14 BOCNEWS.com JUNE 2017 Colorado Pastor who was at Rose Garden Signing of the Johnson Amendment Repeal Speaks Out Beloved in Christ, we are living in a climate of political toxicity. If one happens to view what is loosely called the “news” today, you will see a great divide that separates those of the “right” and those of the “left.” It is extremely rare to discover any middle ground on this political front. We say that we are one nation under God, but it is like we live in two different Americas. Each side is adamant that the other is wrong. America has many enemies on the outside and many from within. Those on the outside like North Korea and Iran have publicly and loudly called for the destruction of our nation and all we stand for. Many on the inside are actively work- ing to undermine the security and institutions that we rely upon for our protection. Let us not forget, that whatever happens to America will affect us all regardless of our political differences. The political rhetoric is so loud today that our senses can be dull and desensitized. Beloved brethren, I was at the Whitehouse dur- ing the National Day of Prayer 2017. Together with key leaders pastors from this nation, we witnessed God’s great work in President Trump and his administration. At the Whitehouse, I witnessed a great amount of prayers ascending before God. The word of God is freely being pro- claimed at the Whitehouse. I met Dr Carson and many of the cabinet members who hold a daily Bible study at the Whitehouse. Worship and the presence of God are all real there. I also got to meet Trump – regardless of what they say, he is a real deal and in my view - a man who is working hard to do good for this nation. I noticed that over and over again, he proclaimed the Word of God from the bottom of his heart. I know without doubts that God is using him mightily and that his sins are forgiv- en and that his salvation is real. Of course, this will not make sense if your source of information is TV but if you allow God to speak to you in prayer, you will find that these things are so. To me, the repeal of the Johnson Amendment is historic and the beginning of a great revival [Reform of our laws to conform to God’s laws] in this nation – I have no doubt that this will create a huge revolution for conservative Christians and for free speech. As I saw this and began to compare to what we hear every day on Television, I came to understand that at the moment TV is no more than a tool that is being used to divide this great nation. Let me ask you a personal question. Are you a Democrat first? Are you a Republican first? Are you an American first? Are you a child of God first? If you say that you are a child of God first and foremost, and that Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, is your Lord and Savior, then you are people of God. If you are people of God, then you cannot separate God from his Holy Word and you cannot separate Jesus from the Word of God because He is the Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My command- ments.” Do you think you can vote for and support a political ideology that pro- motes unrighteousness and allows abortion and same sex marriage and not be held accountable before God since each activity clearly violates the Word of God? As believers, we are to line up with what the Word of God says. We are to be doers of the Word not just hearers of the Word. You cannot claim to be a follower of Jesus and willfully violate His command- ments. Line up with God’s commandments or you will be opposing God. Make no mistake; if we vote for policies that violate God’s command- ments, we oppose God also. Many of those in the courtyard of Pilate went along with the crowd and shouted to crucify Jesus thinking they were doing the right thing. We must learn to think for ourselves based on the commandments of God, because on the day we are judged by Jesus, we will stand by our- selves. We will not be found worthy based on our political affiliation and there will be no TV commentator to offer a defense for our actions. Each of us will be judged according to the stan- dard by which all things will be measured, the Word of God. Political AffiliationWill Not SaveYou Colorado Pr. Christine Coleman, Fr. Andre "Abouna" Mahanna with President Trump on Thursday, May 4, 2017 By Christine Coleman POLITICS Park Hill Academy Learning Center Denver Public schools and other district public schools often have full classrooms where students don’t get that undivided attention they need. But parents and their children have other options when it comes to head- ing back to school in August. Parkhill Academy Learning Center provides that alternative to education – an online curriculum and classroom setting where children can excel. The learning center is located in the former Union Baptist School building at 3200 Dahlia St. Bishop Jerry Demmer is one of the directors of the charter school pro- gram. “I am excited about going into part- nership with Hope Online and mak- ing a difference in the neighborhood that I grew up in back in 1963,” said Bishop Demmer, pastor of Absolute Word Church. “It means a lot to me to be able to reinvest back into our children.” Parkhill Academy Learning Center offers a curriculum for students who are behind in school and can catch up on credits for graduation; students who want that smaller classroom expe- rience to excel; or for those students who want a more rigorous online cur- riculum with instructional support. And as Bishop Demmer explains, he is bringing that Joe Clark element to the school so that students will suc- ceed. “It will be Joe Clark in the hall. I will be walking the halls, making sure there is no disrespect from the stu- dents, no vulgarity going on.” Amena Williams is another director at Parkhill Academy Learning Center and lends her educational expertise. She retired as an administrator from Denver Public schools. Parkhill Academy Learning Center is sponsored by Hope Online chartered by Douglas County Schools that has 26 learning centers across the state of Colorado, she states. “We are a public school, free public education (K -12th grades) and believe we offer a unique approach to educa- tion in that we have a blended model where students access a curriculum online and also offline instruction. Students in kindergarten are online for reading and math about 20 percent of the school day, where students in high school are online for 60 percent of the day.” Of course, Bishop Demmer added he distinguishes between separation of church and state and isn’t bringing religion into the classrooms. Parkhill Academy Learning Center is not a Christian school or tied to any reli- gious organization. However, Bishop Demmer says he still presents a strong religious figure at the school in providing spiritual counseling if a student needs someone to talk to. As he expresses, “A lot of places do not offer that. Where you have clergy on staff that is in the build- ing and we’re not pushing religion on anybody.” “And one thing that is important to know is there are 87 percent African American students enrolled. Only school with that many students out of the 26 Hope Online charter schools with a cross curriculum that deals with multicultures.” Enrollment at Parkhill Academy Learning Center is going on now and classes will start on August 15. To register and get your child enrolled call (303) 993-2502 or email awilliams@ hopelearning.org. COMMUNITY Amena Williams & Bishop Demmer He distinguishes between separation of church and state and isn’t bringing religion into the classrooms. Line up with God’s commandments or you will be opposing God. Make no mistake; if we vote for policies that violate God’s commandments, we oppose God also.