The Business of Faith

Just how big are the biggest mega churches, their congregation sizes, seating capacities? How much did their sanctuaries cost? Where is all that money going? How diversified are they? What does the IRS have to say? Check out this in-depth article on T.D. Jakes', Eddie Long's, and Kirbyjohn Caldwell's mega-ministries and get the details. Everything you wanted to know about The Business of Faith, but were afraid to ask is answered here.

I apologize for being so slow on this one. The article was not available on Black Enterprise's website until now.

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

Happy Thanksgiving from Jesus Saves Ministries

By: Angela Lee Price

The psalmist asked, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? (Psalms 137:4). The people of Israel were exiled in a strange land, Babylon. The Babylonians "clowned" them and used them for entertainment saying, "sing us one of the songs of Zion. (v3)".

Despite their circumstance, the Israelites turned their strange situation, their strange land into a sanctuary of praise and worship, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (vs 5-7)". They remembered their rich past and the goodness of the Lord, "O, daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.... (v8)."

No matter what you are going through. No matter how strange your land, circumstance, or situation this holiday season, don't forget Jesus Christ. Don't forget where you came from. Don't forget the goodness of the Lord. He brought our ancestors through slavery. He protected them from dangers seen and unseen. He brought you a mighty long way.

When you think, you will thank. Think on His bountiful blessings. Count them one by one. Then, lift up your voice and give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and his mercies endure forever!

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

The Rap On Color of the Cross

By: Angela Lee Price

I had a wonderful interview last Saturday on WLOU with Jean Claude LaMarre, director and star of Color of the Cross, the first American movie to depict Jesus as a black Messiah. I plan to make a portion of the transcript available to you soon. Continue to contact theatres and ask that Color be shown. Jean Claude explained how the 30 markets currently showing 'Color' were selected, however, showings in additional markets depend on public response.

These brief points from the interview:

1. If your church is interested in getting on the list to screen Color of the Cross, go to www.colorofthecross.com and submit your name and contact information, church, church size, and date you would like your congregation to see it. Jean Claude is talking with many churches across the nation, particularly in areas where the movie is not showing, to arrange in-church screenings prior to the DVD distribution date in January.
2. Jean Claude explained he did not want to let black or white people "off the hook" concerning the twist in the movie that Jesus' death was racially motivated. He said the movie is not about a black man doing a traditionally white role as it with Santa Claus. His assertion is that Jesus was black. If he was black, then there would have been reference to his skin color in the first century.
3. Jean Claude has two additional movies with Black Jesuses in the works. One is about the resurrection.
4. Finally, Jean Claude attends West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Jean Claude said that although his pastor, Bishop Charles Blake liked the movie personally, he didn't feel it was the direction in which he wanted to take the church.

After listening back to the interview, I realized there were other questions I could have asked regarding national mega church support overall, both from social justice preachers and prosperity preachers. Interestingly, Bishop Charles Blake is mentioned on page 32 (below) of the July/August edition of The Crisis, the NAACP's national publication, as a prosperity preacher influenced by Kenneth Hagin's Word of Faith Movement,

"Long, along with Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas; Rev. Creflo Dollar of College Park, Ga.; Rev. Fred Price of Los Angeles; the Rev. Leroy Thompson of Darrow, La.; and, to some degree, Bishop Charles Blake of Los Angeles, are among the best known Black mega-church pastors influenced by the Hagins, either through their Bible Institute or television ministry, according to Mamiya."

Lawrence Mamiya is a professor of religion and Africana studies at Vassar. I will have more on the excellent article in The Crisis entitled, Where Do We Go From Here? The sub-caption reads, "The popularity of mega-churches, many preaching a prosperity gospel, has created a schism among religious leaders over the direction of the Black church."
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

'Color' Commentary Part 2: Is there a 'Color' Complex in Louisville?

By: Angela Lee Price

By God's grace November 10th has arrived. This is the national opening day for the first American epic movie to depict Jesus as a black Messiah, Color of the Cross. And yet, still there is no 'Color' showing in the theatre complexes of this and many American cities. So, the question begs to be asked, "Is there a 'Color' complex in Louisville?" Is there one?

What good is it to have a platform if you never say anything of significance to help your people? Malcolm X once said, "You've got to stand for something, or you will fall for anything." Martin Luther King, Jr. and the apostles gave their lives for Christ sake. Stand with me on this issue. Please continue to spread the word to pastors, ministry leaders, and Christians of all complexions about Color of the Cross. Below is additional information that may help you as you prepare to educate Louisville and surrounding cities on the significance of this historic film.

Thank you, Manuel McMillan, Asst. Director, Financial Aid Administration, University of Louisville for sending me the www.colorofthecross.com link. God used you to ignite a fire within me. He used you to remind me of all I learned in the late '80's and early '90's at the University of Louisville. I was tortured then by white images of Jesus deeply rooted in racism and deeply embedded in my mind. I wanted to worship and love God, but I could not because He looked like the progenitors of systemic racism. Above all, God used you to help remind me of the deliverance I received through St. Stephen Church in being taught the truth of the word of God of the subject of Blacks in the Bible.

Additionally, I want to thank the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition for agreeing to help support getting Color of the Cross shown into movie complexes locally. I also want to thank the Justice Resource Center, St. Stephen Church, and WLOU for supporting me in raising awareness about the movie through Jesus Saves Ministries and on WLOU Radio. Please join me tomorrow on WLOU Radio at 12:00 Noon when I will interview Jean Claude LaMarre, director and star of Color of the Cross.

November 10th Cities and Theatres: http://www.colorofthecross.com/lstweek2.html

Black Portrayals of Jesus and Apostles in Cinema, Literature and Art http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/timeline.pdf

Springfield Reaction to 'Color' Skipping City: http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061028/LIFE07/610280313/1093

Prominent Durham Pastor Supports 'Color' http://www.thedurhamnews.com/108/story/8966.html

New Albany, Indiana News Tribune Article - 11/02:
http://www.news-tribune.net/opinion/local_story_306165120.html?keyword=topstory

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

'Color' Commentary Part 1: The Latest on Color of the Cross

By: Angela Lee Price

``The message is that color, a colored Jesus Christ, doesn't matter.... That's why the movie is important. When you have one prevailing image out there, it suggests color does matter.'' Jean Claude LaMarre

My WLOU radio interview with "Jesus," director and star Jean Claude LaMarre (left) of Color of the Cross, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 4th has been rescheduled for this Saturday, November 11th at 12:00 Noon. Thank you for your prayers and patience. Jean Claude was accidently double-booked last week. He actually thought he was interviewing with me, but spoke with another interviewer by mistake.

Color of the Cross, the first epic movie to depict Jesus as a black Messiah opened in select predominately African Amercian markets on Friday, October 27th. It opens nationwide this Friday, November 10th. Please continue to do your part to raise awareness about this historic film, forward e-mails to distributions, contact theatres and request that the movie be shown, and log onto Black Christian Movies, and Color of the Cross and let them know you are working to galvanize support for 'Color.' Color of the Cross is not slated to be shown in Louisville at this time, but you can change that with your prayers and effort.

Read this insightful BlackNews.com article for more 'Color' commentary: http://www.blacknews.com/pr/colorofthecross201.html.

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

Bush Warned About Katrina Beforehand

By: Angela Lee Price

This blacknews.com short news video demonstrates that President Bush knew Hurricane Katrina was going to be deadly before it hit land.

Shortcut to: http://www.blacknews.com/video/bush-katrina.html

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