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!