St. Stephen New Members Shining Stars At Appreciation Luncheon

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

The St. Stephen Church Member Services Ministry hosted its 2008 New Member Appreciation Luncheon on Saturday, September 20th in the Family Life Center’s Multipurpose Room 1. The theme was “From Good to Great in 2008: You’re A Shining Star!” based on Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Approximately 100 new members, guests, pastoral and ministry leaders, and church staff attended the luncheon to celebrate what God has done and is doing in the lives of St. Stephen’s new members.

New members Carmelita Mays and Kevin Kirsey let their lights shine in song and in spoken word, and staff, and ministry leaders greeted attendees with remarks during the first half of the program.

During the Ask the Pastor segment, senior pastor and keynote speaker Rev. Kevin Cosby entertained questions ranging from, “How do you suggest that new members deal with that initial overwhelming feeling in order to get involved at St. Stephen?,” to “What are your plans to accommodate the growth in new members with a larger worship center?,” to “When is the next new member luncheon?” WLOU Radio Program Director Bill Price was the master of ceremonies.

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

Civil Rights Restored to 11 Former Felons

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

On September 18th, after an inquiry to Governor Steve Beshear’s office, I learned that civil rights are being restored to 11 former felons who submitted applications for restoration of civil rights through the Jesus Saves Ministries partnership with St. Stephen Church this spring. The applicants began receiving their packets from the governor’s office on September 20th, which includes an order and certificate from the governor and secretary of state restoring the rights to hold public office and vote, and a voter registration card.
Four applicants are members of St. Stephen Church, two are members of Pleasant View Baptist Church, one a deacon with Bates Memorial Baptist Church, and the others do not have a church home.

Simmons College of Kentucky employee and St. Stephen Church member Luther Anderson was one of the first to receive his packet in the mail. “This is indeed is a blessing for me. I gave my life to the Lord and was baptized last year, and now I plan to vote for the first time in my life on November 4th,” Anderson stated.

“It is a blessing from God that Rev. Price is helping former felons like myself be able to vote. I haven’t voted since Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan in 1980,” said St. Stephen usher and Mighty Men’s Choir member John R. Williams, III.

In the spring, Jesus Saves Ministries partnered with St. Stephen Church, the Department of Corrections and WLOU Radio to assist former felons in regaining their civil rights. We received 21 applications in all through this second initiative. St. Stephen Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin Cosby will recognized the new voters at the church’s 9:40 worship service on Sunday, October 5th.

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

Sermon Excerpt: See Yourself As God Sees You

Rev. Angela Lee Price

"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me," for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me'" Gen. 16:13.

The story of Hagar is timely tailored to teach us three things:

1. Admit Our Sins –The angel asked Hagar, “Where have you come from and where are you going? God asked an almost identical question of Satan in the book of Job, “Satan, Where have you come from?” God already knows the answer to every question He asks. It’s up to you to provide the correct answer. Admit your sins. The bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness….” Hagar admitted, “I am running away….”

2. Submit to God – The angel of the Lord told Hagar, “...go back to your mistress and submit to her” and “I will so increase you descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” I love this part of the story. Oftentimes, we think we have a plan. We think we know what we are doing. We think we’ve got it “going on!” But watch this! Hagar’s plan had nothing to do with her returning back to her abusive circumstance and everything to do with her running as far away from Sarai as she could possibly run. Can’t you hear The Temptations in your sanctified imagination, “Runaway Child running wild! You’d better go back home where you belong!”

That’s the problem now. We’ve developed “run-away” mentalities. The least little thing happens and what do we do? We run away. When there’s a problem in our marriage, we run away. When there’s a problem on the job, we run away. When there’s a problem with our children, we run away and they run away. We don’t discipline them. We don’t correct them. We throw money at them. We run away. When there’s a problem at church, we run here, there, and everywhere. We run away.

Hagar’s life should convince you tonight that you have to be where God wants you to be even if it is not the place of your first choosing. I know I’ve just said something. Yes, it can be painful, but you’ve got to be where God wants you to be even if it is not the place of your first choosing. That means you’ve got to get on God’s agenda and take Him off your agenda. Submit to God. He’s working it out for your good!

If we are going to be the women and men God has called us to be, we have to take our eyes off our situation and put them on Jesus. If we are going to be the women God is calling us to be, we have to see ourselves not as disobedient, selfish divas running, and ducking and dodging responsibility and every little problem, but as queens humbly submitting to the will of God for our lives. James 4:7 says, “Submit to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you! You must see yourself as God sees you!When you see yourself as God sees you, you can dare to declare with all authority, "On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!" If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be? When I think about His goodness, and all He’s done for me, my soul shouts, “Hallelujah!”

3. Don’t Quit – Hagar went back and God blessed her son Ishmael. After his exile, a grown Ishmael later returned and help his brother Issac bury their father Abraham. (Gen. 25:9). Ishmael had 12 sons who became the heads of 12 tribes that spread from Egypt to modern-day Iraq. Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. God was faithful to his promise to Hagar. And He will be faithful to His promise to you.

An unknown author wrote:
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,When the road your trudging seems all uphill,When the funds are low and the debts are high,And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,When care is pressing you down a bitRest if you must, but don't you quit.Life is queer with its twists and its turns,As everyone of us sometimes learns,And many a failure turns aboutWhen they might have won, had they stuck it out.Don't give up though the pace seems slow,You may succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given upWhen he might have captured the victors cup;And he learned too late when the night came down,How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!

Admit your sins, submit to God, and don’t quit!

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

Those Preachin' Women Can Preach!

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Those preachin’ women took to the pulpit July 18-20 at Coke Memorial United Methodist Church in Louisville to proclaim the word of God to capacity audiences. A total of eight women delivered messages over three nights on Hagar, Rehab and the Widow’s Mite under the theme, “Obedience, Sacrifice, Commitment: It’s for the Kingdom.”

Preaching Wednesday night on Hagar and obedience, Rev. Ruth Mozee-Taylor, Rev. Dr. Gwen Washington, and Rev. Angela Lee Price.
Preaching Thursday night on Rehab and sacrifice, Min. Vanessa Skillion, Rev. Pearl Gillespie and Rev. Loni Floyd.

Friday night, Rev. Mercia Frierson's and Rev. Cassandra Grey's subject was tithing and commitment based on the passage, The Widow’s Mite. A consecration service and candle-lit prayer vigil caused many to rejoice. All women were asked to wear white.

Civil rights activist and newly appointed Justice Resource Center interim Executive Director Mattie Jones called the service a blessing. She fellowshipped after the service and spoke highly of her predecessor the late Rev. Louis Coleman.

Min. Vanessa Skillion, Rev. Geneva Nelson, and Rev. Linda Bunton lead praise and worship the three nights as various soloists and groups ministered in song. Jesus Saves Ministries gave away Walking with Jesus gifts in random drawings, including a See Yourself As God Sees You hope chest based on Genesis 16:13. Zephra Crawley won the hope chest, and the book, Freedom’s Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970 by Lynne Olson.

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

Rev. Timothy Wright - Your Door Is Finally Open Part 1

Rev. Timothy Wright - Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (The Katrina Song)

Jesus Saves Ministries Blog: Join the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

Jesus Saves Ministries Blog: Join the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

Join the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

In celebration of our third anniversary, we invite you to join the new Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network. If you have a heart for the the poor and marginalized, the left back and left out, the discriminated against, the sick and suffering people of this world, join the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network today. It's free to join. Once you become a member, you can set up your own web page, participate in forums, create blog posts, meet other pastors, preachers, teachers, ministry leaders, and Christians like yourself, and share with others what the Lord has given you to do in ministry. This network is concerned with "the least of these," preserving the purity of the gospel, and reaching the lost for Jesus Christ. Join today!


View my page on Jesus Saves Ministries

Walking With Jesus Continues A Second Summer

Enoch walked with God and didn’t see death. Abraham walked with God and became the father of many nations. Moses walked with God and led the Israelites out of Egypt. Conversely, the disciples walked with Jesus on the Emmaus road, and didn’t know it. Are you walking with Jesus this summer?
The Bible says in Micah that there are three things required of us, to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.

Jesus Saves Ministries is giving away Walking With Jesus gifts a second summer in an effort to share the gospel and encourage Christians in their walk with God. A variety of gift packages include New Testament Bibles, sermons, gospel CDs, books, flip flops, t-shirts, and various Jesus novelties.

Jesus Saves Ministries distributed more than 200 New Testament Bibles the first two weeks of summer, 60 Bibles to Pleasant View Baptist Church and several local churches’ mission trip to Zambia and Johannesburg South Africa, and 20 Bibles to Joshua Tabernacle Baptist Churches upcoming Friends and Family Homecoming Celebration. If you have a special need for New Testament Bibles, contact the ministry.

Walking with Jesus in the sunshine will not only improve your spiritual and physical health, but also will pay off during the dark, rainy times in your life. Walk with Him daily in the Bible and in prayer this summer.

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

Thousands Remember Rev. Louis Coleman

Rev. Angela Lee Price

More than 2,700 people, including many pastors, church, political, civic, and business leaders, paid final respects to First Congregational United Methodist Church pastor and civil rights activist Rev. Louis Coleman on Friday, July 11th after a week of memorial observances. Rev. Coleman,64, died suddenly on Saturday, July 5th at Norton Suburban Hospital after experiencing several seizures.

National civil rights activist and friend Dick Gregory eulogized Coleman, and compared him to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s predecessor Vernon Johns. Referring to the 23rd Psalms, Gregory stated, “Coleman had wisdom. He didn’t walk in Louisville, but through it.”

In the 3-1/2 hour service, an array of people including Mitchell Payne, Rev. Diane Mosby, Ben Richmond, John Johnson, Rev. Clay Calloway, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Rev. Dr. Walter Malone, Judy Greene, David Tandy, and others presented different perspectives on the impact Coleman’s ministry and activism had on Louisville and the state of Kentucky. A letter was read from State Senator Gerald Neal in his absence.

Mitchell Payne remarked about having to arrest Coleman, his Godfather, once on the grounds of the University of Louisville. Rev. Kevin Cosby gave some of his time to Rev. Clay Calloway, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition who asked all preachers in the audience to stand in recognition of Coleman’s pastoral and ministerial service.

Referring to the prophet Micah, Cosby stated, “Coleman was a man who practice justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly before God.” Rev. Walter Malone compared Coleman to the prophet Amos stating, “He was a prophet of the truest order, a spokesperson for the oppressed.”

First District Councilwoman Judy Greene stated that the Metro Council will explore changing 34th Street to Rev. Louis Coleman, Jr. Blvd.

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