Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, November 23, 1995, Image 16

Augusta focus., November 23, 1995, Page 16, Image 16

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Newspaper Page Text16 November 23,1995 AUGUSTA FOCUS Fairfax,Virginia school board votes to ban controversial tape Sex, Lies and the Truth FALLS CHURCH, VA The Fairfax County School board has voted to ban a sex education video that critics said painted minoritiesin a poorlight and presented questionable med ical information. By a 9-2 vote Thursday night, the board reversed an earlier decision to give teachers a choice whether or not to use Sex, Lies and the Truth. The video was produced by a Christian organization to pro mote abstinence from sex, but critics said it was racially offen sive and inaccurate. Ralph A. Miles, the at-large board member who proposed the ban, said the video contained el ements offensive tothe people he represents. “I don’t know why it’s got to be a race card,” said Miles, who is black. “I didn’t even hear of the race card untilthe O.J. (Simpson) Renowned pastor releases inspirational live recordings Carlton Pearson, world-re nowned pastor and founder of the Tulsa, Oklahoma Higher Di mensions Evangelistic Center, is a man of God with a mission. With the 1995 Azusa Conference, an event held in the Mabee Cen ter on the campus of the Oral Roberts University, Pearson con tinues to break down barriers with powerful worship experi ence. “I believe part of my God-or dained purpose is to bridge gaps between nations, denominations, cultures and generations,” he says. Itbecomes clear thatthisis exactly how God is using him in the audio and video recordings of the final night of the Azusa Con ference, Carlton Pearson, Live at Azusa. Pearson is widely recognized for his dynamic preaching and evangelism. His emphasis in ministry is for those who seek God in a special way, with all races worshipping together on Earth as it will be in heaven. Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 623 Crawford Avenue Augusta, Georgia 30904 Rev. Larry W. Hudson, Sr. Pastor : Office: (706) 736-4060 | Sunday Wednesday 9:30 Sunday School 7:00 Bible Study 11:00 Worship Service Williams Memorial &/ C.M.E. Church A Reyv. Alex R. King 1630 Fifteenth St. Augusta, GA 30901 (706) 733-9430 Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m. ¢ Ist Sunday Evening 6:30 p.m. Wed: Praise Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Thurs: Senior Services 10:00 a.m. Day Care Center: 6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m. BROADCAST HOUR (WRDW 1480 AM) e s s ey, | trial. But why is it such a horri ble thing to play now when there are other people in the country who have been playing it for 200 years.” Critics of the video, including a group of minority parents, ob jected toablack teen-age mother being shown giggling while tell ing an interviewer that her boy friend is in prison, and a Hispan ic youth displaying a cavalier attitude about sexual health. In a room packed with par ents, some bearing signs reading “Keep Sex, Lies and the Truth,” citizens spoke both for and against the video. “The biggest concern is that it’s set in a carnival-like atmo sphere,” said Joyce Parkin, who has children in first and fifth grade in the Fairfax County pub licschools. “Itis sleazy and seamy and gives the impression that Carlton Pearson, Live at Azusa captures the spirit of this mes sage, a recorded event that dis plays the power of God at work across racial and generational boundaries. The heart of this recording is the “Old Songs Medley,” a poi gnant, moving retelling of the history of the Pentecostal black church. “These are the influenc es on me as a child,” Pearson says. “There’s a combination of the civil rights nostalgia and the church’s profound impact dur ing that important period. The church helped buttress and buoy us through those difficult times.” The live audience responded audibly during the taping to the power of the medley. “We reach back and touch our mothers and grandmothers,” Pearson ex plains. “There were a lot of older people weeping because the songs brought back so many memo ries.” Pearson’s mother Lillie joined him to sing within the medley on a thrilling arrange Spirit Church News sex is a dirty, dark and danger ous thing.” Elodie Murray, a black mother with a child in the 11th grade and anotheralready out of school, said she doesn’t agree that the video is racially offensive and used the scene with the giggling teen to illustrate why. “The three young girls talking is in no way critical of African Americans,” she said. “Itshows a girl showing the millstone effect on her life of choosing to ignore sexual abstinence.” The Colorado group that pro duced the tape, Focus on the Family, held a news conference in Fairfax on Wednesdayto drum up support for the video. Focus on the Family says the video is an alternative to more permissive messages students may hear in their sexual educa tion classes. ment of “I Get Joy.” For young believers, Pearson thinks it isimportant for them to experience events such as the worship at Azusa. “These events give our young people a histori cal appreciation of a profound event in American history,” he says. “In my opinion, it will have the same effect on them as going through a museum that has im portant, life-changing memories of the past.” Pearson believes strongly in the medium of music to convey the Gospel message to the youth oftoday. “The word ‘music’ comes from the word ‘muse,” which means to think,” he explains. “Amuse’ is the opposite, to stop thinking. We're dealing with a generation that wants to be amused. They don’t want to think, to face and ponder reality because it’s difficult to handle. Bonafide music, especially Christ-centered and anointed music, gets into the deepest re cesses of your soul and makes ][ &ﬂ) ernac ]1 © Baptist Church Dr. C.S. Hamilton, Minister 1223 Laney-Walker Blvd. Augusta, Ga. 30901 Church School 9:30 A.M. * Morning Worship 11 A.M. Broadcast Hour (WTHB 1550) * Nursery, Kindergarten Open + Bible Study-Tues. 6 P.M. Prayer Mecting Tues. 7 P.M. Dai?;f Kindergarten Services 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. We Invite You To BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Sam Davis, pastor 1434 POPLAR STREET AUGUSTA, GEORGIA 30901 TELEPHONE: (706) 724-1086 Sunday Services at 7:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 7:30 p.m. Baptist Training Union (8.T.U.) at 6:00 p.m. Sunday Sunday School at 9:30 Sunday morning Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday Prayer Service at 11:00 Saturday morning Thirty-five Christian Ministries All Services Are Bible-based and Holy Spirit-led Texas ministers call for Galvesion County Daily News hoycott { GALVESTON, TX | Two groups of ministers repre | senting predominantly black | churches are seeking a boycott ' against The Galveston County } Daily News, saying the paper | has slanted coverage of city gov { ernment because the city man | ager is black. | Daily News Editor and Pub | lisher Dolph Tillotson denied any | racial motivation in the paper’s ‘l coverage of city manager Doug | Matthews. | “The issues here are not black | and white, but green,” Tillotson | said. “They are financial. The | Daily News has been monitoring ' and reporting on the handling of | public funds because it dramati ; cally affects the lives of our read ers.” | “We have applied the same | standard in covering his office ' that we apply to all public offi i cials,” he said. | Tillotson says mismanagement | of city money has resulted in " losses of more than $lO million you confront, very responsibly, the reality that cannot be avoid ed. In that you find truth, and that truth sets you free.” Along with the anointed sing ing of Carlton Pearson himself, other highlights include “In the Arms of Jesus,” featuring the distinctive voice of Daryl Coley; and the infectious “Take It By Force,” with vocal powerhouse Karen Clark. Backing Pearson isthe 100-voice Azusa Mass Choir under the leadership of songwriter/musical director Alvin Fruga. Carlton Pearson, Live at Azusa is a vibrant, Holy Spirit-inspired expression of the freedom we all have in Christ Jesus. It is a freedom that has no cultural, racial or generational bound aries. The audio and video re cordings of this event give all a chance to experience that free dom. For more information, contact Demetrus Alexander at (615) 214-1410. by most estimates. The two groups, each repre senting about 25 churches, be gan their requests for a boycott following a Sunday editorial that asked for Matthews to resign or be fired because of the allega tions of misuse of city funds. “We are asking everyone to THE AMEN CORNER : Special Events ; B Elim Baptist Church’s, 2359 Mt. Auburn Ave., Clothing Ministry is in operation. Items will be available on Thursdays. For information on donations of clothing or if you know of someone who | isin need, contact Mrs. Annie Walker at (706) 736-3209. The church : will have its Annual Men’s Day on Sunday, November 26, at 11:00} a.m. Guest speaker will be the Honorable Judge Carl Brown. The | theme will be “Getting Christian Men Involved.” The Young Men Youth Night will take place that same day at 6:00 p.m. Guest| speaker will be Mr. Dennis Williams. Everyone is cordially invited. | Rev. Charles E. Smith is pastor. | B Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1260 Wrightsboro Road, | will hold a Men’s and Women’s Demonstration Day Service on | Sunday, November 26, at 11:00 a.m. Guest speaker will be Attorney | Alva S. Baker of Atlanta, GA. Deacon Chance Lewis Jr. and Sister | Sarah Jennings will be Master and Mistress of Ceremonies. Special % music will be provided by F. H. Hart Male Chorus and Sanctuary | Choir. Rev. Clyde Hill Sr. is pastor. ! B Historic Springfield Baptist Church will hold a Men’s | Breakfast on Saturday, November 25, at 9:30 a.m. Mr. Richard | Sanders will be the speaker. Men’s Day Worship will take place on : Sunday, November 26, at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Reginald Copeland, pastor | of St. Mark United Methodist Church, will bring the message. Both | evetits will be attended by the One-in-a-Million organization. Ev- | eryone is welcome. l B The New Exodus Church Family will celebrate its Ninth ‘ Church Anniversary on Sunday, November 26, at 3:00 p.m. A joyous ! spiritual program has been planned. Guest speaker will be Rev. | Richard Peoples from the Faith Outreach Ministry in Hephzibah, | GA. Rev. S. W. Berry is pastor. f l B The Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1692 Old_§ ~Savannah Rd., will be hosting the trial sermon of Deacon Karlton Howard on Sunday, November 26, at 4:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to aftend. Rev. Lessel Leonard is pastor. s it 7 i {f . £ Worship With Us B Second Baptist Church, 425 Hampton Ave. NW, Aiken, SC§# will provide early morning worship services every Sunday at 8:00 tg 9:30 a.m. The public is invited and dress is casual. B Ty-Us Together Faith Church Center, 213 Eula Heleng Street, Gloverville, SC, will hold Sunday worship services at 8:00 £ 9:30a.m. and 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. The publicis invited to come as theys are. Minister Nathaniel Tyus is pastor. ? FOCUS your religious news or special announcements in the Amen Corner. Call 724-7855 or fax 724-6969. P Lo il 0 "*‘ | ¥ oty b biial fath | jﬁi . I Would Like To Welcome You To Faith Christian t L Church ...Where %)u'_r main purpose is to educate the believ ers of thé’;CSRA in the principles of faith, in their authority as a believer, and who they are in Christ. Come to experience the life-changing power of the Word of God and learn how to live victoriously in Christ. . Pastor Curtis A. Merriweather Faith Christian Church - m ;s 1880 Alabama Road ey W Augusta, Georgia <L 2 722-8665 ; i Sunday Worship Service 11 a.m. cancel their subscription and not;; advertise in their newspaper,s said the Rev. Kerry Tillmon, pasy; tor of West Point Baptist Church and president of the Baptist Min 4; isters’ Association of Galveston. That group is joined in the proi test by Baptist Ministers’ Associg ation of the Mainland BAHA'] FAITH Uniting Mankind One Heart at a Time Watch Baha'i TV programs on social and contemporary issues: “SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION" ' WAGT TV-26 (NBC) Sundays at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 863-9498.