I will be attending the southern california annual conference. And I hope to meet some of my BB friends from the Board. And for those of you in that conference that owe my brother Bill Dickens a gift (Pastor Mike Barta) I will be glad to pick it up for him.

I am coming to support my dear sister Rev. Jane Galloway who is bringing her church into the AME denomination. What a blessing she and her congregation will be to our denomination.

I would like to add that Rev. Mike Barta reached out to my congregation when we first came into the denomination as did Rev. Al Paris and Macedonia AME. It is those acts of kindness that mean so much to a congregation. Pastor Mike and Rev. Paris have been great role models for me and I will be there with my sister Rev. Galloway.

I do hope to meet some of you at the conference. I will be wearing cowboy boots. Just kidding. Elder guidry would kill me. (She is my spiritual mother)

For those that want to send food to Bill Dickens, I will be unable to accept those gifts because of airline security. So you might want to give him money instead;-)

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2003

Answers

Parson Rogers -

While you are at FAME please include time for a tour of the church's economic development activities. I would also strongly recommend that someone drive you over to Bishop Charles Blake's church (West Angeles COGIC) and look at their economic development activities as well. Please let Pastor Murray know that FAMU held a beautiful commemorative service for the late tennis legend Althea Gibson (FAMU, Class of '51) on campus several days ago. One of my good friends, retired FAMU professor and classmate of Ms. Gibson, Edwina Martin, gave inspiring reflections on Gibson's life. Murray is a FAMU alum (Class of '58) and knew Gibson. Tell Mark Whitlock, Mike Barta and John Harper I will catch up with them when I'm on the Left Coast, err West Coast, depending on the outcome of Tuesday's Gubernatorial recall vote :-) Oh, no need to solicit food because when I was in LA a few years ago I was treated to dinner at Denzel Washington's restaraunt :-) Enjoy & have fun. QED

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2003

See you in Sunny California!

In case you didn't know, Commissioning Sunday is being held at West Angeles COGIC in the new sanctuary. We hope to pack it out as 22 ministers (10 from FAME, Los Angeles alone) are being ordained as elders!

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2003

Rev. Harper I recently heard from one of my california angels that you will be receiving Itinerant Elder's orders. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! I will be at the commissioning service. I will be preaching and singing at Immanuel Community Church Rev. Galloway is the pastor in the morning.

And brother Bill, I have to write Dr. Murray today anyway so I will forward your words to him in my email. Please keep our brother Pastor Mike in prayer as he is recovering from a recent illness.

All I can to Rev. Harper rest up!! Because Bishop Bryant goes all out for the ordination service and he picks someone fabulous to preach. Dr. Mayberry preached at my ordination service and I thought we were going to go straight to heaven after his sermorn. It was powerful, annointing, incredible and FABULOUS. Bishop Bryant loves all of his churches and clergy so much and he is right there with you as clergy process, smiling and proud of his people. Bring a handkerchief for you will cry.

Again congratulations on receiving Itinerant Elder orders.

And Bill, there will coverage in the Herald.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

Bill, At annual conferences in the fifth district. They are packed full of meetings, worship, presentations, and reports. I will be attending the california annual conference to support my dear friend Rev. Galloway. So I know I will not have time to visit other places and in terms of looking at economic development programs. I am sure Rev. Whitlock will be doing an economic development presentation at the conference. He did one at my annual conference on first time home ownership. Bishop Bryant always makes sure his conferences are also educational. Dr. Murray I am certain will be super busy. So bill, I don't think I can do the things you suggested this time around. I do want to see my biological brother and sister. Pastor Mike and his gorgeous Linda.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

if bishop bryant is in charge it will be amazing as well spirit fill . every time he comes my way i make time to hear him speak for he is very good . i just wish he was my bishop here in the 11th district. we need his kind of directions and encouragment here in our district.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

Sis. Rosiland you are so right about Bishop Bryant. He has a pastor's heart and every church big and small in his district is important to him. There is an anointing on the fifth district through Bishop Bryant and Dr. Cee. And a unity in the fifth district. Wow!!! It is exciting being in the fifth district.

We are praying that keep Bishop bryant for another term in the fifth district. What we need to do in the fifth district is to tape Bishop Bryant's sermons so everyone can hear him.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

Mother Denise, know that Connie and i are praying for you. God bless and keep you safely during your outing to the annual conference.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2003

Just to set the record staight...I don't owe Professor Dickens a gift, He owes me! He promised to expand my politcal horizons by bringing me a copy of one of his favorite magazines when he came to visit Southern California and then he never made it. I beleve he was was alsao going to throw in a copy of "The Wit and Wisdom of Rush Limbaugh" but I heard that the publisher recently recalled all copies in order to reclassify the work from "Non fiction" to that of "fantasy". I am sure it would have made EXTREMELY fast reading at any rate....

Linda and I look forward to seeing you in Southern Cal Rev. Denise. Congratulations Rev. Haper. You make your Admissions Instructor (Retired) VERY proud!

Pastor Mike

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2003

Pastor Mike, thank you for setting the record straight about my baby brother. I take full responsibility for the gift that Bro. Bill was suppose to get you. Bill has been extremely busy writing a book. But he does not go back on his promises.

So this is what I am going to do for my brother Bill. I and your beautiful wife Linda will take your credit card and buy you a gift. We will pick something out that would reflect the expensive taste of Bill and I will sign his name to the card on his Bill.

I know how much Bill respects you, so therefore I will buy you an expensive gift with your credit card. I know Bill would not want anything less and since Linda will be doing me a favor by taking me shopping, I will also get her nice "thank you gift" on your card also.

Pastor Mike you do realize that Linda and I meeting will be a party in and of itself. I cannot wait to meet you and linda for you both are my biological relatives. I will be sitting with Rev. Jane.

I will be standing with Jane's church when they are presented.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2003