Index

"God’s Hand in My History" | Member Highlight - Harriet Gourdine | Proclaimer Gets New Editor | The Hooche Momma Parade, Fashion or Sin | The Father's Anguishing Decision | He Paid The Price | The Pastor’s Desk

When I first heard about blacks in the bible at Vacation Bible Camp about five years ago I was stunned. I never knew that black people were in the Bible. After hearing various speakers at VBC I was inspired to do my own research into the Bible. I am inspired even more now in my Christian walk as I can relate more personally now that I know that God has a plan for me as he has had a plan for all people throughout the six time periods.

The Bible consists of six time periods: Innocence, Conscience, Government, Promise, Law and Grace. But even before time God existed. He is the foundation of everything. The qualities of God are seen in every time period. He is Holy, Eternal, Always Present, Ruler Over All, and Truth.

In the time period of Innocence, Adam and Eve sinned against God and were put out of the garden. In the time period of conscience Noah and his sons were in an ark because they were the only righteous people on earth and the earth would be flooded. In the time period of Government man tried to govern the earth without God. The judgement was that God confused their language and scattered the people. In the fourth time period of Promise, Abraham and God made a convenant, but Abraham’s people broke the convenant and the result was bondage in Egypt. In the fifth time period of Law God freed the Israelites from slavery and gave them the law through Moses. The law was broken which resulted in the dispersion of Israel and Judah.

We are in the sixth time period today which is different from all the other time periods because the Savior came in this period. In the time period of Grace Christ came to give pure grace without requiring any righteousness from us, but giving us the righteousness of Christ. The judgement for the time period is for all those who do not accept the Lord Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Hell, separated from God.

In each time period God had a plan for man. In the time period of Innocence God wanted man to resist temptation and not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the time period of Conscience God’s message to man was to shun evil and do good. In the time period of Government God’s central message was that we need God in everything or we will fail. In the time period of Promise, God wants man to be obedient and faithful to Him. In the time period of Law God wanted the people to obey the laws He set for them, for their own good. The time period of Grace God wants us to accept His son in our life as our Savior.

In all six time periods there are consequences because there was always sin, but God always showed his love also. God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden, but he also gave them the resources they needed to survive. God caused the flood but He kept eight people alive to replenish the earth. God punished the people for building the Tower, but he showed his love in his convenant with Abraham. In the time period of Law God’s punishment was the people were dispered but his love came through the return of the remnant and Isaiah’s promise of a Savior. In the time period of Grace God’s punishment for man sin is Hell eternal separation from God and His love is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Before time there was God, and in each time period we learned that one man is highlighted: Innocence – Adam, Conscience – Noah, Government – Nimrod, Promise –Abraham, Law – Moses, Grace – Jesus. The before time, the time and after time is God. God is the beginning and the End.

The time periods are; Innocence, Conscience, Government, Promise, Law, and Grace. The first time period was Innocence. God made Adam and Eve without sin, but they died because they disobeyed God. God drove them out of the Garden of Eden. The second time period was Conscience. Noah obeyed God and built an ark because there was a flood coming. The people didn’t believe him and they died. The third time period was Government. Nimrod was Cush’s son. He was the first black government leader. Nimrod wanted to build a tower (the Tower of Babel) and reach God his own way and God confused the language and man was scattered all over the earth. The fourth time period was Promise. Abraham was in the time when the people were slaves. God promised him that he would be a father of many nations. The fifth time period was Law. Moses led the people out of Egypt and gave them God's ten commandments. Moses took the people to the promise land and they were driven out because they sinned. The sixth time period was Grace. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

God wants us to obey and trust Him in each time period. Because the people sinned, they were scattered, there was a flood, there was slavery and hell. God showed his love in each time period, because He didn’t kill them. We learned from all the people in each time period to; take care of the earth, obey God, not do anything without God, be faithful to God, follow God’s word, and to ask Jesus into our heart to be our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our greatest example of love.

We are in the time period of Grace. This time period is different because of Jesus. He paid the price for our sins instead of letting us die and go to hell. He took on our sins and punishment. We learned that God loves us and cares for us. He is faithful and just and forgives us. Being a black person is fun and we are fearfully and wonderfully made and special to God. We also need to tell others about Jesus.

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Born to Wesley and Martha Gourdine in Charleston, South Carolina on December 13, 1958, Harriet Gourdine is the eleventh of twelve children. She was raised on James Island and attended public schools there. Harriet’s family attended a Methodist church. Upon graduation from high school, Harriet attended the University of South Carolina where she graduated in 1981 with a degree in accounting. She moved to Rochester, New York and lived there for 3 1/2 years.

In 1984 Harriet moved to the DC area in search of better job opportunities in the field of accounting. She attended a church in Silver Spring, MD. She was not saved then, and at the time she did not realize it. It was in 1991 that she visited the Washington Christian Center at the invitation of Marvin Hamlin. After viewing a filmstrip, God spoke to her heart and she surrendered her life to Christ. She attended some Bible studies under the tutelage of Marvin Hamlin, while continuing her membership at her church in Silver Spring. In 1993 Harriet changed her membership to the Washington Christian Center and has been a faithful member ever since.

Miss Gourdine has put her hands to the gospel plow and currently serves as the office manager for the Stewardship Committee. About three years ago, she joined the team of teachers who minister to the children at WCC on Friday nights. She presently attends a ladies Bible study conducted by Maria Samuda. Harriet says, "It was after I started working, that I could see what true fellowship really is." Along those same lines she adds, "You need to work in order to grow."

Last Easter, Harriet dazzled the WCC with her acting abilities. She auditioned and landed the lead role as Mary, sister of Lazarus, in the production "The Alabaster Box". She says this was her debut performance. Her favorite verse, Philippians 4:13, gave her the fortitude to act out that role with the heartfelt intensity it commanded. With preparations for the Christmas play already underway, we wonder if she will make an encore performance for the WCC.

Harriet leads a busy life outside her church involvement. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and gourmet cooking. Harriet, a certified public accountant, has been blessed with a job she enjoys despite the demands it often places on her. It requires her to travel, something she also loves to do on her own. Harriet recently returned from her second trip to Paris, France.

Harriet cherishes a special bond with her large family. It is her desire and continual prayer that they all come to a life changing relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ.

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This will be my last issue as the manager of the layout, editing, and copy. Our new member, Liz LaGrange, will assume this task. She has proposed some exciting new ideas and I hope you will give her all the support that she will need to continue the maturation of our newsletter.

It has been a great experience seeing how many of you will take time to help write articles and give suggestions and compliments on our efforts. I thank my family, Pastor, and Mike & Sharon Hart for all their support in making this newsletter what it is thus far.

Liz has some new things planned, so give her your support in all of her efforts. I will still be involved with the paper, but more as an overall adviser.

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I often wonder what goes through the minds of my younger sisters today regarding their current choice of fashion. In this day and age of worldly excess, is less really best when style is exchanged for exposure, and sexy is preferred to the beauty of elegance and class? If God were standing on the other side of your mirror, would he be upset or impressed by the fashions you are choosing to wear? (1 Timothy 2:9 - I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety). Since most people can see quicker than they can think, isn’t the perception received from the first impression we women provide also our responsibility? (Matthew 5:28 - But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.) As unmarried women, is it acceptable that our focus be on enticing and teasing men? Even if our men "like us to dress this way"! (1 Corinthians 7:34 - An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.) As Christian women, shouldn’t our standard of dress be distinctly different than the low standards so common in this society imprisoned by sin? Are our closets housing garments of dishonor and disrespect to our parents, our church, and tragically to ourselves, if no difference can be found between our attire and the wardrobe of a women of the streets? (Numbers 15: 39 - . . .you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.) As older and more experienced woman, isn’t it our responsibility to set examples and provide positive instruction to our younger sisters, teaching them that fashion is only an enhancement to or a distraction from the confidence and inner beauty the Lord has already provided them? (Psalm 139:13-14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;) So the next time you walk out the door, remember who you should be representing, take a look in the mirror, and make sure that the first impression you provide is the one that brings honor to those you love and more importantly brings a smile to the face of God.

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After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life ... to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.

As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his arrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it?

But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me.

You see ... I was the son's friend."

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There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak. "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" "Huh??!!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing-they ain't even pretty!" "How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" "What are you going to do

with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked." "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want those people!!" "How much?" He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your blood."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

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The Presidential election is swiftly approaching. This summer we witnessed the conventions of both the Republican and Democratic Conventions in which they nominated their respective candidates for President. Fortunately, both candidates profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This being the case, how does one decide which candidate to support? Let me hasten to add that I will not attempt to suggest one candidate over the other. However, I do believe that we as Christians should be involved in the process of selecting our next President. Each person that is eligible to vote should register and exercise the right. The right to vote did not come easily, for many lost their lives so that we could have this right. However, even as we become active in the process we should never feel as if God is limited in His ability to accomplish His plan no matter who wins the Presidency. I am sure that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat. Whoever wins the election God is still sovereign. Proverbs 21:1 states, " The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, he turneth it withersoever he will.

It is important to remember that in a presidential election there are many issues to consider. It is possible that sincere Christians can be on both sides of an issue. With a few exceptions, such as abortion, there is not a "Christian position" - whereby all committed Christians must agree or be considered suspect. Even when a candidate takes a position that we may think is ungodly; this should not necessarily disqualify him. If we are honest, it is not difficult to find each candidate holds a position that we might think violates a principle of scripture. That is why I believe that we must approach this election from a holistic point of view and seek to elect the candidate that will allow us to fulfill the purpose for which God has called us. Paul admonishes us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray "for Kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." As is clear in this passage, God is not interested in promoting any particular political agenda, but in having all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim.2: 4). It is easy to loose our focus and seek to change society through the political process when we see so much moral decay and corruption in our society. To be sure, we must be concerned about this and work to make things better. However, even if the society continues on its downward path, the church must continue to hold up a righteous standard. In addition, we the church must conduct ourselves in such a way that whether a person is a democrat, republican or independent he can be drawn to Christ through our witness. Our responsibility is to lift up Jesus. As Jesus said in John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me." I am convinced that the Church is most effective when we refused to pigeonholed into any particular political philosophy but uphold a biblical standard of righteousness by which a watching world can evaluate the candidate. To do this we must not tie the success or effectiveness of the Church to the state of the body politic. Historically, the Church seems to thrive and grow best during opposition from the society. When the Church and the political institutions become to cozy it usually results in the church compromised. This is not surprising, for God's agenda and focus is foolishness to the world. 1Cor. 2:14 states, "But the natural man received not the things of the spirit of God, for the are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned."

I am convinced that the most important thing that we can do to stay the hand of God's judgement upon us is to be very committed and righteous in our walk with Him and win others to Christ. We must remember that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was not because their wickedness but because God could not find 10 righteous persons in the whole city (Gen. 18:23-33). God has called us to be salt, in that we are to preserve and keep from decaying (Matt. 5:13) and light in that we are to dispel the darkness (Matt. 5:14).

It is my hope that every member of WCC will register and vote this November, as well as pray that God's will be done in the final analysis.

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