In chapter five of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has an encounter with a man who has an unclean spirit. This person was living in the tombs, which is realm of the dead and those who are social outcasts. Jesus speaks a word to this man and it changes his life. At the end of the story we find the man sitting, “clothed and in his right mind.” To many this is the end of the story.

But, in verse 20 the man who is now “clothed and in his right mind” does a strange thing for people who are recently saved or converted. He undertakes a publicity tour to tell people what Jesus had done for him. The text says “And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed”.This Biblical story raises two concerns relative to what we are trying to do at the Progressive Church. The first concern is the credibility of one’s witness. This man with an unclean spirit is a perfect example of the “before and after” power of Jesus. Before Jesus came along he was demonically possessed and after his encounter with Jesus we find him clothed and in his right mind. The relevant question for our church is whether or not people can see the “before and after” in our lives.

My second concern is what will we do after a “before and after” experience. This man gave a first- person account of his Jesus experience and therefore he became very valuable in advancing the cause of Jesus Christ. We can and should become publicity agents for Jesus Christ because I believe the best publicity is a first person account of what Jesus has done for us.

Progressive, what a wonderful testimony, what a powerful message, and what great publicity we give to Jesus Christ and the church when people see and hear what the Lord has done for us. Please continue helping me make thisPurpose Driven Church! We can do it!

Whether it’s feeding the hungry, clothing the poor or simply lending a helping hand to a soldier in need, the church’s Outreach Mission is there. Leaving the physical boundaries of the church, the self-sustaining ministry of 24 members puts God’s holy plan of ministering to those in need into action.

“We seek out things in the community to do,” said Donece Lewis, who has led the ministry for the past four years. “We are a very cohesive group.” And the ministry’s foundation is built on the word of God. “What makes our ministry so great is that we have Bible studies. We are taught the word of God and how to live his word. It arms us. It gives us the knowledge we need to go out into the community.”

Lewis said many times members of the church aren’t aware of how far the ministry reaches out into the community. Most recently, the group came to the aid of a displaced family whose home had burned in a fire.“We saw on the news where they needed help,” said Lewis. The group gave the family much-need financial support.

Along with helping the community in emergency situations, the organization also participates in annual activities. Each year members of the group donate turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets for needy families. Last year, more than 50 baskets were given away. At Christmas, the ministry supplies toys to children at the Sojourner Truth House for Battered Women. At least $600 worth of toys was donated last year. Members of the group also volunteer for the annual Channel 10/26 fund drive for public television and they support the Long Way Around Banquet that funds college scholarships for African American students.

Believers in the Jerusalem church served one another selflessly as they spent time together. Covenant relationships required quantity and quality time to maintain, both of which were given willingly. Church was not a place to go to on Sunday morning to fulfill a religious duty. It was their community. It involved all aspects of life every day.

Day to day, the disciples devoted themselves to being together. They continually adhered to and dedicated themselves to a life together. That meant they were together at the same time and in the same place. The Greek word translated Church is ekklesia. It comes from two words; ek, which means out of, and klesis, which means a calling. It refers to a people called into assembly. It does not refer to a building but to a particular group of people assembled for a particular purpose. It is the assembly of the saints.

Among the Greeks, it referred to a body of citizens gathered to discuss the affairs of the state. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it designated the gathering of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a gathering regarded as representative of the whole nation. No wonder the Apostles so strongly urged believers to assemble together.

It’s been a little over a year since, the Rev. Rolen Womack, Nazaline Stanciel, Geneva Mathis, and the Rev. Betty Womack, traveled to Senegal and The Gambia.

The Gambia is the birthplace of Alex Haley’s ancestors. We were able to go to the Village of Jufurah, where his ancestors were born and still live today. Although this was a vacation trip, the WINGS ministry took $500 to two hospitals in an effort to address some minor needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

We received a remarkable reception from hospital staff in both locations, but The Gambian government gave us a receipt upon receiving their money and sent a beautiful letter to the church.
We traveled with five other people from around the United States and they were there to receive the gratitude from the African people along with us. Africans are in need of almost everything except an attitude of gratitude.

We can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters in the motherland, especially how to be thankful for our blessings.
Finally, Pastor Womack is very interested in continuing our relationship with The Gambia and is in communication with our new friends on a weekly basis via Internet. He is talking about another working trip in Summer 2007.

Teacher’s Note: These sermons were limited by time and preparation, but not by passion, insight, and thought. I hope that the reader sees the concerns found in each of these sermons and recognizes their significance. These preachers are big thinkers and should be among the voices that we hear in the life of our church. I believe that this newsletter piece gives us ample space to begin the conversation.
Rev. Adam L. Bond

“Stop Black on Black Crime”
by Ronald Ratcliff
I feel that black on black crime is caused by the lack of the education system. I say this because there are more black people killing black people than any other race of people. That is why I believe black persons commit these crimes.“We Need to All Come Together and

“Hoop Dreams”
by Caprice Watkins
Should the NBA draft students out of high school? I think the NBA should keep drafting students out of high school. Why did they make the rule that high school basketball players have to go to college for two years? What about the students that can’t pay for college?

They are going to think that if they can’t pay for college they are just going to have to drop out. What about the red cards? Red cards are answers for great high school players that had bad grades all through high school. So I think if you are that good to go out of high school you should go.

I think by letting the NBA drat out of high school it gives more hope to different students. More basketball players would think they can make it which they can if they work hard.

“Changes throughout the World…”
by Krystal Parker
I believe that the legislators of the world should make having insurance a law. I believe that because insurance is very important. I believe that insurance is important because once you die and your family doesn’t have enough money it’s harder on them. It’s harder on them because they have to come up with money for your funeral.
“Worship the Lord, not other gods”

Hurricane Katrina and Rita: Will They ever Call Their Home, Home Sweet Home?
by Antesha R. Craig
The people down south are suffering. It is so trashy and everything has to be built over. They are sending kids to places they have never seen before. Then they sent all the people of Texas for Hurricane Rita. What about Hurricane Katrina?

Ten thousand people are dead but the Lord has been watching over the people who are still living and still watching over us. The president helped the people in the tsunami last year and you can’t help your fellow Americans? That’s why really sick children and parents are wondering if they are ever going to see their family again. They are praying and hoping that they can call New Orleans, Louisiana; Biloxi, Mississippi; and, Galveston, Texas home sweet home.