Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2000)
Hage A 5 S e p te m b e r 6, 2 00 0 ÌJo rtlau ò (Pbeeruer (Elje "(U o rt Untò © b a e ru e r Religion New African American Christian publisher emerges CONTRIBUTED STORE FOR T H E PORTLAND OBSERVER It used to be that the only place you could hear the gospel was in church. But times are changing. W alk Worthy Press, a company that publishes contem porary Christian fiction aimed at the African American market, is releasing the first o f three novels it plans to publish this year. “ I’m on a mission,” says publisher and founder, Denise Stinson. “That mission is to exalt the name o f Jesus through contemporary fiction.” Stinson says the primary characters in W alk W orthy Press books “have a heart for God.” But just like real Christians, they are not perfect. “Our books are real believers who have real challenges. “ To that end, readers will find W alk W orthy Press books exploring issues such as adultery, pre-marital sex, and suicide-all the challenges o f contemporary life. W alk W o rth y ’s d e b u t n o v e l, T E M P T A T IO N , by V ic to ria C h risto p h e r M urray, is a good example o f Stinson’s vision. It is the story o f a Christian couple, blessed with the best life has to offer, whose lives are changed forever by a betrayal. But, through their trust o f and belief in the Word o f God, they leam forgiveness and a new kind o f love. TEMPTATION will be followed by SINGSATION! By Jacquelyn Thomas in April 2001 andCHURCHFOLK by Michele Andrea Bowen in June 2001. Snits, says that the early response she has gotten from both reader and bookstores has been phenomenal. “W alk W orthy Press is filling a need that has been void in the market for far Saharan A frica every day. The A fric a n A ID S In itia tiv e , an international non-profit organization focused specifically on this crisis, points out HIV/AIDS is reversing gains in 1 ife expec tancy and economic development in Africa. The epidemic is h a v in g an u n im a g in a b ly devastating affect on the lives of m illions o f A fricans, including millions o f African children. More than five million children have been bom H IV -positive in sub- Saharan Africa. Almost four million o f those children have already died. Millions more children are being left orphaned when one or both parents die o f AIDS, and often are abandoned by extended families and communities who cannot or will not take care o f them. 12.1 millionchild have already lost either their mothers or both parents to AIDS in sub-Saharan A frica. Their numbers are expected to continue to grow dramatically. Many other children are leaving school to care for sick parents and younger siblings even before their parents have passed away. Many o f us have not heard these catastrophic numbers before. Now that we know them, we must do everything we can to change them — and to help the African children. Ophelia Baker O ctober9,1930-A ugust 30,2000 Memorial Service is Thursday, September 7,2000 at Caldw ell’s Colonial Chapel in Portland, Oregon. Ophelia Baker was bom October 9, 1930 to George and Louise Hudson inCairo, Illinois. She was the third o f six children. Ophelia moved to Portland, Oregon in 1944. She worked for many years at American Linen and was last employed by Delta Inn at Hayden Meadows. Solving crossword p u zzles, p la y in g b id w hist, pinochle and blackjack, were just a few o f O phelia’s passions. One o f h e r b ig g e st jo b s w as to supervise her daughter Connie working in the garden. Nothing brought Ophelia more joy than her g ra n d c h ild re n , g reat grandchildren, and especially 16 month-old twins Keauna and Breauna. Ophelia is survived by daughters Connie L. Brown and Janet M. Baker o f Portland, Sister Tressie Hawkins o f Detroit, MI, brother Leroy H udson o f P ortland, four grand children; Evonne L. McDonald, Eric P. Keeton, KyleN. Baker, DialloB. Keeton, seven great grandchildren, and a host o f nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Ophelia was preceded in death by her daughter Darlene Keeton in 1996. “She is Just Away” I cannot say, and I will not say That she is dead- W ith a cheery smile, And a wave o f the hand. She has wandered Into an unknown land. And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be, Since she lingers there. So think o f her faring on, as dear In the love o f There As the love o f Here; Think o f her still As the same, I say: She is not dead - She is just away! James Whitcomb Riley It is w ith sincere and deep appreciation that we thank all o f you for your prayers, visits, calls, and many acts of kindness during our time o f grief and loss. May God bless each o f you. From the family o f Ophelia Baker Happy birthday Gary Washington from your friends and family Obituary In Loving Memory Publisher Denise L. Stinton, Walk Worthy Press publisher agrees. W arner Books and W alk W o rth y P re ss re c e n tly a n n o u n c e d a co- p u b lish in g a g re e m e n t, w h ic h in c lu d e s distribution by W arner for Walk Worthy Press books Temptation, too long,” says one African American bookstore owner. “African American readers want a variety o f fiction and stories that impact their personal belief systems in a more positive way.” A p p aren tly at least one m ajor AIDS in Africa: a new Holocaust AIDS has become the number-one killer in Africa. The United Nations estimates 24.5 million o f the 34.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world live in Africa. 11.5million sub-Saharan Africans have died o f AIDS since the start o f the epidemic; 5,500 people die o f AIDS in sub- Family struggles with loss a d u lts, an d c o m m u n itie s they represent. On July 13 the International A IDS Conference was held in Durban, South Africa. This was the first time this conference met in Africa, and the location focused attention on the epidemic spread o f HIV/AIDS in Africa. One o f the most powerful speakers at the Durban conference was Nkosi Johnson, an 11-year-old Johannesburg student who spoke directly after South African President Thabo Mbeki and shared is own story. Nkosi was bom HIV-positive and now has full-blown AIDS. Nkosi’s mother was forced to leave him in a care center when he was bom because she was afraid that if she tried to raise an ill child, her community would guess they were both HIV-positive and turn them away. When Nkosi was two the center where his mother had left him was forced to close for lack o f funding. Luckily, Nkosi was safely cared for when center director, Gail Johnson chose to become his adoptive foster mother. With his “Mommy G ail’s” help Nkosi fought local prejudices and enrolled in school in 1997, the same year his natural inotherdiedof AIDS. Gail also helped Nkosi fulfill another dream: creating care centers where other HIV- positive mothers and children can stay together. The first N k o si’s H aven center opened last year, and their goal is to open five more Nkosi’s Havens by the end o f next year. Knosi explained " I was very sick and I get vary sad when I think about all the other children and babies that are sick with AIDS.” Nkosialsoexplained he hopes the government will be able to do more soon to slow the spread o f HIV from mothers to children, because he has already personally known too many babies and children who have died from AIDS— “and I don’t want babies to die.” Nkosi Johnson shares a brave and wise first-hand perspective o f a crisis which sadly affects millions more children like him. Most have not been lucky enough to receive the care and support he has. It is shameful that international attention has ignored this crisis for so long. But it is never too late to right a wrong. Just as Black American voices were heard in the struggle against apartheid, it is critically important we be heard even more loudly and clearly now. As horrifying as the statistics seem and as far as the epidemic has already spread, there are prevention and treatment programs being put in place in many parts o f Africa which bring h ope. T h e re are p e o p le and organizations already committed to so lu tio n s w hose w ork w e can support. I will be using this space many more times to continue talking about this modem plague and what we can all do now. Nkosi Johnson says his greatest dream is to continue speaking and educating even more people about HIV/AIDS when-if-he grows up. How manymoremillionsof Nkosis will never grow up ifw edo not all begin to share his work right now? (P la c e s to learn m ore include www.unaids.org. the Web site for the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/ AIDS; ww~w.whitehouse.gov/QNAP. the Web site for the Office ofNational AIDS Policy; and the African AIDS Initiative’s International Office in the United States at 617-496-5998.) Donation Alert Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR) is in desperate need of donations for our refugee clients. Items (in good condition) like blankets and bedding, winter jackets, dishes, cooking utensils and furniture are especially needed. We Will Pick-Up the items from your house or business. Please call Olga at 284-3002. Bobby Joe Moore Sunrise July 25,1949 Sunset August 28,2000 B obby Joe was the ow ner and operator o f Bobby’s Barber and Beauty Shop, located at 26,h and NE Alberta in Portland for the last 7 years. He was baptized at Vancouver Ave. 1 “ Baptist Church under the direction o f the late Reverend O.B. Williams. Bobby was raised and educated here in Portland and was a graduate o f L in co ln H igh S chool. H e was preceded in death by his father, Richard Moore in 1980, and by his sister, Shirley Marie Moore in 1989. Bobby passed away on August 28, 2000 in Pasco, Washington. Funeral services will be held on September 5, 2000 at 11:00 am, V ancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland, OR. Disposition will be held at the Rose City Cemetery. Bobby Joe Moore leaves to cherish his memory: Beatrice Moore Mother Portland, OR Tia Moore Daughter Los Angeles, CA. Myrlin Spencer Sister Portland, OR Celebrate the “Soul of the City!” with The Urban League of Portland Dinner, Wednesday evening October 4, 2000 wants you to save this date. You will receive an invitation after Labor Day, but please mark your calendar now for this special occasion! Billy Don Moore Brother Seattle, WA. Norman J. Moore Brother Seattle, WA. Annette Moore Sister Portland, OR Eula Lee Yarborough Aunt Tacoma, WA. Annie Bagneris Aunt Los Angeles, CA. And a host o f cousins, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. For more information, call the Urban League at (503) 280-2600. Tickets: $ 175 each / S 1,750 for a table of 10, 55,000 for Dinner Sponsorship. Proceeds benefit The Urban League of Portland and its programs. The I rkan League o f Portland, 10 N . Ruasell Street, Portland, Oregon 97227 Suffering from teleconfusion? Here's a simple, local, friendly solution! ^integra TELEC O M BE HEARD. Visit our website: w w w ln teq ra teteco m c o m LOCAL, LONG DISTANCE & INTERNET FOR BUSINESSES Call Integra Telecom today at 503-748 7777 I
