Homegoing service for Bro. John Foster will be held Saturday, June 10th, 11:00 a.m. at Friendship M.B.C.

New year, new you. It is the desire of this Pastor that none of you will
buy into this meaningless phrase. If you are a born-again Christian, who is positionally in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are new. “Therefore if any man (person) be in Christ, he (or she) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Christians are brand new on the inside. Year after year we enjoyed the new life given to us by the Holy Spirit. We are not reformed,
rehabilitated, or reeducated – we are new creations! What then, should be the position of the believer as we enter into a new year? Hear the Apostle Paul: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) New year, stronger you.
Dear Ones, be strong in the new year 2023. Please note, the admonition is “be strong.” Which tells us we can do it. David approached his “be strong” this way: “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word” (Ps. 119:28). According unto thy word! To be strong in 2023, appropriate God’s word into your life and rest in Him. The Lord, Jehovah, tells us in Zechariah 10:12: “And I will strengthen them (His people) in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith at the Lord.” Three words for 2023:
 Word one: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Ps. 119:11)

 Word two: “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my
counsellors. (Ps. 119: 24)
 Word three : “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Ps. 119:105)
Happy New Year!
Pastor J Amos Jones

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr). It is this Pastor’s desire and hope that out of Black History Month will come the sense of community and the knowledge that the living God is with us and it is He that has delivered us. Dr. King’s life and work as a national leader of the Civil Rights Movement was geared to improving the lot of all people – irrespective of race, creed, or heritage. He envisioned a world where we will all enjoy the blessings of freedom, hope and justice. Dr. King’s dream has not as yet been fully realized; however, we praise God for the great improvements that have been made. We are all aware of the significant contributions to our community made by Dr. King, but the question each of us must answer is this: “What am I doing for others?”

Dear ones, we share a common destiny. God has richly blessed all of us.  We need only to look where the Lord has brought us from.  I must remind you that we are blessed to be a blessing. God gives to each of us according to our individual abilities. Having said that, we all have something to contribute to the betterment of our society.  Please know this, you can have what you want, if you help others get what they want. There is still much to be done to address the helplessness, hopelessness and futility that is the breeding ground for Black-on-Black crime. We will not find the answers to this country’s ills in the arena of politics, even with the great strides we have made, a former Black president and presently at vice-president of color, but the answers lie with the living God who is “among us.” Can you hear the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me?”

Let’s get busy.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

With the new year comes a time of reflection and renewal. For some there are new year resolutions. “We will eat better and/or we will lose some weight.” “We will seek to know and to be known better by family and friends.” While these are all commendable and we would only say, go for it. After having said that, let me say this: The new year is a good time to reflect upon and renew our commitment to the work of the Kingdom. It is true that here on earth, that is in the earth realm, God’s work must truly be our own. The words of Jesus comes to mind: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4). There is the imperative “I must. This is the time to recognize that we have a specified amount of time to work for the Master and He controls the time. We are living now in a time of many distractions, and we must stay focused on the work the Father has ordained for us. Paul picks upon this theme of personal responsibility in Romans 12. In verses 6-8, there is a list of God’s gifts to His church, and He gives faith and power as He wills.
Look at the list and answer the question: Are you totally committed to the gifting He has bestowed upon you? Prophets are bold and articulate. Servers (“ministers”) are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Preachers (“exhorters”) know how to
motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Administrators (“rulers”) are good organizers and managers. Comforters are caring people who are happy to give their time to others.

Be blessed as you walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Well praise God, here we are in a brand-new year! God has been faithful. As we enter into the year 2022, let me ask you to divert and
refocus. Allow me to tell you what I am talking about. In the new year, please divert your attention from the following terms: vaccine
mandates, Omicron virus, Delta virus, COVID variant, product shortages, and political instability. The list could be longer but for our
purposes, let’s use these. Now, with clear minds, let’s focus on the following:
• God’s plan and purpose for your life
• The faithfulness of God
• God’s divine protection for his people
In Psalm 91, see how God is a refuge, a shelter when we are afraid. The believer’s faith in God as protector will carry him/her through all the dangers and fears of life. In 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:” As believers, our overcoming power is based on the fact that God loves us and calls us His children. We are His children right now in 2022, not just sometime in the distant future. Knowing that we are His children encourages us to live as Jesus did. Jesus says in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We, dear people, are overcomers.
Again, in 2022 let’s divert and refocus. Happy new year!

Pastor J. Amos Jones