It’s Half Time!

What’s the Score?

Please be reminded of our theme for 2008-

“Growth in Excellence”

The Greater King David Church Family is growing spiritually and numerically- in membership and financially.

The Presence and Power of the Lord has escalated to higher heights in every service. God is doing a new thing—

“A Greater Thing” at Greater King David!

Deeper revelation of God’s word, the increased anointing He has poured into this shepherd, the purest of praise

of His people, and wondrous worship experiences- collectively have yielded an increase in the Body of Christ by

way of new converts, new members and an increase in giving. Lastly, but certainly not least of all, we have had

immeasurable accounts of receipts of blessings from the Lord, prayers being answered, and spiritual gifts being

revealed.

Administratively and operationally, we have received many compliments on the changes and improvements that

have been implemented year-to-date. For example, our membership intake process has been formalized and

stream-lined for effectiveness, efficiency and accountability. Because of this new process, our members are

promptly notified- of important notices and/or emergency announcements, every member has the opportunity to

have their birthday acknowledged in our weekly bulletins, so that we, as a family, have an opportunity to cele-

brate each other, and record-keeping is made a little easier.

Since the beginning of this year, we have been praying for and striving towards “Excellence in Growth”. We are

pleased to report that we have found that growth is inevitable, when we strive for Excellence in the things of

God- through the study of His word and the practice of His principles.

It is not by chance or accident that our membership is being blessed. We are not only hearing God’s word, we

are practicing the principles which are changing our lives resulting in the abundant blessings of the Lord being

released to us.

God is faithful to His word! Let us move forward into the second half of this year with even greater anticipation

of all that God will do and we reveal, as we do our part and continue to strive for excellence in the things of

God.

“Where do you start,” you ask?

Start with the things you missed the first half of the year.

Page 2

Here’s a checklist:

Sunday Worship Service-

As you all know, we have a very unique

7:00, 8:30. and 11:00am

ministry in that God has anointed me to deliver 3 intricately different messages

every Sunday, which means that those who attend only one service miss the spe-

cial delivery of the other services . One way to determine whether “church was

good” other than calling a friend to ask is to become a supporter of the tape min-

istry with a subscription. If you attend 7:00 service, make a commitment to

purchase the CD for either 8:30 or 11:00 or both. God’s word is a gift that

keeps on giving; after you have benefited, you can be a blessing to someone else,

by passing it along.

Saturday School or Sunday School

Structured and interactive teaching and learning! You can ask questions and dia-

logue with the instructors on the day’s lesson. Which session works best for

you- Saturday or Sunday?

Bible Training Union (B.T.U.)

A concentrated teaching arm of our

Sundays at 5:00pm

ministry. It’s the extra that many miss. Start by sacrificing one Sunday eve-

ning a month .

Prayer Service - Wed. 5:30pm

Perhaps you have the gift of prayer or you need prayer, prayer service is so very

important for the believer. An individual prayer live is critical, but when two or

three are gathered, according to God’s word, He is in the midst. Schedule an

introductory visit to quietly observe. You will not be called on.

New Members Class

8-classes/ weeks to complete . Highly recommended for all new members. De-

veloped with new members in mind to help familiarize them with the doctrine,

history and protocol of our church .

New Members Orientation

Quarterly classes- 4 classes to complete . Highly recommended for all new and

reinstated members, as well as a refresher for existing members.

Bible Class - Wed.

In-depth teaching of God’s word. Two times

12:00 noon or 6:30pm

are offered for your convenience. If neither time is convenient, make a commit-

ment to purchase the CD’s which are available individually if you miss one

class or make a serious commitment of purchasing the annual package.

Television and Radio Broadcast

Support your ministry, by viewing and tuning-in . See your weekly church bul-

letin for times, channels and stations.

Make full use of all of the resources that God is providing for you, through the efforts of many dedicated and capable men and women

of God. Sometimes it’s purely through exposure and participation that God will reveal that which He will have you to do or become a

part of. This is essential for those seeking to identify their purpose. Don’t miss your opportunity to be further blessed, or to be a bless-

ing.

Again, I ask , “What’s the Score” ?

Well, it does not matter that you did not attend all of the services etc., what matters most is whether you are doing your absolute best

and whether you have made life-changes reflecting that which you have learned. If you, like many of us, can not affirmatively say we

did our absolute best the first half of the year, but we do acknowledge that there are some things we can do better- such as applying

God’s principles to our lives- “living the word” - then you are on your way.

Track your progress going forward. Half-time is only a check point, what matters most is where you finish!

Continue to Grow in Excellence!

Pastor John E. Montgomery, II

Page 3

Earlier this month, we celebrated the 4 th of July,

Independence Day in the United States. It is a

federal holiday that commemorates the signing of

the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776,

securing our freedom from Great Britain. Depend-

ing on how patriotic we are, we celebrate the day

EDITOR Wesley Gordon

in various ways: hosting or attending barbeques

and other outings; waving flags and displaying

ASSISTANT EDITOR S Sharon Slan

other patriotic symbols; wearing red, white, and

blue; enjoying fireworks displays; and watching

FEATURE WRITER S Sharon Slan

parades. We sing songs such as “The Star Span-

gled Banner,” our national anthem;

“God bless

America;” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee;” “America the

FEATURE WRITER G Gloria Brooks

Beautiful;” and others.

FEATURE WRITER K Karen Flowers

There is nothing wrong with patriotism in and of

itself. Patriotism is a positive and supportive atti-

tude toward one’s homeland. It implies that the

FEATURE WRITER D Daryl Flowers

interests of the nation take precedence over per-

CREATIVE

sonal or group interests. Christianity goes even

1st Lady Lea Montgomery

CONTRIBUTOR

further. As Christians, we are instructed to love

our neighbor as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18; Mat-

BUSINESS CORDINATOR Gloria Brooks

thew 19:19; and Galatians 5:14), to be concerned

for the interests of others and not just our own in-

terests (Philippians 2:4), to bear one another’s bur-

PROOF READER Helen Jackson

dens (Galatians 6:2), and to esteem others better

than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

PROOF READER Kismas Simmons

Patriotism, however, can get out of hand when it is

taken to extremes. When it is used to exclude cer-

tain groups or certain people, or when our patriotic

GRAPHIC DESIGNER W Wesley Gordon

zeal leads to violence against our neighbor or any-

one who does not share our beliefs, it has crossed

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Roshonda Hanible

the line.

PHOTOGRAPHER W Wesley Gordon

When love of country is placed on par with love for

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we tread on very

PHOTOGRAPHER R Roshonda Hanible

dangerous ground. It is fine to be patriotic and to

SPECIAL PROJECTS

gratefully remember the price paid to secure our

Carolyn Thompson

WRITER

freedom as a nation; but, we owe our all to Jesus

Christ, the One who died to secure our salvation

and to free us from an eternity in hell! Our great-

est loyalty must always be reserved for Him! Re-

member, God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14).

He will NOT give His glory to anyone or anything

(Isaiah 42:8).

Page 5

he Health Care Ministry of Greater King

David Church was reorganized in Feb-

ruary of this year under the direction of

Dr. Stephen Kelley with a purpose of im-

proving the health of members of the

church and the community through educa-

tion and service.

These partners, along with the ministry

Most recently, the ministry organized the

provided health screenings for blood pres-

Health Fair held during the 2008 Family

sure, diabetes, cholesterol, colorectal can-

Day held at the Inner City location. Part-

cer, Hepatitis C, vision and dental care.

ners who participated in the Health Fair

were: Greater King David Saturday Church

According to the chairpersons

(Juanita

School and Sunday School Department,

Spann and Carla Harmon) the ministry is

Dr. Pam Daniel

(Dentist), Dr. Anthony

looking forward to other events scheduled

Decuir (Podiatrist), Dr. Rani Whitfield, Earl

for this year that include: Diabetes Educa-

K. Long Medical Center, Mary Bird Perkins

tion, Stroke and Heart Disease Aware-

Cancer Center, ZLB Plasma, Eye Medical

ness, Breast Cancer Awareness and Pros-

Center, Gulf South Hospice, South Baton

tate Cancer Awareness.

Rouge Rehabilitation Hospital, YWCA of

Greater Baton Rouge (Youth and Teen

The Health Care Ministry meets on the last

Services Department), Family Services of

Thursday of each month at 6:00pm and

Greater Baton Rouge, HAART Foundation,

invites all members of the church who are

Lupus Foundation, Metro Health, Univer-

interested to attend.

sity of Phoenix, Sonny Boy Transportation

Co. and AIHU.

Page 6

s summer seems to race by, we are fast approaching what every parent and youngster

dreads, “Back to School.” It is at this time that we take a serious look at the enrichment of our

children. An old African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Miles Potier is the

epitome of that proverb. With his mentorship program, Brother Potier is a bright ray of hope that

transcends the ever present darkness that threatens our youth.

The moniker “old school” comes to mind with his “hands on” phi-

Enhancement of academic, social, and communication skills are

losophy when dealing with young people and their trials and tribula-

cultivated to aid our youth to battle all of the ills that keep them

tions of everyday living. Blunt, direct, firm and to the point, I have

from achieving success. Areas of etiquette such as table manners,

witnessed Brother Potier’s golden effect on my own son. Truly, he

introductions, greetings, and hygiene are also taught. Critical think-

is exactly what the doctor ordered and then some. Here is where

ing, solving problems through proper choices and being account-

we shall learn what his mentorship program is all about, and I as-

able for their actions are just some of the various objectives that

sure you, every parent should be honored to have their youth ex-

are pursued.

posed to such an inspiring man. However, it should be noted that

he needs as many adults to help share in his dream and participate

Activities that build disciple, self esteem and character, along with

with him.

field trips, help transform the young mind. Recently, an excursion to

the NBA All Star Game was enjoyed by all who were in attendance.

The Greater King David Mentoring Ministry exists to nurture the

Having seen the blue print of success on paper, I can truly say that

development of Christian ability in our youth and young adults. It

this program covers everything that young people face on a day-to-

encourages them to improve the quality of their lives and assists

day basis.

children to become productive citizens and Christians in their com-

munities and homes. This program tackles issues that young peo-

Brother Potier asked the question,” Is your child worth your time?”

ple succumb to like “peer pressure” and “self image.” It is also

In closing, the pledge says , “We the members of the Greater

staffed with some of our finest members in the church who rein-

King David Mentoring Ministry will strive for spiritual excel-

force everything our youth need in order to become better students

lence in our pursuit to be the best God wants us to be. We will

in school.

rise above the challenge with our heads held high. We will

always keep the faith when others say we can’t perform the

The Ministries motto, “If in my mind I can perceive it and in my

task. As long as we keep our eyes on the Ultimate Prize, we

heart I can feet it, then surely through the grace of God, I can attain

will march on because in God, you see, we will have the V-I-C-

it,” is just part of some of the philosophies that are followed.

T-O-R-Y!!”

Page 7

unday, July 6th was the most amazing experience any

young person could ever have. Imagine arriving to a

church 1 hour and a half early for a concert to find HUN-

DREDS of people waiting for the doors to open so they

can experience a Tye Tribbett LIVE in Concert in Baton

Rouge!!

“This concert was truly

an amazingly life chang-

Several local artists (comedian, Van Chew, Ian Von and

the Deluge Band of Bethany) ministered before Tye actu-

ing experience! It's time

ally performed. However nothing could compare to when

" THE MAN " came out on stage. Tye Tribbett ran out from

to STAND OUT !”

the left side of the stage and the energy that he trans-

ferred was so contagious that EVERYONE lost their minds

(not literally, but in that moment it didn't matter who was

sitting next to you when he said "I've Got the Victory")!

People actually believed what they were saying. It's didn't

matter how people starred at you because of your expres-

sions to God... You KNEW that in that moment God re-

ceived it all. Not only were the upbeat songs full of the

energy but the slow songs were ones that ministered to

the deeper parts of the soul which lead him to minister

about what Praise and Worship really is. Is Praise clap-

ping your hands? Is praise waving your hands? Is Worship

a slow song that is sung after a upbeat song? No, Tye

Tribbett shared with us that praise and worship is action ...

it's what you SAY to God to show your appreciation and

how you live your life that let's God know if you are for

real!

Page 8

“ Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and

not to men and women, knowing that whatever good

we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:7

Toni completed her undergraduate studies at Dillard Uni-

versity with a degree in Accounting. She continued her educa-

tion at The University of Phoenix and received a Master’s De-

gree in Business Administration. She was employed in the

New Orleans area for over thirteen years. Her employers in-

cluded East Jefferson Community Health Center, East Jeffer-

son General Hospital with their Physicians Network and

Delgado Community College. The devastation of Hurricane

Katrina resulted in Toni returning to Baton Rouge and she is

currently employed as an Internal Auditor for Southern Univer-

sity Board and System.

This is a favorite scripture of our Member in the Spotlight

Her love for and involvement with the Youth Department at

this month, Toni Patrice Booker. Toni is the daughter of Mr.

Greater King David have been kindled by her hobby and love

and Mrs. Charles Booker. She began attending Greater King

of dance. She is the choreographer for the Liturgical Dancers,

David after hearing an impressive message from Pastor Mont-

chairperson of the Art’s Ministry, a member of the Sisterhood

gomery at her baccalaureate ceremony at Southern University

and Alpha Alpha Christian Sorority. She has also served on

Laboratory School and became a member at King David in

several committees at the church and teaches Liturgical Dance

1990.

at Beech Grove Baptist Church.

When faced with any challenge or moment of decision-

Acknowledging that “ To each is given the manifestation of

making, Toni waits patiently on God for instruction and

guidance.

“ Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for

the Spirit for the Common Good” (1Corinthians 12:7), Toni is

him” ( Ps . 37:7) is the scripture that directs her path. Thus,

actively involved in civic and social organizations which include

she decided to enroll at Dillard University in New Orleans.

She came home on weekends to attend church on a regu-

Diamond Life membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

lar basis.

When unable to attend she sent her tithes.

(Baton Rouge Sigma) of which she is the Financial Secretary.

Toni also attended the Pure Light Baptist Church in New

Orleans where she worked with the Youth Department,

God has abundantly blessed Toni, and he keeps on bless-

Vacation Bible School and Liturgical Dance.

ing. She says that the work of the Holy Spirit is to help us

learn to recognize what God wants us to do, and use our gifts

to go and to serve how and where we are sent. She is a

worker who never meets a stranger, for we are all one Father’s

children.

Page 9

George Daniels a 4 th grader at Bernard Terrace Elementary. George has

been promoted to the 5 th grade and no doubt had a fantastic school year. He re-

ceived the following awards this school year: The Scholastic Award in which

George was an honor roll student the fourth nine week session, The certificate for

good conduct and work habits, the certificate for special academic growth, the

mathematician award, the certificate for outstanding participation in physical edu-

cation. George also won the award for meritorious attendance from the State

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana State Depart-

ment of Education. George’s teacher, Ms. Carbo was inspired by his overall per-

formance. She wrote the following which reflects George’s overall school year, “I

wanted to give you my sincere thanks for all the wonderful teacher appreciation

gifts. I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments as a fourth grade stu-

dent. You are such an intelligent student. You have a great attitude about learn-

ing. I know that with your attitude you will be very successful at whatever you

choose to do in your life. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you this year. Al-

ways remember to believe in yourself. You can do anything if you put your mind to

it. You have been a joy to teach! I will miss your precious smile and your great

sense of humor. I will also miss taking dance lessons from you. I love you and I

will miss you! Have a great summer!!”

Congratulations George, keep up the good work!

Trent Hopkins

passed to the 2 nd grade at

Hosanna Christian Acad-

emy. He finished the 1 st

grade on the “A” Honor

Roll. Trent is also a little

track star. He ran track for

GKD Track Club. Trent

received 4 th place ribbon

for running the 100 meter,

5 th place ribbon for the 200

meter and 1 st and 2 nd

place medals for the long

jump.

Nyah D’yianna-Nicole Fields

is 7 years old and a straight A student

at LaBelle Aire Elementary. She was

promoted to the 2 nd grade.

Page 10

Joseph Newman is a student at

Westdale Middle School Gifted and Tal-

ented Program. He was promoted to the

7 th grade. Joseph is on the A/B Honor

Roll, received the attendance award and

the most improved student in Spanish

award. Joseph passed the Spring 2008

LEAP test receiving achievement levels of

Mastery in Science and Mathematics.

Joseph was also recognized by the Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority as one of the top

students in the sixth grade in the East Ba-

ton Rouge Parish Public Middle School

for his outstanding academic achieve-

ment.

Darrow G. Fields, III is

6 years old and the

brother of Nyah Fields.

He attends LaBelle Aire

Elementary School and

excelled in the following

subjects (Language, so-

cial studies, reading, mu-

sic and Physical Educa-

tion). Darrow was pro-

moted to the 1 st grade.

Kennedia Beardon is a

student at Tanglewood Ele-

Triston Beardon

mentary. She received a

scored advanced in Math

certificate for the 3 rd semes-

and mastery in English/

ter A-B honor roll and she

Language on the 4 th grade

received a certificate A honor

LEAP TEST. He received

roll for the 4 th semester.

a certificate of academic

excellence for the A/B

Honor Roll. Triston will be a

5 th grade student at Central

Intermediate School in

Central, Louisiana.

Page 11

Written by: Keshala B. Jackson

Every year in July the

Cherubim Choir celebrates

Fellowship Weekend!

Today…

A Bit of History…..

Fellowship weekend started ten years ago when there

The Greater King David Cherubim Choir has a vision

were two Cherubim Choirs, one at each location. The

and mission to train children in the ministry of music and

choirs rehearsed separately and sang separately on each

set a foundation of service to God in the hearts of chil-

first Sunday. But, once a year the choirs came together

dren members of Greater King David Baptist Church,

and rehearsed for the first Sunday in July. After the re-

hearsal, the choir would enjoy a fun activity such as skat-

ages 4-13. By building upon an interest in music and

ing, attending a movie together or going out for pizza.

vocal talent, the “GKDCC” prepares children to serve the

church and community using gifts centered on the arts.

In 2003, the choirs joined and became one choir minister-

ing in two locations in following with Pastor Montgomery’s

vision for the church as a whole. The children’s rehears-

The GKDCC strives to uphold Christian values and build

als were combined and alternated locations in following

a music repertoire compiled of Spirit lead, bible-based

with the Adult Choir. The families were encouraged to

song selections.

embrace the change and refocus their efforts to operate

as ONE choir! Learning music together and singing to-

gether on first Sundays, the choir began to grow by leaps

Our Celebration…

and bounds.

This year, the Cherubim Choir held its second Pool

Party and Barbeque at the home of Greg and Alicia

Jones. Bro. and Sis. Jones invited the children back to

their home the day after last year’s fellowship and the

children and parents did NOT forget the invitation.

Bro. Charles Crump spearheaded the grilling and Bro.

Guy Holiday and Sis. Sedonia Williams prepared all the

delicious fixings! The food was scrumptious but that

wasn’t even half of what was in store for the over 170

Page 12

children and family members in attendance. A thirty foot

On Sunday, July 6 th , the children put on their red, white

water slide was a HUGE hit as the children took turns to

and blue jeans and continued the celebration as we

swim in the swimming pool. In addition, parents volun-

sang praises to our savior and paid tribute to our coun-

teered to supervise various games and activities includ-

try! A fun and full weekend was had by all and we need

ing volleyball, horseshoes, water balloon toss, and two

an entire year to rest for the next fellowship!

additional spacewalks for kids who wanted to stay dry.

A surprise was in store for Sis. Jones as the children

The Cherubim Choir would like to thank

and parents presented her with a birthday cake as a

Pastor Montgomery and the Executive

small token of thanks for spending her birthday weekend

Board, Deacon Charles Crump, Bro. Guy

creating a fun outing for the choir. What a beautiful

Holiday, Sis. Sedonia Williams, Bro. Daryl

weekend it was! Even with a 40% chance of rain, the

Robertson and all the parents and grand-

sky was blue and no raindrops spoiled the fun!

parents who volunteered to make the sum-

mer fellowship a huge success.

Several Youth, Young Adult and College Choir members

volunteered to assist the lifeguard as pool monitors and

they even enjoyed their own swim time. The day was

filled with lots of fun, food and fellowship and NO INJU-

A special thank to you Bro. and Sis.

RIES!!! J Most of all, the children and their families

Jones and for your hospitality!

were able to enjoy a safe wholesome environment all

while having FUN!

Page 13

The past several months, I have received various e-mail jokes and comic strips about the high price of gasoline The most amusing one

showed two armored guards tied up, having been robbed. When the police arrived - with weapons drawn - they found that the money

was still in the armored truck, but the gas in the tank had been stolen!!! Fortunately, things are not that bad. Needless to say, in tough

economic times, we must still rely upon the Word of God. It is written,

“. . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5

KJV). Economists make various predictions about how high the price of a gallon of gas will go, but you need not fear their dire predic-

tions for this “battle is not yours, but God’s” (II Chronicles 20:15).

There are, however, a number of things the average individual can do to save on fuel costs. Listed below are 16 tips that should help to

save on gas. This is not an exhaustive list; nor are the tips listed in any priority order.

1. Carpool. In addition to saving gas, carpooling offers interesting conversation and less traffic on the highways. If you drive in ar-

eas with HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicle) lanes, carpooling also helps you to get to your destination quicker.

2. Buy gasoline during the coolest hours of the day. Buying gas in the early morning or late in the evening is best.

3. Remove excess weight from your vehicle. Items such as bicycles, luggage, books, water, etc., in your trunk are excess weight.

They produce aerodynamic drag and reduce fuel economy.

4. Avoid excessive idling. If you are stopping for longer than a minute, turn off the engine. Driving tests performed by consumer

advocates at Edmunds.com revealed a savings potential of 19 percent by just turning off the engine!

5. Plan your trips and combine errands. You avoid retracing your steps. In addition to saving fuel, you also save time.

6. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage as often as possible. Need I say more?

7. Use public transportation. If it is convenient and available, public transportation is probably less expensive than driving. It also

saves wear and tear on your vehicle.

8. Keep your car in shape. Keeping your engine tuned, checking and replacing air filters regularly, keeping tires inflated properly,

and using the recommended grade of motor oil all help to improve gas mileage. Improved gas mileage means fewer trips to the

pump.

9. Drive sensibly. Rapid acceleration, speeding and braking waste gas; therefore, it wastes money.

10. Observe the speed limit. Although each car is slightly different, gas mileage usually decreases considerably at speeds above 60

mph. A fueleconomy.gov article indicated “each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for

gas!!!” (Ouch! This is a hard one for me to swallow!)

11. Use “Cruise Control.” In addition to saving gas, you maintain a constant speed.

12. Don ’ t fly flags on your car. This is a tough one—especially with the start of football season just around the corner! We love to

display our blue and gold—or purple and gold—flags on our vehicles; but they, too, produce aerodynamic drag and lower fuel

economy.

13. Consider walking or biking. For short trips, this not only saves money, but has numerous health benefits also.

14. Do not fill your tank up completely. This one took me by surprise! My father always told us to fill the car up and never let it get

below half full. The Fun and Safe Driving article I researched, however, recommended keeping the vehicle half full. The ration-

ale: a full tank means 50 to 100 pounds more to haul around. (Refer to Number 3 for the disadvantage of hauling around ex-

cess weight.)

15. Buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. If you are in the market for a new vehicle anyway, you will certainly want to consider one that

gets great gas mileage.

16. Lastly, do a little research to find the least expensive gasoline prices. This site ( http://autos.msn.com/everyday/

gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx ) will show you the gas stations with the least expensive gas prices in your zip code area. (I use

this site often, so I can vouch for it.)

Page 15

SEEDTIME AND ABUNDANT

SPIRITUAL HARVEST

“As long as the earth exists seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall

not cease.” Gen. 8:22.

One such Law that so many fail to operate properly in is the Law of “Seedtime and Harvest”.

God has set this law into motion - and if we are going to receive the results promised then we must operate according to

the Law set forth by God.

Law of Sowing and Reaping:

“He that sows little shall reap little; and he which sows generously shall reap also generously.” 2 Corinthians.

9:6

Too many Christians are still trying to reap where they have never sown. Or, they are trying to reap

a generous harvest when they have sown sparingly!

Yet the Word of God clearly states that if we want a continual and generous harvest - then we are

going to have to sow continually and generously despite whatever state we are currently in, and

we will never change our circumstances until we begin to operate according to the Law of sow-

ing and reaping.

The only way that we can possibly hope to see the prosperity (generous harvest) that the Lord

promised - is if we act in accordance with His Word (the spiritual Laws governing creation) and

so the seed necessary to obtain the promised harvest!

The Transfer of Wealth Prophesied in the Bible

The Bible tells us that in these last days leading up to the return of Christ we’ll see an incredible transfer of

wealth from the world into the hands of those who have their minds renewed to the promises of God -

and will stand in faith by doing those things that the Word of God has said will produce the results we

are all looking for!

(Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11)

So I encourage you today. If you have never seen the manifestation of the promised blessings of God in their fullness

regarding supernatural provision and prosperity, take the time to study the scriptures on this subject. Learn the basics of

sowing and reaping and how to operate in the Law of Seedtime and Harvest.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Many of you have heard much of this before. Yet faith does

Not come by having heard - but rather by continual and constant hearing of the Word.

Know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Please study the scriptures on your monthly Prayer Calendar.

Servant of the Most High God,

Rev. Carolyn Foster

Page 16

As young women it is important that the standards we hold for ourselves causes to see that not only is our time valuable, but

WE are valuable. I used to feel bad about setting such high standards when it comes to who I let in and out of my life but I

have learned that when I lower my standards even a little the possibility of me being disappointed are increased. Proverbs

31:10 has always been a verse that I have used as a standard of who I want to become as a woman and how I want others to

see me. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price if far above rubies.”

Does a virtuous woman really exist? Where can you find her and once you find her how do you keep her? God continues to

inspire me through his word and as a result of his revelation of this scripture he has motivated me once again to keep reach-

ing towards him.

Point 1: A Virtuous Woman is worth Finding

Proverbs 31:10 begins with a question: “Who can find a virtuous woman?” This question does not necessarily mean that this

woman is lost. The virtuous woman is not at all lost… she is simply waiting to be discovered. Let’s look at a couple of defini-

tions of “find”: To discover or confirm the truth of (something), to uncover the true nature, identity, of intentions of (Someone).

Have you ever lost something and in the process of searching for it you realized you overlooked it several times before you

“discovered” it was right in front of your face? A virtuous woman… a woman of power and righteousness is one who has to be

discovered. She may appear one way on the outside but if the time is taken to get to know her you will uncover what truly lies

beneath the surface and what lies beneath is the type of virtue that will change the life of the person who seeks deep enough

to find it.

The fact that it says, “who can find” suggests that this woman is sought after. She may be recognized from a distance but the

challenge still remains as to how do I get to her and once I get to her, how do I go about acquiring and retaining her attention.

If you are successful at capturing the attention of this woman you can get her heart…. But you have to know what’s in her

heart in order to capture her attention.

So, the question still remains… “Who can find a virtuous woman?” The description of the woman gives part of the answer, in

order to find her you must seek after that which describes her… virtue. Virtue means, 1) moral excellence, 2) goodness, 3)

righteousness. Ultimately seeking virtue is seeking God!

Point 2: Rubies ain’t got NOTHING on the Virtuous woman!

The second half of the verse moves from locating this woman to explaining why she’s so hard to find … “her price is far above

rubies.” I did a little research on Rubies and the very 1st thing I found was that a “ruby is extremely rare and one of the most

valuable precious gemstones in nature.” A virtuous woman is similar to this in that she is not one that you come into contact

with on a regular basis, but when you do you will recognize the rarity of her kind… her character, integrity, personality…etc.

Page18

ou may have seen Reginald (GKD Camera

She stated, “The Sunday morning my husband

Operator) taping the morning worship services

visited GKD worship service, before Pastor

from the tripod or perhaps observed Brenda

Montgomery’s message ended, Reggie closed

singing songs of praise with the GKD Mass

the Bible and told me, “Babe this is it, let’s go!”

Choir. As GKD Lead Camera Operator (Inner City)

At that point, the spirit of the Lord led the entire

Tape Ministry, Reginald says, “He is blessed to

family to the altar.” The Jackson’s were over-

work in a spiritually filled atmosphere. Utilizing her

whelmed from the response they received from the

soprano voice in the Mass Choir, Brenda ex-

GKD family. Brenda reflected, “As we entered the

pressed how she is also filled with the spirit in

altar to rededicate our lives to Christ, I will al-

song; when praising His holy name.

ways remember the screams of

This is a perfect example of what

“The Sunday morning

joy echoing in my spirit. We knew

happens when the Lord “order your

my husband visited

it was our time.”

steps.”

GKD worship service,

Reginald and Brenda’s daily scrip-

before Pastor Montgom-

Reginald and Brenda Jackson have

ture comes from Philippines 4: 19,

ery’s message ended,

been married for 13 years. Reginald,

“ And my God will supply all your

Reggie closed the Bible

Sr. is a utility locator at Utiliquest.

needs according to His riches in

and told me, “Babe this

Brenda is a paraprofessional with

glory in Christ Jesus.” The children’s

the East Baton Rouge School Sys-

is it, let’s go to the alter!”

favorite scripture is Isaiah 40: 28-31.

tem. They are the parents of two

teens: Reggie, Jr.

(17) attends Broadmoor High

School and Raven (14) is enrolled at Baton Rouge

High School. Both teens are active members of the

In today’s society, there are so many

Youth Adult College Choir and Mass Choir.

obstacles that are targeting the fam-

Brenda’s oldest daughter, Yolanda Blakes, (32) is a

ily unit. The Jackson family is no ex-

senior at Southern University.

ception. However, they are deter-

What inspired the Jackson family to join GKD was

mined to discard any barriers which

revealed in Brenda’s personal testimony. According

to Brenda, she and the kids were frequent visitors

may interfere with their family values

8:30 worship service. They were so intrigued

or morals. In a word: He will supply

with the deliverance of the service, she asked

all of their needs.

Reginald to attend.

Page 19

“The Answer Is In God’s Word” continues our study of the Im-

Monday, August 4 - Matthew 25: 31-46 - Sheep or

ages of Christ as presented in the four Gospels. In the book of Luke

Goats

we see Him as the Master Teacher. In the book of Mark we see

Tuesday, August 5 - James 2;1-4 - Acts of Favoritism

Him as the Powerful Healer. In the book of John we see Him as the

Wednesday, August 6 - James 2:5-7 -

Exemplary Servant; And in the book of Matthew we see him as the

“God’s Favored”

Promised Messiah. What more could we ask from the Father! Hal-

Thursday, August 7 - The Royal Law -

lelujah!!!

James 2:8-11

INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS

Friday, August 8- The Law of Liberty -

James 2:12-17

July 6 - Master Teacher

Saturday, August 9 - Faith and Works - James 2:18-20

July 13 - Powerful Healer

Sunday, August 10 - An Active Faith -

July 20 - Exemplary Servant

James 2:21-26

July 27 - Promised Messiah

Monday, August 11 - The Tongue of the Wise - Proverbs

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

15:1-4

Monday, July 21- The Promise of a Savior - Isaiah 43: 1-7

Tuesday, August 12 - With Greater Strictness - James 3:

Tuesday, July 22 - Who Am I -

1-4

Matthew 16:13-16

Wednesday, August 13 - Taming the Tongue - James

Wednesday, July 23 - Tell No One -

3:5-9

Matthew 16: 17-20

Thursday, August 14 - Purity of One’s Words - James

Thursday, July 24 - Get Behind Me -

3:10-12

Matthew 16: 21-23

Friday, August 15 - Born of Wisdom -

Friday, July 25 - Transfigured -

James 3:13-16

Matthew 17:1-4

Saturday, August 16 - Sown in Peace -

Saturday, July 26 - Acclaimed -

Matthew 17: 1-4

James 3:17-18

Sunday, July 27 - Elijah Has Already Come - Matthew 17: 9-13

Sunday, August 17 - Wise and Pleasant Speech - Prov-

erbs 16:21-24

Monday, July28 - The Full Effect of Endurance - James 1: 1-4

Tuesday, July 29 - Ask in Faith - James 1:5-8

Wednesday, July 30- How to Boast -

James 1:9-11

Thursday, July 31 - Endure Temptation - James 1:12-15

Friday, August 1 - Every Thing Is From God - James 1:16-21

Saturday, August 2 - Blessed In Doing -

James 1:22-27

Sunday, August 3 - How Great Are Your Works - Psalm 92:1-8

Summary Questions

1. How was Jesus’ teaching of the Word different from that of the chief priests and scribes?

Luke 4:32

2. Describe the various ways people came to Christ for healing. What does this tell you about

the Lord’s capacity to heal? Mark 1:32-34, 40-42

3. What did Jesus do after he finished supper? John 13: 4,5

4. What did Peter object to Jesus doing for him? John 13:6-8

5. Who did Peter say that Jesus is? Matthew 16:16

6. How did Jesus respond to Peter’s answer? Matthew 16:17-19