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Easter Celebration, Palm Sunday, Holy Week Reading Plan (Pastoral Emphasis for 3/28)

Join us for our Virtual Good Friday service on 4/2 at 6:30 pm as we look at Jesus Christ, Our Substitute .  On Saturday, 4/3, we will have a Drive-by Easter Surprise from 11:30 am -1 pm. Drive through our parking lot to receive your surprise. Baskets for children 7 and under. Goody Bags for older Kids. Hot Dogs to go for everyone. Guests are welcome. Please register including your kids and guests so we'll be able to prepare.  On Sunday, 4/4, we'll have a special outdoor Easter service  at 10 am. Join us in-person in our parking lot where you can sit outside or sit in your cars. We will still stream the service online for those not attending in person. We will celebrate Communion on Easter if you're not attending in-person, stop by the church on Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday to pick up communion kits or prepare your items at home.  Today is Palm Sunday which commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem knowing that He would be tried and crucified and rise f...

Be, Virtual Game Night, Easter Weekend (Pastoral Emphasis for 3/21)

Bro. Jae Smith delivered the message today entitled " Be... " from Habakkuk 2:20 . He exhorted us to "Be in the presence of God" and "Be listening to the Holy Spirit". It’s March Madness and we're going to have a little "madness" of our own with a friendly game of Family Feud during our V irtual Game Night on 3/27. Registration in REALM is required for all players. Spots are limited. Only sign up if you are committed to attendance. Guests are allowed. Please register ASAP as this will help the organizers prepare for the game.  Mark your calendars and get ready for our Easter weekend where we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We're having a Virtual Good Friday service on 4/2 at 6:30pm. Since we won't be having our traditional Easter Egg Hunt, we'll be having a Drive-by Easter Surprise on 4/3 from 11:30am-1pm. Drive through our parking lot to receive your surprise. Baskets for children 7 an...

My Hope Sermon & Testimony, Virtual Prayer Rally, Easter Weekend (Pastoral Emphasis for 3/14)

Today was My Hope Sunday where our members invited people to tune into the service to hear about the Gospel and our hope in Jesus Christ. Deacon Shaun Johnson shared his My Hope testimony. (email subscribers: click here if you can't see the video) My sermon was on " What is God doing with COVID-19? ".  Now I don't presume to know exactly what God is doing with this pandemic but God has revealed to us some of the things He is doing in this world through His Word. My three major points of what is God doing with COVID-19 are: God is showing us the horror of sin God is giving us a wake-up call for Christ's return God is calling us to repent You check out the full sermon here . I don't know what your experience with the church has been but God intends for the church to be a family. We care for one other, especially during life's difficulties. If you're not a part of a church community, I would encourage you to join one where others can care for you and ...

March Birthdays & Anniversaries, My Hope Sunday, Testimony (Pastoral Emphasis for 3/7)

We're going to take a little break from 1 Peter and we'll be back to our series after Easter on 4/11.  Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating their birthdays in March!  Happy Anniversaries to our March couples. Travis & Laurie Anderson - 3/4 Wendell & Brittany Graham – 2 years on 3/21  Minister Jae & Kelly Smith – 9 years on 3/3 Vernon & Jordan Best – 12 years on 3/7  Zach & Belinda Steele – 12 years on 3/21  Elder Roderick & Minister Harrison – 35 years on 3/30  Earnest & Sandra Smith – 38 years on yesterday  My Hope Sunday is next Sunday. If you haven't done so yet, use the digital invitation to invite your guests to watch the service. Please continue to submit the names of those you're inviting as we'll continue praying for them this week.  To prepare our hearts for My Hope Sunday, we'll be having members share their testimonies about their hope in Jesus. Today, we heard from Sis. Aretha Rice . (email subsc...

God's Righteousness Revealed, My Hope Sunday, Testimony (Pastoral Emphasis for 2/28)

On Wednesday, we are starting a new section in our study of Romans called God's Righteousness Revealed . In March, we'll cover chapters 8-12 which are doctrinally rich. We'll be looking at the golden chain of redemption, election, God's relationship with Israel and Gentiles, and life transformation. Join us on Wednesdays at 7pm and let's feast on God's Word.  Our next My Hope Sunday will be March 14. Since we're currently in the series “Hope while Enduring Suffering” , let's share that hope with others. My Hope Sunday is where every member is asked to invite at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us for that service. I want you to be in prayer about who you will invite and we'll ask you to submit those names this week so we can pray for them.  To prepare our hearts for My Hope Sunday, we'll be having members share their testimonies about their hope in Jesus. Today, we heard from Deacon Henri Spivey . (email subscribers: click here...

Virtual Game Night, Fasting and Praying during Lent (Pastoral Emphasis for 2/21)

How well do you know your songs? Let’s find out during our next Virtual Game Night on 2/27 featuring lots of Old School Jams. There will be a wide variety of music to test your musical knowledge. The deadline to sign up on Realm is TODAY .  We are in the Lenten season and we’re asking everyone to join us for a church-wide fast. Fasting is the voluntary act of abstaining from something for the purpose of growing in self-discipline. We can give up something because Christ means more to us than whatever we are giving up. And while we're fasting, we must also be praying. Fasting without prayer is just a diet (or giving up something). When we fast and pray, we can grow closer to God.

Welcome to New Members, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day (Pastoral Emphasis for 2/14)

We recently had two new members who have completed their NMO and elder interviews. Today, I’d like to welcome Sis. Polly Adu and Sis. Joselyne Cepeda   Our next Virtual Prayer Rally will be held on Tuesday at 7:00pm on WebEx. If you cannot attend, please submit your prayer request online .  Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads as a reminder of human mortality. Ashes are also a sign of mourning and repentance to God.  Normally we would anoint with ashes after Bible Study but this year we’ll be doing a drive-thru ash anointing from 12 to 2pm and 4:30 to 6pm . Drive by the front door of the church and one of the elders will be there to anoint you (wearing a mask with gloves or sanitized hands).  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent (40 days excluding Sundays) where we’ll be doing a church-wide fast. Fasting is the voluntary act of abstaining from something for the purpose of growing in ...

He Calls Me Friend, Hope while Enduring Suffering (Pastoral Emphasis for 2/7)

Evangelist Tayon Dancy gave a timely word today on being a friend. She preached on the topic "He Calls Me Friend" from John 11:5-8 , 17-37 . During this pandemic, it's more important than ever that we show ourselves to be true friends to others. Happy Birthday to all the February babies! In these dark times, we all need a light. But where do we find hope during trials and difficulties? Next Sunday, we kick off a new sermon series in 1 Peter entitled "HOPE while Enduring Suffering" .  Invite someone to join us as we dig into what 1 Peter says to us today.

Pastoral Emphasis (from Church Family Meeting on 1/31/21)

The elders and I will be evaluating the status of our services on a quarterly basis. As previously stated, this first quarter, we'll continue with our Virtual Services. We'll continue to monitor the situation with the pandemic to determine when we can have outdoor services and eventually in-door services.   Again, I want to encourage everybody to take advantage of how easy it is to attend our Virtual Bible Study and Foundation Fellowship classes now. There's really no excuse to miss them since you don't have to get dressed and come out to church. We have some exciting topics coming up in both classes. Next month in Foundation Fellowship, we're digging into how to delight in the Trinity . We're currently studying the book of Romans in Bible Study. If you can master Romans or better yet let Romans master you, you will definitely grow spiritually. And don't forget to attend our monthly Virtual Prayer Rallies on the third Tuesday at 7pm. This is a great time...

Baby Announcements, Virtual Prayer Rally, MLK Holiday (Pastoral Emphasis for 1/17)

Congratulations to Eric and Danielle Mtika on the birth of their son, Malachi on January 2, weighing 8 lbs 6 oz and 20 inches long.  Join us on Tuesday, 1/19 for our first Virtual Prayer Rally  of the year at 7pm on WebEx . You can submit your prayer requests online .  Tomorrow is the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. There is still much work to do to realize his dream where people are judged not by their color but the content of their character. As Christians, we know that racism and prejudice are sins and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. We must spread the Gospel and make disciples.  In all of this chaos, one thing that God is doing is exposing the idols in the American church. When someone like Franklin Graham compared the Republicans who voted against Trump as the same as betraying Jesus, then you know that they are looking at Trump like he's christ. But our Savior is not Trump, Biden, Obama, or any earthly president...our Savior is the Messiah King ! A...

Virtual Winter Game Night, Church's Mission, Prayer Rally (Pastoral Emphasis for 1/10)

Join us for our next Virtual Game Night on Saturday, January 16th, at 6 pm. We are going to play a virtual version of the word game Scattergories . The deadline to register on Realm is TODAY .  The mob violence that happened at the Capitol last week is just another reason for the church to be about her mission. Human depravity was on full display. This is why our purpose to worship Christ, spread the Gospel, and serve the community is vitally important. The hope for our nation is not politics or the government but Jesus Christ . The church must not let current events distract us from our mission of making disciples . And a part of the church's mission includes prayer . The church is to be the Lord's house of prayer. So mark your calendar for our first Virtual Prayer Rally on the 19th at 7pm ET on WebEx .  If you can't make it, you can submit your prayer requests online . Join us for an hour of prayer.

Only God, January Birthdays & Anniversaries, Virtual Bible Study (Pastoral Emphasis for 1/3)

It's the first Sunday of 2021!  Only God could have brought us through last year.  Only God deserves our worship! It's January and we recognize those who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries . Our Virtual Bible Study resumes on Wednesday, 1/6 for both the Adults and Youth with a study on the book of Romans. In the first section, we'll cover chapters 1-3 as we focus on God's Righteousness Towards Man's Sinfulness .

New Year's Eve Service, Discerning the Wills of God, 2021 Church Theme (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/27)

We praise God for Joselyne Cepeda who contacted us online to say that she trusted Christ as her personal Savior and is a candidate for baptism. Congrats to the following youth for participating in 6 of 10 Youth Bible Study Sessions from October to December.  Jadon Roberts (10 sessions)  David Acheampong (9 sessions)  Shaun Johnson, Jr (7 Sessions)  Celebrate bringing in the New Year by tuning into our New Year's Eve service where we'll have singing, testimonies, a brief sermon, and prayer. We are still putting together all the elements of the program so we'll announce this week when the broadcast will start exactly but it should not be before 11 pm ET.  Next Sunday, we will be celebrating the Lord's Supper for the first Sunday in 2021. So stop by the church this week during open hours to get your communion kits.  We often want to know the will of God but did you know that God has multiple wills? And how does our “free will” tie into God's will? Join us ...

New Year's Eve Service, Be Safe during the Holidays, Merry Christmas (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/20)

There will be NO Bible Study for the next couple of weeks to allow everyone to spend time with family.  We'll kick off a new series in Romans on January 6. Join us for our Virtual New Year's Eve Service . And don't forget to submit your 2-minute video testimony for the service. We want to end the year praising God for what He has done in 2020 instead of just complaining about the year. Please be safe during the holidays . State health officials reached out to faith leaders in our community to let us know we are seeing an increase in the percent of positive tests and hospitalizations from COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread throughout our state. We must all do our part to stop the spread of this virus.  Remember that the traditions and gatherings that we hold dear provide an opportunity for the virus to spread. We know that gatherings can spread the virus rapidly. I’m sure you’ve heard of the many positive cases that have come from someone attending a small gathering ...

Virtual Prayer Rally, Newest Member, Last Outdoor Service (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/13)

Our next Virtual Prayer Rally is on Tuesday, December 15th, at 7:00 pm on WebEx . If you cannot attend, please submit your prayer request online .  I would like to welcome our newest member who has completed New Members Orientation and an elder interview: Bro. Jay Hagood  This is our last outdoor service for the year. We'll be switching back to our virtual-only service for the winter. In 2021, the elders and I will continue to evaluate each quarter regarding how we'll conduct our services.

Virtual Game Night, December Birthdays & Anniversaries (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/6)

Don't forget to register on Realm today for our first Virtual Game Night on Saturday, December 12th, at 6:00 pm. We will play Trivia (with a wide variety of categories). Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating a birthday in December! Happy Anniversaries to our December couples!

Thanksgiving, Virtual Game Night, Bible Study Resumes (Pastoral Emphasis for 11/29)

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving ! Even though we may not have been able to gather with family like we wanted or have all the fixings, we still have much to be thankful for! Join us for an evening of fun and games at our first Virtual Game Night on Saturday, December 12, at 6:00 pm. We will play Trivia (with a wide variety of categories). Please register on Realm by December 6 so we know how to prepare.  Don't forget that Bible Study resumes this Wednesday with the second half of Ephesians.

Virtual Game Night, Great Prayers Sermon Series, Happy Thanksgiving (Pastoral Emphasis for 11/22)

Today, Elder Bobby Dunn preached from Isaiah 26:1-4 on the topic " Whom Can We Trust Completely? ". He covered the root of complete trust in God... R -isk Of Trust: Count The Cost  O -bject Of Trust: Jesus  O -utcome Of Trust: Salvation  T -ype Of Trust: Forever Don't forget to join our new Community Bulletin Board group on Realm so you can share important events, accomplishments, prayer requests, photographs, testimonies, scripture, etc. with your church family.  Join us for an evening of fellowship and fun. We will pilot our first Virtual Game Night on Saturday, December 12th, at 6:00pm. We will kick off the night with some ice breakers, followed by a game of Trivia (there will be a wide variety of categories). Please register on Realm before December 6th so we know how to prepare.  As we close out this year with our church theme of " Being a House of Prayer ", our next sermon series will be called Great Prayers . We'll examine a few of the great p...

Sentenced to Life, How should Christians respond after the Election (Pastoral Emphasis for 11/8)

Minister Lydia Amekuedi brought the message today from Genesis 3 entitled "Sentenced to Life...".  The serpent was sentenced to life on the ground. The woman was sentenced to life with painful childbearing. The man was sentenced to life with painful work and toil. But God promised that the seed of the woman would prevail over the seed of the serpent. We will all be sentenced to life. Either we will be sentenced to life in eternal torment and pain, separated from the loving presence of God. Or we will be sentenced to life in eternal joy and happiness in the loving presence of God. What shall we do as Christians when the election is over. Let us not demonize those with who we disagree but show love and honor . If your candidate won, I caution you not to put too much hope in the outcome of the election. And I remind you to show compassion to those struggling with fear over their loss. If your candidate lost, I remind you to not be deflated and give in to fear but trust that ...

What Christians Believe About Their Mission, November Birthdays & Anniversaries (Pastoral Emphasis for 11/1)

Today, we concluded our Christianity 101 series with a message on what Christians believe about their mission from Matt. 28:18-20 .  Since Jesus has the authority to command us, He tells us to go and make disciples. Jesus is NOT making a suggestion. This is the Great Commission , not the Great Suggestion .  Making disciples includes two components: evangelism and discipling . Evangelism is sharing the Gospel with the aim to persuade. Discipling is helping believers in their spiritual walk to be more like Jesus. It's an intentional relationship in which we invest in the lives of other believers to encourage, equip, and challenge one another to grow towards maturity in Christ. We have everything we need to obey Jesus and make disciples because Jesus is with us. So even when you and I fail at evangelism and discipling, Jesus is still there! Aren't you glad about that? He forgives and restores. Let us repent and get started again. Happy Birthday to all the November babies. Happy...