August 25th, 2007

This month’s gathering was held in Dr. Wilson Tolbert’s Church, the Berean Baptist Church. There were 60 participants. The meeting began with an opening prayer by Rev. Martha Salazar followed by breakfast and the MEPI video. The MC, Mr. Rogers strongly encouraged the participants to attend the next MEPI pilgrimage. Then a member of their choir sang a rendition of Amazing Grace which uplifted the hearts of everyone.

Dr. Tolbert warmly welcomed everyone to the church. He explained the name “Berean” means friendly. It is the friendly church.

Then the WAIT TEAM sang a song called Hero, encouraging young people to make the right choices in their lives about drugs and sex and followed up with a dance routine based on a song from Mahalia Jackson “ A rose is a always a rose”, reminding young women to value their lives and protect their sexual purity.

He began by saying he always prays about which appointments he will accept. He goes where God leads him. Last year missiles were fired from North Korea. He prayed with his wife and then felt someone should go to Japan to preach the gospel otherwise they (the Japanese) might want to build up their arsenal too. Then Rev. Onishi said he would help Rev. Reddick go to Japan through ACLC. Rev. Reddick went to preach peace in Japan. He pointed out in the Bible, that in Heb. 10:25 it says to assemble yourselves. Assembling is different than gathering together. Assembly produces purpose. You can have bicycle parts gathered together but until you assemble them it is not a bike.

In Psalms 82 it states that unless we feel we have come to attach ourselves to someone else we are pretty much emphasizing what is not important. The focus is on saving animals and trees instead of trying to find cures for people dying from cancer and AIDS.

By working your b___ off, you can become a great leader. Go out and solve the problem. People emphasize the good Samaritan in the Bible. But saving the person wasn’t enough. He should have gone back and fixed the problem (the road). Make it safe so others would not suffer the same fate.

We should focus on marriage and keep the fathers in the homes. Churches suffer because there are no families in the congregation (single parents and divorcees). Strong families create a strong church. If the father isn’t at home the children gravitate to guns and violence. Without family there is no legacy.

We should look for people who are like-minded regardless of the party - those who seek God. Then we should raise the marriage rate (now it is les than 50% because of violence, infidelity as well as divorce.)

After thanking Rev. Reddick for his powerful message, Rev. Barry Geller, the District Chairman for ACLC, presented him with a United Federation of Churches flag, along with two other leaders –Sister Charity Kaloto and Rev. Malachi Roundtree.

Rev. Geller emphasized that these prayer breakfasts are assemblies and not just gatherings. They have a purpose for gathering, that is God.

As closing remarks Rev. Geller proclaimed that we are working for something we can not yet see. He challenged the participants to make a determination to have an assembly next year at Giants Stadium under the banner of “One family Under God.” then ask Rev. Reddick to speak.

The event concluded with a unity prayer led by Rev. Martha Salazar and Sister Charity Kaloto.

See you next month.

Rev. Kathy Sato