Re: April 4, 2006 Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity

 

Devotional

Rev. Carter opened devotion with hymn #211, ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arm,’ and read scripture from Matthew chapter 13:1-9. Devotion was closed with hymn #164, ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ and prayer.

 

Call to Order & Inspirational Talk

Rev. Dr. Linda Beal called the conference to order and welcomed the body to this week’s conference and business session.  Dr. Churn read Job 14 as the morning mediation.  Churn says Job’s words are fantastic yet challenging to us today.  Job’s prayer comes shuns through our frailty as human beings.  Job acknowledges the beauty and magnificence of the tree—it is cut down yet sprouts up once again.  And, through faith Job prays to God for a date to seal his sins before him just as God overcomes his sickness and death.

 

Reading of the Minutes

The minutes of the March 28th conference were read and accepted with proper correction(s).

 

Reports New/Old Business

A.     Review of Conference Calendar

Elder Moses Edwards is today’s Order of the Day.  Next week Rev. Marina Skinner, Associate Minister EBC will be the Women’s Preaching order of the day.

 

B.     Review of Conference Projects

Sister Willa Reed reported the local Think Tank convened to hear Art Nicholette, national representative of the Anti-Drug movement share info on the study of drugs in communities across the US.  The Conference is invited to participate in this effort to study the question, ‘Why do drugs continue to be a problem in the communities of Winston-Salem?’

 

Chris Bauman, Organizer CHANGE, introduced Ken Smith, IAF Organizer California.  Smith announced the Third Reconstruction Institute Seminar scheduled to take place in Durham June 8th to 10th.  The purpose of the seminar is to: study US Immigration and other NC issues related to immigration; determine what affect immigration has on African Americans; and determine how immigration can be used to build a justice movement in NC.

 

Rev. Bass reported representatives from the Zimbabwe Baptist Conference will visit WS the week of April 24th and be guests at the Tuesday 25th conference.  Also, the conference accepted an invitation to hold conference and lunch at the Winston Lake YMCA on the same day.

 

Rev. Sanders reported the status of the MLK Golf Scholarship Fundraiser planning and invited other conference members to enter a team.

 

Sick Report

Reverend JL Nance asked the body for prayer as he undergoes surgery, on March 28th.

 

Community Presentation(s)

George Galbreath, Motivational speaker for “Let’s Talk About,” introduced his ministry of recovery and motivation for youth and adults.  He is available to speak at churches and other educational organizations (987-0865). 

 

Announcement(s):

The Mayor’s Racial Healing Forum on ‘the Future of WS,’ is scheduled Thursday, April 6, 2006, 6:30pm in the Winston Room of the LJVMC.  The conference is invited to support this event.

 

Order of the Day

Dr. James Fulwood introduced Rev. Herbert Miller, Pastor First Baptist Church Lexington as Order of the Day and sang hymn #325, “We Will Understand it Better Bye and Bye.”

Rev. Miller lifted scripture from II Kings 6:8-17 and chose as a subject, “You Don’t Know Who You Messing With.”  Miller says Elijah touched the life of Elisha as a future servant of their God, YHWH.  After awhile Elijah ascended into heaven and Elisha become the servant of the Lord.

Right a way Elisha needed guidance and called on his God.  Miller says we too have called on the Lord in our time of need and God made the way straight—it took our looking back to see how far the Lord had brought us—the thing one can say is “I thank you, Lord.”

Miller says there times we as ministers must be honest with our people and tell them when things aren’t as they appear to be—we must tell them it’s a trap!  Circumstances that look good ain’t all that—it’s a trap and God knows it! 

Miller concludes, God is always there to keep us out of trouble and get us through—you don’t know who you are messing with when you mess with the Lord.

            The body rose to give Rev. Herbert Miller a rousing vote of thanks for his message of hope and faith.

 

Attendance & Offering

Attendance – 18 persons

Offering - $62.00

Membership – 0.00

 

Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)

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