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Groups will sing at St. Stephens New Year’s service Sunday
The New Year’s service will begin at the Saint Stephens Holiness Church in Turkey Sunday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. The pastor, the Rev. Willie H. Bryant, will bring the morning message and the youth choir will render the music. Dinner will be served following the morning service. At 3 p.m., the adult choir will celebrate their New Year’s choir anniversary with several singing groups participating. On hand will be the Howard family of Roseboro; Mount...
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Billy Todd/Sampson Independent The Rev. Thom Miles places a sign on the door of the building in his yard that will serve as center of operations for the new Community Crisis Center sponsored by Enlighten The World Ministries in the Autryville area.
New Community Crisis Center to open in Autryville area
Enlighten The World Ministries is opening a Community Crisis Center in Autryville. The center will house a food pantry, clothing closet and computer lab for job search assistance and computer training so applicants can be more employable. The Rev. Thom Miles, pastor of Enlighten The World Ministries, said he is very excited to see his vision of what God has for him to do come to fruition. “God has laid it on my heart to start this ministr...
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Resolve to live for Christ in this new year
Are you still rejoicing over Christmas or rejoicing that Christmas is over? Post Christmas blues and end of year blahs can spoil blessings intended to lift you higher than you’ve ever been lifted before. Amidst your long list of post holiday chores, take time to do something you enjoy. Spend time reflecting on the past year with thanksgiving for things that blessed and seeking forgiveness for things - you did or didn’t do — that bother you. E...
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The truth about truth
The word “truth” can be defined as “conformity to fact or actuality”. In other words, it is what is right or correct. In every realm of life, there should be a desire to know and a love for the truth. Sadly, we live in a time in which the truth does not seem to be important to many. Most seem to be more concerned with what they think or feel is right than in what is actually right. No where is this complacency toward a lack of truth seen more...
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Let God’s promises release a spirit of joy
Are you making a joyful noise and excited about Christmas? City sidewalks are dressed in holiday style, lights are blinking and trees glistening, stockings are hung in homes where cookies are baking and children shaking gifts under the trees, stores are packed with people looking for that one last gift, churches are decorated with greens and poinsettias, carolers are sharing good news of a newborn King who sits by His Father’s side, family ga...
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Fear versus faith
In 2 Timothy 1:7-8, it says “For God hath not given us the {Spirit of Fear}, but of power, and of Love, and of a Sound Mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God.” I want you to understand that “fear” is not of God. Think about it — why would Jesus tell us to “be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” and...
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Just as the star led the wise men to Bethlehem today candles are used to welcome the Christ child into our homes at Christmas. This yard on Bonnetsville Road displays both Christian symbols at Christmas. (Billy Todd/Sampson Independent)
Jesus is the reason for the season
With Christmas here now in just a matter days, citizens, towns, businesses and churches show they remember the true reason for the season through their decorations and displays. This week’s feature is an attempt to show that many homes from across Sampson County choose to show their beliefs in the birth of Christ in their displays. Isaiah 9: 6-7a “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders...
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Find God and remove the void from your life
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isaiah 58:11 KJV When do you feel the closest to God? The question caught me momentarily off guard. It seemed a simplistic enough question on the surface. I opened my mouth with a hasty response, only to close it. I felt something advising me to use ...
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If my people call
By all accounts the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut was perhaps the worst tragedy in the history of the United States. I am of the opinion the killing of 20 small children and 6 adults at an Elementary School were even more horrendous than the events of 9-11. I say so because this carnage was, in effect, done by us to us, with small little children paying the ultimate price. In my last article, published by the Sampson Independent on Nov. 2,...
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The dead have a lot to say!
It is not our intention, dear reader, to attempt to part you from your money by offering to contact the dead on your behalf. There are those who claim the dead speaks to them, but they would probably lie to you about other things as well. No, our title comes from something the Hebrew writer said. He said, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of...
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From left, Julian Beaujeu-Dufour as Joseph, Olivia Williford as Mary and Natalie Connet as the Donkey in Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church's Christmas Joy program, directed by Susan Bristow.
Graves Memorial youth bring Christmas Joy
From left, Julian Beaujeu-Dufour as Joseph, Olivia Williford as Mary and Natalie Connet as the Donkey in Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Joy program, directed by Susan Bristow. Jane Langston talks to a GMPC Puppet Ministry puppet during the Christmas Joy play. Narator Nancy Beaujeu-Dufour retells the Christmas story. Ava Williford offers a prayer during last Sunday Night’s Christmas Joy program at Graves Memorial Presbyt...
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Billy Todd/Sampson Independent Bearskin Missionary Baptist Church historian, Larry Sutton, poses with some of the visuals he will be using as he shares with his church and others 'how far they have come' since the Emancipation Proclamation.
Bearskin to celebrate 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Bearskin Missionary Baptist Church will show appreciation to God and those who led to the freedom from slavery as they celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. A special worship service on Sunday, Dec. 23 will be focused on the historic anniversary. The service begins at 11 a.m. and will reflect on the progress made in achieving America’s promise of liberty and justice for all. Church historian Larry Sutton will ass...
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Let our hearts be alive with the sounds of the season
Is your heart alive with the sounds of the season? One of my favorite movies tells how the hills are alive with the sound of music. Just thinking of it makes my heart want to laugh, to soar, and to sing, with raindrops on roses and bright paper packages wrapped up in ribbons being a few of my favorite things. With Christmas time being a favorite time of the year, surely our hearts should sing as we celebrate the birth of Christ the King. Ju...
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A new creature
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians stated, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). The concept of becoming something or someone that is new is not unique to this passage. There are a number of passages that present this same renewal of the person that is converted to Christ. Jesus used the imagery of the new birth. He told Nicodemus that,...
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The perfect Christmas
Songs on the radio, television specials, and a glut of holiday advertising— our culture’s message is clear as the glass on a snow globe: The ideal celebration can, and should, be yours. But reality is often different. For many people, the weeks leading up to Jesus’ birthday are fraught with tension and difficulty, and the pressure to have a picture-perfect holiday lingers not so subtly in the back of our minds. What we need is a different min...
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The line forms early for food distribution at the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg. Pictured is the line that formed as early as 2 a.m. the night before the food was distributed in November. (Kelli McPhail/CFBS)
Christian Food Bank expands to serve hungry at Christmas
A little over two and a half years ago, four young men saw a need in their community and set out to meet it. As a result Bruce Butler, Terry Lee, Norman McPhail and Randy Barker established the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg. Since its humble beginnings, the food bank has grown tremendously, and during the months of November and December will have fed over 750 families. But the ministry has expanded in other ways, too. On Saturday, Dec. 8...
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Pride blocks blessings
Matthew 18:18 Jesus says “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.” Heaven wants to pour you and I out a blessing, but there are things in which we get entangled that holds those miracles, and breakthroughs, back from entering into our lives. Don’t blame Jesus because it’s not his fault that you have not received the answer to your p...
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One of God’s chosen ones
Saved and single. I dedicated myself life and body to Christ at an early age. God didn’t come into my life in a storm. It was in calm in my life that I answered the call to become a follower of Christ. I am not perfect by any means. I have fallen short of the mark on several occasions. I just don’t love God, I am in love with Him. There is not a day that goes by that I am not mindful of Him. I made a concious decision not to have kids out o...
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Strange fire
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Lev. 10:1-2). Just about all we know about Nadab and Abihu are found in these two verses of scripture. We know that they were two of the sons of Aaron and that it wa...
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Find a good attitude that lasts forever
Have you ever told someone they needed an attitude adjustment? Have you faced someone who relayed that same message to you? Many people live day to day with little regard to the importance of making changes in how they act and react. In order to appreciate those with positive attitudes, think of times that people with rotten attitudes spoiled your day. Some are probably thinking, correction please…living with, working with, serving with, deal...
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Lottie Moon
Lottie Moon inspires Grove Park goodie gala
Even if someone is not a Southern Baptist, it is likely they have heard the name Lottie Moon. Charlotte Digges “Lottie” Moon who lived from Dec. 12, 1840 to Dec. 24, 1912, was a Southern Baptist missionary to China with the Foreign Mission Board and spent nearly 40 years living and working in China. As a teacher and evangelist, Lottie Moon is responsible for laying a foundation for traditionally solid support for missions among Baptists in Am...
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Showing God’s love
Super Storm Sandy has taken a lot away from our neighbors up North. It has taken food, shelter, electricity, peace of mind, and even lives. It is evident that this hurricane that struck New York and New Jersey in the latter part of October has made it very difficult for people to eat, much less to even think about buying their children something for Christmas. Think about it; waking up Christmas morning as a child not having any toys or gifts...
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Guarding your words, opening your heart
Do you guard what you say with your mouth? Do you find yourself in situations where your words wound people and you are without words for working out the messes you make? Hopefully, this story will help all of us think before we speak. Working with children teaches lessons that keep me learning and looking for ways to help them control their tongues. Recently, a young lad stood in front of me waiting for his sentence. His words had been hur...
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Never give up
The acceptance of Christ brought immediate changes in my attitude toward life. I began to act differently. I was more forgiving and less judgmental. I felt like I was let in on a secret and I wanted to share it with the world! I was euphoric, and it was all because I accepted Christ. The Bible was my book to read concerning directions for my life — for words of encouragement, empowerment, and for healing in my mind and body. I slept with it...
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Give as he gave
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he Gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God has given us the greatest gift of all and his name is “Jesus.” In him and his name there is peace, joy, deliverance, hope, power, healing, rest; there is nothing lacking in Jesus. As we prepare for this holiday season, I would like to ask you a question that pertains to this verse....
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