State of The City

With already a great start to the year, I don‘t need to say much.  For a few paragraphs, let’s rattle off a few things that happened in The City—Good Hope Young Adult Ministry in 2009.

Accomplishments

*30+ professions of faith.

*30+ baptisms

*Many new young adult members have joined and are attending our church services, fellowships, and bible studies and more are being added weekly.

*Introduced countless people in the Third Ward Area to the good news that Jesus saves from sin.

*Continued the The Real Word Bible Study – Romans, Ephesians, and parts of Acts were covered this year.

*Continued Good Hope Mission to Cuny Homes

*Building community by building accountability

*The Morning After outreach to Rice, University of Houston, and Texas Southern University.

*Improved our online community to 1000+ young adults from all over the greater Houston Area and the world via Facebook, Twitter, and .

*Started online radio show and blog which serves as a ministry opportunity for young adults.

*Continued C.H.A.O.S. fellowships that are outreaches to the community

*Vastly improved publicity of events particularly word of mouth

*Improved volunteer base of the ministry and church as bonds of disicpleship have begun to form.

*Served our community in many ways including:  serving the homeless population;  volunteering with the Angel Tree ministry;  cleaning our church; cooking for and praying with AIDS patients; volunteering with the Angel Tree Ministry.

*Started the City Council, which provides collegiate leadership to our young adult ministry.

*Provided theological and leadership training to college students as it became available.

*Partnered with young adult leaders on the University of Houston, Rice, and HCC campus to provide gospel-centered teachers focused on making disciples.

*Partnered with ministries and participated in revivals and campus programs that led to conversions.

Thanks Yous  (in no particular order)

Glory, Mac, Steve, Lee-lonn, Kori, Shalonda,  Jamil, CeCe, Tiffany, Troy, Bobby, E-Sol, Ronnie, Dennis, David Dawkins, Chloe Virgil Chad, E-Sol, Bobby, Allona, Robyn, Eric Michael, Joshua Gray, Mekedes, Jasmine, Candis, Zachary, Riz. Lorenzo, Timothy, Nicole, Ashlee, Destiny, Jessica B, , Charles, Robyn, Robert, Pastor Clemons, Sister Mayes, Bro. Chambers, Pastor Cofield.  I’m sure I forgot somebody, but God didn’t J.

Many of you allowed God to work powerfully thru you.  I love and appreciate God’s goodness as He has so wonderfully shown through you!

Improvements to be made

God has blessed us mightly.  Just like with salvation, he blessed us in spite of ourselves.  Some wise guy said, “the biggest room in the house is always the room for improvement.“   In following Pastor’s pronouncement for us to go from “Good to Great,“ there are always ways in which we can use our time, talents, and treasures more effectively.

*We need to be more effective in our prayer life.

*More targeted discipleship between church and young adults.

This year we are doing events that allow us to bridge the generational gap and truly become intentional at discipling people and providing mentorship

*Train and equip more people to do what we do, so that God’s work may be multiplied.

*Hold each other accountable to do God’s work well and not half-step – He didn’t, He gave his very best, his Son!

*Hold each other accountable in our walk and yield to God’s desire for us to live lives worthy of our calling.

Focus for this Year

*This year we will focus on building the people that God is sending.  More one-on-one, more fellowship, and more helping people to understand their faith and share their faith.  (1 Peter 3:15)

*Less time and focus doing programs and more time spent discipling and hanging out.  It is this loosely structured time that makes all the difference in the world in shaping people for their purpose.

*Strengthen our ties to the TSU community.

*Integrating young adults in all ministries of our church particularly our youth and children.

*Continue to develop online radio presence and blog which we feel will get the Good News out about Jesus by any means necessary.

Let’s Partner with God

Again, we have had a great year, not because of all the stuff we have done, but we have all seen visible impact in people’s lives as a result of God working in the midst of us.

Remember our mission as a ministry:

“To reach young adults primarily in the Third Ward Area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to equip those young adults who have accepted Him as Lord with the wisdom that comes through the Word of God.”

God tells us specifically in his word that we ask anything in his name, that means anything that he has ordained for us to do and would bring him glory, he will do honor our request and partner with us.  John 14:14.  Let’s partner with God and get it done.  I love you and I will continue to pray for you.  Pray for me too.

Happy New Year

I know I have been out of commission (visit thecitygoodhope.wordpress.com when you get a chance) but I wanted to wish each and every one of you Happy New Year!  Just remember that parked at the intersection of Justice and Mercy is the cross of Jesus Christ!

Does Jay-Z hate Jesus?

I must be honest, I heard this song and knew the lyrics months ago, but I kind of dismissed them.  I must give props to my brother in the Lord, he didn’t just let the issue linger.  He got right to it and made a passionate defense as to why Jay-Z was wrong.  I had an argument in my mind as to why it really wasn’t that big of a deal until he said something about “taking the glory from Jesus about what he chiefly came to do — which was save.”  He is right — to dismiss the fact that Jesus saves is to take the glory away from Jesus.  In fact, in the book of John, the crucifixion is referred to as his glorification.  (e.g. John 7:39, John 17:1). Jesus goes to the cross in order to atone for the sins of the world, so that anybody who would believe in his work on the cross would be saved.  He is the one and only Savior.  To say or imply otherwise would be to take the credit and glory that is due Him. What do you think?

The Makeover

Kinfolk, some friends of mine from Men After God’s Own Heart and Women of the Word, organizations on the campus of the University of Houston, are having an event tomorrow, November 20, 2009, called the MAKEOVER.  If you have a moment, you need to be in the place.  There will be numerous performances from great acts and a message from Yolanda Burroughs directly afterwards.  Watch the beautiful video above!

Books in Heavy Rotation

Here are some of the books, that I am reading or have been influential in my development.  Maybe you can add some of these to your own library.  Maybe you have an opinion on one of them. Let me know!

ESV Study Bible (English Standard Version)

This is simply the best study bible out there for people who want to not only read verses out of the bible, but to understand the message of the bible and articulate that message to other people.  Lots of great tools have been included to help one’s study of the Bible. (When you get the Bible, read St. Mark’s Gospel, Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,  and Ephesians )

Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley

This biography was such an amazing tale of a man who through the force of his convictions educates himself and becomes one of the strongest orators and thought leaders of the 60s.  Even if you disagree with his politics, his story is fascinating.

Martin Luther King Trilogy by Taylor Branch (Parting the Waters, Pillar of Fire, and On Canaan’s Edge”

This trilogy I still haven’t finished.  But if you are looking for something on the life and times SURROUNDING Dr. King and the players in that era (e.g. Kennedy, Malcolm X) this is series for you.  The author spent almost 20 years of his life putting the information together and its well worth the read.

Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

Piper calls for those of us who are Christian to run after God and get out of boring, safe Christianity, and actually run after Jesus.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

If you are trying to pick up some tools to order your life, there are some here.

Desiring God by John Piper

Piper drops this gem. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”  Please read!

Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams

Mr. Williams spent an inordinate amount of his life tracing the history of the decline of ancient African empires to the modern day neo-colonialism that is Africa’s calling card.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Achebe speaks about a civilization — a way of life — that is killed ironically by “civilization.”  Good book: it gave me perspective.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

I just love anything that Mr. Gladwell writes.  The Tipping Point started the love affair.

21 Indisputable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

John Maxwell writes this great one on leadership.

Slide-ology – The Art of Creating Great Presentations by Nancy Duarte

If you are into making presentations and want to understand the art behind great Powerpoint or Keynote slides, pick this one up for your library.

Vintage Jesus by Marc Driscoll

I haven’t read this one yet, I must confess.  However, I hear it is good for those who want to know about the life of Jesus in highly reader-friendly language.

Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin speaks to the discontent of the Black America in the sixties.  Some of what he writes is still prescient for today and he is at his poetic best in this book.  The Letter of a Birmingham Jail is included.

Get Back in the Closet and Change?

My friend over at GCM watch posted some excerpts from Pastor Terrance Johnson’s sermon  ”Get Back in the Closet and Change.”  Let me know what you think.  Right or wrong?

http://www.gcmwatch.com/3779/houston-pastor-go-back-into-the-closet-and-change

Finding Mr. or Mrs. Right

This was a message given by Pastor Christopher Clemons on finding the mate God has for you.  Many people in the audience were blessed and encouraged by the message.  Hopefully you will be blessed as well.  Have a good day!!!

The Good News Explained

God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely self-sufficient, for his own glory, created the universe, as we know it.  He created space, the stars, the planets, our solar system, the moon, and planet earth.  On planet earth he created animals, plants, landforms, continents, mountains, and every living thing.  His most glorious creation was Man and Woman.  He created everything and then called it good!  (Gen 1).

But our first father Adam, chose to disobey God or “sin”, by not following God’s express command. (Gen 3:6) God’s promise to Adam was that in the day that they disobeyed him that they would be eternally separated from him.  Adam’s sin brought misery and pain into the world.  Much of what you see in the world is a result of Adam’s sin.  Not only did Adam’s sin cause the chaos in which we see, we as his children have inherited his sinful nature.  Although because of Adam’s sin, we have all been condemned, we too have committed sin against God and must pay an eternal price for that sin. Romans (3:23, 5:12, 6:23).  Moreover, the world is suffering from the sinful mistakes of man. (Gen 3:17, Romans 8:23)  Where there was order, there is now chaos.  Where there was harmony, there is now dissonance.  Where there was peace, there is now war.  Where there was life, there is now death.

The big issue revolves around God himself.  God is supremely righteous, holy, and just! (Psalm 145:17)  A just God must reward good and punish evil.  (Romans 1:18) Since the standard is 100% righteousness and we have sinned, even if ever so slightly, without an intervention we are destined punished eternally in hell.  (James 2:10)  Our disobedience towards God has caused Him extreme displeasure. Out of God’s justice he must punish our evil.

Here is the Good News.  Although God is holy and just, out of his mercy and love for us, He sent Jesus the divine Son of God who took on his shoulders the sins of the world and the punishment that went with it. (Romans 5:6, 2 Cor. 5:21)  God punished Jesus, ultimately killing him on the cross for the sins of the world.  This had to happen so that God’s supreme justice could be vindicated and shown to the world. (Romans 3:21-26)  Christianity revolves around this killing of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary right outside of Jerusalem.  Miraculously, Jesus was resurrected from the dead showing the world that he had won victory over his enemies, beat death, and died for the sins of the world.

Those men and women who choose to accept Jesus as their substitutionary sacrifice for their sins and follow Him as Lord will be guaranteed eternal life.  This is the very heart of what it means to be a Christian – confessing our sins and believing in Jesus death, burial, and resurrection for those sins.  (Romans 10:9)

Jesus in redeeming humanity also will ultimately redeem the rest of creation.  Jesus is coming back and will rule on this earth with his followers as part of the glorious kingdom of God.  Things will be different, there will not be suffering, war, or poverty, but everything will be set a right. (Isaiah 11)  Those who place their faith will rule and reign with him forever. (Rev. 5:9-10)

Long but Good Week…

It has been a great week, I saw people come to Jesus for the first time and people come to know him in a new and more glorious way.  For the past 6 months I have seen dozens of young adults come to Jesus.  Scores of people are engaging their friends and their family about the once-dead, now-risen King who is coming back to rule and reign with His people.  People of many ethnicities, including African-Americans, Nigerians, Laotians, Ethiopians, Muslims, Chinese, Caucasians, and the like have been exposed to the good news concerning this man, Jesus.  Rich communities of mutual understanding and love have formed around the leadership of Jesus.  I would venture to say I’ve seen following Christ at its purest — loving God and loving people.  God is definitely afoot and I can’t wait to see His next move!

Congratulations to my friend David Dawkins who preached his first “official” sermon.  (He’s been preaching forever though!)

God Makes His Haters His Elevators Pt. 2

God Makes His Haters His Elevators  Pt. 2  (Acts 9)

This is part of our Witness Bible Study Series: God uses Paul, his biggest hater, to advance the message of Jesus to the end of the world.  Can He use you in spite of you?  Click below!