mana newspaper april 2016

APRIL 2016 The MANA Newspaper | 1

MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE OF NORTH AMITYVILLE

ASH WEDNESDAY What Are You Willing to Give Up? .........................3From The Office of the President.....................................................3When the Odds Are Against You ........................................................425th PASTORAL Anniversary Celebration 2016 ..............................4The Value of the Vote ........................................................................5Easter is Not Over After Sunday .....................................................6The Torch is Passed the Tradition Continues ................................7Congratulations on a Job Well Done ...............................................7

The Preacher Who Could Not Celebrate .........................................8“Come out of the baggage” ...............................................................8Preacher or Activist .........................................................................9Why I Am Grateful for the Local Church......................................12Do Our Worship Experiences Miss the Point? ...............................13Greg Stier: Using Donald Trump to Evangelize ............................13Small Groups vs. Sunday School? ..................................................145 Reasons Why You May Need to Break Off a Relationship ........15

2 | The MANA Newspaper APRIL 2016

The MANANEWSPAPERMinisterial Alliance of

North Amityville

NEWSPAPER STAFF

Dr. David Robinson

President

Pastor Keith Hayward

Executive Editor

Bishop Andy C. Lewter

Managing Editor

Pastor Roy Kirton

Consultant

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS

Vernell Duncan

Sharon Jackson

Nadine Johnson

ASH WEDNESDAY What Are You Willing to Give Up? ............................................................................. 3

From The Office of the President ............................................................................ 3

When the Odds Are Against You .............................................................................. 4

25th PASTORAL Anniversary Celebration 2016 .................................................. 4

The Value of the Vote .................................................................................................. 5

Easter is Not Over After Sunday .............................................................................. 6

The Torch is Passed the Tradition Continues ....................................................... 7

Congratulations on a Job Well Done ........................................................................ 7

The Preacher Who Could Not Celebrate ................................................................ 8

“Come out of the baggage” ....................................................................................... 8

Preacher or Activist ...................................................................................................... 9

Why I Am Grateful for the Local Church ...............................................................12

Do Our Worship Experiences Miss the Point? ....................................................13

Greg Stier: Using Donald Trump to Evangelize ...................................................13

Small Groups vs. Sunday School? ..........................................................................14

5 Reasons Why You May Need to Break Off a Relationship ..........................15

By: Rev. Dr. David I. Robinson

March 2016, is the month we as Christians celebrate the Death and Glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. John the son of Zebedee records the words of Agape Love in John 3:16; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Listen to the words of Jesus as recorded in John 10: 10-11; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the I echo the words of the hymn written by Alfred H. Ackley, 1933: I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today, I know that he is living, whatever foes may say. I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him, he’s always near. He lives, he lives, and Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.

Let us rejoice, for our Lord and Savior is alive forevermore!

From The Office of the President

ASH WEDNESDAY What Are You Willing to Give Up?

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. In the typical Ash Wednesday observance, Christians are invited to the altar to receive their position of ashes. The Minister applies the ashes to the forehead in the shape of the cross, reminding us of our sinfulness and mortality, and our need to repent and get right with God before it’s too late. The symbol of the Cross reminds us of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified; there is forgiveness for our sins. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance. Ashes were used in Ancient Times, according to Scripture to express mourning. Dusting one’s self with ashes was a way of expressing sorrow for their sins and faults. The use of Ashes is exhibited in Numbers 19:19, Jonah 3:6, Matthew11:21, Luke 10:13 and Hebrews 9:13.

During the Season of Lent, many people begin fasting (giving up some foods or habits for 40 days). Allow me to seize this as a teaching moment: Fasting just for the sake of fasting has no spiritual benefit. Fasting is the discipline of abstaining for food and drink and other activities for biblical reasons. It is sometimes referred to as “Afflicting One’s Soul”. The art of Fasting is to demonstrate the sincerity of our prayers. Giving up your favorite foods or habits during Lent profits nothing if after the Lenten Season you return to those old habits and no change has taken place in your life. Wearing Ashes on your forehead is meaningless, and I dare say hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance and change of behavior.

I ask the question, what good is wearing Ashes on Ash Wednesday and on Thursday you curse somebody out? What

good is wearing Ashes on Wednesday and on Friday you lie and gossip about somebody? What good is wearing Ashes on Wednesday when you refuse to let go of your nasty attitudes? What good is wearing Ashes on Wednesday when you refuse to allow Jesus to enter into your heart-thus giving you a new walk, a new talk and a new fellowship with family and friends.

Don’t be confused, Ashes have no Saving Power. Ashes have no Redeeming Power, and there are no magical powers in Ashes to change one’s heart. I can have Ashes placed on my forehead, and still keep my nasty attitude if I don’t have a repenting heart. I can have Ashes placed all over my body and still raise hell in the church if I don’t have a sincere repenting heart.

And so, I caution members of the Body of Christ not to celebrate Ash Wednesday as the world does. The world celebrates Ash Wednesday as one day. Thousands if not Millions will receive Ashes on Ash Wednesday, but will return to their old ways on Thursday.

I ask the question: What Will You Give Up? Not for 40 days, but what will you give up for the rest of your life. Will you denounce your membership in the Lenten Season Crowd that initiates change for 40 days and then return to business as usual or will you join the Christian Band that declares with trumpet clarity All to Jesus I Surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

If you have a repenting heart, and want a closer walk with God; let the Ashes represent a change that has taken place on the inside.



THEME: “A Minister, A Mentor and A Motivator – 25

Years of Leadership Worth Following” “Remember your leaders who taught you the

word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and

follow the example of their faith” Hebrews 13:7 NLT

MONTHLY SERVICES & EVENTS

Living Hope Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church 900 Old Sunrise Highway Massapequa, NY 11798

(Corner of Carmen Mill Road & Old Sunrise Highway)

Sunday, January 10th – 4pm Bishop Andy C. Lewter, Pastor

Hollywood Full Gospel Baptist Cathedral, Amityville

Sunday, February 28th – 4pm Rev. Evan Gray, Pastor

Macedonia Baptist Church, Arverne

Sunday, March 6th – 4pm Rev. Curtis L. Whitney, Pastor

Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Brooklyn

Friday, April 8th – April 10th 25th PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

(Details on Reverse Side)

Sunday, May 15th – May 15th Rev. Lisa D. Jenkins, Pastor

Friday, June 3rd – 7:30pm Rev. Craig Scott Brown, Pastor

Bethany Baptist Church, Jamaica

Sunday, September 25th – 4pm Bishop Jason McCants, Pastor

New Gethsemane Baptist Church, Brooklyn

Sunday, October 30th – 4pm Rev. Johnny McCann, Pastor

St. Luke Baptist Church, Brooklyn

Sunday, December 11th – 4pm Bishop Michael V. Talbert, Pastor

First Church Ministries, Wyandanch

St. Matthews Baptist Church, Harlem

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TICKETS CONTACT

Sis. Theresa Sanders, Chairperson (631) 882-9512

Rev. Wanda Faye Myers, Co-Chairperson (516) 473-3359

Deacon Paulette Battle, Co-Chairperson (631) 671-6643

When the Odds Are Against YouRev. Dr. Keith Hayward

Have you ever felt backed into corner, with the odds stacked against you? In situations like that, Christians’ too often refuse to acknowledge an important truth. That is, they fail to recognize that God may actually be orchestrating their challenging circumstances.

You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. The world and Satan are doing this to me.

Perhaps, yet maybe, just maybe God is trying to tell you something—and He first needs to get your attention.

Time and again in Scripture, we see that the Lord uses difficulties to build our faith. It’s easy to trust Him when things go your way. However, God often removes comfort and false securities from our lives to remind us that He is the true source of our strength.

Consider the scriptures’ in Judges 7: 1-7 in which Gideon was ready to lead a powerful militia of 32,000 men into battle against the enemy, the Lord stepped into the situation two different times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of its original size. We may have replied, What? It’s impossible; 300 men alone couldn’t do it. But the Lord could.

When the odds are not in your favor, don’t think that God has abandoned you. Your money, your success, and even people you thought were friends may disappear, but they wouldn’t win the battle anyway. Stand your ground and stay focused on the Lord. With everything else stripped away, you’ll be amazed at what your heavenly Father will achieve.

25th PASTORAL Anniversary Celebration 2016Rev. Dr. Patricia Rickenbacker & Deacon John Rickenbacker, Sr.


It seems that our country has returned to being on edge. There are a number of reasons that account for this, not the least of which is the rather chaotic presidential campaign that has dominated most news cycles for the last several months. No, this article is not partisan and I am not writing in an effort to persuade you to one side or the other. The media and well coordinated campaigns are doing an outstanding job of that already.

What I am here to write about is just how important it is for everybody to participate in the electoral process regardless of who your preference is. In terms of my own community, I am not slow to remind us that it was only about 50 years ago that members of the civil rights community took on the task of registering members of the community so that those who had been disenfranchised before would have an opportunity to exercise full citizenship here in the United States of America.

The Value of the VoteBy Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

I the end, it does not matter you are more comfortable as a Democrat or a Republican, if you see yourself as a member of the red states or the blue states, or whether you travel in the herds of elephants or donkeys. What is most important is that we do not allow the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf be wasted with apathy and dis-interest.

Eight years ago, so many people were excited about the presidential race. In all my years I have never seen the kind of activity I witnessed at the Northeast Elementary School in the year 2008. It was a beautiful thing to see people of all colors and opinions taking to the streets to make their own civic contribution to the sacred honor of being able to vote.

On last week I heard a group of people in the barbershop discussing whether or not those with a “record” were able to vote. Many expressed concerns over being embarrassed at the polling places because of some misdeed they performed in the past.

However, may this article serve notice that as long as you are not on probation or parole, you have an undeniable right to participate in the electoral process. One of the other items I hear is that some people may be uncertain as to whether or not they are registered to vote. Let me remind you that if you voted in the election of 2008 or 2012, you are already registered and can not be denied the right to vote.

I leave it to your conscious and heart in terms of who you should cast your vote for. But by all means make sure that you “pull the lever” because too many people suffered and even died for you to have the right to do so.


featured the Biblical narrative of Jesus. From Jesus of Nazareth, to the Robe, to the Last Temptation of Christ, I have watched Hollywood repeatedly try to portray what is in the Bible on the large screen.

So, when I sat in my seat to watch Risen, I naturally assumed that this would rest somewhere in between the many era pictures I have seen before regarding Jesus. Much to my surprise however, I soon realized that this was a different kind of movie. First of all the movie featured a young adolescent, not an enfant being carried by his mother.

The movie places the spotlight of its attention upon those forty days that follow the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. From the perspective of a Roman soldier, who happened to be involved in the cruxifixion itself, what begins as a journey of doubt and suspicion becomes an extraordinary tale of conversion and belief. While it is certain that the producers of the movie has taken certain liberties with the more traditional Jesus story, the movie reminds up that it was not until the resurrection of Jesus that his disciples came to fully believe in what Jesus had been telling them for the previous year.

It is during these “post-resurrection” days that the disciples come to embrace who Jesus was

No doubt that by the time that you are reading this it will be after Easter Sunday, so on the behalf of our new president, Pastor Keith Heyward and the entire staff of the Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville and Vicinity let me wish you all a belated Happy Easter.

Even thought the actual day of Easter may have passed, let me hasten to remind you that the Easter event was not confined to a single day. In a matter of fact, the Bible, especially the Gospel of John, makes it quite clear that the ministry of Jesus lasted at least another 40 days beyond that Sunday morning when Jesus stepped out of a borrowed tomb on Golgotha’s hill.

One of my great pastimes is going to the movies. Just about Every Friday I take my 86 year old father, Daddy Lewter, to one of the latest releases that is playing in one of our local theaters. It was not too long ago that I treated dad to a movie entitled “Risen”.

From the early previews of the movie I assumed that this would be another typical treatment of the Jesus narrative dominated with the themes and subtle messages that Hollywood likes to insert in a story that carries so much spiritual weight with it. As a child my dad took me to see “the Greatest Story Ever Told” at Radio City in Manhattan. Since then I have seen just about every movie that has

Easter is Not Over After SundayBy Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

and commit themselves to a life-long career of evangelizing his message to all of the world. In like fashion, let us not expend all of our energy and concentration on the Sunday morning that He got up from the grave, but let us use even the time after Easter Sunday to strengthen our own resolve and rededicate ourselves to doing all that we can to live a life that is exemplary and pleasing in His sight.

It is during the post-resurrection days of Jesus that He meets with Thomas, heals the sick and appears to so many. And while the Roman authorities are anxious to locate the body of the slain preacher of Nazareth, even the Roman officer who seeks him the most ends up with a life changing experience. So, most of us have spent the forty days prior to Easter as our exercise of denial and sacrifice.

I am in no way intend to minimize the value and importance of fasting and praying during the time of the Lenten season, but do remember that it was his death and resurrection that actually purchased our salvation. With that in mind I encourage all who are reading this not to conclude your celebration with the setting of Sunday’s sun, but celebrate even after the sun has gone down because Jesus stayed here long enough to make sure that we never forget him.


The Torch is Passed the Tradition ContinuesBy Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

Nearly thirty years ago when “crack” usage and abuse became a problem of epidemic proportions, a group of ministers in the North Amityville and Copiague community came together and led demonstrations at the corners of Great Neck Road and Albany Avenue. Those ministers were led by Dr. Andy C. Lewter of the Hollywood Baptist Church who called for congregations to leave their church buildings and merge on what was called “Da Block” to protest the lack of control and policing of the area by the Town of Babylon.

In the aftermath of those demonstrations came the birth of the Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville and Vicinity. From that time until the present the Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville and Vicinity, now referred to as MANA, has been a leading force for change and justice in the neighborhoods of North Amityville, Copiague, East Farmingdale and East Massapequa. From the Annual Martin Luther King

evening programs to the Annual Good Friday services, MANA has been the organization that groups have turned to in order to mobilize the community.

On Saturday of last week, March 26, 2013, the members of MANA came together to select their leadership for the year of 2016. The mantle of leadership has now fallen into the hands of Pastor Keith Heyward of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Copiague, New York. Pastor Heyward follows in the footsteps of several local giants such as Dr. Andy Lewter, Sr., Bishop Frank O. White, Pastor Roy Kirton and most recently, Pastor David Robinson.

Pastor Heyward comes to the seat of leadership when there is an unprecedented growth of church and ministries that have come to the area of North Amityville and Vicinity. Two weeks ago, a group of over 20 ministers came together, convened by Dr. Walter

Willie, of the Prayer Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Amityville. “People are looking for opportunities of fellowship” says Dr. Willie. Pastor Heyward has pledged to reach out to the growing population of ministries in the area and offer them avenues of fellowship that will grow and enhance the community.

Born in Bermuda and having pastored in Philadelphia, PA prior to coming to Long Island, Pastor Heyward brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the office of MANA president. While in Philadelphia, Pastor Heyward was apart of the leadership in that city’s ministerial association. “Our unity and fellowship was so strong in Philadelphia until even the mayor could not be elected without our involvement” explains Pastor Heyward. The community of North Amityville and Copiague looks forward to the sterling leadership and insights that an Heyward administration will bring to the historic MANA organization.

Congratulations on a Job Well DoneBy Bishop Andy C. Lewter

For the last two years the Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville has been sustained and stabilized through the sterling and visionary leadership of Dr. David Robinson, pastor of the Shaw African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Amityville, New York.

Following the presidency of Pastor Roy Kirton, Pastor Robinson has led the MANA organization through some of its most memorable moments since the inception of the organization in 1989. When the country was in an uproar over the killing of Michael Brown, President Robinson led a protest march to the Suffolk County Police headquarters on Route 109 in West Babylon. When New Yorkers took to the streets when Eric Gardner cried “I can’t breath” and was murdered on Staten Island, it was President Robinson who worked behind the scenes to insure that residents all over Long Island would have an opportunity to express their anger and dismay.

Over the last two years, North Amityville and vicinity has not had a more dependable friend and ally than President David Robinson. He has consistently supported every major initiative that has proven to be beneficial to the community.

Perhaps most importantly has been his involvement and support of the MANA Newspaper that you are currently reading. During the presidency of Pastor Roy Kirton, Pastor Robinson served as the Editor in Chief of the newspaper. Once he moved into the position of MANA president, he continued to provide counsel and leadership to the publication. We are happy to report that even though President Robinson will leave office as MANA’s head, he has agreed to remain active in the organization and assume the office of Treasurer.

The MANA organization will forever be indebted to President Robinson for his strong and steadfast leadership. To him we say “Well Done and Thank You”.


Hello everyone. It’s been a while. I’ve just been super-busy in life lately and I don’t want to fall down the “gotta put something out” rabbit hole every week. I pray you’re doing well.

Many years ago I served in a community on the west coast and there was a pastor of a rather good sized church who had a strange paradigm – he was ridiculously complimentary of any church and pastor that was “at his level” or larger . . . But when it came to “smaller” pastors and churches, he was dismissive even to a point of being nasty about it.

I think one of the problems in the pastoral ranks is that we’ve starting ranking pastors. I appreciate the T.D. Jakeses, the Joel Osteens, the Paul Mortons, the Joseph Walkers, the Kenneth Ulmers . . . But there are pastors right in my community, my state who have preached just as fervently, love their churches just as

“Come out of the baggage”Scripture: Samuel 10:22

Saul was the first king of Israel. When Israel asked for a king, God did not want them to have one but they were insistent. God chose Saul to be their King and sent Samuel to anoint him. When Samuel got there, Saul could not be found. He was about to be granted an opportunity of a lifetime but he was hiding among the baggage. Fear overwhelmed Saul and he made every effort to escape the responsibility by hiding himself.

The interesting thing about this story is that Saul was hiding from an opportunity and he was hiding in baggage. The King James Version calls it “stuff”. Theologians agree that the stuff or baggage that Saul was hiding among actually belonged to him. It was not someone else’s stuff, it was his own and he was hiding in it.

What are you hiding from and what is the baggage that you are hiding among? There are opportunities knocking today and when opportunity knocks, open the door. Pain of the past is merely baggage that we hide among. Baggage from the past will hinder the success of our future. If it’s important we will find a way. If not, we will find an excuse and hide among it.

We must give as much energy to answer the door as we do to hide from it and work as hard to achieve as we work to hide. Yesterday we hid behind tomorrow. Now tomorrow is here so come out of the baggage. Seize the opportunity.

passionately and they may not have grand stages, they are making a difference in their communities.

In my home community of Portland, OR, there was a pastor named Jerry G. Myers. Pastor Myers came up through the ranks at my mom’s home church, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, and he pastored a congregation, 50 miles away in Longview, Washington. Pastor Myers was faithful. Man, I don’t know if I could have done it, but he made the distance to that church, even sometimes when it was just him and a handful of people who trod out in the snow. He was well respected and lived to be over 100. He was celebrated by his peers. No, he didn’t see 500 a Sunday. No, he didn’t have a choir and excellent organist. No, he didn’t appear on CBN or TBN or The Word Network. But Jerry Myers was faithful.

You can learn (and appreciate) the work and ministry of any pastor – no matter the site of his church.

I’ve lived long enough to hear people equate crowd with blessings . . . But it was a crowd that rebelled against Moses in the desert. It was a crowd that put David on the run when Absalom was after him. And we all know, it was a crowd that cried out “crucify HIm” against Jesus, our Christ.

So this is my appeal – celebrate EVERYONE. Even if you have to do so on credit until you get an understanding of their circumstance. Birthday? Celebrate them. Anniversary? Celebrate them. Accomplishment, large or small? Celebrate them. To not celebrate a colleague is to create an impression that “you’re too big” or “two shallow.”

Maybe the reason why people don’t rejoice with you is because you don’t rejoice with them.

Consider this. Paul never pastored but he heaped praise upon those who did. Selah.

The Preacher Who Could Not CelebrateBy Robert Earl Houston


Preacher or ActivistBy Pastor Lisa Jenkins

The question caught my attention immediately. I was reclining in my bed at 5am in the morning, flipping through Facebook posts on my cell phone. Somebody had posted a flyer about an event that was happening in just 3 hours. Pastor Jamal Bryant, along with Justice League NYC, was planning a counter-protest against an unnamed group which had announced their protest in front of NFL Headquarters in Manhattan. In case you’ve been in hibernation for the past two weeks, certain folk are a wee bit upset that Beyonce’s half-time performance paid homage to the Black Panthers — the organization which provided free breakfast to children of color all over the country, free after school tutoring and much more. The original protest group, however, was never fully identified. No matter…

In any event, I was amazed at the number of people (black people) who made comments in the FB thread degrading Pastor Bryant for organizing a counter protest against this unnamed group of haters. “Is he a preacher or is he an activist?” was the question. As if one could not or should not be both. Not only should a preacher (minister) be an activist, but ALL Christians are called to be activists. I could point to people like Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the many abolitionists who helped to free those who were enslaved. But let’s go back a bit further. Why should preachers, or rather, Christians in general, be activists?

1) Because we are disciples. Disciples are those who follow in the footsteps and teachings of another – in this case, Jesus. Disciples do not just embody the beliefs and teachings of Jesus. But disciples are called to act out those beliefs and teachings in everyday life. With that in mind….

2) Jesus says something very important in Luke 4:18-19. Let’s look at the Easy to Read Translation — I didn’t make that up, by the way — I just found out about the ERV translation myself. Apparently, God wants absolutely errrrrrbody to get this!) So in the ERV Translation, Jesus Christ, himself says, The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. He sent me to free those who have been treated badly and to

announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness. (emphasis mine.) Jesus is saying that his calling is to not just speak up, but his calling is to do right. Guess what? That’s what we’re supposed to do. Speak up and do right. Why? Because we are disciples. When Jesus says that his job is to set folk free, who have been treated badly, do you think that means that he and his boys (better known as the Twelve Apostles) would just knock on jails and houses of detention and say, “excuse me, but you have some people here who have been treated badly and who need to be set free.” Ummm. No. It was a dangerous and oppressive society that they lived in and Jesus came to not just talk, but he came to act. And that meant that he had to act in ways that often surprised folk.

3) Remember that scene in the temple…..the one where he is known for turning over tables? Right. That one. We forget that Jesus had to get ugly every now and then. I can only imagine the stuff Jesus did that didn’t make it into the Bible. But that scene where he was turning tables in the temple. That was a protest. And it wasn’t just marching and chanting. Jesus was all the way live. He said, “Look, this place is supposed to be a house of prayer, but you’ve turned it into a den of thieves.” They were abusing the economic system. They were overcharging common people and cheating folk. So Jesus said, ‘Now git!!” (while holding his whip in his hand).

4) We are reminded that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament. One of the most prophetic verses in the Bible is when Isaiah tells the people to “seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17). Didn’t say, stand by while injustice and unrighteousness occur. Didn’t say to let the oppressive members of society continue to weigh their harsh hand of brutality and suffering upon the heads of those less fortunate. Again, the people are admonished to do something about the situation.

5) I almost forgot… Someone else said on Facebook, “I guess I’m not used to preachers talking about hate. I think preachers should just talk about love.” Jesus cannot talk about love without addressing and correcting the sin of hate. The NRSV translation of the bible has hate mentioned over 200 times. And that’s just the root word. In order to correct the sin, the sin must be addressed. Hate must be dealt with.

Finally, during this season of Lent when we journey toward the cross at Calvary, let’s remember what the cross really was/is. The cross was reserved for insurrectionists and rebels. The crucifixion was reserved for individuals who were deemed threats to the established order. Those were the people who received the long, painful crucifixion of the cross. Everybody else got a nice quick beheading. But the fact that Jesus died on a cross, lets us know that, yes, it was for our sins. His journey with humanity was to deliver us from sins of complancy in the midst of cruelty. To save us from sins of apathy in the midst of abuse; to save us from sins of indifference and detachment while brothers and sisters and marginlized people everywhere are being taken advantage of and at worst, killed.

So during this season of Lent, while many are giving up sweets and food and bad habits, let’s give up apathy. And if you’re not going to do anything, please move. You’re in the way. There are some tables in need of being turned over.


2016 Martin Luther King Awards Breakfast Photos

Images By Thomas Goddard of TAG Photos


Why I Am Grateful for the Local ChurchBy Dan Reiland

I love my church where I serve, but I’m also very grateful for the local church in general. In all its beauty and flaws, I can’t imagine culture surviving without it.

Amidst the pressures and problems leaders face, I’ve written this post as an encouraging reminder to all of us who serve in a local church. A reminder that even on the tough days, there is no greater privilege. And even in the difficult seasons, there is no greater joy.

Perhaps this may serve you in your private devotions or a public message you need to deliver soon! The points in the article are an expression of my personal thankfulness for the local church, but it’s based on a foundation of scripture. There is much I could choose, but two of my favorites are in the book of Ephesians.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:10-12

WHY I’M GRATEFUL:

1) The church, through Jesus Christ, is the hope of the world.

Jesus became my welcomed Savior when I was a senior in high school. My life was changed and God immediately re-charted my course to a life ministry as a volunteer. By the time I was graduating from college and pursuing a career in criminal justice as a private investigator, God soon refined my call to vocational ministry. My perspective in life, my purpose and my hope in the future radically changed.

This is my personal story, and Jesus provides salvation, purpose and hope for everyone who will say yes to Him. My gratitude is great toward The Father who would give His Son that I, we, might have eternal life. The local church is God’s chosen plan for redemption!

2) The church gives more than it takes.

The local church is the only organization I know that will provide all that it offers, for free, for anyone, for as long as they want. You do not have to pay to receive what the church has to offer. That is amazing.

The church is the body of Christ (the people) and they freely give so that others may receive the good news of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for the bride of Christ! I serve alongside some of the most amazing, generous and selfless Christians I’ve ever known at 12Stone Church. They give so much of themselves so that we may reach the lost, care for the least and raise up leaders for the next generation to have a brighter future.

3) The church serves as a moral compass in a time when many have lost their way.

My two “kids” are in their 20s now, one is married, one day both will likely have children of their own. These are complicated times to raise kids, much more so than when mine were little, some 20 years ago. What is right and what is wrong is not as clear as it once was.

I’m grateful that we have The Scriptures to point the way, to make clear what is right and help keep us on track. I’m thankful for all the hard working pastors and teachers and volunteers, who are diligent to teach the Word as it stands and to speak the truth in love.

The local church is a safe place to ask question, seek truth, and discover the path to “life to the full” (John 10:10).

4) The church makes a big difference in the lives of the next generation.

The more kids the better, and you can’t have too many teens! Healthy churches love kids of all ages, and kids help make churches healthy. Kids are “messy”—life is messy, but it’s family. That’s a good thing. We learn better in community.

I’ve never been to a church that doesn’t do its best to teach parents about raising great kids to be mature young adults. From sermons to small groups, the training is so helpful. And churches work hard to invest great training directly to the kids and teens to help them grow up and live better lives; it’s hard not to be thankful for that!

5) The church reminds us of what is important and what really matters.

I attended a memorial service recently at one of our campuses. Though there was much human sorrow, there was also heavenly hope and joy. These moments always remind me of what really matters.

The person who passed away unexpectedly and young by comparison was a successful businessman, but no one talked about that. They told stories about how great a dad and husband he was. They talked about how they will miss their great friend who made them laugh and was always there for them. And they talked about how his faith never wavered, and that now he is home with Jesus. A life well lived. His legacy carries on with honor.

I pray your day is filled with joy as you reflect on the privilege you have to serve in His church.


Do Our Worship Experiences Miss the Point?By David Santistevan

Greg Stier: Using Donald Trump to EvangelizeBy Greg Stier

The problem with the “experience” focus is that we focus on inspiring people with our excellence. We have a desire to “wow” people with our talent and production. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, except that’s not enough to categorize something as “church.”

Does our production prepare people to truly live for Jesus?

If our worship services aren’t preparing people for the storms of life, what are they doing?

If they aren’t helping to anchor people to the Rock of Ages, what are they doing?

I understand the semantics of this. Most of us when we say “experience” refer to people having a life changing encounter with the Holy Spirit that will influence how they live for Jesus on Monday morning. I get that. But we can often stray far away from our ideals.

I simply want to offer a challenge in all our worship service planning.

Worship leaders, how can you lead people to Jesus and not just to an awe of your talents?

Preachers, how can you produce a congregation of people who learn how to feed themselves with God’s Word Monday through Saturday?

It’s not enough to be entertained by a band. It’s not enough to be inspired by a talented worship leader. It’s not enough to sing your favorite songs.

It’s not enough for worship services to be a form of escapism from reality. If anything, they should prepare us to love Jesus in the midst of life’s realities.

Think about this: Christ died …

“So that he might sanctify her [the church] having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:26-27).

Worship leader, as you lead, think about this verse. Labor to present your church to Christ, not to steal their affections for yourself. Labor to root their faith in more than a powerful, energizing experience.

We all know what happens when our faith is merely experiential, celebrity-driven or a chasing of the latest fad: Faith falls away when life is shaken. I have numerous friends whose fire once burned bright for the glory of God. I remember the conversations about reaching the nations, giving it all, going for broke. But many of those people are no longer following Jesus. It was an experiential faith—faith based on experiences: a feeling.

Our worship, our preaching, our services need to go deeper.

We need to view our worship planning through the lens of transformation.

The Problem With “Experiences”

Are we missing the purpose of worship in our congregational praise?

What is it that really constitutes a great worship experience?

To me, the word “experience” doesn’t do justice to our gatherings.

When I think of experience, I think of my family’s recent trip to Disney World. Man, that was an experience. It was an experience lugging two toddlers around the enchanted streets. It was an experience buying a $10 turkey leg. It was quite the experience seeing the castle lit up at night with fireworks all around. It was memorable. It was fun. Was it life changing? Hardly.

I’ll remember Disney. It was a unique family memory. But nothing about that experience will prepare me to live for Jesus and speak of Jesus and magnify Jesus in a dark world.

And that is what I feel our worship “experiences” are truly for. We gather not to have a memorable experience. We gather to be changed.

Changed … by the living Word of God.

Changed … to be sent out and live for Jesus in our communities.

Changed … by giving praise to the One who is worthy of all adoration.

Worship Is Transformational

It’s more than an experience.

We don’t gather for information but transformation.

It’s simple. Just ask someone what they think of him and let him or her unleash the torrent of their pro or con opinions!

As you listen, be WAY more interested in hearing their opinions on the Trumpster than telegraphing your own. If you totally disagree with them (and want to avoid an inevitable argument) use terms like“that’s interesting” and “I’ve never considered that before” and so forth.

If you agree with what they’re saying about Mr. Trump then pile on your own opinions like giant helpings of hair.

At some point you can begin to make what I like to call a “salvation segue” toward spiritual subjects.

You can say things like, “I know he claims to be a Christian. Do you think he is?” or, “I wonder how God feels about his stances,” or something like that.

From there, begin to share the Gospel message in a loving and kind way. You may even want to download the free Life in 6 Words app to help you navigate this way-more-important-than-Trump conversation.

Wherever you stand, when it comes to the Donald, I hope and pray you stand even firmer in camp Jesus! Although he is not running for office, he has already been crowned as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Let’s use “The Trump Card” (and any other card we can find) to introduce others to Jesus!

Using a cultural lightning rod to talk about the Gospel.

“What do you think of Donald Trump?”

OK, I don’t really care to know, and I definitely have my own opinion … but that’s not what this blog is all about.

What it is about is how such a lightning rod subject Donald Trump is and how easy it is to use him as a Gospel conversation starter. Because EVERYONE seems to have an opinion about him and many are just itching to express it.

So how do you use this “Trump card” when it comes to evangelism?


Small Groups vs. Sunday School?By Steve Gladen

If the goal is to teach the Word of God, does it matter if your people meet in a church classroom or living room?

The debate over Sunday School versus Small Groups continues. Each side debates the merits of their system, while pointing out the “flaws” in the other system. I often overhear the question, “Does your church have Sunday School or Small Groups?” The question is often a veiled way of asking, “Is your church a traditional one that is stuck in the rut of Sunday Schools?” The common notion is that Sunday School is a system that traditional churches cling to, while more modern and progressive churches move toward small groups. The truth, however, is not that simple or clear cut. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. More important than the “system” used, is the desired result – spiritual growth and health.

Before you decide on using Sunday school and/or small groups as a delivery system for health, make sure you understand what health is. Once you know what type of attributes you want to see in a follower of Christ, then you can develop a delivery system to align with your purpose and your church’s culture. At Saddleback, we believe a healthy follower is someone who is balancing the Great Commission and the Great Commandment in their heart and life. We believe the best way to do that is through small groups. That doesn’t mean, however, that you cannot use Sunday School to produce healthy followers of Christ.

The first two churches I worked at (one as an intern and one as a staff member) were Sunday school only churches. The next two churches I worked at combined Sunday school and small groups. My last church and Saddleback Church are totally driven by small groups. At each church there were pros and cons to their delivery systems. Looking back, regardless of the delivery system, I realize the most important thing is to know why you have small groups or Sunday School. Many churches have Sunday School or small groups simply because that is what they have always done. They have given little thought to their desired result, and whether the particular system they are using is the most productive for achieving that desired result.

It’s the same reason churches have a mid week services or Sunday night service. It’s not about strategy, but it is how we have always done it. It is important that you understand me clearly on this; small groups, Sunday school, midweek service, and Sunday night service in and of themselves are not bad. However, absent of a strategic purpose, they could be consuming resources, time, and energy. Worse yet, they may be working against your stated purpose, and as such, they may be confusing your people.

Everyone in your church has 168 hours a week to give. The world is competing with you for those hours. The church is only going to get so many of those hours. With this full realization, ask yourself, what is the best use of your peoples’ time? What would be most effective in making them a follower of Christ?

As a small group proponent (which, by the way, does not mean I am against Sunday School), I receive all kinds of questions about Sunday School and Small Groups. During a recent email exchange with Rick Howerton and Mike May they also shared some of the questions they often hear. Rick Howerton is Small Group-ologist/Specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also a member of the Purpose Driven Small Group Network. His church, The Bridge, is located in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Mike May is our PDSGN State Point Person for the state of Mississippi. He is also the Education Pastor for First Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi, a Sunday School church. Below is a list of some of those questions the three of us commonly hear.

Are small groups replacing Sunday School?

Small groups and Sunday school don’t have to be enemies of each other. They can work together if they are aligned to what you want in producing a follower of Christ. It is true, however, that there is a general trend away from Sunday School and toward small groups. Here are a few reasons churches are making the switch.

First – churches need their parking lot emptied for the next service that is starting. Churches that have multiple services and also hold Sunday School during those services are usually struggling with finding places for their people to park. Attending one service, and then attending Sunday School afterward (or before) can tie up a parking space for two service times. If parking spaces are limited, this is a real problem. Without a place to park, new people can’t come to church.

Second – for sheer economics. Sunday School requires classrooms. Your Sunday School attendance will always be limited to the number of seats you can provide. It often comes to a point where the money that is being spent on classrooms might be better spent elsewhere in the community or the church. Small groups meet in homes, so space is never an issue for the church.

Third – people often cannot give you two to three hours in one shot. Time is often our most precious commodity. With more demands on your peoples’ time, giving you a Sunday school and church service at the same time often just won’t work. It is easier for them to attend a small group later in the week on another day than to “tie up” their entire Sunday morning.

Lastly – By providing Sunday school as your only means of developing people to be a follower of Christ, you are giving people two options—take it or leave it. In a culture full of options and diverse schedules, people are looking for more options from their church too.

What about Sunday night service or the Wednesday night service becoming times for small groups?

This may be a good starting point because your culture may have developed these times for people to set aside for church, but the power of small groups is ability to pick the day and time that serves group members best. When you pick the times and days, you limit one of the strengths of using small groups as a means to deliver health.

Should you replace the name “Sunday School” with an alternative name?

If you are going to do a facelift on your current structure and format, then a new name communicates something has changed. However, if you put a new name on similar structure and format, you will only damage your relationship and credibility with the people attending your church. Your people aren’t dumb. You need to do more than change a name for them to believe real change has taken place.

Isn’t Sunday School lecture-based while small groups focus on discussion and application?

Although most people see the two delivery systems in this context, it doesn’t have to be that way. Without the right strategy, a small group or Sunday School can be nothing but a lecture from the leader. You need both Biblical truths and application. People need a chance to learn and interact with each other as they apply these truths to their lives. If you are just providing lecture-based content, you are in danger of merely repeating what happens on the weekend. With the internet, lectured-based content is easy to come by. Most Christians know far more than they put into application. Make sure you have a good balance in your strategy.

What do we do with the kids if we go to small groups?

This is one of the greatest challenges of the small group movement. Not impossible to overcome, but a plan is needed. Where Sunday school has this issue very well taken care of, small groups with children need a POA, plan of attack! Here are a few suggestions:

Exchange childcare with another small group. For example, their group meets on Mondays and yours meets on Wednesdays. While some of your group members provide childcare on Mondays, some of their group members provide childcare on Wednesdays.

Work with the Youth Ministry to make childcare for small groups a serving opportunity.

Bring a babysitter to the group meeting and split the cost of childcare among members.

Have group members take turns “stepping out” of the group to watch the kids in another part of the house. Don’t have a couple ever go out together, but use two same sex spouses so at least one of the spouses is getting group time and getting to know another spouses during childcare.

If two group members live relatively close to one another, ask a babysitter to watch the kids at one house while the group meets at another.

Can Sunday School and small groups co-exist in the same church?

You bet! Sunday School and small groups can co-exist as long as they are aligned and not competing with each other. This same potential

for “competing” can happen with affinities such as Men’s, Women’s, Couples, and Singles ministries in your church. If it is not aligned with your delivery systems to create healthy followers of Christ, then any program can deter the effectiveness of your church. So, make sure your Sunday school and small group vision, mission and strategy are working on the same process and not building walls between the two. I would suggest that the two ministries report to the same person.

Can I our church members attend Sunday School class and a small group?

Sure…as long as they have the margin. Some people fill their schedules with lots of church activities, but are not growing spiritually healthy. Make sure they are not just being busy, but developing their spiritual health.

If doing both Sunday School and small groups, should church members be expected to attend both?

Absolutely not! You want to take them deep not wide. The reason they are attending either is to develop community which serves as the foundation for holistic discipleship. I would be more concerned that they are living out the Great Commission and Great Commandment in their lives than whether they are attending every event the church offers.

What differentiates a Sunday School class from a small group?

Location and title. Other than that, both delivery systems should be aligned to the same principles. The methodologies will be different, but the “end in mind” should be the same. Of course, this may vary from church to church.

What characteristics do small group leaders need to exhibit that Sunday School teachers do not (and visa versa)?

Depending on how you define what you want to see in a follower of Christ, the primary function of both the Sunday School leader and the small group leader is to understand where each student/member is in their spiritual walk, and then encourage that person to take their next spiritual step. Whether that is happening in a small group or a Sunday School class, the leader needs to always be thinking about how to move their people along their spiritual journey. Once the leader understands that, then their particular gift set can be used in either a Sunday School class or a small group. The secondary function should be to teach and apply the five biblical purposes found in the Great Commission and Great Commandment. By doing this you sharpen the strengths of students/members and develop their weak areas.

Will starting a small group ministry weaken a pre-existing Sunday School? If so, why? If not, why not?

When people were debating whether baseball should be televised on this new invention called Television, the naysayers were worried if people watched baseball on TV, then they wouldn’t come to the ballpark. As history proved, this thinking was faulty. The same applies to this question. Having both gives you more opportunities to develop people and reduce the excuses for not doing one or the other. There is strength in alignment and not fearing the other delivery system. If they are both producing the same “end” it should not matter which they choose. Think about it, a new person doesn’t come to church bent on doing a small group or Snday school, they just want their needs met and grow spiritually. Only you are hung up on Sunday School or small groups.

We have a good Sunday School at our church, why should we start a small group ministry?

If it is in the culture and leadership to do it, yes. This will give more people more options to grow as Christ followers and develop leadership skills. If you are thinking about starting a small group ministry, read my recent article entitled, Things to Think About Before Starting a Small Group Ministry. LINK We are all on the same team, we all have the same game plan – to bring as many people to Christ as possible and develop them into the likeness of Christ. Why not do it in whatever way works best for your church and your culture?

If you are a Sunday school proponent reading this article, congratulations on having an open mind! The chances are, if you have an adult Sunday school, your delivery system for that church is settled; at least for now. No matter the delivery system, the key is to understand what you want to see in the life of a follower of Christ, and guiding your leaders toward achieving that desired result.


5 Reasons Why You May Need to Break Off a Relationship

By Seth Barnes

2. COVERING FOR OTHERSIf you’ve lived with an alcoholic parent, it’s an embarrassment. You want to hide their dysfunction so that you don’t have to deal with the pain. So you cover up. You make excuses and even take responsibility for the mess they’re making.

Taking too much responsibility for others can permanently scar your life. For example, it’s common for relatives of suicide victims to assume that they should have done something about it. The thought “if only I had …” plays on a permanent loop in their minds. The truth is, they need to not take responsibility for someone’s terrible mistake.

3. “IF I QUIT, I’VE FAILED”Some of you were in survival mode for years in your family. You were bravely trying to surf the high waves of severe family pain. You swore that you’d never quit and you tenaciously hung on. Maybe dad was absent, but you soldiered on anyway.

God bless you, the pain was horrific at times. However bad it got, you just gritted your teeth and tightened your grip. And now that habit is a part of your character, for both better and worse.

4. MISPLACED LOYALTYIt’s one thing to be loyal to friends, it’s another thing to let them abuse your trust. If you’re in a situation where a friend has been manipulative, it may be time to draw a line. What have you promised them and what do you really owe them?

You may be blind to situations that have gone on too long and need more accountability than you’re providing. Your loyalty needs to be to the best version of your friends and family—to their health. True loyalty will fight against dysfunction.

5. CODEPENDENCYInstead of growing in maturity, you may be staying in a place where your weakness is enmeshed with the weakness of your friend. Instead of encouraging your friend to grow, you actually help keep them in a place where they are stuck. Why? Because in some way that makes you feel needed.

Change is hard and committing to growth is hard. Much easier to stay in your broken place and hang out with people who will validate your broken behavior, not seeing that your codependency is not healthy for either of you.

So loyalty taken too far can keep us from growing. But loyalty is in short supply these days. So many people live transactionally, often in lonely and isolated places. What about situations where your loyalty is a positive thing? How do we discern the difference between this kind of loyalty and dysfunction?

Cloud makes a distinction—yes, we should help those who can’t help themselves. But we need to recognize that every adult is responsible for herself or himself.

When you find yourself covering for someone else’s responsibilities, Cloud diagnoses your problem and tells you what to do next: “Not only are you stuck with a delayed ending, but you are probably harming that person.”

The best thing to do is to break off the relationship. This doesn’t mean saying goodbye forever, but it does mean establishing boundaries and moving toward the freedom you were made for.

HOW?How do you do this? First, recognize that you probably need someone who can be more objective than you. Few are fortunate enough to have the kind of friend to help in this way. Read Necessary Endingsand take notes. Start to formulate a plan.

If you know of a good counselor, they can often help you discern just how dysfunctional the relationship is. Has it gone over into abuse? What do healthy boundaries look like?

And then, be prepared to say the hard things that need to be said. If doing so in person seems impossible, at least write a letter to get the conversation going. Apply the principles in Matthew 18:12-35, and if necessary, bring an intermediary to help you communicate what you struggle to share.

As you do this, recognize the spiritual stakes. They are high. Get friends who you trust to pray for you and to share with you what they sense God saying. You will likely need more support than you currently have to walk through this and share the truth in love.

Life here is always an adventure and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

“Sometimes our loyalty is covering up brokenness in another person.”

Loyalty is good. I’m a loyal guy. But I’ve found that my loyalty can also be a weakness. Sometimes the most loyal thing I can do is to break off a dysfunctional relationship.

Sometimes our loyalty is covering up brokenness in another person. They don’t need loyalty; what they need is someone to call them on their dysfunction.

But our loyalty keeps us from speaking the truth and keeps us from holding them accountable. And if you were to dig around, you’d see that the reason we are so loyal is usually rooted in some broken pattern from childhood.

Henry Cloud wrote a book, Necessary Endings. In it he lists five ways in which we may be excusing bad behavior and need to make a change.

1. HIGH PAIN THRESHOLDMaybe your childhood was hard. For example, if you lived with an alcoholic parent and especially if you suffered abuse, you had to find ways to cope. Pain was normal, so you learned to live with it.

But if you numb pain too long, your coping mechanisms get in the way of living a normal life.

Pain is not bad—it keeps us from injuring ourselves. If you’ve lived with pain that is abnormally high, your habit of numbing yourself has kept you from experiencing life. Live inside a narrow emotional bandwidth and you’ll not connect with others.

mana newspaper april 2016

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