J une 11, 1997 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age B2
An appreciation to
be heUfor Tastor
The Allen Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is sponsoring an
appreciation for our Pastor, Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes on June 22,1997 at 4:00
p.m.
Pastor Haynes came to Allen Temple from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was
Senior Pastor o f Holsey Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
However, he is originally from Beaumont, Texas and has lived and worked
professionally in Tyler, Dallas, and Ft. Worth Texas. He was assigned to this
charge in November o f 1996 by our Presiding Bishop E. Lynn Brown. Since
that time, Pastor Haynes has had a tremendous impact on the Allen Temple
Church and community with his preaching, teaching and organizational
skills. His professional experience, honors and awards, organizations and
associations are many, but the one we would like to mention is that he is
Founder and Chairperson o f the Resurrection Prevention, Intervention and
Support Group Drug Abuse Ministry. A group has been formed at the Allen
Temple Church and is available to the community.
His Educational background is extensive. Besides his BA from University of
North Texas, he holds a Masters o f Theology, Perkins School o f Theology,
S.M.U. ; Doctor o f Sacred Theology, Bethany Theological Seminary; Doctor
o f Ministry Studies at Brite Theological Seminary, T.C.U. Moreover, he is
a Man o f God who rejoices in people receiving Christ into their life.
We are happy to invite you to come to help us celebrate this special time for
our Pastor, Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes on June 22,1997 - 4:00 P.M. at the Allen
Temple Church, 4236 N.E. 8th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
-T h e Pastor’s Appreciation Committee, Allen Temple Christian Method
ist Episcopal Church
Open House Celebration
yyirkfrangin’s
“For those o f you who think
gospel music has gone too far, or
that w e’ve gotten too radical with
our message, I’ve got news for you.
You ain ’t seen nothing yet!” -
Kirk Franklin
Straight outta Dallas and keep
ing the faith, the fine art o f con
temporary Gospel music in all its
inspirational, cutting edge glory is
personified on the new G od’s Prop
erty From Kirk F ran k lin ’s Nu
Nation album. The album is on B-
Rite Records, a new joint venture
label deal with Interscope Records.
T he p ro ject was p ro d u ced by
Grammy winning gospel super-
star Kirk Franklin, B uster and
Shavoni (W hatcha Lookin’4 and
K irk F ra n k lin ’s C hristm as) and
Kevin Bond (Kirk Franklin And
The Family). One again, thee tal
ented producers help complete the
vision. Its rattlin g lead single,
“Stomp,” is remixed by Big Yam
and features a prime guest rhyme
from Cheryl James a.k.a.. Salt o f
rap’s S altN ’ Pepa fame. It’s a unique
gospel/hip-hop hybrid that is the
perfect recipe for a hit.
“ G o d ’s p ro p e rty F rom K irk
Franklin’s Nu Nation bridges musi
cal as well as spiritual gaps, praising
the Creator, while creating new mass
appeal for Christian Music,” says
Claude Lataillade, PresidentZCEO of
B-Rite Records. Other outstanding
album examples include: “Up Above
Ration release
My head,” a syncopated, harmoni
cally appealing jazz inspired gem;
“Send It Down,” a blissful, Franklin-
esque praise song celebrating G od’s
omnipotence: “Love,” a spiritually
motivating call and response track
that knocks on Heaven’s door; “Sweet
Spirit,” a beautiful gospel ballad that
reaches out and touches one’s soul;
“Y ou’re the Only One,” a serious hip-
hop edged message about Black youth
turning form players to prayers: “My
Life Is In His Hands,” self explana
tory in message and first featured on
Spike Lee’s “Get On The Bus" movie
soundtrack; and “Faith,” a strong “get
your praise on” song that lifts your
spirit and, like the entire album, never
lets it down.
At the forefront o f today’s gospel
music, Kirk Franklin, best known
for his platinum success with The
Family, has broken down many
musical barriers since he exploded
on the international scene. In the
process, h e’s achieved unprec
ed en ted success and becom e
gospel’s #1 renaissance man. His
first album, Kirk Franklin and The
Family, was certified platinum, a
gospel milestone. His critically ac
claim ed follow-up CD, 1996’s
Whatcha Lookin’4 is at 900,000
(and counting) copies sold. As as
tute in business as well as music,
Fmaklin’s Fo Yo soul company
banner has a multi-year production
deal with B-Rite Records.
J iv e rubes fo r successful^ citizenship
Just As There Are Key Rules and
principles for living the Christian
life - The Ten Com m andm ents, the
Beatitudes, the Golden Rule - there
are also rules for citizenship and
civic action. No formula will guar
antee political success, but rem em
bering these principles will increase
your ability to get things done.
1) Y our involvem ent in politics
is a m a ra th o n , not a sp rin t. D on’t
think you can turn A m erica around
in one year or one election cycle.
This country did not get into the
trouble it’s in overnight.
Consider every great social re
form movement in the history o f our
nation. The W o m en ’s C hristian
Temperance Union was founded in
1873 and didn’t pass its first na
tional temperance law until 1914.
The NAACP was founded in 1909,
but its members d id n ’t see a major
civil rights bill succeed until 1947;
desegregation w asn’t achieved until
1964 and 1965.
2) An 8 0 -percent frien d is not a
20-percent enem y. There are very
few people in politics with whom
you will agree with 100 percent o f
the time.
In 1995 the Christian Coalition
was working to ban Internet pornog
raphy. We believe that children like
my 8-year-old daughter Brittany
should not be able to get on a com
puter and with three clicks o f a mouse
be able to access hard-core and child
pornography.
Many o f our m ovem ent’s good
friends opposed that legislation. It
finally came down to a conference
committee with House and Senate
members deciding whether or not
the bill would go to the president.
The bill cleared that conference com
mittee by one vote. That winning
vote was cast by liberal Democrat
Pat Schroeder o f Colorado.
That experience serves as a re
minder that there could very well
come a time when a person that you
the South in a landslide, Carroll
Campbell won his district in a land
slide.
Cam pbell was elected to U.S.
Congress in 1978 and then went on
to become governor.
4) It is never as bad as you think
it is w hen you lose and never as
good as you th in k it is when you
win. To be successful in politics, you
“We believe the Bible is the
inerrant work of God. It is without
error and it tells us the answers to
life’s problems. But in a largely
secular society, people don’t
necessarily believe as we believe. ”
never viewed as a friend could make
the difference in whether you win or
lose.
3) T h e re is no substitute for a
stro n g g ra ssro o ts o rg a n iz a tio n .
You might have money, a brilliant
candidate, a righteous and moral
cause, and sophisticated polling. But
if you don’t have a strong grassroots
organization, you won ’t achieve per
manent success.
One o f Lee Atwater’s first cam
paigns was for state senate candi
date Carroll Campbell in Greenville,
S.C. Atwater focused all o f his en
ergy on grassroots organizing in key
counties and precincts In an elec
tion in which Jimmy Carter swept
can ’t have sky-rocketing highs and
plummeting lows.
In 1992 Bill Clinton became the
first Democratic president after a
12-year reign o f Republicans in the
W hite House. The media hailed his
administration as the next Camelot.
A short time later, Clinton was
paralyzed by the gays in the military
crisis and mistakes by his White
House staff. He had controversial
cabinet nominees and a tax increase
that was the largest in American
history. His budget passed by only
one vote His efforts at health care
reform blew up in his face. Two
short years after his incredible vic
tory, Bill Clinton presided over one
o f the worst defeats in the history of
his party, and the Republicans re
gained control o f Congress.
5) Persuade, don’t preach. There
is a bumper sticker that is very popu
lar among conservative evangelicals
- “The Bible says it, I believe it, and
that settles it.” It may be good theol
ogy, but it is not good politics.
In politics the goal is 50 percent
plus one. That m eans that we need
to speak in a way that a m ajority o f
our fellow A m ericans will under
stand.
We believe the Bible is the iner-
rant work o f God. It is without error
and it tells us the answers to life’s
problems. But in a largely secular
society, people do n ’t necessarily
believe as we believe.
When Ronald Regan was asked
why he was pro-life, he would refer
to the 14th Amendment to the Con
stitution, recognizing that m ost
Americans view the Constitution as
a sacrosanct document. He would
explain that the 14th Amendment
makes it clear that everyone has a
right to life and that no one can be
deprived o f the right to life without
due process o f law.
As people who love God and who
love this country, we should remem
ber that governing is a spiritual is
sue, about which we need to pray.
If we bathe these rules in fer
vent prayer and go out w ith a h u
m ility and a reliance on G od u lti
m ately for the outcom e, I believe
we will see A m erica restored to
w hat she was intended to be-one
nation under God.
G ra c e C o v e n a n t F e llo w sh ip C h u rc h is p a s to r e d by B ish o p
G ra ce C. O sb o rn e , o n e o f th e f e w w o m e n B ish o p s in th e
A p o s to lic F a ith . T h e c h u r c h ’s a d d re ss is 5 4 5 0 N E F la n d ers.
“Pastor Grace” as she is affectionately called, has been involved in
community service for over 20 years; her past and present involvement
includes serving as President Emeritus o f Oregon State Minister’s Wives
and M inister’s Widows; Treasure o f One Church, One Child; member o f
CSD Adoption Committee; Instructor at North Portland Bible College; 1 st
Vice President o f Albina Ministerial Alliance; and Board member for
several organizations including Prep (Portland Release lim e Education
Program), S.O.S Drummers and Dreamers, and Black United Fund.
G o d 's c o v e n a n t w ith his c h ild re n th ro u g h A b ra h a m a n d The
D isp e n sa tio n o f G ra c e is the fo c a l p o in t o f th is m in istry a n d thus,
the n a m e G ra ce C o v e n a n t F ellow ship.
Bethel Lutheran Church Youth Choir,
Common Ground, Presents:
Common Ground is a high energy, touring, performing
group. We present music & drama by 35 High School
youth. You'll experience signing, accompanied by a
youth band, choreography, drams, personal sharing
and a lot of fun.
In Concert:
Place: Augustana Lutheran Church
Date: Monday, June 16
Time: 7:30p.m.
For info call:
288-6174
K om don I want to miss this dynamic ministry!
9-fong Jong Christians vow to f^ep faith
God or country? H aifa million Chinese Christians in Hong Kong pray
they w on’t face such a choice when Britain hands the territory back to
China on July 1.
“W e are Christians, but we are also Chinese proud to be returning to
China,” says the Reverend Yu Wai-Kan o f the Hong Kong Church
Renewal Movement, a Protestant umbrella grouping.
“Politically, our space in the future may be limited but religiously and
culturally we hope it will be sufficient.”
“We hope the Chinese government realises that Christians are not a
threat, that we are good people, hard working, obedient and cooperative."
“Concerning the handover, we are positive but realistic. Things have
been easy for us in Hong Kong under the British because Britain is a
Christian country. We are going to have a more pluralistic society as part
o f China. We must be flexible and not take anything for granted.”
Christianity came to Hong Kong on the heels o f British troops in 1841,
although its presence elsewhere was long established in China.
Christian missionaries played an important role in opening China up
to the West, often against Beijing’s will. As a result, organised religion
is still regarded by some in the Chinese government as a suspect relic of
the expiring colonial era.
Language in the Basic Law, promulgated by Beijing in 1990 as Hong
K ong’s post-handover constitution, seems to guarantee future religious
freedom. But Christian activists worry incoming Chinese officials will
subordinate the Law to communist political objectives.
They comment that both the Catholic church in China and the
m ainland’s official Three-Self Protestant organisation are banned from
proselytising or from expressing their faith through social action — both
com m on forms o f religious conduct in Hong Kong.