Well, dear people, here we are again, time for “March Gladness.”  That’s right, “gladness” rather than “March Madness.” With all respect to the many basketball fans, this pastor’s preference is gladness over madness.  Gladness is really inward joy.  The joy that comes from knowing and trusting God.  Outward joy or happiness, comes as a result of pleasant circumstances, like when your favorite team is winning.  Inward joy or gladness is steady as long as we trust in God; happiness, is unpredictable.  Inward joy (gladness) defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up.  Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary.  Hear what the Psalmist has to say about gladness: “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in time that their corn and wine increased.”  (Psalm 4:7).  The Living God is the source of our gladness.  Irrespective of what happens in life, whether my team wins or not, gladness is the lot the believer.  Praise God!  “Thou hast  turned for me my mourning into dancing:  thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;  To the end that my glory may sing praises to thee, and not be silent, O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever” (Psalm 30:11-12)  And so, dear ones, for  this pastor it is “March Gladness.”  Some people work reluctantly, complaining as they go. Others cheerfully give their best all of the time.  Believers are faithful and they serve with gladness.  The word of God tells  us to “Serve the Lord with gladness:  “Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).  “March gladness”  continues.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

There is an undeniable truth that the pastor has ascertained fifty-four years in ministry, forty-nine of them serving as the pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. That spiritual truth is the revelation of the “Is-ness of God.” Hear the Psalmist: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)  There have been medical challenges and character defaming, among the many attacks of the evil one however, our God is faithful. Whatever happens in this life, God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat: oh, no, he is our eternal refuge and will provide strength in any circumstance. Those times when men will rise up against you, we must remember that “God is greater than man.” (Job 33:12b) You can always call upon Him because: “Gracious is the Lord, and righteousness; yea, our God is merciful.” (Psalm 116:5)  Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our praise and worship. Worship is a thankful response to a good and gracious God. The Divine Creator and sustainer of the universe is our God. Know this dear ones: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Thank God for the “Is-ness” of God. His perpetual presence has been a guiding force for this pastor. “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrew 12:29)

Finally, dear members, “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare onto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)  Amen and Amen.

Pastor J. Amos Jone

As with our annual banquet, the recent trip to College Station allows the world to see the church outside of the building. We know that the people constitute the Church of the Living God. For you who made the trip, thank you for being the face of Friendship. When our behavior reflects the Christ who lives in us, we are then, the instrumentality of God. We are, as the Apostle Paul tells his young son in the ministry, Timothy, “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Tim. 4:12). So dear ones, while you were enjoying an outing that was both informational and educational, you were also involved in the work of the church. A big “God bless you” and our appreciation goes out to Sisters Deanne Hodge, Melinda Morgan, Paula Upchurch, Rosa Morrow, the members of the Black History Academy, and to all of the volunteers that contributed to a great event. And then there was an excellent “soul food” dinner on last Sunday. We recognize the following brothers for a job well done: Clifford Fields. Rev. Eric Boyd, Deacon Thomas Barnett, Deacon Alvin Smith, and Don Quinn. And a special thanks to Sister Marita Smith for your extreme service. Thank you, for a job well done. To the members of Friendship Baptist Church, thank you for living out principles contained in Psalm 133.

Be blessed as we walk in him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

As we celebrate on this day, the last Sunday of Black History Month, allow me to leave you with these pastoral thoughts. God is faithful to his children, and although we may suffer great hardships here in the earth realm, He promises that someday we will live eternally with Him. Jesus has always been with our people, even when we/they have endured so much that it appears that there is no faith left. Through that period of man’s great inhumanity to man, the great sin of America, slavery, Jesus remained faithful to His promise to be with us always. “even unto the end of the world” (Matt: 28:20).
Now that the Lord has done great things for us, please, please, do not forget the Lord! As Moses warned the people not to forget God when they entered the Promised Land and became prosperous. Prosperity, more than poverty, can dull our spiritual vision, because it tends to make us self-sufficient and eager to acquire still more of everything, except GOD. (See Deu. 6:10-13).
Dear ones, the same thing can happen in our church. Once we become successful in terms of numbers, programs, etc., we can easily become self-sufficient and less sensitive to our need for God. Know this, the church is as relevant today as it was when Jesus said, “upon this rock I shall build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Three things I will leave you with as they relate to the operation of the Church of the Living God:
1) As we consider matters that are essential, there should be UNITY.
2) With matters that are non-essential, there should be LIBERTY.
3) In all matters, there should be LOVE.

Walk in peace,
Pastor J. Amos Jones

Each time I recite the words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, I am reminded of how this nation has failed people of color.  That notwithstanding, the Lord God of the universe has been faithful.  There is no failure in God.  The purpose of this writing is not to vilify this country (the powers that be do not need my help, they are quite proficient at doing so), but rather my purpose is to glorify the God of whom we serve.  To do that, let me quote the Old Testament character, Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, the mother of Samuel.  Here are portions of the “Song of Hannah”:

• My heart rejoices in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
• There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none besides thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
• The bows of the mighty man are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
• The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bring it up.  The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of people of color, remember, “My heart (and I hope, yours) rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn (strength) is exalted in the Lord.”

Be blessed during Black History Month

Pastor J. Amos Jones