued on page 11 10 —continued on page 9 10

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 —continued from page 10 3 Reasons Jesus Is Weeping over the Church Today When I was thinking about this I began to wonder if Jesus is weeping over the church today. By today I am referring to church in the 21st century, the way we do church now. As I began thinking about this question, I believe there are three things that would cause Jesus to weep over the church if he was walking the earth right now.

1. We Are Fighting with Each Other and Not for Each Other Before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed in the garden that we the church would be one (John 17:21). Paul even reminds us in Ephesians 4 that there is one body. Since there is only one body why does the church feel more divided than ever?

Churches and Christians have divided politically, even losing or ending relationships over political allegiances. The Covid pandemic caused division because some people saw it as one thing and others saw it as something else. People got locked into their position and there was no room for understanding and caring about someone else’s viewpoint on this. I know personally of churches where wearing a mask became a source of contention. If that isn’t enough, let’s not forget the issues of social justice and systemic racism that permeate our society. Yet within the body of Christ some people struggle to believe or understand these things because their experiences have been different. Somehow these differing points of view, instead of becoming points of listening and learning, have become points of division and disunity.

Again I am talking about what is happening in the church. There is more I could say because honestly the list goes on and on. However, standing in the midst of all of this is the prayer of Jesus that we, the body of Christ, would be one. I had a conversation with someone about some of these issues and the first words that came out of their mouth was “but you don’t understand, how is it possible for someone to think…” and the justification for their opinion followed. This points to the heart of the matter. Everyone is trying to speak but no one is trying to listen. In this rush to be heard we tear each other apart in the process. Notice what James said. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight” (James 4:1-2). This sounds a lot like the modern church. Fights and quarrels that drive us apart. Killing each other with harsh words that don’t have an ounce of love or compassion in them. Where do we see Jesus in this? Like he wept over Jerusalem I believe he weeps over his church, longing for us to become one. To be clear, I know that unity doesn’t mean the absence of differences. It does however mean the presence of grace that will allow us to learn from each other and love each other through those differences. For the record I am not referring to doctrinal differences that twist Scripture or go against what God has said in his word; we should address those. But even then, let’s do it the way God has commanded us. —continued on page 12 11

—continued on page 27 11

March,March, 2021 2021 Volume Volume 18, 18, Issue Issue 33 —continued from page 9 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). When we can come to the place of listening and caring about the feelings of others. When we seek to hear and understand before we speak then we are moving in the direction that brings unity. The place where we stop fighting with each other and start fighting for each other.

2. We Are Seeking to Entertain Instead of Exhort “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13, ESV). Strangely missing from the messages of many pulpits today is the mention of sin, the blood, the cross, or even the need for repentance. We don’t even call it church or a service anymore it is a worship experience. My question is - have we created a worship experience that tickles the emotions but falls short of transforming the heart?

Remember one of the reasons Jesus wept over Jerusalem is because they missed opportunities. Are we missing opportunities because we are not challenging and encouraging people to truly go deeper in their walk? Have we watered down the message to the point where people leave entertained but not exhorted? Are we becoming ok with people leaving church in the same or worse condition than when they came in?

I believe Jesus weeps over this. What- ever method we use to get people in the building, let it be that we really give them transformational truth when they get there. If we don’t then we have simply become another form of entertainment. 3. We Are Elevating People More Than We Are Elevating Jesus I was reading an article recently and they used a term called “celebrity pastor.” This is not much different than when they use the term “gospel superstar” to describe a musical artist. Has God called us to be celebrities and superstars? Don’t get me wrong, when a person has a gift or talent and they can inspire you with words or move your heart with music, the tendency is to elevate that person and put them on a pedestal. When that happens it is the responsibility of the person who is “gifted” and has been put on a pedestal to take themselves off. —continued on page 13

12 12

March,March, 2021 2021 Volume Volume 18,18, Issue 33 —continued from page 10

When John was on the isle of Patmos and as he was writing the book of Revelation, an angel took him and showed him a glimpse of heaven. I want you to pay attention to this interaction between John and the angel. “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God’” (Revelation 22:8-9). John’s response was very much like ours when someone we encounter blesses us in a tremendous way, we elevate them. However, notice that the moment John went to put the angel on a pedestal, the angel immediately stepped off. He recognized that he was no better than John but was a fellow servant. His words to John were don’t worship me, worship God.

This simple truth needs to return to the modern church. If there is a celebrity or superstar of the Christian faith it is Jesus. Without his death and resurrection, we are all still lost in our sins. He was then and still is now the only hope of salvation for all mankind. He is the one we need to elevate and no one else. When he is not elevated then the real hope of salvation is non-existent because there is no other name by which men can be saved.

I want you to understand one simple point of truth that I have learned in my own life and have seen by being around other believers. God uses people in spite of who they are, not because of who they are. No one is really that special, only Jesus is. Don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise. No one is deserving of the way God uses them. If God chooses to use them in a mighty or anointed way, he does it only because of his grace. It is his power, his anointing, and his gifting that allows them to do what they do anyway.

However, I am not naïve and I get the temptation to put people on pedestals. What we need is more leaders that would have the wisdom and courage to take themselves off. What Now? I know these types of topics are not the most popular to talk about, but we still need to do it. The desire of my heart is very simple – that we who carry the name of Christ would carry it well. That we would represent Jesus in the earth, creating a stir in the hearts of people that would want to know who this Jesus is that we serve.

When the church becomes one and we help people become the people God wants them to be, when we exalt the name of Jesus above every other name and always point people to him, then we create the space to allow people to connect with Jesus. This is what he is after all along. May we always take advantage of every moment and never have a missed opportunity in helping people come to know this wonderful Jesus.

13 13 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 —continued from page 16

As Christians we are to feed the poor and help people who are in need. Feeding the needy is part of serving one another and as we serve others we are serving Christ. Why not use our resources to help someone that really needs it. God will often provide for people through us. Let’s all pray for more love and compassion for the needy. Let’s think of different ways to bless the poor. Let’s pray that God removes any stinginess that’s lurking in our

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we have suspended our outreach until further notice. We will let you know when it is safe for us to begin again.

Continuing our Outreach to the Community, we make monthly donations to non-profit organizations. URBAN MINISTRY CENTER AND MEN'S SHELTER OF CHARLOTTE'S NEW NAME IS

See page 15 for information on this ministry. Thank you Billy Hopkins, Jr.

James 2:14-16, English Standard Version (ESV) Faith Without Works Is Dead 14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good [a] is that? 14 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Submitted by Billy Hopkins, Jr.

15 check adviser records with the SEC

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

From Kiplinger.com/personal-finance DEBT MANAGEMENT Which Debt Is ‘Good Debt’ and Which Is ‘Bad Debt’? Not all debts are created equal. Some help you get ahead. Others should be avoided at all costs. Here’s how to tell the difference and how to handle your own debt situation. by: Deborah L. Meyer, CPA/PFS, CFP® November 25, 2020

Let’s talk about debt baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Let’s talk about debt.

Do I have you humming the tune to a popular Salt-N-Pepa song circa 1990? I have to bring some joy during the pandemic! OK. We talked about the importance of budget- ing and cash flow analysis. Now, let’s focus on a related topic: debt. True or false? Some debt can be good. Answer: True. But there’s a catch. You should be responsible with debt and use it to acquire an appre- ciating asset; in other words, an asset that will in- crease in value over time. This takes discipline and focus. Getty Images Good Debt: Mortgages and Student Loans Most people can’t afford to purchase a home outright, or entirely with cash. They rely on a mortgage to finance the home purchase. If you are a first-time homebuyer, I’d strongly urge you to save at least 20% of the home’s purchase price for a down payment. Otherwise, you may have to take out a secondary loan at a higher interest rate or pay private mortgage insurance, also known as PMI. What if the value of the value of your home declines after the initial purchase, as happened to me in 2005 near the peak of the real estate market? I wasn’t a financial adviser then and had only saved 10% for the down payment. My first home was a big financial mistake — at least a $15,000 loss on a $150,000 starter home when you factor in closing costs, realtor commissions and renovations. Yet, I learned valuable lessons. Mortgage debt can be good. In fact, my husband and I recently had the option of taking our Missouri home sale proceeds and providing even more than a 20% down payment on our new home in Florida. However, with the mortgage rates so compelling, we kept the extra cash and invested it in other long-term goals. You can exercise the same judgment when purchasing a new home. The other “good debt” could be student loans. In many cases, bachelor’s degrees are required to get into any white-collar position. Some professions demand additional schooling. A newly minted doctor or lawyer could easily have over $200,000 in student loan debt. Is your child entering college soon? If so, have a candid conversation with him or her about constructing a plan to pay off the debt. Think about the chosen career field, average annual earnings, and time it takes to secure a position. Make sure that the student loans you’re taking out make sense in that context, or else that good debt could turn into bad debt pretty fast. —continued on page 15 16 SEC or with FINRA.

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 —continued from page 13 Is your child entering a field where supply outweighs demand? Some advanced degrees no longer carry as much weight. I know a handful of law school graduates who could not find reasonable employment within a year of graduation, let alone a six-figure salary with a top-tier firm.

Not-So-Good Debt: Credit Cards and Autos Debt isn’t always good. It can be crippling to people who don’t responsibly manage their finances. Credit card companies prey on individuals who make the minimum payment. This may sound harsh, but only buy on credit if you can pay off the balance in full each month. If you spend more than you earn and need help with cash flow management, refer to my related articles on the envelope and detailed budgets. Credit cards aren’t the only type of debt. Payday loans are even worse. They provide quick cash but charge an exorbitant interest rate. Tax debt is also dangerous. As the Federal Trade Commission points out, tax relief companies collect thousands of dollars up-front and promise to settle your tax debt, but few actually deliver on that promise. On a related note, have you seen the prices of cars and trucks these days? The average sales price for light vehicles in July was $38,378, according to Kelley Blue Book. If you are overly concerned with what friends and neighbors are driving, you may be tempted to buy a new car every few years. This is a dangerous propo- sition. The desire to “keep up with the Joneses” really impacts your ability to build long-term wealth. When does it stop? After you have a luxury car? Two of them? A car depreciates quickly. If you purchase it for $40,000, it may only be worth $30,000 a year later. Not only are you making monthly payments, but you’re also going to get far less money when you sell it. Addi- tionally, there is no tax deduction for personal vehicle financing (business purchases are a different story). The solution? Hold on to a new car at least seven years. Save up for the next car when you don’t have any more payments on your current vehicle. Or, get ahead of it and buy a used car with more mileage. You may not be able to keep it as long, but you most likely can negotiate a lower price. When you feel burdened by debt, there are steps you can take to clear negative items from your credit report. Kiplinger.com provides an excellent, in-depth guide on the factors that influence your credit score and steps you can take to boost it.

Pay Down Debt or Save? All right. You see how some debt is healthy. How do you know when to pay down debt rather than use that money to save more for retirement? Here are a few considerations:

1. Build an Emergency Fund Set aside enough cash in a money market account for true emergencies. If “emergency” evokes too many negative emotions, reframe it as an opportunity fund instead. This may be an opportunity to start a side business, travel more or accomplish another goal.

2. Get the Employer Match Ensure you’re contributing enough to your employer’s retirement plan to take full advantage of the match. It’s a no-brainer. Unfortunately, several employers have reduced or taken away the company match in 2020 because of the pandemic. If your family is still in a strong enough financial position to contribute to your 401 (k) plan at work, consider maintaining your normal retirement contribution. This means you do not have to remember to reinstate it when your employer resumes the 401(k) match.

3. Weigh the Investment Rate of Return vs. Debt Interest Rate This assumes you’ve already built an emergency fund and are taking advantage of your employer’s match. Let’s say you have a credit card balance of $10,000 on which you pay nondeductible interest of 15%. By getting rid of those interest payments, you’re effectively getting a 15% return on your money! Which sounds better … paying off this credit card or earning 7% in an investment account? In this case, eliminating high-interest debt should be a bigger priority.

4. Consider a Hybrid Approach If you’re an intensely focused person who values logic over emotion, making the best financial decision gives you satisfaction. Emotion may not come into the equation. You focus all energy on paying down “bad” debt. —continued on page 18 17 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

—continued from page 17 For others, financial and emotional decisions function differently. What makes the most financial sense may not “feel” good. You have many intentions — paying down student loan debt, saving for retirement, and fund- ing your child’s education. Putting all financial resources toward a single goal may not make sense to you, emotionally. Instead, allocate a small amount of money toward each goal. Some clients who have mastered their day-to-day finances ask me, “Should I prepay my mortgage?” It’s a good question, and I don’t always have a definitive answer. First, we focus on financial specifics like the mortgage interest rate, loan term and income tax bracket. I also consider the client’s timeline for investing and risk tolerance. Thus, it’s easy to tell them which decision is better financially. Yet, we can’t ignore the emotional aspect. Why does the client want to prepay the mortgage? Is it to fulfill a lifelong dream to be debt-free by age 50? Travel the world five years from now? What is the underlying ambition? The bottom line is this: Debt, when used properly, can be a great tool to achieve your financial goals.

Autoimmune Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and More What is an autoimmune disease?

n autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. A The immune system normally guards against germs like bacteria and viruses. When it senses these foreign invaders, it sends out an army of fighter cells to attack them. Normally, the immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your own cells. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes part of your body, like your joints or skin, as foreign. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells. Some autoimmune diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages the pancreas. Other diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affect the whole body.

Why does the immune system attack the body? Doctors don’t know exactly what causes the immune-system misfire. Yet some people are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than others. According to a 2014 study, women get autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2 to 1 compared to men — 6.4 percent of women vs. 2.7 percent of men. Often the disease starts during a woman’s childbearing years (ages 15 to 44). Some autoimmune diseases are more common in certain ethnic groups. For example, lupus affects more African-American and Hispanic people than Caucasians. Certain autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, run in families. Not every family member will necessarily have the same disease, but they inherit a susceptibility to an autoimmune condition. Because the incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising, researchers suspect environmental factors like infections and exposure to chemicals or solvents might also be involved. A “Western diet” is another suspected risk factor for developing an autoimmune disease. Eating high-fat, high- sugar, and highly processed foods is thought to be linked to inflammation, which might set off an immune response. However, this hasn’t been proven. A 2015 study focused on another theory called the hygiene hypothesis. Because of vaccines and antiseptics, children today aren’t exposed to as many germs as they were in the past. The lack of exposure could make their immune system prone to overreact to harmless substances.

BOTTOM LINE: Researchers don’t know exactly what causes autoimmune diseases. Genetics, diet, infections, and exposure to chemicals might be involved.

18 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Mon, 08.09.1909 Willa Player encouraged and taught many Willa B. Player Willa B. Player was born on this date in 1909. She was a Black educator and civil rights activist. Willa Beatrice Player was born in Jackson, Mississippi in a frame house on Rose Street. Her mother was Submitted by Beatrice Day Player and her father was Clarence Cromwell Player. In 1917, she and her family moved to Akron, Ohio Floyd Fields where she graduated from the public schools in 1925. She attended Akron University and then Ohio Wesleyan, transferring to be with her sister. She graduated in 1929. After receiving her MA from Oberlin College in 1930, Player was hired by to teach Latin and French at Bennett College. Early on Player was made director of Religious Activities, she was twenty-one. Following her study abroad receiving the Certificat D’Etudes from the University of Grenoble, France in 1935, Player was made Director of Admissions at the College and Acting Dean. In 1948, Player earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University. In 1952, she was named Coordinator of Instruction at Bennett College, Vice President in 1955, acting President, and then President in 1956. She served as President until 1966, when she became Director of the Division of College Support, U. S. Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where she served until her retirement in 1986. In 1958 while at Bennett, Dr. Player organized a speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. when no other group in Greensboro would welcome him. King spoke that February before an audience of hundreds in the Pfeiffer Chapel. The speech planted the seed for many of the protests that followed in the city. Two years later, four students from North Carolina A & T State University staged a sit-in at the Woolworth's lunch counter in downtown Greensboro. Bennett students had wanted to stage a similar demonstration months earlier, but faculty members dissuaded them, fearing for their safety. Once the demonstrations began, however, Bennett students and faculty members joined in. At the peak of desegregation protests downtown, as much as 40 percent of Bennett's student body was under arrest. Dr. Player backed her students, known as the Bennett Belles, visiting them daily and arranging for professors to hold class and administer exams for students. Throughout her career, Player had much experience being the first and “only on of her kind” in many different leadership roles. She was the first Black cadet teacher (practice teacher) in the public schools of Akron, Ohio in 1929. She became the first woman president of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the Methodist Church in 1962. She was the first Black woman to serve as Trustee of Ohio Wesleyan. In 1966, she was the first woman leader in the Department of Developing Institutions in the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She was the first woman President of Bennett College and she was the first Black woman in the country to serve as President of a four-year fully accredited liberal arts college. When she retired, the Bennett College Trustees proudly designated her President Emerita. The list of organizations, boards, commissions and national committees include: the National Commission on Religion and Race of the Methodist Church; the Board of Trustees of the Southern Fellowship Fund; the Commission of Liberal Learning of the American Association of Colleges; and the Board of Trustees of Clark College. Player received eight honorary doctorates, and a long list of citations from national, federal and local organizations. Willa Player died on August 27, 2003. She was 94. 19 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Make this Lenten season personal by discovering your “why”

dmittedly, there have been times in my life when my A Christian walk was on autopilot. I did what I had been taught to do and never questioned it. I figured as long as I did the right thing, I was on the right path. I mean...I loved God. I tried to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. I followed the Command- ments as closely as humanly possible. How- ever, I never stopped to ask myself why. I never questioned my motives. I never checked my heart, but one Lenten season I did. I opened myself up for God to examine me. What I saw humbled me to the core es- pecially when I realized He loved me anyway.

The Cross Have you ever stopped and thought about the Cross? I don’t mean think about it from a philosophical point of view, but think about the Cross from a personal point of view — a relational point of view. Written by I attended a Lenten service many years ago. In the middle of the church Nichole M. Palmer in front the altar stood an old wooden cross. It was huge...at least 12 feet high. It was battered with several holes in it. To the right of the Cross was a woven basket contain- ing iron nails that resembled the ones nailed in Jesus’ hands and feet. To the left of the Cross were wooden mallets. The service was simple: Take a nail and hammer it in the Cross and then you’re welcome to leave. One by one, we lined up down the middle of the aisle waiting our turn. There were about 70 of us attending this service — seasoned, middle-aged, young, families, sin- gles, and folks just off from work. All of us lined up to take our turn to put a nail in the Cross. My eyes widened. Put a nail in the Cross? Being a storyteller, my mind reached back to the scene from the film The Passion of the Christ when the soldiers nailed Jesus to the Cross. The sound of the nail crushing our Lord’s bones suddenly thundered in my ears. His moans pierced my heart. Oh my God! What have I gotten myself into?! My feet wanted to run, but my Spirit ordered me to stay. Stuck, I waited my turn with the others standing in line with me. One by one, people took their turns. From where I stood, I couldn’t see the people, but I heard the hammering and their whimpers. As I inched forward, I remembered the last dumb argument I had with Mama. At this point in my life, we didn’t understand each other. I felt like everything I did was wrong, and she made sure she reminded me of all of it. The argument was stupid, and one I regretted. I remembered not helping my sister out when she asked. I remembered the latest rela- tionship I ended because it was dishonoring, and I should have never been in it in the first place. I remembered a hard conversation I had had with someone, and thought, perhaps I didn’t handle that very well. I remembered being angry with someone because I felt I was being used. Instead of talking with her, I beat myself up for being weak. I hadn’t learned to use confrontation as a —continued on page 21 20 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3 —continued from page 20 teaching tool, yet. So, I would beat myself up for allowing myself to be used as a doormat. Anger turned inward is called depression. I felt that a lot then. Before I realized it, my mind had recounted numerous moments when I had fallen short of the mark of the higher calling in Christ Jesus. When I thought I was about to remember something else, I stood face to face with the rugged Cross. It loomed tall with nails everywhere from others who had taken their turn. Overwhelmed, I kept my eyes level searching for a place to add my nail. I found a space near where I believed Jesus’ body may have been. I picked up the cold nail, which surprisingly stung my fingers; the mallet weighed heavy in my hands. Aiming so I wouldn’t hurt myself, I pounded the nail in the Cross. My heart bled with every strike. My knees almost buckled under the knowledge that I, too, nailed Jesus to the Cross. My turn over, I left the church keeping my thoughts to myself and my eyes lowered in shame.

My Why Sitting in the car, emotions poured over me. He died for my pride. He died for my anger. He died for my greed. He died for my selfishness. He died for my inability to speak up for myself. He died for my cowardice. He died.... He died.... He... Heart confessions tumbled from my lips unceasingly. Leaning my head on the steering wheel, I uttered a deep and guttural moan. I didn’t sob. I might have shed a tear or two, but most of all, I felt God. I felt the weight of His Spirit pressing on my heart showing me who I was in the midst of it all: filthy rags standing before a loving God. Soon, light flooded my soul and a small whisper filled my ears: “You are forgiven. Now, forgive yourself.” Lifting my head, it dawned on me why I love God so much: He loved me before I learned how to love myself. He loves me in my states of being unlovable. He calls me His own, even when I have memory lapses about who I am and whose I am. His grace is truly sufficient, and His mercy covers a multitude of sins. Simply put...I am because He is. This Lenten season, think about your “why”. Why do you call yourself a child of God? Why do you call yourself a Christian? What really makes you a disciple of Christ? What do any of things really mean to you? As we walk this journey, let us all find a “why” that anchors us spiritually and relationally to God and with one another. Knowing why we follow Christ will help us dig deeper into our walk with Him and permit us to freely follow Him closer than ever before.

—continued from page 18 14 common autoimmune diseases—

There are more than 80 different autoimmune diseases. Here are 14 of the most common ones.

1. Type 1 diabetes 2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 3. Psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis 4. Multiple sclerosis 5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 6. Inflammatory bowel disease 7. Addison’s disease 8. Graves’ disease 9. Sjögren’s syndrome 10. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis 11. Myasthenia gravis 12. Autoimmune vasculitis 13. Pernicious anemia 14. Celiac disease

Please use this link for specific information on these diseases. https://www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders 21 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

A Massive Sculpture of an African American Last Supper, Hidden for Years, Has Been Discovered in Columbia Heights Joy Zinoman found quite a surprise when work began on Studio Acting Conservatory's new building. WRITTEN BY ANDREW BEAUJON , | PHOTOGRAPHED BY EVY MAGES , | PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 11, 2019

Joy Zinoman got an unexpected phone call last week. Demolition had just begun inside a former church in Columbia Heights that she’s turning into the new home of the Studio Acting Conservatory. Now the boss of the crew working was on the line to tell the Studio Theatre founder about a remarkable discovery his guys made: An enormous frieze of the Last Supper that was hidden behind drywall for more than a decade. The building on Holmead Place, Northwest, had been slated to become condos before the conservatory bought it earlier this year. It was built in 1980, city records say, to house New Home Baptist Church, which moved to Landover, Maryland, in the 1990s. After that it became a building for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A signature on the lower right of the sculpture leaves no doubt at which point it joined the building’s history: “All rights reserved 1982 Akili Ron Anderson.” Anderson, an artist who’s lived his whole life in Washing- ton, began installing art projects at DC-area churches in 1985 –mostly stained glass windows, as well as a painting and one sculpture, the Washington Post reported in 1993. That would be this altarpiece. “Everyone who visited the church was taken aback by it,” New Home trustee board chairman Willie L. Morris told Post reporter Esther Iverem. “It was very important to us that we have a black artist. All the other Last Supper pictures we’d seen were always in a white frame- work.” The church wanted to take the relief with it when it moved, “but we couldn’t,” Morris said. 22 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Anderson now teaches at Howard University and some of his artwork is easier to see, particularly his work Sankofa at the east and west entrances of the Columbia Heights Metro Station as well as stained glass at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel and the Prince George’s County Courthouse. The fact that the participants in the Last Supper are black reflects a movement among African American artists, beginning in the late 1960s, to make the art in places of worship look like the people inside them. “I think it’s important for black children sitting in churches all over this country on Sunday morning to look up at the windows, look up at images and see themselves and believe that they can ascend to heaven, too,” Anderson told Iverem in 1993. It’s not clear when the 232 square feet of religious art was covered by drywall. City records show that an inspector reviewed some “Close -in (concealment)-Walls Construction” in 2003. Anderson says he undertook the artwork when he worked at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and had a coworker who attended New Home. “Most of the time I was in there by myself,” he says. “It actually got to be something of a spiritual experience for me.” Inside the new space, other remnants of its life as a place of worship remain. There are some posters from its Mormon past, as well as a framed photo of a gleaming tabernacle, now dusty and leaning against a column. When you first view the frieze in person, as I did Friday, you’re likely to gasp: It’s difficult to convey just how large and impressive this sculpture is. Acting studios are supposed to be bare, and Zinoman, who likens this piece to the Sistine Chapel, really hopes it won’t end up behind a curtain at her conservatory. “What the hell is going to happen,” she wonders aloud while pondering it. She’s hoping a museum might wish to take it. Removing it from the wall will not be easy and will require a lot of skill and experience (and presumably money) to do properly. “All I want is for it to be in a place where people can see it,” Zinoman says. “I think it’s a great work.” 23

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Thank you for your interest and support for Books 4 YOUth.

Our vision is to provide free books that are diverse and inclusive to children in grades K-5 who are underserved.

This is our wish list on Amazon. If you can sign on to Amazon, you can access it on the link below. You can even have the books sent directly to me if you desire:

Jaci Newsom 10541 Worsley Lane Charlotte, NC 28269

If you prefer my cash app is $JaciNewsom

Or if you have gently used or new and diverse K-5 books you can contact me at

(704) 968-2733 Email [email protected]

Here’s the Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/9ID6hk0? ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_etCHVwUYU8tAu Be careful what you ask God for! He just might bless you far above anything you could imagine.

Enjoying her books!

2/24/2021 Jaci and Maxine Delivering books at Pat’s Place.

March,March, 2021 2021 Volume Volume 18, 18, Issue Issue 3 3

From cooperative Christian Ministry in Con- cord. We paired with Sock Ministry there and gave socks, beanies and books on 2/22/2021

2/24/2021 with Anne Glaser, director at Pat’s Place. My ministry partner is Maxine Howard.

Jaci and her daughter, Janeen Peters Brown, enjoying “reading time”

25 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

s I thought about and prayed on what to write for my March article, I changed what I had twice; even the night before hitting the send A button on the computer to send my article to Marie. (*Thanks, Marie, for being patient with me – LOL). With March being Women’s History Month, I still felt God wanted me to write something different and I thought about the baby showers given by the choir and the women who mentored me, knowingly and unknowingly, in my life. First let me explain about the baby showers. When my daughter and a few of the other young women in the choir were pregnant, the choir honored the young parents with a baby shower. What made the showers special, besides the fact that the people who loved you were giving them the shower, was that their “seasoned Parents, Aunties, and Uncles” were asked to provide the young parents with “some wisdom”. I remember jokingly at the time I called that portion of the shower, “The Titus Effect” because we had just read Titus 2:3-5. I remember thinking how fantastic that people with “more” experience with children were given the opportunity to share their experiences (wisdom) of mistakes, chal- lenges, and successes. Tiera W. Burks When I began to think about how there were many older women who over the years provided the “Titus Effect” for me and still are. I wanted to do pay honor and tribute to a few of those women by saying thank you. While there is so much to thank them for, I just want to point out a few things after first and foremost thanking God for putting them in my life.

To my mom: Thank you for showing us the strength to persevere as a single mother who earned 2 degrees while raising 4 children AND making sure we had a solid base (foundation) in church. Because of you and those before you, we knew we can do anything with God and with because we had the blood of the Amazon female tribe. (*Family joke) To my grandmothers: Mattie and Beulah: Thank you for examples of faithfulness and giving the true meaning to the word “grandmother”. You showed me how to remain faithful in hard situa- tions and how to love unconditionally. I pray I can be half as good as a grandmother to my grandchildren as you were to us. To my god mother/aunt Georgianna Griffin: Thanks for the best advice about marriage which has sustained my marriage for over 35 years. And yes Auntie I have “shared it forwarded”. To my mother-in-law, Antoinette Rivera: Thank you for your example of unapologetic faith and trust in God. To my Aunt Marcia Williams-Boyd: For always providing wisdom and support, at the right time with love. To Barbara DeBerry , Eva Chew, Maralda Johnson, Yvette Williams, Lisa Williams-Johnson, Victoria Burks-James, Antoinette Jenkins, and Tammi Easterling: my God given and God chosen big sisters: You all provided encouragement, prayer, fun, & shoulders to cry on when I really needed it. To my GV Mentors: Marie, Lynda, Ms. Mae, Belinda Huntley, just to name a few: I watched, listened, and learned from your stories and examples of faith, child rearing, marriage, fashion, uncondi- tional love, strength, etc. Thank you for sharing your experiences and love. Women remember we’re called to “be there” for each other with our words, love, experiences, actions, etc. Let’s continue the Titus Effect!!

This has been Tee’s spot for the GV Newsletter for March 2021. 26 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Zoom Login: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89585862702?pwd=cHJYQktweU13ZWVoRVl3dE1lZE1iQT09

Meeting ID: 895 8586 2702 Passcode: 826238

27 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Brothers and Sisters in Christ B.A.S.I.C.

welcomes Laurette Hall

Lynda Anthony

Meeting, February 20, 2021 Marie announced that we are all invited to participate in the WinGS March Zoom Meeting on Saturday, March 13, featuring Claudia A. Withers, speaker for Women’s History.

Gail Pettiford will give us an update next month on the NarroWay trip.

Jaci Newsom shared with the group her Books for Youth Project where she is collecting books for students in grades K-5 to promote literacy. She thanked those who have already contributed and appreciates other future contributions.

In honor of Black History Month artifacts and pictures owned by group members were on a slide screen display. Members described their pictures or artifacts. We decided to continue with more displays next month. We will also speak of influential women who impacted our lives.

For our Historical Moments with Brother Floyd Fields, we learned about Dr. Willa Beatrice Player, a Black educator and civil rights activist who was the first Black woman president at Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. We also learned about Dr. Theodora Roosevelt Boyd, an educator who received her education at Harvard University in the 1920’s. She excelled in academics and athletics. Her teaching career spanned over 50 years. Brother Floyd added how he had met Dr. Boyd Terri McGriff– 14 and how she impacted his life. Both ladies were “firsts” in many areas and “hidden jewels” in Women’s and Black Michael Gresham-16 History. You can also check out these Historical Moments from Brother Floyd in the March Newsletter. 28 March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

Doris Moore, born and raised in Portsmouth,

is seen shortly after graduating with her After being GVUMC Treasurer since the inception of bachelor’s degree the church in 2003, Reg Withers will be retiring from from Georgia’s Morris the position. Brown College in 1942. Moore served This announcement is issued to seek those who might be interested in learning more about the during the Second responsibilities of the Treasurer function. World War as a private with the 6888th Cen- To ensure a smooth transition Reginald will actively tral Postal Battalion, collaborate with the new Treasurer through the end which the US Senate of 2021. currently seeks to Per the United Methodist Church honor with a Congressional Gold Medal. “An effective church treasurer disburses all funds received into the church treasury in a responsible An article appears in the local seacoast paper and organized manner, with funds identified and (Dover, NH). bills paid when due, so that the ministry of the congregation can be effective.” Ms. Moore is the aunt of Gail Pettiford. Duties include: Working with the Financial Chairperson, Financial Secretary, Church Council, and Ministry Chair- persons on budgets and direction. Manage records of all contributions. Reconcile and account for all expenditures. Communicate to the congregation and ministry teams regularly regarding the financial state of the church. Complete reports for the Annual Charge Confer- ence, the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and other entities as appropriate. If you are interested in being considered for this Submitted by position please contact Reg Withers at Gail Pettiford [email protected] for additional information.

Key Dates in March, 2021 March 7 3rd Sunday in Lent March 14 Daylight Savings Time Begins 4th Sunday in Lent March 21 5th Sunday in Lent March 28 Palm/Passion Sunday March 28-April 3 Holy Week April 1-Maundy Thursday, April 2-Good Friday, April 3-Holy Saturday 29

March, 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

We are supporting ALL our Brothers and Sisters in Christ by:

Newsletter Editor and Publisher: Praying that God keeps us all safe and strong. Marie Parrott-Withers Praying that everyone will continue to follow the rules. If you wish to contribute an article or pictures to please e- Praying for when we all will be together face-to-face again. mail them to Marie Parrott-Withers at Praying that you are enjoying the Zoom Bible Study and the rmparrott.com no later than the 20th weekly online Sunday services. of the month.

is published the first Stay connected, be well, and stay safe. Sunday of each month. Articles and Love you, pictures for inclusion must be received no later than the 20th of Bobby & Rosslyn each month. Every effort will be made to include your submission. The Publisher reserves the right to make final decisions on the appro- priateness of submission and when it will be used. All articles are subject to editing for size and clarity. Copy- righted material will not be included without a proper release.

To experience the presence of God through sincere, heartfelt worship.

To bond closer to God and to one another in group fellowship.

To develop strong leadership in order that we might make disciples of Christ.