From the Pastor:

We have reached the half-way point of this year and God has not failed us! As you think about that, I'd like to ask you to consider this question "Have you failed God?" If you're honest with yourself, at some point, in some way, we all have, and yet God remains faithful to us!

With that in mind, I ask that we have a singular focus as we, by God's grace, move towards 2024, and that is, FINISH STRONG! Let us be stronger in our work, worship, and witness. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Please know that if you have any ideas or submissions, you can send them to us at info@sweethomembcgary.org.

In Anticipation of Greater,

Rev. Marlon C. Mack, Sr., Senior Pastor

Sweet Home Community News - June 2023

Upcoming Events

*Sweet Home Corporate Prayer

Date: Sunday, June 4th, 2023

Time: 10:30am (in-person)

*Sweet Home Youth Day

Date: Sunday, June 11th, 2023

*Pastor's 15th Anniversary

Guests: Rev. Michael L. Miles, Sr. of City of Grace Church, Canton, OH (11am)

Rev. Curtis Lee of Gethsemane MBC, Gary, IN (3pm)

Date: Sunday, June 25th, 2023

Time: 11am & 3pm

*Pastor's 15th Anniversary

Guest: Rev. Chester L. Jones of New Macedonia MBC, Gary, IN

Date: Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Time: 7pm

*Men's Ministry meets every 2nd and 4th Sunday @ 9:30am.

*S.A.S.S.Y. meets every 3rd Sunday @ 10am.

*Happy Birthday to all of our June birthday members!

Member Spotlight:

Rashawn Johnson

The Member Spotlight for the month of June is Rashawn Johnson!

As we celebrate our youth in the month of June, we are highlighting a young man that is an integral member of the Sweet Home family!

Rashawn is the drummer of our Music Ministry, actively participates in the youth endeavors that Sweet Home participates in within our Brotherhood District, State Convention, and is always a helping hand to anyone in need. His favorite scripture is the entire book of Revelation because it reminds him that Jesus is coming back. What a statement of commitment concerning his faith walk!

Rashawn is thirteen years old and will be starting the 8th grade in the fall at Highland Christian Academy. He is a member of the school basketball team and was the 7th grade representative during the previous school year. He also plays football for the Crown Point Junior Bulldogs Black Knights.

When Rashawn was asked what keeps him going and gives him strength when storms come in his life, he stated with assurance, "The fact that God does His best work in the dark."

As the interview ended, he had some encouraging words that we can share with others. "Big or small, young or old, God can use you." Absolutely, Rashawn, and He is truly using you!

Ministry Spotlight

This month's Ministry Spotlight is on the Youth Ministry of the Sweet Home MBC. Our Youth Ministry is currently under construction, as well as re-branding. We have been blessed with the addition of Minister Terrell Martin, who will serve as the Minister of Youth Ministries here at Sweet Home. We are excited about what God is going to do with, to, through, and for him as he continues to serve here at The Home.

"ACCESS TO GOD"

In this day and age, we have so much instant access to everything. People’s opinions, suggestions, and criticisms are all within our reach in a manner of seconds. In some cases, this instant access to information can be helpful, but on the other hand it can often be detrimental. The distractions, the resulting impatience, and the need to feel validated by other people all pull us in the opposite direction of where God wants us to be. We end up wondering, "How will other people feel about this?" This is our concern before we even consider for one moment, “How will GOD feel about this?” While it’s ok to use the man-made tools we are given in life, we need to remember what tools God provided FOR life. The Bible is accessible everywhere. It even comes in different translations if you need the Word presented a certain way for your own understanding. Then, you have the Holy Spirit, which is permanently accessible, and should be acknowledged within all of us who proclaim to be Christians. God Himself is fully accessible at all times, and while the response from Him may not be as instantly gratifying as typing a question into Google and getting an immediate result, God’s answers will never be wrong, biased, or misleading. In Matthew 6: 25-34, God reminds us to seek him FIRST for our needs. The next time you need answers or assistance, before reaching for the phone or looking to people, access God.

Sis. Alicia Allen