2

go

spel

to

day

| Ju

n 1

, ‘0

9

Walker, who hails from Shreveport, LA,

came to Nashville in the early 90s to

assume the pastorate of a historic church,

which he has proceeded to transform into

the largest urban megachurch in the city.

The bride, a neonatologist, resided in

Boston prior to the marriage, but had

already known Walker from her college

days, when she attended Mt. Zion.

The bride’s pastor sparked the union,

when he suggested to her that Walker was

Nashville’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church was

the setting for the exchange of vows that

united Bishop Joseph Walker and Dr.

Stephaine M. Hale in holy matrimony.

wedded bliss!wedded bliss!Bishop Joseph Walkerweds Dr. Stephaine Hale Bishop Joseph Walkerweds Dr. Stephaine Hale

“someone she should meet.” Walker, a widower for

the past three or so years, beamed with joy during the

entire service and reception.

The bridesmaids wore rose-beige colored,

exquisitely designed, formal dresses, and the

groomsmen wore black tuxedos. Several pastors from

around the country attended and participated in the

ceremony, notably, Bishop Eddie Long (pictured r),

who served as Walker’s best man and charged the

couple to keep their marriage “exciting.”

Musical performers included psalmists,

Norman Hutchins, Judy McAllister, and Tonya Baker.

The couple will reside in Nashville.

4

go

spel

to

day

| Jun 1

, ‘0

9

same-sex marriageare you ready for it?

For some years, same-sex marriage (SSM) has been near or at the top of anylist of leading religious/secular/political controversies in North America. It iscomplex, divisive, and not readily amenable to compromise. After all, U.S. stateseither allow SSM or ban it. Proposition 8, which defines marriage as only betweena man and a woman, is the constitutional ban that prohibits SSM. On May 26,2009, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, but allowed existingsame-sex marriages to stand.

Any change, or threat of change, to

the culture is distressing to many

people. But a change to the structure

of the fundamental building block of

society -- the family -- can be

particularly upsetting.

SSM has split the U.S. by:

t Age: Youth and young adults

are generally for SSM; the elderly are

against.

t Political affiliation:

Democrats in are favor, Independents

less so, Republicans opposed.

t Religion: Conservatives

opposed; religious liberals and

secularists for.

t Geography: The northeast and

west coast for; the rest against.

This month, Washington, DC,

became the first place in the U.S. with

a large percentage of black residents to

make a forceful outcry against SSM.

Bishop Harry Jackson, a pastor

from Beltsville, MD, stated, “"I am

In a society thatacknowledges“change” as itsmantra; shouldthe definition ofmarriage besubject to a“newinterpretation”?

ph

oto

cre

dit

: Fr

eeD

igit

alP

ho

tos.

net

same-sex marriage

Jun 1

, ‘09

| go

spel to

day

5

convinced that this is going to be

the Armageddon of the marriage

debate,"

“'We will have an army of

signature collectors out in the

community and into the churches,”

said Jackson. He plans to lead a

multiracial group of pastors from

around the country to Capitol Hill

this week to urge lawmakers to

intervene in D.C.'s decision to

debate whether to recognize same-

sex marriages performed

elsewhere.

The Washington Post reports

that Jackson will have until early

July to collect signatures from 5%

of registered voters, which would

be 21,000 signatures.

According to

religioustolerance.org, “Most

American adults currently oppose

SSM, but the trend is towards

increasing acceptance. If current

trends continue, most American

adults will be supportive of SSM

sometime in the early to middle

2010's.

In 1948, California became the

first state in the U.S. to allow

interracial couples to marry.

Another 19 years passed before the

U.S. Supreme Court changed the

definition of marriage in 1967 and

made interracial marriage available

to loving, committed couples

across the entire country.

In 2004, Massachusetts

became the first state to allow

same-sex couples to marry.

California and Connecticut

became the second and third in

2008.

While it seems that there is

great opposition to SSM,

especially among Christians,

there is a growing segment of

the Christian populace that is

advocating “tolerance.” What is

your opinion?

Here’s what someFacebook-ers had to sayon the subject of SSM:

While I have many friends thatare gay and I fully support theirdecision to live their lives as theychoose, I do not support same sexmarriage.

Francine Finley

As a believer of the word, IHAVE to be against "same sex"marriage. GOD created Eve to bewith Adam, NOT Steve! We needthe word more than ever!

Nicolette Robinson

People have attempted todisguise same sex marriage as acivil rights issue. The attempt tomake it parallel to the struggle forparity that African Americans hadto obtain is without merit. Otherthan persecution, there is noirreparable damage done tohomosexuals as a people,particulary when there is no realevidence of economic

discrimination. Clearly the Word ofGod teaches against it. In additionto that, though, so does commonsense. The overwhelming majorityof States have adopted policies thatwould lend themselves to marriagebeing between one man and onewoman. I love people no matterwhat sexual orientation. I,however, can not sanction thatwhich abandons the law of Godand the law of common sense.

Donald Morton

God gave mankind freedom ofchoice. If people choose to live inhomosexual relationships, theyhave that choice. They must alsoaccept the consequences of thosechoices. According to Romans 1:24--28, God will allow it. Hopefully,they will take their vows seriouslybecause the vows will certainly be"for better or worse....in sicknessand in health...until death do wepart." Diseases, perversions, andGod's judgement is the price they

GT subscribers! Goodnews...Your new “printed”issue (May/Jun 09) is in the

mail THIS WEEK!!!

Volume 20 |

Num

ber 2 |

GT’s Annual Youth &

Family Issue

Gospel Today |

Changing the Way the W

orld Sees Faithm

ay

jun

e 2

00

9

c e l e b r a t i n g

DONALDLAWRENCETHE POWER OF WORDS

FROM ABUSED BOYSTO HEALED MENOVERCOMING SECRET HORROR

GenerationeXcellent!

A LOOK AT EMERGING

LEADERSKIERRA "KIKI" SHEARD

MARVIN WINANS JR.JASMINE MORTONCHARLES BLAKE II

Dads

america’s #1 christian lifestyle magazinemay june 2009

www.gosp e l t od a y. com

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

“If I could beanything in life, Iwould be a goodfather to mygirls. And that

would be the greatestgift I could offer.”

—president barack obama

A Final Farewell toREV.TIMOTHY

WRIGHT

U.S. $3.50 / CAN $4.50

What do you think?Post a comment

(gospeltoday.ning.com) orsend us an email

(gospeltodaymag@aol.com) and let us know. We areanxious to hear from you.

cont. on p. 7

While the memory of Pastor TimothyWright is still fresh in the minds of many inthe gospel community, a more concertedeffort is being made by many in the gospeland church community to give flowers tosignificant individuals while they still can beseen and smelled.

That is, in part, what is behind a recent effort tohonor and celebrate the life of Bishop Richard Whitewho serves as a pastor in the Church of God in Christ inAtlanta, GA, but also is the Chapter Representative to theGospel Music Workshop of America from Atlanta, GA.

“I am sure that at some point in time during yourwalk in ministry one of “Mr. Clean’s” songs has been ablessing to your life. He has penned hundreds of songsrecorded by several prominent national recording artistsacross the globe. To have such a gem in the midst of ushas proven to be quite a blessing and we want to takeout some time to show him how much we love andappreciate him, as we honor in Black Music Month.” saysEvangelist Deborah Williams, Assistant ChapterRepresentative in Atlanta.

On Sunday, June 7, 2009, friends and supports ofBishop While will gather at the New Beginning FullGospel Baptist Church at 923 Vallybrook Road inDecatur, GA to honor and celebrate the man that hascome to be known in endearing terms as “Mr. Clean”.The program will take place at 5 PM and will include astellar array of guest, both local and national, that will be

Bishop Richard“Mr. Clean”

White Honoredby Atlanta and

Gospel Industry

cont. on p. 8

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

7

Same sex...cont. from p 5

must be willing to pay. (Rev. 22:10-15) Same Sex Marriages Sure! Would Ivote for it? HELL (lifestyles)No!

Yolanda Burroughs

God placed a tree in the Gardenof Eden and said, "Do not eat of thistree," yet clearly it was an option. Ibelieve that in America, it should belegal, and provide the same rights andbenefits. Whether we like it or not,America was founded on Biblicalprinciples and to deny the freedom ofchoice to an entire group of peoplewould be equivalent to removing theheart the of God from this greatnation.

We allow Buddhists, Hindus,Atheists, etc the right to live againstour beliefs yet they enjoy the same(in the case of Muslims more)benefits that we Christians have.

While I certainly do not condonesin or promote it, I must echo theWords of God as recorded inDeuteronomy 30:19, "I have setbefore you life and death, blessingsand curses. Now choose life."

William C. Rucker

We (the church) get sidetrackedby trying to make the sanctity ofmarriage the foundation of thediscussion. We should really beginwith the sanctity of sex, and God'spurpose for it (procreation ratherthan recreation), then move forwardfrom there.

God is love, and he wants lovingrelationships to develop between allhis human creations. However wehave to Biblical & lovinglydifferentiate between love and sex,and why God gave us these gifts.

Loving someone doesn't meansleeping with them - and that goes forheterosexual relationships too.

Mark Ribbins

All I have to say to sum it all up isto hate the sin but love the sinner.

Christal Tolbert

Doc, your ministry is yourbusiness, which is to inform throughGospel Today, through print andinternet media. When we asChristians stop living in the four wallsof our minds and of the church, wemay be better equipped to lovepeople to change and repentance.

Whatever way you plan to use theissue of same sex marriage in yourpublication, because I know of yourintegrity, I know it will be done toeducate and inform and to cause

cont. from p 5

cont. on p. 8

Jun 1

, ‘09

| go

spel to

day

REAL dialogue in the church,something that is forever lacking.

The reality is this though...samesex or opposite sex...same needs andsame problems, therefore SAMEneeds to see God's love. When willwe stop making same sexrelationship the biggest sin in theworld? The homosexuals of thisworld are not going anywhere, weneed to learn to love and beinclusive instead of so arrogant andexclusive. How will we EVER bringthem to change, that should not bewhat consumes us, love shouldconsume us.

Millie Phaeton

Personally the question that hasalways been on the forefront of mymind is: Why should someone’ssexual preference become a publicissue? Sex is something that happensbehind closed doors or at least itshould, in the privacy of one'sbedroom. Why would my partnerand I need the consent, approval,and acceptance of others, especiallya nation of people?

Sharon Jenkins

No matter what we, the “people”say, it matters much more what thescriptures have already said. Onanother note, if you want to employthose who have chosen analternative lifestyle, that is yourprerogative.

Dan A Thomas Jr

Somebody told me, "it's not ourbusiness what other people do"What? Of course it is!! We all live inthis society, don't we? We can voteon things, we each have a voice,whether we want to believe it'sheard or not!!!

I say, CLEARLY, Marriage isbetween MAN and WOMAN!!! Thissame person told me they have

rights. Of course they do, justlike everyone else. I however don'tthink this is a rights issue!! Would Ihave the right to marry an animal?The answer to that, "It's notnatural!!" Exactly!!! You can't justmake up something, and justify whyyou think it's right, so now it'sright!!! NO!! I will not be trying toget a law passed, to marry ananimal!! LOL

Lonnie Lowe

Though misguided, they arehuman beings and their perspectiveis espoused by many even by someChristians. Biblically as written inLeviticus 18, God sees such behavioras an abomination. If you're usingthem to bring biblical clarity, toexpress the Lord's position as acontrast, then by all means usethem. Hopefully, others will be leadto Him and deliverance.

Jon Paul Preyer

I don't agree with it ...It's deadwrong ...But I refuse To Judge GayPeople ...I give them Truth and let itbe...I have watch countless saints runGay people out of they church ...andallow the DL Brothers to stickaround because they can play theorgan ...It's not O.K.!

Stop Running Gay People Out ofthe Church !!!!...With Love and TheWORD which is the Truth ...PeopleWill Change....I sure did.. and thereis nothing Gay about me !!!...Kjonesapproved

Keita Jones

The Lord did not make male andmale to marry, but male and female.Our country has really gone wildthinking that this should beaccepted in our society. I think theLord is not pleased with thegovernment for allowing it and us forcondoning it.

Veneeta Phelps

8

go

spel

to

day

| Ju

n 1

, ‘0

9

Richard White cont. from p. 6

Same sex...cont. from p. 7

in attendance to let Bishop White know to what degree that he isloved and appreciated by his peers and colleagues.

While all of us would like to think that our final farewell will be amajor events that will attract those whose lives we have touched,there is still something to be said about saying thank you and we loveyou from meaningful people in your life while you can still hear itwith living ears.

I don't agree with it ...It's dead wrong...But I refuse To Judge Gay People ...I

give them Truth and let it be...I havewatch countless saints run Gay people out

of they church ...and allow the DLBrothers to stick around because they can

play the organ ...It's not O.K.!

THE GATHERINGWITH DR. DEXTER EASLEY

TO SCHEDULE A PRAYER GATHERINGIN YOUR AREA CALL 843.764.0418

866.910.5433 (LIFE)OR VISIT US ON THE WEB ATWWW.NEWLIFEGCSC.ORG

1200INTERCESORSTHROUGHOUTAMERICA

COMING TO YOUR CITYPRAYER GATHERING 2009In this, Gods’ Time the call hasgone forth for men and womenof God to rise upon theshoulders of those who havegone before us. Those mightymen and women of Prayer sawthe results of their labor.

AND SO SHALL WE…NOW is the time of theGATHERING. A time for a swift,quick, miracle harvest. Aharvest of souls, peace, unityand prosperity in every area ofyour life.

GATHER in prayer with me andmy team of intercessors.

This year we will travel fromcity to city and state to stateseeking 1200 + intercessorsthat will gather with us inprayer and tear down thestrongholds in every city.

“The Kingdom of Heavensuffers violence and the violenttake it by force.” Mathew 11:12

MAYCHARLESTON, SC

JUNEJONESBORO, GA

JULYTBA

AUGUST LOS ANGELES, CA

SEPTEMBERTBA

OCTOBERTBA

NOVEMBER TBA

DECEMBER TBA