Jan-May 2013 Vol. III, Issue X

What Is Hell Like?Page 2

Inauguration of President ObamaPage 3

The Cross: His Pain, My GainPage 4

Let’s Talk About LovePage 5

A Look At Red BankPage 6

MIRACULOUS TIMES

Newsletter for Miracle Temple Ministries Int. Overseer: Pastor Bishop E. Stewart

The Cross:

Calvary’s Pain, My Gain!

“This is my story. A testimony of how Christ’s pain and suffering became a source of gain for me. May it touch lives and may our Lord be exalted as I am writing to his honor and glory....”

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He did it just for me!John 3:16-17

What is Hell Like?

We all have heard about heaven and hell. Many people believe that heaven and hell are real places while others choose to believe that this life is the only life that we will ever experience and that after death there is nothing else. Whatever the feeling, there exists individual concepts and imaginations of what these two places of eternity are like. As Christians worldwide have just celebrated the time of Easter, commemorating the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us, the question arises: What did he save us from? The fact is that because of our nature of sin, man was on a broad way to hell. So what is this place like? What would our senses perceive? Why should we prepare to make heaven our home? How can we come to truly appreciate being saved? What would hell have been for us? Our first biblical encounter with hell appears to be in Deuteronomy 32:22 where God says “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the moun-tains”. This and the following scriptures suggest that hell is locat-ed down, beneath, low or in a state of falling: Psalm 55:15; 86:13; Proverbs 7:27, 9:18, 15:24, Isaiah 5:14, 14:9, and Amos 9:2. There is a great gulf between heaven and hell of which no one is able to pass through to get to the other side. This is told to us in Luke 16:26. IISamuel 22:6 suggests that it will be a sorrowful place. Psalm 16:10 says that hell will be a place of corruption. That hell will be a place of death or where people who died in sin can be found, one may refer to Psalm 116:3, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 6:8, and especially Isaiah 5:14. That hell is a place of various conscious torments, consider Luke 16:23. That hell is a place of fire; consider Matthew 5:26, James 3:6, and Matthew 25:41. That hell is a place for the soul to be pun-ished, regard Psalm, 16:10 Psalm 86:3 and Matthew 10:28 where the word of God suggests that the body AND soul will be destroyed in hell. Job 26:6 suggests that those in hell will be naked before God. With all that we have read and heard of eternal damnation our imagination of hell is pretty gruesome. Though it may be bad enough, the imaginations of man is not sufficient enough to depict the magnitude of hell. So how do we escape such a horrific and grueling place? As MTM’s Brother Wayne Murray so adamantly puts it in reflection of Revelation “Our only escape from hell is to adjoin ourselves to the only one that has the keys of death and hell; Jesus Christ.

By : Kijuan Dale

Miraculous Times

“Eternal suffering” ...“It will be like humidity in the dark, crazy heat, like the inside of a kettle”. “There will be no daytime but only night.” “I imagine Hell to be darkand scary, hearing weird noises and not knowing where they are coming from. I would . What Do YOU Imagine Hell to be like?Dear Readers,

Grace and peace be unto you from Christ our Father. It is my prayer that as we move into the warmer months, our attitudes become the more cheerful and bright, as the months represent. In fact, we have all reason to be happy. The message of Jesus' pain on Calvary gives us enough reason to be joyful, because we have gained life through his death.

This issue, 'Calvary's Pain, My Gain' was birthed from the fact that we as a team realized that it is because Christ went to Calvary why we can face tomorrow, allowing us the many victories we experience. If you haven't already done so, accept the Blood atonement. He died just for you,and your sins have been washed away.

Be encouraged. Knowing this, that you have the victory in Jesus' name. Hope you enjoy this quarters read.

Sincerely,Asshur K. CunninghamEditor in Chief

Editor’s Letter

Food has always been a catalyst in bringing people together. The Bible exhorts us to “not forsake the assembling to-gether” and to pray without ceasing. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast held on March 19, 2013 provided a means for fel-lowship and praying. With an approximate head count of 120 persons, the unofficial first “event” of the year was well attended.

After days and weeks of planning and preparation, the Prayer Breakfast got underway in the auditorium known as the Manor. Scheduled for 9 am, the program actually got started slightly after. Prayers were offered up for the church at large, the Bishop, our community and especially for the Men’s Ministry.

The main message for the day was given by Elder Windsor Nelson. He exhorted the men to stand strong and to work with the leaders of the church for the furthering of the gospel. At the completion of his message, a call was made for the unsaved and several persons came forward for salvation.

Following the prayers, songs and spoken word, everyone prepared for the meal (finally). And what a meal it was. There were several Caribbean style meals for everyone to sample. After the smorgasbord, the consensus was that the food was delicious and left people wanting more. Everyone left feeling strengthened by the prayers; encouraged by the spoken words and full from the good eating.

Waiting for the next one………….

By : Lenworth Grant

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

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Miraculous Times

Inauguration Of President ObamaDid singing star Beyoncé “lip-sync”? Should Mitt Romney not be such a sore loser and continue tradition by attending? Was the President’s mother-in-law too prominent in the

camera views? Were there less people present this time around than there were in 2009? At the end of the day, none of these questions mattered much except for the detractors and “rabble-rousers”, because President Barack Obama was publicly inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America on January 21st, 2013. To conform with constitutional requirements, he was privately administered the Oath of Office by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Roberts on January 20th, 2013.

As it was in his first inauguration on January 20th, 2009, the historical significance of the day was one for the record books.This particular event happened to coincided with a national holiday in honor of the late Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, who fought not only for civil rights, but for the right to vote and to be treated equally. As President Obama stated: “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths –- that all of us are created equal –- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stone-wall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth”.

By : Lenworth Grant

My life before I accepted Christ was one of misuse, abuse, confusion and chaos. As expressed in one of my favorite songs I Almost Let Go “my problems had me bound, depression weighed me down, the devil really had me but Jesus came and grabbed me….” It started at 8 years of age when I was manipulated in such a way that made me very withdrawn and antisocial. I developed trust issues not knowing who or where to turn. I always felt unclean, and everywhere I went seemed like I had a curse. It was as though this type of manipulation always followed me. As I grew older I began to com-prehend what really occurred and I believed this is when I began to call on the Lord.

In 1989, my mother made the decision to move to the USA, She asked my dad if this was okay, he agreed and went ahead to pursue my traveling documents. The Lord heard my cry, I felt elated for the escape. I’ll never see my abusers again. I had a chance for a new beginning in life. This time it would be perfect. What I didn’t know was that my

first experience had caused some scars. I was not mentally prepared for this new world. I associated with the crowds and began to participate in whatever was taking place, it seemed like I was ‘living the life’ ( 19-21 at this point). Not realizing abuse comes in all forms, I kept falling deeper and deeper in its pit. Knowing deep down that I couldn’t contin-ue in this direction, ‘Lord help me’ was my cry.

At 24 years, I met a man who I thought was the love of my life. I’ve heard of this thing called love and I desired to have it, he was the first person I’d ever shared my story with. He seemed to care, little did I know he would abuse me in a way none had ever; he introduced me to a way of life that caused me to be addicted to him and other sub-stances, I began to lose what was left of my identity, nothing had gone right in my life up to this point.

One day Jesus showed up. Determined to have a better life, I decided to let go and let God. I gave my life over to Him. I began to seek Him, believing His Word, trusting, and delighting myself in the things concerning Him and His righteousness. The more I read the scriptures, and the more I heard of Him, I became more and more convinced that He is my Shepherd. The closer I get, the more He reveals His loving kindness and His tender mer-cies.

This didn’t make all the memories and issues dis-appear. Things from my past would seem to still arise, but the story of our Lord at Calvary cause something inside of me to stir. The story of His pain and suffering for my sake as been cause for my change. This is how I became trans-formed in my heart and renewed in my mind. Isaiah 53 best expresses the grief our Lord endured, and how His deeds justify many. What kind of God would do this for me? He is worthy of my praise, worship, love, and adoration.

I must admit, I am not always obedient to his will. In my disobedience the visitation of affliction wrought me sore but because of His love, He suffered grief, sorrow, pain,

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Miraculous Times

THE CROSS : HIS PAIN, MY GAIN!

“The Lord heard my cry, I felt elated for the escape!”

A Testimony of Sister Michelle J.

that I may have life more abundantly and eternally. There have been many times when I have fallen in a horrible pit. However, the faithful God He is, picked me up and set my feet on a rock. The Word declares He has enlarged my foot steps that my feet did not slip. He has been my defense when I suffered trouble from them that hate me. He shields, strengthens, protects, and preserves me. He is my Deliverer, my Redeemer, and Friend. He is the God of my Salvation.

He has made me to be wise by enlightening my eyes to his statues; Making my heart to rejoice as I am warned that in the keeping of them is great reward.

In closing, I will worship and wait upon Him, giving thanks and praises, lifting His name on high, in the good or the bad, the happy or sad; as I have come to learn, I am created to serve and worship Him, He is my all and in all. I will bless His name forever, for even though I sin and fall short of His glory He never leaves or forsake me.

He is merciful = forgiving, gracious = accommodating, and long suffering = bearing provocation with patience. He is my one true love, even when I knew Him not He girded me.

All this, I have gained from my Saviors pain at Calvary. Behold the Lamb of God; He alone can give these gifts for there is none like him. Amen.

Alleluia!

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Let’s talk about LoveIt’s not puff up or enviousLove is a beautiful thing

It covers a multitude of sinsIt keeps no record of wrong doing

So what God has join together let no man put asunderHe or she may not have everything you desire

Have you ever read the book of Hosea?So if you're still waiting for that Husband or Wife

Just know God is never late, so that person will come at the right time

Besides True love waitsGod already created your mate

Like Isaac and RebekahBoaz and Ruth

Look what Jacob endured, before he got RachelThis no fairy tale

Like Shakespeare composed Romeo and JulietBut I’ve concluded that the greatest love story ever toldWas when Jesus died upon the cross to save our souls.

See the thing with loveWe just can’t say it; we've got to demonstrate it.

By: Kimberle K. Thompson

To see the full poem, check it out on the Miracle Temple Ministries Page on Facebook!

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible describes love as pa-tient, kind, not boastful. But many of us confuse love with sex. In Joshua 1:8 the Bible suggests one way to address the issue which is to meditate on God’s word

day & night in order to stay on track and be prosperous.

Miracle Temple Ministries (MTM) Annual Banquet, themed “True Love Waits” not only allows young

people to pledge to purity or to recommit to absti-nence, it also let them know that they are not alone

in their struggle and stance. The speaker for the night, Ms. Patrice McLean reminded us that when we take things into our own hands and do not wait on God we mess up, and consequences remain. She also reminded us that God is a God of miracles and

he keeps his promises. She urged young people not to settle for less in order to fit in.

As two young people took the pledge to keep their purity while past pledges stood with them to demon-

strate that they can keep their promise to God, it reminded us that although sex and sin is all around us and we will face it daily, we do not have to par-

ticipate and break our promise to God because True Love waits.

By: Abby Campbell

True Love Waits Lets Talk About Love

Miraculous Times

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Contact Us Telephone: (718) 345-6108

Fax: (718) 498-9427E-mail:pr.mtminfo@gmail.comm

Office Location576 Bristol Street

Brooklyn, New York, 11212

Sanctuary LocationMIRACLE TEMPLE MINISTRIESOverseer: Bishop E. Stewart

965 Thomas Boyland St.,Brooklyn, New York, 11212

Editorial TeamAsshur Cunningham

Editor-In-Chief MTM Miraculous Times

Lenny GrantExecutive Senior Editor

Tristan MantockExecutive Editor

Abby CampbellEditorial Secretary

Geovani MullingsCirculation Director

Krisan CockburnCreative Director

Kijuan DaleEditor

Anyeka FrithEditor

Miraculous Times

A Look At Red Bank

42nd Anniversary and ConventionMay 19th-26th

Gospel CafeJune 7th

Graduation CeremonyJuly 7th

Sunday School Trip July -TBA

Annual Street FairJuly 13th

UPCOMING EVENTS