Category Archives: Church

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Check Out My Pics From the 98th Hampton University Ministers’ Conference!

 

Hello World,

If you read my last post, you know that in a span of two weeks, I’ve driven up to Nashville, Tennessee for the 33rd Annual Christian Women’s Retreat, spoken at Central Christian Church’s 11th Annual Women’s Prayer Breakfast in the A and flew up to Hampton, Virginia for the 98th Hampton University Ministers’ Conference! But I took it all one day at a time like the old saints advise, and I’ve had a fabulous time!

Since this was my first time attending the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference and visiting Hampton University, one of the illustrious HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), I took lots of pics to chronicle my journey…Share my journey in pics below…and tell me what you think 🙂

Obviously, a Hampton University banner…The school was established in 1868 and is still here today!

The reason I was in Hampton…

I was blessed to be a part of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference Bookstore, which was sponsored by Urban Ministries Inc.

My books in the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference Bookstore…

The obligatory me and my books shot 🙂

A conference attendee checking out my book! I promise she was already checking it out before I asked if I could take the pic…And she bought the book too  🙂

Ministers enjoying the bookstore…

Many of  the conference attendees (including me) stayed on campus during our time at the conference…I was assigned to Twitchell Hall…This brought me back to my 552 Creswell Hall days at UGA…Loved dorm living back then…but now, not so much…

This was the view from Twitchell Hall…Wow!

I was told this is the home of Dr. William R. Harvey, Hampton University president…This home was literally just a few steps from Twitchell Hall..Ere ah..I bet he keeps a very close eye on students since he lives right in the center of the dorms…LOL…

I just adore old buildings, and Hampton has many buildings that appear to be decades old…I believe this is the dining hall…

A girl had to eat! The dining hall…again…brought me back to my UGA days…

And just like my UGA days…A bruh will make himself known…LOL…This bruh told me he pledged in the ’50s! He was there for the 78th Annual Choir Directors’ & Organists’ Guild Workshop which is held in conjunction with the ministers’ conference…It was the best singing I’ve heard in my whole life…

Now, if I met a bruh, you know I had to meet a soror! This is Soror Rev. Evelyn Harvey White Spurlock (who made sure to apply her red lipstick before I took her photo)! She proclaimed she is a 1938 graduate of Hampton (then Hampton Institute) and will be 98 years old this month! And she didn’t start preaching until 1992! She retired in 1979 after teaching 43 years in public education…How inspiring!

There was a wonderful display of flags from different countries across from the dining hall…Do you know the names of all of the countries?

Of course, I had to highlight Jamaica’s flag…

Another view of the flag display so that you can see more of the beautiful campus…

Of course I had to take a picture of the campus church…I love the message…TGIF!

The church’s magnificent clock tower…

My artistic shot of the clock tower…

Another view of the church…Behind the vendor area is the HU Convocation Center where most of the festivities for the conference were held…

Inside the Convocation Center..Just to give you an idea of how many people were at the conference…This photo was taken at the Tuesday evening worship service…Again, one of the best praise and worship experiences I’ve ever had…

A view of the choir and ministers…

I’ve never seen this before…Every time this woman got excited in the worship service, this woman started waving flags…and she never hit anyone with them…A creative way to praise the Lord!!!

And if you needed accessories for your praise and worship, you could find them here…Lap cloths anyone?

And you could get your accessories personally embroidered…

More wares…

Good shopping…

Okay, I could post more photos, but you’ve probably had enough at this point…so here is my last photo of the beauty on Hampton University’s campus…I hope to go to this conference again…

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

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The Black Church: Where Women Pray and Men Prey (New Book Alert)

Hello World,

I’m always on the hunt for the next new and interesting book! And y’all, by the title alone, this book is sure to get some buzz….Based on her inflammatory blog post  The Black Church: How Black Churches Keep African American Women Single and Lonely (which had the blogosphere blowing up) dating expert Deborrah Cooper has penned a new book “The Black Church: Where Women Pray and Men Prey.”

In her original blog post, Cooper asserted that good black men were not likely to be in church, and in fact, if you did happen upon a black man in church, he would fit into one of these categories:

  1. A loser working a 12-step program. These guys are in church looking for structure and something to believe in besides themselves, because they are weak and confused. They need help getting their lives back on track and are seeking solace and comfort in church. If they can hook up with a woman looking desperately for a church-going man of any ilk, they’ve got it made.
  2. Openly or in the closet gay men, neither of which is interested in marrying. Some gay men are wrestling with severe guilt and confusion about their desires, which they hope to pray away. Others are openly gay and attend church seeking acceptance from a community which turns its nose up at homosexuality; they are also seeking forgiveness for their sins. Whatever may be this guy’s issue, he is emotionally and psychologically unavailable.
  3. Opportunistic players on the prowl. Every player I know goes to a couple of different churches… some of them go quite regularly. They have easy pickings amongst the hundreds of horny, lonely single women that will cook and give them free meals and satisfy his sexual urges (though these players have no intention of marrying and committing to anyone). Since sex amongst unmarried singles is a sin, it is easy for him to gain the assurance of the women that they keep things secret and not speak of their “transgression” lest they feel the wrath of the Pastor. This secrecy makes it easy for him to hide the fact that he is bed hopping with four or five single ladies, right under their respective noses.
  4. Elderly reformed players. These guys have played themselves so hard and so long, they’re worn out. Their old butts finally realized that the end may be near and playtime is over. Worried about dying alone, they bring their behinds back to church to find a “good Christian woman” for marriage. Essentially they are looking for a free nursemaid and bed warmer… someone to provide comfort and take care of their old broken down a$$@s before they die.

I felt some kind of way about her blog post and wrote about it here so I’m not sure what to make of her new book. But I’ve got to admit, Ms. Cooper knows how to get a reaction! That’s for sure! Below are a few of the points Cooper says she will address in her new book:

    • Why the majority of black women in church will hear nothing but false promises made by false prophets
    • The real reason there are few single black males of marriageable quality in black churches
    • How to take charge of your financial future and spirituality without ever setting foot in a church again
    • How biblical scriptures are cleverly twisted to manipulate your thoughts and behaviors with guilt and shame

 The book will debut this month, according to her website Surviving Dating. Will you read it?

Any thoughts?

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HOSANNA FOREVER!!! – Easter Day 2012…

Hello World,

This Eastern morn, nothing captures my jubilation more than Kirk Franklin’s rocking praise song “Hosanna.” Below is a video of him and his choir tearing this song up! He is definitely one of the greatest performers in today’s gospel music! And if you want to sing along, the lyrics are below! Tell somebody today what the Lord has done for you!!! He is my savior, best friend, healer, provider and my everything….

 

 

The angels bow down at the thought of You
The darkness gives way to the light for You
The price that you paid gives us life brand New
Hosanna forever we worship You
Hosanna forever we worship You [2x]

For you are the joy that my soul longs for
The lamb that was slain for my sins and the One I adore
King of kings, Ruler of everything
Hosanna forever we worship You
Hosanna forever we worship You [2x]

For your patience and kindness
And favor and mercy
And honor and glory
Because you are worthy
We can’t live without You
We can’t breathe without You
We can’t sing without You
Hosanna Hosanna

No greater love in this world but You
No one can compare to the things You do
Wherever You go I will follow You
Hosanna forever we worship You
Hosanna forever we worship You

Someday every tongue shall confess Your name
This house made of clay soon shall pass away
Whatever the test You will bring us through

Hosanna forever we worship You [4x]

Hosanna forever
Hosanna forever and ever and ever
Hosanna
We praise You
Hosanna forever and ever and ever

Hosanna forever
Hosanna forever and ever and ever
Hosanna forever
Hosanna forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever
Hosanna forever

Any thoughts?