Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 247 MARCH 2017 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Spiritual Examination Recently, I read an interesting essay in Men's Devotional Bible. Examine Your Ways was the title of the composition. Patrick Morley, a men's Bible study teacher and author of sev- eral Christian books, wrote the piece. What intrigued me were these words in his introduction. "The number one shortcoming of man at the close of the twentieth century (as it has been at the close of every century) is that we lead unexamined lives. Most men have not carefully chiseled their life view by a personal search for truth and obedience to God." In addition, I may be wrong, but I believe that there might be some Body of Christ readers who may not know, or fully appre- ciate, the requirement to periodically search their souls. Or, more significant, not under- standing the benefits of self-examination or how to do it. The foregoing knowledge inspired me to pin this article. Of course, my pur- pose is to fill the information void for personal fulfillment. Prayerfully, , this will be useful to both brothers and sis- ters in their walk with Christ. In the process of creating this narra- tive, I did due diligence. For example, I read this in 2 Corinthians 13:5: 11Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about your- selves1 that Jesus Christ is in you? -unless indeed you fail to meet the test." Later, I went to James 1: 23-25. There I found: "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in the mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who considers the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts1 he will be blessed in his doings." Make no mistake1 in these debili- tating, devilish, and turbulent times, we need more than ever before to test ourselves to ensure that we are doing what is prescribed in God's Word. Besides, to do it through meditation and prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit. In other words, to apply what apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6: 3-4: "For if anyone thinks him- self to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." Continuing to comment on self- examination, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own." As an afterthought, while reading this think about what I learned from this quotation from an unnamed source: "When Paul says examine yourself, he is not referring to an out-of-body expe- rience. Yet it could be likened to that. God wants us to stand to one side and look at ourselves, making an honest evaluation of our progress .... " No question, self-testing as a Christian isn't easy by any way or means. Nonetheless, it's something that should be done in compliance with Jesus Christ's admonition in John 14:23: "If anyone loves me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." Keeping it simple, just do it. Pastor & President Terrence Hughes Pastor Terrence Hughes is taking the helm as the newly-elected presi- dent for the Greater Denver Ministerial Alliance. Rev. Hughes is the pastor of New Covenant Church/ Alpha Omega Ministries located in the heart of Five Points, off Washington Street and Park Ave. He came to Colorado 30 years ago and served in the military. Now he is serving God. The short term goal for the Greater Denver Ministerial Alliance is to recon- nect churches, said Rev. Hughes. “I believe there is a gap when it comes to leadership from the churches to those in the community that are unchurched….. We want to be that bridge to the community. Rev. Hughes added that the Ministerial Alliance is open to all reli- gious denominations, which includes both men and women pastors. He already has set up his executive team that includes several women. The Greater Denver Ministerial Alliance meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 2530 N. Washington. For more information you can call 720-233-2419. I am blessed and highly favored to be under the ministry of a Great Leader, Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala. He is an anointed man of God, a prophet and teacher of the word. He has passion for his sheep and he desires that we all succeed in life. His action has inspired me to dream bigger, learn more, and become what God has planned for me. Under his leadership, I have learned not to compromise core values, in matter of style, swim with the current; in matter of principle, stand like a rock. He encourages me to speak the word, because there is power of life and death in my tongue according to proverbs 18:21. Using the word, I have seen my life being transformed, and realized the plan and purpose of God in my life. His teachings bring the reality of God to me. Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe in His Prophets, and you shall prosper.” My success in life would be tailored to the ministry of Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala. In February 2014, during one of our conferences, the Lord through His Prophet, Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala, declared that I shall have and open a Pharmacy Store to His glory. I did not trivialize the prophesy, it became a prayer point in my family. Looking at everything at a human standpoint, I did not see it happening but My Lord God Jehovah says, “is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 and Luke 18:27). Through the LORD’S connection, the prophesy came to pass, and TKS Pharmacy at Green Valley Ranch community was birthed to the glory of God. If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his word,” – Chinese Proverb Ben Walton By Ben Walton, Colone, US Army (Ret.) Terrence Hughes TESTIMONY COMMUNITY