Newspaper Page Text
14
August 22, 1996
Greene Street Preshyterian expands mission
Responding to the needs of the
downtown community, Greene
Street Presbyterian Church is
attempting to expand its mis
sion. A small congregation of no
more than 50 active members,
this church sees growing needs
in the downtown area and, in
spite of its small size, it is taking
steps to address those needs. A
new contemporary worship ser
vice begins on Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.
Also in September, the church
will offer an after-school care
program. The worship service is
aimed at Augusta-area residents
who aren’t comfortable with tra
ditional worship, but who are
More than S2O million in public, private
funds available to burned churches
COLUMBIA, S.C.
(AP) More than S2O million in
public and private fundsis avail
able to churches that have been
burned and want to rebuild, says
Andrew Cuomo, assistant secre
tary of the U.S. Housing and
Urban Development Depart
ment.
“Qur burned-out churches have
become shameful monuments
that show what we can be at our
worst,” Cuomo said Saturday.
“Together, we will build new
monuments that will show what
we can do at our best.”
The day-long workshop was the
first of several planned by the
Some SCLC chapters challenge leadership
ATLANTA
(AP) Louisiana is one of nine chap
tersofthe Southern Christian Lead
ership Conference accusing the
group’s national office of catering to
corporate donors, misusing mem
ber dues and ignoring the needs of
the black community.
Hundreds ofthe disgruntled mem
bers are coming to Atlanta Aug. 27
to spotlight their allegations at
SCLC’s Atlanta headquarters, said
David Preston, president of the Fort
Walton Beach, Fla., chapter.
“We have paid dues to the national
office, and we have receipts and
checks to sustain what we are say
ing,” Preston said. “Yet we have not
received charters, membershipcards
or anything from the national office.
g;s!rl:igdiculous thatyou can'tget any
ing done in this association.”
“It’s probably time for new blood to
come in,” said the Rev. John Moore
Williams Memorial
" C.M.E. Church
Rev. 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.
][ &fl) (& II“M&L(CH@
Baptist Church
Dr. C.S. Hamilton, Minister
1223 Laney-Walker Bivd.
Augusta, Ga. 30901
Church School 9:30 A.M. * Morning Worship 11
AM. Broadcast Hour gWT HB 1550) * Nursery,
Kindergarten Open ¢ Bible Study-Tues. 6 P.M.
Prayer N%ccting Tues. 7 P.M.* Daif;' Kindergarten
Services 7 AM. to 5 P.M.
AUGUSTA FOCUS
looking for a Christian experi
ence. The after-school program
will offer a sheltered environ
ment for children between school
dismissal and the time parents
arrive home from work.
Ted Dennis, pastor, says most
folks who know anything about
Presbyterians or other main-line
Protestant churches will be sur
prised at the relaxed but up-beat
format for the new services. “Ev
eryone’sinvited, no matter what
your current or previous church
affiliation. This will be exciting
and uplifting.”
Pastor Dennis also indicated
that the key to being able to ad
National Rebuilding Taskforce.
The group is made up of officials
from HUD, the Justice Depart
ment, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the Na
tional Council of Churches and
the Congress of National Black
Churches.
Many churches have been
burned in recent years across
the Southeast. Some of those at
predominantly black churches
have been linked to the Ku Klux
Klan.
“If the intent of the arson was
to divide people, this seminar
and all of the many diverse
groups participating will show
ofthe SCLC’s New Orleans chapter.
But the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery,
national president of the SCLC, dis
missed theallegationsassourgrapes
from chapter members who didn’t
meet the organization’s require
ments. He said he was unaware of
the protest plans.
“These people are dishonest and
some oftheir accusations are entire
ly off-base,” Lowery said. “You al
ways have people who will picket
aboutanything. Ifthese people were
interested in protecting black folks’
rights, they ought to be working in
their communities. They don’t have
to be affiliated with the SCLC todo
that.”
The organization, which met last
week in Detroit, is doing well and
won't be distracted by individuals
pressingtheirownagendas, Lowery
said.
But Moore charged that the SCLC
Spil‘it Church News
dress needs is to get people more
involved in ministry. “We’re com
munity-oriented, and we are con
vinced serving the needs of the
people who struggle and live all
around us is the best way that
we can use the gifts that God has
given us. We believe there are
plenty of folks looking for an op
portunity to make a difference.
Well, here’s the opportunity.”
Even though Augusta’s popu
lation has shifted from the urban
center to the suburbs, there re
mains significant work tobedone
here. Greene Street Presbyteri
an Church hasalways ministered
to needs in the community
that it had the opposite effect —
it didn’t pull us apart; it brought
us together,” Cuomo said.
HUD will guarantee $lO mil
lion in private-sector loans to
churches, mosques, synagogues or
other nonprofit organizations to
finance rebuilding of facilities
damaged by arson or terrorism.
Organizations seeking assistance
must first ask a bank or other
financial institution for a loan.
More than $8 million in grants
and in-kind donations are avail
able through the Burned Church
es Fund, and $2 million more in
below-market-rate loans has
been promised by the nonprofit
is not dealing with the issues of
homelessness, drug abuse and pov
erty within the black community.
“In essence, they are complacent.
They’renotdoing anything,”hesaid.
Corporate donors, and not mem
bers, dictate the interests of the
group’s national office, Moore said.
“In a sense, it’s like sleeping’
with the enemy and we’re out to
bring attention to that,” he said.
“They arereceiving donationsthat
are making them beholden to cor
porations more sothan theyare to
the people.”
Moore would not name the cor
porations.
Chapters involved in the dis
puteincludethoseinFlorida, Ten
nessee, North Carolina, Louisi
ana, South Carolina, Mississippi,
Alabama and New Mexico, Moore
said.
Raymond Fauntroy, president
Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church -
623 Crawford Avenue
Augusta, Georgia 30904
Rev. Larry W. Hudson, Sr. Pastor
Office: (706) 736-4060
Sunday
9:30 Sunday School
11:00 Worship Service
We Invite You To
BEULAH GROVE
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.) at6:oo 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
through services like the Soup
Kitchen, or in cooperation with
Greater Augusta Presbyterian
Ministries (GAP) through sum
mer day camps for underprivi
leged children; feeding youthful
offenders atthe Richmond Coun
ty Resource Center; distributing
food, clothing and financial aid;
and through providing home re
pairs and wheel chair ramp con
struction for the home-bound.
New programs will supplement
ongoing activities, and are ex
pected to give rise to even more
opportunities for service in the
name of Jesus Christ as the con
gregation grows.
Enterprise Foundation.
Habitat for Humanity and Men
nonite Disaster Services are vol
unteeringlabor and technical help,
and some members of the Ameri
can Institute of Architects are of
fering design and planning assis
tance.
Although the reported damage
to churches by arson between
1993 and 1996 is only around
sll million, officials say the
ample money will offer churches
a chance to expand.
“We don’t want to merely re
place these churches,” Cuomo
said. “We want to build bigger,
better churches.”
of the Miami chapter, said
Lowery’s lack of leadership has
caused division withinmany chap
ters.
“(Lowery)can say what he wants
about us; the fact is we have been
effective,” Fauntroy said. “We can
show membership. This would not
be happening if there were not a
lot of people concerned about the
direction of the organization.”
Lowery said he’s willing to dis
cuss the allegations, but none of
the chapters has requested a
meeting.
Preston said he hated to air the
organization’s dirty laundry pub
licly but felt that it was a last
resort.
“We left messages; we called.
They have ignored us,” Preston
said. “We are using the tactics
SCLC taught us to use when you
are ignored.”
Wednesday
7:00 Bible Study
Minister of the Week
ek Minister:
ks iz Reverend Robert L.
™ _ Ramsey
T L ' Church:
o *@?fi : [ Gospel Water Branch.
B b Baptist Church
e Address:
W 703 Fury’s Ferry Rd.
R v Evans, Ga. 30809
"' i ’i: » Phone:
. . (706)860-7091
g & £ » Denomination:
L : 4 Baptist
B Years with Church:
o, Fourteen
Personal Philosophy: “Whatever a person does in this life —
ifitis not donein the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, for the glory
of the true God and Creator, and according to the guidance of the
Holy Spirit—itis invain. And humility is the basic characteristic
to a successful life.”
Church Mission: “It is our commitment to obey our Lord by
practicing a earing, quality and wholistic ministry. A ministry
that involves building God’s kingdom on Earth through witness
ing to the unsaved, teaching the saved, encouraging the discour
aged, strengthening the weak, and helping the needy and disad
vantaged, as exemplified by Jesus Christ who cared for all.”
Education: B.A. in philosophy and religion from Paine College.
Presently studying at Andersonville Baptist Theological Semi
nary and majoring in theology. Pursued other courses of study at
Augusta Center for Bible Study (one-year diploma), American
Baptist Seminary Extension, University Hospital (C.P.E.). .
Goals for the Next 12 Months: Personal — “To improve the
effectivness of my preaching and pastoral skills.” Church — “To
develop a more efficient and effective church evangelism minis
try and tobuild the second phase of our church facility (educationr
al rooms and fellowship hall), and to strengthen our church
families.”
Upcoming Events: Pastor’s banquet, Sept. 14, and pastor’s
14th anniversary, Sept. 15, with Rev. Rosco Perry and First Mt.
Carmel Baptist in charge. :
THE AMEN CORNER
B Macedonia Baptist Church will celebrate its pastor’s h(g:t
anniversary on Sunday, August 25, at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Johtiny
Hatney of Good Hope Baptist Church will be the guest speal‘(!eg
B The Good Shepherd Baptist Church will be holding a revival
from Monday, August 26, through Friday, August 30, beginning‘a—ti:
6:30 p.m. nightly. Dr. C.A.W. Clark will be the guest revivalist. Rfl.i
K.B. Martin will be the guest lecturer.
{
B The Bethel AM.E. Church, 623 Crawford Ave., will beé
holding its annual revival August 26 through 30, beginning at 7:30|
p.m. nightly. The Rev. Dr. Wesley I. Reid will be guest pastor. Rev.|
Larry W. Hudson Sr. is pastor. -
B Coastal Regional Health Consultants, in association with
Transmix Inc., will be hosting an evening of gospel music and giving'
a message of hope to love and care for our fellow man on Friday,|
August 30, at the Living Word Christian Center at 7 p.m. A love|
offering as a donation will go to benefit two in-care homes providing|
housing and health care for H.I.V. patients. k
B White Rock Baptist Church, White Rock Rd. in Lincolnton,
will celebrate the 13th anniversary of the ushers and usherettes on
Sunday, August 25, at 3 p.m. The Rev. Sim E. Murray and the
Jerusalem Baptist Church of Ridge Springs, S.C. will be in charge
of services. Rev. Ray A. Pilgrim is pastor. .
B Hammond Grove Baptist Church in North Augusta will
celebrate its 127th anniversary on Sunday, August 25, at 2:30 p.m.
The Rev. Robert Turner and the Good Samaritan Baptist Church of
Augusta will bg in charge of the services. Dinner will be served and |
the public is invited. Rev. Bobby G. Hankerson is pastor. 1
B Thankful Baptist Church, 302 Walker St., will celebrate its
156th church anniversary on Sunday, August 25, at 3 p.m. The
sermon will be delivered by Rev. C.S. Hamilton, pastor of Tabernacle |
Baptist Church. Rev. Gregory A. Young is pastor. |
B Macedonia Baptist Church, 1828 Wrightsboro Rd., has free
clothing for those in need. The Clothes Closet hours of operation are
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays. For additional information, please
contact Ms. Candy Katz at 737-6834 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday).
B The Local Mosque of the Nation of Islam welcomes Minister
Abdur Bey Muhammad of Miami, Fla. to Augusta’s Belle Terrace
Community Center, 2454 Golden Camp Rd., on Saturday, August
31, at 7 p.m. Minister Bey is a national minister for the Honorable
Louis Farrakhan and was a minister in Monroe, La. for the Honor
able Elijah Muhammad in the ‘6os and ‘7os. He was a pioneer for
Islam in the South and survived a lynching in Louisiana due to his
tremendous faith in his God. He has chosen Augusta, Ga. to release
his new book, Louisiana Lynching: A Modern Day Legacy of an Ex-
Slave, and will be speaking of his experiences in the South, and
signing copies of his book at this historic event. For more informa
tion and interview requests, please reply to Charles Muhammad at
1-800-367-5616.
B Millbrook Baptist, Grace United Methodist and Aiken’s
St. John’s United Methodist Churches will be joining together
to offer an evening of fun, entertainment, learning and spiritual
growth for singles of all ages and stages. The CSRA Singlefest will
be held Saturday, September 7, from 5 - 9 p.m. at the North Augusta
Riverview Park. Participants may join in line dancing, games,
singing, eating, learning and listening to music from local DJ Don
Barclay. Bryan Dickert with WAFJ radio will offer a devotional on
service to God. Cost for the Singlefest is $4 per person with a $lO
maximum charge for a family. Participants are asked tobring a side
dish to share. Paid registration before Friday, August 30, will
qualify individuals for door prizes. For more information or a
registration form, call Grace United Methodist Church at (803) 279-
7525 or visit Grace’s Web site at www.csra.net/!grace/singlfst/.