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by DR. STACY L. SPENCER, CAO

When we were younger our mothers and fathers would tell us, “Take this. It’s good for you!” It might have meant eating more green vegetables or taking some kind of medicine.

Some of the best advice I could have ever received came from my grandmother. We were talking about someone who was in church all day long. She looked at me and said, “Baby too much of anything ain’t good for you!” I don’t think you have to convince today’s generation that too much church ain’t good… it’s convincing them to come that seems to be the issue. However, there is still some wisdom in what my grandma said as it relates to those of us who have made a commitment to Jesus Christ and His church. We still have to learn balance and what a healthy church life looks like.

Our church, New Direction Christian Church grew tremendously in ten years. We went from 60 people to more than 10,000 people. It was an incredible move of God. We used to gauge how “good” a church was doing based upon the number of people attending and the amount of money a church raised. These things turned out to be terrible indicators because even though we had a lot of people coming to church, we didn’t have a healthy model of what a “good” church looked like. This was all new for us.

It reminded me of the move of God that the children of Israel experienced in their exodus from Egypt. Jacob and his 11 sons, along with their families, relocated to Egypt during the famine. Four hundred years later God had to liberate them from slavery by sending them in a New Direction. Moses was used by God to lead them to the promised land. On their way there, Moses stopped at a temporary campsite in the wilderness where his Father-in-law, Jethro, came out to meet him. He was in awe of the 650,000 people Moses had led out of Egypt.

Jethro even made a sacrifice to the true and living God, even though he had not been a believer. The next morning was a different story. In spite of the large numbers, the powerful move of God, Jethro saw something that was not good. Moses took his seat in the community as the judge of all the people and their disputes. He sits there all day with people standing in line waiting to see him. Jethro told Moses, in Exodus 18:17-21, 23 “This is not good for you or the people. You will wear yourself out and the people.”

In 15 years of ministry at New Direction, I have seen the miraculous move of God in the life of this congregation. We’ve seen miracles, signs and wonders. I’ve also seen us lean in an unhealthy direction. Two years ago I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. I had exhausted all my “good” hormones due to stress.

The toll of tremendous growth had taking a toll on my health. Also, because we were heavily “staff driven” and not “congregation driven” in our ministry, a lot of leaders were burnt out. We were not a healthy church. Don’t get me wrong, we have accomplished some great things for God. We started a charter school, constructed three campuses in Hickory Hill, Collierville and Holly Springs, we started a church in South Africa and began construction on a $30 million town center called Eden Square. We did it with an unhealthy “Come watch me do it!” model.

Jethro told Moses that he was going to wear himself out and the people he was trying to help. It’s unhealthy for church leaders to play the messiah. Even Jesus chose twelve disciples to help him in carrying out his mission.

It’s unhealthy when church members sit back and watch

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING...

IS NOT GOOD!

—Continue on page 12

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any calling, whether it be in ministry or in the corporate world we may become tired but we have to remain steadfast and faithful so that God’s light is shown through us. In my home I know that I have the power to make my husband and children feel secure, loved and at peace. Sometimes we may grow cavalier and treat our homes as just a place to sleep and occasionally have a meal or two together. We’ve come to think of our homes less as sanctuaries and more as shelters. What we should do instead is open up the interiors of our homes, combining kitchen, dining and living room into a “great room.” An open house can create more freedom and togetherness.

Our home is an extension of ourselves. Everything we put into it reflects into our lives. There are several ways to make home feel like a sanctuary to everyone who enters our humble abode. Here are just a few ways:

LIGHT A CANDLE “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:16

When people ask me what role I play in the church, many times I hesitate because I don’t want to be put into a box of just being a pastor’s wife or any other stereotype

of a woman married to a minister. I am that and more. I believe I have one of the key roles in the church – to minister to my husband and make sure that our home is a sanctuary for our family. I am not using sanctuary in the literal sense of it being a temple, but in the sense of it being a place of refuge, a haven and a retreat. Our world has grown more hectic with terrorist attacks abroad and here at home, children being bullied in school, women being attacked in parking lots of shopping centers and hostile work environments. There has to be a place of refuge where our families can come and experience love and the peace of God. In our home on the kitchen counter I have a sign that reads, “You can breathe now, you’re home.”

Our homes are a sacred space for the Lord to commune with us. Our homes are a place for our loved ones. Making home a sanctuary is a calling. Just like with

AT HOME

by FIRST LADY RHONDA SPENCER

HEALTHY CHURCH

STARTS“Our homes are a sacred space for the Lord to commune with us. Our homes are a place for our loved ones. Making home a sanctuary is a calling.”

—Continue on page 7

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FASTINGfor Healthy

Spiritual Growthby PASTOR KARREN TODD

At the beginning of each year at New Direction Christian Church, we embark on a 21 Day Fast to refill and refuel

us for the upcoming year. Fasting is an awesome spiritual discipline that encourages faith through sacrifice.

Biblical Explanation:A Christian’s voluntary abstinence

from food for spiritual purposes.

Broader Explanation:The voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity

Why Do We Fast? As Christians, why do we fast? Because God expects us to. In Matt 6 Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s prayer. He says when you pray, pray this way, “Our Father…”He then goes on to say, “When you fast…” so Jesus gave us instructions on what he expects us to do it. Also, if we pay careful attention to the scripture, we would notice that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach us how to pray; Jesus covered prayer and fasting. So there is an expectation that they are to be done together. Somewhere in the comforts of society the fasting part got lost…and we only concentrate on the Lord’s Prayer from that chapter. But when we don’t fast as Jesus expected us to, we either give away or we don’t access the unlimited power of prayer. By not practicing the discipline of fasting we deny ourselves the power of the impossible. There are so many things that are not being released in your life because you’re not “presenting your body as a living sacrifice” through fasting.

Before Jesus began his public ministry, he fasted for 40 days. No food/no water. If Jesus fasted to release His power, how much more does God expect us to fast or even how much more we NEED to fast for God to release what He has for us?

So we do it because it is expected, but

why at the

beginning of the year?

Why Are We Starting The Year With A Fast?The 21 Day fast in January sets the course for the rest of the year. Just like you pray or complete your devotion first thing in the morning and it covers you for whatever you might face during the day…we apply the same principle for fasting at the beginning of the year. We release God’s principle of “Seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven and God’s righteousness…and all these things will be added unto you”

Once you release that principle in your life…you can get ready for all these things! We believe that blessings of goodness, grace, protection and provision will happen for you and your family throughout the year because you joined with the corporate fast in January.

What is Fasting?You’ve got to realize that this is not just a diet; you’re not just starving yourself…you have to look deeper into what you’re really doing. First of all, Fasting is an act of sacrifice.

An Act Of SacrificeMatt 5:6 says: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.

According to Jentezen Franklin: “Self-indulgence is the enemy of gratitude…full

stomachs and jaded

palates take the

edge from our hunger and thirst for

righteousness. They spoil the appetite for God.”

When we get so involved in who we are that we are no longer thankful for who God is, we “spoil” our appetite.When your appetite spoils your desire for God…it’s easy to get out of His will for your life. Sometimes getting/having everything you want PHYSICALLY edges out some of the things you need SPIRITUALLY.

What are you missing because you refuse to sacrifice?There are some things that we aren’t willing to let go…then we’re upset with God when He’s not willing to release the breakthrough that we need.

An Act Of DisciplineFasting is a private discipline that brings public reward. Without discipline you will never complete the sacrifice. Anybody can start a fast…but it takes discipline to complete one. When you have to have discipline…at some point what you desire from God becomes more important than what you are sacrificing. [Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 for Paul’s understanding of discipline]

An Act Of WorshipWhenever you worship, it’s an act of opening your heart and your mind for God to enter and to be closer in his

—Contine on the inside backcover


T: 901-255-2745 6423 | Summer Gale Dr. | Memphis, TN 38134

Corey MayhornDanielle Porter

WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN FINANCE?When I was in high school, I found myself really enjoying all of my math and accounting courses – algebra, geometry, basically everything but trigonometry. One of my teachers told me that I was really good with numbers and I may want to pursue a career in accounting. Low and behold, she was right. I discovered that it really was my niche and passion.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION AND TRAINING.I’m a proud graduate of Overton High School, class of 1987. I majored in accounting and received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from LeMoyne-Owen College. I received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Phoenix.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR NEW DIRECTION?I’ve been with the ministry for 14 years. However, I’ve been employed, full-time for 12 years.

WHAT’S THE BEST ASPECT OF YOUR JOB?The best aspect of my job is experiencing and watching God do some amazing

and unexpected things. I get to see Him multiply and give the increase. I say to myself, “He truly loves us.” In addition, I get to work with a team that is smart, fun and loves God.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AT NEW DIRECTION?We consistently have a clean audit opinion each year. I’ve been blessed to have solid teams of volunteers that have been faithful for many years.When we secured the current facilities for our Collierville location, we had saved 95 percent of the construction cost. We’ve secured funding resources to obtain all of our multiple locations.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE HERE AT NEW D WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE CHURCH?I would like for us to be more diligent in reducing debt, so that we can focus

more on kingdom. I would like for us to have secured the majority of the funding for Eden Square in the next two years. In addition, I would like for us to find a permanent location that we can purchase for our Collierville campus.

OUTSIDE OF WORKING, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING? I enjoy baking, shopping and interior design. I also dabble in event planning.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.I’m married to Kenneth J. Smith. Kenny and I have been married for 19 years. We helped raise my niece, Brandi. Brandi is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee in Nashville. She’ll graduate in May 2016. I have two sisters. I’m the oldest child and grandchild. I love my family!

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE CONGREGATION TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?I’ve been blessed to work in the church industry for more than 25 years. I love what I do! I believe I’ve been called to New Direction Christian Church. I’m enjoying my journey and I look forward to all of the surprises that God has for this ministry and my family. n

Interview by ARIEL HARRIS YOLANDA

SMITHSTAFF FOCUS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER


God created each of us to be in relationship with Him and with one another. In intimate

relations, people struggle with a desire to be loved, respected, valued, affirmed and heard. Long-

term relationships require daily care to maintain closeness.

It is imperative that a healthy relationship have these essential factors so both parties can reap it benefits. Let’s

take a deeper look at these key relationship components:

1-Healthy Communication is the most important skill in life. Healthy communication in a relationship requires the involved parties to actively listen and display assertiveness.

Active listening is a communication technique that requires the listener to feed back what they hear to the speaker, either by restating or paraphrasing, and confirming understanding between both parties.

Assertiveness is the ability to honestly express your opinions, feelings, attitude and rights, without unwarranted anxiety. Assertiveness does not violate the rights of others.

Assertive people take responsibility for their messages, using “I” statements rather than “you” statements. “You” statements typically cause the other person to become defensive. Assertive communication indicates that the individual does not assume their partner can read their mind. Partners who communicate assertively emphatically ask for what they want or need.

2 & 3 -Respect & Trust are evident when each individual feels safe to be open, honest and authentic. Respect means not judging or criticizing the other person’s opinions, feelings and beliefs. It is imperative to learn to acknowledge the other person’s opinions, feelings and beliefs without interruption.

Acknowledgement does not mean agreement, but acceptance of what the other person is expressing. Manipulation is a common problem in relationships when partners consistently attempt to change the other person. Continuous attempts to change the other person lead to dissatisfaction and resentment. God uniquely made each of us, and He said everything He made is GOOD.

4 -Teamwork is important, especially when conflict

Signs of a Healthy Relationship

by BARBARA PRUITT

7—Continue on page 12


I love candles. Scent is a key factor in your sanctuary. Studies show that 75 percent of emotions are triggered by smell. On one occasion when my family and I were guests in someone’s home, one morning after taking a shower Stacy said to me, “There ain’t no love in these towels.” He equated smell with love. I used to save candles and burn them only for guests coming over or for holidays. Then one day I read an insert in a book about a young lady who had many beautiful things that she kept tucked away. She vowed one day that on a special occasion she would use them. As life would have it, she missed her opportunity to share those special things with those she loved. After reading that, I made a promise to myself not to wait for company to come over or a romantic night with my husband to motivate me to set a righteous mood in my home. I realized that doing special things for myself, such as lighting candles, has been very healing and gratifying. Validating my self-worth and honoring myself through these little routines creates happiness in my life. Doing it has brought me much joy, and the overflow of my joy enriches my family in our sacred space. Lighting a candle or using a Glade product is a very small thing to do that yields great rewards. It contributes more to the home atmosphere than you may think!

UNPLUG FROM THE WORLD. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 We are all social creatures and we tend to monitor people and things around us. If we are watching and worrying about what others are doing we don’t have the resources and energy for ourselves. We have to escape the over stimulation of social media, cell phones, etc. and retrain our minds to be less distracted.

CREATE A SACRED SPACE In our sanctuary we have privacy, which is just a retreat from outside intrusions. There should also be some component of comfort and familiarity in your sanctuary – pictures of loved ones, a favorite throw or a favorite place to keep warm. We were also inspired by the recent movie, “War Room” to create a prayer closet where we have a wall for prayer requests, answered prayers and space to spend time praying for our family.

SET THE ATMOSPHERE WITH MUSIC. When our boys were little, to calm them down before bedtime I would play some soothing music. Now that they are older I still hear them playing calming music as they do their


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Life AfterTRAGEDY

T H E J O J O J O N E S S T O R Y

How do you move on after burying a child?

This is a question that Willie Mae Jones is still coming to grips with a year after losing her son Jarmelle “JoJo” Jones, who was murdered in his Cordova home Nov. 28, 2014.He was 26 and Jones’ baby boy in a family that also includes an older brother and a cousin that was raised with him like a sister. There is also a younger stepbrother that JoJo was close to as a mentor and older brother.

JoJo also has a wide circle of friends that remember him as a cook, a basketball enthusiast, a mentor to young children and the life of the party. “He was a party promoter too and he sold hair,” Jones said about JoJo. “He was one of the biggest (hair) vendors in Memphis. I still get calls.”

During a telephone interview from California, Willie Mae Jones said she decided not to spend this past Thanksgiving in Memphis because of the stress and the sadness. She also lost her father in October. “Me and JoJo were always super, super, super close,” Jones said. “You can close your eyes and imagine not having your child that you are used to seeing every day. It’s just overwhelming.”

Jones said her family is coping, but added, “It’s a struggle every day.”“It’s taken a toll on my health,” Jones said. “I have not been able to return to work. I’m under a doctor’s care.”Jones said she works at Nike and that it allowed her to shower her sons with top rate sports gear as they grew up. She said JoJo was a dedicated “sneaker head” with a collection of about 320 pairs of tennis shoes.

JoJo was also a good student at Germantown High School, Jones said. “Their dad is really strict when it comes down to education,” she said.

Jones has fond memories of her home being the gathering place for JoJo’s high school friends. JoJo played sports all the way through school. Jones said she always had snacks and movies available to JoJo and his friends. “I had so many people calling me momma, it was just my name,” she said.

Jones said one of the hardest things she had to do last Christmas involved a special present JoJo bought for his sister, a pair of boots that she desperately wanted and had not been able to find. JoJo had asked his mother not to let his sister open her present from him until he got to the Christmas celebration. “I had to give her the gift and to tell her what he said,” Jones said. “All of the holidays, he was just the center point. Everybody waited until he got there.”

Regina Wallace, who was like a sister to JoJo, said she has found the best way for her to cope with the loss is not to be in Memphis. “Over time everything will get easier,” she said. “We just try to pull together, especially during the holidays.”

Jones said she knows of no progress in the investigation into JoJo’s murder. The family still hopes police can catch the killer so that they can have some closure. “We just want justice,” she said. “We know somebody out there knows something. Jarmelle was bigger than life. It’s sad, we’re losing our children.” n

by JOHN SEMIEN


Jarmelle “JoJo” Jones


LIVING AN by PASTOR JAMES KING

When you read this passage it sounds like there should be a certain kind of joy for life that

bubbles up out of us. A joy that makes itself known in song and poems and maybe a little dance and gratitude for nothing at all and everything all at the same time. It reminds me of a song that was written about 31 years ago by a contemporary Christian music artist named Carman. The song called “Well” that reminds me of what it means to L.U.I. or Live Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit. Here is a verse of the song:

Well, it happened about a year agoA little church where I liveHad me a drink of that living waterOnly God can giveI came home, my family just stared at meAnd I knew what they was thinkingMy daddy just put his hands on his hipsAnd said, “Boy, from what have you been drinking?”“Was it a bottle?” I said, “No.”“Was it a vat?” I said, “No.”He said, “Where have you been drinking at?”

Your life can exemplify the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in these three ways:

1 When you live filled with the Holy Spirit there should be something different

about your walk and speech that sets you apart from the rest of the world. Living Under the Influence is visibly noticeable. I am not saying that you have to be “sunshine and rainbows” all the time, but there should be an optimism and joy that does not

originate from the things and places where everyone else derives their joy.

Here is the chorus to the “Well”:

I’ve been drinking from the well, the well, the well that the world knows not of. It’s that life giving, living water that flows from God above. Well, you can’t find on Wall Street, this sweet release. It’s worth more than all the oil in the Middle East. Well, there’s nothing alcoholic that makes me feel no pain. It’s the Holy Ghost and fire flowing through my veins It’s the well, the well ,the well that never shall run dry.

2 The empowered Christian life that is lived under the influence of the Holy

Spirit is grounded in an overflowing relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The best way I know to keep connected to the power of God is to spend time in God’s word – basically prayer and Bible study. Jesus says in John chapter 15 that the way that his power and love flows through you is just like a branch growing from a tree. If you stay connected to Him – He will stay connected to you. Here is the last verse from the “Well.”New Year’s Eve, I came skipping homeI waltzed in through the doorMy brother Joe-Joe could hardly talkLaying drunk on the floor

He said, “Hey, where’ve you been at you look so good?”I said, “I was in church since 8:02”He said, “Uh, don’t give me that”.“Even I can tell, there’s something potent inside of you”.“Expensive liquor?” I said, “No”.“That homemade junk” I said, “No”He said, “How’d you get so drunk?”

3The empowered Christian life that is lived under the influence of the Holy

Spirit is one that is rooted in fellowship with other believers. I saw a marquee outside of a church that said, “Seven days without going to church makes one weak.” There is something powerful that happens to our lives when we are among other thirsty believers drinking from the same well. We are refreshed, we are encouraged, we are inspired and we are reminded that we are not alone. That is why in Hebrews 10:25 we are reminded not to forget getting together to worship. When our praise is combined with someone else’s praise there is the creation of a beautiful and powerful symphony. Some have called this an offering to God that is like a sweet intoxicating fragrance. We hope that as this year comes to a close and you are making plans for next year, consider getting an L.U.I. citation. And when people ask you, “Where have you been drinking?” Tell them you have been drinking from “The Well” here at New Direction Christian Church. n


homework or if they just need to relax.

UNCLUTTERED HOME = UNCLUTTERED BRAIN

Another thing to do is to keep your house tidy. I’m not saying spotless because there are way more important things than having a spotless house. I am saying uncluttered. Yes, keeping an uncluttered space can drain us, but a quick pick up of things can make it more pleasant for everyone. Remember, you’re not in this alone. One of my mottos for our house is that “everything has a place.”

OPEN YOUR BLINDS AND LET THE SUN SHINE IN. During this time of the year many people unknowingly suffer from a condition called seasonal effective disorder because of the lack of the sun. Make sure your house is bright in every way.

A LOT OF LAUGHTERLaughing is one of the best things you can ingrain in your

family’s minds! Wouldn’t it be amazing to be remembered as the wife and the mom who was always full of laughter? Laughter gives you a brighter expression, an unexplainable feeling in your heart, a joyful outlook on life and it’s contagious!

A HOME COOKED MEAL Nothing beats smelling a homemade baked something! Some

days this cannot happen, but it’s o.k. Try to make an easy thawed out meal. The aroma will have the same effect. When I try a new meal and there are no leftovers I know that I put my love into that meal.

FAMILY DEVOTIONSAND PRAYER TIME

Devotion and prayer are the most important things you could ever do to invest in your family’s well being. I don’t know what role you play in your home – daughter, sister, wife, mother or all of the above, if you are a woman this message is for you. You are the heart of your home. You cannot in any way make a home a sanctuary if your heart is not in the right place. If you have bitterness, pride or hatred in your heart for anyone or anything, all of your efforts to make your home nice or peaceful or even functional, will benefit to nothing. Ask God

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every morning, every afternoon and every evening to empty you of yourself so that you might be a willing and clean vessel that the Lord can pour His Spirit into, so that you might be used for His glory. The emptying is a moment-by-moment process, especially in the life of a homemaker! It can be tough to remember to ask God or have a desire to do so, but it is the only thing that works. Being side by side with Jesus is the only thing that can get you through the day. n

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arises. You must remember that you are on the same team; either you both win or you both lose. I Corinthians 13:4-7 intimates, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts and always hopes.”

5 -Sharing responsibility and decision-making within the relationship is essential. In healthy relationships, the partnership is equal.

6 & 7 -Individuality & Self-Care are important because it is unreasonable to expect your partner to give you everything you want or do everything for you. You have the responsibility of taking care of yourself by identifying what you want and determining how to get it. Clearly, directly and assertively make requests of your partner. It is not okay to accuse someone else when you failed to assert yourself. Remember, conflict is a natural part of any relationship. Be quick to forgive when conflict arises. When we don’t forgive, we destroy our own joy and peace. We kill our own soul. Forgiving has two positive results: 1) releasing yourself and 2) creating possibilities of reconciliation between you and your significant other. Learning to communicate with your partner is a lifelong process. There will always be ups and downs – times when you are in a good, loving place, and times when you feel worlds apart and don’t even like each other. However, if you commit yourselves to working to understand each other, sharing yourselves transparently and forgiving through the hard times, you will have a strong foundation upon which to maintain a healthy relationship. n

Barbara Pruitt is a licensed counselor and office manager at New Direction Christian Church Life Change Counseling Center. Call the center at 901.334.5378 to schedule individual or couples counseling.

7 Signs of a Healthy Relationship

their leaders do all the work. Have you ever noticed that in church the people who do the most complaining are the people who are doing the least amount of work? If we are going to be a healthy church, each member must be part of the solution not the problem.

It’s unhealthy for leaders not to empower other leaders to help in the load of ministry. The church is an army of people who come to be inspired to go out and advance the Kingdom agenda. Spectating is an unhealthy sport in church.

This is a prescription for a healthy church:

1.Your pastor should be freed up to primarily teach/preach and pursue a vision of what God wants from the faithful. Staff, ministry leaders and volunteers in the church should handle the day-to-day needs of ministry. The difficult cases are brought to the pastor. When other leaders are empowered it frees the pastor up so that he/she is not overwhelmed and worn out. The people need to be taught and fed the word of God from a pastor that is well rested, prepared and ready to pour into the congregation.

2. Select capable leaders, men and women who fear God, have integrity and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. There is so much work to be done in church but not enough leaders. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. We are developing a leadership pipeline at New Direction so that we can raise up and train new leaders out of our congregation so that we can be healthy. Do you know what happens to people when they sit around and don’t exercise? They become morbidly obese and unhealthy. There are too many members who are spiritually obese and their gifts are wasting away because they are not using them.

3. If each of us gets involved in this ministry, your pastor will be able to stand the strain and each of you will go home satisfied. What is satisfying for an individual is when they are plugged into their purpose. You can go to any church and be entertained for a season but if you never find a significant way to give back you will not leave satisfied. When you are connected and committed you are less likely to become bored and you will not leave a ministry where you are making a significant contribution.

My prayer for 2016 is that New Direction becomes a healthy church. No more stagnant people watching from the sidelines. No more massive crowds of underdeveloped disciples. This is the year where we come out of the stadium seats and pick up our crosses to follow Jesus out into the community. This is the year that we free up the apostle to be the visionary and teacher God has called me to be so that you can become the Disciple of Christ that you were called to be. This is good for you! n

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.... by DR. STACY L. SPENCER, CAO


Do you make New Year’s resolutions? It’s easy to set fitness goals at the beginning of the year, but what’s not-so-easy is actually keeping them. Life gets busy,

we get distracted, and before we know it, we’ve slipped back into the same sedentary habits we had resolved to break.

Let’s break that cycle this year, shall we?

As you plan for a happy, healthy 2016, keep these six tips in mind as you set your fitness goals.

YOU CAN’T OUT-EXERCISE BAD EATING While exercise is a great way to burn calories, the weight

you gain from overeating won’t come off quickly unless you

change your eating habits too. Church Health Center

Wellness offers affordable personal training as well as nutritional counseling to help you develop a comprehensive plan to meet your fitness and dietary goals.

CRUNCHES WON’T GIVE YOU

A FLATTER TUMMY Contrary to popular belief, “spot reducing” – losing fat in one area by exercising those muscles – does not work. Fat storage and fat loss patterns are controlled most-ly by your genes. To burn fat and increase strength, adults should train each major muscle group two or three days each week using a variety of exercises and equipment. Adults should also do flexibility exercises at least two or three days each week to improve range of motion.

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE If you want smaller thighs, you may want to consider picking different parents! Studies show that our genes play a major role in

determining our body types, so don’t get discouraged if exercising doesn’t help

you achieve the physique you desire. Let the many other benefits of

exercise – more energy, improved mood, prevention of chronic dis-ease – motivate your workouts.

GET UP AND GET DOWN

Standing up and sitting down without assistance is one of the best

exercises you can do to build strength and endurance, and you don’t even have to have any special equip-ment! Try to do 10 sets daily without using your hands.

JUST KEEP MOVING! Health research indicates that people who move more live happi-er, longer lives. You don’t need a gym or a partner; just a little time and space. Find small ways to keep moving. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stand at your desk instead of sitting. Get off the bus one stop early and walk. Just move.

READ FOR BETTER HEALTH Understanding how your body works will go a long way in help-ing you make better decisions about your health. It’s your body; learn how it works. n

The Church Health Center seeks to reclaim the Church’s biblical commit-ment to care for our bodies and our spirits. To learn more about personal fitness training and nutrition counseling at Church Health Center Wellness, call (901) 259-4673 or log on to churchhealthcenter.org/wellness.

Make Fitness Your PRIORITY IN 2016

By Richard Murphy, Church Health Center Wellness Exercise and Movement Manager & Raven Bledsoe-Douglas, Church Health Center Wellness Exercise and Movement Coordinator


For years Chastia James was confined to a sickbed of debt because of an early attraction to the credit cards offered to many college age students. Today, the 29-year-old celebrates her $15,000 in credit

card debt because it was once $40,000. She admits that as a teenager, she unknowingly began cultivating the perfect environment for financial ailments. “I got my first credit card when I was 18 in 2004,” she said. “It was really easy to get.”

She said paying that Goldsmith’s credit card bill was just as easy. She could even pay the bill for a second card she got a year later as a college freshman. Then during her second year in school her mother got breast cancer. The cards turned into lifelines when her mom stopped working. “We used them to make ends meet. Buy groceries and clothes and keep the lifestyle we always had,” she said. “It was just me going out and swiping that card because I didn’t know any better.”

She didn’t know “harassing” creditors would call constantly. She didn’t know they would levy her bank account, garnish her payroll checks and take her to court. She didn’t know interest rates could bump a $2,000 credit card bill up to $5,000.

In 2010, when Chastia walked across the stage to accept her college degree, overdue bills for nine credit cards, a car note and $40,000 in student loans were waiting for her on the other side. She

said shame, distrust and depression poisoned her life for the next few years.

The peak of Chastia’s financial infirmity coincided with a debt free sermon series from Dr. Stacy Spencer, pastor of New Direction Christian Church. Even though she often secluded herself during that time, Chastia forced herself to go to church. “I made sure I got to Bible study,” she said.

The Sunday sermons and mid-week small group interactions helped her acknowledge her debt and encouraged her to educate herself about finances. The teachings also exposed how the credit maze had snared others in financial bondage.“I saw I wasn’t the only one in debt,” she said. “The more I started talking about it, the more I wasn’t ashamed.”

The debt talks and debt research empowered Chastia to implement realistic plans to alleviate her debt, pay off her car note and improve her credit score from the 400s to the 600s over the course of two years. “By the grace of God and people He was sending my way,” Chastia paid off a few credit cards and rewarded herself with a trip to Europe. But she made sure the trip didn’t set back her progress. “I didn’t shop. I bought a few souvenirs in Paris,’’ she said. “For me it was about making the memories.” n

by BRANDI HUNTER

BONJOUR!to being Debt Free!

Say

“I didn’t shop in Paris,...it was about making memories.”


home. I am a recipient of the SLS scholarship award and I would like to acknowledge how much it has helped me. I needed a new laptop because my old one was giving me too many problems and I was afraid it would crash on me while I was in school with all of my work on it. With the money I received I was able to buy a new MacBook and now I am able to do all of my homework on my laptop without worries of it crashing, getting viruses or not coming on at all. I am so thankful for this scholarship and I give God all of the thanks and glory for this church believing in me and investing in me so I can succeed and come back and give to my community.

Shannon WaltonBeing a freshman in college is totally different from being a freshman in high school. I have learned a lot during these last couple of months. It has helped me get ready for the real world, and it has also helped me to live on my own. I can say it has not been that easy in college, but I know that God will help me along the way through the process. God has helped make most of my decisions for me. If it was not for Him I don’t know where I would be now. I have found a church in Nashville called COJC. It stands for Church of Jesus Christ led by Bishop Fred Matthews. I praise God that he has led me to a church that reminds me of home. It has been a great experience for me and I pray that I accomplish my goal at Tennessee State University. I am so thankful that I have an awesome mentor. She checks on me and makes sure everything is going great. I am very thankful that NDCC has started this mentoring program. It is good to know that you have people on your support team. n

Our SLS Scholarship award recipients have officially made it through their first semester of college! Many of the students have said their

experience at their universities have been wonderful so far. Staying on top of their grades, getting involved with different organizations and finding themselves in Christ are their main priorities.

Aaronis TurnerMy college life at Austin Peay State University is going great! God is helping me along the way because it has been hard, but my grades are looking great. I didn’t waste any time getting into different organizations. Confident Couture, a modeling organization, Engage, a community service leadership program, and Govs Programming Council are a few of the many I am in. I am enjoying getting to meet new people and learning about different cultures throughout this semester. My SLS Mentor, Ms. Stephanie Nelson, is definitely helping me along the way. I can text her for anything and she is right there. I am truly glad I have her. I cannot wait until next semester to branch out some more and get

more involved.

Christian Martin I am Christian, I attend the University of Tennessee

at Chattanooga, and it is going great so far. The

professors are nice people and the people are nice as well. There are times when I am so hungry because there is no food in my apartment and the cafeteria is closed, but besides that college is a great experience. I am finding out who I am as a person and new interest I never would have thought that would have interested me living at

scholarship Recipientsfollow up!

by ARIEL HARRIS

Inside Out Magazine is a publication of New Direction Christian Church

6120 Winchester Road| Memphis, TN 38115All rights reserved. No material in this issue may be reprinted without the written permission of the

publisher. Entire contents copyright © 2015.

PUBLISHERDr. Stacy L. Spencer, CAO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dion Paul, Marketing Manager

ADVISORY BOARD: New Direction Direct Leadership Team

MANAGING EDITORS:Brandi HunterJohn Semien

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS: Pastor Karren ToddPastor James King

Pastor Shamichael HallmanBarbara PruittBrandi HunterAriel Harris

PHOTOGRAPHER: Antoine Lever

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRINTING: New Direction Christian Church

presence. Fasting does just that.

When David was fasting he said that “Deep calls unto deep”- his hunger and thirst for God were greater than his natural desire for food. As a result, he reached a place where he could cry out from the depths of his spirit to the depths of God, even when it looked like there was no hope.

When you worship him thru fasting you honor God with your body. So how powerful is it and how pleasing it is to God when we lift our hands in worship him with words and then our bodies are also in tune with the spirit of God.We always say that at New D we’re doing things from the inside out…well, fasting is your opportunity to worship God from the inside out!

When we fast, God doesn’t just release solutions, he releases new assignments; he releases clarity on current assignments, he releases new streams of income…you can hear him clearly; distractions don’t even bother you! Fasting releases the anointing, the favor and the blessing of God. God is the Lord of the Breakthrough and when you worship him completely - When your mind, your spirit and your body are all on one accord: You’ll start getting breakthroughs that you forgot you prayed for! I challenge you to join the 21 Day Fast in January 2016 and watch God blow your mind--n

FASTING for Healthy Spiritual Growthby PASTOR KARREN TODD

inside out magazine - issue #2

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