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 2419 MARCH 2017 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Syl and the Colorado Gospel Music Academy Hall of Fame Her name goes hand-in-hand with one of the big- gest gospel music events in Denver. Syl Morgan-Smith has proven that Colorado’s Gospel Music Academy and Hall of Fame continues to be the highlight event year after year. This year’s 46th annual gospel celebration took place on Sunday, Feb. 12 and featured singer, song- writer Anita Wilson. She received a Grammy nomina- tion in 2015 for “Best Gospel Album.” “We have never missed having it on the 2nd Sunday in February. And we have been faithful,” said Syl, founder and organizer of the gospel event. She made her mark in the Denver community spreading the news about people of color, especially church news, through radio and local newspapers. “At my very core is doing the will of Jesus Christ and that is what gets me out of bed in the mornings.” Syl credits her former mentor, the late Cosmo Harris, publisher of the Denver Weekly New, for allowing her to do free church advertisements in the newspaper and on radio. She explained, “He would tell me I would run the radio station to the ground and make it broke. And I said no I am not, I will cause it to be lifted up.” After leaving the media scene, Syl still worked with organizations that helped fund projects in the com- munity. The church community wanted to honor her for her dedication and spirit for always doing things for others. It started at Mount Gilliam Baptist Church under the Rev. Acen Phillips as the first event to honor Syl. “All the pastors and people came,” she stated. “I said to myself Lord thank you for this honor, but I want to do some- thing to help those honoring me. Because these people had very little and just enough to get by each day.” She thought about all those who helped her gather news on who died, who was in the hos- pital, helped with prayer time on the radio---these individu- als became her unsung heroes. Syl then turned it around to have the Colorado Gospel Academy and Hall of Fame event to honor the pastor of the year, church of the year, musicians and singers of the year, along with other outstanding individuals in the community serving God. “It’s not easy doing God’s work, but I wanted to encourage people and say although you are not getting paid for what you do, only what you do for Christ will last.” After all these years, Syl shows making the church the center of her life and doing God’s work is extremely important, adding, “I know how to pray and go to the Bible to get answers, and that makes me dangerous.” During this year’s gospel event, one of the first awards went to Sean Daniels from Zion Temple Pentecostal Church. A young man and minister who works for a plumbing company and has five children to support. He’s your average Joe who goes to church and work and takes care of his family, expressed Syl. “I deliberately look for people like that all year long to honor.” Looking back 46 years ago, the very first indi- viduals to be honored by Syl at the Colorado Gospel Academy and Hall of Fame event was Rachel Noel, the first African-American elected to the Denver School board and serve public office in Colorado, as well as Dr. “Daddio” Walker, who started the all black radio station, KDKO, back in the 1980s. This first memorable event took place inside Manuel High School Auditorium. Since then, Syl has held her gospel events at a church. She is about bringing people together in the name of the Lord. “It’s God in me,” she claimed, “People don’t care about how much you know, but how much you care. Jesus said in the Bible depart from me. I don’t know you. But they said Lord I did this and that. And he said but when I was sick, you didn’t visit me. When I was hungry, you didn’t feed me. When I was naked, you didn’t clothe me….” “I learned this at five years old. Any opportunity given to me from God, is given to me to use for his people.” A Family in Need Elaine Tolno was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1991, com- plete renal failure in 2009, and started dialysis in 2010. She is cur- rently receiving dialysis three times a week, four hours a day - this is keeping her alive. At this point, her best chance at long term survival is a Kidney Transplant. Elaine doctors at Presbyterian/ St. Luke’s Medical Center are evaluat- ing her for a trans- plant and she will soon be on the waiting list. Elaine is a loving, caring woman, she had worked for AT&T for 15 years and before that as a cosmetologist for 12 years. She is the 9th child of 23 and took on the responsibility of car- ing for her younger siblings at an early age due to her mother’s death. Elaine has battled health issues and complications for years, but she manages to maintain a good attitude. We are Prayerful that a Kidney Transplant will allow her to fully enjoy her life again. Transplants are life saving, but also financially overwhelming even with insurance. Elaine will be responsible for many out of pocket expenses, including travel to and from the hospital, co - pays, deduct- ibles, lab fees, and the costly anti - rejection medications she will have to take for the rest of her life. All of this present a challenge she cannot meet without your help. To Help with these expenses, a fund- raising campaign in Elaine’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing com- munity based fund- raising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deduct- ible, and held by HelpHOPELive in the Midwest/West Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive tor transplant related expenses only. If you would like to make a Contribution : For credit card con- tributions please call 800-642-8399 or visit helphopelive.org and search for Elaine Tolno or make Check payable to: Note in memo section HelpHOPELive in honor of Elaine Tolno HelpHOPELive 2 Radnor Corporate Center 100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100 Radnor, PA 19087 Thank you, Sincerely, LaWanda Winfield, Elaine’s Daughter 720-276-8681 During this year’s gospel event, one of the first awards went to Sean Daniels from Zion Temple Pentecostal Church. SCRIPTURE dered. The Bible warns, “Charm is deceptive” (Pro. 31:30), and “an enemy multiplies kisses” (Pro. 27:6). Who we marry affects us—and our extended family—for the rest of our lives! It’s wise to consider where the character of the person we date will take us in the years to come. Here’s an illustration: “What is true for storms is also true for people. A few degrees off in character extend- ed over several years can put people in a different state of being from whom we thought they were!” * How does he treat servers, co-work- ers, and his parents? A man of noble character may be rare but worth the wait! Who is the person beneath the charm? 4. He’s lazy. The Scripture says, “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys!” (Proverbs 18:9). How many people have lost their families, careers, and souls through laziness? The parable of the talents called the idle servant “wicked” and “lazy” (Matt. 25:26). These strong words are spoken with good reason… Apathy (indifference, lack of concern, lack of interest, enthusiasm or energy, LAZINESS) damages our character, hinders our growth, and robs God and those with whom we live and work! Those who ignore their responsibilities damage their team’s morale and effec- tiveness. A spouse who is too lethargic (tired, sluggish, LAZY) to invest in his marriage or share the load of rearing children drains the whole family! Sloths are parasites to society and their families! Paul wrote, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat!” (2 Thes. 3:10). And just because a per- son ‘makes the money’ doesn’t exclude him from doing absolutely nothing else! …Laziness often hides behind unreasonable fears and excuses! (Pro. 26:13).** Steer clear of a lazy man! 5. He lacks a growing relationship with God—even if he’s religious. Perhaps the man you’re interested in started attending church with you. Maybe he is active in ministry. But is he hungry to know God? Does He love Jesus and people? Religious activity and a heart for God are not the same! “The Pharisees, who were the pas- tors and Bible teachers of Jesus’ day, were hyper-religious! They also reeked of self-righteousness and lacked the mark of true faith—love for God and people! “The warning in 2 Corinthians 6:14, ‘Do not be yoked together with unbe- lievers. For… what fellowship can light have with darkness?’ deals with a per- son’s essence, not his or her profession of faith! There is a difference between having a religion and enjoying a rela- tionship with Christ!” Don’t marry someone to redeem him! That’s Jesus’ job! Marry someone you respect for who they are now, not for who you hope they will become! Inspired by various expressions from Debbie W. Wilson a contributing writer for Crosswalk.com HUSBANDS ... continued from page 18