adjust - newbirth.org · of historic morehouse college where our pastor, dr. jamal bryant is a...
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N E W S L E T T E R
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www.newbirth.org
ADJUSTDespite the surprises 2020 has given us, make no mistake:
Our Mighty God has been in complete control. In response
to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Birth has adjusted our
operational procedures, services and programs. The Gospel
of Jesus Christ cannot be stopped! It is truth, yesterday,
today and tomorrow, and we will continue to lift it up, even
if we’re doing it a little bit differently.
G O D I S I N C O N T R O L
F U L L S T O R Y O N P A G E 0 0
THE CONNECTION
THE KING’S TABLE / COMMUNION
EMERGING GENERATIONS
BLACK FATHER’S MATTER
COVID-19 BEST PRACTICES
ADJUST
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I N T H I S I S S U E
Many church buildings are closed, but the body of Christ is open and
on the frontline! New Birth is blessed to receive many souls into
the family of Christ each week through our virtual and streaming
platforms. No longer are we winning others through door-to-door
witnessing, but our new tactic is through digital discipleship.
THECONNECTIONIt Starts Here!
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This July, we are excited to announce that we will launch the
virtual altar call and enhance our new member classes, called
“The Connection.” By the grace of God, New Birth has great
visibility in our city and around the world, but because of the heart
and conviction of our Senior Pastor, we will forge ahead to have
a more significant approach to touch the lives of people. Each
week we intentionally pray, plan, and strive to push out worship
experiences that capture the interest of all generations and walks
of life. However, our ultimate goal is to see someone come to
Jesus, recommit, and join the church. Through our new virtually
enhanced discipleship programming, new members will be able to
plug into the church and ministries much easier, understand their
purpose, and glorify God while prospering in every area of their
lives.
Look to hear more about The Connection this JULY!
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New Birth gladly serves as the Produce Distribution Hub for churches in
the U.S. Southeast region through our partnership with World Vision USA.
Over the past 6 weeks, World Vision has provided over $2.5 million worth
of food to New Birth for us to share with others. The delivery trucks roll
in each Monday through Friday with over 8,000 boxes of fresh fruit and
vegetables.
Forty churches come every week and pick up pallets of produce to take out
to their communities. The churches are from different denominations and
different locations including DeKalb County, Fulton County, Rockdale
County, Cobb County, Henry County, Augusta, Savannah, and Warner
Robins, Georgia, and as far away as, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Tennessee.
THE KING’S TABLEServing The Community
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Gave food directly to over 7,500 families at our drive-through distribution
center providing a variety of meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruit,
pasta, cereal, bread, frozen and non-perishable items.
Distributed 32,000 boxes of fresh produce in the Southeast region.
Collaborated with DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond as one of the DeKalb
County food pick-up locations for free fresh Georgia Grown products on
June 6 and June 27.
Held a surprise Pop-Up Produce Pickup at New Birth on Tuesday, June 9.
Supported The Legacy Center with another Pop-Up on Sunday, June 14.
Welcomed 200 volunteers who participated in the blessing of serving
others every Saturday and at the Pop-Up events.
Gave free UBER rides to The King’s Table.
Provided 1,000 steaks for the Father’s Day Free Steak Dinner Curbside
Giveaway.
Joined with U.S. Census Bureau and Fair Count to remind families to
complete the census forms.
Continued partnerships with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Trader
Joe’s, Athena Farms, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Received new corporate sponsorships from Borden Milk, Cumberland
Dairy, Tyson Foods, and Freedom 21.
During the month of June, The King’s Table at New Birth:
Everyone is welcome at The King’s Table! If you are in need of food or know
someone who needs food, please come to The King’s Table at New Birth on
Saturday mornings between the hours of 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. If you would
like to volunteer or need information, please send an email to thekingstable@
newbirth.org. If you would like to donate to The King’s Table, please give at
www.newbirth.org/give.
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Over the last eight weeks, Emerging Generations has been on the move! EG is
committed to ensuring that all of our children, youth, young adults, millennials
and singles have signature activities that cater specifically to their needs. With
this in mind, the Emerging Generations leadership team has carefully curated
virtual programming and signature events to keep our members engaged and
connected while in the midst of a global pandemic.
In May + June we launched a number of exciting initiatives to keep our parents
and students involved! We were excited to host a prayer call covering all of our
students and parents as they wrapped up finals and completed their academic
year! We were elated to launch Sunday School Re-Loaded which is our virtual
Sunday School offered each Sunday morning after our New Birth broadcast for
the entire family! We also offered a Virtual Slumber Party and POP-IN sessions
for our Next Generation students to see each other and their ministry leaders.
It our opportunity to check-in with them and allow them to communicate with
their ministry friends while learning about God in creative ways. Our middle
school and high school students are lit! We launched “The Hangout” a virtual
small group and bible study for our middle/high school students to provide a
safe space for them to bond and grow in God! We also hosted a game night for
our middle/ high school students where they gathered to virtually play Mortal
Kombat 11, which they fully enjoyed!
EMERGINGGENERATIONSWe’re On The Move!
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We were thrilled to keep our Young Adults + Millennials connected by hosting a monthly
small group and virtual bible study just for them! We have a growing singles community
that is lively, full of energy and love God! Dr. Bryant and Pastor Karri hosted part Two of
the Singles Chat + Chill in which they had a wonderful conversation about being single and
quarantined. We also hosted a Virtual Singles Volunteer Meet Up to welcome all of our new
singles and get them plugged into the ministry! Our goal is to keep our parents in-the-know
and to get their feedback and support! We did this virtually by hosting an EG All Parents
Meeting where Pastor Karri Turner, M.Div. discussed everything happening in EG along
with answering questions from parents and finding better ways to support them.
We hosted our first EG Girls Code Workshop! This workshop was offered specifically for
forty New Birth girls 11-17 to teach them the fundamentals of physical computing using
microbits. We partnered with 100 Girls Code of Conyers to host this incredible workshop
that the girls thoroughly enjoyed! We are excited about bringing this back in the winter for
our girls!
In light of all of the controversy happening in our nation with regard to race relations and
the Black Lives Matter Movement, we were honored to have Dr. Bryant facilitate a robust
discussion called Millennial Lives Matter with millennials from New Birth and partner
churches across the state on a LIVE Word Network Broadcast which was featured in the homes
of millions of viewers. Dr. Bryant discussed this crisis is through the eyes of millennials and
received their honest, candid and brilliant feedback on their thoughts and concerns regarding
the matter as their lives are being directly impacted and the power their wield to intact change
Emerging Generations hosted a wildly successful Ice Cream Drive Up where children, youth
and the entire family stopped by New Birth to receive a variety of ice cream and sweet
treats to let them know how much we love them! Emerging Generations volunteers served
hundreds of families while also giving away five Microsoft laptops to middle and high school
students in order to help support them academically for the upcoming school year!
Emerging Generations ended June with a bang as we highlighted our 2020 graduates and
New Birth Scholarship recipients on our EG Graduation and scholarship Sunday Broadcast!
Scholarships ranged from $1,500, $1,000 and $500. The broadcast was hosted on the campus
of historic Morehouse College where our pastor, Dr. Jamal Bryant is a proud alum. He
delivered a powerful message that challenged, encouraged and inspired us all!
Your Emerging Generations department is working with you and your heart in mind! We
have many, many more exciting this happening in the coming months to better serve you and
stay connected to you!! Get Ready!
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Although it seems like an eternity, we are currently in the midst of racial
upheaval and unrest once again in the seemingly Siloed States of America.
At the center of this injustice, lies the souls and struggles of black men
all over the country. While simultaneously fighting systematic racism
there is literal fight for the health of our lives against the pandemic called
COVID-19. With all that is going on at this moment in history, I am
confident in stating, this is a challenging moment to be a black man and
even a more challenging time being a black father.
It was thereby of extreme importance to me that this Father’s Day serve as
a weekend of valued appreciation for every father that our ministry was
able to impact. As a pastor, black man, father, and son, this may have
been the most personal initiative I have ever been connected to. With the
blessing and support of our Senior Pastor, Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, we set
out to bless as many fathers as we could. Never forgetting the plight of
imprisonment, whether justly or unjustly sentenced, health is a necessary
blessing. Therefore, we blessed the DeKalb County Jail with 10,000 masks
to provide a level of safety to inmates within our community.
BLACK FATHERSMATTERBy Pastor Kervance Ross
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Our next desire was to create a cycle of financial empowerment and
community wealth building. By partnering with five black owned
barbershops in the Stonecrest, Decatur, Lithonia, and Conyers area,
we were able to bless 100 fathers with free haircuts while investing the
fathers that own the barbershops that just invested in other black fathers.
Not only did we turn dollars around, we turned lives around.
But we did not stop there.
New Birth was not only concerned about making Fathers feel good, we
desired to have them eat good as well. So we supplied 1000 fathers
that were able to show up on our premises with a finely grilled steak,
potatoes, and a salad. In addition, one of our community partners
Lowe’s, provided us with four gas grills to bless random men with a gift
they would never forget.
But we did not stop there.
Between a soul stirring and challenging message and an empowering
dialogue of economics and wealth development, both held within the
confines of an exquisite black owned barbershop, we made this Father’s
Day memorable for years to come.
Black Father’s have and will continue to matter to New Birth, Our
Community, and Our World!
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COVID-19BEST PRACTICESStaying Safe In Times Of Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is a history-making occurrence, not only in the
United States, but across the globe. We have been introduced to a new concept, social
distancing, essentially defined as maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet between
you and another person. We have been told that the distancing is important in helping
prevent the coronavirus from spreading, simply because 6 feet is the general reach of
droplets emitted from a cough or sneeze
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As of July 2020, although it may seem like we have gotten over the hurdle of COVID-19, it
is far from over. Some areas of the country which reopened businesses are experiencing
a surge of positive coronavirus cases. We must all exercise caution and adhere to best
practices as we trust God to bring us through and help us conquer this disease.
Best Practices To Combat COVID-19
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING. Because there is currently no vaccine to prevent
the disease caused by coronavirus, COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to
avoid being exposed. The virus is thought to be spread mainly from person to person;
therefore, as much as possible, avoid close contact with others and maintain a distance
of 6 feet.
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WASH YOUR HANDS. Everyone should wash their hands often with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after
blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Also be sure to wash your hands
before eating and preparing food, after using the restroom, changing a diaper,
caring for someone sick, or touching animals.
USE HAND SANITIZER. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer
that contains at least 60% alcohol.
WEAR A MASK. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when you
are around others, in case you have contracted the coronavirus unaware, as well
as to protect you from getting it. It is critical that we reserve the surgical masks
and N95 respirators for healthcare workers and first responders. Masks are widely
available in stores and online.
COVER COUGHS & SNEEZES. Always cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue is
not available, use the inside of your elbow. Immediately wash your hands with
soap and water; if necessary, at minimum, use hand sanitizer with at least 60%
alcohol.
CLEAN & DISINFECT. Surfaces that are frequently touched should be cleaned
daily, and then disinfected with an appropriate household disinfectant. Such
surfaces include tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks,
phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
MONITOR YOUR HEALTH. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other
symptoms of the coronavirus, which can be found on the CDC’s website, especially
if you are working around others on a regular basis or are in situations that make
social distancing difficult. If symptoms do develop, take your temperature. Per
the CDC, don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after
taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS. Contact your healthcare provider if
you feel you have been exposed to COVID-19. Keep track of your symptoms. If
you have trouble breathing, get emergency medical care immediately.
PRAY. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to
their prayers; (I Peter 3:12) and “… Pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
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Despite the surprises 2020 has given us, make no mistake: Our
Mighty God has been in complete control. In response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, New Birth has adjusted our operational
procedures, services and programs. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
cannot be stopped! It is truth, yesterday, today and tomorrow,
and we will continue to lift it up, even if we’re doing it a little bit
differently.
ADJUSTVirtual Summer Revival
C O V E R S T O R Y
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One of the most recent ways we heralded the Gospel was by launching
our first Virtual Summer Revival, “From Pandemic to Pandemonium”!
For three nights in our cyber sanctuary, prophetic leaders blessed us
with a powerful, rhema word, and dynamic gospel artists graced us
with anointed worship. And all of it was broadcast live via New Birth’s
Facebook page.
Each night of this revival commenced with worship from New Birth,
led by Senior Director of Worship Jonathan Nelson. To Nelson, the
worship experience, despite occurring virtually, was still anointed and
full of God’s spirit. It didn’t matter whether viewers were joining on
their televisions, phones, or their tablets — Nelson said to make it our
sanctuary.
TUESDAY NIGHT. On Tuesday, July 14, our special guest artist was
Kelontae Gavin, a young man who’s hit the ground running since his
debut album in April 2018. He graced us with “No Ordinary Worship,”
his song that reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart in
March 2019. Kelontae informed us that we will receive “no ordinary
miracle” because we’re lifting up “no ordinary worship.” (@kelontae_
gavin).
On that same night, Pastor Torrey Phillips blessed us with a prophetic
charge to make our tents larger, as we are instructed in Isaiah 54:2:
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains
of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy
stakes.”
“We are in a moment right now. This moment is pregnant
with manifestation … with miracles … with momentum.
Put a demand on this moment that God will unravel, unbox,
and make known his mysteries in your life. Let expectation
dominate your space. He’s obligated to meet us right at
our expectation … We have entered a moment that will be
marked by the supernatural.”
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We were exceedingly encouraged by Pastor Torrey’s declaration that we
will experience momentum in every spectrum of our existence — our
lives, ministries, marriage and family businesses, all of them moments
marked by miracles.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Powerhouse gospel sensation James Fortune
rocked the house with his song “It’s Gonna Happen.” His award-winning
career brought us “You Survived,” which peaked as the second most-played
gospel song in the country and remained in the top seven for three years.
Shalondria Taylor brought us the word, “The Dreamers Are Coming”
based in Genesis 37:18-20: “ …And they said one to another, behold, this
dreamer cometh....”
“The reason why Joseph had to stay in prison was because
his gift was not needed yet….God cannot take you out before
you are processed….Pharaoh calls him out of the prison….
At every level, God had to force him to go to another place
by way of stripping him of something that brought him
significance….When he was ready, he didn’t have to go to
the next call, the call came where he was. The assignment on
your life is getting ready to cause Pharaoh to make a call….
You are not supposed to settle for Potiphar when you belong
in a palace.”
Shalondria reminded us that the Lord says we are more than enough! She
rebuked every spirit of sabotage, that they would be destroyed by the power
of the blood of the Lamb. We shall be everything God called us to be.
THURSDAY NIGHT. Musical artist Nakitta C. Foxx, who sang at our dear
brother George Floyd’s homegoing service, reminded us that “No weapon
formed against us shall prosper” as she lifted her beautiful voice to sing
“No Weapon.” Nakitta lent her voice to the Kurt Carr Singers from 2001 to
2011 and then launched into her own singing career with her debut album,
Let Us Worship.
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Prophet Todd Hall left us submerged in God’s presence through his
message, “Don’t Close Your Mouth,” based on John 9:1-7: “And as Jesus
passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.…‘As long as I
am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had thus spoken, he
spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes
of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, ‘Go, wash in the pool
of Siloam,’ (which is, by interpretation, ‘sent’). He went his way therefore,
and washed, and came seeing.”
Prophet Todd left us with the word “droplets.” He said that he hears showers
of blessings, or droplets, positioned to fall on us.
“The best time to open your mouth and praise God is when
you can’t see Him. Praise Him in the dark and He will bring
you to the light….The man in John 9 was born blind. He was
minding his business when Jesus came passing by. The light
was about to approach darkness and hold a conversation….
The world needs a miracle because they have their mouths
closed….Jesus does not lay His hands on the blind man; He
does not speak a miracle. He went through a process: He took
dirt, opened His mouth and put droplets into the dirt, then
made clay and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, and told
him to go wash.”
Prophet Hall says God is going to place droplets on you during the
pandemic, so that you might come out of darkness into light. It’s not how
you go but how you come back. In the meantime, praise Him. Don’t let
your mask be your muzzle.
We were exceedingly blessed with the Virtual Summer Revival and look
forward to all God has revealed. We will make our tents larger. We realize
we are more than enough. And we will open our mouths and praise God in
the darkness as He brings us to the light!
All of the messages from the Virtual Summer Revival are available in our
online Called to Conquer Bookstore.
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