I woke up this morning and I just felt like praying. For me it is the quickest way to get motivated for the day or week. And today the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart to ask prayer for unity within our denomination and for spiritual growth. I am asking all that read and or post on this board to join me! It has been a year since I have been A.M.E and I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am and how proud I am of our denomination. And for those of you who say "she had been around long enough to learn where the bodies are buried" Let me assure you I already know!;-) My experience with the A.M.E church is very special for God told me he wanted me to be A.M.E and he wanted an A.M.E church planted in my town. I had not thought about the A.M.E church until that was revealed to me. Now it is all I can think about! For God has some big plans for us and the world. We have been here since 1787 and there have been money scandels, sex scandels, threats of college closure, the depression, civil rights and God continues to raise up again. The children of darkness in my opionion have always targeted us, for they know the power that we have to serve God. I am asking that we also know the POWER that we have to serve God!! It is time for A.M.E unity and spiritual growth. This is what I mean, instead of worrying about the pastor, laity or others who are not doing God's business let's focus on doing God's business. Scripture tells us "Not to fret about the wicked" for God sees all that they do and their fate is sealed. We need not worry or focus on them for they are the walking dead. Instead let us look to our Savior and focus on what he has asked us to do! Let's talk about how we can work together and share resources, and instead of membership growth let's focus on spiritual growth!! As Methodists we are called to be disciplined in our study of the word of God. We are called to be methodical in our preparation to serve. What are some of the ways that we can do this? Be strong in the lord for victory is ours, as the children of God. Praise him, serve him, be obedient to him and we will thrive. I would love to hear your thoughts. God loves you so much and so do I!!!!

-- Anonymous, October 14, 2002

Answers

Joining you in prayer.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2002

Hello Sister Rogers,

Your comments are so timely!!! We need to be methodical about the business of praying for the church and our denomination. You said that " God has some big plans for us and the world". Therefore, as AMEs we should be praying first that we follow the Spirit of God so that God's will for our individual lives and this denomination will be accomplished. When we achieve God's will for our lives we have done everything the best that it can be done.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2002

Heavenly Father, awesome God we bow down before you in praise of all that you have done for us. You have given us your son Jesus Christ and the Holy spirit, you and you alone have given us life. We confess before you that we have sinned, we have forgotten those that you have asked us to take care of, we have not been obedient to your word. We have been head strong and walked away from you. Yet you continue to love us. You forgive our sins, when we confess them before you and you take our hands like the great father that you are and lead us back to you. Precious God, we cannot pretend that all is well within our denomination for you know that it isn't, there are those who have hurt, stolen and maligned the word of God. We know you will deal with them accordingly for scripture tells us so. The majority in the A.M.E church are ready to follow to continue to build this great zion in your name. Strengthen us, protect us and put a wall of protection around the righteous in our denomination. You are not finished with us and we want to be your servants. Instill in our hearts a yearning to serve you and only you! Let us turn away from false Gods, money, prestige, and all things that keep us from being humble. Dear and loving God we declare that the A.M.E church is God's Church!! There are at least two within this denomination who are calling on your son to deliver from evil and to guide us in to being righteous. For those who feel the A.M.E church is dying, we say this loudly and proudly WE LIVE, WE LIVE, WE LIVE BECAUSE OF YOU! We committ ourselves to being your church, to being your missional church, we committ ourselves to loving one another as you have taught us. And we are ready to be your soldiers in the army of the lord. Bless the A.M.E church, annoint us, guide us, strengthen our Bishops, and everyone of our members and those who are about to come to us. We ask this in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2002