Decision Counselors Witness for Jesus At Hallelujah Fall Festival

The St. Stephen Church Decision Counselor's Ministry spoke with kids and attendees about the "A-B-C's" of salvation and joining the church at the Hallelujah Fall Festival hosted by the Children's Shine Ministry on Friday, October 29th. "We're not here to lock up anyone, but to help set you free," Decision Counselor Director Min. Angela Lee Price told the children ages 11 and under. 

Approximately 400 children and adults attended the three-hour event that included games, contests, and a deejay. Shine Ministry Director Denise Scrivner gathered the children and gave a 15-minute lesson on the differences between the Hallelujah Fall Festival and Halloween.  "We want to educate the children about the history of Halloween as a pagan holiday.  We do not celebrate Halloween and have asked that children not wear scary costumes," stated Scrivner. Festival goers were treated to hot dogs, and popcorn, and each child received a bag of candy at the end of the festival. Decision Counselors, dressed as sheriffs in teal  Saddle Ridge Ranch t-shirts, cowboy hats, handkerchiefs, and sheriff's badges, and gave away ten "Rounding Up Questions...Driving Home Answers Saddle Ridge Ranch" children's t-Shirts and a gift basket in separate drawings.  Children who stopped by the sheriff's station also received stickers with words "Admit," "Believe," and "Confess" to help them remember what to do to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  The festival was held on the Southern Indiana campus on Saturday afternoon as well.

Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves.

Election Day and the Church: Both Parties Counting On Houses of Worship to Get the Votes They Need - BCNN1

Election Day and the Church: Both Parties Counting On Houses of Worship to Get the Votes They Need - BCNN1

With Election Day just over a week away, churches on the left and right are preaching the same message: Go vote - and do it early.

St. Paul Baptist Church members Lodia Ward, left, and Angela Collins-Lewis look over a sample ballot before getting in line to vote at the Sugar Creek Library on North Tryon on Sunday.
On Sunday, the Rev. Greg Moss used a chant to urge members of his Democratic-friendly flock at St. Paul Baptist to head straight to the polls - just as many of them did on a Sunday in 2008.
That year, Barack Obama and other Democrats built up early-voting cushions that Republicans couldn't overcome on Election Day.


"Let's do it again..." the black pastor shouted seven times near the end of Sunday's 10:30 a.m. service.

"...in 2010," St. Paul's worshipers answered each time from the pews and the balcony.

At uptown's First Baptist of Charlotte, where Republican positions get a warm reception, the Rev. Mark Harris also urged his congregation on Sunday to go to the polls early - just as he did.

To help them decide who to vote for, the Southern Baptist pastor passed out candidate surveys conducted by the conservative N.C. Family Policy Council. Among the questions asked: Should the state and federal constitutions be amended to define marriage as being between a man and a woman?
By law, churches - tax-exempt organizations - are not permitted to endorse individual candidates from the pulpit.

But both political parties are counting again on churches friendly to their side to mobilize members to vote.
And though they differ on many issues, pastors Moss and Harris agree that churches do have strong positions on moral and social issues and should take the lead in encouraging big voter turnouts among their congregations.

"We are good citizens, and it is not just a citizen's right to vote, it's an obligation," said Harris, whose 3,400-member church hosted former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee - a likely GOP presidential candidate in 2012 - last July 4.

"We certainly try to respect separation of church and state. But that doesn't mean we don't take positions on issues. Our emphasis would be on social issues the Bible speaks clearly to."

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Survey Shows That Talking Politics Is Most Common In the Black Church

Those who want their churches to provide political campaign information as well as a place to enjoy Christian fellowship may want to consider joining black congregations.

A new survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press finds that among religious groups, encountering political information at church is most common among black Protestants, with 36 percent of voters who regularly attend services saying information on political parties or candidates has been made available at their place of worship.

That certainly holds true at Ephesians New Testament Church in Fontana. Rev. Emory James said his fellowship often holds forums where his flock can learn about various political issues.

"These are the kinds of things that my church does, but we in no way attempt to influence someone's decisions on who to vote for," James said.

His church is not the only local one to host forums.  Read more

Source:  The Sun, Josh Dulaney

St. Stephen Black & White Gala

Are You Sitting On the Premises Or Standing On the Promises?

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 speaks to the people of God who are called by His name. Clearly, God was not speaking to the unsaved, but to the saved. It starts, "If my people...." This promise was originally given to Solomon concerning the children of Israel. God said through Solomon that if His people would do four things, humble themselves, pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, He would forgive their sin and heal their land. This says to us that if we would humble themselves, pray and seek God's face, in a spirit of repentance, then so much of the brokenness that we are experiencing today would be forgiven and healed. What an awesome promise this is!

The word 'if" that starts this favorite passage of scripture is found in the middle of these three words, "life," "strife," and "gift." We know that life is "iffy," strife abounds, and gifts are not being used. These things happen when we sit on the premises instead of stand on the promises. When we sit on the premises, we are tossed to and fro by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:14). When we sit on the premises, our young people are lead down diver's paths into the strange, dark world of witchcraft, cults, and the occult. This is why it is necessary that as intercessors and prayer warriors especially, and as God's children we remain humble and on our knees before Yahweh, our Almighty God, seeking His face daily and not just His hand. What happens to us is predicated to a large degree on our relationship with God and on us doing our part in it.

Let us claim 2 Chronicles 7:14 today. Let us not sit on the premises at home, at work, at school, at church, nor here in this ministry, but stand on the promises of God. If we do our part, then God promises to forgive our sin and heal the land. What an awesome God we serve! To Him be glory and honor, dominion and power both now and forever! Amen.

Add your favorite promise from the bible to this post, and we will stand on it with you!

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves!

Who May Vote Early In Jefferson County and Kentucky

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

I saw on the local news last night that approximately 25,000 people in Kentucky and 40,000 in Indiana have already voted by absentee ballot.  I want to take this opportunity to remind you that absentee voting is underway in Jefferson County (Louisville), Kentucky, Indiana and a number of states.

In Kentucky, October 26th is the last day to request an application for an absentee ballot. Those persons who will not be in town on election day, college students away at school, military personnel who will be out of the city, employees whose jobs will have them out of the city are eligible to vote now via absentee ballot. Away college students who will be in town over the few days can walk in and vote at the 810 Barret Avenue location prior to the election. They may also request a ballot online. It will be mailed to them and must be received by November 1st. 

Other groups who may want to take advantage of absentee voting are members with disabilities regardless of age, women in their third trimester of pregnancy, anyone scheduled for surgery on election day, or who have had surgery recently, seniors not able to get to the polls, and those incarcerated by not yet convicted of a crime. I spoke with Robert Dunn at the Election Center at 810 Barret in Louisville, and he stated that anyone calling to say they have a disability will be sent an application for an absentee ballot. They will not be turned down. The ballot must be received by November 1st. This includes people in wheelchairs, those who have had surgery recently, and the elderly.

A complete list of eligible persons for absentee voting is available at the link below. For more information, contact Sally or Becky at 502-574-6100.

http://elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/absentee_voting.htm

Election Day Is Over For Millions of Early Voters
With Two Weeks to Go, Senate and House Control Remain In Play

Remember, it is not Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves.  Celebrating five years of lifting up Jesus Christ.

Will Christians Impersonate Prince At Ballot Box At Midterm?

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

The artist Prince is one of the most creative, prolific and beloved cross-over secular artist of our time. We Christians buy his music and many Christian artists often impersonate his singing style. I put a 40 sec video of Tyler Perry singing Prince's song, Purple Rain on youtube (and this website) from November 17, 2009 when Perry was in Louisville with the play "Laugh to Keep From Crying," and that short video clip now has 14,500 hits. Christian comedian Spike Davis impersonated Prince at the St. Stephen Women's Minstry Comic Relief event in March of this year. However, Prince, like Michael Jackson before him and Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), is a Jehovah's Witness. Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in the political process. Prince stated in the video below with with Tavis Smiley with regard to the 2008 presidential election of the nation's first African American president, "I didn't have a dog in that hunt." My question is will Christians "impersonate" Prince (his religious beliefs) by not voting this midterm?

There is a blacknews.com article I have linked on the Main Page that suggests young blacks in particular, may not be voting this year..."So how is it that heading toward midterm elections in November, large percentages of black people ages 16 to 25 continue to feel alienated from mainstream American society and contemplating not who to vote for but whether to bother voting at all?"




From the book, Kingdom of the Cult, by Walter Martin, page 123...
Jehovah's Witness refuse to pay homage in any way to the flag of any nation or even to defend their own individual nation from assult by an enemy. Patriotism as displayed in bearing arms is not one of their beliefs, since they claim to be ambassordors of Jehovah and as such deem themselves independent of allegiance to any government other than His. In This age of uncertainty, sincerity is a priceless gem, and no doubt Jehovah's Witnesses believe themselves sincere, but all their arguments avail nothing, because in Romans 13:`-7 Paul clearly outlines the case for human government as instituted by God. Paul goes to great lengths to stress that the "higher powers" (human governmental rules) are allowed and sanctioned by God. As supposed followers of His Word, the Witness out to heed both Christ and Paul and "render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to who custom," which in the context of Romans 13:1-7 clearly means subjugation to governmental rule....

Remember, it is not Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves.

Ex-Offenders Make Application to Regain Voting Rights

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Shonda Blakemore, left with Min Angela Lee Price, attended the “Let My People Vote” Restoration of Voting Rights and Expungement Workshop held Saturday, October 2nd at the St. Stephen Family Life Center in Louisville. The workshop was a partnership with the Men's Ministry.  She and four applicants received word on October 6th from the Department of Corrections in Louisville that their applications have passed round one of the approval process and have been forwarded to the Department of Corrections and Governor’s office in Frankfort for final approval.

Kentucky and Virginia are the last two remaining states that permanently disenfranchise all people with felony convictions, unless they receive individual, discretionary, executive clemency (see attached Brennan Center for Justice "Restoring The Right To Vote" document). "This is a primary reason St. Stephen Church and Jesus Saves Ministries are involved as advocates for ex-offenders, this and the fact that ours are ministries of reconciliation and social justice," states Min. Price. "We track applications through the entire process, and have shared the testimonies and stories of many of our applicants in Jesus Saves Newsletters and journals, on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog, on the Jesus Saves Ministries and St. Stephen Church social networks and elsewhere to demonstrate the move of God in their lives. The laws in Kentucky and Virginia need revision, especially when you consider that voting rights are automatically restored after release from prison in neighboring states Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, 10 other states, and the District of Columbia. And even prisoners may vote in Maine and Vermont. Their voting rights are never revoked."

Archia Kinnard, right with her daughters and attendee Shonda Blakemore, was the presenter on expungements at the October 2nd workshop. She is Asst. Supervisor for Expungement and Information Services at the Hall of Justice in Louisville and has been processing District Court expungements for 12 years. She and Min. Price conducted a "Let My People Vote" workshop for Dismas Charities in Portland on August 25th.  The first in the series of workshops was held on August 12th for the Shawnee Justice Reinvestment Pilot Project.

Two applicants, Connie Wells-Cooksey and Kenneth Braxton, regain their rights to vote and hold public office in late March and both say they will be voting in the November midterm election. In all, voting rights were restored to 21 former felons through this ex-offender advocacy initiative, and the Louisville Branch NAACP modeled their first-time felons program after our initiative to help more than 100 former felons regain voting rights for the 2008 presidential election.

Applications are still be accepted.  Call Min. Angela Lee Price at St. Stephen Church, 502-583-6798, Ext. 6804, or at Jesus Saves Ministries, 502-415-1001.

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked"  Psalm 82:3-4.

Let My People Vote Workshop Travels to Dismas Charities
Jesus Saves Ministries Conducted Let My People Vote Workshop August 12th

Voting Rights Restored to Connie Cooksey and Kenneth Braxton

Brennen Report - Restoring Right to Vote.pdf
ApplicationforRestorationofCivilRights.doc
USSocialForum.ppt

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves!

Why Are New Agers Speaking For Christians?

By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

New Age Movement leaders Deepak Chopkra and Marianne Williamson were two of three guests interviewed on CNN last week about a new Pew Poll showing atheists and agnostic know more about religion that Protestant Christians and Catholics.  The poll aside, I want to ask why were new agers being interviewed on CNN to lend a  "Christian" response to the results of the poll?  Oh, that right...it's because we Christians don't know enough about religion to know what the Word of God says.  We don't know enough to question Chopkra's belief in chakras and Williamson's trumpeting of the new age book, A Course in Miracles, a book that was supposedly channeled by psychology professor named Helen Schucman.  All we know is that these people are constantly paraded on the Oprah Winfrey and Larry King as spiritual experts, and so it only seems prudent to invite them on CNN in times like these.  Sad. 

It would seem to me, and I'm just an average blogger, that if the CNN decisionmakers wanted to interview someone who could better represent the orthodox Christian faith, then they'd do better getting a former-athetist-converted-Christian, Lee Strobel perhaps.  He has written books, A Case for Christ, and A Case for Faith, and other books that examine the toughest objections to Christianity.   The poll is disheartening enough, but to then have people who believe in reincarnation and the divinity of the self, notions that are antithetical to the Word of God, call themselves speaking for me, adds insult to injury.

New Pew Survey Shows that Atheists and Agnostics Know More About Religion than Protestants and Catholics - BCNN1

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves!