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7SEPTEMBER2014BODYOFCHRISTNEWSWesernStatesBaptistConventionPastorFrankDavisZionBaptistChurchDenverColoradoisthePresidentoftheWesternStatesBaptistConvention.The106thAnnualSessionconvenedAugust11-15attheKingBaptistChurchwhereDr.CliffordJonesfromCharlotteNorthCarolinaandDr.BoiseKimballfromHartfordConnecticutwerethespeakers.InadditionmembersengagedinChristianEducationMinistriesEvangelismFellowshipandMissionpro-grams.PastorDavissaysThishasbeenanextremelyenjoyableandinformativetime.WeareanauxiliaryoftheNationalBaptistConventionsUSAInc.whichisthelargestAfricanAmericanreligiousorganizationintheworldrepresenting7.3millionpeoplewhoshareourbeliefs.ThisisacrucialandcriticalyearforournationalworkpointsoutPastorDavissinceitisanelectionyear.Thepresidentialtermisfiveyearswiththeoptionofrunningandbeingelectedforasecondconsecutiveterm.TheWesternStatesBaptistConventionhasbeenblessedforColoradoandWyomingtoagainentertainfouroutofthefivecandidatesrunningforpresidentoftheorganization.InadditiontoAugustsspeakerstherewasapresentationbyJeremyYoungfromMobileAlabamaattheDoubleTreeHotel.Dr.RandyBaumfromFt.ArthurTexashadpreviouslyvisitedDenverinApril.PicturedaboveDr.CliffordJonesCharlotteN.CDr.BoiseKimballHartfordCTTonyaHawkinsdedicatedhertimeenergyandeffortintomakingsureshewasthereforhersonMalikTaylorashewasgrowingup.ShesaysIjustwantedthebestforhimandwantedtogivehimthetoolstobesuccessfulinlife.Iknewthatreadingwasanimpor-tantdoorwaytoagoodeducationandopportunitieslaterinlife.Someoneoncesaidifyouwanttohidesome-thingfromBlackfolksputitinabook.Iwantedhimtoknowwhatwasinthebooks.TonyaexplainsIstartedreadingtohimwhenhewasfouryearsoldandlaterheparticipatedinprogramsatthelibrarywhereifhereadfivebooksforthesummerhewouldgetbaseballticketsorachancetogotoarestau-rant.TheirultimateprizewasmaybeentranceintoElitchsforreadingjust6booksduringthesummer.Ifoundthingsthatwouldmotivatehimtoparticipateandexcelfromthetimehestartedkindergartenandhehasbeenanhonorstudentfromthattimeallthewaythroughhighschool.IdidntmindbeinghischauffertakinghimtobasketballpracticeandotheractivitiesbecauseIknewifhestayedbusywiththerightthingshewouldntbetemptedtodosomeotherthingsthatsomeofhisfriendswereintorelatesTonyaIfoundactivitiesattherecreationcenterthathecouldbeinvolvedinsuchaslearninghowtoskiplaybaseballandbasketballandlearnhowtoswim.Thosepro-gramsareavailablebutweasparentshavetoberesponsibletogetourchil-drenthere.AndIwouldhavedinnerreadyforhimafterbasketballpracticesowecouldspendtimetogether.Hersondidsometimeslistentogangstarapbutshesayshewasneverthetypeofpersonwhowantedtobecomelikethenegativeimagesorfol-lowtheexamplesportrayedbythelyr-ics.Sheallowedhimtochoosehisownmusicnotwantingtotempthimtorebelagainstrulesthatweretoostrict.Sheknewthathewasfocusedanddidnotderivehisattitudesthoughtsandactionsfromthemediaorentertain-mentinfluences.TheirchurchfamilyattheGreaterSt.JohnBaptistChurchhadagoodinflu-enceonhersonslifeashewasgrowingup.TonyasaysThemothersinthechurchwoulddolittlethingsforhimtheywouldgivehimlunchmoneyorgivehimpraiseforhisinvolvementintheChristmasplaysandEasterprograms.Hewasalsoajuniordea-conandwouldreadthescriptureonYouthSundayandheushered.HisGrandmotherClotealBranchwasvicepresidentoftheUsherBoard.ACorrectionsOfficerforfiveyearsTonyaremembersonedayinthechowhallatthemalemaximumsecurityprisonwheresheworked.LookingaroundshesawthatthereweresomanyBlackmenintheprisonpopula-tionsomeoldenoughtobesomeonesgrandfatherordadorsomeonesson.Sheknewshedidnotwanthersontosomedaybeaninmateandthatshewantedhimtobeabletohaveagoodjobortheoptiontoattendcollege.Shesethermindonhersonsfutureandworkedhardandprayedalottomakesurehedidnotgetintoanytrouble.Maliksclosestfriendswerethoseonthebasketballteam.Theirparentswerealsoveryinvolvedinbringingtheirchildrentotheprogram.Ibelievethatwhenparentsareinvolvedintheirchildrenslivestheparentssittogetherandtalkandgettoknoweachotherabitandfeelmorecomfortableknowingtheirkidswillbesafeiftheyarehang-ingoutorcomingtoyourhousefordinnerorspendingthenightoriftheyneedarideforbasketballsaysTonya.TonyasdadisblindsohedidnthavetheopportunitytoparticipateinalotofactivitieswithMalikbutTonyasaysMydadwasaveryproudgrandfather.HewasveryinvolvedbycallingtoaskifMaliksteamhadwonthegameoraskinghowhehadplayedorhowhisdayhadgone.Andmystep-fatherwhoalsoplayedaveryimpor-tantroleinmysonslifehelpedhimwithhishomework.Hewasretiredfromthemilitarysohewasverymat-ter-of-fact.Hewasalwaysverypoliteandtaughtmysongoodmanners.TonyasaysIdidspankMalikforcorrectionwhenhewassmall.Itaughthimearlytoberespectfultomeandothers.Hehasalwaysopenedthedoorformesincehewasagesix.WhenMalikreachedhisteenyearsmyformofdisciplinewastotakethingsaway.SincehelikesbasketballIwouldhavetakenthatawayifhehadnotdonewhathewassupposedtodo.Ihavetakencellphonesawayt.v.soutofhisroomandplaystations.IjokethatIcouldbetherepoladyifthingswerenotdonethewaytheyweresupposedtobedone.IamveryproudofmysonsaysTonyaMalikhasbeenacceptedintoseveralcollegessuchasMorehouseDUCUCSUHarvardandotherssomeofferingscholarships.Hehascho-sentoattendWilliamPennUniversityinIowa.AndallofhisfriendshaveendedupincollegetooRaisinganHonorStudentTESTIMONYBodyofChristNews