The Old Black Church

Reader ex Word of Faith Fellowship Church members are coming forward with more allegations. Several say Word of Faith Fellowship leaders encouraged them to file fraudulent unemployment claims. One man said he was told it was “God’s plan.”

Reader, I'm so angry right now at how the media is trying to flip this thing around by putting the focus on the flag....its, not about the flag or the anthem. Take TWO WEEKS, ago a St. Louis cop was acquitted of murder -- even though he was recorded on dashcam video saying, "I'm gonna kill this MF." Even though he PLANTED a gun in the car that he said belonged to the victim (although the victim's DNA was also NOT on the gun -- but the cop's DNA was). THAT'S  the reason why Kaepernick kneeled last season. And that's why we should keep calling out these racists white evangelicals (the silent enablers) until they wanna talk about the injustice that is going on. WE THE PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THIS because we elect many of these judges OR serve on the juries that continue to allow cops to go free. I blame the "PEOPLE" way more than the cops. Thanks, Cedric Scott!

Reader at least seven people were shot during Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire inside a Tennessee Church, Nashville police said. Nashville police received calls about a shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch just after 11 a.m., officials told Fox News. The church is about 30 minutes southeast of Nashville. "This is a mass casualty situation. All of the wounded have been transported to area hospitals.

http://www.projectrepublictoday.com/2017/09/24/tennessee-church-shooting-leaves-multiple-people-hurt-officials-say/?utm_content=buffer1cb31&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Reader can a Christian truly embrace hip-hop culture? The disparity between faith and rap music has sparked an ongoing debate in hip-hop over the years, and at the intersection of this debate is Lecrae, the faith-based rapper who unabashedly wears Christianity on his sleeve all while delivering uplifting messages over booming, trap-style beats.

Reader 17-time Grammy nominee Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. aka Snoop Dogg' s career appears to be taking an interesting turn. The Impact Network, a Christian tv channel have announced they will be airing a new reality TV show featuring the rapper. The network is popular with shows from the likes of Bishop TD Jakes, Pastor Joyce Meyer, Pastor Rod Parsley and Pastor Creflo Dollar.

Reader the sin of pride crept in to the church from the beginning. According to social media the 7000 Club Ministries held it first annual Holy Convocation during the week of August 23 - 25 in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, FL. with little to no fanfare. I found the following Facebook comment interesting: A bold dynamic teacher who won't sugar coat or compromise. COGIC lost a great orator teacher and preacher in Dr. Carter thanks to Bishop Blake caving in to Obama, magic Johnson & his son CNN and the homosexual community.

Do church folks really believe that???

Reader what a testimony!! Costi Hinn (nephew of Benny Hinn) was raised under his uncle's prosperity/prophecy/healing ministry, participating on stage as the one who catches bodies after Pastor Benny released the anointing on them. But Costi realized that his uncle's ministry was in error, and was saved through the true gospel! He wept when he realized that he had been part of a deception over thousands of people. Now he is speaking out against fake "healers" and the terrible doctrines which ruin lives and condemn souls. He says it was by reading a John MacArthur commentary that his eyes were opened to the deception in which he was entrenched.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/october/benny-hinn-costi-uncle-prosperity-preaching-testimony.html?visit_source=twitter


"Before going to college, I took a year off and joined Benny’s ministry as a “catcher” (someone who catches the people who are “slain in the spirit”) and personal assistant . . This was a rite of p…

Reader should Christian women wear makeup? What are your thoughts? Back in the day TRUE HOLINESS was always strict!! No makeup, jewelry, pants, shorts dresses or anything tight. It's amazing at one time all our holiness Pentecostal churches had standards of dress at one time, whether if we believe it now or not. Our salvation is not based on clothes..but as a church their should be a difference. Many churches has evolved and moved away from certain standards. But let's not forget were we come from and believed at one time in the Pentecostal holiness church..we all came from the same stem and it shouldn't be taken lightly.  I agree with following the leadership. But just cause you wear long dresses and no makeup does not solidify your place in heaven. Holiness is not about what you do or do not wear. How are you living your life? Is your heart pure? Do you live to please God? I mean no harm when I say this, but yes holiness is still right, but just because you wear makeup d…

Reader this is why we should not listen to people. When God speaks that should be it. With that being said, Dr. Kevin Bond will be celebrating 20 years in ministry Monday September, 25,2017.  Dr. Bond took to his social media to recall, recollect, and reminisce about the many years in ministry and how some wanted him to leave, vacate, exit, quit because they thought he was too young:


Congratulation on 20 sir!

Reader what if your pastor won't wrestle with matters of race? When pastors refuse to preach or talk about racial injustice, many Christians, especially African Americans, wonder if their church family cares about them. Listen as WYNC reporter, Karen Rouse, interviews black Christians on the topic. The host explores what it's like to be a black Christian whose white evangelical minister remains silent after Charlottesville... and Freddie Gray... and Trayvon Martin... and Eric Garner...White America are the only ones who can fix racism.  

http://www.wnyc.org/story/black-christians-white-pastors-seek-reckoning-race/

Reader does your church need a fix, like roof repairs, paint, a new lobby, new pews/windows? No problem. If it's broken, let's FIX IT!Gospel great James Fortune has a new show coming soon to The Impact Network called FIX IT 😬🙌🏽. Your church could be on the new show they are going to get your house of worship back in order.

Reader the Church of God In Christ organization has announced the anointed men and women who will deliver the dynamic, life-changing messages at this year’s Holy Convocation.....by way of their newly launched web site. 
http://www.cogic.org/hc2017/

Reader is 'accepting Jesus in your heart' superstitious and unbiblical? Pastor David Platt thinks it's not just dangerous, but damning. David Platt is one of the most gifted communicators of the Gospel of the day. His writings (Radical, in particular) have inspired a lot of people. 

Now I can see how this short clip could confuse people. It's a 2 minute excerpt from what could have been an hour long message. Romans 10:9 does say confess with your mouth and believe (not accept) in your heart but if that's all that is shared with someone it's not enough. New Christians need to know that they are required to lay their life down, study to show thyself approved, love your neighbor as yourself, etc.... Christianity is about having a personal relationship with God, not just saying a prayer then living like hell Monday - Saturday and going to church on Sunday to hear the Word from the pastor. IJS!

https://www.charismamag.com/video/33985-david-platt-accepting-jesus-in-you…

Reader this is a interesting read. It looks like the LGBT community are now seeking to promote homosexuality in the Black Muslim Community by giving self professed gay 'Muslims' a platform. Your thoughts?

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/blair-imani-queer-muslim-woman

Reader Robert Jeffress who happens to be one of 45 top evangelical advisers who is also a Southern Baptist pastor and leader of the megachurch First Baptist Dallas. On Wednesday, he appeared on “Fox & Friends” to discuss how white evangelical Christians should approach the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program DACA. While Christian compassion is important, it’s not the only factor at play here, according to Jeffress. "God is not necessarily an open borders guy, as a lot of people would think that he is.  This is the kind of stuff that makes me furious. They just keep on hitting that Bible until what they want falls out. Doggone shame. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/robert-jeffress-trump-god-open-borders_us_59bac8b1e4b02da0e1402fda?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004

Reader if I invite someone of a different ethic or socioeconomic background to have conversation concerning their perspective on something I have no clue about (their feelings about being in their skin on a predominately white campus), my job is to listen and absorb. This was more insensitive than ignorant to me.


Anyhow, according to Facebook Randy Lowry the president of Libscomb Church of Christ school, invited African American students to dinner at his house to chat about their experience at the university. They were served Mac&Cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. Each table had a centerpiece of cotton stalks. On Friday the university president issued an apology to the college community for the centerpieces in his home that were deemed offensive by students.

(You can read about it here)

Reader I know this collaboration has made some hearts sink and eyes water, but I digress.  In my thinking Marvin Sapp is more than an artist, he's a bishop/pastor/teacher/preacher and I most definitely would've expected more/better from him. And he can't give that old tired cliche only God can judge excuse because where there is smoke there is assuredly fire and the smoke around R. Kelly right now is so thick, it can choke the life outta you. Can somebody say bad timing!!

https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/marvin-sapp-teams-with-r-kelly-for-song-on-upcoming-al-1818488798

Reader I tell you coming from the deep south of Alabama this is a powerful read. I still remember not wanting to learn about African religions in a positive light, if at all... only learning that the religions of my ancestors were "dark" and "scary" and filled with "savagery."  I've often thought about how my Christian roots are the byproduct of my ancestors enslavement, wondered what religious practices they might have had and then shied away from exploring them for fear of being called a "backslider" or "pagan" or "witch."

 (You can read it here)
According to the article Christianity still exerts a powerful force in many black communities, but some young women are turning their back on the faith and returning to the older, traditional religions of their ancestors. The use of social media is letting the younger generations learn of our history and how the religion of our oppressor was more a tool to control and oppress tha…

Reader this is unbelievable. Bishop George Bloomer made the above statement on Rod Parsley's television program last night, and now he's being racked over the coals for it. Absolutely unbelievable.  Who in the world made George Bloomer a bishop? These blasphemous statements seem to be getting bolder and further detached from the Word of God.

Twitter:

Reader this is one of the many reason I love America. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own religion, or no religion at all. It's been rumored for years that Will and Jada Smith was apart of Scientologist.

Now, in my opinion it is one thing for Jada Pinkett Smith to publicly reveal her beliefs, it is another for the media to disclose her beliefs because they have been used for some type of harm and have become a matter of public record. But, for anyone else to 'out' her beliefs simply because they run counter to theirs -- that's incredibly inappropriate and a gross invasion of privacy. As well, to stand in judgement of someone after their beliefs have been outed is prejudicial -- draping your image of all of those who share the beliefs on the person, rather than seeing the person as she is: a wonderful actor, an engaged spouse, an involved mother. (Facebook comment)

(You can read abo…

Reader earlier in the week, ESPN talk show host Jemele Hill posted a series of Tweets calling 45 a white supremacist who has surrounded himself with other white supremacists, and the other white supremacists got mad. So, now the White House want to use Sarah Huckabee Sanders who's a spokesperson for 45 to put pressure on ESPN to fire Ms. Hill. 

Anyhow, Pastor John Pavlovitz (who writing I love) took to his blog Thursday night to say quite plainly that Jemele Hill was correct in her assessment of Donald Trump as a white supremacist – and the reasons are plain as day:



This is the heart of the hypocrisy on display here, and the reason Hill isn’t wrong, even if you disagree with her conclusions or her methods. You don’t get to hire Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Sebastian Gorka, and Jeff Sessions—and simultaneously mount a high horse of righteous indignation at the suggestion that you’re probably a bigot. You don’t get to spend a lifetime exemplifying the absolute insulation from acc…

Reader in late August, Pastor Vanessa Brown, and Pastor Twanna Gause celebrated their union at the New Vision Full Gospel Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey. Bishops Levi Richards and Eugene Gathers both walked Twanna down the aisle — a role she’d initially hoped would be accepted by her father, a Pentecostal minister who lives in Atlanta. But he refused his daughter’s invitation.

“My father would not come here because he does not believe in same-sex marriage,” Ms. Gause said. “He told me the devil tricked me into this, and that if we had been married in biblical times, we would have been stoned to death.” 

(You can read about it here)


Thoughts?

Reader I'm glad Pastor Jamal Bryant has been given the opportunity to clear up the false rumors surrounding his name. Pastor Bryant told The Root in an exclusive interview that a Bronx, N.Y., judge dismissed a case Thursday in which a New York City woman accused him of online stalking. Media outlet Rolling Out reported this summer that Jennifer Wright filed a restraining order against Bryant after alleging that he stalked her online. Wright claimed that he wiretapped her phone and sent people to stalk her, according to a court document obtained by the Christian Post. Under a gag order, Bryant said that he was unable to speak about the charges until now and wants to set the record straight on the allegations and how they impacted his life. In the above video, he also updates us on his girlfriend Tweet’s health (she’s out of the hospital and will be performing in Washington, D.C., next week), and what redemption means for him and the rest of us.

(You can hear the video here)

Reader a former church pastor convicted of 29 felonies relating to fleecing several members of his flock of more than $1 million was sentenced Thursday to 23 years and eight months in prison. Luther Feltus-Curry, 69, former pastor with the Revival Center Ministries in Vallejo, was found guilty in January of multiple charges of grand theft and scheming to defraud others by using false information to pedal promissory notes in their investment companies. A partner in the scheme, Alma L. Perez, 56, was found guilty of 11 felonies. She was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison. 

(You can read about it here)

Feltus-Curry between 2008 and 2010 promised several of his church members big annual returns if they would entrust him with their money in his businesses. Some church members invested their entire life savings, in one case more than $300,000. Altogether, at least nine church members entrusted Feltus-Curry with more than $1 million, according to prosecutors in a month long jury trial.

Reader Dr. E. Dewey Smith Senior Pastor of The House Of Hope Atlanta has caused some confusion among the members with the appointment of Pastor Jennifer Carner as the ministry's new lead pastor. Now, I'm wondering why this slightly misleading title "Lead Pastor" was used as opposed to "Executive Pastor", which better captures the job description that they have provided. I think seeing as how a Senior Pastor and a Lead Pastor are usually understood to be the same thing. Just my thoughts!

(You can read about it here)

Anyhow this appointment by Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr., marks the first time in the church’s 141-year history that a woman has been tapped to serve as the Lead Pastor – overseeing all day to day operations. Prior to Pastor Carner being named Lead Pastor, both Dr. Smith and his predecessor, Rev. H. F. Shepherd, selected women to serve in key positions such as Director of Ministry Operations, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Christian Education. W…

Reader who would've ever thought, that it would take a Trump presidency to jumpstart the removal of Confederate statues? Racism has it's ironies. Just to think the Memphis Police Department has spent $55,031 in overtime pay since last month to guard the Confederate monuments in the two city parks. That's in addition to $8,795 for officers detailed to the park on days when events are not occurring.  

Anyhow Bishop Brandon B. Porter, Greater Community Temple Church of God in Christ was among a group of 150 Memphis pastors uniting against Confederate statues in Memphis. The Nathan Bedford Forrest Monument has stood in Health Sciences Park since 1905. Now, a diverse group of local clergy said it's finally time to remove it. 

You can read the letter here:

Reader its interesting that the vast majority of U.S. Protestant pastors’wives say ministry don't pay enough.  For some being married to a pastor means a life filled with joy, purpose and a lot of headaches, according to a new LifeWay Research. Along with joys, many say they have few friends, think they yell at their kids too much, and worry about money. A new LifeWay Research survey, released Tuesday (Sept. 12), finds that most spouses are directly involved in the work of their churches, with 1 in 5 holding a paid position and two-thirds serving in unpaid capacities. “Spouses have an important role in the church, even if it’s not an official role,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of the Nashville-based evangelical research firm. “The variety of experiences kind of reminds us just not to tuck them into a single mold.”

You can read the rest here:

Reader here we go again with yet another pastor who has allegedly   crossed the line. Pastor Paul Burress is a mixed-martial arts fighter as well as a minister, and received a great deal of publicity when he was featured in "Fight Church," a 2014 documentary film. The charismatic, in-your-face pastor who gained fame for operating a fight club in his Henrietta house of worship, has been accused of forcibly touching two women. How long did people know that this stuff was going on and when did people in his church start reporting it to the authorities?

The pastor has been dogged by accusations of sexual misconduct for several years. Several blogs and news websites featured such claims three years ago, when Burress came to public attention because of his fighting-in-church approach. But none of those accusations were proved and there is no record of any previous arrest. 
(You can read the rest here)

Reader a Nigerian Twitter user has taken to social media to narrate how he dumped his church following an awkward incident that happened. According to the Twitter user identified as HydroStatiq, his church called out highest tithers in the last 3 months to applaud them. He then revealed that this was not the doing of the main Pastor, as he has been away for 2 months and wondered if he would have allowed it to happen if he was around.





Read his post:

Reader according to some the mega church bubble is about to burst. Mainly because people are finding out that they leave you empty. Case in point the incident that took place with Joel Osteen and his Lakewood church weeks ago has once again shined a big spot light on the megachurch and it working. We can not and should not look for a custom tailored church. The only church we should look for is a church who teaches the bible and the bible alone.

This is a powerful quote from the article: ...."Although Gateway Church is officially bi-partisan, every member is expected to vote for politicians who are pro-life and opposed to gay marriage. With 36,000 attendees spread over six Dallas-Fort Worth campuses, Gateway has the power to swing elections."

You can read the rest here:

Reader is she dead or alive? What would you do if you were the parent? In California she was declared Brain dead in 2013 and the doctor signed a death certificate. California law says if you are brain dead, then you are dead. The parents went and transferred her to New Jersey, where the law says if other organs are working and you have faith in God, then you are not dead.

Now a jury in California will determine whether the teen declared brain-dead in 2013, Jahi McMath, is alive or dead. "Jahi’s case has been at the center of national debate over brain death since the girl’s mother refused to remove her daughter from life support after doctors declared the then-13-year-old dead after surgery in December 2013.

Doctors say she had irreversible brain damage from a lack of oxygen and suffered cardiac arrest. A coroner signed a death certificate the following month. The girl is connected to a ventilator and receives medical care in New Jersey, the only U.S. state that accommodates r…

Reader if you haven't been to church in awhile and thinking of going back, well this is the perfect time. National back to church Sunday is next Sunday. No matter what your circumstances are, no matter why you choose not to go now is your opportunity to return. You will join a community of imperfect people who love God and working to strengthen their walk with God. We need each other to get through this thing called life. For some it will take a huge step of faith, for others it will be just hard to get out of bed. I challenge you to take that step. You will not be disappointed.

Reader Paula White rhetoric and water toting for 45 is frightening. She has absolutely no idea of what racism really is. None.—“I can say 1,000 percent our president is not a racist.” Paula White, President Trump’s most prominent spiritual adviser, made the statement in front of a crowd of journalists Saturday (Sept. 9) at the Religion News Association’s annual conference in Nashville.

(You can read about it here)

Reader how do you guys feel about this ... ? Do you think it's wrong or do you believe they should stick to tradition ? And for those who don't know, Spelman is a historically black all women's college. Spelman college has announce it will now consider trans women for admission. While Spelman certainly isn't the first women's college to do this, this is really a very deep and interesting subject in our community today. I've read the many online comments and I find that this subject may never be understood by everyone. Thoughts??

(You can read about it here:)

Reader its now official BISHOP TD JAKES is originally Nigerian, from the Igbo tribe. The wife to the Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, has confirmed that Bishop TD Jakes is indeed from the Igbo tribe. Since tracing his roots back to the Igbo land in Nigeria, it was Bishop Jakes’ first time stepping on the Nigerian soil, with the knowledge that this is where he truly comes from. He was presented with a copy of Nigeria, Our Heritage as a gift from herself and her husband. 

(You can read it here)

“Since tracing his roots back to the Igbo land in Nigeria, it was Bishop T.D. Jakes’ first time stepping on the Nigerian soil, with the knowledge that this is where he truly comes from. It was a special honour for me in particular, as a native sister, to present @bishopjakes with a copy of NIGERIA, OUR HERITAGE…OUR COMMONWEALTH. Welcome home! OKEOSISI – Umunne gi na asi gi nno” That’s some great news!

Reader I really don't understand why this incident is news worthy. Christian rap and hip-hop artists Lecrae and Andy Mineo were recently instrumental in preventing a transgender individual from committing suicide. CBN News is reporting that Lecrae and Mineo were driving from Manhattan to the Bronx, and as they were crossing the bridge, they noticed a person getting ready to jump off. They quickly pulled their vehicle over and got out, ready to offer help. "She starts to climb over the guardrail to jump," Mineo explained in a Facebook video.

“Lecrae reaches his long seven-foot arms and grabs her and says 'no,' and pulls her back and I start grabbing her.” The transgender woman then said something that really affected Lecrae and Mineo: “I just want to go home. I just want to be with Jesus. I don't want to live anymore," Mineo says she said. The two Christian artists called the police, and while the police were on their way, they comforted the woman and enco…

Reader a fascinating new study on religion in America. 
A major new survey on the religious beliefs of Americans is out, and the Public Religion Research Institute sees a "dramatic transformation" taking place across the country. Two big takeaways from the 2016 survey of 101,000 people: White Christians no longer make up a majority of Americans, with their percentage now at 43%, down from 81% in 1976; and fewer than half of US states have a majority population of white Christians.

In my opinion, white evangelicals anti-gospel messages against any and everything that does not look like them and their silence on the injustice of others, has become the biggest driver, but their inexcusable support of Donald Trump this year is the last straw.

More details here:

Reader what do y'all think about this? Three small Texas churches damaged by Hurricane Harvey are suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, alleging that the agency unconstitutionally denies them disaster relief funds. Under existing FEMA policy, houses of worship are not eligible for disaster aid. Eric Rassbach, a lawyer with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the churches, said the policy violates the First Amendment.

(You can read about it here:)