Newspaper Page Text
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APRIL 3, 1997 AUGUSTA FOCUS
It’s already payback time at Revelation
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Pictured are Rev. Dwight
Webster (I) and Stacy Newkirk
(r) . Mr. Newkirk presented
the first check issued to a
Revelation memberchurchto
Mr. Webster in February.
New religions take hold in Zaire
KINSHASA, Zaire
(AP) Jobs are as scarce as pot
holes are plentiful. The army is
retreating from the rebels, and the
only president most people have
ever known is losing his grip on life
and power. i
Still, preacher Kutino Fernando
had reassuring words for Sunday
worshipers in Zaire. “When Chris
tians pray they can change the
world!” Kutino shouted in French
to some 1,500 Zairians gathered at
his Miracle Center.
Roughly half of Zaire’s 43 million
people are, like their President
Mobutu Sese Seko, Catholic: But
charismaticevangelistslike Kutino,
with his promises of “success, glory
and prosperity,” have become in
creasingly popular as the country
has deteriorated intochaosand civil
war.
“Peoplearelooking for something
sensational, for spectacle,” said
Father Jean-Rene Dimbasi, whose
St. Alphonse Church is one of
Kinshasa’s largest Catholic par
ishes.
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 (BTU) at 6:00 p.m. Sunday
Sunday School at 9:30 Sunday morning
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Wednesdag,aand 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
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AUGUSTA'S GOSPEL ALIVE
Serving the CSRA with
Soul Stirring Gospel Power
AW Daw, Every Day 1!
Rev. Dwight Webster, pastor of
the Christian Unity Baptist Church
of New Orleans, became the recipi
ent ofthefirst revenue check paid to
a member church by the new Rev
elation Corporation of America in
February. :
The check was presented by Stacy
Newkirk, president of Revelation
Auto Insurance, which offers Rev
elation members automobileinsur
ance policiesin cooperation with the
Progressive Insurance Company of
Cleveland, Ohio.
Rev. Webster, who purchased the
policy, received the check on behalf
ofhischurch as part of Revelation’s
unique profit-sharingsystem. From
allrevenuesitearns fromitsinsur
ance sales and the other opportuni
ties offered by its commercial part
ners, Revelation will return 30 per
cent to the appropriate member
“We think that as the economic
and political situation of the coun
try becomes more normal, that will
change. People will feel less need
for spectacle,” he said.
Though evangelical churches
have sprouted across Africa —
which has been a focus of mission
aries and evangelical efforts —they
seem to be especially flourishing in
Zaire’s capital, where many are
turning to them as they face an
uncertain future.
Such churches call on followers
to proclaim the faith, and Zairians
have responded even in Kinshasa’s
commercial districts: shoppers are
welcomed to businesses like the By
the Grace of God Garage, Jehovah
Grocery Store and God is Great
Pharmacy.
Gueda Diop’s faith seems to have
sprung from despair over the state
of her country.
“I’'m not interested in politics,
but I pray for the politicians, be
cause most of them are Satanists,”
said Diop, a 23-year-old seamstress
who converted from Islam to Chris
Spirit
church, and 70 percent will go into
Revelation’snational community de
velopment fund.
Inother words, Rev. Webster prof
ited more than one way from the
transgaction: He got a highly com
petitive rate on the insurance; his
church will be able to make use of
partofthe proceeds, and, in coopera
tion with therevelation’sother part-
How to join Revelation:
It couldn’t be easier to partici
of America. Simplycall 1-800-893-
5555, and you and your church
will receive a member ID number.
Then it’s just a matter of keeping
up with the opportunitiesand sav
ingsthat come your way. Remem
ber, 30 percent of all Revelation
revenues go to the participating
tianity four years ago.
“I believe they are Satanists be
cause they have no pity,” she said.
“If they had Jesus in their hearts,
they would love the people of Zaire
and do something for them.”
Mobutu’s nearly 32-year dicta
torship has reduced most of the
people of mineral-rich Zaire to hope
less poverty.
The president may soon die of
prostate cancer or be forced toshare
power with politicians considered
better able to deal with rebels, who
over the past seven months have
captured much of the eastern third
of the country. Parliament, mean
while, is consumed by bickering
over who should be prime minister,
leavingitunclear whoisleadingthe
country.
Diop, who said her own church
was in another part of town, said
curiosity drew her to Kutino’s
Miracle Center on Easter Sunday.
The crowd gathered on rough
wooden benches and plastic chairs,
ululating and .shouting as Kutino
wandered among them, preaching
Bethel African Methodist
..I. Episcopal Church ..I.
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
ners, he helped further the new
corporation’s revolutionary long
range plan for empowering black
America.
“lam pleased with the servicel'm
getting from Revelation’s auto in
surance agency, and I strongly en
courage my brothers and sisters to
support all of Revelation’s pro
grams,” Rev. Webster said.
church, and the first 10 percent
earnedisautomatically allocated
by Revelation to the senior
minister’s personal pension fund.
Arndyoullhavethesatisfaction
of knowing that every purchase
made by a church member not
only helps to build your church,
but serves to empower African-
Americansthroughoutthe U.S.A.
into a hand-held microphone.
His followers had long since out
grown the church building, so they
were gathered in the courtyard out
front under a canopy of plastic
sheetsemblazoned witha U.N.logo
— apparently salvaged from some
refugee camp.
Some critics accuse Kutino of
being lessinterested in saving souls
than in filling the plastic laundry
baskets circulated at the end of
service in lieu of collection plates.
Kutino spent several months in
jail last year on weapons charges.
He said a stash of guns found in his
home were for his own protection,
but police suspected he was selling
them.
That episode hasn’t lessened the
fervor of Kinshasans drawn to
Kutino’s promises of hope, which
he also broadcasts over his radio
station.
Crutches are nailed to the wall
behind the choir — discarded, wor
shipers assured a reporter, by
cripples healed by ng‘tino. e
Davis guest at
Voorhees centennial
Rev. Sam Davis
Voorhees College will hosted a
Centennial Special “From Tuske
gee to Voorhees” on Thursday,
April 3, at 11 a.m. in Massachu
setts Hall. The speaker for this
occasion was Reverend Sam Davis,
pastor of Beulah Grove Baptist
Church, Augusta, Georgia.
Someoneoncesaid “A good lead
er is not one who is able to do ten
different jobs; but a good leader is
one who is able to get ten men to
do ten johs.” One of those leaders
is Dr. Sam Davis. Currently, Dr.
Davis serves as pastor of Beulah
Grove Baptist Church which has
over 80 active ministries includ
ingtherecovery ministry that con
ducts support and meetings for
alcoholics and other substance
Augusta’s biggest attic sale! Saturday, April §, 8
a.m. until 12 noon at the old Woolworth’s building,
Bth & Broad Streets, downtown Augusta. Adult
clothing $5 a bag, children and baby clothes, $lO a
bag. Also shoes, mink coats, tuxedos & formal wear,
housewares, lighting fixtures, bedding, blankets,
towels, antiques, furniture (beds, water beds, tables,
chairs, mattresses), appliances (dishwashers, stoves,
vacuums), exercise equipment, books and LP
records, stereos, TVs & computers, games, toys,
collectibles, jewelry. Sale benefits St. Paul’s Church
European tour.
5% Tl 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.
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00l o iy
Some called III: ::mm w - B
What do you call Him?
THE BLOOD
THE WHIP
THE NAILS
March 9, 16, 28 (Good Friday),
30 & April 6 at 7 p.m.
Maranatha Christian Center
400 Warren Rd., Augusta
‘Reservations accepted ¢ 860-3011
~ Limited Seating!
FREE ADMISSION!
abusers, Food Pantry and Clothing
Bank, and several others. Under
his leadership over 1,400 members
have been added to the church.
Davis has several academic
achievements. He is a graduate of . .
Voorhees College, Denmark,
South Carolina; Morehouse
School of Religion, Atlanta, Geor
gia; and has received a Doctorate
of Ministry Degree from Colum- -,
bia Theological Seminary, Deca
tur, Georgia. He also has a Basic
Unit of Clinical Pastorial Educa
tion from Fort Gordon Hospital, .
Georgia Regional Hospital and
University.
Davis has served in many posi
tionssuch as president of the Con-'
gress of Christian Education; in
structor at the American Baptist'
Theological Seminary; president
and co-founder of Operation Self-"
Help, Inc.; president and co
founder of the Beulah Grove Com
munity Resource Center, and
many more.
Davisisa man with a God-given
vision and a smile at all times. He
has a slogan he instills in every
one which is “God is Good, All the'
Time!” He is the son of the late’
Rev. James A. Davis and Mrs.
Wiliemena Davis. He is a native of
Barnwell, SC, and is married to
Beverly M. Davis.