St. Stephen Church to Set Super Sunday School Attendance Record

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Louisville, Kentucky, October 14, 2008: On October 25th & 26th, St. Stephen Church hopes to establish a historical precedent for Sunday school attendance among African American churches with 2,900 attending Sunday school at both Louisville and Southern campuses, at all sessions, in a single weekend.

“Our Super Sunday Celebration will be a historical event,” says St. Stephen Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, “because we are striving to achieve the biggest Sunday school attendance among African American churches in America.” Pastor Cosby, who is a strong proponent for Christian Education and the President of Simmons College of Kentucky, will be celebrating his 29th pastoral anniversary October 25th & 26th. He has set the 2,900 attendance goal in an effort to raise the awareness of the congregation to the importance of studying the Word of God through small groups, and to overcome cultural, economic, and traditional barriers plaguing Sunday school attendance within most black churches nationwide.

“Sunday school attendance is on the decline nationwide. Many people perceive it to be an outdated mode for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, or that it has taken a back seat to hi-tech, worship-centered services. Some churches have moved from classes on Sunday mornings to small group settings or don’t have Sunday school at all. St. Stephen church hopes to overcome these barriers and prove that Sunday school is still an essential part of the Christian experience,” says Cosby.

St. Stephen Church, the largest African American church in the state of Kentucky, experienced tremendous growth during the 1990s with an “Every 1 Bring 1” slogan and strong emphasis on Sunday school attendance. Pastor Cosby employs an “intentional growth” Sunday school model currently. Classes are organized with growth in mind having a leadership team in each class. More than 2,900 persons have already committed to be a part of this historic occasion.

Alayna's Testimony on the Goodness of God

By: Alayna Middleton

This is my testimony on the Goodness of GOD.

I was in an accident Tuesday morning, August 26th, and I was ran off the road and hit by a Semi_Truck. My car flipped 3 three times and hit a wall and I landed upside down. When the car was finally down flipping I heard GOD tell me to get out of there. So I unbuckled my seatbelt and crawled from the front to the back of the car on my elbows because there was glass everywhere [but not on me] through the back window. Even though we all know that it was GODʼs angels pulling me through. My back windshield, front windshield, driver door, back passenger windows were all busted out.

GOD is so Good because I didnʼt have glass on me. As a matter of fact I donʼt have any broken bones, gashes, no amnesia, no bruises. Not anything. All I have are a couple of scratches on my legs. I could have had so many problems today, you know? I could be in the hospital and all that.

GOD is so good he spared my life and I am just thankful to be alive today because I could have lost my life. But because of GODʼs mercy & grace I am here today this morning alive and breathing. I Praise GOD for protecting me because while my car was flipping I was still in the driver seat the whole time. Praize be 2 JESUS!

Just like the story of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abendengo! Through the fire and through it all! GOD is faithful! GOD never fails!

I pray this testimony will help you to see GODʼs everlasting Goodness, Mercy, Love, Power, and Protection. Never take life for granted because we are all one heartbeat away from death.

So trust GOD in whatever you going through today because GOD is able.

Have a Good Day everybody!

God Bless

Alayna

Louisville Hosts First Annual Power To End Stroke Awards

By: Rogers Gardner, II

Louisville will host the 1st Annual Louisville Power To End Stroke Awards sponsored by the American Stoke Association. The Louisville Power Awards will be held Thursday, November 6th with a Power To End Stroke networking luncheon followed by the Louisville Power Awards hosted by Renee Murphy at Mastersons’ Restaurant. During the Power Luncheon, the acclaimed motivational speaker, Dr. James Gebel, will be the keynote speaker. The Power Awards will conclude with a Power To End Stroke Charge and Pledge.

The awardees for the first annual Power to End Stroke Awards are influential people in the community who are interested in educating those at highest risk about stroke. Ambassadors are key opinion leaders, politicians, celebrities, community and church leaders – these are individuals who can help make a difference. Invited awardees for the November 2008 event include:
Louisville Outstanding PTES Ambassadors
•Tanika Owens: Owner, TNT Fitness
Louisville PTES Power Broker Award
•Dr. Kerri Remmel: Chair of the Department of Neurology and Director of the University of Louisville Stroke Program
Louisville PTES Legacy Award
•Dr. Adewale Troutman: Director of the Louisville Metro Department of Health and Wellness
Louisville PTES Inspiration Award
•Rev. Angela Lee Price: 1350 WLOU on air personality and Founder of Jesus Saves Ministries
Louisville PTES Impact Award
•Kentuckiana CPR
Louisville PTES Strategic Alliance Awards
• Norton’s Healthcare
• Louisville Defender

The Power Awards and Luncheon will be open to other ambassadors who may want to attend. The process for placing reservation will be communicated by mid October. The senior leadership of major African-American organizations, all local African American media outlets, and grassroots organizations will be invited to attend. Louisville PTES ambassadors will be invited to attend and speak as well.
What is the attire for the weekend?
November 6th Power Awards and Networking Luncheon: Business

The registration process will be communicated by mid-October. Reservations can be made up to four days prior to the event; Reservations for each event will be available until maximum capacity for each event is reached.
We encourage each ambassador to bring a guest or a number of guests to share in the excitement of the weekend and to see them be honored.
Who would ambassadors contact if they have questions or want more information?
For more information, please contact Debra Eichenberger at debra.eichenberger@heart.org or Rogers W. Gardner II at rogers.gardner@heart.org or call Debra at 502-371-6023 or Rogers at 502-371-6008.
Call-to-Action:
You are the Power To End Stroke. Call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org to:
take the stroke pledge and receive a free Healthy Soul Food Recipes Cookbook,
receive free information about African Americans and stroke, and
find out how you can become a campaign Ambassador and reduce stroke in your community through the Power To End Stroke campaign.

Power To End Stroke is nationally supported by the Bristol Myers-Squibb and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

The Power to End Stroke

By: Rogers Gardner, II

My name is Rogers W. Gardner II, and I am the new Cultural Health Initiatives Senior Director for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. I would like to introduce you to an initiative designed to increase public awareness and action to fight stroke in the African American community: Power to End Stroke.
The Power to End Stroke campaign is a national initiative reaching out to African-Americans ages 30-64. It embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within our community. Power to End Stroke emphasizes the serious health disparity of stroke in African Americans and drives the message that in many cases, stroke may be preventable.

Power to End Stroke is an aggressive public awareness campaign against stroke in the African American community, compelling because:

• Stroke is the #3 killer in America…each year 700,000+ Americans have a stroke, 160,000+ will die and 200,000+ will be disabled;
• Every 3.3 minutes, someone dies from stroke;
  Every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke;
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability;
• Compared to whites, African Americans are twice as likely to suffer stroke;
• The burden of stroke is greater among African Americans than in any other group. In fact, we have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites, and blacks 35-54 years of age have four times the relative risk for stroke.

The Cultural Health Initiatives team in the Kentuckiana Metro is working with WLOU radio and Jesus Saves Ministries to spread the word about stroke prevention. On Friday, May 30th Dr. Kerri Remmel, Chair of the Department of Neurology and Director of the University of Louisville Stroke Program, Marc Jennings, AHA Communications Director, and I were guests on the Angela/Bill Price Morning show and discussed risk factors, signs of stroke and ways to raise stroke awareness in the community. I have also participated in the WLOU Backyard Cookout, National Baptist Convention (pictured left: Rev. Broduric Purvis, Oscar Carter, Jerry Siegel, Vivien Ogburn, and Rogers Gardner), Proud Family Heritage Reunion, Governor's Fourth Annual Empowerment Conference, and various health fairs within the community.

At the cornerstone of the Power to End Stroke campaign are our “Power Ambassadors”. Ambassadors take the Power to End Stroke pledge to: 1) help the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advance the cause by spreading the word to their family and friends and others in their sphere of influence; 2) know and recognize the risk factors and signs of stroke and 3) raise stroke awareness in the community and recruit others to do the same.

I’m asking everyone to take the pledge…make a promise to yourself and a commitment to your family to know the risk factors. Be proactive in reducing your risk…know the warning signs:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body.
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3. Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness.
4. Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Please consider becoming an Ambassador. Please help get the word out so others will know the risk factor and warning signs of this deadly disease. If you would like more information about this exciting campaign or would like to become a “Power Ambassador” please call or email me at (502) 371-6008 or rogers.gardner@ heart.org.

NAACP effort helps former felons register to vote

By Emily Udell
Courier Journal Newspaper
October 1, 2008, Neighborhoods Section

Rev. Angela Lee Price, voter registration minister at St. Stephen Church, applauded at last night's ceremony at the local NAACP office. Donna Cook said she's been trying to get back her right to vote since her probation ended in 2005. But it wasn't until yesterday that she signed her voter-registration card through a program offered by the Louisville branch of the NAACP.

"Now I count for something. Now I stand for something again," said Cook, an environmental services worker who had her two children at her side. Cook, 44, was one of 142 participants in the local NAACP's program to register felons in time for next month's elections. Of those, 98 have had their voting rights restored, and a handful gathered last night to turn in their voter-registration cards.

"This program works - you are the living proof," branch President Raoul Cunningham told the group gathered at the office, 1245 Catalpa Court.
In Kentucky, felons must go through a process to secure their rights from the governor, and this year the NAACP reached out to people with records through radio advertisements and church visits.
To qualify, felons must have completed their sentence or parole and must not be under felony indectment, have pending charges or woe any fines or restitution.
This is the first year that the NAACP branch has included felons in its voter registration efforts. Other efforts target youths, senior citizens and African Americans.
Cunningham said laws disenfranchising felons disproportionately affect African Americans. "This is just a drop in the bucket," he said. "But we had to start somewhere."
Kentucky and Virginia are he only states in which all felony offenders are prohibited from voting unless they receive an exception from the governor, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which advocates for the restoration of their voting rights.
The ACLU estimates 5.3 million Americans are unable to vote because of felony convictions, including about 186,000 in Kentucky. It says nearly 129,000 of those in Kentucky have serve their sentences.
Karen Henry, 35, who was among those turning in their cards last nights, said he is looking foward to gooing to the polls for the firs time next month. "It feels great to be a part of something that's part of being American," he said. "Even though you make mistakes, you shouldn't be condemned to pay for it for the rest of your life if you've paid you debt to society."


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