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Manna from Heaven NEWS

2 Manna from Heaven NEWS

Reflections from the Pastor

In this edition:

Honoring the Shepard 3

The Gift of Giving 4

We Have ministry for That 6

I was Born for This 7

Family Matters 2013 8

Prayer Breakfast 9

Revisiting the Call 10

Called to Help 11

A Will to Serve 12

Bible Institute 13

Health Care Act 14

To Your Health 15

Men’s Conference 16

Women's Conference 17

Women of Radiance 18

R.A.G.E. 2013 19

Youth Ministry 20

2013 Graduation 21

Law Enforcement Day 22

Elevations Honors 22

There’s Promise in the Process 23

We started the year 2013

with a clear vision given

to us by God on being

‘one’ in the Body of Christ.

As the year progressed, God

revealed the benefits, as

well as the beauty of a

church body that operates

as one. Month after month,

we learned about the

importance of our calling

in God’s Kingdom as we

have many members in

one body, and all members

have not the same office.

So we, being many, are

one body in Christ, and

every one members one

of another. (Romans 12:

4-5). Through sermons,

conferences, Bible studies,

and community outreach,

God’s Word opened our

eyes to the possibilities

of working together as

one in God’s Kingdom.

In the spirit of “oneness,”

Elevation has accomplished

a lot this year. Thank you

for the part you played

in working together as

one in the Body of Christ.

As we approach the end

of the year and look

forward to a new year, we

must each ask ourselves:

How will I move forward

in the Body of Christ?

With a renewed mind,

will you embrace the spirit

of oneness to use your

spiritual gifts to advance

God’s Kingdom? Will you

ask the Lord of the Harvest

to send you to evangelize

to the nations because the

harvest is plenty but the

laborers are few? Will you

find new ways to increase

the time you spend studying

God’s Word? Or will you

make the all important

step to surrender your life

completely to Christ?

Take a moment to reflect

on what God has purposed

to do in the new year.

On behalf of our entire

family, Elder Carmichael and

I pray that you have a very

happy and fruitful new year.

Amazed by His Grace

Dr. T.L. Carmichael, Sr.

Manna from Heaven NEWS 3

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (KJV) On Sunday, March 14, 2013 Elevation Baptist Church disciples and guests celebrated Pastor T.L. Carmichael, Sr.’s 15th church anniversary. The service began with a special musical tribute from Gregory Cox, musician/producer and Elevation’s own music ministry assistant. Continuing in the flow of the anointing, was guest speaker, Dr. Sir Walter Mack, of Union Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC. His sermon, “Lord, I Knew You Would Do To But I Didn’t Know You Would Do it Like This,” was quite timely. He reflected on the remarkable God-inspired accomplishments of Elevation during Pastor Carmichael’s tenure.

Dr. Mack referenced Joshua 10:12-14, sharing we [believers] are living in the age of wisdom and foolishness but God’s favour will open doors for anyone. He continued by saying we should never under-estimate the power of praise and as a people we need to celebrate our God - the One who answers prayers. Later in his remarks, he cautioned congregants not to judge others because no one knows another’s story. He said, “Sometimes you have to ask God to see your enemy and then sit back and watch God work.” Mack closed the service encouraging Elevation disciples to sow into their shepherd. When a church honors its pastor, they strengthen the team God has put together to serve Him in their community. Speaking of honor, Councilman James Roberson presented Pastor Carmichael with a plaque and read a proclamation on behalf

of Mayor Russell Killen, Town of Knightdale. Roberson acknowledged Elevation and Pastor Carmichael’s contributions to the community. Immediately following that awesome service, Elevation disciples and guests gathered for an informal repast, where special treats and a gallery of photos highlighting major milestones throughout Pastor’s 15-year journey, were awaiting them. Attendees shared words of appreciation and displayed other acts of kindness to Pastor and Elder Carmichael for their tireless service. They in turn thanked all who assisted in the implementation of the anniversary program recognizing that the church cannot function effectively unless everyone does their part to build each other up. It was a grand celebration – THANK YOU Pastor Carmichael for serving in such a marvelous way!


The Gift of Giving “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,

and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye

mete withal it shall be measured to you again”. Luke 6:38 (KJV)

EBC Food Bank As Elevation embarked on the holiday seasons, our attention was focused on families who were in

need. In 2013 Pastor and Elder Carmichael, along with the Deacon’s Ministry, piloted the EBC Food

Bank. Members were asked to donate non-perishable food items to this cause. On November 23

and December 21, bags of food were distributed to various families in the community.

One recipient said “Thanks to this church I will be able to feed my grandchildren, to God be the

Glory.” A special “thank you” is extended to all who contributed to this very worthy cause.

The EBC Food Bank is an ongoing project. If you would like to donate, contact Anthony

Scarborough at (919) 881-8324.

The Senior Ministry Under the guidance and leadership of Clyde Cash, the EBC Senior Ministry sponsored a crochet

class in which they learned to crochet roses and leaves. Sabrina Tucker suggested the idea of

making roses for the sick and shut in for the holiday season. The Senior Ministry visited the

sick and shut in during the month of December to distribute the roses.

Holiday Cheer Each year Wake County Human Services seeks community sponsors for its Holiday Cheer Project.

This project brightens the holidays of children in need by matching them with a community

sponsor. For the second year, members of Elevation sponsored children from the eastern

region of the county (Wendell, Knightdale and Zebulon) and like last year, families were very

appreciative of the givings. One Elevation donor said, “I can’t imagine a child without something

for Christmas so I had to give.” We are grateful for those Elevation members and ministries who

participated.


EBC Food Bank

Holiday Cheer

Senior Ministry


We’ve all the heard the term, “There’s an app for that.” Programmers and software developers are constantly creating new applications or “apps” to enhance, expedite and meet the needs of users to make their electronic devices more effective. Well, did you know that God has “programmed” each of with spiritual gifts which He expects us to use for enhancing and meeting the needs of the Body of Christ. The entire chapter of I Corinthian 12 teaches about the importance and administration of spiritual gifts beginning with verse1 that says: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant” and ending with verse

31 that admonishes us to “Covet earnestly the best gifts” and the best gift for you is the one that God has given to you. However, just like an a pp becomes most effective when it has been downloaded, your spiritual gift works best when it is plugged Into the Body of Christ. You may be wondering, “How do I plug in or use my spiritual gift?” but perhaps you didn’t realize that Elevation has a ministry eagerly waiting for you to share your spiritual gift that looks so good on you. This past Fall volunteers representing the various ministries with in Elevation were full of enthusiasm as they participated in a Ministry Expo to share the purpose of their specific ministries with members and guests after the 10:30 a.m. service. With the continued growth of Elevation through its focus on evangelism, the goal of the Ministry Expo was to strengthen the church’s ability to reach its members through awareness and to invite them to share their spiritual gifts by participating in a ministry that piqued their interest. Tables were interspersed throughout the vestibule and volunteers were creative in spotlighting their ministries with slide shows, poster boards, floral arrangements and even a live performance by the choir! Pastor Carmichael greeted and intermingled with members and ministry volunteers as they exchanged information and answered questions. The Ministry Expo provided an excellent opportunity in a

relaxed setting for both members and guests to obtain information on services provided by the church and to identify ways to utilize their gifts and talents for the glory of God and the Body of Christ. “I didn’t know EBC had this ministry” and “I didn’t know you needed help in this area” were comments being overheard as the Expo progressed. EBC was pleased with the success of the Expo and the positive impact it created among its body. As a result, look for the Ministry Expo to continue in 2014 on the fourth Sunday of every month. If you would like to volunteer to serve in a ministry you may sign up at the Ministry Expo or contact the ministry’s Servant Leader for additional information. A list of the ministries and contact information may be found on the EBC website (http://www.elevation baptist.org/ministries). If you do not know your spiritual gift(s) you may also be interested in taking the free Spiritual Gifts Analysis that is also provided on the EBC website (http://www.churchgrowth.org/ cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1). Remember, you have a gift and Elevation has a ministry for that!

http://www.elevationbaptist.org/ministries

http://www.elevationbaptist.org/ministries

http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1

http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1


Directed and performed by the Music and Fine

Arts Ministry, “I Was Born For This” was the title

of this year’s Easter Musical held on March 31 at

Elevation’s East Campus. The play, based on the

New Testament Gospel opened with the Virgin

Mary being visited by an angel who informed her

that she had found favor with God and he had

chosen her to give birth to a child. Mary who was

engaged to be married to Joseph, must then tell

Joseph that she is pregnant and that he is not the

father. When Mary tells Joseph, he tells his

friends and they discuss with him the possibility

of a public stoning of Mary for adultery in

accordance with Jewish Law. Joseph comes

up with a plan to leave the city with Mary, marry

her and then divorce her quietly. While alone,

Joseph singing “My Destiny” is visited by the

Angel Gabriel. The angel tells Joseph not to

divorce Mary because her situation is of God.

He continues by telling Joseph he is to wed

Mary, care for the child and to name the child

“Jesus.” The audience watches as Jesus ages

from infant to manhood and then sets out on

His journey that was designed only for Him.

This production was filled with color and

Pageantry which included Jesus’ entrance into

Jerusalem, the Healing, the Whipping of Jesus,

and a heartfelt rendition of “Fix me Jesus” sung by

EBC’s very own Carrington Wiggins. The musical

and concluded with Jesus telling his disciples

not to worry because “I was Born For This.”

2013 marks the 15th year and topical and uplifting

productions by the Music and Fine Arts Ministry.

You are invited to join us for future productions,

as the Music and Fine Arts Ministry continues

to bring forth encouragement, hope, inspiration

and God’s message through dance, music and

theatrical performances.


On February 8 - 10 Elevation

sponsored a family event at both

campuses entitled “Family

Matters: Building Our Family

God’s Way” with activities for

adults and youth. On February

8 teens and young adults

participated with a fashion show

depicting appropriate attire while

still expressing their individuality.

They also enjoyed a gospel

musical explosion which offered

a chance to express themselves

in true worship with music they

could relate to. In addition,

adults participated with open

discussion on various topics.

Several couples participated

in EBC’s version of the game

show “The Newlywed Game.”

On February 9, at EBC’s East

Campus additional workshops

were held. These workshops

included: (1) “Single and

Searching – The Boaz Experience”

facilitated by Ronella Ellis;

(2) “The Thrill is Gone – Getting

Back to Basics” facilitated by

Marie Francis; (3) “Teen

Summit – Young, Gifted &

Restless” facilitated by Natalie

Spencer and Jamilah McClain;

(4) “Have a Little Talk with Jesus”

facilitated by Lisa Watkins.

Family Matters: “Building Our Family God’s Way”


On Saturday July 20 Elevation’s

Prayer Ministry hosted its

annual prayer and continental

breakfast. Karen Harris began

with a scripture reading

referencing John 17: 1-3, 11,

13 and 20-26. (KJV)

After devotion, Angela Law

began the series of prayers

for the program, starting

with prayer for the vision of

Elevation and the First Family.

Law noted that “Hallelujah”

was the highest praise that we

could say to help us become

united in oneness. She stated,

“When we pray we should

always have a heart

of expectancy and always

expect God to answer.”

Marilyn Foster delivered

a prayer for marriage.

She referenced her own

personal testimony on how

praying to God and expecting

an answer saved her marriage

and brought her and her

husband closer in Christ.

Jacqueline Gross delivered

a prayer for the children

referencing Deuteronomy

28:1-6 which states we should

stay in continuous prayer with

and for our children. Henrietta

Quarcoo and Felecia Hardy

delivered prayers for singles,

employment, finances, grief

care, addictions and spiritual

warfare referencing Job 16:33,

Romans 8:28, Proverbs 13:22

to name a few. It was stated

the strongest weapon we

possess is the Name of Jesus

Christ and God’s Holy Word.

EBC’s very own family group

comprised of a mother and

and her three daughters –

“Higher Hope” who ministered

in song. Angela Law concluded

the prayer summit with a

prayer for the President,

nation and the world.


On Wednesday, June 26, the

atmosphere was set for a mighty

move of God. As people entered

the sanctuary there was already

an atmosphere of worship in

preparation for Pastor Joshua

Carmichael’s ordination service.

The choir sang songs, “Got to

Praise Him” and “I Will Rejoice,”

befitting the occasion. The guest

speaker, Pastor Charles Evans

delivered the message for the

evening “Revisiting the Call”.

This revisiting was a chance

for spiritual renewal and an

opportunity to reflect on the

goodness of the Lord. Moments

of reflection tend to rejuvenate

us and bring back the excitement

of surrender. Pastor Evans

presented us with his found-

ational verse Jeremiah 1:5:

“Before I formed you in the

womb I knew thee; and before

thou camest forth out of the

womb I sanctified thee, and I

ordained thee a prophet unto

the nations.” Armed with this

information, Pastor Evans led us

on a journey through the lives of

different Biblical characters that

ran from the call God placed on

their lives initially. He helped us

see that true peace is only found

when we are in the center of

God’s will. We were reminded

that God not only calls, but

he equips those he calls.

The purpose of Pastor Joshua’s

ordination service was a public

display of what had already

happened in heaven. As the

sermon drew to a close, Pastor

Evans also charged the Elevation

church family to keep Pastor

Joshua and his family lifted up

in prayer. The service then

transitioned to remarks by his

father, Elevation’s own Pastor

T.L. Carmichael, Sr. It was easy

to see the pride in his eyes and

sense the sincerity in his voice

as he retold the story of Elijah

passing the mantle to Elisha.

As one generation makes way

for the next, Pastor Carmichael,

Sr. defined the biblical qualifica-

tions set forth for those who

were to hold the office of pastor

and the serious nature of

accountability that is expected.

To further prepare Pastor Joshua

for his journey, Pastor Carmichael

Sr., then presented him with two

powerful gifts: a Bible, to bring

down giants with the sword of

the Spirit which is the word of

God and a hymnal to encourage

himself with songs of Spiritual

truth. As the ordination council

came forward to lay their hands

on Pastor Joshua and his wife,

Cristal, the Elevation church

family stood in support, and

one could feel the transfer of

the anointing. Pastor Carmichael

encouraged his son to preach the

gospel in and out of season, when

he’s happy or sad and to stand of

the truth.

Pastor Joshua preaches at

Elevation’s 8 a.m. worship

service every Sunday. His soul

stirring messages are pulling

down strongholds, encouraging

the believer’s spirits, and most

importantly bringing lost souls to

Christ.


On October 16, during the weekly Bible Study session,

Pastor Carmichael taught from Romans 16:1-2,

“I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a servant

of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in

the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in

whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath

been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” (KJV)

This scriptural reference set the tone for the first-ever

Elevation Deaconess Ministry Ordination. Pastor

Carmichael asked the question, “What is a Deaconess?”

He proceeded by teaching the congregation that a

Deaconess is committed, faithful and a helper.

He referenced Phoebe, who stood out and had the

spirit of a servant, similar to the nine women [Deaconess]

seated before him. He also referenced 1 Corinthians 12:12

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all

the members of that one body, being many, are one body:

so also is Christ” (KJV) noting that the Deaconess would be a

part of the Body with a special assignment: To care for

fellow believers, the sick, children, and the elderly. Pastor

stated that God appointed them and he reiterated the

confidence he had in them to carry out their assignment(s).

He continued to teach about the characteristics of a

Deaconess, saying, “She’s dignified and not a gossiper;

has the spirit of a servant; and is accountable and

responsible – she strengthens the church. At the end

of service, Pastor Carmichael anointed each Deaconess’

hands and promoted them to the title of Deaconess.

He stated ”the window is open and the season is right. –

Go forth and serve!” Elevation congratulates the following

Deaconesses: Karen Braxton, Brenda Degraffrenreid,

Karen Harris, Dr. Angela Law, Felecia Adams, Vivian Reed,

Sonya Reid (Team Leader), Carolyn Roberts, and

Doris Simmons.

CALLED TO HELP Elevation’s First

Deaconess Ministry


A Will To Serve On November 20, during

Wednesday Night’s Bible Study, Pastor Carmichael’s sermon came

from 1 Timothy 3:8-16, “Likewise

must the deacons be grave, not

double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy

lucre; Holding the mystery of the

faith in a pure conscience. And

let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a

deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be

grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the

deacons be the husbands of one

wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they

that have used the office of a

deacon well purchase to them-selves a good degree, and great

boldness in the faith which is in

Christ Jesus. These things I write

unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long,

that thou mayest know how

thou oughtest to behave thyself

in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the

pillar and ground of the truth.

And without controversy great

is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,

justified in the Spirit, seen of

angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the

world, received up into glory”.

(KJV) Pastor Carmichael asked “What is a Deacon?” He stated

that a Deacon is the Pastor’s

assistant. He is reverent and has

self-respect and dignity. He is not double tongued, doesn’t drink

and is not greedy for money.

He concluded by saying a

Deacon has real faith and has been delivered however he will

be tested therefore his walk and

talk must always match. At the

end of Bible Study, Pastor Carmichael ordained Jamil

Johnson to the position of

Deacon.


The Elevation Bible Institute (EBI) was initially launched in May 2012, under the guidance and instruction of Marion Alston and Drs. Angela Law, Ron Lewis and Stanley Elliott. On May 26, 2013, Elevation celebrated the first EBI Commencement where the following graduates received a Certificate of Completion: Peggy Burch, Denise Cearnel, LaToya Howard, Henrietta Quarcoo, Karen Tyson, and Xiomara Williams. During the year-long program the graduates received an in-depth study of the following courses: Bible Doctrine, Hermeneutics [interpreting Biblical text], Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Christology, Pneumatology [study of the Holy Spirit], and Spiritual Discipline. These students are spiritually and intellectually equipped to do God’s work in the Kingdom. If you are interested in enrolling in the Elevation Baptist Institute, please contact Marion Alston at [email protected]. CONGRATULATIONS Graduates!

mailto:[email protected]


The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010 and its major provisions became effective January 1, 2014. The Affordable Care Act, sometimes termed by the eponymous nickname “Obama Care” by the media, has been at the forefront of national, state and local news since its introduction as a health reform program whose time has come. The Act will extend insurance to more than 30 million uninsured people, primarily by expanding Medicaid and providing federal subsidies to help lower and middle income Americans buy private coverage. However, many people are still confused about what the Affordable Care Act covers and the effect of the impending changes. On Sunday, September 29, the Seniors and Health ministries of Elevation co-sponsored a forum for the North Carolina Justice Center. Nicole Dozier, an assistant project director for the Health Access Coalition at the NC Justice Center, was present to provide information and clarification about the Act. Primary points of discussion included:

The basis of need for health care reform The benefits of the Affordable Care Act How the Affordable Care Act may affect Medicare and Medicaid The impact of the Affordable Care Act on employers Applicability of tax credits for individuals and small businesses

Some of the most notable features of the Affordable Care Act are those that will provide and enhance health insurance coverage. For example the Act:

Ends Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Children Keeps Eligible Young Adults Covered to Age 26 Ends Arbitrary Withdrawals of Insurance Coverage Covers Designated Preventive Care at No Cost Ends Lifetime Limits on Coverage

These and other enhancements will successfully give access to better health care for everyone, not just those who are able to afford the high premiums or who have employers willing to share the cost of health insurance. As believers we know that God is not a respecter of people’s status. He cares equally about all and He expects us to do the same. God chooses and uses people to ensure that His will is done and His plans are accomplished. In Genesis 41 God chose Joseph not only to interpret Pharaoh’s dream that warned of a sweeping 7-year famine but He also gave Joseph the wisdom to develop and implement a plan that would save the people of Egypt and other countries, including his own family, from a slow death by starvation. It took seven years of preparation -– increased taxes, stockpiling surplus food, building storage silos and ignoring doubters – but in the end Joseph was able to save a nation because he did what needed to be done. Fast forward to the 21st century and consider that it just may be possible that God has enabled the Affordable Care Act to be created in order to ensure that someone He plans to use to accomplish His plan in the future is alive and healthy enough to do it. What a wonderful thing! What a wonderful God!

Additional information about

the Affordable Care Act

may be obtained at:

http://www.hhs.gov/

healthcare/rights/ and https://

www.healthcare.gov/

http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/%20and%20https:/www.healthcare.gov/




On Saturday, October 19, Elevation

Health Ministry hosted a health

symposium. The event was

well-attended by members of

EBC and the general community

who found it to be both informative

and fun. As in previous years, the

EBC Health Symposium provided

a platform for sharing useful

information regarding preventative

health measures, disease manage-

ment and available resources.

Parents were able to obtain free

dental screening and finger printing

identification for their children.

However, one of the most popular

exhibits for the children appeared to

be the fire engine tours conducted

by the Raleigh Fire Department.

For adults, the Health Symposium

included speakers presenting

in-depth information for caretakers

on the management of Alzheimer’s

disease for loved ones as well as

weight management through the

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly)

program. Also highlighted was

information on various health-

related topics including: diabetes,

HIV, organ donor services,

breast cancer, and hospices.

Good health is almost like

breathing in that it is a blessing

we usually enjoy the benefit of

without a lot of effort on our part

and, as a result, it is sometimes

not thought about until challenges

arise. With the recent advent of

government mandated health care

and insurance (often termed by the

media as “ObamaCare”), most of us

have become more aware of the

need for and impact of good health

to sustain a good life. However, this

is not a new notion or even an

original one. Although disease

and illness has coexisted with the

human population since Adam and

Eve were expelled from Eden, God’s

ultimate plan for us through Jesus

Christ is that we have life more

abundantly (John 10:10)

and most of us would agree that

abundant life must include good

health. 3 John 1:2 tells us: Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou

mayest prosper and be in health,

even as thy soul prospereth.

The EBC Health Symposium

endorsed and brought that message

home with the symposium’s credo:

“Keeping God’s Temple Healthy:

The Total You – Mind, Body and

Spirit”. This reminds us that our

bodies are God’s temple and in Him

we live, move and have our being.

We willingly provide maintenance to

properties we invest in, such as cars

and houses, in order to upgrade or

maintain the value; therefore, it is

not too much of a stretch to realize

that since we are God’s property it’s

important to Him that we obtain

and maintain good health that

includes every facet of our being.

Dr. William Murphy is the Servant-

Leader of the Health Ministry and

the coordination of the health

symposium was chaired by

Priscilla Gerald.


The 2013 Men’s Conference began on Saturday, September 28,

at the Elevation Baptist Church West Campus in Raleigh.

The event, hosted by the Men’s Ministry, Deacons’ Ministry

and the Evangelism Ministry, began by welcoming all

participants, followed by prayer, a continental breakfast and

remarks from EBC leadership. The focus of the event was on

men’s health issues. Various breakout sessions were held

including a Cancer Survivor Panel; Healthy Diet and Living

Sessions; Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose testing; and

Prostrate Screening exams. Dr. James Smith, Dr. Leroy Drakes,

Dr. Lisa Campbell and other volunteer panelists were on hand

to answer participants’ questions. Pastor Carmichael led the

charge in participating in the free screening and testing which

was offered to all men in attendance. The Men’s Conference

concluded on Sunday, September 29, at the EBC East Campus

in Knightdale with a rousing message of encouragement from

Pastor Carmichael entitled: “Man of Valor, God Is Breaking

the Chains of Your Past”. Coming from the book of Judges

11:1-9 (KJV), Pastor Carmichael spoke of Jephthah the

Gileadite who was a mighty man of valor but who was also

the illegitimate son of a harlot. He continued by saying that

although Gilead’s legitimate sons hated Jephthah and made

him leave town without receiving any portion of his father’s

inheritance, they ultimately had to humble themselves and

ask Jephthah to return as their captain to lead them in fighting

and winning the war against the Ammonites. Pastor Carmichael

used the scriptural text to illustrate that God has a plan for

everyone, no matter how humble their beginnings may be.

Therefore, believers cannot afford to dwell on what others

may perceive as a lack of qualifications or inefficiencies.

Pastor Carmichael told the congregants that: “When God is

training you for your future, the thing that the enemy tries

to break you with is often the very thing that God will use to

elevate you.” He encouraged the men by pronouncing them

“men of valor” and admonished them to show strength,

courage and godly passion. Pastor Carmichael reminded the

congregation that: “When you step into your purpose on

purpose then God will turn things around.” In closing,

Pastor Carmichael said that, “If you encounter difficult times

it should make you better not bitter because, just like Jephthah,

we also have an appointed time with a Divine destiny and our

true destiny is tied to every decision we make. Knowing this,

we have to realize that Jesus is the One who ensures our

righteous inheritance so that we can say, I’m coming back

and I’m coming back strong!”

The North Carolina

Minority Prostate Cancer

Awareness Action Team

sponsored the men’s

breakfast .


2013 Women’s Retreat - “We Are One”

Kick-Off to the 2013 Women’s Conference

The kick-off to Elevation’s 2013 Woman’s Conference was held on September 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Zaxby’s Restaurant in Knightdale. It was a time of fun with family and friends as participants enjoyed an appetizing menu and mingled with each other as they discussed the upcoming women’s conference. In community partnership, a portion of the proceeds from that evening was redirected to the church.

EBC Women’s Conference 2013

“We Are One” was the theme for the EBC 2013 women’s conference and it was in full effect for the days of fellowship! On Friday, September 20, the praise team led the women into praise and worship with songs that were full of vitality and thank-fulness. A praise team from Wilson Chapel Church in Wilson, North Carolina ministered in the form of dancing. Elder Rebecca Carmichael completed the night with an interac-tive teaching referencing Psalm 103:1-3 (KJV) on the topic of worship. Elder Carmichael explained the meaning and application of several Hebrew words used to exemplify worship including, Hallal which means to step out of dignity and to shine; Yada – indicating arms outstretched;

Barak – which is kneeling or being prostrate; and Tehillah – which represents worship through song or singing. The teaching was followed by spontaneous demonstrations of worship throughout the congregation with exuberance and great joy --- outstretched arms, bended knees and praise dancing! Saturday’s experience began with the women choosing a picture from various stock photos depicting people, animals, landscapes, birds, etc., that represented where they were in life and expressing why they chose that picture. There were tears of joy, confessions of forgiveness, expressions of relief and sometimes laughter as the women listened intently to those who willingly shared their stories and gave words of encouragement. Afterwards, participants transi-tioned to breakout sessions with topics specifically designed for single or married women. Kimberly Knight shared information with the single women and Dr. Tonya Armstrong spoke to the married women. A wonderful lunch, supplied by the Knightdale Zaxby’s was served, immediately followed by a session on healthy behavior/nutrition facilitated by Nekeidra Morrison who spoke about the importance of women making healthy food choices and taking good care of themselves.

The women’s conference culmi-nated on Sunday, September 22, with Evangelist Nichelle Early of Washington, DC speaking on the topic of “Women of Unity: We Are One” referencing Mark 3:35, Psalms 133 and Romans 12:5. Evangelist Early shared that unity equals oneness without any division and that when we have congregational unity we activate a supernatural

flow that enables the Holy Spirit to tap in and remove obstacles out of our way. Evangelist Early expressed that coming into agreement with God’s will, and with each other, enforces, strengthens and reinforces the positive influence of the Holy Spirit as we speak God’s word to encourage ourselves and one another. In conclusion, Evangelist Early pointed out that being in unity does not mean there won’t be differences of opinions but even with those differences we are still in unity, as one!


EBC Women’s Ministry

On Saturday, June 29, Elevation’s

Women’s Ministry hosted a session

entitled, “Women of Radiant

Design.” The theme of the event

was, “Inner and Outer Beauty:

Serving the Church and Commu-

nity.” Nekedria Morrison read

Matthew 5:13-16, followed with

prayer. Elder Rebecca Carmichael

continued with a meditation and

prayer session, while soft music

played in the background. Renita

Peele, Team Lead for Mary Kay

Beauty Consultants, along with

two other Mary Kay consultants,

Nikita Whitfield and Bridget Best,

led a session on outer beauty. Peele

asked the group if they knew the

meaning of beauty and noted that

the Bible references

it forty-nine times.

She commented that

beauty is of the Lord.

Other points shared

by the group included

developing inner beauty,

self-confidence, better self-

image and appearance.

Nikki Whitfield informed

the group that there are

five stages in a beauty regime:

(1) cleansing twice daily; (2)

exfoliating two to three times

per week; (3) using toner to close

pores; (4) moisturizing with

water or a moisturizer; and

(5) protecting the skin with

foundation. Bridget Best told

the group that one should “look

appropriate so that others do

not find your appearance a

distraction.” While these Mary

Kay consultants were engaging

the group and answering

questions, they were also effici-

ently providing facials to two

women from the group.

Dr. Jacqueline Hicks led a

session on Women’s Health.

Dr. Hicks noted that a body mass

index, or BMI, of greater than 24.9

is considered unhealthy. A BMI

between 25 and 29.9 is over-

weight, while a BMI of above

30 is considered obese.

She informed the group that

obesity has been declared a disease

and is a precursor to several other

diseases. Hicks noted that women

should exercise 150 minutes a

week or 30 minutes a day for five

days each week. She also reminded

the group that women should

occasionally have some “me time”

by doing things they actually

enjoy. Keisha Godwin led a session

on hair tips and informed the

group that combs and hair

products should be cleaned daily

and one should use a good

clarifying shampoo with a

conditioner. Godwin also noted

that women should also keep

themselves hydrated to benefit

hair and skin. She entertained

questions from the group ranging

from tips on how to care for

natural hair to the effectiveness

of washing hair with common

products (e.g. vinegar) found in

their household cabinets. Elder

Rebecca Carmichael closed the

event with prayer.


The Reaching A Generation of Excellence (R.A.G.E.) Youth Conference at Elevation Baptist West Campus was the place to be on Wednesday, March 13! The atmosphere was pumped with praise and worship led by the musical group Focus as they played both contemp-orary and traditional gospel melodies. Guest speaker Nicole Florence, a graduate of Hampton University, brought a powerful message on the topic of being “Charged Up – At All Times!” Florence reminded the youth that their parents’, family or friends’ connection to God is not their connection to a covering. She stressed to the youth that just because “things are packaged well” does not necessarily mean it’s for them.” She wanted them to understand that they are to emulate the character of Jesus Christ in all that they do and say. Throughout

the evening Florence shared nuggets of wisdom that she learned along life’s pathway. One such nugget was “swagger without character is false advertisement,” a statement that caused the youth to immediately grasp what she was relaying to them in their terms. Florence also facilitated a workshop where she had the youth develop a concept for an app that would make them closer to God. The teenagers and children really seemed to get into this activity as they used their imagination to expand their ideas! One of the apps conceived was for iPhone users so that, instead of Siri (an interactive voice-activated personal assistant), it would be Jesus helping them throughout the day. Other suggestions included a worship app and a prayer app. It was clear from the animated discussion that this was definitely an activity that the youth could

relate to. On Sunday, March 17, the R.A.G.E. Conference concluded with an awesome word from Minister Justin Bilson of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Washington, DC. The topic of the service was “Change Your Game Plan”, referencing John 21:1-6. He stated that you must have guts to believe and that our abundance is tied to our obedience to God’s word. He went on to say that in 2 Corinthians 5:7 it states that “We walk by faith, not by sight” (KJV) therefore, facts may say what we can’t do but our faith tells us what we can do. Refer- encing Deuteronomy 28:1-8, Minister Bilson noted that if we change our perspective we will find that the blessings we’ve been looking for have also been looking for us. Minster Joshua Carmichael ended the conference with a powerful prayer for the youth and they left “charged up” to be and reach a generation of excellence!


On July 10, Elevation commended

its disciples representing the

graduating class of 2013.

High school and college graduates

were honored with certificates

and honorariums in recognition

of their respective achievements.

Andre Noel, who will be attending

the University of North Carolina at

Pembroke, received Elevation’s

2013 Scholarship Award.

The guest speaker for the occasion

was Winslow Forbes, Assistant

Chief of the Durham Police

Department. Forbes brought

words of encouragement and

challenged the graduates to

advance to the highest level of

their career aspirations.

As believers we know that

promotion comes from God

(Psalm 75:6-7); however, we

also know that God’s word says

in Proverbs 18:15 that the heart

of the prudent obtains knowledge

and the ear of the wise seeks

knowledge which is exactly what

these graduates have done.

In the very next verse of that

same chapter God reminds us

that a person’s gift, or talent,

will make room for them and bring

them before great people. Each of

these graduates has high hopes

and aspirations for the future.

Their gifts and talents will

definitely have a positive impact

on the world. These graduates

have been diligent and already

accomplished much by successfully

completing a course of study to

obtain an academic degree.

As they prepare for the next phase

of their promotion, the Elevation

family supports and congratulates

them.


EBC Scholarship Recipient: Andre S. Noel

High School Graduates:

Chrystal M. Brown School: Enloe Magnet High School Plans: UNC-Greensboro Major: Biology

Dennis Bryant School: Wake Forest Rolesville High School Plans: Wake Technical Community College and transferring to High Point University

David Davis School: Mount Zion Christian Academy Plans: Louisburg College

Marie Tia Harrell School: Hillside New Tech High School Plans: NC Wesleyan College Major: Political Science

Beatrice House School: Garner Magnet High School Plans: Paul Mitchell Academy and North Carolina Central University

Whitney Johnson School: Leesville Road High School Plans: Pitt County Community College

Andre S. Noel School: Knightdale High School Plans: NC A&T State University

Reginald Ray School: Enloe Magnet High School Plan: UNC-Charlotte

Joshua Andrew Stephenson School: Cleveland High School Plans: Wake Technical Community College

Kwamea Wilkerson School: Enloe Magnet High School Plans: Wake Technical Community College and UNC-Greensboro

College/University Graduates:

Carl B. Redd II School: NC A&T State University Degree: BS Math/Secondary Education

Jarrad Rudd School: UNC-Greensboro Degree: BA African American Studies - Minor Sociology

Carol Gatling Smith School: NC Wesleyan College Degree: BS Business Administration

Destiny Austin Taylor School: NC Central University Degree: BA Psychology—Minor Spanish

Jacquette Passley School: Gardner Webb University Degree: Masters of Executive Leadership

Tiana Robinson School: NC Central University Degree: Masters of Information Science


“To Protect and Serve” that’s

the motto of North Carolina’s law

enforcement officers. On Sunday,

May 19, 2013, Pastor Carmichael

recognized the invaluable service

of the sworn men and women

who provide daily services to

the residents in the state of

North Carolina. During the

10:00 a.m. worship service,

Elevation’s own Officer Jimmy

Edwards, introduced represent-

atives from the NC Highway

Patrol, City of Raleigh, Town of

Knightdale, and Wake County

Sherriff departments. Immediately

following the worship service,

representatives gathered for

a group picture with Pastor

Carmichael and were presented

with a commemorative gift

of appreciation.

Law

Enforcement

Day 2013 Each year, individuals and groups,

including Elevation Baptist Church

members and friends, pause to bring a

greater awareness to the community

about two important topics: breast

cancer and domestic violence. October

is National Breast Cancer Awareness

and Domestic Violence

Awareness Month.

One can easily

identify with the

pink and purple

ribbons, respectively,

and can encourage

others to share inform-

ation with family, friends

and co-workers to help

find a cure for breast

cancer and end violence

against women. While it is

possible that men can find

themselves as the victim in either

circumstance, its more common for

women to be diagnosed with breast

cancer and experience the physical

and mental & emotional abuse

associated with domestic violence.

Breast cancer and domestic violence

statistics are staggering. According to

Cancer.org there have been 232,340

new cases of invasive breast cancer

in 2013, with 39,620 breast cancer

deaths. One in none women will

experience breast cancer in her

lifetime.

SafeHorizon.com reports that every

day in the U.S., more than three

women are murdered by their

husbands or boyfriends, and 1 in 4

women will experience domestic

violence during her lifetime.

The causes of breast cancer are not

fully known. It is clear that age, gender

and lifetime exposure to estrogen play

a role. No one knows exactly why

someone gets breast cancer. However,

there are steps one can take that may

reduce one’s own risk. These include

maintaining a healthy weight, adding

exercise into your routine, limiting

alcohol intake and menopausal

hormone use, and breast-feeding

(if you can). According to the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban

Development, domestic

violence is the third leading

cause of homelessness among

families. Survivors of domestic

violence face high rates of

depression, sleep disturbances,

anxiety, flashbacks and other

emotional distress.

Domestic violence

costs more than $37

billion a year in law

enforcement, legal

work, medical and

mental health treatment,

and lost productivity at companies.

At Elevation Church, we believe

through education and empowerment,

lives can be changed. We also believe

in connecting others to the proper

resources, so if you have questions

about breast cancer, visit the Susan

G. Komen - NC Triangle website

(www.komennctc.org) or call

919-493-2873. For more information

about domestic violence, call the

Interact office (919) 828-7740 or visit

the website www.interactofwake.org/)


was the sermon topic for the New Year’s

Eve 2013 Service. Pastor Carmichael spoke

from Luke 2:25-26, “And, behold, there

was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was

Simeon; and the same man was just and

devout, waiting for the consolation of

Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon

him. And it was revealed unto him by

the Holy Ghost, that he should not see

death, before he had seen the Lord’s

Christ.” (KJV) Pastor began by saying,

“God has something in the Kingdom for

each of you to fulfill and when He gives

you an assignment no one can handle

your assignment like you - you must be

obedient to your call! He continued by

saying that one must strive toward

purpose, process and promise and that

one’s purpose comes from God; it has

nothing to do with what we wish for.

Rather, one should follow the prescription

given by God, referencing Psalms 31:24

“Be of good courage, and he shall

strengthen your heart, all ye that hope

in the Lord.” (KJV). Pastor Carmichael

admonished the eagerly awaiting

congregation to seek God for their

purpose. “Don’t live a frustrated lifestyle,”

he said. “Instead, you should live

courageously.” Pastor shared that waiting

is a part of God’s plan, knowing that

patience takes time and experience to

develop a perfect work. Keeping in mind

that waiting requires patience why

not take on the character of Simeon, who

was just, devout, obedient and patient.

Simeon spent a lot of his time in the

temple and when Jesus was brought in

by His parents as a child, the Holy Spirit

revealed to Simeon that the child Jesus

was the long awaited Messiah who

had been prophesied (Luke 2:25-35).

Like Simeon, when we spent time in

prayer with God, we grow closer to Him

and his purpose for us becomes clearer.

As we seek God’s purpose and promise

for our lives, it might only come through

prayer and fasting. But even while we

patiently await the fulfillment of the

promise, we don’t have to wait to praise

God. We can give Him advance praise

and watch His will for our lives manifest.

As the clock moved closer to midnight,

Pastor continued his teaching and

preaching about the 3 Ps: Purpose,

Process and Promise. Before entering

into the New Year, Pastor Carmichael

brought out the shofar. He explained

that the shofar is a Jewish instrument

most often made from a ram’s horn.

One purpose of blowing the shofar is

that it represents a rallying “war cry” in

conducting both physical and spiritual

warfare. God’s word supports this in

Numbers 10:9 where it says, “And if ye

go to war in your land against the enemy

that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow

an alarm with the trumpets [shofar]; and

ye shall be remembered before the Lord

your God, and ye shall be saved from your

enemies.” This lets believers know that the

God recognizes the blowing of the shofar

as a cry from His people for remembrance

and salvation. The shofar was also used to

announce the start of holidays, in proces-

sions, and even to mark the start of a

war. Pastor Carmichael stated that perhaps

the most famous biblical reference to the

shofar occurs in the Book of Joshua, where

shofarot (the plural of shofar) were used as

part of a battle plan to capture the city of

Jericho referencing Joshua 6:2-5 “But the

Lord said to Joshua, I have given you

Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.

You and your fighting men should march

around the town once a day for six days.

Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark,

each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh

day you are to march around the town

seven times, with the priests blowing the

horns. When you hear the priests give one

long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the

people shout as loud as they can. Then the

walls of the town will collapse, and the

people can charge straight into the town,”

(NLT). As Pastor prepared to close out the

service, he instructed congregants to think

about any “walls” in their lives that needed

to be torn down in 2014 and on the final

blow of the shofar to yell with voices of

triumph, knowing that those walls would

be coming down and new beginnings

would commence. By that time, purple and

gold balloons were released as everyone

transitioned into the brand new year of

2014. As we move forward in 2014, let us

remember to stay focused on the theme,

Purpose, Process, and Promise, provided

by Elevation’s shepherd. Pray and ask God

to reveal His purpose for your life and

then be prepared to follow His prescribed

process to receive the promise. Amen!

MANNA FROM HEAVEN NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE:

CONTRIBUTORS Marion Alston Natasha Baldwin Pamela Bragg Angie Hendricks Janelle Johnson Yolanda McMillan Elaine Reid Sonya Reid

EDITORIAL TEAM Marion Alston Angie Hendricks Sonya Reid Jay Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHERS Karen Braxton (photography assistant)

Angie Hendricks Tamaro Johnson Teresa Richardson Jay Thomas LC Ulmer

Our ministry would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of all servant leaders for their contributions to this 2013 edition. We also want to thank our readers and encourage all to share the awesome activities and events with others.

We desire to bless the community with this evangelistic tool. A copy of this edition can be found on the church's website: www.elevationbaptist.org

Worship Service at EBC West (Raleigh NC) Sunday Mornings at 8:00 A.M.

Worship Service at EBC East (Knightdale, NC) Sunday Mornings at 10:30 A.M.

Navigation Classes & Sunday School at EBC East Sunday Mornings from 9:15 A.M.– 10:15 A.M.

Morning Glory Prayer at EBC West Saturday Mornings from 7:00 A.M.- 8:00 A.M.

Word Empowerment at EBC West Wednesdays at 12:00 Noon & 7:00 P.M.

Intercessory Prayer at EBC West Thursdays at 12:00 Noon

One house of worship with two locations:

Elevation Baptist Church (East) 5271 EBC Village Way Knightdale, NC 27545

(919) 231-6418

Elevation Baptist Church (West) 4729 New Bern Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27610 (919) 231-6418

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