St. Mark AME "Ministries Day" promotes more Christian involvement and desire for Christian growth
More than 35 ministries of St. Mark AME Church were vividly on display during the church’s recent Ministries Day.
Following the St. Mark’s two morning worship services, members and guests were given an opportunity to become more familiar and informed about the missions, goals and objectives of the church’s biblically based ministries.
The sole purpose of this effort was to emphasize that all Christians have God-given gifts and should seek to achieve "The Three Ds:" Discover your gifts; Develop your gifts into ministries; and Dedicate your gifts to the glory of God. In other words, to "Get in where you fit in!"
The two morning sermons by Pastor Darryl Williams of St. Mark set the tone for the day. His sermons were of a "teaching" mode and he very eloquently emphasized his subject, "Let’s Get Busy!"
The business did not imply just doing something or joining, or belonging, but making a difference in our decaying communities, in our broken homes and in our declining schools.
He emphasized the need for committed Christian leaders to train others to adequately lead and make a positive difference in today’s world, and do all of this to the glory of God.
Realizing that many members and visitors are not quite certain of their spiritual gifts, an opportunity was provided for members and visitors to take the "Spiritual Gifts Inventory," an instrument used to help participants identify or discover their strong points and inclinations for Christian service, which could develop into a ministry.
Many youth members were pleasantly surprised and inspired by the revelation of this activity. Dawn Jackson, assistant director of Christian Education at St. Mark, was the proctor for this activity.
Hundreds of worshippers were inspired as they pursued tables provided by the church’s ministries and many members registered to become actively involved in ministries that will benefit the St. Mark Church and the community, as well as their own spiritual growth.
Pastor Williams’ ministries vision was coordinated by Evangelist Christine Mitchell, director of Christian Education, and Jackson.
St. Mark to hold 71st Women’s Day May 20
Reverend Myra T. Billips will bring the keynote address at St. Mark A.M.E. Church’s 71st Annual Women’s Day Service on Sunday May 20 at 11 a.m. Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the services and contributions of women to the church and their communities.
Though the church was founded in 1869, it was not until 1936, however, that a "special day" for women was created under the leadership of the late Mrs. Flossie Chalmers. These activities were used as a means for women to rededicate themselves to the church.
In January 1995, Reverend Billips entered the ministry. In addition to her pastoral work, Reverend Billips has served in several capacities in the church and the community that includes mentoring young women ages 19-35, and the founding of her own ecumenical ministry, "BGlobal Ministries for Women." Reverend Billips is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Reverend Billips is a graduate of Paul Quinn College, and received her Masters of Divinity at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, Ministries Alliance.
Reverend Billips is an ordained elder in the AME Church and part of the pastoral team of Shiloh AME Church in Galveston, Texas along with her husband.
The public is invited to hear this dynamic pastor. St. Mark is located at 1616 West Atkinson Avenue. Reverend Darryl Williams is pastor. Call 562-8030 for more information.
Writing for the Lord Ministries launches website to better serve religious media
Christian Newswire--Estimates reveal that small press entrepreneurs and/or self-published authors account for 95% of the 190,000 books published in the United States annually, but only reflect 10% of total sales.
Many of these entrepreneurs and authors have stated that limited access to information, capital, and resources restricts their ability to embark upon successful and wide-reaching marketing campaigns.
Tapping into the consumer, trade, retail and wholesale marketplaces are pivotal to long-term success in the publishing field.
May is National Book Month. In response to the explosive growth of Christian, inspirational, and spiritual titles over the past three years, Writing for the Lord Ministries’ founder Kevin Wayne Johnson will launch a resource-driven website to service this growing phenomenon in Christian publishing.
As a resource and service, Johnson’s ministry will offer free and low-cost, detailed information to help small press entrepreneurs and self-published authors effectively communicate their message to their base of customers.
With 384,600+ churches in America alone, large quantities of good Christian literature is not being read by a core audience of book lovers who are in need of daily inspiration and hope.
Johnson’s ministry, through the website, will offer needed services, at a fraction of today’s rising costs, through three primary ways for churches, authors, small press, booklovers, and publishing industry professionals to enjoy: (1) Teaching and instruction--free and low-cost seminars/workshops that focus on how to write, package, market, promote and sell Christian books, (2) Publications--features the multiple-award winning Give God the Glory! series of books and devotionals that are reasonably priced from $7.95 to $14.95.
Also, access to the free Give God the Glory! e-newsletters that are distributed twice per month.
Each issue contains free information on how to be published and includes the latest information/updates in the publishing industry, and (3) Media--access to Johnson’s Give God the Glory! show where he interviews people from all walks of life about the goodness of God in their lives, coming soon to Streaming-Faith.com and selected archived shows from VoiceAmerica.com and Black-TVOnLine.com.
