Pick of the Month
Kevin Davidson "Chapter 1"
No stranger to the Memphis area, Kevin Davidson and his music have
touched our lives for years. He told us we were "Born to Win;"
reminded us to "Count Your Blessings;" and encouraged us to "Fight
On."
As God progresses His people, so He has done with Apostle Davidson.
They have been given a new name - now Kevin Davidson and Dominion -
and embarked on a new project, "Chapter 1."
It may sound clich�, but this project really does have something
for everyone. Already a favorite of many is the uplifting "Wonder."
The down home "My Mind is Made Up" is marked with the hand clapping
and foot stomping of the old church. I think I might have even
heard the wooden floor.
The contemporary proclamation of "So In Love" will touch the soul
of every believer. Of course, it wouldn't be a Kevin Davidson
project though without an anthem of sorts, and I think "I Made It"
fits the bill.
If it sounds like I'm having trouble picking a favorite cut it's
because I am. Plus there's a lot to choose from; there are 20
tracks!
This project - just released in October - will make a great
addition to your music library and is an excellent holiday gift for
the music lover on your list.
Zacchaeus
Hayslett
Contributing Writer
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Welcome!
Once again we have the privilege to greet you in our monthly
Inspirer newsletter.
Take your time and peruse each article because there is a lot of
good information for you and yours. We have tidbits from many areas
of ministry we know you will enjoy. So don't just scroll down to
the end and look at pictures; you will miss out on some very
valuable information.
Always remember, if ever you are in our area, we would love to
have you and your family come by and visit with us.
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Inspiration
Prayer
By Sheneka Bell
Webster's dictionary defines prayer as an address (as a
petition) to God with adoration, confession, supplication, or
thanksgiving. Through prayer, we develop relationship with our
Father. However, as His children, we should understand what prayer
means and how we are to pray. We shouldn't go to God in prayer for
the desires of our heart only, but we should spend time with Him
and allow Him to minister to our souls. During our time of prayer,
we should seek wisdom on how to be effective in the body of
Christ.
Matthew 6:8 says: for your Father knows the things you have
need of before you ask Him. Isn't it awesome to serve a God
that knows your every thought, desire and prayer? Our Father loves
us but we must stay faithful and true to His Word and increase our
faith through prayer.
As children of the Most-High God, we must always pray, giving
ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts
6:4). Wonderful things happen when we pray to our Father: burdens
are lifted, broken hearts are mended and peace is received.
Everything that we need, we can get it from God because He created
us so He knows us better than we know ourselves. You don't have to
pretend with God (praise break).This is why it's very important to
stay connected through prayer.
Psalm 37:4 reminds us to first delight ourselves in the Lord, and
he shall give the desires of your heart. Whatever you need, God has
it! So pray about it. Its okay to ask God for the desires of your
heart, but you must pray His will. We were born for a particular
purpose and fulfilling that purpose comes before those things we
desire in our heart. God loves you and wants you to love Him in
return. Spend time with God in prayer and allow Him to make you a
better you.
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Special Edition
A Gift From God
Greetings Greater Community Temple,
December 5th, 2010 will mark the 20th Annual Pastoral Appreciation
honoring our First Family, Bishop and Mrs. Brandon B. Porter.
Jeremiah 3:15 reads, "And I will give you pastors according to mine
heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." This
year we celebrate a great Pastor that our precious Lord has given
us, thereby authenticating our theme "A Gift From God".
As faithful supporters of our very own shepherd Bishop Porter, GCT
is commissioned to demonstrate just how much we appreciate, value
and respect the selfless service our First Family has continued to
dedicate over the years.
As we embark upon this milestone in our congregation's history,
each member has been asked to participate in our "Heart of Gold
Campaign" by donating a precious gift as a token of our love to our
leader. Members have been asked to share a financial love gift of
$120, $220 or $320 in this year's Appreciation Celebration. This
amount is minuscule in comparison to the service, fellowship and
inspiring messages of hope that our beloved pastor renders
consistently, to feed our faith without fail. We are "his church
family" throughout the entire year. He is a touchable man of God
with a heart of gold, who takes time to meet and fellowship with
everyone he encounters. In addition, let us not forget the blessing
and honor of our First Lady during this wondrous time. First Lady
Porter is equally as loving as she is a compassionate and beautiful
woman of God who sincerely cares about every member of GCT. She is
dedicated to the great commission set in place by God and is driven
to grow broader through ministry, stronger through worship, warmer
through fellowship, and deeper through discipleship. First Lady
Porter is a shining illustration for all women everywhere and men
respectively.
We look forward to your attendance on Sunday, December 5th to
celebrate our wonderful First Family. All members are asked to
attend all three morning worship services: 8 & 10am at the East
location and 12 Noon at the North location.
During Sunday's 6pm evening service, we will be blessed by our
special guests Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, Sr., Jurisdictional Prelate
of Tennessee 4th & the Cathedral of Praise church family.
See you there!
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Money Matters
Has worship
been separated from your praise?
Benjamins, c-notes, loot, dough, bread,
green...are all words we use to describe money. However, when we
think of money and how it relates to praise and worship, it seems
there have been some misconceptions on how they actually work
together.
We all know we praise God for the things He has already done but we
worship Him for who He is. In Psalms 29:2 the Bible says "give unto
the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the
beauty of holiness". Therefore, we should praise Him for making
sure last month's mortgage was paid or we should praise Him because
we had enough food to eat. Some are praising God for the things
He's done but they are still saying; "I've been doing what the song
says "praise Him in advance"; but I'm still broke". If this is your
testimony you should ask yourself one question, "Am I excluding
worship from my praise?"
Worshipping God has nothing to do with money; but
everything to do with who God is. John 4:23 says, "but the hour
cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to
worship him". We should not use worship as an attempt to persuade
God to do the things we want Him to do. It is easy to praise God
for the material things He has given you: a new car, a large house
or an expensive wardrobe but are you using God like He's a genie in
a magic bottle; praising Him only when you want Him to give you
something new; or when you want Him to grant you three wishes? Or
are you treating God like He's an emergency room doctor by asking
Him for things when an emergency arises; "in case of emergency
break open glass"? When you have had a true worship experience, you
move beyond the veil and learn that God is great because He is God
not because of the things He's given you.
Therefore, the next time you praise God, remember to also worship
Him in spirit and in truth. Think of praise and worship like you do
grace and mercy; they are twins who should not be separated at
birth.
Tamara Smith
Contributing Writer
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Health Matters
The Proper
Way to Eat Fruit
We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up
and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important
to know how and when to eat fruit.
What's the correct way to eat fruit?
FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH NOT AFTER A
MEAL!
Eating fruit plays a major role in detoxifying your system,
supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other
activities. Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of
fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the
stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so. In
the meantime, the whole meal rots, ferments and turns to acid. The
minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach
and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.
Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence,
you bloat! This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty
stomach.
Eating fruit whole is better than drinking the juice. When you need
to drink fruit juice, drink only fresh
fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the
cans. Drink it slowly, mouthful by mouthful because you must let it
mix with your saliva before swallowing. Don't drink juice that has
been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at
all, only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins.
If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the
secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal
weight.
Source: http://www.snopes.com/food.warnings/fruit.asp |
Living Single
Perfect
Timing
My December submission is usually about the advantages of being
single during the holiday season and all of the things we can be
thankful for "in the meantime." However, I cannot let this year end
without taking notice of the inundation that 2010 seemed to have of
stories about the plight of single and in particular, Black women
in America.
Early in the year ABC's Nightline did a Face-off entitled "Why
Can't a Successful Black Woman Find a Man?" It sparked conversation
on several talk shows - local and national - and in many social
circles. The reasons varied, but were none that we hadn't heard
before.
Half way through the year Deborrah Cooper, a blogger on
survivingdating.com, wrote an article that turned the spark into
flames!!! The blog was labeled "How Black Churches Keep African
American Women Single and Lonely." Again, the airwaves lit up with
analysis of her submission and the ears of every minister in the US
should have been burning.
The barrage of topics regarding Black women was capped last month
with the release of Tyler Perry's big screen version of Ntozake
Shange's choreopoem "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide
When the Rainbow is Enuf." While every woman could see herself in
at least one of the nine stories, the movie proved to be
controversial. The loudest cry is that, yet again - Black men
looked bad.
I don't have room in this article to expound on each of these
statistic-laden, complex yet simple topics, but I do have advice
for those of us affected by this torrent of media about the plight
of the single Black female from Diary of a Content Black Woman,
"You are great, powerful and mighty spiritual beings with dignity,
direction and purpose!"
God has great things in store for all of us in 2011. Know that His
timing is impeccable and subscribe yourself to the same notion as
Paul when he said in Philippians 4:11 "For I have learned, in
whatever state I am, to be content."
Emma Devine
Contributing Writer |
Outreach
Greater
Community Temple Helps Make the Community
GREATER!
Greater Community Temple has a long standing history of being
active in and supportive of the entire Mid-south community. Bishop
W. L. Porter began GCT in the early 1970s. Many programs were
initiated to provide supplemental resources to those in need of
life essentials: clothing, food, bill payment assistance and
childcare. Bishop Porter's rich legacy has been sustained by his
son and Senior Pastor, Bishop Brandon B. Porter. GCT has partnered
with AmeriChoice and others to bridge the urgent and widening
educational and social gap of those often overlooked or
neglected.
Below are only a few outreach opportunities/events for 2010:
o The Youth Ministry's Annual Hallelujah Fest was open to the
community and provided activities for over 300 children as an
alternative to Halloween.
o During the MY (Music & Youth) Conference, back-to-school
supplies were provided for those in need.
o Birthday Party For Jesus provides toys and holiday cheer for
children at Lebonheur Children's Hospital during the Christmas
season.
o Residents of The Heartfelt Nursing Home received love gifts from
the Missions team during a Valentine's Day party for the
elderly.
o Residents of The MIFA House receive continual visits from the
Missions team for healthy and fun-filled game nights with the
children.
o A partnership with Living Legacy proves to be a day of pampering
(hair, nails, skincare and stress relief) for victims of domestic
violence.
o Laps For Learning, sponsored by the Scholarship Ministry,
promotes healthy living and provides health related literature
(brochures, pamphlets, etc), products (pedometers, daily pill
containers, etc) and services (health screenings and tests) to
participants.
o An Angel Tree houses angel tags that represent families in need
during the holidays and wishes come true during our Annual
Christmas Day service.
o The Singles Ministry's Annual Volleyball Tournament also promotes
healthy living and physical activity.
AmeriChoice is a Managed Care Organization which covers TennCare,
Medicaid and Medicare, with regions in west, middle and east
Tennessee. Their goal is to strengthen the Mid-south, particularly
focusing on the African-American community.
AmeriChoice has contributed approximately $5K annually to various
ministries within GCT in the form of volunteer hours,
collateral/marketing materials and monetary support. AmeriChoice
and GCT wish to continue this prolific partnership and are
motivated to reach the goal of making its community a better place
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Coming Soon!
Monthly Emphasis: Praise & Worship
Psalm 95: 1-3
O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to
the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with
thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the
Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
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GREATER COMMUNITY
TEMPLE'S mission is to impact its community through evangelism,
discipleship in order to change the world. We are committed to
developing the believer in their faith of the Lord Jesus Christ
through the consistent and systematic study of God's word. We exist
to celebrate God's presence, to demonstrate God's love, to
communicate God's word, and to educate God's
people.
Bishop Brandon B.
Porter
Senior
Pastor
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