Re: Jan 24, 2006 Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity

Devotional

Rev. Carter opened devotion with hymn #190, ‘Glory to his Name,’ and read from the Gospel of John chapter 6:1-9. Devotion was closed with hymn #164, ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ and prayer.

Call to Order & Inspirational Talk

President Moses Edwards called the conference to order by welcoming the body to this week’s conference and business session. Dr. Serenus Churn provided the morning inspiration by expressing concern over recent news events. For example, the announcement by Ford Motor Company to cut 30,000 jobs from it’s the labor market. Churn said I times tell these we need to understand the role suffering plays in our lives as Christians. Churn lifted up scripture for Paul’s Second Epistle to the at Corinth and chose as a subject “the Benefits of Thorns.”

Churn says Paul’s experience with the church at Corinth was one of trials and struggle—suffering to be certain. Paul had to compete with the likes of Apollo and Steven when it came to preaching in Corinth. However, Paul shared his own journey with Christ and said his experience is proof enough for me as your spiritual leader.

Paul acknowledges that even though Corinth gave him some suffering—God gave him a thorn in the flesh. This thorn plagued Paul for the rest of his life. Some theologians describe this thorn as a physical infirmity. However, Paul declared God had given him this thorn in order to keep him humble and closer to his God—the God of his understanding.

Churn says, he too, received a thorn—a thorn that is a constant reminder. Thorns are necessary says Churn—they give creativity through prayer to God for God’s understanding in the time of need.

Churn concludes God gives the thorn as an unearned gift—something that makes up for our deficiency—something that helps us acknowledge our weakness so God’s strength can take us where God’s needs us to go!

Rev. Edward acknowledged the suffering the of many our faith communities and invited the body to kneel and pray—pray for the depression and suffering being encounter in our churches and communities. The body responded and presented a unified conference prayer.

Reading of the Minutes

The minutes of the January 17^th conference were read and accepted with proper corrections.

Reports New/Old Business

A. Review of Conference Calendar

Edwards announced Rev. Tony Sanders as the order of the day and requested Rev. Joseph Jones to be next Tuesday’s order of the day. The 2006 program calendar should be ready for distribution on February 7, 2006.

Dr. John Mendez reported the conference calendar has being completed with a similar format to the previous calendar years. The some major events are: Ministers Preaching Conference with Dr. James Forbes as the keynote preacher and Gardner Taylor and Berry Black as conference lecturers; an ongoing Institute for Ministers and Preachers in collaboration with ITC or Shaw Divinity School is being considered.

B. Review of Conference Projects

Regarding the MLK college scholarship fundraising initiative Dr. Carlton Eversley corrected the pledge amount for the medium size church as $300 instead of $250. Rev. Edwards acknowledged the correction for future reference since the conference announced the lesser amount to the public.

Edwards requested changes in officers due to the death of Dr. J.R. Butler and AT Griffey stepping down as Treasures: Rev. Nance as Parliamentarian and Bishop Todd Fulton as Treasure. The body voted and accepted these recommendations.

Edwards reported Forest Park Elementary School is seeking volunteers for its annual African American Read-In. The event is held from 8:30am to 1:30pm daily. Contact Ms. Nancy Corley at 771-4534 for additional information.

Community Presentation(s)

Aurelia McFadden, Rep WS Recreation and Parks Dept. introduced the Piedmont Seniors Games, a year -round Piedmont health and education promotion. The event includes athletic and arts completions for persons 55 and over. The conference is asked to support this community seniors program.

Announcements

Order of the Day

Rev. Tony Sanders, Pastor Greater Faith Christian Church in High Point served as the Order of the day. Rev. Sanders lifted scripture from Genesis 9:21 and chose as a subject, “Drunk on the Day of Reconstruction.”

Rev. Sanders paints the picture of Noah as he accepts his vocational call to build an Ark for the Lord. One of the first things Noah had to do be was preach to the people and his own family. Sanders say Noah’s sermon went on for 125 years because God got fed up with has creation and decided to end it all–destroy it! God was tired of mankind’s preoccupation with himself.

Sanders says, God even must have preached to the animals—how else did they know to come 2 by 2 and 7 of different sorts? Noah’s Brothers and family came along because they knew how to take instructions—there is some of who don’t know to this. Noah was in some kind of a mess but it was still better than the mess he left behind.

Sanders concludes, today we see the president accumulating masses of monies—in the trillions of dollars but not being use for the good of all—the president is drunk on the day of reconstruction. We must all be somber just as Jesus remained somber to this day—the day of reconstruction!

The body rose to give Rev. Sanders arousing vote of thanks for his inspiring and insightful message.

Attendance & Offering

Attendance – 14 persons

Offering - $25.25

Membership – $100.00 (Rev. Willard Bass, Kelly Carpenter, Ellen Yarborough, Dr. Churn and Miles Harry and others).

Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)

Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and benediction.