Blessed

 

A Publication of the Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church

Sunday School Department

Volume 3,   Issue   1     March 2002

Seek and Find

A Message From Our Pastor

Rev. Johnnie M. Bethea

 

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:   Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)

 

Spring is a time of newness.  A time of freshness.  It is a time when everyone wants to get out and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.  The earth is full of all sorts of plants and animals.  Some we see everyday.  Some we know little about.   I’m sure there are some species of animals and plants we have yet to discover.

        God has created and provided all that we need to live an abundant life.  In Psalms 24:1 David writes, The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  I believe God has provided the cure for many of our diseases.  It’s all within our grasp if we just look for it.  The bible says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt 7:7 (KJV)

        My two boys are always misplacing things.  When they misplace an item many times they come to me or my wife and say, “I can’t find it.”  “Did you look for it”, we ask.  The answer is always “yes”.  My wife has asked many times,  “Did you look under the bed”.  “Yes” is the reply.  When my wife looks under the bed the item suddenly appears.  The boys looked but they did not see.

        We are like that with God.  God has given us everything we need, but we don’t seem to be able to find everything.  We misplace our dedication, affections, healing, our blessings and we have to ask God to find for us, what He has already given us.

        Many of our blessings have already been given.  The blessing that you seek has been there, under the bed, the whole time.  You just couldn’t see it.

        Seek the Lord, while He may be found.  He’s right there within your reach.  Reach out to Him today and say Lord I’m not going to miss the biggest blessing of my life.  I want Jesus to come into my heart, because I am a sinner.  I’m confessing with my mouth and believing in my heart the Lord Jesus.

        The world is still looking for the Lord.  Some of you may still be looking for the Lord.  But you won’t find Him in the whiskey bottle.  You won’t find Him in crack cocaine.  But if you look deep inside yourself, and open your spiritual eyes, He’s there.  He has been there all the time.  Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

What A Blessing

Submitted by: Jacqueline Rogers

        Carolyn (Brenda) Turner has been in out of the hospital for the last three years.  She has had numerous surgeries. She was diagnosed with having a bad case of hidrenitis, something that can happen to anyone.  Carolyn was tiring of doctors telling her what they thought, and what the outcome may be, but wasn't curing the problem.

        Dr. Fearrington (Carolyn’s doctor) went to a conference, and she met a doctor by the name of Dr. Gunn. She was telling Dr. Gunn about a case she was treating (she was talking about Carolyn Turner).  When Dr. Fearrington came back from the conference she had Carolyn to come to her office.  She told Carolyn she met a specialist who specialize in her illness.  She asked Carolyn would she like an appointment.  Carolyn said yes.  Dr. Fearrington made an appointment, but the next available appointment was in March 2002.  Dr. Fearrington knew that Carolyn could not wait that long so she said, “you go home and I will call and speak with Dr. Gunn personally and I will call you back”.  Dr. Gunn said “bring her in on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002”.   Carolyn went.  Dr. Gunn examined her and stated she needed to do surgery as soon as possible.  How about Friday, Jan.11, 2002?  Dr. Gunn said “I specialize in this and I know I can heal you.”  What A Blessing.  Carolyn has to go to the hyperbaric chambers twice a day to help heal her wounds, and with the power of God and that chamber she is improving well.  Carolyn has been through pain and suffering and when those pains hit her, she only know two words to say "Jesus, and In The Name Of Jesus".  "What A Blessing”. 

                She has traveled a long journey, but she fixed it up with Jesus and she is on the right road now. "What A Blessing”.  Carolyn would like to thank her church family, friends and everyone who prayed for her in her time of sickness.  When praises go up, blessings come down.

 

How Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy Works

Submitted by: Jacqueline Rogers

 

      Oxygen stands as the key substrate for metabolism. Every day an average adult consumes three pounds of food, three pounds of water and almost six pounds of oxygen. From that six pounds of oxygen about 2 pounds gets into the blood for transport to tissue cells.  Humans need this oxygen in order to complete the energy cycle that sustains life.

      Oxygen given with increased pressure can correct many serious health problems.  To provide this increased pressure one must be completely inside a pressurized room, a hyperbaric chamber.  Oxygen breathed while inside a hyperbaric chamber is no different from natural oxygen.  It is natural oxygen, only delivered in a pressurized chamber.  The increased pressure does not change the molecular composition of oxygen.  Increased pressure allows oxygen to get into tissues better.

Extra pressure improves oxygen flow in the blood.

      Hemoglobin, the metalloprotein in red blood cells that holds oxygen, can carry only a limited amount of oxygen.  We cannot rely on red blood cells to deliver oxygen to all our tissues in every crisis.  One gram of hemoglobin can only carry 1.34 milliliters of oxygen. Red blood cells can only deliver a limited level of oxygen to tissue cells.  Scientists measure this level, called oxygen tension (or oxygen partial pressure, "pO2")  in units of pressure labeled "mmHg" (the amount of pressure able to raise the equivalent weight of a liquid mercury column, a pretty heavy liquid metal, also used to measure air pressure).  Healthy blood circulation provides a tissue pO2 of 39 mmHg or less.  Injuries, infections and diseases can drop this vital tissue oxygen level down to almost

 

zero!  As we age we can lose vital lung capacity and the ability  to effectively  obtain adequate  oxygen.   Some disease

conditions impair oxygen utilization. Also, injuries or conditions with swelling can cause pressure that cuts off circulation flow.  This loss of blood flow, called ischemia, cuts off oxygen circulation to the affected areas of the body. This problem drops the pO2 gravely low, destroys tissue, and slows healing. The body response to tissue damage mobilizes scavanger cells called histocytes that crawl with ameboid movement.  This movement requires good oxygen availability.  If oxygen levels drop, the histocyte movement stops and they become part of the problem instead of the solution.  By using increased atmospheric pressure we can dissolve more oxygen into the circulation fluid. This extra oxygen helps revive numb histocytes and gets them back into action.  Research has shown optimal tissue healing occurs when pO2 rises to between 50 and 80 mmHg.  This level assures excellent delivery of oxygen to all the cells that need it.  Oxygen given in a normal room cannot raise tissue oxygen levels to that level because red blood cells cannot carry the extra oxygen. We must raise the atmospheric pressure.  This requires getting inside a pressurized chamber designed for human occupancy.

      How does being inside a pressurized chamber give humans more oxygen? When people are inside a chamber pressurized at twice the normal air pressure people breathe double the number of molecules. Breathing pure oxygen in such a chamber gives 10 times the regular amount of oxygen. In one hour humans can inhale 2.4 pounds of oxygen! Red blood cells instantly fill with oxygen and the extra oxygen dissolves

 

Hyperbaric Oxygenation – continued on page 3

Hyperbaric Oxygenation – continued from page 2

 

directly into the blood fluid. In a few minutes this extra oxygen builds up tissue oxygen levels far above normal. This action has been scientifically proven to stimulate healing. In order to raise tissue oxygen tension above 50rnmHg for optimal healing one must have oxygen delivered under increased atmospheric conditions.  Look at the hyperbaric chart and observe the venous oxygen tension, which closely represents the final tissue oxygen tension, rise breathing oxygen beginning at 1.5 atmospheres of increased pressure. Notice the phenomenal rise once atmospheric pressure increases twice above normal.  This hyperoxia, increased tissue oxygen, is useful in healing.     

      How high is the pressure?  The pressure on a 30” hyperbaric chamber hatch with only 2 times atmospheric pressure has 5 tons of pressure exerted against it! This type pressure cannot be given in a plastic bag, it requires a solid chamber certified to safely hold the high pressure.

What is the difference between saturation and oxygen tension? The problem in advocating proper useage of oxygen involves confusion between saturation and oxygen tension, 100% vrs. 100 mmHg. Only dissolved oxygen contributes to the tension (or partial pressure). The difference in amounts of oxygen transported by plasma (liquid) vrs. hemoglobin. One gram of hemoglobin can only combine with 1.34 ml oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin. In 100ml of healthy blood there is 19ml oxygen as oxyhemoglobin and 0.3ml oxygen in liquid solution. Thus normally the hemoglobin is near maximum saturation (98%) and the pressure or tension of oxygen in the liquid solution is initially 95mmHg and downline tissue levels drop to 39mmHg or less. Breathing pure oxygen at 2.5 times atmospheric pressure increases the amount of oxygen in (plasma) liquid solution to about 6 ml per 100ml blood. This increased oxygen volume measureably increases the oxygen tension and downline tissue levels can rise upwards of 200mmHg.

What conditions are treated with hyperbaric oxygenation therapy? Hyperbaric oxygenation helps the body heal from conditions that have low oxygen in the tissues causing or complicating the outcome. Repetitive hyperbaric sessions can help many different conditions such as anemia, burns and crush injuries. Compromised skin grafts often improve with hyperbaric oxygenation. Difficult to heal infections treated with hyperbaric oxygenation has attracted interest lately as antibiotic therapy can fail to clear today's resistant strains of pathogens. Treatable infections include such diverse situations as actinomycosis, osteomyelitis, diabetic wounds, gangrene and other deadly soft tissue infections.

How far back does the history of hyperbaric therapy go? The first pressurized room used to treat health problems was built by an Englishman named Henshaw in 1662; however, it was not until over a century later in 1788, that compressed hyperbaric air was put to large scale use in a diving bell for underwater industrial repairs of an English bridge. The first deep sea diving suit, invented in 1819 by August Siebe, used compressed air supplied to the helmet for generous underwater movement. A French iron shop in 1834 built the first hyperbaric tank under the direction of Dr. Junod. A copper sphere five feet in diameter with the appropriate viewports and compressed air fittings became the center of attraction for many patients. He reported wonderful recovery from a variety of debilitating conditions in the Bulletin of the Academe of Medicine. Hyperbaric enthusiasm spread among the European countries during the next forty years. Sick people came from America to try the new therapy. An enterprising Canadian built the first North American hyperbaric chamber in 1860. Early French hyperbaric assisted surgery demonstrated that patients recovered with fewer complications. This interested the European medical profession. Dr. John S. Haldane studied the effects of compressed oxygen and taught at the University of Dundee in the early 1900's. He developed the first diving tables for the Royal Navy. His legacy gives him the title "Father of Oxygen Therapy" and physicians continue in his line of work to this day. In 1918 Dr. Orval Cunningham considered the differences between people living or dying through the flu epidemic in the Rocky Mountains. He noticed people in the valley fared better than people in the mountains. He reasoned that denser air in the valley helped people fight the infection. He had an 8' diameter by 30' long hyperbaric chamber built next to his medical clinic. Good outcomes with patients suffering from pneumonia encouraged him to build other chambers. He built the world's largest functional hyperbaric chamber, a 64' steel sphere "hyperbaric hospital" with five floors of living space. The Great Depression in the 1930's ended his project and the steel was scrapped for the war effort in the 1940's. Harvard Medical School had a hyperbaric chamber built in 1928. It provided a university based medical research program. In the last four decades great strides in HBO2 research has raised the value of this unique therapy. University studies have expanded the list of conditions usefully treated with compressed oxygen. Doctors used to ask, "Can it work?" Now they ask, "How much is needed to completely work?"

Does hyperbaric oxygenation help in pain management? Related to crush injuries it is apparent that most pain is a result of swelling around sensitive nerves. Hyperbaric oxygenation acts internally to reduce swelling and can reduce pain. For example, a Patient with a burned leg from her knee down to her toes had blisters that covered her leg (second degree burns) and the pain was excruciating. She was driven to a hyperbaric chamber 12 hours after her injury. (It would have

 

Hyperbaric Oxygenation – continued on page 4

Hyperbaric Oxygenation – continued from page 3

 

been better if she could have arrived sooner.)  After 30 minutes into her first hyperbaric session at 2.5 atmospheres she reported that her pain was gone! And it never returned! She completed 15 hyperbolic sessions so, that in 4 weeks she completely healed with no scar formation. Most serious health problems stem from various forms of ischemia. When ischemia is severe and persistent it may lead to an anaerobic form of tissue metabolism that may perpetuate the entire ischemic process. Reference: W. Boyd A Textbook of Pathology 8th edition pg. 69. Irritation of nerve roots with attending muscle spasm along the segmental distribution of the nerve root can create ischemic changes that, if not corrected, can lead to permanent impairment. Reference: R. Jackson The Cervical Syndrome 4th edition pg 148. A major cause of musculoskeletal pain originates from ischemia, that compares with the pain experienced in angina. Reference: T. Lewis "Pain in muscular ischemia" Archives Internal Medicine 1932;49(5):713-27. Many conditions of the central nervous system stem from vascular ischemia. Reference: N.A. Hood "Diseases of the central nervous system" British Medical Journal 1975;3:398-400. It has been well known for several decades that ischemia has a depressant effect on nerve conduction, especially in the more sensitive afferent fibers. Reference: J. W. Magladery, et al "Electrophysiological studies of nerve and reflex activity in normal man" Bulletin John Hopkins Hospital 1950;86:291-312.  Ischemic changes in nerve root microcirculation often leads to intraneural edema that worsens the trouble. Reference: B.Rydevik, M.D.Brown, "Pathoanatomy and pathophysiology of nerve root compression" Spine 1984;9(1):7-15. Recovery of nerve (and other tissue) depends on eliminating ischemia in the affected tissue. Reference: F.H.Bentley, W.Schlapp "Experiments 9n the blood supply of nerves" Journal Physiology (London) 1943;102:62-71. Hyperbaric oxygenation has proven benefits in reversing the effects of ischemia. References: J.D.Yeo "A study of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on. the experimental spinal cord injury" July 30, 1977 The Medical Journal of Australia pg.145-147. I.Eltorai "Hyperbaric oxygen in the management of pressure sores in patients with injuries to the spinal cord" Journal Dermatological Surgical Oncology 7:9 Sept 1981; 737-739. A.Sirsjo et al "Hyperbaric oxygen treatment enhances the recovery of blood flow and functional capillary density in post-ischemic striated muscle" 1993 Circulatory Shock 40:9-13. These research findings indicate that hyperbaric oxygenation may someday fmd use in treatment of more pain syndromes. However, to use this therapy many more chambers must become available in doctors offices.

Do people feel different inside a hyperbaric chamber? Chamber atmosphere pressurization occurs slowly to allow adjustment of ear pressure. As the pressure increases the occupants just yawn, swallow or "blow their nose" to clear pressure changes in their ears. Other than this ear pressure there are no unusual or different sensations. A hyperbaric oxygenation session allows us time to relax unless one has anxiety about being inside a chamber. Most of those people find that once they start breathing pure oxygen their anxiety clears and they enjoy the session. The hour invested inside a chamber provides a place of safety for healing to occur. The real question involves access to the equipment. We need more chambers for the public to have access to this very helpful therapy.   Let's look at getting a chamber for your clinic.

Connecting Early Is The Key

Submitted By: Nellie Bullock

        The year 2002 is at hand and with it comes new challenges, even greater than those of the previous year. This makes the task of connecting with our youth more relevant than ever before. They are and will forever be our future. The best time to reach them is at an early age. As their teacher, for Sunday school, and Wednesday night bible study, I take great joy in nurturing and molding "God's Little Angles'. They include youth from nursery, kindergarten, and pre- school. Clearly, this is the most effective time to make a lasting impression on them.

It is truly God's Will that we train up a child in the right way while at home, in church, and in the community. My "little angels," by the grace of God, bring to my classroom open and energetic minds ready to learn all they can comprehend. This makes the task of teaching them both challenging, and rewarding. It is a task large enough that failure is guaranteed unless God takes control.  As a result, my goal to connect early is, more often than not, reached with every bright-eyed student.  It is evident by the smile of each little one, willing to learn more about God. So, connecting early fulfills God's plan to reach even the youngest mind.  One day they will stand for God and He will become great through them.

 

Food For Thought

A Good Listener

From The Usher Board

Submitted by: Janet Smith

        There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat.  He had an old shotgun and three bullets.  So, he decided that he would go out and kill something for dinner.  As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit and he sot at the rabbit and missed it.  Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it.

        As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said “pray firs, aim high and stay focused.”  However, at the same time, he saw a deer, which was a better kill.

        He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer.  But, then he saw a rattle snake between his legs about to bite him.  So he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.

        Still, the voice said again to him, “I said ‘pray, aim high and stay focused.”  So, the man decided to listen to the voice.  He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey.  The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer.  The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it.  And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond.

        When he stood to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and turkey to eat.  The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

        Bottom Line: Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.

(Reprinted from Internet (dholland@Howard.edu)

Youth Missionary Circle

Submitted by: Merion Bethea

        The Youth Missionary Circle has been involved in several projects, conferences, and ministry efforts this quarter.  We meet on the third Wednesday Night of each month from 6:30 P.M.–7:30 P.M. and we welcome you to join us at anytime.

 

Foreign Mission Project

Pennies for Light Project

Jesus spoke....”I am the light of the world, “ he said.  “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”  John 8:12 (GNT)

In January, the Youth collected coins for their “Pennies for Light” project. For every $4 collected, Bibles were purchased through the American Bible Society for distribution in African nations.  The group collected a total of $50 for which 12 bibles could be purchased.

 

Local Mission Project:

Duke Children’s Hospital Project

        In February, the Youth collected old and/or new VideoTapes, Hand Held Video games, and Puzzles, which were shared with the patients at the Duke Children’s Hospital. Video selections were limited to G and PG viewer ratings, and games were limited to those, which are nonviolent.  The group collected a total of 64 videos and over 100 puzzles to be shared with the children at Duke.

 

College Care – Force Project

Care packages were distributed to our College Adoptees: Twilla Tanyi (UNC), Andralena Miller (UNC), Ciara Rainey (NC State), Kiana McMillian (NC A&T).

 

Other Activities

Teen Conference 2002–“True Love Waits”, Decatur, GA

Conference Theme: “Staying Anointed for the Challenge” Acts 10:38

        On February 8th and 9th, 11 youth and 10 adults journeyed to Decatur, GA, with Community Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC to participate in Teen Conference 2002. This was the 6th Annual True Love Waits Conference hosted by Greenfield Community Baptist Church.

        The group participated in the Opening Night session, at which Keynote Speaker, Rev. Adriane L. Blair, the Baptist Chaplain at Howard University in Washington DC, challenged them to “Stay Anointed through the Word of God”.

On Saturday, the group participated in workshop sessions for Pre-teens, Teens, and Young adults and Adults. Pre-teen sessions included Setting Higher Standards; What it means to be a Man; What it means to be a Woman.  Teen sessions included: Purity; How to Regain it/How to maintain it; Staying Pure; Responsibility-If you Play, You Pay.  And the Young Adult/Adult sessions included: How to know if You’re really in Love; Choosing God’s Best: Wisdom for Lifelong Romance; Ways to communicate with your Children; Guiding your family in a Misguided World; and The Five Love Languages.

        The workshop sessions were very informative and the trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all. We are looking forward to going back next year.

 

Activities Planned for March

 

Youth Spring Ball – Hosted by United for Christ Church Inc. – March 15th

        On Friday, March 15th the youth will attend a Youth Spring Ball at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Durham.  Youth from several churches across Durham will participate through Music, Drama, Dance, and Praise ministries.

 

Theatre Outing – March 17th

        The Youth Mission will be traveling to see "The Addict", performed by the Hillside High School Drama Dept on Sunday March 17th.  Tickets are available for $5 if we can get a group of 20 or more.  Please see Tracey Turner, Rion Bethea, or Sis. Bethea for tickets.

 

Easter Skate Party – March 23rd

        Join us for an Easter Skate Party at Wheels Family Fun Center on Hoover Road, Saturday, March 23 from 4:00 P.M.–6:00 P.M.   See Sis. Bethea for transportation if needed.

 

College Day – Hosted by Hatcher Grove Missionary Baptist Church – March 24th

        Hatcher Grove will be hosting a College Day on Sunday March 24th from 11am-3pm. Representatives from NCSU, UNC Chapel Hill, NC A&T, NCCU, Meredith, St. Augustine and Shaw will be on site to share information on Academic Prep for College, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Pre-college programs, Admission requirements, Campus Life and more. Workshops on SAT/ACT, Selecting the Right College, GED, and "How to Help Your Youth Prepare for College" will be offered.

 

Answer to last quarter’s puzzle.

Fun ‘n Games - Women of the Bible

Submitted by: Nellie Bullock

Where Do We Go From Here?

Submitted by: James Laws

We have just finished a very enlightening month of Black History Celebration.  Hopefully, it stirred within 0us a renewed spirit to serve our fellow man and to work toward implementing Dr. Martin Luther King’s Dream. You mean the dream has not been realized for Black America? Where do we go from here? There is an old axiom that states the more things change the more they remain the same. We cannot allow things to remain the same. Our ancestors fought too hard and even died, in order that we might have equality and thereby a better life.

Complacency is a hindrance to any people’s progress.  Woe to them that are at ease in Zion. (Amos 6:1) Some of us have become comfortable in the “good life.”   So much so that we dare not reflect back on the past for fear we may get caught up and taken back to the past.  But Woe.  We must constantly reflect and evaluate the past in order that we focus on where we are going in the future.  W. E. B. Dubois stated “That a people who refuse to learn their history is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.  We must endeavor to enlighten our children and their generation of the struggle that it took to get where we are today, but the struggle is not over . . . yet.  Many of us hide our head in the sand and pretend that inequality never happened or does not exist.  Others dismiss it simply by saying we don’t like history.  True a person’s history can be painful at times but there is no progress without pain.  There is much work for our young people today to focus in on in order to make Martin’s Dream a reality.

Affirmative action has been stricken down thereby throwing the playing fields into dishevel.  Without a level playing field it makes our journey increasingly difficult, painful and physically and emotionally consuming.  Today in North Carolina there are only 13,210 Blacks who work in an official or managerial capacity, compared with 122,331 Whites.  According, to the EEOC the ratio of Whites to Blacks employed in the state is 3:1, White professionals out number Black professionals 8:1.   As of the year 2000, there is a $20,000 disparity between Black and White family’s median incomes.  Black families, professional and non-professional, averaged only $ 29,404 each year; while Whites bought in $50,000.  The Black home ownership is at 45% compared with 70% by White families.  The poverty level for Blacks stood at 23.4% compared with 9% for Whites. 

Our youth need to realize that even with the present situation they can become anything that they desire and apply themselves to be.  We must teach them to continue to dream dreams, set goals, and work hard in not letting anyone convince them that you cannot succeed based upon who they are, what they look like and where they come from.

Time has not given those of us who have lived through the Jim Crow days of Black History the luxury of viewing the future with complacency or rosy optimism.  We must aggressively pursue success even when it seems like the opportunity does not designate us.  Change sometimes comes slowly but we must continue the dream.  Sometimes we will ask our selves where do we go from here?

The Missionaries Are On The Move

Submitted By: Sis. Naomi Allen

        Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am happy to say that the Missionary Department had a wonderful year in 2001.  The beginning of this year has been just great.  The Senior Mission’s first two meetings were very good and very well attended.  We are really on the move.  We have accomplished so much this year. 

        We sponsored our first Ladies Night Out for the year, which was held on Friday, March 8th. Our theme was “Created Anew in 2002”.  We had a wonderful time.  Sis. Deana Roberts from Closet Classic did an outstanding job with the modeling section of the program.  Several of our ladies, children and grandchildren modeled the outfits and did a fantastic job.   Sis. Janet Turner prepared our dinner and it was scrumptious. The Shiloh Women of Praise was our musical guest and they also sang beautiful.  Rev. Classy Preston was on fire with her message to the women “No Blues in 2002”.  What a wonderful, spirit filled time we had.

        The Ladies Night Out was well attended.  We had ladies from Pleasant Grove, Shiloh, St. Joseph, Mt. Calvary, Oak Grove, Hatcher Grove, Mt. Zion, and several other churches.  The ladies are already looking forward to the next Ladies Night Out, which will be held on June 14th.

        The Youth Missionaries under the leadership of Sis. Merion Bethea, are as busy as bees.  Sis. Bethea has outlined their various programs in the Youth Missionary Article.

        The Young Adult Missionaries are still hard at work.  On January 11th they made over fifty quarts of homemade Chicken–Beef Vegetable Soup.  The soup was delivered on Saturday, January 12th to our Senior Citizens, the Sick and Shut-ins, and our Pastor and First Lady.   They even blessed each of our Associate Ministers with a quart of soup.  They are scheduled to make one more batch of soup on March 22nd.  The Young Adults also participated in the Ladies Night Out, serving food, hosting tables and doing whatever was needed to ensure the success of the evening.  The Young Adults are really on the move.

        Our next event will be our Annual Women’s Day, which will be held this year on Mothers Day, May 12th during our 11:00 A.M. Worship Service.  I am proud to say that the Missionary Department has gotten off to a good start with our Women’s Day service.  Our speaker for Women’s Day will be Rev. Sylvia Branch.  We are looking forward to a glorious time in the Lord.

 

 

 

The Song Festival – What A Blessing!

Submitted by: Alberta Watts

Our Annual Song Festival was held on Sunday, February 10th.  The Song Festival is always a spiritual success.  And this year was no exception.  From the opening song to the closing song it was a soul-stirring event. 

Our church has been blessed with many good people to step to the plate and unselfishly give their time and support.  One of those persons who have worked tirelessly is Brother Billy Turner who has sponsored the Annual Song Festival every second Sunday in February since 1992.  

The last song that was sung on the program this year was “How Can you Say He Is Your Captain, If You Can’t Make It Through A Storm”.  It is amazing how this song sums up Brother Billy’s dedication to the Annual Song Festival. Year after year through many trials and tribulations he continues to weather the storms and sponsor this event for Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

The proceeds have gone to help support many projects at the church such as Purchasing Chairs for the Fellowship Hall, Purchasing Gravel for the Parking Lot and Purchasing chairs for the Choir Stand.

        The Song Festival has supported many Outreach Ministry projects.  The proceeds from one festival went to support a family who had quadruplets.  Another festival’s proceeds went to help a student at St. Augustine College who was paralyzed during the Hurricane Fran storm.  The student needed money to purchase a special equipped Van for transportation.  And this is just to name a few of the projects that benefited by Brother Billy’s tireless efforts.

        Brother Bill is always looking for good spiritual groups to render music at the festival and help us lift the name of Jesus, as well as, raise funds.  This year was no exception.  I could say that it topped them all, but they have all been spiritual.

        Today, I salute Brother Billy Turner for his dedication to Henderson Grove and to the work that He does with the Song Festival year after year.  God Bless you Brother Bill.  To God be the glory for the things He has done!

 

 

Answer To Last Quarter’s

Test Your Bible Knowledge

Submitted by: Evangelist Patricia Ann Carrington

This puzzle was written by a lady in California in response to an offer from a gentleman in Philadelphla that he would pay anyone $1,000 who could write a puzzle he could not solve. He failed to do so and paid the $1,000.

 

The answer is one word, and appears only four times in the Bible.

 

Adam, God made out of dust

But thought it best to make me first.

So I was made before man

To answer God's most Holy plan.

A 1iving being I became

And Adam gave to me my name.

I from his presence then withdrew

And more of Adam never knew.

I did my Maker's law obey.

Nor ever went from it astray.

Thousands of miles 1 go in fear

But seldom on earth appear.

For purposes wise which God did see

He put a living soul in me.

A soul from me God did claim

And took from me the soul again.

So when from me the soul had fled

I was the same as when first made.

And without hands, or feet, or soul,

I travel on from pole to pole.

I labor hard by day, and by night

To fallen man I give great light.

Thousands of people, young and old

Will by my death great light behold.

No right or wrong can I conceive

The scriptures I cannot believe.

Although my name therein is found

They are to me an empty sound.

No fear of death doth trouble me,

Real happiness I'll never see.

To Heaven I shall never go

Or to Hell below.

Now when these lines you slowly read,

Go search your Bible with all speed.

For that my name is written there

I do honestly to you declare.

 

 

The Answer:   “WHALE”

                                        Genesis 1:21

                                Job 7:12

                                Ezekiel 32:2

Matthew 12:40
New Search

For Old Testament Books

Books in the puzzle below are printed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.  Some are backward.  Books like 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel are combined into one – Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.  One book is missing.  Circle each of the thirty-five names that appear in the puzzle.  (Answer in next Newsletter)

 

Which book is missing from the Puzzle?

 

_________________________________________

 

 

 

Coming Events

 

Saturday, March 30 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Easter Outing on the Lawn

 

Sunday, March 31

Easter Sunrise Service – 6:00 AM

Breakfast Served Following Service

 

Easter Program – 6:00 PM

 

Friday, April 5

Church Conference

 

April 7 – Daylight Savings Time

Turn clock up 1 hour.  (2:00 A.M.)

Remember Spring Up – Fall Back.

 

Friday, April 12 – Movie Night - 6:30 PM

Movie – Reggie’s Prayer

 

Saturday, April 27 – 6:00 PM

Sunday, April 28 – 3:00 PM

Male Chorus Anniversary

 

Sunday, May 12 – 11:00 AM

Women’s Day / Mothers Day

 

Monday – Wednesday – May 20–22 – 7:00 PM

Youth Revival

 

Monday, May 27 – 3:00 PM

Memorial Day Observed

 

Sunday, June 2 – 3:00 PM

Pastor’s Anniversary

Leggett Chapel Fellowship Service

 

Friday, June 14 – 6:30 PM

Ladies Night Out

 

Sunday, June 16

Fathers Day

 

Saturday, June 17 – 21 – 7:00 PM

Vacation Bible School

 

Sunday, June 23 – 11:00 AM

Youth Day