Dr. Jeffrey Johnson Guest Speaker at St. Stephen Church on October 25th

Rev. Jeffrey Johnson, Sr. Pastor, Eastern Star Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana was the guest speaker for the 30th Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Sr. Pastor, St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday, October 25th. This is a brief excerpt from the 11:30 sermon, "I Got Next," based on Exodus 3:1-6.

This is a brief excerpt from the 9:40 service message, "Life After A Storm," based on Genesis 8.

Share the Gospel this Halloween with Memory Cross

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!! His is the sweetest gift of all! Share the Gospel with trick-or-treaters this Halloween with Memory Cross. It is simple, quick and easy to use, an effective way to explain the plan of salvation. Bring them to your next Trunk Or Treat Party, Hallelujah, or Autumn Festivals. The kids and adults will love them.

Kentucky Baptist Convention Issues Flu Preparedness Guidelines for Churches

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is asking churches to modify the way they conduct worship services as a precautionary measure against the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses. The convention this month issued its Flu Preparedness Guidelines for Churches as part of its Safe Church Initiative.

In an October 6th article in the Western Recorder Newspaper, Coy Webb, the KBC's disaster relief associate acknowledged, "Adjusting the greeting time might be a tough one for many churches. We enjoy and appreciate the physical contact, but it might be best to forego some of that for just a little while....I think the key words for now are 'common sense' and 'watchfulness.' Churches do not need to overreact, but at the same time, they should take commonsense precautions and be watchful for what develops during the next few weeks and months," Webb said.

Two Thumbs Up for The Clean Up Woman

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Two thumbs up for The Clean Up Woman! Don't miss this stage play if it comes to a city near you. It was at the Louisville Palace in Louisville for two showings on Sunday, October 11th, and it was fabulous! It had twists and turns, great singing, an all-star cast, and a revolving stage with three scenes. It was uplifting, clean with no profanity.

Producer JD Lawrence, in photo with Jesus Saves Social Network ticket winner and blogger Therese Warrick, and myself, greeted everyone at the end of the performance and stated that additionally his goal was to present positive depictions of the black male. He did that, plus more. You certainly got the sense that some of his characters believed in God and went to church, and then there was the Scripture-quoting "devil." All I could say was, "Jesus rebuke you, Satan!" JD did a wonderful job conversing with, or shall I say, clowning audience members during the play. It was hilarious!

I met Christopher Williams from New Jack City fame. Both he and JD were very hospitable joking with fans as they signed autographs and took pictures with them. The deejay did a wonderful job, too, keeping everyone entertained at the intermission. He had'em dancing in the isles with great ol' school hip hop.

Two thumbs up for the Clean Up Woman!!! It is not your typical play on the love triangle and infidelity. It was much better than we could have imagined. We can't wait to see Clean Up Woman Part Two and the movie next year.

Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries

Was King David the Original Clean Up Man?

Rev. Angela Lee Price

With all this talk about the play, The Clean Up Woman and the discussions on who in the Bible was the original clean up woman going on on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network, my question is "Was King David the original "clean up man" in the Bible?"

Scripture says, "One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing - a very beautiful woman. So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, "This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite. David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her....The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: 'I am pregnant'" 2 Samuel 11:2-5.

Sure, some might suggest that it was Bathsheba who got her "clean up" on in 2 Samuel. After all, she was on the roof, of all places, cleaning up. However, after all is said and done, it was King David who chose to sleep with another man's wife, get her pregnant, kill her husband Uriah and marry the woman. Their first child dies. Their second child, who becomes "Mr. Clean Up, II, was King Solomon, a man who had so many women he didn't know what to do. Though David was a man after God's own heart, I think his actions, in this instance, qualify him as the male "O.G." of the "clean up." Post your comments on the The Clean Up Woman Group on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network, or join the group and start your own discussion on the clean up woman. Your name will be entered in our drawing for a pair of tickets to the play, The Clean Up Woman, coming Sunday, October 11th, 3:00 p.m. to the Louisville Palace, Louisville, Kentucky.

Lifting you up in a down economy, we are Jesus Saves Ministries! Celebrating 4 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ.

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

Unity In the Community? If My People....

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Life is a precious gift from God, but life has its strife. In the middle of those three words, "life," "gift," and "strife" is the word "if." Life is "iffy," too with its twists and turns. Most importantly, life is conditional, dependent upon the "if" of us doing our part in our relationship with God. If we do our part, then God will do His part.

One of the things we must do to build unity in the community and eliminate so much unnecessary strife is to focus on 2 Chronicles 7:14, and the "if" of life. Yes, there is an "if" in life, but there is also an "if" of life. The "if" in life, has to do with what happens to us. The "if" of life has to do with what happens through us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 speaks about the people of God who were called by His name. It starts, "If my people...." It was originally given to Solomon concerning the children of Israel. If the people of God were to focus on the things of God, we could build unity in the community.

The "if" of life is conditional on us doing our part in life everyday, humbling ourselves, praying, seeking the face of God, turning from our wicked ways. God promises that when we do these things, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal the land, the land of our dysfunctional relationships and broken marriages, the land of our addictions and diseases, the land of our heartache and despair, the land of our unrealized potential, vacilating vunerabilites and elementary tendencies, and the land of our blighted communities. We've been traveling down dusty roads in these barren lands far too long. If only we could find Route 66 with its on ramp at Genesis and its off ramp at Revelation! We must focus on the "if" of life.

Another thing we must do to build unity in the community is to focus on Ephesians 4:7-14 and "if" of "gift." Yes, there is an "if" in "gift," but there is also an "if" of "gift." The "if" in "gift" has to do with what man gives to us. The "if" of "gift" has to do with what God gives through us. 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 the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (v12). He didn't save us just to sit. He saved us to serve.

God promises that if His people were use their spiritual gifts to preach, teach, evangelize, and pastor, we would eliminate so of the strife and become built up in the unity of the faith. And unity is what we need.

The Scriptures say, "Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceiftful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (v14-18). Focusing on the 'if" of "gift" requires that we not neglect our gifts (1 Tim 4:14), but that we stir up our gifts (2 Tim 1:6).

If the people of God who are called by His name would focus on the "if" of "gift" and the "if" of "life", we could build unity in the community and eliminate some of this strife in life!

Join the Unity in the Community Group on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network, reply to this post or start your on discussion on how to build unity in the community. Your name will be entered in our drawing for a pair of tickets to Unityfest 2009 featuring Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrell, Saturday, October 17th at the Iroquois Amphitheatre in Louisville.

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

Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

The Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

Stellar Music Weekend on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

The Stellar Awards is conducting online voting for gospel music artists in approximately 28 categories through October 3rd for the Stellar Awards. Now is the time to make your voice count! Log on and vote for your favorite gospel artists, groups, and choirs. We in the Louisville area ask you to support Louisville's own, the St. Stephen Temple Choir in Categories 8 & 20, "Choir of the Year," and "Traditional Choir of the Year."

Additionally, this would be an excellent time to tell your church members, family or friends about the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network. This weekend, Jesus Saves Ministries is giving away to first seven new members who join the social network by Sunday 9/27 at 11:59 p.m. a gospel music CD by one of the following Stellar-nominated artists, groups or choirs, The Brown Sisters, Brian Courtney Wilson, Heather Headley, The Temple Choir, or Kierra Sheard. Congrats to our first two new members this weekend, RJ and Mimi.

Hezekiah is on fire! Hezekiah Walker and LFC are up for Stellars in at least five categories. Congratulations to Louisville's own Jason Clayborne, a songwriter on Hezekiah's "Souled Out" CD. Current social network members ( with join dates before 9/24) can enter the drawing to win the Hezekiah Walker & LFC's, Souled Out CD. To enter the drawing, act fast and join the "I'M Souled Out On Jesus" group and participate in the discussion. The drawing will be Monday evening, September 28th.

There is more in store in October. Jesus Saves Ministries will be giving away tickets to the stage play, The Clean Up Woman, starring Christopher Williams, Telma Hopkins, Jackee Harry, and JD Lawrence, and to Unityfest 2009 featuring Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrell, both events in Louisville. To enter the drawings, join "The Clean Up Woman" and/or "Strength In the Unity" groups on the Jesus Saves Ministries Social Network and participate in the discussions or start one yourself!

Lifting you up in a down economy, we are Jesus Saves Ministries!

Celebrating 4 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!

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

Bishop Victor Couzens: St. Stephen's Men's Day Speaker

By: Min. Angela Lee Price
A powerful package of preaching power, Bishop Victor Couzens, Senior Pastor Inspirationl Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio was the Men's Day guest speaker at St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky on September 13th. Bishop Couzens preached all four services including, "From Maniac to Missionary," at 8:00 a.m., "Blessed, But Bound" at 10:45, and the uniquely crafted and presented 11:30 message, "Where Is Barabbus?"

At the 9:40 service, Bishop Couzens preached, "W.W.F., Wrestling With the Father, from Genesis 32:21-24. In this message on the patriach Jacob wrestling with God, Couzens said, "It's alright to have a checkered past as long as you have a relevant relationship....Before you can go to Canaan, the place of inheritance, you must first go by Jabbok, the place of preparation. God takes things from you, and gives things to you there....God is more concerned about where you are going than where you have been."

Couzens told Sunday morning worshippers at his first appearance at St. Stephen Church, "You've been running and walking, but the Lord wants you to L.I.M.P.- Lean Intentionally on the Master's Provisions."

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Couzens started his preaching ministry at age 14, and his pastoral ministry at 19. He is a candidate for a Masters of Art Degree in Ministry from Indiana Weleyan University, and has served as the third vice president of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.-Young Pastors and Ministers Division. Couzens has been pastoring Inspirational Baptist Church since July 2000, and has grown the church from 300 to more than 1,800 members.

Black Males Expected to Make Bricks Without Straw

By: Min. Angela Lee Price
When it comes to black males in this economy, I am reminded of what Pharoah told the Israelites, make bricks without straw (Ex. 5:6-7). In many cases, black men have the desire to provide for their families and children, but not the means. They are expected to provide without provisions, the jobs necessary to make ends meet.

We are experiencing the full affect of this economic recession right now. The current national unemployment rate is at 9.7%. Kentucky's unemployment rate is at 11.1%, the highest its been since they started keeping track 33 years ago according to yesterday's Courier Journal Newspaper. What this particular article does not show is that overall unemployment in west Louisville, the area with the largest African American population in the state. West Louisville black unemployment rate is 13.4%. And black male unemployment in west Louisville is 17.5%, five times higher than east end employment based on census data. Yet, Pharoah is out there declaring, "Lazy, that's what you are-lazy....Now get to work" (Ex. 5:17-18). Sure, there is enough blame to go around, but the fact is, the statistics speak for themselves. We as a Christian community need to step up and help out. But how?

As scary as those statistics are, the unemployment rate for black males in many urban cities is double that of their white counterparts. Buffalo, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago have all seen black male unemployment higher than 50% in recent years by some accounts. By all accounts, black males are hardest hit by this recession. They are "the least of these." In fact, it has been mentioned in several studies, including the Chicago Reporter article, Double Trouble that an unemployed white male with a criminal record stands a better chance of gaining employment than a black male without a criminal record.

Help us put a face to this group of "the least of these" by providing feedback to the staggering statistic of black male unemployment. What can the church, particularly the black church do to help?

Read these articles and post:

Weathering the Storm: Black Male Employment in the Recession

Current Unemployment Rates for States

Long Over Due: Rudolph Long Regains Right to Vote