Encounter win spg 2014- Final

For the past 25 years, the church has gone through the
Wal-Marting of the church experience. We took a onestop shopping approach toward spiritual development and
created all kinds of ministries and activities. We had
something for everyone and people came. But too many participated anonymously in a weekly service and went home. So,
churches grew larger but they did not necessarily grow in significance to people’s lives.
If the church is going to stay as relevant in the 21st century as it
was in the 1st century, we have to move to a new model.
Think of Starbucks. It does one thing well. Sure they may offer cookies and
cake, but you go to Starbucks for one thing only. And Starbucks focuses on
its main goal with an intensity that never wavers. You will search out a
Starbucks; you will wait patiently no matter how long the line and you will
pay more money. Why? Because you know that it is worth your while.
Like Starbucks, our significance must come from our unwavering attention
to serving Jesus. The first step of this transformation is that every member
must get embedded into small groups. The goal of the ministry is that you
join a group of people who share not only your spiritual gifts but your passion. This will mean we will grow larger, but we will also grow smaller by
intentionally creating a church where people feel closely connected to one
another through their service.
We can become a church of members willing to serve cheerfully, willing to
study Scripture intently, willing to soldier through inconveniences and willing to wait patiently.
Guiding us in the New Year will be Psalm 119:105 -Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path.
This is a large challenge, and throughout 2014 we will explore how to do
what we need to do to become a church that remains pertinent in the lives of
all people.
Shabach,
Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller
Senior Pastor
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Encounter Winter / Spring Issue 2014
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A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller
SPIRIT DIVINE
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Lynette Hazelton
16 Biblical House Clusters
WORD VIEW
6
11
Christian Dating
Without Compromise
Alexandria June
18 Are You Spiritually Growing?
Charmaine Butler
CULTURE/LEGACY
8
14 Ways to Stay Connected
at Enon in 2014
19 Spiritual Gifts Inventory
Scholarship Ministry Q & A
Sabrina Umstead Smith
20 Bible Reading Plan for a Year
PUZZLES
HEALTH AND FITNESS
21 Bible Crossword #1
32
Answer Key, page 33
29 Frame Games
RECIPES
10 Daniel Fast Friendly Recipes
- Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Three Bean Chili
- Easy Banana Ice Cream
- Sautéed summer Squash
Kesha Burns
TESTIMONY
22 The Affordable Care Act:
What It Means for You
Gerda Gallop-Goodman
24 Consumer Alert:
12 My Experience as a CCG
The Toxic Truth
Lisa DuBois
Sharri Banks
13 Kingdom Prayer Opportunities
EDUCATION
FEATURE 26 Parents Count in Math
14 Biblical House =
W. Virginia Williams
Connection at Enon
Tawana Ford Sabbath and
Rosalind C. Lee
RELATIONSHIPS
28 Where Are You?
Lynette Hazelton
ARTISTS’ CORNER
5
Legacy
Lisa DuBois
30 Cleaning House in 2013
Author Unknown
YOUTH
32 Engaging Children in Education
Lisa DuBois
12
3
CONTRIBUTORS
I
t was still summer when we, members of the Internal Communications Ministry, first began to ponder the focus of this issue of the
Encounter. From our discussion of our shared experiences as
members of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church a common theme
emerged – the connection challenges of the mega church.
How can 15,000 people become one body?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said that “action springs not from thought,
but from a readiness to take responsibility.” This issue helps you
prepare to deepen your connection with God and then with Enon by
taking on the responsibility and becoming an active participant in the
connection business.
Christianity is about developing an intimate relationship with God
through Jesus and it is also about creating high-quality relationships
with one another. The quest for connection begins the moment a
newcomer comes down the aisle. It is the mission of the Congregational Caregiver (CCG) to stay in touch in the early months and Sharri
Banks, a CCG and Internal Communications Ministry member, wrote
about the joys and frustrations of the work. “Please tell people that we
want them to return our calls,” she said on that summer afternoon as we
discussed the communications challenges.
The connection building doesn’t stop when you are finished your new
members classes but is maintained through your Biblical House as
explained by Tawana Ford Sabbath and Rosalind C. Lee in their
article Biblical House = Connection at Enon. Take a moment when
you’ve finished reading to contact your Biblical House and join in their
activities. In fact, we have an article of 14 things you can do to connect
to Enon in 2014.
As with every issue, we have a smorgasbord of articles including
becoming ready for the Daniel Fast, helping your child with mathematics and an update on The Affordable Care Act and how to access health
insurance.
Many have labored to bring this issue to life. I want to thank all the
members of the Internal Communications Ministry team for their hard
work. We are especially grateful to our lead designer for this issue Tiara Frazier-Terry. As always, we want to know what you think.
Please send us your comments at intcommunications@enontab.org
May God bless you and keep you is our prayer.
Lynette Hazelton
Servant Leader
4
ARTISTS’ CORNER 5
WORD VIEW itual journey. “When my wife and I
started dating, she told me up front that
dating for her was leading to marriage,”
says Jeremiah. Hearing those words
made Jeremiah realize how much he
wanted to get to know her. During their
courtship that started in June of 2008,
By Alexandria June
the couple grew to know each other
through prayer, attending the same serAt Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, there are ministries available for
vice, studying the word and most imChristian singles to help them glorify God and be edified in their journey
portantly having safe fun. Jeremiah
of singlehood or being newly divorced.
proposed a year after dating and the
hristians have various opinions and beliefs
couple married in October 2010.
about dating, and many believe choosing
which ones are right or wrong is solely up
For Christians, dating is less about resisting sexual
to the individual. However, a believer
temptation and more about not compromising their
must follow God’s standards and maintain those as a
faith in God and neglecting standards from the Bicentral focus when dating. Dating with a purpose is
ble. In James 1:12 it says, “Blessed is the man who
essential, as it defines and lines up with your spiritual
endures temptation: for when he has been approved,
journey. Jeremiah Woodberry, a native of Boston,
he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath
who attends New Hope Baptist Church in his
promised to those that love him.” Of course the
hometown says, “It’s important to be clear where
physical urges are struggles to deal with but there is
you are in your spiritual walk.” As Jeremiah reflectalso a spiritual struggle for Christians to deal with
ed on dating his wife, he said one of the ways he
when dating. If your spiritual journey consists of
knew she was for him was her discipline in her spir-
C
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praying, studying the word and developing a deeper
connection with God, then why settle for a person
who prefers not to engage in any of those activities?
Yes, dating means seeing who is compatible and
how this person can help you to grow, but it is not
about seeing the potential in someone and saying
“maybe one day he/she will be...” If you do not see
that person already taking those steps toward Christian maturity then do not compromise.
At Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, there are ministries available for Christian singles to help them glorify God and be edified in their journey of singlehood or being newly divorced. One such resource is
Christian Singles in Ministry, formerly Soulfood
Singles Ministry that meets at Enon West on the first
and third Fridays at 7 p.m.
There are plenty men and women who possess outstanding characteristics, such as respect, chivalry,
kindness, responsibility and many of the other awesome traits imaginable. But again, if that person does
not meet you spiritually then you are compromising
your faith. It is imperative to believe in God and that
He will guide your dating life.
For young adults, ages 18-30 years,
there are three main ministries:
Fire Escape that meets on the
third Saturday from 12:30
p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Enon
East in Room 5
Young Adult Bible Study with
Pastor Waller on the third
Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at
Enon West
As Christians we are called to be distinctive in our
thinking and behavioral patterns. Oh, what pressure!
But that pressure will not exist if people are honest
with their intentions in their spiritual journey. Proverbs 4:23 reads, “Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it spring the issues of life.” Upholding consistency will help you prevent falling to the temptations of the world while dating. Now this does not
mean Christians are exempt from fun and exploring
the joys of life, but it does mean that Christians have a different view through the
Bible—Basic Instructions Before Leaving
Earth.
Young Adult Sunday School
Class at 8:30 a.m. in Room 7
at Enon East.
The ministries are not in place as a dating service or
a matching source. Instead they are in place to help
single adults focus on important issues involved in
dating and maintaining the faith.
In reality there are activities that Christians
should refrain from participating in because
of temptation and being disobedient to God.
Please understand as noted in Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.” However, when you allow
the examples of God to be your blueprint in
dating and not compromise your faith it
shows your strength and devotion. Developing a sincere life of prayer, being active in
church, as well as in ministry, understanding the true meaning of your spiritual journey and most importantly being patient is
key for Christians while dating.
7
CULTURE / LEGACY Scholarships at Enon Q&A
By Sabrina Umstead Smith
1. By whom and when was the
Scholarship Ministry started?
The ministry began under Reverend William B. Toland, pastor of
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
from 1949 to 1974. The initial
seed money to start the scholarship
endowment fund was donated by
former Deacon Irving Smith from
the proceeds of life insurance after
the passing of his wife. Deacon
Smith served on the ministry until his passing in 2011. His daughter, Deaconess Delores Robinson,
serves on the ministry and is a former Servant Leader.
2. What are the requirements for
scholarship applicants?
Each recipient must be an active
member of Enon; however the donors define other requirements
which vary per scholarship. For
example, a scholarship could be
for a male from a single parent
household majoring in science or
engineering.
scholarship for three years. This
year five scholarships were awarded from the Scholarship Endowment Fund, three from the Enon
Reinvestment Fund, and approximately sixty from individual donors and ministries.
ed Enon and our ministry to facilitate a scholarship in her memory.
God provides blessings in so many
ways.
4. Are all scholarships awarded
each year?
The scholarship applications are
normally available in March/
April. We announce the availability during worship service verbally
and on the screens. Each application is available electronically on
Enon's website under the scholarship tab as well as in printed copies at each church location. Lastly, the ministry can be contacted
through our email address
(scholarship@enontab.org) for a
copy to be sent to potential applicants.
No. Most of the scholarships are
awarded each year. However we
have a few scholarships that may
not have an applicant that meets
the criteria, such as a high school
student entering Cheyney University in the fall.
5. What does it take for someone
to provide a scholarship?
We host an orientation each year
for persons interested in becoming
a donor. Usually it is someone
interested in providing a scholarship to honor a love one that
passed. We were honored when
the family of DeAnn White select-
3. How many scholarships have
been awarded to date
(approximately)?
This is more challenging to answer because each year we have
new scholarship donors. Each
donor commits to funding the
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6. Where can applicants find information?
7. What is the biggest challenge
for the Scholarship Ministry?
There are several of equal importance ... 1) having the students
attend and take full advantage of
the workshops and services provided in order to become college
ready 2) having enough funds to
meet the growing needs of our
children who are pursuing higher
education 3) helping the students
learn to take responsibility for
their education.
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RECIPES By Kesha Burns
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Three Bean Chili
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
2-3 lbs baking potatoes – peeled, washed
and coarsely chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic - minced
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 can black beans – rinsed and
drained
2 cans kidney beans – rinsed
and drained
1 can pinto beans – rinsed and
drained
1 can diced tomatoes – oregano,
basil, and garlic flavored undrained
10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes –
undrained
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup onions - diced
1-2 cloves garlic - minced
1 Tbsp cumin
2 Tbsp chili powder
½-1 tsp salt (optional or to taste)
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
32 oz can vegetable broth – fat
free and low sodium 1. Heat olive oil in non-stick skillet.
2. Sauté bell pepper and onions in
oil until tender.
3. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant – approximately 1-2 additional minutes.
4. While vegetables are cooking,
heat vegetable broth in large
pot.
5. Open cans of beans. Rinse and
drain well and dump into pot.
6. Add Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
7. Add seasonings: cumin, salt,
pepper and chili powder. Stir
well to combine.
8. Heat to boiling. Stir occasionally.
9. Lower temperature on stove,
cover pot and simmer for 30
minutes.
10. Enjoy!
DIRECTIONS
1. After peeling, chopping, and washing
potatoes, boil with garlic in large
saucepan for 20-30 minutes or until
potatoes are tender.
2. Drain well and return to pot.
3. Add garlic to potatoes and stir well.
4. Mash ingredients together well.
5. Stir in olive oil and salt until well blended and enjoy!
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
For alternative flavors:
Chocolate ice cream: Add 2 Tbsp cocoa
Strawberry Ice cream: Add 1 cup frozen
(unsweetened) chopped strawberries
Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream: Add 2
Tbsp peanut butter
Cinnamon Pecan Ice Cream: Add 1 tsp
ground cinnamon and 1 cup chopped pecans
Mango Peach Ice Cream: Add ½ cup frozen
mango and ½ cup frozen peaches
The possibilities are endless! Enjoy!
Easy Banana Ice Cream
INGREDIENTS
4-5 ripe bananas
Sautéed Summer Squash
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
2-3 medium sized yellow squash
1/2 cup chopped onions
1.5 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup water
salt & pepper
1. Wash and chop yellow
squash.
2. In medium-sized skillet, heat
olive oil on medium-high heat.
3. Add chopped onions &
squash to skillet.
4. Add salt and pepper. Stir well.
5. Add water to skillet. Cover
with lid and let steam for approximately 3 minutes.
6. Remove lid and stir. Allow
water to cook off, stirring often.
7. When water has cooked off,
squash should be tender.
8. Enjoy!
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DIRECTIONS
1. Take 4-5 ripe bananas (the more
ripe the better – they should have
at least a few brown spots), peel
them, and add to a plastic freezer
bag to freeze overnight until
they’re completely solid
2. Cut the bananas into 1/2 inch
chunks.
3. Add the chopped pieces into a
food processor or a blender and
blend them up.
4. While the food processor/blender
is off, scrape the sides of the
bowl. Then continue to blend. It
helps if you do this several times.
If your bananas are being really
stubborn and they don’t want to
turn creamy on you, just add a
tablespoon or two of almond milk
to get things moving along.
5. Keep blending until rich and
creamy.
 If you eat the ice cream after
blending it will have the consistency of soft serve ice cream.
 If you re-freeze, it will harden
and can be scooped into bowls.
TESTIMONY “I would call them to
follow up with them.
Sometimes I found
there were things going
on in their lives that I
might not be able to
help them with but I
asked if I could pray
with them to encourage
them as well. “
My Experience as a CCG
By Sharri Banks
By Sharri Banks
Newcomers to Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church will
hear, “The biblical house structure here at Enon is
designed to make the large church smaller.” That is
much easier said than done with 15,000 members on
the roll. However, Pastor Alyn E. Waller would like
every member to feel connected. Much of the work
of this enormous task falls on the shoulders of the
Congregational Caregivers. (CCG) They carry forth
Jesus’ commandment as stated in John 13:33-34, “A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another, as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I became a CCG shortly after becoming a member of
Enon in 2011. My experience as a CCG was extremely rewarding. The CCG is the first point of
more intense and personal contact with a new mem-
ber of our church. That contact takes place during the
intake process that is great. It gives the CCG’s a
chance to pray and talk with the newest members of
the church. First, we start with a hug or handshake, a
welcome and a prayer. The CCG wants to make sure
that the member has accepted Jesus Christ and that
there is an understanding about the decision that was
just made.
During the intake process the intake form is completed by the CCG in order to gather pertinent information, including current contact data. Newcomers
are informed of who their Deacon and Deaconess
will be and the biblical house of which they will be a
part. They are also told about the New Image Discipleship (NID) classes and encouraged to attend the
first class, NID Orientation, as soon as possible. The
intake process ends with the Intake CCG answering
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any questions the newcomers may have and letting
them know that the CCG of their biblical house will
be in contact with them within a couple of weeks.
Calls are made weekly by the biblical house CCG’s
to the new members just to make sure they are doing
well and have started attending NID classes. This
process takes place until the new member receives
the Right Hand of Fellowship (RHF). Once the
member has received the RHF, the calls are to continue until the member becomes part of a ministry.
Attention is paid as to whether the member has been
attending worship service and bible study on a consistent basis and if the member has joined or is planning to join a ministry. Once the new member becomes active with a ministry, the calls are to be
made once a quarter by the CCG. As needs are
voiced by the members, the CCG’s may inform the
biblical house deacon and deaconess for additional
contact.
knew that she could call the CCG whenever a need
arose or if contact information changed.
Some CCGs become disheartened by the lack of response and move to another ministry, while others
continue with or without responses. I would encourage members of the church to support the CCG’s of
Enon. Their ministry is often overlooked or taken
for granted. Be aware that you minister to the CCG,
also, when contact is made. Please respond to your
CCG’s calls and lift them up in prayer always.
Kingdom Prayer Opportunities
Prayer Line
6:00 A.M. Daily
712-432-0900,
Access Code #158042
I truly enjoyed talking with the members of the
church. I would call them to follow up with them.
Sometimes I found there were things going on in
their lives that I might not be able to help them with
but I asked if I could pray with them to encourage
them as well. We would then pray and talk for a
while. Most times through those conversations, the
members would encourage me. I was blessed just by
talking with them.
One of the challenges met by me and all CCG’s is to
remain encouraged when members to do not return
phone calls. A member of the Internal Communications Ministry shared that when her CCG called, she
felt loved and appreciated, would smile, but did not
call back to speak with the CCG. She was convicted
after a while and actually spoke with her CCG in
person. She informed her that she was actively engaged in the ministry at Enon and did not need regular calls, since the CCG probably needed to attend to
others on her list. They agreed that they would see
each other in service and at bible study. The member
13
(long distance rates may apply)
Enon East
Sun 7:00 A.M.
Intercessory Prayer (Sanctuary)
Sun 8:30 A.M.
All About Prayer (Room 9)
Mon-Fri 6:00 P.M. Sunset Prayer (Prayer Room)
Sat 3:00 P.M.
Intercessory Prayer (Sanctuary)
3rd Fri 7:00 P.M.
Intercessory Prayer Ministry
meeting (Room 11)
Enon West
Sun 5:00 A.M.
Intercessory Prayer (Sanctuary)
Mon-Fri 6:00 A.M. Sunrise Prayer (Sanctuary)
Prayer Requests
Call 215-276-7200 to request prayer or visit
www.enontab.org and scroll down to Prayer Request or deposit a prayer request slip in the
prayer box near the front door in the main lobby
at Enon East or West.
FEATURE Biblical House
=
Connection at Enon
By Tawana Ford Sabbath and Rosalind C. Lee
Based on an interview with Deacon Michael Burke
W
hen you attend a mega church, it is difficult to feel a part of a close community.
At Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church there
is a system of care in the form of biblical houses that
was mindfully and compassionately developed to
connect and care for every soul in the fellowship.
The biblical houses are intended to assist saints as
they become acclimated to Enon and acknowledge
the spiritual commitment they make in becoming a
member of the church. The first point of contact for
any member is the deacon of the member’s biblical
house. There are sixty-three biblical houses, each
having a maximum of 400 members assigned to it.
The administrative structure of each house includes a
Deacon, Deaconess, Deacon Aide and a number of
Congregational Caregivers (CCGs).
During the intake process, newcomers are greeted by
the deacon, deaconess and deacon aide of their bibli-
Community Feel of a Small Church cal house. They are told to expect a call from a member of the house leadership team within ten days.
Former Deacon Ministry Servant Leader Michael
Burke stated, “If a new member does not receive a
call from the biblical house, the Deacon Ministry
Servant Leader needs to know that. This effort requires a two-way contact process. The new members
receive the telephone number of their deacon. They
should feel free to call that number so the deacon
knows that no contact was made. A communication
breakdown so early in the person’s experience with
Enon can be discouraging and a turn off.”
All biblical houses are assigned to a biblical house
cluster with at least four houses in each cluster. The
deacons from the various houses collaborate to provide fellowship opportunities for the members of
their clusters. “The cluster deacons are in regular
contact in an effort to make sure no one falls through
the cracks,” said Deacon Burke. There are twelve
Lost in the Crowd Feel of the Mega‐Church 14
Biblical House clusters to coincide with the twelve months of the
year. Each month a cluster is assigned to all worship
services at both Enon East and West. When new
converts and newcomers to Enon come forward, they
are received into the particular house in that cluster
that needs members. Periodically, the Deacon Ministry conducts a review to determine the active members in the biblical houses in order to open the houses for new members.
As the new disciples become active in the church,
they can expect periodic calls from their CCG’s.
Deacon Burke went on to say, “Deacons make reports about the contacts made by the CCG’s. The
Deacon Aides gather that information so we know
the level of activity in each house. It was my task to
instruct the deacon over a house to make certain that
those calls are being made. Again, we encourage
members to call the biblical house deacon so he
knows when there are gaps in the process. If we
don’t know, we can’t address the issue. ”The deacon
is responsible for the effective working of the biblical house. Members can help the deacons by reporting instances where the connection has failed.
As a personal testimony, Rosalind C. Lee shared, “I
have received beautiful, ornate birthday and sympathy cards, monthly check-in and check-up emails,
hospital visitations and biblical house updates from
my CCG, deacon and deacon aide since I walked
down the welcoming aisle of Enon East into my new
spiritual home in 2012. CCG’s provide a direct line
for Enon’s membership to the church leadership, administration and ministry opportunities. When this
care system is in perfect tune, each member has a
direct voice, a patient outlet and loving caregivers
bent on ensuring that members grow in Christ and
are developed for “Kingdom” use.”
When a member’s family experiences a death, the
first contact is the biblical house deacon. “The call
should be made right away so the deacon can visit
with the family for prayer and certain initial concerns. He will inform the family of what services are
available at the church. Members of Enon are automatically extended use of the church facility at Enon
West and repast following the service for up to 100
persons. For immediate family, including parents,
15
children, spouses and siblings, members will be informed by the deacon of costs for certain services.
On the second visit, the deacon will assist with developing the order of service that should be reviewed
by him prior to the printing of the programs. On the
day prior to the service, the deacon will visit the survivors for prayer in preparation for the final service.
If the biblical house deacon cannot be present for the
actual service, we have a dedicated group of deacons
that are retired that will be present. At such a difficult time, we want our members to know that their
church is ready and available to help,” reflected Deacon Burke.
Sometimes members do not keep the biblical house
leadership informed of changes in contact information. Deacon Burke closed by emphasizing the
necessity for the deacons and congregation to support each other. “I can’t tell you how many times we
receive a huge bunch of returned mail when cluster
mass mailings are sent because members have not
updated their information with the church. This is
another example of how the congregation can help
our Deacon Ministry to be more effective. In other
instances, we have sick and/or shut-in members’ location to change, but we are not informed, so we
have deacons wanting to serve Communion that are
unable to do so. I can’t stress enough the importance
of the two-way communication process between deacons and the members. We need each other in order
for the biblical house structure to work at all.”
Members of Enon that need to be reminded of their
biblical house and deacon should call 215-276-7200.
The operator is prepared to provide that information.
Spiritual Growth CLUSTER:1 CLUSTER: 4 Gabriel: Deacon Byron McMillan Solomon: Deacon Wallace Harrison Ezekiel: Deacon Charles Holoman Paul: Deacon Robert Shimoyama Mark: Deacon Gene Royal Shadrach: Deacon Keith Henderson Micah: Deacon Patrick Oates James: Deacon Calvin Cannon Philip: Deacon Warren Edwards Barnabas: Deacon Theotis Matlock CLUSTER: 2 CLUSTER: 5 Joel: Deacon Anthony Stevenson Malachi: Deacon Michael Stokely Boaz: Deacon Brian Dunlop Joshua: No Deacon Assigned Joseph: Deacon Kevin Naylor Daniel: Walking Deacon Gregory Henderson Stephen: Deacon Steven Brown Simeon: Deacon Marion Dorrah Isaac: Deacon Herbert Greene Worship, Sports: Deacon Fred Crawford Fellowship: Deacon Michael Upshaw CLUSTER: 3 CLUSTER: 6 Samuel: Deacon Eric Bullock Jabez, Missions: Deacon Ronald Wynn Peter: Deacon Jeffery Hill Aaron: Deacon Howard Walker David: Deacon Rueben Lee Cornelius: Deacon Ferman Washington Andrew: Deacon Robert Glenn Adam: Deacon Sharrod Davis Matthew: Deacon Steven Livingston Abraham: Deacon Winston Johnson Connecting At Enon : 14 Things To Do in 2014
In his book Maximize the Moment, T.D. Jakes says, “We are meant to live and work together.
Joint efforts usually yield better results. To be most effective, we should come together,
share our talents, motivate each other, and profit from the joyous unity of like-minded individuals who share their skills, their heart, and their lives.”
How can we better connect with one another at Enon in 2014?
Here's your MUST-DO list:
1.
Pray daily including calling the Prayer line
2.
Attend a weekly worship service and Bible study
3.
Come to Baptism and Right Hand of Fellowship service monthly
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CLUSTER : 7 CLUSTER: 10 Philemon: Deacon George Oliver Lazarus: Deacon Bernard Gorham Isaiah: Deacon Anthony Banks Jacob: Deacon Ralph Blakney Moses: Deacon Troy Allen Titus: Deacon Michael Burke Obadiah: Deacon Gregory Burris Zachariah: Deacon Eugene Witherspoon Benjamin: Walking Deacon Louis Farrer Lot: Deacon John Partlowe Discipleship: Deacon Jerome Walton CLUSTER: 8 CLUSTER: 11 Jeremiah: Deacon John Weston Samson: Deacon Rubin Lee Job: Deacon Kevin Willis Nicodemus: Deacon Kevin Brown Nehemiah: Deacon Derrick Dow Haggai: Deacon Rogers Long Amos: Deacon Robert Rivers Timothy: Deacon Shawn Mooring Noah: Deacon George Young Abel: Deacon Robert Roberson CLUSTER: 9 CLUSTER: 12 John: Deacon John Glover Jonah: Deacon Steven Ware Luke: Deacon Alexander Strong Enoch: Deacon Joseph Ball Habakkuk: Deacon Raymond Mason Ezra: Deacon Elmer Hudson Hosea: Deacon Michael Stinson Caleb: Deacon William Barrett Emmanuel: Deacon Landis Rowe Elijah: Deacon Darrell Wilson 4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Memorize Bible verses
Bring an unsaved friend to worship and/or Bible study
Meet your Deacon and participate in your biblical house activities
Return your CCG’s call
Participate in All Night Prayer monthly (Friday before first Sunday)
Take the spiritual gifts inventory and then select a ministry to join
Attend S.A.L.T. classes
Participate in special events like the Church Picnic, Walk Run, Know Your Numbers
or a youth sporting event
12. Tithe
13. Donate during special giving opportunities such as Brown Bag Sunday or Back to
School Book Bag giveaway
14. Support the Enon Bread of Life Bookstore
17
SPIRITUAL GROWTH Breed say it magnificently, “To worship Him I live, to worship Him I live, I live to worship Him”. Selah
4. You turn off your phones, tablets, and other devices when
you enter the sanctuary unless you're using a gadget to read
scripture. You don't want to miss anything because of a
meaningless post or phone call. You want no distractions as
you focus on the Lord.
5. You don't make a hasty exit because your favorite pastor
isn't in the pulpit or the choir you like isn’t singing. You
came to worship the Lord, not the pastor. Additionally, you
find yourself responding more and more to the songs of Zion
by singing, clapping, and dancing without being directed to
do so. The words and music are becoming a part of your spirit.
By Charmaine Butler
S
piritual growth is a deepening of our relationship with
the Lord. Regardless of age, when we make a decision
to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become
new creatures – babies. Most of us don’t suddenly wear a
halo upon accepting Christ. Babies in the spirit gradually
learn new behaviors -- a new walk and talk. Daily nourishment is a necessity for maximum spiritual growth. According
to Hebrews 6:13-14, “For everyone who partakes only of
milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a
babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that
is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.”
There are numerous tools and various ministries at our disposal to build us up and strengthen our relationship with the
Lord. Do you think that you are growing? Are you reaching
for the proper nutrients to grow? Growth may manifest itself
in subtle ways.
Ten examples of growth are:
1. You pause on the Sabbath and keep it holy when in the
past you thought it a necessity to work. You’re comforted by
the knowledge that the Lord will take care of you and the
laundry can wait!
2. Your wardrobe has undergone a change -- in and out of
church. Clothing may have been too short or too tight or too
low, too saggy, too big. But as you have grown you realized
that all those "too's"were in conflict with holiness -- a distraction. You’ve learned not to be a distraction because you
know that worship is all about Him, not you. You are welcome to come as you are, but you don't have to remain where
you start.
3. You come to church early for praise and worship because
that's what you are here for -- to worship and hopefully get an
encouraging word. The words of Israel Haughton & New
6. You cheerfully tithe (giving a tenth of your earnings back
to the Lord) comforted in the knowledge that your personal
needs will be met because the Lord will provide. And if you
haven’t grown to that extent, perhaps your offering is gradually increasing.
7. You remain in the sanctuary until after the benediction
because you've learned that this final prayer keeps you covered until the next time we meet, which shouldn't be the following Sunday if you are trying to grow spiritually.
8. You humbly serve on a ministry.
9. You find yourself somewhere that you know you're not
supposed to be -- a club, a casino, a corner, a rendezvous -but now something on the inside starts bothering you so you
begin distancing yourself from that activity.
10. You embrace Ephesians 4 (read it)!
Are you growing? If so, you should be able to relate to some
of the situations above. If nothing above has left an impression on you, then it’s time for you to seek some nourishment.
Try this recipe to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.
Let’s start with the main course: Prayer, Reading the Bible
and Regular Worship Service where you'll be fed by the Holy
Spirit via song, dance, testimony, and a heaping helping of
the all-important Sermon/Preached Word. Couple that with
sides of New Member Class, Sunday School, Bible Study at
either Enon East or West or the Hour of Power Bible Study
in Center City. And let's not forget just a dab of a televangelist here or there for dessert -- my personal favorite, Charles
Stanley.
Add some flavorful gospel music in place of some of that
other stuff. Let all that simmer, and serve it up throughout the
week. It’s all there and readily available to you – a steady
diet leading you towards becoming a “mature disciple of our
Lord”. Try it and become a GIANT!
18
SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY
SPIRITUAL GROWTH All believers in Christ are endowed with at least one gift of the Holy Spirit when they are saved. That gift is to be used to edify the
body of Christ and glorify God. Titus tells us in 4:10, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.”
One excellent tool for determining one’s spiritual gift is the Spiritual Gifts Inventory that newcomers to Enon Tabernacle Baptist
Church are encouraged to take. Pastor Waller has suggested that revisiting the inventory after two years of spiritual growth is a good
way to determine where God wants you to be serving. The inventory is designed to identify the seven gifts that appear in Romans
12:6-8. The following descriptions appear in Enon’s New Image Discipleship Resource Guide.
Mercy Shower
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by identifying with and comforting those who are
in distress. Mercy Showers intuitively
understand and comfort fellow Christians.
Pastor/Shepherd
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by overseeing, training and caring for the needs of
believers. The Pastor/Shepherd is also a
scholar who makes clear the doctrine
and teachings of the Bible.
Giver
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by giving of
material resources, far beyond the tithe,
to further the work of God. Givers find
joy in meeting the financial needs of
fellow Christians and others in need.
Teacher
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by making
clear the truths of the Word of God with
accuracy and simplicity. Teachers are
scholars who make clear the doctrine
and teachings of the Bible.
Server
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by identifying unmet needs of people and implementing plans to meet those needs. The
Server gets great satisfaction from helping others.
Administrator
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by organizing, administering, promoting and leading the various affairs of the church.
Administrators assume leadership roles
in the church and its ministries
Prophet
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by proclaiming God’s truth. Prophets are unafraid to
point out sin or to speak truth to power.
Evangelist
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by leading
people who are beyond his or her sphere
of influence to the saving knowledge of
Jesus Christ. Evangelists are aggressive
soul-winners who seek the lost.
Exhorter
This person has the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by motivating others to action by urging them to
pursue a course of conduct. Exhorters
are “how-to” teachers, giving the application of God’s Word
To take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory, go to the Church Growth Institute website at www.churchgrowth.org and click on the Spiritual
Gifts Analysis link. Manual inventory forms are also available through the Discipleship Community under Reverend Jerome Glover,
215-276-7200, ext. 2017.
19
SPIRITUAL GROWTH The 52 Week
20
PUZZLES Answers on Page 33 21
HEALTH AND FITNESS By Gerda Gallop-Goodman
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,
also known as Obamacare, health reform or health
care law, became law in 2010. Whether you need
health coverage or have it already the health care
law offers new rights, protections and benefits that
make coverage stronger, fairer and easier to understand. If you are uninsured, been denied coverage in
the past, or just want to explore new options, it will
give you more choice and control over your health
coverage.
For example, under the health care law:
The Health Insurance Marketplace creates a new
way for individuals, families and small businesses
to get health coverage. The Marketplace is designed
to help you find health insurance that meets your
needs and fits your budget. The Marketplace offers
“one-stop shopping” to find and compare private
health insurance options based on price, benefits,
quality and other features. It will operate in all states,
so no matter where you live you will have access to coverage. Open enrollment for health
insurance coverage through the Marketplace
begins October 1, 2013 and ends March 31,
2014. Coverage can begin as soon as January 1,
2014.
a parent’s health plan.
You may be eligible for free preventive screenings
(no co-pay or deductible) such as blood pressure
and cholesterol tests, mammograms, colonoscopies
and vaccines; and free preventive health services for
women, such as breastfeeding support and counseling, cervical cancer screening, HIV screening and
counseling and domestic violence screening and
counseling.
Insurance companies cannot set a dollar limit on
lifetime, and in some cases, yearly coverage, for
essential health benefits (hospitalization, prescription drugs, emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder
services, rehabilitative services, preventive and
wellness services, and chronic disease management,
etc.).
All plans must offer essential health benefits
such as doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization and prescriptions.
Insurance companies cannot refuse to cover
you or charge you more just because you are
sick or have a pre-existing health condition.
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) can’t refuse to cover you either nor
charge you more because of a health condition.
Depending on the plan you choose in the Marketplace, you may be able to keep your current doctor.
Young adults under the age of 26 are covered under
22
If you already have health insurance, and are satisfied with your existing plan, you will not have to do
anything when enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace opens October 1, 2013. But if you
or someone you know is uninsured, underinsured, works for or owns a small business, or wants to
know what other health insurance options are available, more information is available about applying for
health coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Here’s how you can apply for health coverage in the
Marketplace:
A paper application. You can fill out and mail a
paper application. You’ll find out whether you’re
eligible for lower costs on private insurance, Medicaid, or CHIP. Once you get your eligibility notice,
you can either go online at www.HealthCare.gov to
compare, choose, and enroll in a plan or contact the
Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1
-855-889-4325). A customer service representative
will help you. If you or someone on your application
is eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, a representative
will contact you to enroll. To get a paper application,
visit www.HealthCare.gov to download the application form and instructions.
Online. Go to www.HealthCare.gov to set up an account, fill out the online application, compare your
options and enroll. You’ll find out whether you qualify for private insurance, Medicaid, or CHIP, or for
lower costs on your monthly premiums and out-ofpocket costs on private insurance. After you choose
a plan, you can enroll online and decide how you
pay your premiums to your insurance company.
Coverage can begin as soon as January 1, 2014. If
you or a member of your family qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, a representative will contact you to
enroll.
tions Program (SHOP).
If you seek health coverage, don’t delay! Beginning
in 2014, if persons that can afford health insurance
don’t have coverage, they may have to pay a penalty
or fee (1 percent of yearly household income or $95
per person/year or $47.50 per child under age 18
years). They also must pay the full cost of their medical care. And if they pay a fee, they still don’t have
any health insurance coverage. To avoid the fee, you
must be covered by a Marketplace, individual, or
employer plan, COBRA, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP,
TRICARE, Veterans health care programs, Peace
Corps Volunteer plans and other qualifying plans.
Some with limited incomes and other situations may
be exempt from the fee.
For Small Business Owners:
If you own a small business and want to apply for coverage
for your employees:
Visit www.HealthCare.gov/marketplace/shop
or Call 1-800-706-7893 (TTY: 1-800-706-7915)
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. EST to learn more about the
Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
For more information, visit www.HealthCare.gov or
contact1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
Phone. To apply by phone, call 1-800-318-2596, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
A customer service representative will work with
you to complete the application and enrollment process.
In person. In all states, there are people trained and
certified to help you understand your health coverage options and enroll in a Marketplace plan. They
can help you fill out a paper or online application.
To find help where you live, visit https://
localhelp.healthcare.gov. You can search by city and
state or zip code to see a list of local organizations
with contact information, office hours, and types of
help offered, such as non-English language support,
Medicaid or CHIP, and Small Business Health Op-
23
HEALTH AND FITNESS By Lisa DuBois
By Lisa
DuBois
A NBC news broadcast covered
a story
in 2006,
about a family in Fort Worth, Texas, who sued a
nail salon for wrongful death because of a pedicure
service. The cause of her death was due to a staph
infection. Unfortunately during her pedicure service, her foot was cut with a pumice stone. Her
family and attorney believed that unsafe and
unsanitary conditions were responsible for
her exposure to the staph bacteria. Then
again in Mountain View, California, a
mother filed a wrongful death suit against a
nail salon claiming that her child died as a
result of contracting bacteria during a pedicure service (www.Nailmag.com). As a
twenty year veteran and teacher of the beauty industry, I am not proud to admit that I
have seen too many nasty nail salons.
However, there are a few things that
you can do and be on the lookout for
to help ensure your own safety.
According to the Medialife online magazine there
are approximately 57,570 nail salons in the United
States. In addition to this staggering number, the
Huffington Post reported that the nail care industry
made $768,000,000 dollars from the sale of nail
polish in 2012. Most people, men and women, can
appreciate neatly manicured hands and a well
done pedicure. However, if you were aware
that a visit at a nail salon could be potentially
fatal, would you take a different course of action for nail care? If you knew that your favorite nail cosmetic product could result in
health issues would you still use it?
The spring and the summer seasons bring an
influx of consumers into the nail salons.
Most consumers do not realize they are
at risk upon entering a nail salon and
receiving services. Every nail salon in
the state of Pennsylvania should have
posted for public view a Nail Salon
License. If you are patronizing a salon
that does not have a license posted that
could serve as a red flag. The salon
may not be registered or in good
standing with the Pennsylvania State
Board of Cosmetology. Every individual administering nail services in a
salon should also have an individual
license displayed. Nail salons have a
tendency to be the most over staffed and
under licensed segment of the beauty industry.
This puts the consumers at high risk for infection
and disease.
24
Things to be Aware of When Choosing a Nail Salon
1. Technicians should not be eating within view of the client.
2. Technicians should clean and sanitize a station prior to your sitting
down.
3. Pedicure basins should be rinsed with hot water, cleaned and sprayed
down with a hospital grade disinfectant after each use.
4. Pennsylvania State Law prohibits the cutting of cuticles with sharp implements due to the spread of disease.
5. It is against the law for a nail technician to use a Credo blade to remove
dead skin from feet. The Credo blade is a tool for licensed podiatrists. It
is extremely sharp and can carry bacteria from client to client.
6. Pennsylvania State Law prohibits nail technicians from arching eyebrows, applying eyelashes or applying any type
of beautification or alteration to the face. This is a cosmetology service.
7. Tools and implements used in manicuring and artificial nail care should be kept in a clean and sanitized cabinet.
8. Nail Technicians should not share the same personal storage bin and tools when performing a service.
9. Nail files, buffer blocks and pumice stones should be used one time and discarded. Those tools cannot be sanitized
because they are porous and they hold and breed bacteria.
10. You have the right to ask for a protective mask to cover mouth and nose so airborne particles, shavings and chemicals are not inhaled.
11. In addition to salon safety, consumers that patronize the nail industry should also be concerned with the safety of the
products and ingredients used in these salons. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), there are 12 potentially harmful substances used in nail salon. Over-exposure to these substances can have
an adverse effect on individuals, causing allergic reactions.
Acetone
Acetonitrile
Butyl acetate
Dibutyl phthalate
(DBP ) (Nail Polish)
Ethyl acetate
(Nail Polish
(Glue Remover)
(Nail Polish)
irritated nose and
throat; breathing
problems, nausea, vomiting, weakness and
exhaustion
irritated eyes, stomheadaches and irritated nausea and irritated
eyes, skin, nose, mouth, eyes, skin, nose, mouth, ach, skin, nose,
and throat
mouth, and throat;
and throat
high levels can
cause fainting
Ethyl methacrylate
(EMA)
Remover)
Headaches and
dizziness;
irritated eyes, skin,
and throat.
asthma; irritated eyes,
skin, nose, and mouth;
difficulty concentrating;
exposures while pregnant may affect fetus
Formaldehyde
Isopropyl acetate
breathing problems, sleepiness and irritated
coughing, asthmaeyes, nose, and throat
like attacks &
wheezing; irritated
eyes, skin, and
throat, can cause
cancer
Methacrylic acid
(Nail Primer)
Methyl methacrylate
(MMA)
skin burns and irritated
eyes, skin, nose, mouth,
and throat , higher concentrations can cause
difficulty breathing
asthma; irritated eyes,
irritates skin and
skin, nose, and mouth; nose and may cause
difficulty concentrating; asthma
loss of smell
25
Quaternary ammonium com-
Toluene
dry or cracked skin;
headaches, dizziness,
and numbness; irritated
eyes, nose, throat, and
lungs; damage to liver
and kidneys; and harm
to unborn children during pregnancy EDUCATION By W. Virginia Williams
“Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to
words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 23:12)
An article in Teaching Children Mathematics, a professional journal for mathematics educators, stated
unequivocally that parents “can play a dynamic role
in helping their children develop skills and interest in
mathematics, confidence in their mathematical abilities, and positive attitudes toward mathematics.”
Have you ever uttered these words to your child who
may be struggling in math? “Oh, I was never very
good in math either?” While the sentiment may be
true, shame on you for saying that to your child!
Why shame on you? Such an attitude or bias just may
impede your child’s mathematics achievement. More
knowledge of more mathematics is increasingly necessary for success in a global economy. With today’s
26
emphasis on high stakes testing, college readiness,
career development and ever-changing technologies,
parental involvement and engagement are critical to a
child’s success in school. Admittedly, parental support in mathematics generally presents a greater challenge than in other subjects.
Research shows that ongoing parental engagement in
mathematics, as in any subject, can foster a positive
attitude in a child toward learning mathematics. Plus,
when the parent displays a positive attitude toward
mathematics, has high expectations for the child’s
mathematical performance, and regularly does mathematical activities with the child, the child benefits.
Twenty-first century mathematics content and instruction look different from the mathematics we parents and grandparents experienced. While most of us
simply memorized the mathematics we were taught,
today’s students are asked to make sense of the
mathematics they study, to work in groups, and to
communicate their thinking and understanding of the
mathematics they are learning, especially in the early
grades.
Early experiences with mathematics need to be positive since research shows that mathematics skills
learned in the early years follow the student throughout his or her education. Consider: Mathematics is
the favorite subject of many children in the early
grades—but too often this changes. What happens as
they progress in school? Parents’ biases, bad teaching, failure to relate school mathematics to real life,
and memorization instead of understanding have a
cumulative negative effect as higher level concepts
kick in. We, as parents and grandparents, must concentrate our efforts on “changing the things we
can” (for example, our own negative attitudes and
behaviors) and discover the joy and excitement of
the world of numbers and mathematics. How might
that happen?
Read any good math lately?* Children’s literature
can be a springboard for investigating mathematics.
There are many children’s books that contain the
learning of mathematics through the gift of story.
Such books provide context for the mathematics and
generate interest and motivation for learning. (See a
truncated list of resources at the end of this article.)
10 Questions to Ask to Help Your Child Get Unstuck with Mathematics Homework (Adapted
from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics publications)
Can you explain what the teacher asked you to
do?
What problem are you working on?
What do the directions say?
Can you tell me where you are stuck?
What words or directions don’t you understand?
Where do you think you should begin?
What do you know already that can help you
work through the problem?
27
What have you done so far?
Are there similar problems to look at?
Can you make a diagram or draw a picture?
In summary, (1) encourage your child to persevere
(2) let your child’s teacher know you are interested
in the current mathematics curriculum and methodology and (3) stay involved!
Suggested Resources
Kahn Academy. http://www.kahnacademy.com.
Stern, Frances. 2012. Adding Math, Subtracting
Tension, A Guide to Raising Children Who Can Do
Math. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
*Whitin, David and Sandra Wilde. 1992.
Read Any Good Math Lately? Children’s Books
for Mathematical Learning, K-6. Portsmouth, NH:
Heinemann.
RELATIONSHIPS Where Are You?
How intimate is your relationship with God? By Lynette Hazelton
Is there passion as well as friendship? Is
there warmth as well as joy? When is the
last time you walked with God? When is the
last time you sat quietly and listened to God
or spent the day extolling His virtues?
Have you told Him your deepest hurts and
shame or kept them secret? Charles Stanley
has said, “Believers can be saved and eternally secure yet relationally distant from the
Lord. Some Christians show little interest in
spiritual things and are unaware of the shallowness of their interactions with God.”
But we were created to be in covenant fellowship with God who knows us - our
wants, our hurts, our needs, and our desires
– and the things our hearts require, even
before we can recognize or give voice to
them. For example, when God saw Adam
toiling alone, He said …it is not good that
man should be alone… (Genesis 2:18), and
created Eve his mate. When an exhilarated
Adam saw Eve, he exclaimed …This is now
bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
(Genesis 2:23). At that moment, the Garden of Eden became a place of sheer delight.
We are social beings, not only needing a
vertical relationship with God, but also
wanting high quality, horizontal relationships with one another. These social con-
28
nections are often the source of our greatest
purpose and joy. Little wonder there are
over 6,000 marriages a day in the United
States. In an interview, authors Amir Levine
and Rachel Heller, who wrote the book Attached, put it this way:
Our attachment circuitry (the wiring
in our brain that ensures we remain
connected to our loved ones) is
linked to our autonomic nervous
system—the system that governs our
breathing, sleep, hunger, heart rate,
blood pressure and other functions
that are outside of our control. If
we’re in a good relationship, we experience a calm security like no other. That’s why in Attached we really
try to drive the message home that
“your wellbeing is his/her wellbeing.”
But when sin enters, the picture of relationships is befouled. In the Old Testament, as
God was taking His customary stroll
through the Garden, He asks His first recorded question--Where are you? God was
addressing Adam with whom He habitually
walked during the cool of the day. But this
day was different. After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve hid from God instead of joining Him, thus moving a relationship meant to provide mutual delight
into an estranged affair.
This is the power of sin. It has the ability to
PUZZLES turn our most intimate bonds into bondage. Our
relationships become the source of our deepest
pain. Married couples, researchers say, argue
about 135 times a year with 50 percent of marriages each year ending in divorce. Not long
after Adam’s jubilant shout over his Eve, he
was hiding from His God and blaming Eve for
the mess. Their relationship with God had been
altered, and without grace and mercy, this
would be the end of the story.
By Sharri Banks
But God pursues us ardently directing us towards peace, compassion, love, justice, connection, honesty and joy. An omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God has no need to derive answers through questioning. So why ask
Adam “Where are you?” Rabbi Marc Gelman
said God questioned Adam to give him a
chance to confess and repent. Because our sin
leads to guilt and guilt to alienation, destroying
our closeness with our God, repentance and
confession begin the rebuilding process.
If you are feeling bereft, if you can’t find God
–remember He didn’t divorce you. Instead you
have moved and God, always the seeker of our
love, wants you to draw nearer. Draw near to
God and He will draw near to you…. (James
4:8)
If the true test of life is not one of things and
money but of how well you love, the first question is how well you love God. This much is
undeniably true God wants to have a relationship with you. Remember what He said in
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have
for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a
hope. God is constantly asking all of us “…
Where are you?”
29
ARTISTS’ CORNER Last week, I threw out worrying--it was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me; I couldn’t do things God’s way.
I threw out a book on MY PAST. (Didn’t have time to read it
anyway.)
Replaced it with NEW GOALS; started reading it yesterday.
I threw out hate and bad memories. (Remember how I
treasured them so?)
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY, too; threw out the
one from long ago.
Brought in some new books, too, called I CAN, I
WILL, and I MUST.
Threw out I MIGHT, I THINK, and I OUGHT.
Wow, you should’ve seen the dust.
I ran across an OLD FRIEND I hadn’t talked to in a
while.
His name is GOD the Father, and I really like His
style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added
some things Himself
Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH and LOVE.
Yes, I placed them right on the shelf.
I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front
door.
I FOUND IT—It’s called PEACE—Nothing gets me
down anymore.
Yes, I’ve got my house looking nice--Looks good
around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn’t any
space.
It’s good to do a little house cleaning—Get rid of the things
on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT
YOURSELF.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!
Author Unknown
30
Where to find Chris an Books, Music, and Movies? Bread of Life Bookstore 2800 Cheltenham Ave Philadelphia, PA. 19150 Phone: 215‐276‐7200 X1052 Email: etgf.bookstore@gmail.com HOURS
31
Monday
Closed
Tuesday:
4:00 - 8:30 P.M.
(Closed for Bible Study)
*Will reopen after Bible Study if
feasible
Wednesday
4:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Thursday
4:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Friday
4:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Saturday
12:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
(Closed for Saturday Service)
*Will reopen after Service
Sunday:
12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.
YOUTH By Lisa DuBois
E
ducation and the quality of education have
long changed since my
days of elementary, middle and
high school. Honestly, my passion for learning did not manifest itself until adulthood. I remember when I was a
child the classroom was not my favorite place. It was
difficult for teachers to capture and hold my attention.
As a child, I went through a series of aptitude tests
and speech therapy. The result of my school’s findings at that time was that I was LD—learning disabled. My lack of interest, low grades and short attention span caused me to be placed in classes with children that had severe emotional, mental and learning
problems. Now that I am older and can reflect back on
that time in my life, I understand that I was misdiagnosed. The funny and ironic thing about my experience is that 20 years later, God has positioned me as a
vocational teacher of the creative arts. So I have to
wonder what the real problem is. Is it that our children
cannot learn, or is the problem the method of presentation of the information being taught to them?
that lack of finances, or lack of fairly disbursed finances, can hinder the quality of education. However,
this is not the only component. The GIMBY News
Focus reports that there are ten problems facing education: poverty, class size, technology, nutrition,
health, curriculum, testing, violence, parenting and
family issues. In addition to this, Forbes Magazine in
its February 2013 issue reached out to Sam Chaltain, a
Washington, DC based writer/education activist.
Chaltian believes that education will not change until
we understand the purpose of schooling. “We have to
help our children grow cognitively, socially, emotionally, linguistically, ethically and physically.” Quite
frankly, our schools are not equipped to address our
children on all those levels. So what do we do as a
church and as families to engage our children and help
them move past the barriers in education and learning
The issue surrounding education that has captured our today?
attention is mostly monetary. Everyone understands
The first thing we must understand is that our chil-
32
dren’s engagement in the learning process will be determined by our involvement. Engagement starts at
home and should continue through to the end of high
school. Neither the president nor the pastor alone can
secure a quality education for our children. There are
five things that we can do as a family and church community:
1. Establish goals- set an educational/academic
standard in your household. Hold yourself and
your children to that standard. Ensure that they
have every possible resource they need to meet
that standard.
2. Talk to your children- make time to interact
with your children outside of the house as often as possible. Changing scenery will stimulate your children. Use the time of outside interaction to help them explore new interests.
3. Question your children often- ask them
opened ended questions. Make them reflect
and recall the events of their day. Ask them to
show you what they are telling you. This will
help to reinforce what they have learned and
give you a chance to correct any errors you
may notice.
4. Stay in contact with your children’s school (s)build a relationship with the school. Show up to
the school to support the children’s good efforts , not just for disciplinary issues. Allow
your children to see you interact positively with
school officials. Make sure your children know
that you are holding the teacher accountable also. Impress upon everyone that you, the teacher,
and the student are a team.
5. Praise your children- reward your children for
a job well done. Tell your children you are
proud of them often, even if they mess up or
make a mistake. Correct them, but highlight
their progress.
When engaging our children we have to help them to
see the value in education. We have to help them
bridge the gap between where they are and where they
are going. Ultimately, we have to help them own the
educational process. Our role as parents is to point our
children in the right direction according to Psalm 127:
3, 4 that states, “Behold, children are a heritage from
the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of
one’s youth.”
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Contributors
Writers:
Proofreading and
Editors:
Graphics/Layout Administration:
and Printing:
Sharri Banks
Ava Anderson
Eugene Bryant
Kesha Burns
Sharri Banks
Tiara Frazier-Terry
Charmaine Butler
Tricia Briley
Johnny Johnson
Lisa DuBois
Tracey Claxton
Dawn Martin
Gerda Gallop-Goodman
Regina Gary
Lynette Hazelton
Kathy Williams Green
Alexandria June
Lynette Hazelton
Rosalind C. Lee
LaDean Ridley
Tawana Ford Sabbath
Tawana Ford Sabbath
Sabrina Umstead Smith
Joielle Thieren
W. Virginia Williams
Evelyn Trent
Nate Carr
Operations Community Leader
Lynette Hazelton
Servant Leader
Tawana Ford Sabbath
Assistant Servant Leader
Sharri Banks
Scribe
W. Virginia Williams
Interested in...
Interested in... WRITING
EDITING
DESIGNING
Internal Communications Ministry
When:
Location: (Enon East)
Time:
2nd Saturday of each month
2800 West Cheltenham Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19150
2:00 P.M.—4:00 P.M.
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church - East
2800 West Cheltenham Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19150
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church - West
230 West Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
http://www.enontab.org