NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE 'HOOD - MAY '10

May is a time when spring leads to the summertime season. April showers bring May flowers and summer thoughts are very cooling and relaxing. Well, it appears that Brotherhood will not have that luxury. We finalized our studio CD for production and had a few ministries added before flying to New York City (June 11-14). Here’s what’s happening…

On Saturday May 22nd, Brotherhood presented an outdoor concert at Ft. Christmas Park for the Sanctuary Church of God holiday picnic. It was quite different but a wonderful experience sharing the gospel with good food and Christian fellowship. Brotherhood dusted off some oldies and treated these fine folks to some old quartet favorites like, “Jesus Is Coming Soon” and “Redemption Draweth Nigh”. They also enjoyed our camp meeting sing-a-long; an up tempo medley of church choruses we all remember well. And being so close to Memorial Day, we also honored the war veterans with patriotic songs and asked them to stand when their branch of service was mentioned.

Our home church was a final destination and a last minute addition. Being quite large and still growing, Faith Assembly has much talent but leans towards the contemporary style of praise & worship. So… for Brotherhood to sing “our” gospel music at mid-week service (5/26) was an unexpected blessing and thrill! The congregation and webcast viewers really enjoyed “Roll Away” from our soon-to-be released CD. We thank God for every opportunity to present His message, especially when we’re able to give back to church friends and family who support us.

As I looked around at the peoples’ faces, it made me think of how different yet wonderfully made we all are! We’re like that Japanese artwork, origami, in the Father’s hands. Just think of how He takes a simple piece of paper (dust of the earth) and makes a beautiful form (our human body). And, by His grace and mercy, He uses situations to brings us to Him and then continues to shape us into His image! And God uses the twists and turns in our lives to make us more like His Son. I suggest you read Romans 8:29!!

More to come…

TOWN & COUNTRY TIME

On Saturday, May 1st, Brotherhood was pleased to be part of a unique men's praise breakfast. Besides good fellowship and food prepared by the men's cooking crew, this brought together two opposite music styles to glorify the Father! We partnered with fellow church friend, Glenn Moore who's a rap artist reaching into the urban community. Glenn heard Brotherhood at an Encounter and desired to minister with us.

Brotherhood opened with a praise & worship set which included a medley of "old school" favorites and current contemporary praise songs ("How Great Is Our God" and "Jesus Messiah"). After breakfast, we shared our fast-paced gospel mini-concert that had the men clapping, finger snapping and on their feet praising God. After a brief break, Glenn Moore broke into his rap and hip-hop set. It's not my favorite muisc genre but, wow, was it good! The message came forth so strong and had the men jumping, shouting and strutting while having their ears opened to hear His Word.

Glenn also shared a message on men making the difference in the workplace. One central truth pointed towards the individual man ensuring his "work place" (heart) was right first. We cannot venture out if we're not right within - good, good, stuff! Afterwards, a few men came forward to receive Christ into their lives!!

We serve an awesome God - only He could make the sounds of Brotherhood & Glenn work out! Our minds could not conceive that thought. Continue to pray for both ministry outreaches. We plan on some more of these "joint ventures" and other out-of-the-box possibilities (video and song collaboration). You never, ever, know...