Rev. Floyd Flake

Born in Los Angeles, Calif., Rev. Floyd Flake grew up in Acres Homes, in Houston as one of 15 children of Robert Flake, Sr. and Rosie Lee Johnson-Flake. He entered the ministry at age 16 at Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Photo: From the left: Leonardo Valle, Ria Bovell,
Raymond Ross, Thomas Reed, Lamar Jackson,
Frank Preston, Kristina Preston, Miriam Bovell,
Gloria Bovell and Ronald Bovell

In the days of the Apostles when the Church was being organized, before there were church houses, it was commonplace to hold worship service or church (ekklesia - called out body) in the home of the disciples. In this spirit, Bro. and Sister Ronald and Gloria Bovell invited the congregation to have an open Bible Class in their NE Houston Home. The class was taught by Bro. Thomas Reed, minister of Darien Loop Church of Christ, 7040 Darien St. Beginning with “The Foundation of Christianity,” the study was well accepted by everyone in attendance who were also treated to refreshments afterwards. The Bovells were married on the island of Trinidad and Tobago on February 3, 1974. Shortly after Ronald Jr. was born. In 1977 their second son Nigel was born and their daughter Ria was born in 1982. In 1990, they moved to the U.S. settling in Houston. They are faithful members of the Church of Christ for at least 32 years.
Many churches are beginning to explore the idea of home Bible studies or cell groups, which are generally intended to personalize Christian fellowship, especially in this age of the mega churches.

Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell

RALEIGH, NC– The nation’s three largest Black Methodist denominations, the African Methodist Episcopal (headquarters in Philadelphia, PA), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (headquarters in Charlotte, NC) and Christian Methodist Episcopal (based in Memphis, TN) Churches, with combined memberships of more than 5 million, will convene at a historic gathering next month in Columbia, S. C. The ultimate goal of the gathering is to “address the plight of the African-American male and his critical role in America’s families and communities.”

Under the chairmanship of Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell, pastor of the Grace AME Zion Church in Raleigh, NC, this strategic summit has been titled the “Great Gathering” and will be held March 1-3 at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia. It is the first meeting of the AME, AME Zion and CME churches in more than 45 years.

According to Bishop John R. Bryant, Senior Bishop for the AME Church, the motivation for the Great Gathering was to “send an image and model of unity. Together, all our denominations represent a people and a community with many ills and problems…but we feel strongly that we can overcome all that might separate our churches so we can all focus collectively on what we can do to make things better for our people.”

Adds Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr., Senior Bishop for the AME Zion Church, “The African-American male is noticeably absent in the church. He is also absent in the home. If we can find answers to what is happening with the Black male in this country, these solutions will have a positive impact on Black family life in this nation.”

Says Bishop William H. Graves, Senior Bishop for the CME Church, “We have the collective resources within our own denominations to address the problems in our communities…We can’t look for the government or other agencies to do this for us. We can do it ourselves.”

HOUSTON- The Honorable Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, Senior Pastor of Allen Cathedral AME Church in Jamaica, New York will be the featured speaker at Greater Ward AME on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. Greater Ward AME, where Eddie Lee Everline, Jr. is the pastor, will celebrate their 96th anniversary at 6822 Arabella Street. Everline was welcomed as pastor of Greater Ward on Aug. 25, 2007.

From the left: Rosemary and Marv A. Thorn and Theaster Maloy Sr.
                                                                                                           Photo by Roger Jackson

GALVESTON- Hurricane Ike ravaged the city of Houston in Sept. 13, 2008, decimating homes, business and churches like the Avenue K Church of Christ in Galveston, Texas. The mayor and city leaders urged a city-wide evacuation. While several remained to weather out the storm, Roy Osbourne, then minister of Avenue K left, choosing not to return. Members who did return reported the condition of the church as being bad and feared they would be unable to bring the building to code.

Realizing the church’s plight Theaster Maloy Sr., minister of Fidelity Church of Christ in Houston, spearheaded the movement to restore the church, raising $55,000 from congregations all over the country. Likewise, men from throughout the Houston/Galveston area pitched in to help the storm torn church.

The church reopened on October 2009, but was left without a minister to lead them. On Jan. 31, Marv A Thorn, formerly of South Union Church of Christ, was installed as the church’s new minister. His bride of one year, Mary Thorn, also participated in the installation. Maloy, who had worked fervently to help the church recover from the storm, presided over the installation.

HOUSTON- Everybody has an “it,” says Houston’s very own Donnetta Amos, of At His Feet Productions. There’s something that everyone is struggling with or trying to avoid. But somehow, life has a way of forcing  one to come face to face with their issues, as Amos demonstrates in her second theatrical production, “Deal With It! Before ‘IT’ Deals With You.”

The play, which will be held at Harvest Theatre House, 17770 Imperial Valley Drive, is a continuation of the stage play,“How ‘Bout That,” Amos’ first production. The gospel stage performance starts at 7 p.m., Feb. 13. Doors open at 6 p.m. Call 866-261-7911 or visit athisfeetproductions.net for more information.

Some Christian leaders have played into the hands of the Republican demagogues. Demagogy refers to a political strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the popular prejudices, emotions, fears and expectation via propaganda and rhetoric. H.L. Mencken defined a demagogue "as one who will preach doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." In these critical times we cannot afford to be one among the masses nor idiots. Wisdom and discernment is what we need, not other men's fears.

Every child is born in a state of sincerity. Every time he or she cries, smiles or throws a tantrum it is sincere. At some point in a child’s development it learns how to  manipulate situations and circumstances to achieve short term goals. The hope, then, becomes that a child will grow out of its manipulative ways when it becomes an adult; more spiritually mature.

Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Hence, the difficulty in finding sincere people in today’s world. I contend that you can find sincere people and the first place you should look is in the mirror. If you don’t see him or her, fret not.

The insincere man or woman in the mirror is the human being that you have the ability to change. The best way to inject sincerity into an insincere society is through self improvement. I’m on my way to the mirror right now.

FORT WORTH – In line with self-improvement, the basis for community development, the Faculty of Muhammad Mosque No. 52’s Saturday School will host a “Family Literacy Event.”

On March 13, the mosque will present a day of literacy for the community.  The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Southside Community Center, 959 E. Rosedale, Fort Worth, TX 76104. It will feature presentation by multiple presenters.

Admission to the Family Literacy Event is free, and it is open to all students and their parents. Participants may take part in the interactive project which will include snacks, drawings, free books and activities, prizes, multiple presentations, as well as information on community services from business owners and service providers.
For more information call (682)557-8418 or (817)902-7972.

Pat Robertson calls the recent earthquake in Haiti a blessing in disguise.

AUSTIN– Pat Robertson has put his foot in his mouth with yet another post-disaster remark—this time regarding the hard-hit country of Haiti. While hosting “The 700 Club” on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson said the 7.0-magnitude quake that struck Haiti was the consequence of the curse that had befallen the country’s people after its founding fathers made a “pact to the devil” in exchange for Haiti’s independence from France.
“[E]ver since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor,” Robertson said. He noted how Haiti shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and how the latter is “prosperous, healthy, full of resorts” while Haiti is “in desperate poverty.” “Same island,” he emphasized. Robertson’s latest remark— coming as television screens are filled with images of bloody survivors and dead bodies stacked on streets—hit a sensitive nerve with secular commentators as well as conservative evangelical leaders.
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas called Robertson arrogant during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” “It is absolute arrogance to try to interpret any of God’s actions as a judgment against this person or that person,” the Southern Baptist minister said. “Our duty as Christians is to try to help these people, pray for these people and to help them.”
Similarly, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, responded to Robertson’s “embarrassing” remarks by highlighting the “Theological arrogance matched to ignorance.”
“[T]he earthquake reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only real message of hope. The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti—and the Haitian people are the objects of his love,” Mohler concluded.
“Christ would have us show the Haitian nation his love, and share his Gospel. In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, Christ would have us rush to aid the suffering people of Haiti, and rush to tell the Haitian people of his love, his cross, and salvation in his name alone.”  —The Christian Post