Jesus Saves Ministries shares the saving grace of Jesus Christ from an African American perspective by helping to demonstrate the power and relevancy of the Cross in the 21st century.
Please forward this to all of your family and friends! America's No.1 National Urban Gospel Stage Play is coming to Louisville, KY on Saturday - January 23rd, 2009 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 p.m. @ The Louisville Memorial Auditorium.
Starring: Alicia Robinson Cooper & Lead Singer for John P. Kee and the VIP Choir 'He's My Rock'; Chad Cooper, Actor/Comedian featured on TBN and Star of the New Movie "Family Mess" set to be released 2010; and Virginia Bostic, Stellar Award Winner and Lead Singer for The Miami Mass Choir 'It's Praying Time'
'Church Mess' The Play features the money hungry deacon, the religious church mother, the down-low and low-down brother, the choir member with the alternative lifestyle, the desperate college student that's having affairs in the church to pay her bills, the playboy minister of music, baby mama drama. While some of these issues are prevalent in today's churches! 'Church Mess' The Play portrays the church as still being the greatest institution in the world for healing and deliverance!
"Earlybird Ticket Specials" NOW ON SALE!!! ONLY $25 while they last! Regular price is $45.00. Buy today! Tickets are going fast! Call 1.888.977.2282 ext. 100 NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesus Saves Ministries will have your tickets to Church Mess! Details to come on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network! If you are not a member, join today. It's Free!
Lifting you up in a down economy, Jesus Saves Ministries. Celebrating 4 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!
Thank you Jesus Saves Ministrries supporters for helping us fulfill our Matthews 25:35-40 mandate to care for "the least of these." Jesus Saves Ministries began distributing Blessings In A Basket toiletries baskets to homeless and less fortunate citizens in the Louisville and Southern Indiana communities on November 14th.
A total of 25 Blessings In A Baskets were delivered to the following locations in the Louisville and Southern Indiana areas:
Rhonda's Another Chance Transitional Home for Women;
Wayside Christian Mission's Mens' and Womens' Homeless Shelters;
The House of Hope Transitonal Home for Women;
Dosker Manor Housing Complex for low-income and disabled adults;
Lincoln Hills Health Center nursing home in New Albany, IN;
A homeless male on the street.
Homeless overnighters Shannon Goode of Louisville (left), Scott Joiner of Indianapolis, and Gene Jenkins of Cincinnati each received a "Blessings" basket at the Wayside Christian Mission's Men's Shelter on Saturday, December 19th. Four female overnighters received baskets as well.
Ramona Wilson with The House of Hope and three Hope residents received "Blessings" baskets on December 12th. The House of Hope is a recovery-based transitional home for women located in Louisville's California community.
Dosker Manor six-year resident Ema White and 10-year resident Rudy Jeanes received “Blessings” baskets after worship service on Sunday, December 13th. Dosker Manor is Louisville housing complex for low income and disabled adults. Two Dosker Manor residents were the first to receive baskets on November 14th.
Jesus Saves Ministries "Blessings" baskets included a variety of toiletries, (some with hoodie t-shirts,) a New Testament Bible, a Memory Cross Card explaining the "A,B,Cs" to salvation, a Jesus Saves brochure and a Christian gift.
Thanks again for helping us share the love of Jesus Christ with Blessings In A Basket!
Lifting you up in a down economy, we are Jesus Saves Ministries!
Add the book that inspired the movie starring Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness to your book collection as our Christmas gift to you! The Pursuit of Happyness is the story of Chris Gardner and his son's journey from homelessness to prosperity. "Motivated by the promise he made to himself as a fatherless child to never abandon his own children, the two spent almost a year moving among shelters, 'HO-tels,' soup lines, and even sleeping in the public restroom of a subway station.
Never giving in to despair, Garner made an astonishing transformation from being part of the city's invisible poor to being a poweful player in its financial district." -- The Pursuit of Happyness.
"Real, exciting, courageous. This story is universal and just might provide us with a new understanding of the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. A page-turner, The Pursuit of Happyness will keep you up at night." - Reverend Cecil Williams, Glide United Methodist Church Add Walter Mosley's book, Workin' on the Chain Gang, Shaking Off the Dead Hand of History to your book collection as our Christmas gift to you!
Author Walter Mosley writes in book written in 2000, " Far from being a cause for celebration, the millennium, Mosley argues fiercely,l should have been the occasion for a frank reckoning with the real state of our society. We have the power to end starvation, but one-third of our children live in poverty. Our politics have degnerated into a multimillion-dollar game show ruled by two indistringuishable monopolies.
We drug ourselves with television, sports, sex, apathy, and obsession with celebrity, while our cities rot and violence erupts in our schools....but each one of us can work toward breaking off these chains. First by recongizing the truth of our history--a history that is crucially informed by the black experience...."
We have added several books on the Main Page right side bar of the Jesus Saves Social Network. They are available to new members this weekend. Bless a church member, friend or relative with a FREE Christmas gift! Invite them to become a member of the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network today!
These books are available to new members this weekend:
The Start of An Uncommon Life, by Tony Dungy
Victory In Jesus, by Rev. E.V. Hill
A Bound Man, by Shelby Steele
Sassay, Single & Satisfied: Secrets to Loving the Life You're Living, by Michelle McKinney Hammond
Thank you so much for your prayers and support of this ministry! Merry Christmas from Jesus Saves Ministries!
The Women's Ministry of St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky held their 6th annual Holiday Tea, "Hatitude: Ladies & Their Hats" Saturday, December 12th at the St. Stephen Family Life Center in Louisville. There was a hat show, great food and music and plenty of beautifully decorated tables on display.
Jesus Saves Ministries was in the house with three guests. Ramona Wilson, left, is with The House of Hope, a recovery-based transitional home located in the heart of our city's poorest neighborhood, the California community. Ramona is a house monitor at the transitional home where she monitors curfews, supervises chores, and collects rent among other duties for nine women. Additonally, she is employed at the Volunteers of America as a counselor tech under a certified alcohol and drug counselor where she monitors ladies in a recovery program for homeless women and their children. Ramona and three ladies at the House of Hope received Blessings In a Baskets.
Jesus Saves Social Network member Min. Chalina Clayton and her mother lovely Marva Miles were are guest as well. All three guests received Jesus Saves hats and The Net Christian E-Newsletter Journals. Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries Lifting you up in a down economy, Jesus Saves Ministries. Celebrating 4 years of lifting up Jesus Christ!
How is your heart today? Are you troubled and trippin’ about your situation, relying on psychics, fortune tellers, horoscopes, crystal balls, and prosperity preachers for answers, or are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to be your burden bearer?
Jesus says in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.” There is no trouble too hard for God, no heartache, disease, nor difficulty. Study His Word and take your troubles to Him in prayer. He is able turn your troubled heart into a triumphant heart and set you free.
Jesus told his disciples in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father but through me." Not only is Jesus Christ the only way to eternal life, He is the only way to abundant life. Salvation, deliverance, healing, and sanctification cannot be found in Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor the Jesus of the New Age Movement. Those things can only be found in Jesus Christ. He is the way.
Finally, Jesus says in John 16:33 what prosperity preachers won't tell you, "...In this world you will have trouble." Too many Christians are troubled today because they are falling for the distortions of prosperity preachers who say once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you won't get sick and riches are yours for the asking. "God's got a blessing with your name on it. Send us a special 'Get Back Devil' seed offering, and claim that thing!," they say charismatically. The next time you hear that lie, hollar back, "You made that up!," and rest on the conclusion of verse 33 where Jesus says, "...take heart! I have overcome the world."
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. SpiritualGraphics.com Check us out on...
Who's Who Louisville is proud to announce the unveiling of a new directory highlighting and featuring “Louisville Black First Ladies of the Church”. The pictorial directory will include biographical data on “Louisville Black First Ladies of the Church”, their roles and contributions to the church and community. The directory will include a listing of Louisville black churches, pastors and other related information. Not only will the publication provide enjoyable reading but will serve as a great resource directory for the entire community. The publication will be introduced and unveiled spring 2010 with an evening of celebration highlighted with a banquet featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant.
Rev. Dr. Bryant is the first lady of AME Bishop John Bryant, the 106th Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois, and the mother of Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant and Dr. Thema Simone Bryant-Davis. Rev. Dr. Bryant is the author of the book “letters of light for first ladies”, a collection of letters that mentor other first ladies of the church to include letters rich in comfort, encouragement and challenge. She is recognized worldwide for her ministries to women and children. She is also the author of several books and was a contributor to “Those Preaching Women”, Volume 4 from Judson Press.
We want this directory to be as inclusive as possible and we need your help. We are compiling a list and contact information for “Louisville Black First Ladies of the Church” so that we may send the appropriate information to the church and/or their home. There is no cost associated with their photograph and biographical data appearing in the publication. Please contact me via e-mail at duane@whoswholouisville.com or phone (502) 240-0444.
We will have advertising and sponsorship opportunities in the publication and at the unveiling. If you wish to know more about advertising and/or sponsorship opportunities, please contact me via e-mail at duane@whoswholouisville.com or phone (502) 240-0444.
We certainly know we will not be able to directly contact every church, first lady and/or interested advertiser/sponsor, so we encourage you to forward this information to appropriate and interested parties.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and support. We will look forward to the inclusion of your first lady in the 2010 inaugural edition of “Louisville Black First Ladies of the Church”.
Duane M. Lightfoot, Sr Who’s Who Louisville Linking Business and Community Together duane@whoswholouisville.com (502) 240-0444
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" Matt. 25: 35-40.
Jesus Saves Ministries and the Jesus Saves Social Network are sharing the love of Jesus Christ by providing "Blessings In a Basket" this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. On Sunday, November 14th, Jesus Saves Ministries began distributing "Blessings In A Basket" baskets. Thanks to your generousity, we now have another set of baskiets assembled and ready for distribution to persons in need. Join us in providing additional baskets to the less fortunate.
How to Contribute: 1. Pray specifically for "the least of these" to be fed, clothed, sheltered and protected from dangers seen and unseen. Pray, too, that the Lord will prepare hearts to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You can post prayers and names in The Prayers of the Righteous group or The Least of These group.
2. Join the Least of These Group. The Least of These Group addresses issues of concern to the poor, homeless, marginalized, and disabled and disadvantaged per Matt. 25: 35-40. There you will find more ways to help the "least of these" this season.
2. Donate personal-size toiletries, soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, hair products, combs, brushes, shaving supplies, lipstick, fingernail polish, tissues, perfume, aftershave, and deodorant, or gifts of your choice to our baskets. To donate, send me an e-mail and we will arrange to pick up your items, or you may send a small monetary contribution in any amount to Jesus Saves Ministries, P.O. Box 1284, Louisville, KY 40201.
3. Send me the name of a person or family we can help in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. Your name will be included on the gift tag as a contributor to their Blessings Basket.
Our goal is to donate baskets on a first-come, first-serve basis according to the order in which names are recieved. Jesus Saves Ministries will assemble baskets, include a New Testament Bible, a Memory Cross Card explaining the "A,B,Cs" to salvation, a Jesus Saves brochure and a Christian gift. Baskets will be dispensed throughout the Christmas season as they become available! Don't delay! Help share the love of Jesus Christ with "Blessings In a Basket" this Christmas.
Lifting you up in a down economy, Jesus Saves Ministries. Celebrating Four Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!
Ladies, no matter what you are going through and no matter where you have been, the Bible encourages you to always have an attitude of gratitude. What do you have to be thankful for? What has God done for you this year? What gratitude do you have under your hat? Make it known known according to 1 Chronicles 16:8. Share in our discussions on the Jesus Saves Social Network and express your "hatitude" of gratitude.
Jesus Saves Ministries will be sending two ladies, who would not otherwise be able to attend, to the St. Stephen Women's Ministry "Hatitude" Holiday Tea on December 12th at the St. Stephen Family Life Center, Louisville, Kentucky as part of our Least of These ministry. This 6th annual tea will include fabulous food, holiday music, a hat fashion show, and much more! When praises go up, blessings come down! Express your gratitude today!
Lifting you up in a down economy, Jesus Saves Ministries! Check us out on...
"For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and come unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto youm Inasmuch as y have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" Matthew 25:35-40.
Jesus Saves Ministries will be feeding several families this Thanksgving and Christmas. Jesus Saves Ministries will be delivering "Blessings In A Basket" toiletries baskets to the homeless and those in need throughout the season.
Jesus Saves Ministries will provide tickets to the St. Stephen’s Women’s Ministry “Hatitude” Holiday Tea, Saturday, December 12th to two women who otherwise cannot afford to attend, courtesy of the St. Stephen Women’s Ministry.
Help Us Help the “Least of These” This Holiday Season. Here's how you can help:
Pray for the "least of these" according to Matthew 25:35-40.
Supply the last names of families in need to receive turkeys with trimmings for 4, or persons to receive "Blessings In a Basket" toiletries baskets (persons who are homeless, temporarily living in shelters, unemployed, seniors in need, etc.); or women to receive tickets to the "Hatitude" Holiday Tea.
Contribute toiletries or sponsor a “Blessings” Basket;
Participate in the Least of These Group with commentary, statistics in your area of the needs and particular circumstances of the people we are serving.
Lifing you up in a down economy, Jesus Saves Ministries! Celebrating 4 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!
"The proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism" Acts 6:6-7.
Church growth is good, but when you don’t have the resources, the people operating in their proper places in ministry, you’ve got problems. In Acts 6, we see immediately there is a problem, and not just one problem, but two problems. The Greek-speaking widows are complaining that they are being discriminated against in the daily ministration.
This was not just a food line. The disciples weren’t just waiting on tables. The daily ministration was a place where money changed hands. The tables were a place where disciples brought their money after the sale of their estates and land. Jesus told the rich, young ruler to sale his possessions, give the money to the poor and follow Him. The young ruler went away sad because he was not willing to part with his worldly possessions. Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and brought money to the disciples, but kept part of it for themselves. They died, mostly likely at the tables, for lying to the apostles.
Also, the tables were the place where the Grecian and Hebrew widows received public charity, funds, food, and help with daily living. This neglect of the Grecian widows occurred because as the church was growing the disciples found themselves out of place. They were serving tables when they should have been preaching. They were serving tables when they should have been praying. Have you ever known someone to be out of place, greeting on the door or serving as an usher but looking like they just drank sour lemonade? I want to encourage everyone to get in where you fit in!
In Acts 6, the apostles "kill two birds with one stone." Sorry Stephen. Stephen was stoned to death for the Gospel's sake. We see the resolution to both problems in the establishment of the office of deacon. There were 16 deacons ordained last Sunday at St. Stephen Church. One of them, Deacon Dick Dickerson, is from Dosker Manor. I believe God is speaking specifically to Dosker Manor on this subject, “Get In Where You Fit In.” He elevated a woman here from her wheelchair here so that she could “fit in” to the choir. He has elevated a man here, not from his wheelchair, but in his wheelchair so that he now “fits in” on the deacon board.
Somebody has an opportunity to “get in where they fit in” right here on Friday. Bible Study is Friday, but some of you have been saying all year, “This Friday is a bad Friday. “This just ain’t my year. This Friday is Friday, the 13th, and it’s the third one this year. If it wasn’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all.” I stopped by to tell you stop don’t afraid of witches, warlocks, spells and unlucky days. The Ancient of Days is all you need! He is much more powerful than any black cat, Satanist, psychic, or magician. The powers of Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t match God’s powers in Exodus 8:19, 9:11), and the King’s magicians couldn’t interpret his dreams when Daniel could through God’s revelation (Dan 1:20, 2:27, 4:7ff). Acts 19:19 describes how the people who had done magic gave it up after they trusted Jesus, “And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone” (NASB).
In order to get in where you fit in, turn your bad Friday into Good Friday.
Say “TGIF – Thank God I’m Forgiven!” Write down, “TGIF.” Take the “T” that represents the Cross and move it from the beginning to the end because Jesus is coming back again. Now you have the word, “GIFT.” You have just turned your bad Friday into Good Friday. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!”
Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisment of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." What can wash away are sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Turn your bad Friday into a Good Friday. Jesus defeated Satan and his evil forces at the cross! Colossians 2:15 states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross."
The disciples turned their bad Friday into Good Friday in Acts 6. They recognized that they were not serving properly within the body of Christ so, “They gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry for the Word of God in order for us to wait tables” (v2) .
In order to get in where you fit in, stop sitting in!
Not only is Jesus our perfect Gift, defeating principalities and powers at the Cross, he also gave us at least one gift for the work of ministry. Ephesians 4:7-8 tells us Jesus, the perfect Gift, has given gifts to men. Our gifts have been given “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (v12).
He didn’t save us to sit. He saved us to serve! That’s the problem. Some of us are just sitting in. We’re just sitting in worship service, matinee style with our candy and food, texting on our cell phones while worship is going on. We’re just sitting in front of the television watching the Yankees beat the Phillies, glad baseball is over so that now we can sit in some more on the real sports, football and basketball. We go by and sit in with “Big Mama” every once in a while like we’re doing her a favor. We see that she needs help around the place, but won’t pick up, straighten up or fix up. We see that her eyesight ain’t what it use to be, her curtains need washing, clothes need ironing, but all we to do is go by and sit in. The days of just sitting in are over. There was a time when the sit in was a very effective tool for protest. I thank God for the sit in, but how did Barack Obama get into office? People didn’t just “sit” him in. They “fit” him in, by voting him in office! Stop sitting in. Get in where you fit in!
Okay, preacher where is that in the Bible? Stephen and the six were voted into office, "Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known (say known) to be full of the Spirit. This proposal pleased the whole group" (vs 3-5). King James says, “And the saying pleased the whole multitude….” They chose Stephen.…" It’s called lay participation.
Let me help you. God has given all of us at least one Gift, but He doesn’t give gifts in secret. Even if some of your gifts appear to be a mystery to you a little while, your gifts will find you out. Your gifts will make room for you. Has anyone come up to you lately and said, “You’re good at that!,” “You should consider doing such and such in the church?” Those are quite possibly times when your gifts are making themselves known. Stephen’s gifts were known to the multitude. Stephen was the first disciple martyred for the faith in the New Testament. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to assist the apostles in the administrative affairs of the early Jerusalem church. He is most noted for his outstanding character, faith, wisdom, courage, and willingness to contend for the faith against false accusation and fierce opposition. St. Stephen Church is named after Stephen. Stephen talked about the people who were "sitting in" at the Sandhedrin calling them "stiff-necked." (7:5) Stop sitting in! Get in where you fit in!
In order to get in where you fit in, find your business and mind your business!
Every Christian should find their business and mind their own business. We are too busy in everybody else's business that we can't find business of our own.
Find your business: 1 Corinthians 12:1-21 – “And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” 2. Romans 12:4-8 – “For as we have many members in the body, and all members have not the same office…” The apostles found their business – prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Mind your business: 3. 1 Timothy 4:14 – “Neglect not the gift that is in thee….” 4. 2 Timothy 1:6 - “…stir up the gift of God…” The apostles minded their business by turning the daily ministration over to the seven elected officers. When they did this, the word of God spread rapidly so that even the hard to reach priest came to the Lord.
God had already equipped Stephen for his administrative assignment (v3, 5). Stephen’s additional gifts were (some appear in Chapter 7 & Chapter 22): a. administration (v3,5) b. wisdom (v3) c. faith (v5) d. miracles (v8) e. teaching (v9-10, chapter 7) f. prophecy (v9-10, chapter 7) g. martyrdom (chapter 7, 7:60)
In addition to these gifts, Stephen was fine! He had it “going on!” To me, he must have looked like Denzel Washington. The Bible says, "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel (chapter 6:15).
In order to get in where you fit in, get out.
I did not include evangelism as Stephen’s gift. He contended for the faith in the Synagogue of the Freedman. Stephen was an apologist. He defended the faith. Phillip, who “got in” with Stephen and the five disciples in Acts 6, “got out” as an evangelist in Acts 8. Additionally, his four daughters had the gift of prophecy.
I said earlier this summer that the cults are out there out-witnessing us witnesses. This is one reason Christians are denouncing Christianity, turning to other faiths, or adding unbiblical all-roads-lead-to-heaven types of beliefs with Christianity. On any given Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday, any day of the week, for that matter, we are more apt to see Mormons in pairs riding their bikes, Jehovah's Witnesses walking the streets, and Muslims on the street corners selling their bean pies and Final Calls than we are to see denominational or non-denominational Christians witnessing for Christ.
Considering the numbers of churches on every corner in every city, and the size of some of our mega churches, we should be bumping into each other on the streets with our complimentary Bibles and tracks eager to share the Good News with anyone willing to give us half a minute of their time. If we are going to make a great commotion about the great commission, many more of us are going to have to get out!
In order to get in where you fit in, 1) turn your bad Friday into Good Friday; 2) stop sitting in; 3) find your business and mind your business; and 4) get out.
Sermon preached Sunday, November 8th, St. Stephen East at Dosker Manor, Louisville, Kentucky. Inspired by the St. Stephen Church Sunday school lesson, "Mind Your Own Business," October 11-12, 2008.