FREE NOVEMBER 2010 Vol. 9 No. 11 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ... 2 Corinthians 2:14 CareNet-RI: A New Director, A Caught in the headlights of New Home, A New Vision the gospel By Judith Ryder By Ralph Davis ous topics to be discussed. In June 2009, state of mind, their busyness, their knowl- Rachel, now 45, became the new Director eer eyes, ever see them? They are edge or indifference to the Word of God, “I waited patiently of CareNet-RI. Her wide open and alert, usually because suddenly they are face-to-face with the for the Lord; and he utter enthusiasm for somethingD has startled them; like deer eyes truth and a decision to make. Wow, those inclined unto me, her work is catching. caught in the glare of headlights. are the lucky ones! and heard my cry. He brought me up also T h i s s u m m e r , When anyone is Any church can out of an horrible pit, Rachel presided over willing to go forth line up a whole out of the miry clay, CareNet’s move from into unfamiliar gob of pot luck and set my feet upon Cranston to the stately, territory with suppers, musical a rock, and estab- stunning, recently the gospel of our groups, plays, lished my goings.” refurbished Victo- Lord Jesus Christ, festivals and other Psalm 40: 1-2 rian mansion at 433 deer-like eyes events to try to Elmwood Avenue in are often seen. draw people into n a classic, crisp, Providence. Some had This is because their church. “All early autumn predicted the largely the unsuspecting are welcome… dayO in New England, suburban volunteers, person is caught Come join our Rachel Nguyen (pro- who comprise a valu- off guard, startled, eyes wide and intent church family…” the signs beckon. Not nounced “Win”) sat able component of by what they are hearing. The Word of our surprising, the efforts generally do not with me in front of the CareNet’s non-profit heavenly Father and His immense love for draw many, if any, strangers to the church. desk in her spacious Rachel Nguyen enterprise, would not us all can stop us in our tracks, shine light This is very understandable, how many second floor corner follow CareNet into on our souls and offer us hope. of us are interested in visiting strangers? office which overlooks CareNet-RI’s mis- inner city Providence. Au contraire, the Even worse, who of us is willing to place sion field of south Providence. Through long-term volunteers have become even One moment the person is in their own themselves in a situation where they know massive windows, the sun plays hide-and- more regular, and new ones are signing world engaged in any type of activity when that everyone there wants you to begin seek, flooding the room alternately with the knock comes on the door, or they are CareNet-RI continued Page 4 The Gospel continued Page 3 slanted rays and shadows, as befits the vari- approached on the street. No matter their the Providence Teen Challenge Ladies inspiring woman of God, Lisa Sfameni Lisa felt the void that many of us do when The Big Picture Ensemble. These women were invited by tells it like it is. we don’t know the Lord, and because of Lisa to join her in singing praises to the this, as she grew older, she began to seek By Michelle A. Couchon Lord, and in fact are featured on the title Lisa was adopted at birth. Her adoptive acceptance through the people she met. song. The CD will be out in plenty of time parents had one little girl already, and “When my father and my mother forsake for Christmas. were under “My parents did all the right things in me, then the Lord will take me up.” The concert the impres- raising me as an adopted child, but I still Psalm 27:10 for the CD will sion that they grew up feeling the seed of rejection. isa Sfameni, wife of Pastor Richard be held at Vic- could have no There was always something nagging at Sfameni and co-Pastor of Victory tory Assembly more. This me, though I couldn’t have articulated it. AssemblyL of God Church in Providence, Church, 321 turned out to The most natural relationship that has been has been given a very special gift. Actually, Veazie St. in be untrue, for ordained by God is that between a mother Lisa has been given several special gifts. Providence on when Lisa and a baby, and for me that relationship The first is her passion for the Lord; the Friday Dec. 3rd was two years had been broken.” second is her amazing singing voice, with at 6:30pm. old, her adop- which she preaches and shares the Word tive mother “My adoptive mother had a difficult time of God. As the Music & Worship Ministry Lisa, however, gave birth to raising me, I was a very strong willed child; leader for Victory Assembly, Lisa encour- doesn’t need yet another mixed up, and with a lot of rejection issues. ages those in the congregation to use their song to wor- little girl, Those two together make a kid difficult singing talents to worship and minister in ship God, for which placed to raise. My sisters, however, were very the Sunday morning service. Pastor Lisa, as whether she’s Lisa in the compliant and easy to raise, My mom never a graduate of Zion Bible College is a great s p e a k i n g , center of the had to punish them at all, and even that I source of encouragement and inspiration to preaching, or three daugh- resented. Because of her own unresolved those in and outside of her church. singing, one ters. They issues of anger (Lisa’s adoptive mother can hear in her voice the passion and love loved her very much; certainly they let had been abused in foster care as a child), In her desire to worship the Lord, Lisa has, she feels for God. If you’ve ever had the her know this often enough. Yet as much my mother sometimes went too far in her over the past 7 years released 2 gospel CD’s pleasure of speaking to Lisa you’d know as she knew her parents loved her, Lisa physical discipline of me.” and is currently preparing to release the 3rd. she is one of those rare, straight forward felt different. Perhaps it was because she The new CD, entitled “Not Guilty, features, women who eschews small talk and gets was the only adopted child in the family, The Big Picture along with Lisa’s strong, beautiful voice, right to the heart of the matter. A truly but whatever the reason, she felt empty. continued Page 10 INSIDE Health Books Sports Entertainment National News 6 World News 7 Health 8 Book Reviews 9 Sports 9 Entertainment 12 Editorials 13 Letters 13 Inspiration 14 Humor 15 Calendar 16 Classified 18 Daniel Chapter One P. 8 2 New Books P. 9 Glen Coffee P. 9 New Movie P. 12 www.thegoodnewstoday.org 2 November 2010 What would it be like if Jesus was born in 2010 instead of Music & presentations provided by: Lisa Boisclair, Kimberly Smith, Al Riveras and Ray 2000 years ago? Bennett from Trophies of Grace. Smitty from the NBJ Band, Mark Viera from TK Praise Team, Henry 3 Presentations (see below) Cox from Servant Heart, Mimes’ the Word, Narration: Elsie Alves Live Music, Narration & Mime November 20, 2010 November 28, 2010 December 5, 2010 For directions and info 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM about this and other TKMinistries events St. Patrick’s Church The River Community Church Holy Family Parish go to: 244 Smith Street 115 Mechanic Street 195 Walcott Street www.rockthebay.org Providence, RI 02908 Foxboro, MA 02035 Pawtucket, RI 02860 (Come early limited seating) Attendees are encouraged to bring Canned good and non- perishable Sponsored by A free will offering will be taken to donations of canned goods to help food items will be collected for the TK Ministries be given to: Mary House Meal Service feed the hungry. A free will offering Pawtucket Soup Kitchen and Food (http://maryhouseprov.com) will be taken for TK Ministries, to Pantry. A free will offering will be help fund future concerts. taken for TK Ministries, to help fund future concerts. The Good News TODAY www.thegoodnewstoday.org 3 The Gospel from Page 1 These were people from several when he was approached and southern states and they devote agreed to hear me out. DEER to think and behave the way that themselves to training groups with EYES! His eyes were riveted to the they do? Pastor Darnell. They are a diverse pages as we read. Nearby friends lot ranging from a husband and tossing a football made mocking Pastor Bill Darnell of Counce, wife who are both dentists to a sounds and he pretty much tried Tennessee has long criticized building contactor and everything to ignore them because his desire church models where all activities in-between. to learn about Jesus was so great. point inward while the biblical At the end he made a profession of model of a church is to “GO,” Pastor Darnell quickly got to the faith, almost tearfully! pointing outward. Most inward point: “If you are not fishing then focusing churches are in a rut you are not followers of Christ.