Bishop Vashti McKenzie farewell to highlight AME Mid-Year Convocation

The Thirteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will hold its Mid-Year Convocation March 22-24 at St. Andrew AME Church, 867 South Parkway East.

Three-generation salute set for the Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum of Olivet

The New Olivet Baptist Church at 3084 Southern Avenue will celebrate the life and legacy of the late Rev. Kenneth T. Whalum on March 25 at 6 p.m.

‘But-if-not’ faith inspires Healing Center worshippers

“…But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up…” – Daniel 3:18

That rattling sound is love being chosen over hate

Dear Lucy: I have read your “love” articles. My question is about hate. It seems to me that hate is the real problem today.

Rev. Netters finds National Prayer Breakfast visit a moving experience

When this year’s version of the annual National Prayer Breakfast got underway in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, the Rev. Dr. James L. Netters was there.

Popping the question best suited for ‘level of honest intentions’

Dear Lucy: I have been dating the same woman for three years now and I am thinking about getting married to her. But each time I get ready to pop the question, I see something about her that I don’t like ...

Catholic bishops, GOP backers hammer President over employee health rule

Page three of the bulletin distributed last Sunday (Feb. 5) at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 1695 Central Ave. featured a letter from The Most Rev. J. Terry Steib, bishop of the Diocese of Memphis.

Time to ‘forge ahead into the 21st century,’ says new leader of Baptist ministers

“…We don’t want to be just an organization of ministers, but we want to make a marked difference in our community. My vision is to expand our efforts in mentoring our boys and continuing to invest in our children’s education…”

 

The Rev. Dr. Frank E. Ray delivered a spirited keynote address during the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association installation service. The MBMA continues to be an active financial supporter for The LeMoyne Owen College, and for the James L. Netters and Henry Logan Stark chairs at the Memphis Theological Seminary. (Photos by Tyrone P. Easley)

The MBMA has donated tens of thousands of dollars over the past three decades to “deserving seniors who aspire to attend college.” Now the group is being led by new President Dr. Roosevelt Terrance Joyner (right) and Vice President Dr. Luther R. Williams. Also pictured (l-r), Clara Williams and Carolyn Joyner.

A changing of the guard in leadership at the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association (MBMA) “will continue the standard of excellence demonstrated by past administrations and forge ahead into the 21st century,” according to the organization’s newly seated president.

Immediate past president, the Rev. Carl Greer, passed the gavel to the incoming president, Dr. Roosevelt Joyner, pastor of Koinonia Baptist Church, last Sunday (Jan. 8) at Koinonia at 4340 Millbranch Rd. The new administration will serve through 2014.

“Our plans are to move forward into the 21st century technologically, socially, and religiously,” said Joyner. “Rev. Greer’s leadership focused on some very important issues regarding the African-American community – educating our children and improving overall healthcare for our people.

“We want to continue to make a positive difference in our community by expanding the programs we have in place to mentor young people, especially our boys. I want to focus, not so much on political activism, but on making Baptist ministers enablers – enabling our children to obtain a quality education and become successful adults. We plan to work closely with our schools and in our churches to expand our efforts.”

The MBMA has 400-plus members, many of whom are pastors of established churches and outreach ministries. Others are associate ministers, seminary students and aspiring pastors. The group meets every Tuesday morning at the organization’s headquarters, located at 591 E. McLemore Ave. in South Memphis.

Setting administrative priorities

Joyner said the MBMA is building a website that should be up and running by the first of March. It’s just one of the technological advances underway. Expect interactive features that will enable members to post video invitations to worship as well as full sermon messages.

“This will propel us squarely into 21st-century ministry,” said Joyner. “The possibilities are endless.”

As for political endorsements, Joyner said the association does not anticipate making any.

“This is a critical election year and some candidates will probably seek an endorsement. But with hundreds of members, we represent a number of views and political stands. We will not publicly support any candidate,” he said.

“However, we will make a stand when some issue involves blatant race, gender, or religious discrimination.”

One of the MBMA’s most important priorities involves creating a more effective mechanism for helping ex-felons successfully reintegrate into life on the outside, said Joyner.

“Most of these people are not hardened criminals, but they caught a felony case. When they are released, they end up going back to jail because no one will hire them. We’re not excusing lawless behavior, but we want Memphis corporations and other entities to help first-time offenders secure gainful employment so they can become productive members of society.”

Joyner said he has contacted Congressman Steve Cohen, as well as Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell regarding the issue.

“Something has got to change. Ex-felons need our help. The majority of those affected are African-American young men and women. They need our help, and love compels us to get involved.”

Soul-directed sights come into view when resistance is kicked to the curb

Lucy Shaw

Dear Lucy: Last year I started wearing eyeglasses. I have had to have the prescription changed once this year to a stronger lens. The doctor says that I don’t have any kind of awful threat of going blind or anything like that, it’s just that I have reached a certain age. I really don’t like wearing glasses and I am always misplacing my glasses. It’s really getting annoying because I seem to be obsessed with this thing about my eyes. Any thoughts about this?

– CY

Dear CY: It seems that during the past few weeks I have been having lots of thoughts about my own eyes and other people are talking to me about theirs! You are seeing a doctor and so you should deal with your doctor on what’s happening from a physical standpoint. I have mine checked right on schedule and recently renewed my prescription. My opinion, on the other hand is from a different perspective. When I think about the human faculties of seeing and hearing, this statement of Jesus always comes up for me....“Let those with eyes to see, see and those with ears to hear, hear.” He was not talking about physical eyes and ears. Rather, he was referring to our spiritual sight and hearing.

Here is what has been happening to me over the last two to three months. I let this slip by me until recently when some things started happening to make me stop and really consider. I have been wearing eyeglasses as a necessity for several years now. I really resisted wearing them. My baby sister had LASIK surgery at 40 years old after wearing glasses from the time she was a teen. She called me on her way from the surgery amazed at her new found capacity to see clearly without glasses. I am ten years older than her and at the time that I checked into the surgery, I was told my eyes were “too old.” So, while I don’t receive this business about “old eyes” (or old anything!), I settled on wearing my eyeglasses.

Now, I like to make life fun and interesting. So does my sister, Carole, who also wears glasses. So we buy prescription eyeglasses in different shapes, colors and styles just to entertain our vanity and maybe even make an occasional fashion statement while we use the gift of physical vision. That may seem expensive or extravagant to some, but it’s a choice between the glasses and some other thing to spend money on. We have also found an affordable means of doing this. And, it works for us.

But, lately, I have been misplacing eyeglasses left and right! I mean flat out losing them and not being able to find them. This is a weird thing for me because I believe that nothing in God’s universe can be lost...temporarily misplaced, but not lost. I now have three pairs of missing eyeglasses.

Here is what I am doing about it:

One: I am affirming diligently that they are not lost.

Two: my prayer partner reminded me that I told her years ago to drink Eyebright tea when she had an eye problem and it worked. I went to buy some at Whole Foods and they were out. Since number one and two are not working for me, I have gone deeper into my spiritual arsenal.

So, Three:  I am asking myself, “What is it that my soul is urging me to see with the eyes of my spirit that I am resisting?” This came to me the other day when I left home driving and suddenly couldn’t see out of my glasses very well. I stopped the car and asked myself this question. I asked it with an intention, willingness and expectation that the answer would be revealed to me and I would hear it! Immediately, my vision cleared up and I could see (with my glasses) to drive safely again. Same glasses. Nothing changed except my willingness to see from the spirit whatever God needs me to see.

I was not conscious of resisting my spiritual sight because I like to think that I am always listening and looking for God’s direction. But this thing with these eyeglasses is making me think that I need to check my spiritual arrogance at the door and step up my game of obedience and willingness to see and hear using my spiritual faculties right along with my physical ones.

So, I am giving thanks for both my physical and spiritual vision along with a willingness, intention and expectation for the highest and greatest outcome with both!  Join me in this experiment.

Using my eyes to see and my ears to hear,

Lucy

(Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at http://www.heartworks4u.com. You may send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)

The love and labor of pastoring 50 years

Special to the Tri-State Defender

In January 1962, the Rev. Coleman Crawford Jr. was called to the pastorate of Grace Missionary Baptist Church.

The Rev. Coleman Crawford Jr. has served as pastor of Grace Missionary Baptist Church for 50 years. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

On January 1, 2012, designated as Celebration Sunday, members of Grace M. B. Church honored Crawford for serving as the pastor of the church for 50 years.

During his New Year’s Day morning message, Crawford chose the theme “Hitherto, the Lord hath helped us” from the book of I Samuel. Traveling down spiritual memory lane, he gave thanks to God as he spoke of his fifty years as pastor.

Crawford’s pastoral works have included baptizing hundreds who professed faith in Jesus Christ, receiving those who came by letter and Christian experience, eulogizing numerous saints and a few unsaved, presiding over a countless number of weddings, consecrating scores of babies, counseling members and couples, preaching thousands of sermons on Sunday mornings and evenings, and conducting numerous revivals.

Grace M.B.C. is anchored in the Oates Manor division of North Memphis at 1203 N. Manassas St., it’s fourth location. The current church building was constructed in 2004.

Following the morning worship service, members gathered at a reception at the church to unveil a banner depicting momentous occasions of Rev. Crawford as pastor and to share gifts of love. Among those present were members who have been with Crawford for the 50 years. They were Joy Rogers Stout, Dr. Inetta F. Rogers, Loverta Rogers Dorris, Sandra Jackson Edwards, Carl Jefferson, and the Rev. Charles Liggins. Two charter members that remain active are Oscar Jackson and Mary Jackson.  Timothy C. O. Stout, CDM, served as chair of the reception.

Crawford’s ministerial accomplishments are evident on the local, state and national levels.

On the local level, he has served as president of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, moderator and dean of the Union Progressive District Association and Dean in Congresses.

On the state level, Crawford has served as state president of the North Mississippi Baptist Education Convention.

And on the national level, he is a member of National Baptist Convention Board of Directors. He said he has been blessed to impart knowledge by serving as an instructor in the local, state and national Congresses, the educational arm of the denomination.

Crawford maintains his commitment to support his alma mater, The LeMoyne-Owen College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science.

His pastorate resume also includes having served 43 years as pastor of Fredonia Baptist Church in Coldwater, Miss. and eight months at Middle Baptist Church – Whitehaven.

A public celebration of Crawford’s service is scheduled for April 28 at the Hilton Hotel on Ridgelake Blvd. at 5 p.m. For more information, including tickets, call the church at 901-527-9144. The Rev. Dr. Inetta F. Rogers is chair and the Rev. Mack Holloway is co-chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee.

Curiosity trumps fatigue in the quest for growth

Lucy Shaw

Dear Lucy: It is nearing the end of December already. It seems that so many people pass away during this time of year. Many of them are older people. It seems like they just decide that they don’t want to do another year. Maybe they know something we don’t know. So much is changing in the world and so fast. It’s time for another year and I can’t get excited about it. I’m not depressed, just not excited. Am I the only one tired?

Dear PK: I suppose that if I could ask the question just right, I could Google and find out if it’s true that December is the big month for deaths of a certain age. So often I tend to be more aware of death or birth or birthdays or anything else simply because I am thinking about it and paying greater attention. In the last three weeks, I had a personal stake in three different deaths ranging from ten years old to ninety. As I focused on these deaths I began to pay attention to the whole subject of death and dying including the ending of one calendar year and the start of another. So I feel a little of what you are talking about.

This is the time of year when we ask many life-changing questions. There will be many essays written and sermons preached on this topic for the next month or so. The essence of growth is curiosity. Curiosity is our spiritual birthright. We are constantly asking who, where, why, when and what. The trick to success is asking the right question and having the wisdom to balance our search for the answer with the patience and ability to wait and be quiet so that we can hear the answer.

Sometimes we ask “why?” just to wallow in the “why.” We don’t really want the answer and if we had it we wouldn’t use it or stop asking “why” long enough to learn the lesson contained in the why. Quite often the answer is looking back at us when we look in the mirror. I am the “who,” the “why,” the “when,” “what” and “where.” Sometimes I look so hard outside myself for answers that I forget how absolutely resourceful, wise and wonderful I really am.  What seems like the fatigue of having to face another year could just be my curiosity getting the best of me.

How I wish I knew what the next year will bring! But, I don’t. I can expect to see some people come and some go. I can expect some super days and some not so super. The big definite is that I can expect change. We live in a world of constant change...this is a fact. This change is tiring, invigorating, scary, encouraging, all at the same time depending on one’s viewpoint. And what we do have control over is our viewpoint.

There was a jeweler in Memphis named Las Savalle who passed away this year. Each time someone he knew or someone well known in the city passed away, he would put their name on his store marquee in honor of their lives. No matter who it was or what they had done, he would simply create a headline that said, “Memphis is a better place because John Doe was here.” I remember shortly after my husband’s death, the shock and simultaneous comfort I felt when I passed the store and looking up read, “Memphis is better because Harold Shaw was here.”

Las was a truly fine gentleman and what he knew was that we are all connected and we are all important. And this brings me to the question I want to ask of myself this year: “What am I willing to do this year to become better in ways that not only enrich me but also bless the rest of the world?”

What I do is important and makes a difference. I won’t judge according to what anyone else thinks about me. I will judge according to what I know I can be. I can be the one who will be missed by the entire world simply because I lived and made a choice to make a difference by elevating my own mind, and spirit.

I make a choice to remember that what I think about myself as connected to every other person, place and thing in this world is an awesome responsibility. Everyone I reach out to touch with love may not choose to touch back. I don’t control that. But I do control my willingness to keep on reaching, caring, giving, sharing and being curious. If that makes us tired sometimes, PK, we will just have to wait for the inevitable change!

Happy New Year!

Lucy

Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at http://www.heartworks4u.com. You may send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)

Trusting in the ‘One’ treasure

Lucy Shaw

Dear Lucy: I was looking on line at the items at Christies Auctions that belonged to the actress Elizabeth Taylor. There are millions of dollars in jewelry. I don’t know who will buy them or who will actually get the money for them. But the pieces are unbelievably beautiful and unbelievably expensive.  How could someone spend that kind of money on jewelry?

Dear M.S.: I went online and took a look at what you are referring to. You are correct. The collection is awesome! One would have to have a mega-movie star status to even have an occasion to wear most of the pieces. Elizabeth Taylor was certainly a mega-movie star and much loved by her husband’s and by her friend Michael Jackson.

There is a diamond watch in the collection valued at $500,000 given to her by Michael Jackson. It occurs to me that she must have been the very rare friend and spouse with the capacity to inspire a level of love and admiration that caused people to want to give her the gifts that caused her the greatest pleasure. This is quite an attribute for anyone to possess, so my hat is off to what this says about her capacity to inspire such giving in others.  

Who buys such expensive jewelry?  It’s pretty simple…people who can afford it and value it intrinsically and extrinsically.

Beauty and value is in the eye of the beholder. Beyond any judgments about “why,” I was reminded of the temporary nature of life. I am certain that at some point in time before her departure from planet Earth, Miss Taylor had cause to consider that she would not get to take any of her physical possessions with her.  In fact, there will be an equally extravagant and dazzling auction of her clothing! It may be that this lady had the wisdom to enjoy all of her possessions in the moment and let them go. I have no idea what her capacity for philanthropy was, how she gave or to whom she gave in ways that are lasting.

So what can we take away from your question?

This week, I did a workshop for two groups titled, “What’s In Your Treasure Chest?”    Today, during seemingly tough economic times, many of us are convinced that our earthly “Treasure Chest” is dwindling or at the very least it is not growing.  When most people are asked to select their most treasured life experiences for placement in a “Treasure Chest,” they will tend to choose only the “good” or “nice” things as treasures.

Yet, it is the mix of ups and downs, good and bad, happy and sad that teaches us and grows us into wonderful, useful human beings capable of giving meaningful service to ourselves and the rest of the world. By God’s sweet grace, I am certain that Miss Taylor had the opportunity to look into her “Treasure Chest” of life experiences and honor and cherish those that created permanent, enduring and endearing life lessons for her. I was so blessed by looking at that collection of hers that I was able to look into my own Treasure Chest in which I have stored rich memories of both hardships and joys that I am so very grateful for.  Many of them cost me a lot of lost sleep, tears, some sorrow and a few cost me some money. But, what I received in return is absolutely priceless.

As it gets closer to year’s end, do you know what’s in your “Treasure Chest?” While there are many scriptures to choose from about treasures, here is one of my favorites:  “Some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God…” How often have I called upon that name when nothing else would do!

Trusting in the “One” treasure, for you and for me,

Lucy

(Check out Lucy Shaw’s website at http://www.heartworks4u.com. You may send your questions to her by U.S. mail to: Heartworks4U, LLC; 4646 Poplar Ave. Ste 201, Memphis, TN 38117 or by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

(For help with the feelings that get in the way of prayer and peace of mind, get Lucy’s new book, “BE NOT ANXIOUS.” Order it directly from her at 901-907-0260 or go to her web site www.heartworks4u.com.)