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Peter’s Rock Christian Fellowship Quarterly Newsletter
Speaker’s Corner Sweet Potato Pie Good morning Beloved, I began this morning
as usual with prayer, reading my Bible and meditating. But this morning I
desired to include you. This is day sixteen in segregation and I am missing many
of the simplicities of life, the sound of television, the daily newspaper, my
choice of breakfast, a touch by a loved one. I miss kisses to my lips and face,
the pitter-patter of Allyson’s’ little feet running through the house and the
smell of bacon frying. I miss telephone calls from encouragers as well as
motorcycle rides through the city or just preparation for church on Sunday
morning, life has taken a left turn for me.
Then I am reminded of the bible scriptures, that states…. Rom 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. From the day I received this call into the ministry in 1990, I knew my purpose. I knew I had been called to teach and to evangelize mankind proclaiming and compelling a lifestyle which yield fruit in the Kingdom of God. I remember so clearly the day God birth in my spirit the vision of “Peters’ Rock Christian Fellowship”. A non-profit foundation for the purpose of ministering to 18-25 year olds who have encountered the legal system and are being released from our local jails and prisons. Why the name of Peters’ Rock Christian Fellowship? The name is in keeping with the passage of scriptures in Matthews 16:13-18. Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" Mat 16:14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mat 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Mat 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Peters’ Rock mission is to be a safe place, a residential halfway house where young men can find physical refuge and experience the epiphany that Peter experienced that day Jesus asked His disciples the life changing question, “ Who do men say that I the son of man Am?” Like Peter I envision a place where men (unsaved) can come and learn that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.” It’s at Peters’ Rock that men will be ministered to holistically spirit, soul, body, financially and socially. My purpose as an Evangelist/Teacher and the mission of Peters’ Rock Christian Fellowship is to “catch the fish” (evangelize), to “clean the fish” (disciple) and to help them find their stream of ministry. If I can spare the life of one person from the torment of hell, then that’s my offering to God- I must do that! Beloved as I ponder the original quoted scripture…. Rom 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. I ask myself how does being in jail, being in segregation and face with the task of reconstructing my broken life work together for my good? Recalling my boyhood days. I remember how I watched my mother bake my favorite sweet potato pie. One day when she had all the ingredients set out- a few sweet potatoes, flour, sugar, baking powder, raw eggs etc. – I sneaked a taste of each one. Except for the sugar, they all tasted horrible. Then my mother stirred them together and put the batter in the oven. It didn’t make sense to me, that the combinations of individually distasteful things produced such a tasty product. My conclusion is that God likewise takes all the undesirables; stress, trials, temptations and tribulations of life mixes them with His sweet love for us, allow them to be placed under the heat of crisis, and then does He produce a perfect result. Rom 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. The truth that the Apostle Paul reveals here becomes clearer -which is “to those who love God, He [GOD] works all things together for good”. It is when I continually express my love for God both in attitude and actions that all things work together for my good. A man much wiser than myself once said “ its our attitude that determines how high we fly not our altitude”. Regardless of our station in life at any given time I believe our loving caring Heavenly Father not only knows best but will see to it that we continually receive His best as he work all things together for our good. Today I find consolation in the Apostle Pauls’ counsel and the faithfulness of my mighty God. How about you? About the Founder: Ernest A. Stephens’s Sr. describes himself as a man who is not fixed but under construction by the Holy Ghost. He is quick to tell you that he is not his “brother’s keeper”. Instead , Ernest see himself as his brother. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Tennessee State University and Trevecca Nazarene University. Ernest graduated from FITVC bible school in 1990 and accepted his call in ministry in the streets of Nashville, Tn.. Since that time life has prepared Evangelist Stephens for ministry that feed the homeless, clothe the naked, pray deliverance for the sick and visit those in prison.
Just Joking!!!! A Business man came into his office one day and announced to his secretary to expect the waiting area to be filled with prospects for employment as a result of an add he ran in the daily newspaper. As expected the next day the secretary arrived to find their waiting room filled with young men. When the entrepreneur arrived he instructed his secretary to allow the young men to enter his office one at a time. Now the thing to know about this interviewer is that he did not have ears. When the first interviewee entered he was greeted by a man with no ears sitting behind a huge red cherry wood desk. The interviwer expounded, young man I am looking for a smart, self-starter, energetic observant young man who can help me to get this company of the ground. Tell me what you noticed about me when you first met me. The young interviewer looked closely at the interviewer’s head and responded with “sir you don’t have any ears”. The interviewer responded well you may leave now a nd dismissed the disenchanted interviewee. The next young man entered and the interviewer said to him “young man Iam looking for someone to help me get this company off the ground he must be smart, a self-starter, energetic and observant- tell me what you noticed about me when you first met me. The young man looked at the interviewer closely and responded, “ sir you don’t have any ears”. Again this interviewee was dismissed with out any further questions. However this dejected interviewee walked to the waiting room where all the other prospective interviewers where and while scratching his head said to the others- whatever you do don’t say anything about this guys’ ears or he is not going to hire you. The third interviewee enterd the business mans’ office and was greeted with, “ young man I am looking for some one to help me get this company off the ground but he must be smart, a self-starter, energetic and very observant. Tell me what you noticed about me when you first met me. The young man looked at the interviewer very closely paused and replied “sir you are wearing contacts” surprised by this response the interviewer shouted “ your right, how did you know ? The young man smiled and stated “everybody knows you have to have ears to wear glass.” Editor's Note: Peters’ Rock Christian fellowship Newsletter is just one of the ways that this ministry service both the free world and prison population. We are committed to minister in word, to share with others through testimony, to receive prayer request and agree in prayer for the needs of those who become our family by writing to us. We will publish praise reports and provided updates as this ministry increases in its mission.
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