SHARING GOD’S LOVE WITH GOD’S PEOPLE

we might proclaim to the world, that

God is real, and He is no short of His

Word. He is able to do exceedingly

abundantly, over all that we could ask or

think, according to the power that

worketh in us! Ephesians 3:20.

Happy Spring family.

Let's pursue cleaning, and watch God

work! God bless! Hello Disciples

of the Ebenezer Baptist Church!

Sharing with you is always a

blessing! It's springtime, and this

is a good time, as we look for-

ward to spring cleaning con-

cerning our physical homes, we

might also look to cleaning our

temple, which houses us! God is

serious, and trustworthy, when

He shares with us, the truth of

wanting to manifest Himself to us,

according to our 2016 scripture

John 14:21. Obeying His com-

mandments is the key to His

manifestation. Refreshing our-

selves, in His Word, and cleaning

out ourselves, from the selves of

old, which sometimes creep

back in to our new selves, will

permit God to fulfill His promise

to us.

Wow! That's amazing in and of

itself! God wants to bless us indi-

vidually with His presence, and

we have a choice! Remember,

when He does, it's not so we can

brag about what we did, but that

A Message from the Elder

STOP THE HARM

A Letter from Dr. Iva Car-

ruthers to churches from

the Samuel DeWitt Proctor

Conference (SDPC),

dated April 7, 2016

Dear Faith Leaders:

At a time in our history

where drug abuse caused

by opiate addiction in

places like New Hamp-

shire is receiving calls for

national attention, com-

passion and care for those

afflicted, you and the

Samuel DeWitt Proctor

Conference have been

acutely aware of the 45-

year devastation experi-

enced in our communi-

ties by a War on

Drugs. It has resulted in mass incarceration,

largely of African

Americans, Hispanics

and communities of

color, destruction of

families and life-long

economic and social

marginalization. In the

United States, it

has cost over $1 tril-

lion dollars and re-

sulted in more than 45

million arrests. 1 in 3 African American men

have or will have some

criminal record and the

United States now incar-

cerates over 25% of all

people in the world, yet

is only 5% of the world's

population.

The most egregious and

evil aspect of this War on

Drugs is embodied in

the statement attributed

to President Nixon by his

special assistant and the

quote released just two

weeks Chief of Staff:

"The Nixon campaign

in 1968, and the Nixon

White House after that,

had two enemies: the

antiwar left and black

people. You understand

what I'm saying? We

knew we couldn't make

it illegal to be either

against the war or

black, but by getting the

public to associate the

hippies with marijuana

SPRING 2016 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9

The Ebenezer CONNECTION

Inside this issue:

Stop the Harm (cont.) 2

Mime Ministry 3

Deacon’s Corner 3

Trustee & Finance 4

A Song of David 4

Eternal Life with God 5

Flint Water Crisis 6

Your Right to Vote 7

Happy Birthday 8

Kid’s Corner 9

Information & Events 10

The Year of

“ The Manifestation of God”

By elevating the components of compassion, care and health, the goals of SDPC and the other faith leaders are to examine and impact drug

policy worldwide, to shift those policies from being punitive to those which will reduce harm to individuals and communities.

and blacks with heroin, and then

criminalizing both heavily, we could

disrupt those communities. We could

arrest their leaders, raid their homes,

break up their meetings, and vilify

them night after night on the evening

news. Did we know we were lying

about the drugs? Of course we did."

John Ehrlichman, Nixon Chief of

Staff

1994 Interview with Dan Baum,

Harper's Magazine, April, 2016

"...you have to face the

fact that the whole prob-

lem is really the

Blacks. The key is to de-

vise a system that recog-

nizes this, while not ap-

pearing to."

President Richard Nixon,

1971 H.R. Haldeman Di-

ary, pg. 53

Nixon White House Chief

of Staff, 1969-73.

"Ending the harm

unleashes the power of

transformation!"

The United Nations will host

a General Assembly Spe-

cial Session (UNGASS) on

Global Drug Policies in

New York, April 18 -

21. The Stop the Harm movement is

being embraced by many around the

world, calling for a move from puni-tive, unjust and unmeasured responses

to drug addiction to policies grounded

in compassion, care and health ap-

proaches. Drug addiction is a public

health problem.

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

(SDPC) has been at the center of orga-

nizing a global interfaith presence at

the United Nations to speak of more just

and compassionate policies, supported

by the sacred texts of various relig-

ions. During the UN meet-

ings, the SDPC will host sev-

eral worship and community

services. Faith leaders from

this nation, Africa, South

America, Asia, Europe and

the Caribbean will join

SDPC. As the Proctor Confer-ence members and guests

gather and participate in this

world meeting, your prayers

for the people and the faith

leaders representing those

most impacted need your

prayers.

We sent a Litany because we

hope you will not only use it

in your worship services on

April 17th, but that you will

also impress upon your

members the importance of

what we are working to

achieve at the UNGASS

event. We want them to know that as we represent, we must

have the faith that "we the

people" have power to

change things and bring jus-

tice to "the least of these."

It is our prayer that YOU will of-

fer a prayer as well for this ef-

fort. Too many of our families have been devastated by current drug

policy - not only in the United States

but all over the world ...and too

many of those families and indi-

viduals who have been negatively

impacted by the drug laws have

been black, brown and poor peo-

ple.

The work of justice is difficult and

never-ending, but we serve a just

God that calls us to witness

and act. We who believe in

justice shall not rest until it

comes. Your engagement

of your members will add

power to what we are at-

tempting to do. If we are

silent, injustice wins. Thank

you for your prayers and

support on April 17, 2016,

Stop the Harm Sunday! God

bless you! Iva Carruthers,

General Secretary, SDPC The Samuel DeWitt Proctor

Conference, Inc. (SDPC)

represents a cross section

of progressive African

American faith leaders and

their congregations in the

United States. The SDPC

was called into being to

continue the rich legacy of

the faith community’s engagement

in issues of social justice.

“We must look beyond the sin to

the sinner who’s fallen victim to it.

We must love without enabling,

show mercy without excusing, and

offer help without condescending.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

STOP THE HARM (continued from page 1) Page 2

THE EBENEZER CONNECTION THTHE EBENEZER CONNECTION

Ebony Ellard is being honored at The 2016 FEMALE

MIME ARTIST OF THE YEAR by the Dance Minis-try Awards and Convention (DMA). Ebony as well as

our EBC Young Disciplez Mime Ministry, will be hon-

ored in Orlando, Florida at the DMA Convention,

June 23—25, 2016. Ebony and our Mime Ministry

need YOUR FINANCIAL HELP to meet the cost of trav-

eling to Orlando.

OFFICIAL DANCE MINISTRY AWARDS 2016!!! The Purpose of this 3 Day Event (DMA’s) is to

bring about Unity amongst the Worship and Arts

community. The focus will be to equip, train and

teach praise dance ministries on how to flow ef-

fectively in their gifts. Dr. Lavivian Renee and

iconic pioneers of Liturgical Dance will train

dance ministries how to start, grow or expand the

dance ministry for their local church, studios, out

reach, and other personal ministries.

Let’s celebrate our award winning Ministries.

Support them and GIVE!

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Deacon’s Corner: Deacon Leonard P. Barber COMPROMISE:

AGREEMENT, BARGAIN AND NEGOTIATION

Page 3

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9

“Compromise is an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is

reached by each side making concessions.

Compromise can be the first step toward DISOBE-

DIENCE (1Kings 11:1-13)

Close friendship makes it difficult to resist pres-

sure to compromise. Our love for others can lead us to

identity with the desires of those we care about. St

first, Solomon resisted pressure – maintaining pure

faith. After a while he tolerated a more widespread

practice of idolatry. Finally, he became involved in

idolatrous worship, not realizing the potential danger

to himself and to the Kingdom. He allowed his love for

his wife to cause disobedience to the rule of the God of

his father, even after God commanded him to stop his

idolatry.

Compromise limits our ability to do what is RIGHT

(Mark 12:1-15)

Even though Pilate believe Jesus to be innocent

of the charges against Him, even allowed the crowd to

sway his decision. Pilate compromised in releasing

Barabbas and handing Jesus over to be crucified just in

order to please the crowd. When we ignore God’s

clear statements of right versus wrong and make deci-

sions based on the preferences of the crowd or our au-

dience we fall into the error of compromise and law-

lessness. God promises to honor those who do right

according to His Word, not those who just try to make

everyone else happy!

Compromise can weaken and destroy our FAITH

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18) Paul warns believers not to form binding rela-

tionships with nonbelievers because it might weaken

their Christian commitment, integrity or stan-

dards. The warning is necessary to help us remain the

sons and daughters of the Most High God. In many

verses of scripture He tells us that He is our Father and

we are His children and as such we are not part of this

world. Even as we are still “in the world”, we are to

come out from among the worldly thought and proc-

esses and live with Him inhabiting us! We are to be his

living Temples and while we still “live in the world” we

are to live according to His Word! Believers should

avoid situations that could force them to have divided

loyalties.

Compromise can weaken our respect for the

TRUTH (Galatians 2:11-21) Compromise is an element in getting along

with others, but we should never compromise the truth

of God’s Word. If we feel we must change our Chris-

tian beliefs to match those of our companions or

friends, we are on dangerous ground. Some find it eas-

ier to fall back on the old way instead of going through

the transition that causes us to become closer in our

relationship to God –becoming more like His Son – in

our everyday life. The Transition is tough, as Peter

found out when the other Jews joined him and Paul in

Antioch. When the Judaizers wanted the Gentile con-

verts to Christianity to be circumcised to conform to

Jewish Law. The early leaders of the Church rightly decided that following Jesus was not based on the Law,

but on the believers Faith in Him.

The Bible states that all of us are stew-

ards and caregivers of God’s posses-

sions. However, the Finance and Trustee

Ministry has an additional responsibility

to safeguard God’s offering. The mem-

bers of this ministry were chosen by the

church to do what is right, not only in the

sight of the Lord but also in the eyes of

men. We enthusiastically take the honor

given to us very seriously - that is pro-

tecting and administering God’s re-

sources in order to honor him and dem-

onstrate our eagerness to help Ebenezer

Baptist Church (EBC) and God’s people.

How we deal with God’s money is a re-

flection of our relationship with Him. We

are examples of honoring God as stew-

ards of service. Every Sunday, we are at

EBC hours after Worship Service has

ended, dedicating our time and ener-

gies towards the service of God and the

saints of the church. We do this because

of our love and thankfulness to

God. He is our ultimate gift giver

who gave ungrudgingly and

generously. In 2 Corinthians 9 :6

- 7, we are reminded that, “he

which soweth sparingly shall reap

also sparingly; and he which

soweth bountifully shall reap also

bountifully. Every man according

as he purposeth in his heart, so let

him give; not grudgingly, or of

necessity: for God loveth a cheer-

ful giver.”

God is able to supply us with

everything we need so that we

can do good works for His peo-

ple who are in need. He gives us

abundance so that we can have

enough, not only to sustain us

but to also share with others…

letting them know that it is be-

cause of His Righteousness. Be-

cause of His righteousness we are

able to be generous every time in

meeting the needs of His church

and His people. When we see the

Revelation of God, we can’t help

but give Him all praise, glory and

thanksgiving; it also encourages

others to do the same. Because of

God’s grace, the Trustee and Fi-

nance Ministry thanks God for the

opportunity to meet needs, serve

Him, be obedient to His calling

and spread the Gospel of Jesus

Christ.

“As each one has received

a special gift,

employ it in serving

one another, as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God.”

1Peter4:10

USING OUR GIFT OF ADMINSTRATION TO SERVE

Page 4

THE EBENEZER CONNECTION

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye

lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his

presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that

hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his

people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into

his courts with praise: be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

or the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

A Song of David

Psalm 100

1. Do you believe that God loves you and wants you

to have eternal life? John 3:16

2. Do you believe that you have sinned? 1 John 1 8. 10

3. Do you believe your sins have separated you from

God? Romans 3:23

4. Do you believe that your sins have earned you

eternal punishment? Romans 6:23

5. Do you believe that doing good works can save

you from your sins? Ephesians 2: 8 - 9

6. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son? John 20:31

7. Do you believe that Jesus died on a cross for our

sins? Romans 5:8

8. Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the

dead? 1Corinthians 15: 3- 4

9. Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to come to

God? John 14:6

Only Jesus can save you from our sins and give you

eternal life. But this good news about Jesus does not

help you unless you put your faith in Jesus.

John 3: 16 - 18

10. Do you want to put your faith in Jesus to save you?

If the answer is yes, in the Bible, Romans 10:9 says: “If

you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and be-

lieve in your heart that God raised Him from the

dead, you shall be saved.” That is God’s promise to

you!

11. Would you like to tell God that you are now put-

ting your faith in Jesus?

If yes, I will help you talk to God by leading you in a

prayer. Saying these words of prayers does not save

you. Only faith in Jesus saves you. As you pray, God is

looking at your heart for faith in Jesus. Now, please

pray this prayer to God, saying each part after me.

God - thank you for loving me. I know that I have

sinned against You. I believe that Your Son Jesus

died on the cross to pay for my sins, and that You

raised Jesus from the dead. I now put my faith

only in Jesus to forgive me and save me from my

sins. I confess that Jesus is my Lord and my Sav-

ior. Thank you for Your gift of eternal life. I pray

these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HOW TO HAVE ETERNAL

LIFE WITH GOD Page 5

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9

*******

ATTENTION!!!

It is so exciting that we

can get The Ebenezer

Connection on the

World Wide Web. This

one simple task is a

great step in reducing

the cost of the Newslet-

ter and gives you the

opportunity to review it

anytime you want at

your leisure. Just go to

www.visitebenezer.org

and it’s yours at your

fingertips.

Declare

His glory among

the nations,

His marvelous

works among all

the peoples!...

Psalm 96:3

Don’t Just Go to Church

Be the CHURCH!

Share Your Faith!

If we truly believe God

is who He says He is

and that the Bible means

what it says,

we will act

accordingly.

For as the body apart

from the spirit is dead,

so also faith apart from

works is dead.

James 2: 26

THE EBENEZER CONNECTION

Page 6

THE EBENEZER CONNECTION

Page 6

Immobile, undocumented workers

and impoverished families (some of

whom also have need for food,

clothing, and heat).

The U.S.,

the richest country in the world.

How many bottles water

would you use:

To cook a meal for your family

To wash you hair

To wash a load of clothes

To bath

Just the basic hygiene issues, how

many bottles does it take?

Thousands of residents in Flint,

Michigan have been exposed to

lead in their water for almost two

years. The problem was noticed al-

most immediately after officials from

the office of Michigan Gov. Rick

Snyder stop funneling water from

Lake Huron and started funneling

from the Flint River instead. The wa-

ter supplied by the Flint River con-

tained more salt and flowed through

corroded pipes that were pulling

lead and other contaminants into

the water stream.

In addition to the adults in Flint, al-

most, 9,000 children under 6 have

been affected by lead poisoning

from drinking the water. Lead poi-

soning can cause major health prob-

lems, and no one knows the full im-

plications of this disaster.

It will cost an estimated $1.5 billion

to fix the problem and there is no

relief insight. Three State of Emer-

gencies have been declared by the

newly appointed Mayor, the Gover-

nor, and the President. The National

Guard and FEMA were called out to

MISSIONS

CORNER Why do we only touch the surface when it comes to

missions. And do only what makes us feel good. Yes,

we want to help others but do not allow your helping

others to enable them...start empowering people so

that they can rise out of their situation.

****

The problem is accumulation versus distribution.

Missions is about distribution! Let’s not be content

with being on the receiving end...be givers

(suppliers), not users (demanders).

****

When it comes to missions be proactive and not

reactive! When things are going well for you help

someone who my be going through a hard time.

****

Every Christian and every ministry in the Church

should be about missions.

****

We can always do more...your help, prayers ,

money is needed to uplift the lives of someone worst

than you.

distribute water, filters, and other

items. There appears to be no im-

mediate relief insight. Celebrities

have raised millions of dollars and

funded millions of bottles of water.

There are people whose skin is

literally pealing off because they

bathed in the water. Water filters

were supplied and then people

were told they do no work, this is

false hope. The entire infrastruc-

ture of the city of Flint has to be

replaced. This disaster will take

years to clear-up.

While Washington is fighting over

what to, people are dying a slow

death, we do not know what the

future holds for those exposed to

this water will bring.

Lott Carey is working with local

partners to reach people who live

with more vulnerability during this

crisis. There is a critical need to

get water to people who cannot

travel to distribution locations.

This includes elderly residents,

those who are currently homeless,

Donations Needed

Thank you ahead for supporting the residents of Flint, Michigan in prayer

who are in the midst of a water crisis. All donations need to observe the

following guidelines, which allow volunteers to handle donations safely

and efficiently.

Full cases of commercially packaged water (no loose bottles)

Commercially sealed gallon (or larger) containers of water All containers must have an expiration date at least 6 months in the future

Also accepting:

Hand sanitizer (in US Postal Service Priority Mail Large Mailing Box, 14-3/4" x 11-3/4" x 11-1/2" OR shipping box 12" x 12" x 12")

Baby wipes (in US Postal Service Priority Mail Large Mailing Box, 14-3/4" x 11-3/4" x 11-1/2" OR shipping box 12" x 12" x 12")

The following items cannot be accepted:

Canned water

Containers with open/broken seals

Carbonated water

Flavored water

Water past its expiration date

Flint Water Crisis

Response Teams Needed

To Assist with Water Distribution:

Very labor intensive

Seeking teams of up to 12 able bodied men

Work 4 days, 5 - 6 hours a day

Ability to lift gallon cases of water

For more information or questions

please see Kathi L. Reid

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9

Page 7 LIVES WERE LOST FOR US TO VOTE!

The Voting Rights Act is a historic civil rights law that is meant to ensure that the right to vote is not denied on account of race or

color. Unless Congress acts quickly, this could be the first election in 50 years without full protection of the right to vote for mi-

nority voters. We need Congress to act fast – to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act and protect the right to vote for all peo-

ple. MAJOR DATES IN HISTORY:

1867

1866 Civil Rights Act of 1866 grants citizenship, but not the right to

vote, to all native-born Americans.

1896

Louisiana passes "grandfather clauses" to keep former slaves and

their descendants from voting. As a result, registered black voters

drops from 44.8%...

1964

Poll taxes are outlawed with the adoption of the 24th Amendment.

1965

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act into law,

permanently barring barriers to political participation by racial and

ethnic minorities, prohibiting any election practice that denies the

right to vote on account of race... (Video)

1970

President Richard Nixon signed an extension of the Voting Rights

Act.. Nixon: "The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has opened participation

in the political process."

1975

President Gerald Ford signed an extension of the Voting Rights Act.

1990

Due, in part, to the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, the number

of black elected officials in Georgia grows to 495 in 1990 from just

three prior to the VRA.

2010 to Present

Since 2010 alone, the Department of Justice has had 18 Section 5

objections to voting laws in Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, North

Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana.

2011

Restrictions to voting passed in South Carolina, Texas and Florida

are found to disproportionately impact minority voters.

2011

Texas passed one of the nation's most restrictive voter ID laws. Un-

der the VRA, the state was required to submit the law to DOJ .

2011

South Carolina passed a restrictive voter ID law that would keep

more than 180,000 African Americans from casting a ballot.

2014

In January 2014, a bipartisan group of legislators in Congress took

the first step toward developing a new formula and modernizing

the Voting Rights Act.

1869

Congress passes the Fifteenth Amendment giving African

American men the right to vote.

1940

Only 3% of eligible African Americans in the South are regis-

tered to vote.

Jim Crow laws like literacy tests and poll taxes were meant to

keep African Americans from voting.

1965

More than 500 non-violent civil rights marchers are attacked

by law enforcement officers while attempting to march from

Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to demand the need for Afri-

can American voting rights.

1965

By the end of 1965, 250,000 new black voters are registered,

one third of them by federal examiners.

1972

Barbara Jordan of Houston and Andrew Young of Atlanta be-

come the first African Americans elected to Congress from the

South since Reconstruction.

1982

President Ronald Reagan signed a 25-year extension of the

Voting Rights Act.

2006

Congress extended Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act for an

additional 25 years.

2011

A record number of restrictions to voting were introduced in

state legislatures nationwide, including photo ID require-

ments...

2011

Florida passed a law that restricts voter registration and made

cuts to early voting. The majority of African Americans in Flor-

ida.

2011

Under the VRA, the DOJ blocked South Carolina's voter ID

law, saying it discriminates against minority voters.

2013

2013 Shelby v. Holder at the Supreme Court.

2015 Voting Rights Act was not been admined, the first

time in 50 years. WE ARE STILL WAITING!!

THE EBENEZER CONNECTION

Page 8

April James Matthews 4/1 Erin Lyles 4/2 Melanie Payne 4/3 J’nae Player 4/4 Ernest Burton 4/5 Gail Colclough 4/5 Ramona Williams 4/7 Delores Killette 4/9 April Laprade 4/10 William Barnes 4/11 Jeffrey Burrell 4/13 Eric Taylor, Jr 4/15 Apryl Clark 4/17 Malakea Byrd 4/17 Eli Taylor 4/20 Bryan Ross 4/21 Evelena Frisby 4/23 Rosalyn Hall 4/23 Gayle Jacobs 4/24 Destiny Matthews 4/25 Virginia Daniels 4/26 Aaron Jordan 4/29 Angela Davis 4/29

May Jane Honeycutt 5/1 Natasha Jones 5/4 Deon Daniels 5/8 Shevonn Williams 5/8 Lunden Jones 5/12 Deacon Howard White 5/14 Brian Jackson 5/15 Johnathon Vasquez 5/15 Melissa Jones 5/22 Karen Braxton 5/28 Evelyn Taylor 5/30

June Effie Coleman 6/2 Dorothy Ransom 6/2 Sienna Cross 6/4 Myrna Powell 6/4 William Powell 6/5 Kimberly Ward 6/11 Catherine Mae Harris 6/13 Augusta Lewis 6/14 Kathi Reid 6/14 Ebony Morgan 6/15 Vanessa Dubose 6/17 Ethel Buggs 6/18 Yvonne Woods-Howard 6/21 Thomas Robinson 6/22 Clenton Coleman 6/25 Amaya Jordan 6/25 Margaret Harris 6/25 James Ouzts 6/26

Page 9

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9

KIDS CORNER

306 EAST 23RD STREET

BALTIMORE, MD 21218

Phone: 410 - 235 - 4476

Fax: 410 - 235 - 4325

E-mail: ebc3063@aol.com

W E ’R E ON TH E WEB

WW W . V I SI TE B ENE ZER . ORG

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9

EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH

MAY

APRIL

JUNE

Live

Featuring: Nadine LaFavors, Tawanda Saffore and Leandra White

Sunday, May 1, 2016 3:00 P.M.

A performance sponsored by:

Ladies in Fellowship Together (L.I.F.T.)

Ministry

Mother & Daughter Concert

119TH ANNUAL SESSION

Lott Carey Global Christian Missional Community

‘MISSION MATTERS FOR JUSTICE’

13 – 19 August 2016 Philadelphia Pennsylvania Join over 2,000 missional leaders during the Lott

Carey Annual Session to inform and inspire for investment in Christian missions around the

world.

For More Information please see Sis. Cameira Taylor

June 28—August 5

Celebrating

Seniors

Day

May 29, 2016