FCCF Fifth Sunday Celebration

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! PSALM 133:1 (NIV)

The Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) will hold their regular Fifth Sunday Celebration this Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2:30 PM at Flint Ridge Baptist Church (Rev. Jerome Drakeford, Pastor). The FCCF schedules these celebrations as a way to build unity in the local body of Christ. Current participating churches include Bethlehem Baptist Church, Grace Evangelical Church, Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Flint Ridge Baptist Church, Mount Olive Baptist Church, and True Love Ministries. All members of the Christian community in the South Metro area are invited to attend!

The Guest Preacher for this event is Reverend Gerry Anderson, Senior Pastor of New Macedonia Baptist Church in Riverdale.

Flint Ridge Baptist Church is located in northern Fayette County at 104 Old Road, just off of GA Highway 85, just south of GA Highway 279. The phone number at Flint Ridge is 770-461-8742.

MAP: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayeteville&state=GA&address=104+Old+Road&zipcode=30214

Please join us as we continue to Build Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood! I believe that this is one of the best opportunities for unity among churches in this area. I can't begin to tell you how blessed I have been personally by getting to know the pastors and congregations of the churches participating in the FCCF. One of the most amazing discoveries is how God has already prepared their hearts for unity, also. For those of you who are undecided about this, I urge you to consider moving out of whatever congregational, denominational, and/or racial comfort zone you may be in and get involved!

Future FCCF Celebrations in 2009 wil be held May 31st, August 30th, and November29th. Details will follow.

Government Spending in Perspective

According to National Republican Senatorial Committee, "... over the course of only seven weeks of the current Congressional session, Senate Democrats have passed more spending than the previous Administration spent on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Katrina recovery combined. "

Yikes! A long time ago I was an Economics major, so I probably only remember enough to be dangerous, but this level of spending really concerns me.

When some people see a problem in America they often assert that "the government ought to do something." One of the problems with government spending is that government does not have any money of it's own.

There are basically three ways the government gets money:

1. It taxes its citizens
2. It borrow money (through mechanisms like government bonds)
3. It prints money

Here's the problem with each of these approaches:

1. Taxes take money out of the "private sector" which needs money to produce and grow.
2. Borrowed money has to be paid back eventually, at least the interest on the debt.
3. Printing money to pay for government programs leads to inflation ("the cruelest tax of all"), which is just what happened during the Carter administration when it tried this approach.

I'm not trying to debate whether the government should spend money, I'm just saying that this level of spending comes with some very significant risks. If you're thinking that we'll pay for all this by increasing income taxes on the "wealthy," keep in in mind that there are NOT enough of them to cover the costs. Most of the burden, then, will have to be shouldered by the bulk of American taxpayers.

MLK Day 2009: Have you been to the mountaintop?

Many Christians have had "mountaintop experiences," time with God that has the effect of changing their lives forever.

Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., I want to invite you to use the following link to hear and/or read the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech that Dr. King gave in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968. Dr. King was assassinated the following day.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm

I, personally, have been to the mountaintop of racial reconciliation and, for me, there is no going back, only forward. My prayer for all of us today is that God would get us alone with him on this issue and lead us toward unity in the local body of Christ.

In his speech, Dr King told the audience, "But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!" Part of that Promise Land will be reached tomorrow when President -elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. A possibility that most could only dare to dream about 40 years ago, is about to become reality.

MLK Birthday Celebration

The Fayette County 2009 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration is Saturday, January 17th.

Here's the schedule of events:

Pre-Parade Breakfast Buffet ~ 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Lafayette Center Cafeteria (next door to the Joseph A. Sam's Auditorium)
COST: $5.00 (Cash or Check only)

Parade ~ 10:00 AM - 11 :45 AM

Commemorative Program ~ 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Joseph A. Sam's Auditorium


My thoughts:

I urge you to attend all or part of this celebration. These are historic times as November's election and next Tuesday's inauguration of President-elect Obama indicate. I've been told that there are 26 African-American pastors in Fayette county. I expect most of them, along with members of their congregations, to be there for Saturday's events. You can help build unity in the local body of Christ just by showing up. Believe me, your attendance will make a powerful statement. It will not mean that you agree with every thing that Dr. King and the NAACP ever did or said, but it will mean that you are willing to recognize and identify with the struggle of the people they represent. I have come to know many African-Americans in Fayette County as true brothers and sisters in Christ.

I strongly recommend that you "Google" Dr. King and learn more about him and what he really stood and worked for. In particular, search for his "I Have a Dream" speech and his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail."

Don't miss this opportunity! We are Building Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood!

DRESS WARMLY! Temperatures early Saturday morning may be in the single digits! It should "warm up" into the 30's by parade time. (I'm wearing my ski jacket and a wool cap!)

Local Watch Night Services

The Watch Night Service originated with the Moravians in 1733. John Wesley appropriated the event into Methodism where it later became a Covenant Renewal Service. It gained special significance in African American congregations where it is sometimes referred to as Freedom’s Eve when in 1863 they waited eagerly for President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Please consider attending a Watch Night Service at one of these local area African-American churches.

Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church (Reverend Ed Johnson), Free Spirit Ministries (Reverend Dale L. Foster), and Mount Olive Baptist Church (Reverend Melvin Ware), will hold combined services at 8:00 PM at Mount Olive at 1565 Hwy 92 N. and at 10:00 PM at Free Spirit Ministries which is located 7880 Wood Road in south Fairburn. See http://fsmwc.org/directions.php for directions to Free Spirit Ministries.

Bethlehem Baptist Church (Pastor Dwight Elder) will hold their service at 10:00 PM. Bethlehem is located in Peachtree City at 475 Dividend Drive, near the entrance to Falcon Field (follow the airport signs.)

Flint Ridge Baptist Church (Reverend Jerome Drakeford) will have their Watch Night/New Year’s Eve Service at 9:30 PM, followed by a light breakfast. Flint Ridge is located off of GA Hwy 85 at 104 Old Road, just south of GA Hwy 279 and the Quick Trip (QT) gas station.

The Unity Christian Church's Watch Night Service (Pastor Smith Atwater) will be held on New Year's Eve from 10:00 PM until shortly after 12 Midnight. Unity Church is located at 426 Rivers Road.

Edgefield Baptist Church (Pastor Eddie Thomas) will have a New Year's Eve Service at 9:00 PM. Edgefield is located at 140 Church Street in Fayetteville. (http://www.edgefield-zion.org/contact.shtml)

Little Vine Baptist Church (Reverend Steven Coleman), located at 115 Handley Road in Tyrone, will have their service at 10:00 PM.

The New Year’s Eve Celebration Service at Redemption Fellowship Church will begin at 10:30 PM. The pastor is Reverend Mike Higgins and Redemption Fellowship is located at 418 Highway 279. (http://redemptionfellowship.org)

New Hope United Methodist Church (Reverend Belinda McCastle) will hold their service from 10:00 PM to Midnight. New Hope is located at 272 Weldon Road in the Inman area.

The service at Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church (Pastor Deborah Turman) will be at 10:00 PM. Merrill Chapel is located at 430 South Jeff Davis Drive.

Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church (Reverend Eyvonne Whitman) and Flipper Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Pastor Sherryl Powell) will be having a combined Watch Night from 10:00 PM -12:00 AM at Flipper Chapel. Flipper Chapel is located at 175 Booker Street in Fayetteville.

In the ministry of Promise Keepers we are deliberate and intentional about unity as is clearly shown in Promise # 6: A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity. Please be a part of this effort locally, which we call Building Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood!

I have personally worshiped in all of these churches except for Redemption Fellowship, Free Spirit Ministries, and Flipper Chapel AME Church (and I'll get to them eventually), but Reverend Higgins, Reverend Foster and Pastor Powell know me or know of me. I can assure you that you will be warmly received at each and every one of these services. A Watch Night Service is a great way to end one year and begin another.

Be bold! Be strong! The Lord, thy God, is with you!

May God continue to bless you as 2008 comes to a close and throughout the New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I recently heard someone say that Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday since it is void of hype or over-anticipation and people are seldom disappointed by the day. Some view Thanksgiving as special because it is a time for gathering with family and friends, and it certainly is that for most of us. Others are deliberate about remembering the origin and/or spiritual basis for the day. After all, what we now call a holiday used to be referred to as a "Holy Day."

I read several years ago that most of the world can not conceive of a meal like the typical Thanksgiving dinner in America. That statement made me pause to consider just how much we have to be thankful for. Korean Evangelist Billy Kim once said that America has been blessed by God like no other country in the world.

My prayer for you today is that you find time to today and always to consider just how blessed you are and to render thanks to God accordingly!

For those of you who may be challenged by circumstances this season, I pray that you will come to know what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 4:17 when he said that our troubles are just "light and momentary." May you learn to focus on "an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." As some of you know, I have had to deal with chronic medical problems. It has certainly helped me to view them with an eternal perspective. The wonder of the Gospel is that God has dealt with all circumstances through Christ's atoning sacrifice at Calvary. There's plenty of thanks to be found there!

142nd Anniversary at Mount Olive Baptist Church

Mount Olive Baptist Church will hold its 142nd Church Anniversary this Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 2:30 PM. The Senior Pastor at Mount Olive is Reverend Melvin Ware. The guest preacher will be Pastor Henry Carnegie, who will be accompanied by members of his congregation from Mount Gillard Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Mount Olive is located in northwest Fayette County at 1565 GA Highway 92 North. The church phone number is 770-461-6526. Reverend Ware is the Treasurer for the Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF), an organization dedicated to building relationships among churches in the Southern Crescent area. So you know that Mount Olive welcomes members of the entire Christian community to join in this joyful celebration! We are building Biblical bridges of brotherhood!

Bethlehem Baptist Male Chorus Anniversary

Bethlehem Baptist Church is having their Male Chorus Anniversary this Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 6:30 PM. The Pastor is Dwight Elder and the Chairman of the Deacon Board and Male Chorus Director is Robert Cofer.

Don't miss this terrific evening of worship in song, featuring selections by Bethlehem's male chorus and various guest male choruses.

Help us build biblical bridges of brotherhood! Following Barack Obama's election as President, the opportunity may be more available than ever.

Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in Peachtree City near the entrance to Falcon Field at 475 Dividend Drive.

Congradulations to Barack Hussein Obama

Congratulations to Barack Hussein Obama, our first bi-racial President.

I hope that this will foster unity in America, but even more importantly, I pray that this will help to bring unity within the Body of Christ!

Please consider going to this web site if you would like to pray for President-elect Obama each day from now until his Inaguration on January 20, 2009:
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/

(Scroll down to the "77 Days of Prayer" link.

UNITY Opportunities

Here's a number of chances to Fellowship across racial and denominational lines. Come help us Build Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood and sisterhood!


Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM -- Edgefield Baptist Church (Pastor Eddie Thomas, 770-461-7388, It's Time Conference for Men, 140 Church Street, Fayetteville, 770- 461-7388. Speaker: Pastor Timothy Cox (City of Refuge).

Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 PM -- Edgefield Baptist, It's Time Conference for Women. Speaker: Evangelist Patricia Stephens (Purpose & Destiny Ministries).

Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM -- Edgefield, It's Time Conference for Youth. Speaker: Elder Danny Smart (Ft. Lauderdale Bibleway Temple).

Saturday, October 25 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM -- Fall Festival at Mount Olive Baptist Church (Rev. Melvin Ware, 770-461-6526).

Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM -- Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (Rev. Ed Johnson, 770-461-0283), will hold their annual Annual Women's Day celebration. The keynote preacher will be Reverend Doctor Frances Bryant-Lowery, Professor of Pastoral Care at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta.

Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 PM -- Little Vine Baptist Church Anniversary, (Rev Steven Coleman, 770-487-4686), 115 Handley Road in Tyrone.

Saturday, November 8 at 6:30 PM -- Bethlehem Baptist Male Chorus Anniversary, (Pastor Dwight Elder, , 475 Dividend Drive in Peachtree City.

Sunday, November 30 at 2:30 PM -- Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) combined Worship Service at Flat Rock AME Church.

Hoping to see many of you at these events!

Holly Grove AME Church HOMECOMING and REVIVAL

Holly Grove A.M.E. Church will celebrate Homecoming on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM. The Reverend Walter E. Daniels, Presiding Elder, South Atlanta District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be the preacher of the hour.

Revival Services will be held at Holly Grove on Monday-Wednesday, August 25-27, 2008 at 7:30 PM.

Here are the preachers for each service:

Monday, August 25, 2008 - Reverend Edward Johnson, Senior Pastor, Flat Rock AME Church, Fayetteville, GA

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - Reverend Kenyatta Arnette, Senior Pastor, Pleasant Hill AME Church, College Park, GA

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - Reverend Lemora Dobbs, Senior Pastor, St. Paul AME Church, Canton, Georgia

The Senior Pastor at Holly Grove is Reverend Eyvonne Whitman. The church is located in Peachtree City at 400 Holly Grove Church Road, just off the southern end of Robinson Road. Look for the historical marker and church sign. The church phone number is (770) 631-7650.

Holly Grove was founded in 1897 and has a rich history of faith. The church has worked and will continue to work for biblical unity among all races and denominations in this area. You can help in this effort by attending one or more of these services!

Reverend Ed Johnson to preach at Grace Evangelical Church

Reverend Ed Johnson, Senior Pastor of Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be preaching at the 10:30 AM service tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008) at Grace Evangelical Church (http://www.gracechurchfayette.org) and bringing his congregation from Flat Rock with him. I believe that we all can rejoice over this show of unity in the local body of Christ. I know that many of you are otherwise occupied on Sunday mornings, but would you please say a prayer for this service and consider attending to show your support?

REVIVAL at Flint Ridge Baptist Church

PROMISE #6: A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

Flint Ridge Baptist Church (Reverend Jerome Drakeford, Senior Pastor) will hold Revival Services Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, August 20-22, 2008, at 7:00 PM nightly. A special youth speaker will be featured on Thursday evening. Flint Ridge is located in northeastern Fayette County at 104 Old Road, facing GA Hwy 85. Reverend Drakeford can be reached at 678-438-0905 or 770-461-8742.

Reverend Drakeford is the current President of the Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) which is working for unity among the churches and ministries in the South Atlanta area. Additionally, Reverend Drakeford and Brother Bobby Zachery, the men's ministry leader from Flint Ridge, attended the recent Atlanta Promise Keepers Conference with a number of other men from the Fayette County area. They are eager to build relationships with other churches in this area and this week's Revival provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet them and their congregation as well as guests from other area churches. I guarantee that you will be warmly received. (My plan is to be there on Wednesday evening.)

Come help us build Biblical bridges of Brotherhood! Admit it, couldn't you use a little revival, too?

Revival at Bethlehem Baptist Church

Bethlehem Baptist Church will hold Revival Services on Wednesday, August 20th through Friday, August 22nd at 7:30 PM nightly. The guest revivalist for the week will be Reverend Curtis Green of the Greater Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta.

The Senior Pastor at Bethlehem is Dwight Elder. Pastor Elder and his congregation are members of the Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) and, as such, are eager to build relationships with other churches in this area. First Lady Annie Elder and some of the women from Bethlehem are regular participants in the Peachtree City Lighthouse for AGLOW, for which I am a spiritual advisor.

Bethlehem is located in Peachtree City at 475 Dividend Drive, near the entrance to Falcon Field. The church phone number is 770-631-0267.

I'm planning to be there myself for Thursday and Friday evening. I have visited Bethlehem at least forty times in the last four years and they treat me like I was one of the family.

Are you bold enough to step out for Jesus Christ in order to build unity in the local body of Christ?

SIX REASONS men attend a Promise Keepers Conference

WORSHIP: PK music engages the heart of a man in a corporate setting with thousands of other men, and creates a unique, often life-changing experience. (Imagine singing with over 10,000 other men; It makes for a pretty amazing choir!)

FELLOWSHIP: The unified purpose and aligned attitudes of men at PK events tends to amplify the experience of the Holy Spirit. Men are spiritually and personally refreshed by participating with a multitude of men.

SPEAKERS: Men need to be challenged, convicted, and encouraged to strive to reach the next level of holiness. PK’s national authors, leaders and speakers address guys directly, with exceptional candor, personal insight and enthusiasm. (You'll get excellent insights on authentic manhood and practical tips on how to live it out.)

EVANGELISM: PK offers men the rare opportunity to bring their sons, family, friends and co-workers to a “non-church,” non-threatening environment where they can hear the Gospel Message in a masculine context.

CONNECTIVITY: An innate desire in all of us is to belong to a cause that is bigger than ourselves. PK offers men the opportunity to become part of the greater work of God though the men’s movement.

EXPERIENCE: The challenge to set aside the time to go, (fellowship while traveling to and from the conference), the magnitude of the event, and the support of wives create a catalytic experience, a milestone and life’s journey for the men that has a remarkable and lasting impact.