15 SEPTEMBER 2017 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Repentance is Calling Iam proud to be a Black Pastor in this era of history, and to be aligned with so many powerful men and women of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, doing great things here in the Denver Metro com- munity and within the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance (GMDMA). The Black Church has been the source of strength and social gather- ing for countless years. It has birthed many political leaders, scholars, doc- tors, lawyers, activist and Clergy. The Black Church cannot be denied as the backbone of the Black African American Community, and by exten- sion America. During this era the church has a focused on servanthood, with economic and community uplift. There are so many positive things that the Black Church is responsible for producing and effecting in our society. We must also acknowledge the other side of the church, the one in which chauvinism in the pulpit is embraced, patriarchy enforced, and a class sys- tem where sex, money and prestige rules the House of God. This side is directly attributed to a heretical brand of Christianity, born on the southern plantations for the expressed purpose of control and obe- dience of the Negro for generations to come. A particular type of black man was selected to be the messenger from God. These Black Pastors were taught by White Preachers an inferior gospel, one with no power for the “enslaved”, but total obedience to white people and their owners. They were even taught, through scripture, to systematically dismiss, demean, and otherwise bru- talize their women and children as a replica of the pecking order of obedient life on the plantation, and into their own communities. I wish this were a history lesson, but these same issues are in the Black Church today. Some of our brothers and sisters, of the Cloth, have violated the sacred offices of: Pastor, Reverend, Bishop, Minister, Evangelist, Deacon, Trustee, etc., by committing the very same sins we preach/teach against and condemn others for without repen- tance. Tragically, many members that have been hurt, and have broken trust with their church because of these actions and attitudes. When the lead- ers of the Church display a reprobate mind, just what do you think the very communities and church folk, who lis- ten, follow and trust, will begin to do? They will either fall away from the faith or, they begin to emulate that in which they see leadership do. Our integrity, as community leaders, is severely compromised by our inabil- ity to be accountable to our members/ communities. We need a spiritual shift, and it begins with Black Clergy tak- ing responsibility for its wrongs in our communities (past and present), and repenting. It’s not enough that we just repent but we must turn to our first works where we were truly servants to our communities and families who our Lord Jesus Christ himself serves. Revelations 2:5 - "Remember there- fore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent". I raise this issue, not as some- one who has not transgressed, quite the contrary, but one who also real- izes that none of our hands are clean. As Leaders in the Body of Christ, because we are all connected by the Blood, and when one falls, we all fall. Being Ministers of the Gospel, we are accountable and should take collective responsibility by standing together in the healing process. Galatians 6:1 - “Brothers and sis- ters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you may also may be tempted.” NIV It is time for a transparent church, not a hypocritical church, nor a con- demning church, but a transparent church where we begin with exposing ourselves for the sake of the Gospel. While it is true many of us have gone before the throne for forgiveness, and yes God forgave us. However, the peo- ple that have been hurt need to know we want their forgiveness too. It’s going to take courage! You’ll have to push past your EGO, and the enablers who do not want you to look weak in the eyes of man who are benefit- ing from the status quo of sin in the Church. The wounded are many, but God’s redemptive powers are greater and being that he is the repairer of breaches, trust him and your church/ community will be made whole. 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land". My sisters and brothers, just look around you can't help but see the state of our black communities, and that they are in dire need of healing! Poverty, hopelessness and fear are entrenched in our homes, schools and churches. I encourage all of us who claim Christ has called us to leader- ship, to search our hearts to commit to healing in our church/community through repentance. We need to turn from our wicked ways and turn back to being true servants to the Most High God! Serving the “The Least of These”. That is with food, shelter, clothing, while challenging individuals who pro- tect economic systems of oppression and brutality that causes poverty and health disparities. Mathew 25:40 - “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ To my community and my church, New Covenant Christian Church Alpha and Omega Ministries, as Pastor, I repent and ask for forgiveness for those I have hurt, led astray, and offended in my past and present duties as a pas- tor entrusted by Christ with you, his people. In the Office of President of the oldest African American Clergy Civil Rights organization in Colorado, and to anyone that has felt let down, hurt or otherwise disrespected by our organization, the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance (GMDMA), I repent. Please forgive us as we now seek to serve the “Greatest” by serving the “Least” in Colorado. I’ve asked the Lord and I know he heard my prayer of repentance and for forgiveness, I pray you, the Black African American Citizens of Denver Metro Colorado and those who believe they are the “Least of these”, hear the sincerity of this repentance! Amen. By Rev. Dr. Terrence Hughes Terrence Hughes meet our needs. He wants us to quit worrying about tomorrow and trust Him today. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God fed them manna every day. The manna was only good for ONE day. If they tried to gather food for the next day, the manna would spoil. God’s plan was to meet all their needs daily. It’s His plan to meet all our needs daily. God doesn't want you to worry about the things that will happen tomorrow. He wants you to believe that when tomorrow gets here, His provision will be there to help you. If you're worrying over a particular situation today, it's because you haven't truly put it in His hands. It’s time to cast every care on Him. No matter who you are, you'll never overcome worry mentally. You have to put faith and action together. You have to pray and give it to Him. You have to pray and put it in His hands. You have to pray and let it go. The enemies plan to break you down a little at a time. His plan is to weigh you down a little more each day. His plan is for you to worry so much that you think that you can't take it anymore. But the devil is a liar. You can do all things through Christ Jesus. Jesus came to let us know that we don't have to live under all that pressure. He came to let us know that we can trust Him to take care of us today. He is bigger than all our problems. In this world you shall have tribulation… One of the biggest keys to eliminating worry is to put God first. There is something about disobedi- ence that stops your faith. There is something about disobedience that actually causes you to worry more and more. If you're living right and doing right then you know that He will take care of you. Maybe you have some trouble today. I'm telling you that trouble is a sign that something is about to change. In fact, my God is so big that He takes what the devil means to harm me and turns it for good. All things work together for the good. So don’t sweat the small stuff baby. You can stay up all night worrying yourself sick, or you can give it to the Lord. You can carry all your burdens, or you can let Him carry them for you. It’s time to put everything in His hands and don’t sweat the small stuff baby. God says, "Things may not look too good right now. But I am in charge of your life. I have ordered your steps. So don't sweat the situation, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Cast all your cares on Me because I've already worked it out. Maybe you have a court date coming up. I have a Word from the Lord today. He says, "Give it to Me. Put it in My hands. Don't sweat it because I've already worked it out. Don’t sweat the small stuff baby. Maybe you’re in the middle of the biggest storm of your life. But you can pray and He will give you a crazy peace. I'm talking about a peace that no one can explain or understand. Even if I have to have 100 prayer meetings a day, I can pray and trust Him. The enemy has brought a whole lot of trouble into your life so he can steal your peace. But he doesn't know what to do with someone that says, "It's in God's hands, and I will not sweat the small stuff baby. It's all good. He’s already worked it out." The reason you’re so discouraged is because you’re carrying all the burdens yourself. Cast your cares on Him. Start volunteering in your church. A lot of your problems will go away when you start giving back to God. Your mind says that all is lost. But God wants you to know that nothing is impossible with Him. God says to lay aside every weight and burden. We are to run the race with endurance. Quit trippin' and give Him everything that is weighing you down. Quit trippin' and know that He is God all by Himself. Beside Him there is no other. Quit trippin’ and trust Him. If you can praise the Lord in church but go home and worry yourself sick, then you’re not trusting the God that you are praising. If you can praise God in church and wrestle with depression after you get home, then you’re not trusting the God that you say you love. If you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown, then you’re not trusting in the God of your salvation. If you can praise God in church, but still be bitter towards your ex, then you're not trusting in the God you are praising. If you can jump and shout in church, and still have a chip on your shoulder, then you’re not trusting in the God you are praising. If you love the Lord and still go into mood swings, it’s time to put everything in His hands and trust God for new beginnings. Even if I lose it all, I believe He will give me double for my trouble. Just call me Job. I’m coming out of this thing. I’m getting it all back. Don’t sweat the small stuff baby. It’s a new day and a new beginning. I will trust the Lord with all my heart and lean not unto my own understanding. Leonard ... continued from page 13 SERMON It is time for a transparent church, not a hypocritical church