LOUIS FARRKHAN, PREACHING JULY, 2005!

IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION:  This video contains words that are hard to hear.  Words that many consider inappropriate for a minister to use.

The video is from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan preaching in July 2005 and made available online this year; and recommended to me by a minister buddy of mine.

This blog is intended to shock us into discussion about dress and behavior by adult men and women in the church.  That said, I do not agree with the doctrine of the Nation of Islam.  I do believe (in reference to holiness, or holy living by Christians); that fish are first caught, then cleaned.

However, what Minister Farrakhan is talking about here is adult men and women who are (at least in part); already, supposedly part of the family and the fellowship.

Peace,
S.J. Fort

GOD CAN AND WILL WORK IT OUT FOR HIS GLORY!- WHEN WE LET HIM

Alpharetta, Georgia (CNN) -- Andy Stanley walked into his pastor's office, filled with dread. The minister sat in a massive chair behind an enormous desk. He spread his arms across the desk as if he were bracing for battle. His secretary scurried out of the office when she saw Andy coming. The pastor had baptized Andy when he was 6, and groomed him to be his successor.

But a private trauma had gone public. And Andy felt compelled to speak. The minister stared in silence as Andy gave him the news. The "unspoken dream" both men shared was over. After Andy finished, the pastor looked at him as tears welled up. "Andy," he said, "you have joined my enemies, and I'm your father." 'I understand drive-by shootings' He won't wear a suit or a tie in the pulpit. There's no special parking space reserved for him at his church.

Everyone calls him "Andy." As a teenager, Andy decided he was going to be a rock star after seeing Elton John perform live. Today he has found fame, and infamy, on another stage. Andy Stanley is the founder of North Point Ministries, one of the largest Christian organizations in the nation. A lanky man with close-cropped hair and an "aw-shucks" demeanor, he is alone as he steps out of his office to greet a visitor to his ministry's sprawling office complex in suburban Atlanta.

At least 33,000 people attend one of Andy's seven churches each Sunday. Fans watch him on television or flock to his leadership seminars; pastors study his DVDs for preaching tips; his ministries' website gets at least a million downloads per month. "I tell my staff everything has a season," he says, leaning back in an office chair while wearing a flannel shirt, faded jeans and tan hiking boots. "One day we're not going to be the coolest church. Nothing is forever. As soon as somebody thinks forever, that's when they close their hand," he says, slowly clenching his fist. "Now they have to control, maintain and protect it. ... Things get weird."   At 54, Andy knows something about weirdness. He was swept up in a struggle against another famous televangelist -- his father, the Rev. Charles Stanley, a Southern Baptist megachurch pastor and founder of In Touch Ministries, a global evangelistic organization.

The experience enraged Andy so much it scared him: "I understand drive-by shootings," he told his wife one day. "I was so angry at my dad. I was trying to do the right thing." A new challenge for Andy Stanley The experience wounded his father as well. "I felt like this was a huge battle, and if Andy had been in a huge battle ... you'd have to crawl over me to get to him," Charles Stanley, now 80, says." I would have stood by him, no matter what. I didn't feel like he did that."

There's no father-son preaching duo quite like the Stanleys. Imagine if Steve Jobs had a son, who created a company that rivaled Apple in size and innovation -- and they barely spoke to one another. That was the Stanleys. Neither man has ever fully explained the events that tore them apart 19 years ago -- until now. 'I was the heir apparent' Charles Stanley remembers the first time he heard his son preach. "I was tickled pink," he says. "I instantly knew that God could use him." Charles knows something about preaching. Millions of people around the globe grew up with the sound of his sermons ringing in their ears. Andy Stanley in his own words In "Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend," Andy Stanley talks about his relationship with his father and the evolution of his ministry. More info » He has preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church Atlanta for 40 years. Tall and lean, he delivers homespun sermons in a rich baritone while holding his black leather Bible aloft for emphasis. He's written at least 40 books.

In Touch Ministries sits like a Greek temple on the crest of a hill overlooking the Atlanta skyline. A large American flag stands near its entrance, beside a row of gushing fountains. A mammoth portrait of a smiling Charles Stanley hangs just inside and bears the inscription: "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him." It's an impressive sight, but it's not the type of life Andy envisioned for himself growing up. His father never raised him to be a pastor. "My dad was great. He didn't pressure me. I never heard that talk, 'You're the pastor's son and you need to be an example.' " What Andy remembers most about growing up with his father is not his fame, but his resolve. He tells this story in "Deep and Wide," his new book about his father and the evolution of his own ministry: When he was in the eighth grade, his father waged a bruising battle to become senior pastor of First Baptist. The battle inflamed tensions so much that his family received nasty, anonymous letters and deacons warned his father that he would never pastor again. Andy Stanley and his father, the Rev. Charles Stanley, embrace at First Baptist Church Atlanta.

One night, during a tense church meeting, a man cursed aloud and slugged Charles in the jaw. Andy says his father didn't flinch, nor did he retaliate. He kept fighting and eventually became senior pastor of First Baptist. "I saw my dad turn the other cheek," Andy later wrote about that night, "but he never turned tail and ran." His dad was his first hero.

But another church incident taught him a different lesson. Andy was raised as a Southern Baptist, a conservative denomination that teaches the Bible is infallible and that women shouldn't preach. His father was twice elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention. "We were Southern Baptists and everyone else was wrong," Andy says. "I grew up believing that we were the true Christians." One Sunday, a gay pride group planned to march past his father's church. Leaders of the congregation, warned in advance, dismissed church early to avoid contact with the group. But organizers of the march changed the schedule. Andy watched as First Baptist members filed out of the church and gawked at gay and lesbian marchers streaming by.

Then he noticed a Methodist church across the street whose members held out cups of water for marchers and signs that said, "Everybody welcome! Come worship with us!" "We're the church that sings 'Just as I Am' after the sermon, and here we are shunning this group of people because of a lifestyle we disagreed with," he says now. The pull of the pulpit, though, was stronger than any reservations he had about church. Andy enrolled in college to become a journalist. But he abandoned those plans after a youth minister's position opened up at his father's church.

Those who heard Andy's first sermons say his talent was evident from the start. He had a knack for saying things that stuck in a listener's mind. He was funny, insightful, took on hard questions, and he nudged people to look at familiar biblical passages in a new way. I would have stood by him no matter what. I didn't feel like he did that. The Rev. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries, on his son, Andy Charles started televising his son's sermons on In Touch's broadcasts, and picked him to preach in his place when he was traveling. And when First Baptist opened its first satellite church on Easter Sunday 1992, he appointed Andy as its pastor. Within three weeks, Andy's congregation was turning people away at the door because they had no more room. Within two months, Andy's satellite church swelled to 2,000 members. Andy says his father was delighted. He started joking that the Stanleys would become a preaching dynasty. And both men began to share an "unspoken dream": that Andy would take the helm after his father's retirement.

In Touch was no longer just a ministry; it was Andy's inheritance. "I was the heir apparent," Andy says. "I know that he desired it." Something, however, would drive father and son apart. 'I got that straight from the Lord' Andy didn't know his parents' marriage was in trouble until he was in the 10th grade. Before then, he never saw his father or his mother argue or even disagree. Charles and Anna Stanley seemed to have the perfect relationship. A year after his father appointed him to pastor a satellite church, he knew his parents' marriage was disintegrating. They had been to every counselor and doctor imaginable. Eventually, his mother moved out and stopped attending church with his father. "People got used to it, and they quit asking about it," he says. "It happened so gradually." Anna Stanley had made her own mark on the church -- and on her son. "No matter what I did, I could come home and tell her," he says. "She never freaked out, never overreacted. She was always a very safe place."

The Rev. Louie Giglio, one of Andy's best friends growing up, still remembers some of the lessons Andy's mother taught at summer Bible camp. "All of Andy's wisdom doesn't come from his dad," says Giglio, now senior pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta and a founder of the Passion Movement, a popular outreach effort for young evangelicals. "She was incredibly insightful." The quiet exit of Anna Stanley from the pews went public in June 1993 when she filed for divorce. Her action caused a sensation in Southern Baptist circles, where divorce is considered a sin by some based on a literal reading of the Bible. Some pastors shunned Charles; others publicly demanded that he step down. The scandal dragged on for years as the couple attempted to reconcile. In 1995, Anna Stanley explained why she wanted a divorce in a letter to her husband's church that was excerpted in the local newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in an article titled "Torn Asunder." She said she had experienced "many years of discouraging disappointments and marital conflict. ... Charles, in effect, abandoned our marriage. He chose his priorities, and I have not been one of them." The impending divorce didn't just threaten Charles' family; it jeopardized his ministry.

He had always preached unquestioning obedience to the Word of God. And wasn't Jesus clear about divorce in Gospel passages such as Luke 16:18: "Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." New Testament passages such as those had prompted First Baptist to institute a policy that prevented divorced men from serving as pastors or deacons. What would the church do when its celebrity pastor -- the man who packed the pews and beamed First Baptist's name across the globe -- got a divorce? Charles treated the calls for him to step down like he treated the punch in the jaw so long ago -- he didn't flinch. He said he would gladly work on his marriage but he wouldn't resign as pastor. A choir performs during a service for the Rev. Charles Stanley at First Baptist Church Atlanta.

RAYMOND MCCREA JONES/CNN Gayle White, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution religion writer at the time, dug up a quote from the embattled pastor that explained his rationale and used it in her "Torn Asunder" article: "You see, into my ministry I brought the survival spirit. You do or die. You do whatever is necessary to win. It doesn't make any difference what it is." That survival spirit was second nature for Charles, whose father died when he was 9 months old and who grew up so poor that he learned about Santa Claus the Christmas morning he discovered in his stocking the orange that had been in the refrigerator the night before. He lived in 17 homes by his 8th birthday. His mother, Rebecca, worked two jobs and was often away from home. But she'd leave her son notes, reminding him of chores, giving him advice or simply to say, "Charles, I love you." At night, she'd kneel beside her only child and pray, "God bless Charles here for whatever it may be."

Just as his mother protected him, Charles shielded her. She married an abusive alcoholic who told his stepson he would never amount to anything and sometimes tried to attack Rebecca. Charles would intervene. "You come after my mom," he'd say, "you come after me." So it was really no surprise that, decades later, Charles would refuse to back down. He told opponents calling for his resignation that he answered to a higher authority. "God said you keep doing what I called you to until I tell you to do something else," he says today. "I got that straight from the Lord. ... I was simply obeying God."

Besides, what could he do -- make someone not divorce him? "If somebody doesn't love you and doesn't want to live with you, you can't -- nowhere in the Scripture does it say that you're to preach the gospel until someone does this or that," he says. Charles, though, wasn't the only one in his family with a strong will. His son had other ideas about divorce. When can I give up on my relationship with my dad? Andy Stanley, founder of North Point Ministries Showdown The tension between Andy and his father had been building even before the divorce. They were partners in ministry, but they were becoming rivals. As Andy's congregation started outdrawing his father's, people told Charles that his son was becoming a prima donna who wanted to take over the entire church. Those rumors seemed to be validated, Charles recalls, when his son's church staff asked him to give them the satellite church's property. "They felt like they had their little nook," Charles says now. "They didn't have their little nook. Whose idea was it, No. 1, and who's paying for it, No. 2."

The distance between father and son was also philosophical. They had different ideas about church leadership. Andy had discovered another preaching mentor, the Rev. Bill Hybels, an unassuming, genial pastor -- the kind who travels alone without an entourage. He helped pioneer "seeker churches" while leading Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. People tend to focus on the cosmetic innovations of seeker churches: incorporating contemporary Christian music in worship, injecting clever skits and colorful stage props into services. But Andy was also drawn to Willow Creek's primary mission: reaching "irreligious people" who had been turned off by traditional church. After hearing Hybels, Andy says, church made sense "for the first time in my life." Hybels became his hero. "They were more committed to progress instead of maintaining traditions."

Andy incorporated some of Hybels' innovations into his father's satellite church. He stopped wearing suits in the pulpit as his father had insisted. The church grew even more. But so did the tension with his father. Was he competing with his father? Almost 20 years later, Andy pauses before he answers: "Not intentionally, but I felt like what we were doing was better." All the tensions converged one day when Andy's father called him into the office to discuss the divorce. Churchgoers crowd around a picture of the Rev. Charles Stanley given to him at a service.

"Dad, you never asked me what I think you should do," Andy said. His father smiled and asked him what he thought. Walk into church the next Sunday morning and read a letter of resignation, Andy said. Tell them that you want to continue as their pastor, and will preach as long as they want.

"Daddy, your church is not going to leave you," Andy said. "They need the opportunity to choose to have you as pastor if you divorce. If you do this, it all ends. Let them choose." Andy says his father didn't hear anything after the word "resign." All the rumors seemed to be true. His son had joined the church faction trying to get rid of him. His son had betrayed him. Andy says it was after that exchange that he started popping up in his father's sermons, not as the heir apparent, but as the Old Testament villain, Absalom. Absalom was the charismatic but treacherous son of David who tried to snatch his father's kingdom away from him through war.

"My dad at the time fashioned me as an Absalom who had rebelled against him," Andy says. But Andy himself felt betrayed. He wondered why his father didn't denounce from the pulpit those people who questioned Andy's loyalty. He told his father, I'm your most loyal staffer, but you can't see it. "I never felt I should replace my dad. I didn't feel like I was at war with my dad." It consumes you. As soon as he got home, we were talking about it all the time. Sandra Stanley, wife of Andy Stanley The conflict could not have come at a worse time for Andy. He had recently married; a baby was on its way. He had a steady job, health benefits, his congregation was booming. But his relationship with his father was crumbling. It was like being trapped in a soap opera.

"It consumes you," says Sandra Stanley, Andy's wife. "As soon as he got home, we were talking about it all the time. There was always something new happening, some new comment." Andy had to act, but how? His answer came in the form a slim book he happened to pick up one day, "A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards. The book explored the story of a biblical soap opera, the relationship between David and King Saul, Israel's first king. Saul descended into jealousy and paranoia because he was threatened by David. David eventually left King Saul's kingdom and abandoned the spoils that came with it. Andy's eyes stopped on one line in the book: "Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them." That line clinched it for Andy. He would walk away from his father empty-handed -- no church, no salary, no health benefits. He would turn his back on the unspoken dream. Now he had to relay that message to his father. That day remains vivid. He drove to his father's office filled with anxiety.

When he saw his father sitting behind his massive desk, he knew he wasn't going to take it well. "He was in his stern, commando mode," Andy says. His father reacted by staring at him in silence. Then he accused him of joining his enemies. He finally rose slowly from his desk, walked over and embraced him. Both men cried before regaining their composure. "It was really bad. It was horrible. But you know what? I had perfect peace," Andy says. "I've never been so sure of a decision even when the whole world blew up all around us." Andy says he could not have stayed at his father's church, no matter how much money or fame he stood to gain. "My dad taught me to be better than that," he says. "Seeing him get punched when I was in the eighth grade -- all that was clear to me. You trust God with all the consequences." News of Andy's resignation spread. Reggie Joiner was on First Baptist's staff at the time. He would later help found North Point and now runs Orange, a nonprofit that teaches churches how to reach and keep young people. He remembers meeting with Charles after his son resigned. "I sat in his office for two hours and he talked about Andy being his legacy," Joiner recalls. Chairs replace pews and bands replace choirs and organs at North Point Community Church.  

Later, he called another leader at First Baptist to tell him that Andy had resigned. The stunned church leader said he had never heard of a young pastor walking away from such a prominent ministry. The man paused before finally telling Joiner: "I think I could follow that guy anywhere." Communion over chips and salsa Charles Stanley was alone. His marriage was ending. Pastors were publicly calling for him to step down. People within his church were trying to get rid of him. His enemies were coming after him, and his son wasn't stepping in front of his father to meet the blows.

That's how Charles saw it. He says his son could have prevented some of that pain. He was the one person who could have stopped the congregation from calling for his resignation because he had earned so much respect. "I forgave him. I couldn't understand it. I would have never done that," Charles says. The church drama lasted seven years. The divorce became final in 2000, and First Baptist eventually voted to retain Charles as its pastor. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday at First Baptist, and was presented with a large photograph depicting Jesus counseling him as he prepared a sermon. Charles painstakingly posed for the photographer, with a professional model playing Jesus.

"Every Sunday I had to preach, no matter what," Charles says of those days when he was going through the divorce. "I couldn't get up and say I had a horrible day yesterday. It kept me in the Word of God -- praying, trusting God, watching people saved and watching the church grow." Few would question Charles' toughness, but during that time he revealed another side. He stopped treating Andy as his enemy. He started treating him as his only son. Charles fought for his relationship with his son as hard as he fought to stay in the pulpit. Maybe harder. He did it with chips and salsa. He kept inviting his son to lunch at Mexican restaurants. And Andy kept accepting. The meals were excruciating. Both men were still angry; they weren't good at chitchat. But it was a way to keep talking. The meals became a ritual, like communion. Charles then went public with his support for his son. In 1995, Andy formed North Point Community Church with a group of friends. When Charles heard the news, he interrupted his regular order of service one Sunday morning to tell his congregation. "And he has my blessing," he said. Charles did something else that some pastors shy from: He sought professional help. He asked his son to join him in seeing a counselor. It was just another way in which Charles refused to fit the caricature of a simple "Bible thumper."

He had defied Southern Baptist theology by saying women should be able to preach. He installed 12 Step programs in his church and an orchestra. He was a techno-geek who loved computers and photography. The counseling sessions between father and son were at times explosive. Emotions spilled out in the open. One night, Andy invited his father over to his house to see his wife and children. The night ended with both men yelling at each other "like middle-school girls" in the driveway, Andy recalls. Still, they kept going. "They weren't too smart, too spiritual or too proud to allow somebody to come in and help them navigate all of that anger," says Andy's wife, Sandra.

"Their relationship with one another was more important than their pride." A pivotal moment came one day when Charles called his son with a request: "Hey, can you preach for me this Sunday?" Twelve years after he left the church as his father's enemy, Andy returned as his son. His sermon title: "The Cost of Following Christ." Afterward, Charles invited his son into In Touch's television studio to talk about the sermon. His face lit up with joy as he bragged about his son's church. He told Andy on camera that he didn't have a father growing up so he didn't know how to be a father at times. He leaned forward in his chair and looked at Andy with a huge smile before saying, "I'm absolutely delighted to have Andy with me again." Andy sat upright in his chair with his hands folded in his lap. His smile was tight and strained. Original artwork lines the walls of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. RAYMOND MCCREA JONES/CNN "It's great to be back," he said. Asked today whether he would have ever cut off his son, Charles quickly shakes his head. "It was the wise thing to do.

I loved him and I knew he had great potential for God. I wouldn't have cut off communication under any circumstances." The same was not true for Andy. A sobering realization Critics accuse Andy of being too accommodating. He won't draw theological lines in the sand. His sermons are too self-help, too Christian-lite. Charles Stanley in his own words In "The Ultimate Conversation: Talking With God Through Prayer," Charles Stanley looks back on 55 years of ministry and explains how he learned to fight his battles through prayer. More info » He is an introvert who struggles at times even to make conversation off-stage with members of his church. But he will still invite listeners who disagree with his sermons to contact him afterward. People who have written him scathing letters are sometimes shocked to hear his voice on the other end of their phone line.

He was criticized recently for preaching a sermon that mentioned gay people but no explicit condemnation of homosexuality. "I'm always trying to look for ways to affirm everything, maybe to a fault," Andy says. Yet there is a toughness about him that's reminiscent of his father. He has called members of his church to demand that they stop attending when people complained that they were harassing other members. He preaches that people who divorce and remarry are committing adultery even though many in the contemporary church reject that teaching. He wouldn't allow CNN to photograph him preaching at North Point -- too distracting -- or just hanging out with his staff on an ordinary day. ("It singles me out as being of greater significance.") That toughness hardened into self-righteousness as he tried to reconcile with his father. He became judgmental. He was angry at his parents, and at people who questioned his integrity. Mr. Accommodation was becoming a Pharisee.

He realized that the battle wasn't just with his father -- it was with himself. "I saw the dark side of myself, and I realized that I'm no better than anyone else." A turning point came during an individual counseling session. He told his counselor that he felt like he bent again and again, but his dad wasn't changing. "When can I give up on my relationship with my dad?" he asked his counselor. The counselor's reply: "When your heavenly father gives up on his relationship with you." A Christmas gift from Dad Andy and his father still seem to be following the counselor's advice. They haven't given up on one another. When his father celebrated his 80th birthday at First Baptist, Andy was there to pay tribute. He called his father his hero, and paused to gather his emotions several times.

Charles took off his glasses and wiped tears from his eyes. One person who was not there was Anna Stanley. Andy says his mother is his biggest fan. She watches DVDs of his sermons throughout the day, and insists her caregivers join her. He says his parents rarely talk anymore. "There is no animosity," he says. "She'll ask about him: 'How's Charles?' She watches him on television." He's heard the rumors about his parents' divorce -- that his father was unfaithful. But he insists they are false -- that his father did everything he could to save the marriage. Andy is vague about his mother's condition. He says she is under 24-hour care and he visits her often. North Point Community Church staff members review the previous Sunday's services.  

Only he and his sister, Becky, know the truth, he says. (Becky declined to talk after initially agreeing.) "I love my mom. In her prime, she was an incredible woman," Andy says. "Something just caught up with her, and my dad took all the grief for her." Charles doesn't seem to spend a lot of time reflecting on that grief. He's still preaching and traveling the world. One of his favorite pastimes is going to bookstores to sign copies of his book. (His latest, "The Ultimate Conversation: Talking With God Through Prayer" was just released.) He says he won't marry again as long as his ex-wife is alive because the Scriptures say that a divorced man who remarries commits adultery. "I couldn't be happier," he says. "I don't really need a wife. God has just filled my life with good things."

Sitting in his cavernous office at In Touch Ministries, he pauses at times to dab tears from his eyes as he recalls his ordeal. "Instead of destroying me, it flung the doors open for me," he says of his divorce. "People used to say, 'I couldn't watch you. What do you know about hurt, pain, and loneliness? Now I can watch.' I look back now and realized that God used that all for good." Would that good, though, include the end of the "unspoken dream" -- the expectation that his son would follow him at First Baptist and In Touch? That is the question that hangs over father and son now. Charles has built a global religious empire, and he has a gifted son who is renowned as a leader. Wouldn't it be better to pass it all to Andy one day? Every Sunday, I had to preach, no matter what. I couldn't get up and say I had a horrible day yesterday. The Rev. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries Charles sighs before answering: "I look back now and say God was in all of this. If we had stayed together, we could only be so large." Instead, two world-renown megachurches stand in Atlanta, each headed by a Stanley. "He tells people he's proud of me," Andy says. "He ends our conversations that way: 'Andy, I'm proud of you.' '' Still, his father reserves one critique for his son's pulpit performance. "He still wants me to wear a suit."

The two now visit each other's churches. One visit, captured on film, reveals how far their relationship has come. North Point's staff was planning an informal Christmas communion service last December when someone suggested that Andy call his father to see if he would lead the service. Andy texted the request to his father and within five minutes, his father texted back: "I would be happy to!" When his father arrived at North Point, Andy stepped onto the stage to introduce him. He wore a sober, dark suit coat over jeans. "When people tell me that they enjoy my preaching, I always have the same answer: 'You know what, I got it all from God and my dad, in that order," he said. Andy smiled and looked at his dad seated in the audience. "I'm extraordinarily blessed, extraordinarily grateful, and I'm thrilled Dad that you are here to talk to us and lead us through communion." North Point's staff clapped as Charles walked up to the stage. He wore a suit coat, but no tie. Andy gently placed his hand on his father's shoulder and helped him adjust a microphone. "You got it?" he said. His father nodded. "OK. Thank you." Charles sat down before his new congregation with a huge grin. Fat gift boxes wrapped with red and green ribbons were stacked behind him. Charles' velvet baritone echoed through the hushed sanctuary.

Christmas is about memories, he said, and one of his best memories came when he was 5 years old. That was when he got his first electric train set, which he kept until he finished college. "I couldn't wait for Andy to grow up a little bit so I could buy him one," Charles said. That moment arrived on Andy's fourth Christmas. As Charles assembled the train set, he explained to his son how the engine worked. Andy, then about 4, with his father, the Rev. Charles Stanley, during Christmas. "We were putting the tracks together and Andy said, 'Daddy, did Santa Claus bring you this train or did he bring it to me?' "

The congregation erupted in laughter, and Charles laughed so hard that he momentarily choked over his next words. "So, we're both enjoying it immensely, believe me," he finally added. Charles finished his story, then asked the congregation to bow their heads and close their eyes as he led them in prayer. He quoted a passage from the Gospel account of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. It's a familiar passage for many Christians: Jesus opened his Last Supper with a warning that someone close would betray him, and ended it by extending his forgiveness. Charles and Andy bowed their heads to pray, and then father and son broke bread together.

VIDEO LINK- ARE YOU KEEPING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST CENTRAL? PART 2

ARE YOU KEEPING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST CENTRAL? PART 1

MESA, AZ (CBS5) - The Living Word Bible Church is no ordinary church. And the man behind - and in front - of it all is Pastor Tom Anderson, a leader who certainly knows what it takes to engage a congregation.

 Anderson is among a group of preachers across the U.S. that refer to themselves as prosperity preachers. But many people in Anderson's congregation claim his message has led them down a patch of financial ruin instead of riches. One glance around the $10.2 million domed property at Brown and Val Vista roads in Mesa tells you Anderson, at least at one time, has reaped the rewards of his "prosperity" ministry. There are skylights, a waterfall, a Starbucks shop, bookstore, rock wall, recording studio, soda fountain and castle, all elements more commonly tied to an amusement park rather than a church. "You have to give them options,"

Anderson told CBS 5 Investigates. "You have to give them different types of music. "You have to give them a certain level of entertainment. Everything has become entertainment today. To compete with the world you have to have some stuff, so I do a little Elvis. We have karaoke that pops up on the screen and they can sing with me." Don Enevoldsen preached at Living Word for years. He says he also served on the church's board and ghost wrote about a dozen books for Anderson, the most popular How to become a Millionaire God's Way. The book is based on Anderson's sermons and provides advice that goes beyond the traditional tithing message. It's advice more commonly associated with a financial adviser. "I can encapsulate in a nutshell: If you tithe, God will protect all your stuff so the Devil can't take it away from you," Enevoldsen said. "If you give offerings over and above the tithe, which would be 10 percent of your income, that opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing and you have to invest in something for that blessing to have something to multiply, and that investment would usually be real estate."

 Enevoldsen said Anderson provided advice on many different financial matters. "He would talk about what kind of houses to buy, what kind of neighborhoods to look for, how long you should live in them before you sold them," Enevoldsen said. "He gave advice on how to buy and sell cars. He gave advice on how to invest in the stock market. He gave a lot of pretty specific advice." And it was that advice that Enevoldsen said many people followed. "An awful lot of people had bought into this bad financial advice and were so wrapped up in investments that when the economy collapsed they believed they couldn't lose because God would bless their investments because they had tithed and gave offerings," Enevoldsen said. "

A lot of them ended up upside down a half-million dollars or more in just a matter of a month or two because they believed what the pastor said." Enevoldsen choked up as he recalled the investment results of many in the congregation. "I began to really see the damage that was being done to people I knew well and began to realize by writing these books and sitting in these board meetings and never saying anything, that I was really complicit in the damage," Enevoldsen said. Eventually Enevoldsen left the church, but said other followers continued to find financial ruin. "We lost $60,000," said former member Preston Gaiser. Gaiser was closer to Anderson than most. He was an elder at the church and also Anderson's personal arms bearer, a security guard of sorts. "We ended up taking equity out of this house and bought another house," Gaiser said. "Our plan was to keep it three to six months and sell it - just to kind of test the waters. Since I was so close to Tom and he's dealing with these people all the time, I almost felt the pressure that I should be doing it too, you know, even though it was not me." Even after losing thousands on the investment, Preston said he dutifully followed Anderson's preaching, believing that because he had tithed, God would financially take care of him.

 "I kept trying to hang on saying 'it's got to get better,'" Gaiser said. "'It's got to get better. It's got to get better.'" Anderson admits people have lost money following his philosophy. "Absolutely," Anderson said. "Because stuff happens in this world. It just means that whatever you get stolen you can get back seven times." CBS 5 Investigates dug into Anderson's background and learned he received a master's degree in business administration from Golden Pacific University in 1986, which was eventually shut down by the Hawaii attorney general for being a diploma mill. His Ph.D. came from an unaccredited university. And, most profoundly, CBS 5 Investigates learned that the man who preaches that the road to riches runs through his church filed for bankruptcy last year. Anderson said he has told members of his congregation about the bankruptcy. At least some of them. "Immediately on doing it, I made the announcement I had to take my net worth down to $300 in order for Chapter 7 - you have to do that," he said. "For those that understand what that means, then they understand what I did."

 As far as coming right out and admitting it: "That would be foolish," Anderson said. "For the people that need to know, knew. For the people that didn't need to know they didn't know." During a 45-minute interview with CBS 5 Investigates, Anderson blamed his bankruptcy on a number of different factors, including a mysterious unidentified bank, a man at a bank and members of his own congregation. "The Living Word Bible Church tithes dropped from $10 million to $4 million over the past few years, but the overhead didn't. So a tremendous amount of my money had to go into the church to make sure the staff and mortgage were paid," Anderson said. "I even gave my cars. I gave everything to keep this church alive." Some former members of the church, such as Gaiser, are still paying for Anderson's advice.

 "Yes, we are still paying for it," he said. Yet the power of forgiveness is truly an amazing, powerful quality, as exhibited by Gaiser. "I love Tom, I really do. I love Maureen, I love the boys. I don't blame them for what happened," Gaiser said. Anderson has no plans to let bankruptcy slow him down. In fact, he says he has big plans for the Living Word Church, which includes an $18 million expansion. The new church, Anderson said, would resemble a mini city, complete with a 10,000-seat sanctuary. Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

PASTOR, PREACHER, CHRISTIAN- ARE YOU KEEPING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST CENTRAL? PART 1

Consider the following blog concerning a church right here in Mesa Arizona. For all of my fellow believers know that I am not "outing" a sister church as this story and the piece I will blog about that follows this, has already been published on CBS Channel 5 and the world-wide web respectively. 

Here's the Blog, written by another person I am speaking of:

THE FIRST CHURCH SERVICE I EVER WALKED OUT OF 

I’m not much of a protester. Too easy going and all that. I did walk out of a movie once, but it was so long ago I forget why. I have certainly never walked out of a church service in anger. Until this month. Two weeks ago I walked out during the middle of the pastor’s “sermon”. Here is why. The church in question is Living Word Bible Church, in Mesa, Arizona.

I was staying with my elderly mother for a week, and she lives a couple miles from the church. She goes to a different church, but that morning (long story) I did not go with her. I really did desire to go to church, however, especially since it was the second Sunday of advent. But since I had no car with me, this meant a good Sunday morning walk. I picked out two likely candidates on my phone’s web browser, then headed off to one of them. I soon realized I would not get there in time, so I detoured and walked to Living Word Bible Church instead. I knew little about it, but I figured since they had both “word” and “bible” in their name that they would at least try to be a teaching church (unfortunately, by this logic Grapenuts would have both grape and nuts).

I made my way in from a side street, and the first thing I noticed was that the congregation was very racially diverse. Score one for them. I was quite disconcerted, however, at the name of the bookstore which dominated one corner of the massive foyer: “Winner’s Bookstore”.  Major red flag.

The most common heresy of the modern American church is the idea that God’s design in salvation is to make us successful in earthly categories like success and wealth. Ever an optimist, I hoped this was an aberration, and made my way into the sanctuary. The service began with the pastor of the church, one C. Thomas Anderson, announcing that this was going to be a special miracle service. Okaaaayyyy.

To me, the idea of “planning” miracles is as ludicrous as “planning” revivals. But I had walked two miles to be in church and worship, and was not going to leave. Or so I thought. The band then belted out three songs. Though all three had words on the screens, I don’t think the first two were really intended to be congregationally sung. They were too fast and the timing too odd to work as corporate worship songs. In any case, neither was about God at all. The first asked the question, “Are you ready?” and answered it with the repeated refrain, “I’m as ready as can be”.

The second was about me living a miraculous, blessed life. Both songs basically functioned like the music of pep rally, and indeed the whole service brought back to mind the forced enthusiasm of my high school assemblies before the big game. The third song was actually quite good (or maybe my expectations were so low that any song actually about Jesus would strike a cord). I hadn’t heard it before, but it was about Jesus meeting my needs. Yes, even though it was a Jesus song, it was exalting him primarily for how he helps me in this life (which I don’t find a bad thing as long as it is balanced by more objective worship songs).

The pastor comes back on stage. He begins talking about how the church needs to get out of debt. I notice before the service they showed a video about planning for a new building “three times the size of our present one, with ten thousand seats”, so apparently the goal is to get out of debt so we can get back in debt. This especially struck me as odd, since the service (one of three that morning) was less than 40 percent full. Pastor Anderson then launches into several minutes describing the greatness of the church and its strategic place (somehow Mesa is the epicenter of the country). At this point I am a little distressed.

More than twenty minutes into the service, and I have heard almost nothing about Jesus or even God, but a good deal about the church and the pastor. The Pastor transitions to talking about how much greater the church could be if it was out of debt. I look again at the pledge sheets handed out before the service.

He tells us that they will create a permanent landscape on one of the walls. If you give a certain amount, you will get a place on the landscape. 250 bucks will buy you a bronze tulip with your name, while $250,000 will place you on a silver eagle in the sky, and for only a million dollars you get a piece of the rainbow. Pastor Anderson takes pains to point out how your children and grandchildren (and, of course, everyone else) will always be able to see how much you gave. I couldn’t help wondering about the words of Jesus regarding giving: “don’t let your right hand know what you are doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (Matthew 6:3-4).

This transitions into Pastor Anderson holding his wife and himself up as examples. Three times, we are told, they agreed to give God “everything”. And of course God rewarded them for this. “God gave us a mansion. If you have ever been to my house, you know it is a mansion. And God gave it to us at cost”. This was spoken so arrogantly that I began to feel queasy. He goes on, “And you should see all my cars!” And here, I could take it no longer. It was well past the half-way part of the service, and it was apparent there would be no bible teaching.

The cross of Christ had not been mentioned one time, nor had Jesus himself been mentioned except almost in passing. I will claim no great gift of discernment, but I was pretty sure any “miracles” generated in this man-glorifying pep rally were not going to be from the Holy Spirit.

I walked out. I wept for a minute outside, then began the walk home.

THANK YOU LORD FOR PASTOR PATRICK J. WALKER AND THE NEW MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY!

To God be all the glory, honor and praise. I thank our God for the lessons I learned while attending the Church Family Conference at The New Macedonia Baptist Church in Washington, D.D., Rev. Patrick J. Walker pastor. agape, pastor fort

THANK YOU PASTOR EMIL THOMAS AND DESTINY CHURCH!

Sunday past Sis. Angela Fort and I were blessed to participate in the eighth anniversary service for Destiny Church in Washington D.C. and their esteemed pastor and first lady, Dr. Emil and Sis. Shanda Thomas. My friend and brother Emil Thomas was such a blessing to my wife and I that I cannot tell it all. I thank our GOD for you and yours Pastor Thomas. May our GOD continue to bless and keep you, your family, your church family and your preaching and teaching ministry for years to come. agape, pastor fort

CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT!

Yes, to all of the people who believe President Obama is the poster child for non-values in America I said ... CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT! And yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I am a pastor. And yes, like you I am a sinner. However, I am most proud to say that I am a sinner saved by the love, mercy and grace of God. I've already articulated how I cannot understand the blatant hypocrisy and out right ignorance of some Christian preachers and pastors who, prior to the re-election of President Obama just two nights ago, made public statements in support of his opponent former governor Willard Mitt Romney. I hear you, I hear you, I hear you self-proclaimed, conservative, right-wing, Christians who honestly and ignorantly believe that Mr. Romney stands for the "values" that you hold so dear as a follower of Jesus Christ. Time nor space will allow me to share all that is in my heart on this matter, but for now let me raise this simple question: How can you leap frog the greatest "value" if you will of the Christian faith- namely Salvation in and through Jesus Christ alone (Solus Christus); the belief that the Bible alone is The Word of God (Sola-Scriptura); that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Sola fide); and that it is God's grace alone (Sola gratia); that saves us. President Obama has declared with his mouth that he believes the Bible is The Word of God, he believes Jesus Christ is The only begotten Son of God and that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, died on a cross for his sins, was raised the third day and that He (Jesus Christ) is coming back again. Yet and still in the name of "values" some Christian leaders have come out in support of Mr. Romney a practicing Mormon and former leader in the Mormon church as their choice for President. Many have done this in spite of the fact that the Mormon faith is in fact a cult (regardless of whether or not Franklin Graham and/or Rev. Billy Graham the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have removed language from their website that stating Mormonism was a cult or not). Many Christian preachers and pastors have come out in support of a man who was in active leadership in the Mormon church, and remains a major personality in the Mormon church today even though they believe such things as: God The Father was once human and through certain steps/circumstances became God Almighty, that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are brothers, that Mormon men who are faithful will, after being resurrected first and calling on/up their wife- if she has been faithful to join them will one day rule their own planet, etc., etc., etc. ... over and above President Obama- a professed and confessed Christian. Now hold it. I am not saying that I agree with President Obama on every issue. I am not saying that all of his decisions as President have been in line with every jot and tittle of The Word of God. I am not saying that he is sin free. What I am saying however is this ... ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD! Still "God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners CHRIST died for us". None of us, including me, YOU, former Governor Romney and President Obama are free from the stain and guilt of sin. The Bible teaches us that God loves us ALL THE SAME regardless of who we are, what color our skin is, what we believe or don't believe, how much money we make, where we live or how we behave. God still loves us with an everlasting love. For those of you who believe the faith, doctrines and prophecies of the Mormon church and as such believe that I will not make it to one of the three levels of heaven you believe in and that in fact I am not "saved" ... I understand. Still I want to ask you to PLEASE examine The holy Bible for YOURSELF. Do so with an open mind and heart. Examine The Word of God ... the holy Bible and see if what I am saying is true. Jesus Christ loves US ALL and came to the world to SAVE US ALL! My faith is in Jesus Christ and Him alone! Now that President Obama has been re-elected here's a plea from me to you ... let's support the President of the United States. Let's agree to take a serious look at ourselves before we judge other persons. Let's admit that all of us are sinners, that all of us make mistakes, that no one is perfect. Let's rest and rely on the love, mercy and grace of God as seen and demonstrated in and through The LORD Jesus Christ. Let's do our best to love and live like The LORD Jesus Christ. Let's look beyond the color of someone's skin and seek to see the heart and spirit of that person instead. Let's NOT use words such as "values" to hide the racism in our hearts. Let's commit to be honest with God, ourselves and one another. Let's treat other people the way we want to be treated. Agape, S. J. Fort

VOTE! STOP BEING IGNORANT, PICKING OUT YOUR "PET SINS" AND HYPOCRITICAL!

Let me admit at the start ... I am personally bothered by the ignorance, hypocrisy and out singular passion to get PRESIDENT Barack Obama out of office ... "by any means necessary". For the Christian faith in me I do not understand how so called "conservative Christians" (by the way, Christians should not be labeled as "conservative" or "liberal" primarily, but as CHRISTIANS- followers of CHRIST); can in any way, shape or form support former governor Willard Mitt Romney with a clear Christian conscience. Yet, popular religious personality after religious personality come out in support of Governor Romney over President Obama- often referring to Governor Romney as the "lesser of two evils". Persons who have come out in support of Governor Romney over President Obama include: Dr. Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Pastor Robert Jeffress, many, many more members of the Southern Baptist Convention; a few from other national Baptist conventions and still a few more from across evangelical church lines. With respect to those Christians who claim they don't want to "compromise" their Christian values and vote for a sitting President who openly claims and proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, who both in print and from his mouth has said that he believes in Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, death on the cross and His resurrection; and instead vote for a non-Christian who shares their "values"- know that this is hogwash, and completely unacceptable. To Dr. Billy Graham I say you, Sir, should be ashamed of yourself for endorsing a non-Christian in former Governor Willard Mitt Romney for president of the United States. Moreover, you should be embarrassed and ashamed to go even further and have the language identifying mormonism as a cult removed from your website following your meeting with and endorsement of Governor Romney. Saints, Check out this excerpt concerning the Dr. Graham's endorsement of former Governor Romney via the Christian Post website- Evangelist Laments Billy Graham's Support of Romney, Says Mormon 'Lies' Spreading

Billy Graham (center) and his son, Franklin, met with Gov. Mitt Romney during his visit to the evangelist's mountain home this afternoon, while in the region for a speaking engagement in Asheville this evening. "It is no wonder why God is judging this nation by giving us a choice between two son's of Satan when high profile men of God like Billy Graham and supposed Christian leaders like Ralph Reed, Mark DeMoss, David Barton, and scores of others are publicly telling Christians that it is OK to compromise their faith and put temporal politics over the eternal souls of men to support a Baal worshipper," Keller said in an email to The Christian Post. The evangelist, who is urging people to write in the name of Jesus instead of selecting either candidate on Election Day, refers to the Rev. Billy Graham's recent remarks on Romney, which many say is an unofficial endorsement of the GOP candidate. Earlier this month, Romney met with 93-year-old Graham at his home in North Carolina, where the evangelist praised the Mormon politician for his "values and strong moral convictions." An article which calls Mormonism a "cult" was removed from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's (BGEA) website following the Republican's visit, with Chief of Staff Ken Barun explaining that the reason behind the decision was that BGEA did not wish to be a part of the debate on Romney's faith, which has reached great heights this political season. Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelist-laments-billy-grahams-support-of-romney-says-mormon-lies-spreading-83804/#AOXqUqetroHsvPHX.99 People who support Governor Romney over President Obama claim to do so because President Obama supports abortion and same sex marriage. Now, let me quickly say that as a preacher of the Gospel who has Jesus Christ as my Savior and LORD, the Bible as my guide-book, and the Holy Spirit as my constant company keeper, I do not support same-sex marriage. That said, I do support human rights or civil rights for EVERYONE!!! All people deserve the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Jesus loves us ALL THE SAME! Red, yellow, black or white we are ALL precious in His site. There is no difference between us when it comes to the fact that we are ALL "fearfully and wonderfully made". The Bible teaches that God's ideal and plan for marriage is between a man and a woman. The Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage- whether it be heterosexual, bisexual, transexual, try-sexual (I made that one up); or what have you is a sin. So those of us who are heterosexual need to note this too. Now, regarding President Obama's positon on abortion- all of you please note that he has repeatedly stated that he is "pro-choice"; and that he does not believe the government should dictate what a woman does when it comes to making a decision about whether or not to abort a baby. It is a "personal choice"; and should not be mandated by the government. I know no two people agree on every point, however we can agree that mormonism is a cult ... period! Point blank! We can agree that none of us are perfect and live free and above sin. We can agree that the Bible in no way supports same-sex relationships or marriage. We can agree that one glad morning- The LORD Jesus Christ will return and He will rule with righteous judgment. Until The LORD returns let's agree to do our best to live for Him! And to stop lying to ourselves and others, to stop compromising our faith to fit in with the status quo. Let The LORD lead you as you vote ... but VOTE! Even if you go in and write-in the name Jesus ... VOTE!!! agape, S.J. Fort

The LORD is Better Than Good!!!

It's been a little while since my last post. The primary reason has been my being busy with a number of things, not the least of which being The Fall Leadership Conference 2012 hosted by Sis. Fort and I. I want to give glory to God and thanks to His children- those persons who volunteered their time to help us with setting up, breaking down and everything in between. I also want to thank our God for brothers and sisters who served as facilitators and praise and worship leaders and audio/visual persons during the conference. Those persons include: Min. Charlotte D. Hillman (and crew); Dr. Ephraim Williams, Bro. Lamont Harris, Pastor Welton Pleasant II, Dr. Fredrick L. Fairley Sr., Dr. Juan M. Brown Sr., Mrs. Belinda Miller, Min. Kevin Swindle, Bro. Arzal Smith and Mr. Christopher Shelton. The Fall Leadership Conference 2012 is something my wife and I planned in just a few weeks time. We prepared for 75 attendee's. We prepared 85 packets. I am told we ran out of packets, being short just a little bit. Now, let me thank the pastor's and church members from various churches- including Canaan Missionary Baptist Church who attended the conference. I believe people were helped, encouraged and made better. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, October 24, 2013 through Saturday, October 26, 2013 as the dates for The Church Development Conference 2013. We hope and pray our GOD will use us for His glory in an even bigger and better way next year. Agape, Pastor Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

WE NEED TO FOCUS!

I admit it. I have been too busy lately. As I think about it perhaps "busy" is not the word. While I have no doubt- been busy I have also been disorganized. That is to say I have not exercised the necessary discipline to be at my best for The LORD, myself, my family and others. This morning my wife woke me up and informed me that we were supposed to be in Washington D.C. this weekend. We should've arrived last night. She knew this, because of a facebook message from the host pastor who was trying to reach me via text but was unsuccessful. He was unsuccessful reaching me via text last night because I was attending a one year anniversary banquet for one of my "son's" in the ministry ... and I failed to respond to the text. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. In concert with my being "too busy" and undisciplined I mistakenly thought we were supposed to be in Washington D.C. the second Sunday in November ... NOT the second Sunday in October. I immediately got up, called the host pastor, apologized profusely, told him to give me five minutes and I would change my reservation and be in D.C. this afternoon. Initially he said "okay". Two minutes later I was sitting at the computer logging on to change my ticket and the pastor called me back. He shared that the Sunday I booked my airline ticket for is their Church Anniversary and that instead of my changing my tickets, etc. and coming to preaching for the Men's Day- tomorrow; he would have me serve as the guest preacher for their Church Anniversary. Still I offered to pay for one night of the room as we was supposed to arrive last night and hotels require a 24 cancellation notice in order to not incur at least a one night fee. The pastor was sooooo gracious and told me not to worry about the mix up and not to worry about paying for one night of the room. Still I intend to pay for one night anyway. Here's my point, though our God's grace is sufficient and even though our God grants us His mercy and love ... there is still no excuse for MY mistake. It's something I messed up with due to my own lack of focus and being, according to some- "too busy". Brother Pastors, preachers, minister's- let me encourage all of us to FOCUS! I think of the Apostle Paul's writing in Philippians 3:13a where he says: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but ONE THING I DO,". It is clear that the Apostle is FOCUSED on ONE THING! Going forward, I invite all of you pastors, preachers, ministers and laypersons who will to join me in making a fresh effort to FOCUS on the most important thing! This will no doubt mean for me that I will turn my cellular phone off at times or hand it to one of the ladies in the office when I'm working at the church so that I can focus on what I am doing at the moment. This means that I will not be distracted by an email in my inbox when I have gone into my email to do a specific thing that is unrelated to this "new" message. Etc., etc., etc. Please pray for me. I am praying with and for you. Agape, Sherman J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

The Fall Leadership Conference 2012

Some Week-End Thank You's!

To Pastor Hutching's and the Trinity Church of God In Christ church fmily- Thank you for the invitation to come and preach at your church Sunday past. I was encouraged and blessed by your kindness and by the music ministry in-particular. What a joy to see young men serving in the church that way. It is my prayer that message was Christ-centered, Bible-based, practical, personal and helpful. agape, sherman j. fort

SEEK THE LORD! ... DO IT NOW!

“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6 NKJV A friend called me two days ago and shared news that one of the preachers whose preaching I most admire was taken to the hospital this past Sunday from his church. My friend went on to say that according to his understanding just after mounting the pulpit to preach, the Reverend Ralph Douglas West said simply "I don't feel well". Shortly thereafter medical personnel arrived and escorted Dr. West to the hospital. When I heard the news, I stopped, got on my knees and prayed for Dr. West, his wife, children, and church family. Reportedly he is fine and all is well. But this incident reminds me that we should all first and foremost know The LORD in the pardon of our sins. That is to say we need to be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Second, it reminds me that we need to be better stewards of our temple (that is our body). Third, as a son, husband, father, preacher and pastor it reminds me that I need to consistently ask myself if my priorities are right in terms of how I am living and that I need to remember to get proper rest. This year I have already done more home-going services than any other year in my pastorate- and the month of October has just begun. I should also point out that I'm close to doing more weddings in one year than I've ever done before as well. I have prayed for each family who experienced death this year and whose home-going celebration I knew about and was blessed to share in. In a nutshell here is what I am saying: "Seek The LORD while He may be found, call upon HIm while He is near". -Isaiah 55:6. The inimitable Dr. A. Louis Patterson Jr. says: "If you've got a bell to ring- ring it now. If you've got a song to sing- sing it now. If you've got a sermon to preach- preach it now"! Hallelujah. Please pray with and for me, I am praying with and for you! Agape, Sherman J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

THE FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2012

Are you a Christian, preacher, senior pastor, deacon, deaconess, ministry leader, church finance person who would enjoy a Christ-centered, Bible based church conference? If so, consider attending The Fall Leadership Conference hosted by H.O.P.E. Ministries and held at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 8:00AM until 1:00PM. The subjects addressed at the conference include: a. Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing. b. Going from Vision to Provision. c. Biblical Preaching/Preaching That Is Both Righteous And Relevant. d. The ministry of the Church Administrator and Church Administration. 5. Church Financial Management 101 For further questions call Sis. Angela M. Fort at: 480.227.9279. peace, Sherman J. Fort

DR. MANEUEL L. SCOTT SR SAID: "SERMONETTES MAKE CHRISTIAN-ETTES"!

It is highly possible that I've received and accepted more invitations to teach, lecture, preach or just share this year than any other year of my ministry. That said, I am moved once again by the notion that we gospel preachers need to do our best to be "fresh" in our preaching. Now by fresh I do not mean that we are coming up with some "new thing" or some new doctrine, or some new way to communicate the gospel. Rather, what I mean is that we need to do the best we can to not re-preach "can" sermons, old sermons, re-heatable sermons that we first preached a decade ago. We need to be careful to be "work"men, rightly dividing The Word of truth. We need to be sure that we are consistently reading The Word of God and studying The Word of God; and preparing new sermons as The LORD gives us direction. Believe it or not the mature believer can tell the difference between a T.V. dinner sermon and a home cooked sermon. They know the difference between a microwave pizza and one made fresh from scratch- in your own kitchen. Too often we get busy with things that matter, but not "the" thing that matters most. Namely, The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. It's good to visit the sick, clothe the naked, pray with those who are sick and shut-in, but it's better to make the main thing the preaching of The gospel of JESUS CHRIST. After all, that's what The LORD called us as pastors to do primarily- Preach, teach, pray and cast vision. It could be that some members of our churches are not growing because they are not receiving full course meals on Sunday morning. Dr. Manuel L. Scott Sr. said: "Sermonettes make Christian-ettes". We need to ask ourselves what kind of preaching are we doing? And then, whatever kind of preaching we are doing we need to commit to doing it better ... and better ... and better! Agape- S. J. Fort, preacher of The Gospel

Thank you Pastor Louis B. Jones II & Pilgrim Baptist Church of Washington D.C.

Much has taken place in my life since the writing of my last blog. That said, of that has taken place- the ups and downs, the in's and out's the shifts and changes, the one thing that has (and always will) remain consistent is the love, mercy and grace of our living LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank, honor and praise our God for His lovingkindness and tender mercies toward me. This weekend I was blessed to preach at the wonderful Pilgrim Baptist Church in Washington D.C. where the inimitable Rev. Louis B. Jones II serves as senior pastor. All I can say is "Wow"! What a pastor and what a people. The occasion for my coming was the "All Ministry Day" at Pilgrim. There is no question that Pastor Jones is one of the most gifted, charismatic and kind pastor's I know. It is Monday morning now in Washington D.C. and I am preparing to preach once more before leaving for the great southwest. Please keep me in prayer. I am praying with and for you. Safe in CHRIST, Sherman J. Fort

President William "Bill" Jefferson Clinton At The 2012 Democratic National Convention!

I just finished watching former President William "Bill" Jefferson Clinton deliver his speech at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina. I was moved, motivated, informed, inspired and helped by what President Clinton had to say. I believe he was genuine and sincere. I've made my decision about who I plan to vote for in 2012, have you? Jesus Christ is my Savior and LORD. I pride myself on being a follower of Jesus Christ. So my conviction when voting is to seek The LORD in prayer and to vote my Christian conscience. Be sure to vote this year! Agape, Sherman J. Fort

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!

Romans 4:16-22 (NKJV): 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Last night I watched and listened to Rahm Emanuel, the former White House Chief of Staff for President Barack H. Obama; and current mayor of Chicago speak at the Democratic National Convention. Following last nights Bible study and a home visit I caught portions of a replay of our nations gifted, God-fearing and gorgeous First Lady's speech. There is absolutely no question that Michelle Obama is a classy, clear and candid speaker, whose elegance and education are evident and obvious to all who watch and listen with a non-biased eye and ear. In short, she was bad last night. I still haven't watched her whole speech in total, but I was encouraged to hear her speak of family time she and President Obama commit to their daughters. I was encouraged to hear about vision and values and how they matter so much to the President. Now, having said all that I still know where my ultimate allegiance lies. It's not with the White House, rather it is in God's house. To be more specific, it is with The LORD Jesus Christ Himself. I look forward to the day when The LORD Jesus Christ returns in power and with great glory. I look forward to Him ruling and reigning with true justice and righteousness. Abraham is an awesome example for us today. The Apostle Paul records that Abraham, watch this now- against hope- believed in hope. Wow! That is to say that Abraham saw that all natural means were exhausted and that logic said what he and Sarah desired could not be done- still he believed in God. He trusted God and "hoped in Him" even when the situation seemed hopeless. GOD came through for Abraham. God came through for all of us. So trust The LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding (wisdom, knowledge and intellect). If you acknowledge God in all you do He will direct your path. Agape, SJF

THANK GOD!

I thank The LORD for a great adult Bible study class last night at Canaan. agape, pastor fort

JOIN ME IN STUDYING THE BIBLE ... IT MATTERS!

I did something the other day that I haven't done in too long a time. I prioritized my Bible study time over some other important- but less important things. I am a person who- in the past have been guilty of trying to be everything to everyone. Thus, I have taken it upon myself to skip or push to the side Bible study time. THIS IS NOT GOOD! As the members of Canaan have heard me say often, The LORD can speak to us in any number of ways, but without question one of His primary ways is through His Word ... the holy Bible. Moreover, I am a preacher of the gospel and a senior pastor to boot. I NEED to prioritize my Bible study time. I can tell you it made a huge difference for me the other day. Here again, when I am studying for a Bible study or sermon, it makes a big difference then too. So let me encourage you to prioritize your time with The LORD. Prioritize your time studying His holy Word! agape, pastor fort

SENIOR SAINTS SUNDAY AT CANAAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Senior Saints weekend at CMBC was wonderful. This past Saturday volunteers from Canaan Missionary Baptist Church worked to put together a wonderful Luncheon for the Senior Saints at Canaan. The luncheon program included presentations from the ACTS Drama ministry and the VOW Dance ministry. It also included delicious food and great fellowship. Sunday morning at CMBC was marked by two services that highlighted our Senior Saints. In addition to forming a Senior Choir, select senior's also played instruments, participated with short talks, poetry and more. Thank God for a great day of prayer, praise and preaching. safe in CHRIST, S J Fort

GOD BLESSES HIS CHILDREN WITH CERTAIN BENEFITS!

Here is a Scripture for your consideration today: PSALM 103 A Psalm of David. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. As children of God we have benefits. In fact, our benefits are too many to mention, in truth they are far too many for us to really count. That said, King David writes about some of those benefits in the 103rd Psalm. In just five short verses David gives us a few benefits that we can and should "Bless The LORD" for. Those benefits are as follows: The LORD forgives all our sins. The LORD heals all our diseases. The LORD redeems our lives from destruction. The LORD crowns us with His lonving-kindness and tender mercies. The LORD satisfies our mouths with good things so that our strength is renewed like the eagles. Now, as The LORD blesses us to go through today, may we not forget His benefits. Agape, Sherman J. Fort

Bible Study at CMBC!

For those of you believers who live in the Mesa metropolitan area let me invite you to join us for Bible study this week at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. We've begun a new Bible study series on Tuesday nights (from 7:00PM until 8:00PM); on the subject of: Christian Stewardship! (Managing our Time, Talent, Temple and Treasure for the glory of God and the good of others). We've begun a new Bible study series on Wednesday afternoon (from 12:00PM until 1:00PM); on the book of Matthew. And by the way, we've also recently started a new Sunday morning sermon series on: The I Am Statements of Jesus Christ. Our first sermon came from the gospel of John where Jesus said: "I am the bread of life". The sermon was titled: "Jesus All I Need". We looked at the Miracle, the Motive and the Meat. Finally, let me encourage EVERYONE to join us for prayer each Tuesday night from 6:30PM until 7:00PM. Have a glorious night in The LORD. Agape, S.J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

A Fantastic Time in Flagstaff Arizona

How grateful to The LORD Jesus Christ I am for the blessed honor and privilege of teaching God's Word in Flagstaff Arizona this past weekend. On Saturday past, I was asked to teach teachers about teaching The Word of God. The district moderator, Rev. L.D. Marion Jr. invited me down to share with persons in his district during their second annual conference. I had a wonderful time with the warm, witty and wonderful people of the "Northern District". Thank you Jesus for the opportunity. Thank you Saints of the Northern District. And special thanks to all of your for staying with me the entire three hours. May you teach and preach God's Word with clarity, conviction and power. Safe in CHRIST, Sherman J. Fort

In Step With The Savior

"I know the plans I have for you ... a future ...." Jeremiah 29:11 This verse is often quoted in full and used by Saints around the world for this reason and that- in terms of application. For me, right now I am reminded that the plan, process and purpose of God has never changed. The LORD desires only good things for His children. It is His desire that we would live life to the full. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church is entering another time of transition and change. It is more than comforting to know that God's plans for us are "good". As we meet to discuss the management and movement necessary to help us to the ministry (work of the church); that The LORD has called us to I am confident that "He who has begun a good work in us will complete it". (Philippians Chapter 1) We are all assured that through the Scriptures that God is faithful. He will do what He says He will do. Take heart. Trust The LORD. Rely on Him, rest on Him, relax in Him, be revived by Him! He will do just what He said! agape, sherman j. fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

Preaching That Looks Up!

"Preaching That Looks Up". This is the theme for this year's E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference. Angela and I along with Gail Nettles, the W.O.W. (Women of Worth); ministry leader at Canaan are all attending the E.K. Bailey International Expository Preaching Conference and the S.T.A.N.D. (Sisters Touching, Agreeing and Networking with Dignity); National Women's Conference respectively. It's the third day of the Conference(s); that is to say it is Wednesday morning and already we've heard dynamic preaching and had opportunity to attend mini-conferences and workshops. The preachers thus far have included: Matt Chandler, HB Charles Jr., Steve Lawson, Jerry Carter, Bryan Lorrits and A.B. Sutton. Yet to speak are this years living legend honoree, Dr. Harry S. Wright, Claybon Lea Jr., John Adolph, Maurice Watson and Marcus Cosby. On the ladies side speakers include: Roszalyn Akins, Michelle Briscoe, Shenikwa Cager, Stephanie Carter, Patricia Hunter, Gwendolyn Boyd, Cokiesha Robinson, Donna Skell, Jill Waggoner and Sheila Bailey. Needless to say we have already been blessed in a special way through the preaching and teaching of God's Word! All that shared, in addition to the preaching and teaching I rented a car for a day, Sis. Fort, Sis. Nettles and I went on a tour of a few churches. Those churches are: Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dr Tony Evans, senior pastor; Friendship West Baptist Church, Dr. Fredrick D. Haynes III, senior pastor; Concord Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Bryan Carter, senior pastor and Inspiring Body of Christ Church, Rev. Ricky Rush, senior pastor. Besides a completely unexpected, unwarranted, unnecessary and uncouth encounter with a sister at the church commonly known as IBOC- the tours were WONDERFUL! Please continue to keep us in prayer as The LORD continues to speak to us in great ways. Peace, Pastor Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

WE MADE IT TO DALLAS!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! Anela and I made it to Dallas safe and sound. The plane left a little late. It was completely full. We experienced minimal turbulence. We met a brother from the Congo, Africa. We checked into our room at the Fairmont Hotel. We did a brief walk through of the hotel and First Baptist Church Dallas' lobby. We've gone on two walks and shared a meal together. We're now on our way to meet Pastor Welton and Sis. Teresa Pleasant in the lobby. I spoke with my cousin who lives in Rowlett Texas. I hope to have some time between classes and worship service to fellowship with him and his wife. I want to say I especially thank our God for the men of CMBC (Bro. Ben Richardson and Bro. Greg Powell in-particular for going to my house this morning and fixing a flat tire on our Toyota Camry. Kiara was able to drive to church after the repair. Thank you brothers! agape, sherman j. fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

Another Busy Week in The LORD!

This blog should likely have preceded the one I just wrote? Nevertheless, I want to communicate again the need for Biblical balance and holy harmony in my life and yours. It's far too easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of busyness that is America. Like you, I too find myself going from event to event, meeting to meeting, Bible study to Bible study, worship service to worship service, hospital visit to in-home visitation, ... and on and on it goes. Keep in mind the above list does not take into account family matters, to include: Caring in every way for your spouse and children- not to mention all it takes to maintain the homes we live in? The Bible records on more than one occasion that our Savior and God Jesus Christ got away, alone, to pray. I know that in addition to paying attention to living a healthier lifestyle where diet and exercise are concerned, I also need to spend more quality time with The LORD in prayer! This is part of the regimen necessary for my Spiritual health and well being. On that note, I want to thank our God for allowing me to teach last Wednesday for my dear friend and brother Pastor Michael Collier and the Saints at Divine Word Ministries Church in Mesa Arizona. I wish to thank our God again for allowing me the privilege of declaring His Word at another church last Friday in Phoenix Arizona in connection with a Pastor Installation service. I was also busy this week praying with and for Saints who are sick and/or shut-in. Let's remember to keep one another in prayer ... today ... and always. Prayer (to The One True and Living God); works! Agape, Sherman J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

On Our Way To Dallas!

Sis. Angela Fort and I are in the airport. We just made our way through the parking structure, checking in at the USAIRWAYS Kisok and Security. We're now seated and waiting to baord our flight to Dallas Texas to attend the E.K. Bailey International Conference on Expository Preaching and the S.T.A.N.D. Women's Conference. The airport is pretty busy. I am not in the habit traveling on Sunday morning. The crowd here at Sky Harbor International Airport is significant. Please pray for us. Pray that our flights will be safe. Pray that our stay at the Fairmont hotel and the conferences already mentioned will be rich with The Word of God and Christian fellowship. Pray that everyone who attends these conferences are blessed by our God and made better. Pray for each facilitator and speaker that our God uses them for His glory and our good. peace, sherman fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

Busy in Ministry and More!

Let's all remember to keep first things first. I, like you am very busy with just the normal day to day challenges of life and ministry. Between Friday and Monday, LORD willing, I will perform one wedding, two funerals as well as preach on Sunday morning. I just read in the news that Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his wife Cookie have just launched their own television network called: Aspire. Check them out at: http://www.aspire.tv/ The network will focus on African American, family friendly broadcasting. Let's all remember to relax and prioritize faith, family and fellowship. Agape, pastor fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!

Last night I was the guest preacher at the 19th pastoral appreciation service for the Reverend Juan M. Brown Sr. at the Progressive Baptist Church in Mesa Arizona. Thank you Pastor Brown for the opportunity to preach The gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you Progressive Church family for allowing me to come. safe in CHRIST, pastor fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

THANK YOU LORD FOR THE PREACHING OF PASTOR MILTON PLEASANT!

This past Sunday I was asked to participate in the 37th Church Anniversary service at South Mountain Baptist Church in Phoenix Arizona, Rev. Troy C. Allen, pastor. The guest preacher for the occasion was Rev. Milton Pleasant, founder/pastor of Abundant Life Baptist Church in Phoenix Arizona. Both Pastor Allen and Pastor Pleasant are past members of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church where I currently serve as senior minister. I want to thank our GOD for the preaching ministry of Pastor Milton Pleasant. He preached a sermon titled: The Power of Partnership from Hebrews chapter ten. It was a helpful and practical message. Thank you Pastor Pleasant. Thank you JESUS CHRIST. agape, s j fort

LOVE, MERCY, GRACE AND JUSTICE!

Matthew 18:1-10 (New Living Translation) About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.[b] 10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. Matthew 19:13 & 14 (New Living Translation) One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. The verdict was just announced in the trial of Gerald Arthur (also known as "Jerry") Sandusky, a former assistant coach at State College (affectionately known as Penn State); in Pennsylvania. Mr. Sandusky was originally facing 52 counts connected to sexual abuse. I believe the judge dismissed 4 counts. When the jury went to deliberate the number of counts against Mr. Sandusky was 48. Minutes ago the verdict came down. Mr. Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of the 48 charges for sexual crimes against children. God loves us one and all! In fact, The LORD loves us all the same ... faults, failures and sins included. That said, God is also a just God and all of us would do well to remember this fact. Consider the verses of Scripture provided above- in context along with the rest of The Holy Bible ... and let's make a fresh commitment to love The LORD our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength- and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Remember Jesus Christ had a special place in His heart for children! Let's pray for all of the victims in this case- and every case like it around the world. Pray for the Sandusky family too. Victims are there as well. Agape, Pastor Fort, Servant of JESUS CHRIST

Let us Pray!

The southern baptist convention just made Pastor Fred Luter president of their convention. The republican party has a Mormon as their parties nominee- supported I might add by people who identify themselves as Christians. President Obama has voiced his approval for same-sex marriage. agape, sherman j. fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

TREMENDOUS! GREAT! PRACTICAL!

These are the words I choose to describe the teaching (or leading) of Deacon Emerson Turner (as the special guest facilitator) for the Men's Conference at Berean Bible Church this morning. Berean Bible church is led by my dear friend and brother Rev. Fredrick L. Fairley Sr. Today marked the Men's Conference at Berean and tomorrow (Father's Day 2012); the Men's Annual Day at Berean. Deacon Emerson Turner has participated in the Men's weekend/Annual Day several times at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernadino California, where Fredrick's father, the inimitable Rev. Dr. Robert L. Fairley Sr. serves as pastor. While I was asked to serve as part of a penel during a Q & A session, I always intended to attend the event in support of both Pastor Fairley and Deacon Turner (the Church Administrator at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church). I was blessed in ways beyond measure by being there this morning. Deacon Turner's presentation was thoughtful, thorough and just excellent. He was (as always); well prepared. His presentation was Biblical, CHRIST-centered and designed with the purpose of helping Berean grow a men's ministry. I am better because of attending the conference today. Thank you Pastor Fairley for your vision withe the M.O.B. (Men of Berean). All praise, glory and honor go to The LORD JESUS CHRIST. Happy Father's Day 2012 to ALL father's. agape, pastor fort

THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERTYHING UNDER HEAVEN!

Ecclesiastes 3 New King James Version (NKJV) Everything Has Its Time To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. A season of change and transition is in the air at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. This change is not just physical, it is Spiritual. The change is not personal and corporate. It is a change I, for one am excited about! The transition of Saints from earth to glory is also going on at CMBC ... and around the world. Just this morning the mother of Sis. Natalia Woods transitioned from earth to glory. While we are always joy-filled to think of spending eternity with The LORD Jesus Christ, it is nevertheless (for most); an anxiety filled thought when we contemplate the "moment" of death. May our God continue to help us to grow up in Him to the point where more and more of us are no longer bothered by the thought (the shadow); of death. May the joy of Jesus and spending eternity with God and believers from all generations so move us that the very thought of death simply disappears. agape, pastor fort, servant of Jesus Christ

SUMMER TUTORING AND VBS AT CMBC!

I thank our God for the Saints at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. As you all know summer is upon us. And the heat is on in more than one way at Canaan. Sis. Eileen Conway, an award winning, bachelor and master degree holding, teacher and teacher trainer in the public square is supplying a Summer Tutoring Academy at Canaan for the next five weeks. Students from Pre-K through seventh grade can receive one on one help with their academics. The program is designed to place special focus on mathematics, reading and writing. Sis. Conway promises that the children will "exceed" and "excel" if they stick to the program. Our hope is to prepare our children to not just "C" their way through school and life, but to excel ... be the best student they can be. Thank you Sis. Conway! In addition V.B.S. (Vacation Bible School) kicked of at Canaan last night. This is our first year having V.B.S. in the evening. Last night was AWESOME!!! In the first night we exceeded the number of persons who registered. Whatever else is apparent when we host VBS is the fact that we need MORE SPACE!!! Thank you to ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS!!! You all are awesome! By the way, last night's color was red. Tonight's color is blue. agape, pastor fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

ELOY ARIZONA- CONGRATULATIONS PASTOR AND SIS. PAYNE!

Congratulations to Pastor Charles Payne and his beautiful bride Sis. Payne on 15 years of Christian service to our God and His people at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Eloy Arizona. This past Sunday, Pastor Payne honored the members of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and I when he asked us to come to Eloy and help them celebrate their anniversary. The service was wonderful! Worshipping with the other Pastors from the Coolidge, Casa Grande, Eloy, Florence and surrounding areas was great. The members of Canaan who went are still talking about the experience. Special thanks to the members of the CMBC Male Chorus who went with me and sang for The LORD! Thank you for the opportunity to preach Pastor Payne. May our God continue to bless and keep Pastor and Sis. Payne and the Mount Zion M.B.C. family. agape, pastor fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

Worship At Canaan Tomorrow!

I am back home. It was a real joy to return home and find all well with my family. To God be the glory for all He did for me while in revival this week. I am looking forward to worship tomorrow at Canaan. I pray we all have a great day of worship. To the Canaan family remember we are scheduled to worship with Mt. Zion M.B.C. in Eloy Arizona tomorrow afternoon. Look for specifics in tomorrow's bulletin. agape, pastor fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

SABBATH!

Tonight is the last night of the revival here in Flagstaff. Again I repeat that Pastor LD Marion Jr. and the members of First Baptist Church have been so very kind and generous to me. For this I am grateful. This morning I had breakfast with a young man who is a full time missionary to the students at Northern Arizona University. He and his young family along with a team of others are committed to sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ with the college students on the campus of N.A.U. It was interesting to talk with my new friend Art. Interesting in that the ministry is committed specifically to winning young, college-age people to The LORD. Statistics indicate that the majority (over 75%) of people who come to faith in Christ do so before the age of 25. Art and the ministry he works with have identified a target audience for them and they are committed to reaching that specific target group. Please join me in praying that our God will continue to use them for His glory and the good of others. As Art and I shared and as I continue to marvel in the beauty of Flagstaff and northern Arizona in-particular I am reminded that I (yea all of us); need to prioritize rest. In fact I received a text from a member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church where I serve as pastor yesterday. This sister encouraged me then to be sure and get some rest. As my wonderful wife Angela and I continue to work at spending quality time together- both with one another and our children, let me encourage all of my fellow believers to carve out time for your families and YOURSELF also. God wants us to get adequate rest. In this way we can recharge and be revived not just spiritually but physically. A physically healthy and rested Christian can better serve The LORD. Here's to real, righteous rest. Agape, S. J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST