Join the Movement to Reform the Criminal Justice System! On Thursday, June 18 at 2 pm EST, people of faith from across the country will be taking part in a National Faith and Criminal Justice Reform Conference Call to discuss much-needed reforms in the criminal justice system. Here are the call-in details: Phone: 800-920-7487 Code: 76723736. Our focus for this call will be on specific issues that directly impact the African American community. June 19 is the day we celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the final announcement of the end of slavery in the United States. We will hear a reflection on this historic day and its relation to our current situation with the criminal justice system and strategic programs to reduce what is a disproportionate contact between minority groups and the criminal justice system. We will also hear legislative updates on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and ending the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. These important pieces of legislation are ready to move and we need your help. I hope you and members of your faith community will call in Thursday June 18 at 2 pm and be a part of this important call! In Christ, Bill Mefford Director, Civil and Human Rights

Truly Happy

I can honestly say that I am truly happy. Filled with joy is even a better expression of my life. I have always wanted to feel a sense of satisfaction in life--to know I was fulfilling my purpose. I believe that I am fulfilling my purpose. It is so very refreshing not to struggle with hoping one day I'll figure it all out or "find myself" somehow. What is really profound is that the more I untied my ID from my own expectations and wrapped my ID in God's purposes, the more satisfied I became. That inner statisfaction frees me to be filled with and to openly express joy. This is the kind of joy that transcends my situation, the economy, my relationships--everything. This inner peace is truly an anchor. It isn't shaken or stirred--just steady. What about you? Truly Happy? Satisfied? Filled with Joy?

What Do We Accomplish During Lent

We are in the season of Lent which is a time or preparation, reflection, and discovery. We walk with Jesus during this time and meditate on the Journey to the Cross. We engage at a deeper level inwardly and we really Go Deeper within to address areas in our lives that we need to surrender to God. To break that down a little bit--During Lent, we seek to change things in our lives and mostly in our hearts that we know need to change in order to be all that God wants us to be.

One way you can do that is by keeping a journal. In your journal, write each day the things you have done and said that you sense are pleasing to God and those that you wish you could change. If you see a pattern of particular difficulty, begin to develop and action plan that will help you to change in that area of your life.Look at that time as a time to Journey to the Cross. You will be in essence working to put whatever issue you have to death once and for all. As you do, look toward Resurrection Sunday as a time of Revival!

I invite you to Go Deeper in this season!

Pastor Rebecca

Keep Hope Alive in 2009!

This marks a time when we can be filled with hope. Let's join the nation is supporting the new president, Barak Obama.

New Year's Rockin" Eve

There's a party going on at Faith United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne! Don't Miss IT! Come hear Sevenglory in Concert! We get started at 8:30 with fun and prizes. We seat for the concert at 9:30! the Concert starts at 10PM and we rock the NEW YEAR 2009 IN!! Let's Raise the ROOF. $10 Donation. Contact: pastorbec@verizon.net for ticket info or call 260-744-4238. Or search: New Year's Rockin Eve on Facebook.

Discovering God's Will

There is one question that tends to perplex each one of us as we face the task of making daily decisions. Some decisions are harder than others. When it comes down to it, if we are true seekers of God, we eventually get to the place where we really want to know what God's will is and the questions becomes, "Why am I here and what am I supposed to do."

In our study, we discovered that there is God's Providential Will, God's Moral Will, and God's Personal Will for You. Our action steps are:

Learn God’s providential will.

Surrender to God’s moral will.

Discover God’s personal will for your life.

We studied the first 2 in Weds night bible study and now we will complete the study with a study in the book of Esther. So, each blog entry will deal with the questions on study guide #3. If you do not have study guide #3 or you would like to have #1 &#2 please e-mail Pastor Rebecca at pastorbec@verizon.net. All studies can be e-mailed.

The Book of Esther:
Read the entire book of Esther to get an understanding of the context. Who was Esther, and how was she guided into God's will for her life? From whom did she ask for directions? What did she do? What kind of character did she have? Post your observations here as we have open dialogue. Share your observations: What do you appreciate? What are you learning? Do you see any applications for your life?

I look forward to this...this is a good thing. Pastor Reb

Cell Phones Vs. The Bible

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh! And one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think, "Where are my priorities?"

And no dropped calls!