praise reporter october 2012

October 2012

Bishop Noel JoNesCity of Refuge Church

Gardena, CA11/13 • 7:00 pm

Bishop eDGAR poseYConference host

Living Faith Apostolic ChurchColumbus, OH

11/14 & 15 • 11:00 am & 1:30 pm

pAstoR NAthANiel URshAN the Rock Church

Ft. Myers, Fl11/14 & 15

7:00 pm & 11:00 am

Bishop ioNA loCke Abyssinia Christ

Centered MinitriesSouthfield, MI

11/15 & 16 • 7:00 pm & 11:00 am

pAstoR MARViN sAppLighthouse Full Life

Center ChurchGrand Rapids, MI11/18 • 6:00 pm

STAY INFORMED. STAY INSPIREDJoin our email list at PraiseReporter.com

Thom Rainer Reveals the Secret Pain of Pastors

AWCCoNCeRt ChoiR

& speCiAl GUest7:00 PM

Friday, November 16Living Faith Apostolic

Church2511 Mock Road

Columbus, OH 43219

October 2012 | praisereporter.com | 866.961.7191 | 2

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Once again, the Praise Reporter honors Bishop Edgar Posey and the Living Faith Apos-tolic Church, as we highlight

the 2012 Anointed Word & Clergy Unity Conference. We are excited to share this exciting and progressive ministry and its efforts to make a powerful impact in Co-lumbus, Ohio. From a thriving church, to growing commerce center, Living Faith is a living example of the concept of king-dom citizenship. Their 2012 conference will prove to be an exciting journey into worship and the word of God as pastors, ministry leadership and those hungry for a word from the Lord will converge at the Anointed Word and Clergy Unity Conference. Browse the schedule and list of speakers as you learn about the great initiatives alive at Living Faith.

I would also like to invite you to tune in 247PraiseRadio.com! 247 Praise Radio plays the greatest gospel music from lo-cal and national artists and would love to share it with you. In addition to music the station has great programming like the SoulFunny Radio Show, DJRonnie Ron’s Hip Hop Praise, Bishop Howard Tillman with 5 Minutes For Faith plus dynamic preaching by national and re-gional ministries. Please feel free to give me a call to learn more or join our email list at praisereporter.com to receive our weekly email blasts that share the latest news at the praisereporter and 247 Praise Radio.

As the holiday season approaches let us not forget the less fortunate, especially the children. The Praise Reporter and 247PraiseRadio.com is proud to be a part of one of the greatest events of the year,

The Columbus Best Gospel Vocal Com-petition. Along with BounceTV, Great Minds Academy, Mo Entertainment and DPI Graphics will benefit Columbus Gifts of Love, an organization that will distribute toys to children during the Christmas holidays. Last year Columbus Gifts of Love distributed toys to over 60 children in the Columbus metro area.

This year, we want to service even more. Please help us to give the gift of love. Purchase your tickets now.

Ivory D. [email protected]

Grace and PeaceLet your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. —Matt. 5:16

Ivory PaynePublisher


Welcome13th Annual Anointed Word Conference“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” ~Acts 1:8

We live in a world in which Man is always looking for, but believing that he has no “pow-er.” Power is sought in the home, the board room, the court room, the operating room, The White House – and the Pulpit. Most people believe that power necessitates “force,” whether that force be detected in the strength of one’s voice, the choice of one’s words,

his gestures, his ability to manipulate – or the size of his “toys.” Indeed, if one subscribes to the notion of power being in one’s ability to “resist,” he is laughed at, at best. Through the years, we have seen the effects of “the pursuit of power.” Individuals have lost all that they had; families have been destroyed; states are in disarray; countries have been brought to the brink of destruction (sometimes, internally) – and Jesus was crucified.

“But, we see Jesus…,” whose entire life revolved around securing for Man the “Pow-er” that sin had stolen from him. You see, unregenerate Man believes that power lies in what he can do for himself. Therefore, he spends inordinate amounts of time in all of the pursuits against which he is warned by God. As opposed to taking these warnings as the mark of a loving, faithful Savior, Man sees them as an attempt at “control” – which translates to taking away one’s power.

The truth with which we must contend is that the only power that we really have is conferred upon us through the Holy Ghost. Once we are baptized in His Name and filled with His Spirit, we must redefine what “power” means to us. Jesus, in-deed, died that Man might have power, but the power for which He died is that which gives Man power over himself – and his fleshly interests and inclinations. Once that power is exercised, it makes all other forms of “power,” obsolete.

Bishop Edgar A. Posey Conference Host

When one examines the characteristics of great leaders, there is usually one thing that stands out in the lives of them all: they are propelled by a singular passion. Gandhi’s was non-violent protest and resistance; Dr. King’s, of course,

was the belief that all men were inherently equal and deserved to be treated equally; John the Baptist’s was Jesus; Jesus’ was the Father – and Bishop Edgar Posey’s is unity. In his vision of unity, Dr. Posey sees two needs: first, the mandate of the union of every man with Christ, and sec-ond, the necessity of our unity with each other through Christ.

To that end, in 1999 the Clergy Unity Conference was begun out of obedience to the Lord. In that Dr. Posey takes the revelation of God to be precious, he believes that the truths that have been revealed to him are to be shared with all who will accept them.

Originally, the first half of the conference (the Clergy Unity sessions) was de-signed for “clergy only”. The “Anointed Word Conference” then closed the week with services open to the laity. After several years, further instruction was received and the event became the “Anointed Word Conference,” with the entire meeting open to clergy and laity alike.

Over the 13 years in which the Anointed Word Conference has been serv-ing the people of God, presenters have included Bishop Tudor Bismark, the late Bishop Norman Wagner, Pastor Marvin Winans, Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Iona Locke, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Dr. Mark Hanby, Pastor Jona-than Suber, Rev. Tommy Tenney, Dr. Carolyn Showell and Dr. Marvin Sapp. Musical guests have included Sarah Jordan Powell, the Rev. Daryl Coley, Jon-athan Dunn, Harold Rayford and Neil Scott. Anointed Word concerts have also been held, featuring Pastor Kim Burrell, Damon Little, the Living Faith Mass Choir and Dawkins and Dawkins.

Anointed Word Conference History

ministry spotlight: Living Faith Apostolic Church


Living Faith Apostolic Church 1975-2012After graduating as class vale-

dictorian from Aenon Bible College in 1975, Elder Edgar Allen Posey was “on fire”

and ready to pursue God’s ministry. For a short period, he evangelized and preached the Word wherever and whenever the door opened.

In 1975, Elder Posey began seeking the Lord regarding the direction of his min-istry. The Lord spoke to him and said, “I’m making you responsible for the people.” The Lord continued to reveal His will in that He wanted Elder Posey to make sure that he understood his “calling”—the calling of a shepherd.

As God’s will was sought, Elder Posey was in need of a facility in which to pastor. He petitioned the Lord for a building that could be rented for $100. Look at God! A small church building, located at 2633 Mock Road (Columbus, Ohio), was available for rent. The own-er was asking for exactly $100.

Elder Posey continued to seek the Lord for the church name. The Lord spoke “Living Faith”—for, as according to Hebrews 10:38, “…the just shall live by faith.”

On November 16, 1975, Living Faith Apostolic Church held its first service. Elder Posey, along with his wife, Sister Marguerite Posey (now deceased), Sis-ter Virginia Rutherford (now deceased) and Brother Donald Williams were the first members. God confirmed His ap-proval of this work by filling a soul with the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the second service.

In January 1978, the Midwestern states were stricken with the worst blizzard in history. On “Blizzard Sunday,” six souls were baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utter-ance…Acts 2:30.

In 1979, the facility at 2633 Mock Road was offered for sale and Living Faith had to vacate. For eight months, Liv-ing Faith worshipped at the East Lin-den United Methodist Church on De-nune Avenue (Columbus, Ohio). As

it was God’s plan for Living Faith to be in the Mock Road area, He opened the door for the purchase of the for-mer Village Park Methodist Church at 2181 Mock Road.

The work of Living Faith was still un-folding. Although this unique ministry was not yet complete, the course of the first lady, Sister Marguerite Posey, was completed. In November 1983, the Lord saw fit to call our beloved mother and sister from labor to reward.

Elder Posey was resigned to complet-ing his course of ministry as a “man alone” (Genesis 2:18). However, the Lord soon warned him that remaining unmarried could be detrimental to the ministry. Sister Tracey Yvonne Smith was called “into the gap” in fulfill-ment of some of God’s specific prom-ises to His servant. Sister Tracey Posey has been blessed to be given her own unique “place” in the ministry and is blessed to be the wife of a man of God who allows her to fulfill it.

As the congregation continued to grow, the Mock Road location was a “packed house” on both Sunday mornings and evenings. In need of a much larger edifice, Living Faith broke ground for a new facility in November 1984. The new edifice was completed in March of 1986 and was dedicated in November of that same year.

In 1987, Living Faith’s first television program was aired on ACTV-Channel (Columbus, Ohio). This was the begin-ning of many open doors for the media ministry.

Prophecy continued to be fulfilled as the Pastor and First Lady were blessed with their first son, Ian Seth. Approxi-mately 15 years earlier, the Lord had promised Elder Posey that He would indeed give him a son. In 1988, a sec-ond son, Joshua Allen—the “some on top of that”—was born. In 1994, they were blessed with a daughter, Erin Marguerite Michaela.

In 1988, Elder Posey founded the Liv-ing Faith Bible Institute. Offering tra-ditional Bible college courses, as well as those designed by Elder Posey, the

Bible Institute would become a thriv-ing foundation to enhance one’s spiri-tual growth.

During this time, the Lord brought ac-ademic recognition of the Word. 1992 saw the conferral of the Doctor of Di-vinity from Grace Apostolic College and in 1994, the Doctor of Philosophy from Christian Bible College of North Carolina. Dr. Posey has earned even more degrees, all honoring the revela-tion of truth within him.

Throughout the history of Living Faith, promises of ecclesiastical bless-ings have been made to His servant. Because of his faithfulness, elevation has been a continual theme. The first of these promises was fulfilled in 1993, when Elder Posey was elevated to Dis-trict Elder by the late Bishop Francis Smith.

As Dr. Posey saw elevation, so did many aspects of the ministry. The writ-ten word began to play in integral part and within a short time the pastor was blessed to publish many books. The truth contained in these writings had been incubating in the spirit of Dr. Posey for many years and the Lord saw it was time for the knowledge and revelation to be shared.

Additionally, the Lord saw fit to bless the Living Faith Mass Choir to release several recordings. The music ministry proved to be a “gateway” for national and international travel and recogni-tion.

The MiraCit Development Corpora-tion, derived from “Miracle City” was also established during this time in re-sponse to the Lord’s directive that we “possess the land.” Through MiraCit,

Dr. Posey has spearheaded a much needed change and revitalization in Columbus, Ohio’s Mock Road com-munity and surrounding areas.

As is common with God, He has continued to nurture and expand our ecclesiastical structure, as it is from this that all other ministries are born. Therefore, in 2003, a new edifice was built at 2177 Mock Road, marking the commencement of Faith Center Inter-national, the focal point of the ministry and umbrella under which all of God’s work is to be done.

Realizing there is no more powerful “instrument of change” than faith, we have a vision. As Nehemiah moved to revitalize a nation, we are moving to revitalize the World. Our international outreach ministry is already a source of attraction, drawing people from all nationalities and walks of life. We are “at peace with the vision” because by faith, it is done!

To follow the ministry online, visit www.lfac.org.

The November 2011 Praise Reporter announced plans of a Save-A-Lot gro-cery store. As of this publication, the Lord has blessed that vision to come to fruition.

In the midst of a strategic planning year, and through what many might view as extreme adversity, the Lord honored the heart of the Bishop which resulted in the opening of the first African-American owned Save-A-Lot store in Ohio. While not only provid-ing many jobs, this 18,000 sq.ft. gro-cery store has also brought a sense of hope to an otherwise underserved and blighted area. n



Bishop Dr. Iona E. Locke was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and is one of nine siblings. At an early age, she came to know

Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and according to Acts 2:4, she was baptized with the Holy Spirit. She began her education in the Pittsburgh School System, and later attended Harty’s Bible School. Bishop Locke was commissioned by the Lord to further her Christian training. In so doing, she continued on to complete her doctorate in Theology and Di-vinity Programs in July 1994. It is of greater knowledge to couple educa-tion with experience.

Some may know him as “Bishop,” others as an astute intellectual, a columnist, prolific orator, theat-rical producer, and still others

as a beloved father, grandfather and loyal friend. No matter your point of reference, there are few places you will travel on this side of heaven without hearing the great name of Bishop Noel Jones. Bishop Jones was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica on January 31, 1950. One of seven children born to Bishop Rob-ert and Marjorie Jones, Noel Jones was raised alongside a diverse array of sib-lings (one of whom is the famed actress and singer Grace Jones). He once mused, “If I could reconcile and keep peace among us, I can reconcile the Church through the power of God.” Add to this skill of mediation, a strict rearing under Pentecostal tenets, and the enduring of an early childhood abuse, and it should become increasingly clear why God called Bishop Jones into the ministry at the tender age of nineteen.

His experiences nurtured his unique call to the ministry of reconciliation and honed his distinct ability to transcend tradition in his delivery of the gospel, through widening spiritual param-

Bishop Edgar Allen Posey is the founder and pastor of Liv-ing Faith Apostolic Church in Columbus, Ohio where he has

served since 1975. An ordained Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Dr. Posey has been preaching the Gospel for more than two decades.

In reference to his academic achieve-ments, he completed his undergradu-ate studies in Religious Education at Aenon Bible College and continued his post-graduate studies at Method-ist Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio; Grace Apostolic College, Day-ton, Ohio; and Christian Bible College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Upon the completion of his studies, he was conferred the Doctor of Divinity, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Grace, and the Doctor of Philosophy from Christian Bible College. A teacher of distinction, Bishop Posey served as an instructor at Aenon and the Karl F. Smith Bible Institute for a total of thir-teen years.

He also served as Academic Dean and Executive Vice President for the latter. In 1988, the Living Faith Bible Insti-tute was founded, offering traditional

Conference Schedule & Speakers

continued on page 5

Bishop Noel Jones Bishop Edgar Allen Posey Rev. Nathaniel Urshan Bishop Dr. Iona E. Locke


continued on page 6

Rev. Nathaniel Urshan is the founder of the Rock Church in Fort Myers, Fl and has pa-stored there for thirteen years.

He is the Vice President of the Apos-tolic Church of Jesus Christ which is a conglomeration of churches that serve the South Florida area. He is the CEO of Urban Reach, Harvest Builders, and the Reaching Our Communities Kids Foundation that serve to facilitate min-isterial endeavors, and he is currently attending Apostolic School of Theol-ogy where he is pursuing his PhD in Education. While the work of God is central to his life, he couldn’t do it without the help of the Lord, and his precious family. He is married to Jac-queline N. Urshan and they have two wonderful sons, Joseph and Benjamin Urshan. n continued on page 6

Bishop Noel JoNesCity of Refuge ChurchGardena, CANovember 13 7:00 pm

Bishop eDGAR AlleN poseYConference hostLiving Faith Apostolic ChurchColumbus, OHNovember 14 & 15 11:00 am & 1:30 pm

pAstoR NAthANiel URshAN the Rock ChurchFt. Myers, FlNovember 14 & 15 7:00 pm & 11:00 am

Bishop ioNA loCke Abyssinia Christ Centered MinitriesSouthfield, MINovember 15 & 16 7:00 pm & 11:00 am

Bishop ioNA loCke Abyssinia Christ Centered MinitriesSouthfield, MINovember 15 & 16 7:00 pm & 11:00 am

pAstoR MARViN sAppLighthouse Full Life Center ChurchGrand Rapids, MINovember 18 6:00 pm

C o N F e R e N C e s p e A k e R s & s C h e D U l e


topped the Urban AC chart (the first to do so since Yolanda Adams’ “Open My Heart”); was a top selling ringtone and ring back, and propelled Thirsty to the top of the gospel charts for 27 weeks. He has also been honored in his hometown of Grand Rapids Michigan. Recognized for his professional and philanthropic efforts, he has received the city’s high-est African American honor, a Giants Award, as well as the Frederick Douglas award from the National Association of Negro and Professional Women’s Club.Not Complacent, yet pressing towards the Mark

Currently as Founder and Senior Pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church at Kingdom Square, one of the fastest growing churches in Western Michigan on a nearly 18 acre campus, which is home to more than 1000 members. As a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pas-tor Marvin is committed to his commu-nity and enjoys taking the message to the masses. .He is a passionate orator and biblical teacher, who desires to be a living epis-tle glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ both in word and in deed. Many say his voice is instantly recognizable, characteristically raspy, ringing with power and authority as he masterfully illustrates with excellence the Word of God. Not only is his delivery exemplary, but his knowledge of the historical text brings to life the message of hope and healing. n

eters in order to reach diverse people of manifold backgrounds, cultures, and denominations.

A preeminent scholar, Bishop Jones at-tended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a Bachelors of Science in Theology from Aenon Bible College. At the age of twenty-six, Bishop Jones ac-cepted his first pastorate at Bethel Tem-ple of Longview in Longview, Texas. In June of 1994, Bishop Noel Jones was chosen to succeed the venerable Bishop Robert W. McMurray as Shepard to ap-proximately 1,000 members of Greater

Bishop Noel Jones cont’d courses as well as those designed by Bishop Posey to enhance one’s spiri-tual growth. His seminars and Bible studies are provocative as he challeng-es believers, and unbelievers alike to assume their rightful positions as the sons of God. Thousands, indeed, have been inspired by Bishop Posey’s minis-try of the “Uncompromised Word” of God. He can be seen and heard weekly on radio and television stations broad-casting around the world. Indeed, every effort is being made to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Posey also has ten books to

Bishop Posey cont’d

God has afforded Bishop Locke, throughout the years, the opportuni-ty to train under noted leaders such as: Bishop F.M. Thomas of Pittsburgh, PA, the late Bishop Robert McMurray of Los Angeles, CA and Elder John Lloyd of Bridgeport, CT. Additional training has also come from her fa-ther in the gospel, Bishop Norman L. Wagner, former Presiding Prel-ate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., Youngstown, Ohio. Having a divine calling from God to preach to all nations, Bishop Locke has extensively traveled the length of these contiguous United States, as well as Antigua, British West Indies, West Germany, London, England, the Bahamian Islands, South Africa, Ire-land, Israel and Holland.

Bishop Iona E. Locke was consecrat-ed as bishop on August 23rd 2000, as presiding prelate of Christ Centered Ministries. Discography - Former Vice President of International Young Peo-ple’s Union of the Pentecostal Assem-blies of the World; Former Assistant Pastor of Greater Bethany Commu-nity Church, Los Angeles, CA; For-mer Director of Ecclesiastical Affairs – Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church, Youngstown, OH; Administrative As-sistant Emeritus – Perfecting Church, Detroit, MI; Board Member of E.C. Reems International Women’s Minis-try, Oakland, CA; CEO – Christ Cen-tered Ministries, Southfield, MI; and CEO – Empire Community Develop-ment Center, Southfield, MI. n

Bishop Locke cont’d


Not a singer that happens to preach but a Preacher called by God who is gifted to sing. Singing since age four he

has shared the stage with many gos-pel notables and his gift is celebrated across musical genres. He has enjoyed a decorated music ministry receiving Stellar Awards, Gospel Music Excel-lence Award, as well as Grammy, Soul Train Music and Dove Award Nomina-tions. The title HERE I AM for gospel star Marvin Sapp’s eighth and latest album is more than a little ironic when one considers that “Never Would Have Made It” (from his 2007 release Thirsty) has been among the most ubiquitous gospel songs of the last three years - let alone all time. According to Billboard, Marvin Sapp’s new single “Best In Me” has already matched the 2008 peak of his seminal “Never Would Have Made It.” The song – which has people talking and tweeting around the globe – jumps from #78 to #14 on the Hot R& B/Hot Songs Chart, which Billboard says is the largest position jump by a gospel track since the chart began using Nielsen SoundScan data 18 years ago and is the largest jump in four years among all genres. The mega-selling “Never Would Have Made It” held down the #1 slot at Gospel radio for almost a full year;

Dr. Marvin L. Sapp

Conference Schedule & Speakershis credit: The Uncompromised Word Sermon Highlights, A Verse-by-Verse Commentary on the book of Ephesians, In the Likeness of God, The Old Man is Dead, God’s Blessings – Guaranteed!, Ultimate Deception: The Destructive Pattern of Hate, The Mind of Christ, The Revelation of Salvation, Pearls of Wisdom, and Reality…What Is It? And last, but not least, he is the loving husband of Tracey Posey, and father of three: Ian, Joshua, and Erin. n

Bethany Community church in (South Central) Los Angeles, California. Dur-ing his tenure, the membership of the church has increased so significantly that in 2003, a new edifice was acquired in Gardena, California. The new sanc-tuary, now known as “The City of Ref-uge” accommodates a growing mem-bership of 17,000 who jam the sanctuary five times a week to be invigorated and transformed by the uniquely power-ful preaching of this awesome man of God.

Bishop Jones continues to make an in-delible mark on the world, violently reclaiming territory for the Kingdom through his philanthropy, service and social justice efforts. In 2005, Bishop Jones partnered with Urban Holdings, et. al. and launched economic empow-erment seminars designed to bring together executive leaders from the business, legal and faith-based arenas. The aim of the two-day workshops is to begin unveiling “spiritual solutions to financial freedom.” These seminars will perpetuate Bishop Jones’ mission to mold his congregation, and anyone who can benefit there from, into pow-erful mediators in the church, in their communities, and in the world.

Bishop Jones is the proud father of three children: Noel II (Cozzette ), Tifani, and Eric (Angie), and three grandchildren, Lena, Ian, and Oliver. n


Sermon Highlights

For awhile now, because of what the Lord has said to me, I have been emphasizing the impor-tance of agreeing with God and

whatever He says. He started with telling us that everything has already been done in the Spirit so that when we reached this point in His revelation to us, we would have no problem with agreement.

We can have complete and utter confi-dence in trusting God because in that He speaks out of eternity (where there is no passing of time), everything that He has spoken is already available; we need want for nothing.

There is a word “symphonio,” which means “to speak together.” This is exactly what God is asking of us con-cerning what He has taken time, effort, and care to impart to us. God’s word requires us to change who we are so that we can be who we must be in or-der to represent Him. Our job and re-sponsibility is to reach others with the word of God. This is the reason that we are granted salvation, and this is the purpose of our new life in Him. If the World would have any hope, those who belong to Him must do more than just talk about Him.

Our representation of Jesus Christ

must also be about more than just studying the Bible. You see, our study alone means nothing apart from spiri-tual revelation, and spiritual revelation becomes ours only if we agree with Him that what He has said and done is correct. Despite the “picture” that popular media paints for us, the vari-ous “titles” that Man holds and what becomes part of popular culture, the fact that one has a title does not grant him access to the knowledge of what is spiritual.

The point of examining the passage of scripture that we are examining today is to make it clear that in order to “es-tablish” anything as truth, two to three “witnesses” must attest to it. Now, in the case of God, scripture tells us that He “swore” on Himself, in that He could find none greater. All too often, when we are dealing with those who are either “outside of the faith” or who differ in teaching from us, we can tend to lean toward being condemnatory rather than compassionate and help-ful.If we love Jesus and what He stands for, then we must also love those who need Him enough that we are willing to help them. He and we are their only hope to be saved from hell.

The reaction that we have toward oth-

ers is frequently a result of our need to “feel better” about ourselves. We feel this way when we know that we have not quite “hit the mark,” but hold out hope that others are “worse” than we are. By now, we are not ignorant that the problem with this is that if one is wrong, he is wrong, period! We have often heard that “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” We must not deceive ourselves into believing that that “preparation” is possible apart from agreeing with the Word. After all, how could one ever be pre-pared to spend an eternity in the home of the builder of the home and be “at odds” with him?

Verse 18 of our text has proven to cause confusion in its readers. How-ever, its meaning is really quite simple once one understands that the “bind-ing” and “loosing” referred to is done through the Word of God. Therefore, if one lives to his flesh here on earth, he will be bound to that flesh in heaven. Likewise, if that man chooses to agree with the Word of God, he will be loosed from his flesh here on earth – and therefore, will be “loosed” in heaven! Any authority that we, or anyone else has (whether here, or in heaven) comes from being loosed from the dictates of our flesh. How ironic that that which many crave is only achievable through

spiritual means! Apart from impeding our winning of souls, our refusal to agree with the Word of the Lord causes much more “mayhem” in our own lives than we would ever probably believe! You see, for years we have at-tempted to “blame” our inadequacies and “failure to thrive” in the Lord on everything but ourselves. But, in our attempts to “excuse” ourselves, we find ourselves “constructing” things that agree with our understanding, rather than simply giving in to God. As late as it is in the history of Man and as little time as this Earth (and we) have, now is the time for us to determine to accept what Jesus says to us, poke out our chests and live that thing! We have been “tutored” for a long time by God, specifically that we might come to.

As He has raised us up in His like-ness, we are to esteem Him enough; have enough gratitude to conduct ourselves before others as those “liv-ing dead” who now exist not for them-selves, but rather, for the One Whom gave His life in order to restore life to us. Only through our “agreeing (that) by One Spirit we are all baptized into one Body” will we see the importance of and be willing to acknowledge what the Lord has done, recognize its impor-tance, and dedicate ourselves whole-heartedly to it. n

“Jesus Came to Deliver Us from Bondage”by Bishop Edgar PoseyHebrews 2:9-17The Scripture teaches us that we are created in God’s “image,” and that image must be spiritual, for God is a Spirit (does not cast a reflection). Therefore, in order to “see” Him, we too, must be spiritual. In that Jesus Christ is “God’s express image,” He is given to us as the Example that we must follow.

There was no spiritual “recovery” for the angels because they were spirits, and as such, had only one “form” – and that form was unal-terable. So, when Lucifer fell, there was no way for him to recover from what he had done. In response, God purposed to make a man who has the ability to be “recovered” and saved – provided he accepts what the Lord offers to him.



The “crown jewel” of FCI Marketplace officially has been set in place with the opening of the first African-American owned Save-a-Lot food store in Ohio. Lo-cated at 2200 Mock Road in Columbus, the 18,000 sq. ft. grocery store is dear to the heart of Bishop Ed-

gar A. Posey, pastor of Living Faith Apostolic Church. Recognizing that the neighborhood was suffering from both being in, and surrounded by a vast “food desert,” it became his mission (along with FCI Marketplace Holdings, LLC) to provide a clean store with healthy,

quality foods sold at competitive prices. Opening on August 15, the store has added jobs, exposure, fresh produce, fresh-cut meats, and most importantly, a sense of hope to a forgotten, blighted, neglected area.

Save-a-Lot at FCI Marketplace

Save-A-Lot2200 Mock RoadColumbus, OH 43219(614) 471-8400


The FCI, Too! Early Learning Acad-emy has evolved into a stellar center for the education of children. Our chil-dren come from varying backgrounds, including many from single parent homes, and those financially chal-lenged. My vision for the center was to provide the same quality of educa-tion that can be found in the suburban centers. We seek teachers who may not necessarily be looking for the highest salary but are interested in making a difference in the lives of all children. We believe that even toddlers should be exposed to language, literacy, (in-cluding the old time nursery rhymes) art, music, science and field trips to places that they may not otherwise able to afford. We have children who have been with our program since they were

toddlers and continue with us through our Pre-K graduation Ceremony which is a major event each May. The gradu-ates march down the aisle in cap and gown to “Pomp & Circumstance” just as a college graduate would. They present a program to their parents and family which includes presentations in French, Spanish, and Sign Language which they learned throughout the school year. They perform a liturgical routine to a song that they have cho-sen. We started an annual tradition of giving them a trip to “Build A Bear Workshop” a local store which allows them to build and dress a bear of their choosing. This is our gift to them for a job well done. Our staff loves each and every one of our children, and we see it every day in their eyes. The children

really appreciate the “home-cooked” meals they receive every day. For many, they are possibly the best and most nutritious meals that they will receive. Thanks to a hard-working, tal-ented, and dedicated staff,

FCI, Too! is making a difference its chil-dren’s lives, offering the caring atten-tion young children need and deserve.

Though initially an “inherited” busi-ness, the FCI, Too! Early Learning Acad-emy has emerged as one of the premier institutions of early learning in Central Ohio. Boasting an exceptionally well-trained staff and led by an Administra-tor (Mrs. Sharon Davis) who is dedicat-ed to excellence, FCI, Too! is proving a model for centers located in vary-

ing communities throughout Central Ohio. Though located in the inner city, the appeal of our academic, as well as award-winning food program is strong enough to entice parents to drive their children from outlying communities. In all that we do, the philosophy that drives, guides, directs us, and prevails is that all children deserve a quality educational start and that given that start, all will excel.

FCI Too!2511 Mock Road

Columbus, OH 43219614-471-8486

www.fcitoo.com



FCI Academy Offers: • Excellent Curriculum & Instruction • Beautiful Academic Campus • Free Transportation • National Breakfast & Lunch Program • Loving Administration and Staff • Extra-Curricular Activities and Clubs • Sports Program ( OCSAA ) • Social, Emotional and Professional Development • Special Education Services • Free Tutoring for OAT and OGT • Safety and Security • Free Tuition • Much,Much, More

The FCI School Philosophy…is based on a belief system:

We believe that it takes a community of commit-• ted stake-holders to effectively educate a child. We believe that total quality management is the • most effective approach to serving the needs of our educational community. We believe in the concept of developing, imple-• menting, and monitoring change processes to improve student learning, adult development and learning climates.

We believe that it is paramount that the children • whom we serve be placed in the most positive and structurally sound atmosphere possible. We believe that the concept of integrity must be • a central cord which is infused in all that we do. We believe that everyone is a leader and the suc-• cess or failure of the school community depends on how effectively each individual carries out his or her leadership responsibilities. We believe that all children can learn provided • they express a desire to attain the knowledge needed to succeed. We believe that failure is a choice and not an op-• tion in our educational community. We believe that we are a community of continual • learners and we must commit ourselves to schol-arly work and in return expect scholarly results. We believe that there is no “ I “ in -” team “- and • that in order to achieve the expected academic and social gains we must institute the team con-cept at all times. We believe that values, ethics and visionary • leadership are the key catalysts that drive this educational community. Finally… We believe that in order to make a dif-• ference we must be the difference that our chil-

dren and parents see in order for them to model the correct behaviors and outcomes and to pro-duce the right results

FCI District Central Office and High School 2177 Mock Road

Columbus, Ohio 43219 ( 614 )-471-4527

( 614 ) 471-4943 Fax Email– [email protected]

www.fciacademy.com

The FCI Academy provides a full range of learning opportunities for all students grades K thru 12th. Supporting class-room teachers are specialists in their core curriculum subjects as well as in the areas of vocal music, physical education, dance, research, business technology, computer technology, second languages, and alternative education.



Over the past 18 years, there has been a remarkable transformation in the Mock Road community through the programs and activities implemented by MiraCit Development Corporation. With the support of its many public and private-sector partners, MiraCit has taken to task the seemingly im-possible, by developing 300+ new and rehabilitated homes and apartments (including the City’s first “green” subdivision, Green View Estates, and the recently completed North Central Village Senior Apartments); develop-ing an “Excellent” rated K-12 charter school, FCI Academy; and an accred-ited childcare center, FCI, Too Early Learning Academy; generating over 125 new jobs; developing the FCI Plaza shopping center; revitalizing existing park areas and addressing public ser-vice needs.

MiraCit’s revitalization activities are directly tied to its community building goals – activism, volunteerism, social and parental responsibility, restoration of community pride, and economic empowerment. A community is not rebuilt upon “bricks and sticks” alone, but upon the strength and character of its residents. From those participating on the board level to neighborhood residents and community activists, from parents and students to members of local congregations, and parents and supporters of youth athletic teams… everybody has a part in the success of this vision, which is…to be a model city within a city -- free of crime, free of drugs, an area in which people can take pride in homeownership, have stable employment, own and support their own businesses, have good education-al facilities and programs, and much-needed neighborhood services....

Board of TrusteesDr. Edgar Posey, ChairmanChantal Green, SecretarySharon Davis, Treasurer

Tracey Posey, Ass’t. SecretaryGail Whalen, Ass’t. TreasurerTracee Black–Fall, MemberDarrell Francis, MemberTracy Hale, MemberKier Smith, Member

Staff MembersSharon A. Francis, Director

Recent Projects and Accomplishments…North Central Village, a newly con-structed 74-unit senior apartment complex located on the former site of a blighted trailer park. Developed in partnership with the NRP Group and funded by the Dept. of the Treasury Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the US Department of HUD, Ohio Depart-ment of Development and the City of Columbus. The project was the first Ohio project to receive the Treasury’s Tax Credit Equity funds.

Green View Estates is Columbus’ first energy efficient and environmentally friendly “green” neighborhood. The 30-unit subdivision has earned numer-ous awards, including the Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and the 2009 Sustainable Homeowner-ship Excellence Award from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. Green View Estates has transformed an abandoned former housing project into affordable, energy efficient new homes. MiraCit’s partners include: Mayor Michael Cole-man and the City of Columbus and Sovereign Homes.

FCI Plaza and Marketplace, involves the complete renovation of a 46,000 sq. ft. retail strip mall providing ener-gy-efficient, leaseable space to foster neighborhood businesses and provide community services; as well as the re-opening of the anchor grocery - the new FCI Marketplace (Funding provided

by the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Ohio Department of Development and the Community Development Finance Fund).

AutumnFest – our 17th annual com-munity celebration held in September at Mock Park. With its food, sporting events, games, musical entertainment and neighborhood town meeting, the festival helps to nurture community spirit, as well as garner support for MiraCit’s ongoing activities.Of special note…

MiraCit received the 2010 Community Champion Award from the Commu-nity Development Finance Fund.

Truly a “miracle city” is what the Mock Road community has become; the most recent addition being the new FCI Marketplace Save-A-Lot, located at 2200 Mock Road! The 18,000 sq. ft. grocery has been completely renovat-ed and boasts a full line of groceries, fresh produce, fresh and frozen meats, and baked goods. FCI Marketplace Save-A-Lot is the newest addition to the more than 850 Independent Retail-ers under the Save-a-Lot brand, and is the first African-American owned and operated Save-a-Lot food store in the State of Ohio. The new grocery will help to alleviate the current “food des-ert” condition which has plagued the Mock Road community.

The 2-day grand opening celebra-tion began with an evening recep-tion, followed the next day by the Ribbon Cutting ceremony on August 15, 2012. Guest speakers included: Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, State Senator Charleta Tavares, and Ohio Representative Kevin Boyce. Other guests included City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer, as well as local civic and religious leaders; and corporate part-ners.

Mission Statement… MiraCit’s purpose is to bring a holistic ap-proach to revitalization for deteriorating neighborhoods by develop-ing attractive, affordable housing and home upkeep programs; pro-moting neighborhood beautification and safety; revitalizing existing park areas and addressing public service needs; providing access to educational opportunities, job training, and childcare services; and strengthening the economic viability through neighborhood busi-ness stimulation.

Welcome…

Dr. Edgar Posey, Chairman Sharon Francis, Director

ver the past 18 years, there has been a remarkable transformation in the Mock Road community through the programs and activities implemented by MiraCit Development Corporation. With the support of its many public and private-sector partners, MiraCit has taken to task the

seemingly impossible, by developing 300+ new and rehabilitated homes and apartments (including the City’s first “green” subdivision, Green View Estates, and the recently completed North Central Village Senior Apartments); developing an “Excellent” rated K-12 charter school, FCI Academy; and an accredited childcare center, FCI, Too Early Learning Academy; generating over 125 new jobs; developing the FCI Plaza shopping center; revitalizing existing park areas and addressing public service needs.

MiraCit’s revitalization activities are directly tied to its community building goals – activism, volunteerism, social and parental responsibility, restoration of community pride, and economic empowerment. A community is not rebuilt upon “bricks and sticks” alone, but upon the strength and character of its residents. From those participating on the board level to neighborhood residents and community activists, from parents and students to members of local congregations, and parents and supporters of youth athletic teams… everybody has a part in the success of this vision, which is…

to be a model city within a city -- free of crime, free of drugs, an area in which people can take pride in homeownership, have stable employment, own and support their own businesses, have good educational facilities and programs, and much-needed neighborhood services....

Board of Trustees Dr. Edgar Posey, Chairman Chantal Green, Secretary Sharon Davis, Treasurer Tracey Posey, Ass’t. Secretary Gail Whalen, Ass’t. Treasurer Tracee Black–Fall, Member Darrell Francis, Member Tracy Hale, Member Kier Smith, Member

Staff Members Sharon A. Francis, Director Brian Hamilton, Finance Manager Roy Lawrence, Property Maintenance Ian Posey, Assistant

O

MiraCit Development Corporation, Inc.

Annual Report 2010

“Building With a Vision”

Funding for the plaza renovations and grocery project were provided by:

• The Ohio Department of Develop-ment Office of Energy• The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Commu-nity Services• The Economic and Community De-velopment Institute• Huntington National Bank• The Community Development Fi-nance Fund• Living Faith Apostolic Church and Men’s Ministry

Development and construction services provided by:• O.A. Spencer, Inc., Architect• Mohamed Mohamoud, Innovative Construction Concepts, General Con-tractor

The renovation of the FCI Plaza and opening of FCI Marketplace Save-a-Lot (the first African-American owned in Ohio), is part of the vision of Living Faith Apostolic Church and Bishop Edgar Posey, after witnessing years of decline in the area. This ini-tiative is the latest of many in recent years, which has brought new hous-ing developments for families and seniors, a childcare center and K-12 charter school, new businesses and job opportunities, and a safer neigh-borhood to the Mock Road Commu-nity. A notable “miracle” indeed! n

MiraCit Development Corporation, Inc.2181 Mock RoadColumbus, OH 43219(614) 471-2202Visit us on the web atwww.miracit.org



Not all the news about pastors is dis-couraging.

Pastors feel privileged to be called to their places of ministry. They have a deep love for those they shepherd. Most of them could not conceive of doing anything else.

But please hear me: Many pastors are hurting.

LifeWay Research conducted a national survey of Protestant pastors. Among the questions they asked were two related to the hurts I noted above.

The Discouragement FactorOne of the key symptoms of the pain

experienced by pastors is discouragement. More than one-half (55 percent) of pastors

are presently discouraged.I suspect that if we surveyed pastors

over just a few months, we would find al-most all of them experience deep discour-agement.

Some interesting facts we discovered in our study:

• There was no pattern of discourage-ment related to the geographical location of the church.

• There was no pattern of discourage-ment related to the size of the church.

• There was no pattern of discourage-ment related to the educational level of the pastor.

• There was a significant pattern of dis-couragement related to the age of the pastor.

The younger the pastor, the more likely he was to be discouraged.

The Loneliness FactorMost pastors experience intense loneli-

ness at times.When we conducted our survey, more

than one-half again (coincidentally the same number, 55 percent, as noted above) said they were lonely. Again remember that this survey was for a specific point in time.

Which pastors experience the great-est amount of loneliness? Our study noted some discernible patterns:

• There was no pattern of loneliness related to the geographical location of the church.

• Younger pastors were more likely to be lonely than older pastors.

• The larger the church, the greater the likelihood the pastor was experiencing loneliness.

• The greater the education level of the pastor, the more likely he is to be lonely.

Why the Pervasive Discouragement and Loneliness?

Why are so many pastors struggling to-day? In an earlier article I wrote on pastoral depression, I noted the following possible reasons:

Thom Rainer Reveals the Secret Pain of Pastorschurch leadership

see pAstoRs, page 15


Mo Entertainment, Great Minds Academy and DPI Graphic Design have partnered with The Praise Reporter and 247 Praise Radio to create Columbus Best Gospel Vocal Competition, a fundraiser to as-sist with the Columbus Gifts of Love and Great Minds Academy’s community outreach programs.

Praise Reporter and 24/7 Praise Radio’s focus is to assist in reaching out to families in need to assist them in providing daily necessities for qual-ity of life. Monetary and in-kind donations are en-couraged by all corporations, private businesses and individuals. Visit the Praise Reporter online at www.praisereporter.com and 247 Praise Radio at www.247praiseradio.com.

2012 marks the first year of this event. We are hopeful this will be the first of many! This year’s event is scheduled to begin Saturday, October 13, 2012 with state-wide auditions of Ohio’s top gospel vocalists culminating into a final evening of com-petition on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the beau-tiful Northland Performing Arts Center.

This event will allow amateur and unsigned artists the opportunity to express and introduce their music ministries to the general public, music scouts and potential record labels. The event is also a fundraiser that supports two local organizations that support our community and have committed themselves to assisting families in need.

A portion of the proceeds will go towards helping Columbus Gifts of Love. The charity was established in 2011 as a combined effort between DPI Graphic Design and Mo Entertainment to give underprivileged families assistance during the Christmas holidays. Thanks to hard work and per-sonal donations from Columbus and other cities, we were able to bless over 60 families in our first efforts as an organization! 2012 promises to be even better! Thank you Praise Reporter and 247 Praise Radio for your unselfish support! To learn more about Columbus Gifts of Love, visit www.cogift-soflove.com

Secondly, Great Minds Academy will receive a contribution from the event. Helping children

The Praise Reporter And 247 Praise Radio Presents Columbus Best Gospel Vocal Competition

see CoMpositioN, page 15


Spiritual warfareThe Enemy does not want God’s ser-

vants to be effective in ministry. He will do whatever it takes to hurt ministers and their ministries.

Greater platforms for criticsIn “the good old days,” a critic was

typically limited to telephone, mail and in-person meetings to criticize a minister. Today, critics have the visible and perva-sive platforms of email, blogs and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Marriage and family problems

Failure to take time away from the church or place of ministry.

Workaholism leads to burnout. Burn out leads to depression. Too often the pas-tor neglects his family as he cares for the larger church family.

LifeWay Research contacted 1,000 Prot-estant pastors across the United States by tele-phone. The calling list was randomly drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. Up to six calls were made to reach each sampled phone number. Each interview was conducted with the senior or solo pastor or equivalent position. Responses were weighted to reflect geographi-cal distribution of Protestant churches. The sample provides 95% confidence that the sam-pling error does not exceed +/- 3.2%. Margins of error are higher for sub-groups.

with learning disabilities is our passion. Our community outreach programs con-tinue to furnish children and their fami-lies tools to help them excel in education and life! To learn more about Great Minds Academy, visit www.gmaohio.com

The planning committee for this event has selected some of the most sea-soned musical professionals in the city of Columbus. The all-star judge’s panel includes Maurice Alfred, Deric Ander-son, Camille Betton, Garey Lewis, Alvis Moore, Ceylon Wise, Isaac Simpson and Priscilla Woodson. Judges and contes-tants will assemble at the beautiful North-

land Performing Arts Center for auditions on October 13th and again at Living Faith Apostolic Church on November 17th, with finalists returning to compete in the 1st annual Columbus Best Gospel Vocal Competition on December 1st. Hosting the Grand Finale will be comedian Debra Ruff with appearances by Sanikwa Ran-dle, Miss Black Ohio.

Unlike most vocal competitions, this one is open to contestants of all ages! Competition is open to Columbus and all surrounding Ohio cities. Contestants in-terested in competing can register online. To learn more about The Columbus Best Gospel Vocal Competition, visit www.co-lumbusbestgospel.com or call (614) 233-1724.

Composition from page 14 pastors from page 13

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praise reporter october 2012

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