Welcome to Issues & Answers.
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Say, have you
ever pastored church?
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And said, you know,
what are they doing?
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Are they
involved in the community?
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You kind of see the building,
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but you wonder what
the people are up to.
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Is the Church actually called
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to be involved in the community?
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We are gonna
talk about that today
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with Pastor Fred Batten.
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Pastor Batten
received his Bachelor's degree
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from Middle
Tennessee State University.
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He has a Master's degree
from Vanderbilt University
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and he is currently
working on a doctorate
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in urban ministry
from Andrews University.
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Wow, we gonna really
hear some good things today.
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Welcome to the
program. Thank you.
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So glad, you could
make it to Issues & Answers.
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We are glad to be here.
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I am glad to be of
your service today.
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Praise God. So--
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A lot of people
said that, you know,
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they see churches
and they kind of wonder,
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"Are they really
involved in the community?
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What's the church's calling?
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Is it called to be
able to minister to people
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and then baptize folk or
is it actually supposed to
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get out into the
greater community?
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What's your take on that?
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Well, Karen, I think
that the church is called
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by God, initially.
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The people of God are called--
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it goes back into
the book of Genesis.
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In the book of Genesis,
the church, the people of God,
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Adam and Eve,
were called by God.
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Even after they had messed
up, they sinned against God.
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But God called them again.
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He called them to
existence, created them.
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And He then He called
them again because actually,
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God is a missionary God.
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And we see in Genesis 3,
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that "God came looking for
them in the cool of the day."
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And so we see that theme
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playing out
through out scripture.
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Matter of fact, he called Abram,
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who later became Abraham.
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But he called Abram
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and to leave his comfort
zone of his natural habitat.
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Family.
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His family and friends
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and go to a place
where God was sending him.
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And so as he was able to
follow God's instruction,
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Abram, later Abraham, became
a wonderful, great leader.
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And a blessing to others--
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as a matter of fact,
Genesis 12, 1, 2and 3,
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the emphasis
there is that God said,
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"I am going to bless you,
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so that you can be
a blessing to others."
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And so the church
as we think about it,
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the church is not just
a building or four walls,
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where people running
to it on the weekend.
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But the church is a place
where we receive God's call.
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Because actually, the Greek word
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for "church" is "Ekklesia,"
which means, "called out ones."
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We are called out
from the world if you will,
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and we are called to
be about God's business.
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And that business is just
not about coming to church,
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sitting in a
pew, singing a song,
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clapping your hands and
going home to eat dinner.
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But the church is
called to do service.
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So it's not a church
club? It's not a church club.
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Also-- although the church
is also called to fellowship.
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Fellowship,
being with one another,
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encouraging one another--
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you see that in
the Book of Acts.
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Acts Chapter 2,
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when the beginning of
the New Testament church,
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the people came
together, they prayed together,
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they laughed together,
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they ate
together, they fellowship.
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But all of that, that canonnier,
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that fellowship,
was to help not only
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the church to come together,
to bond and grow together.
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But that was also
evident in church growth.
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Because in Acts 2:20-- 2:47,
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we see there that the text says,
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that the church did grow
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after all those
elements of praying,
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and learning, and
receiving instruction,
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and fellowship, and
having things in common
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that the church
was able to grow.
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In other words,
the people around them
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were able to see
something different,
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something
unique, something they,
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perhaps wanted to have.
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And so the
church was able to grow
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even by being
called into fellowship.
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So something that when you
say the church was able to grow
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and people were able to look in,
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were you just
talking about people
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inside of the
church we are looking in
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or you are talking
about the greater community
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was looking in and
seeing the church growing?
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Well, if you look into
the context of the text,
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you will find that the
people were growing spiritually
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on the inside because they were
receiving the Lord's Supper--
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the communion, they
were eating together,
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they were
fellowshipping together,
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they were praying together
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and received the
apostles, instructions.
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But then you find
that the text says
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that the numbers were growing.
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So that means to me
that there was something
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that was
happening with that church.
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And the community being
able to see what was going on.
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And perhaps, I
believe that the church
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was reaching to the community
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by the love they were
showing one to another.
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And that love was
able to reach out.
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And to defuse in
the air if you will,
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and touch some other people.
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So are you saying that
the church is the epicenter?
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You know, it's a
center that then goes out.
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I believe that church
is at center, whereby,
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we come to
gather, to worship God.
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We are called to
come to worship Him,
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we are called
to receive His word
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and we are also
called to service.
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The church is
actually called to service--
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I know
sometimes we think about--
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we talk, we say, "We are
going to a church service."
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Meaning, we are
going to a building,
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we are going to
do all the liturgy
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and the litany of
a church activity.
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But I believe that the
church should be more engaged
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in its local community.
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The church-- as
one man had said,
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"If your church
disappeared from the corner
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where your church is located,
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would the
community miss your church?
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Wow. Wow.
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So let's say that my
church is not particularly
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community-oriented,
that they really gotten
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into that fellowship
thing and the potlucks
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and, you know, getting to know
each other that's comfortable.
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Where is the place to
start to be able to be,
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to change that
within the church first,
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to think in terms of
beyond the church walls
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and the doors of the church?
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Well, I think one
way is to again go back
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to what we were called to be.
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God calls, Jesus calls
us to go and make disciples.
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Disciples are learners of God.
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Disciples are the
persons who are following
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the principles of Christ.
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And Jesus is the
ultimate missionary.
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When you see the life,
and study the life of Christ,
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you will see Him
reaching out to people.
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You will see Jesus
praying for people.
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You will see Him
befriending other people.
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You will see Him
listening to other people.
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You will see Jesus even
eating with other people.
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You will see Jesus serving them.
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And then sharing with
them, the story of salvation.
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And I like to
call that, "I bless."
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I bless. I bless.
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That is what we are
trying to do, implementing
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at the Word of Life Seventh-Day
Adventist Church in Memphis.
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Yes. I bless.
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We are blessed by God.
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We are called, we
are blessed by Him.
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And then, we are called
to be a blessing to others.
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So we have intercessory prayer.
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We are praying for our friends,
and neighbors and loved ones.
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As a matter of fact, I use the--
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an acronym bless in other
way, for prayer inferences.
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We pray for the-- B is for,
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we're praying for persons' body,
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their health and
their physical well being.
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The "L" is for "labor"
asking God to help them
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with their finding the job,
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employment and
financial security.
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"E" is for their
"emotional state."
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And there are a lot
of people who are dealing
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with the emotional concern.
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We want them to be able to have
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some peace that
God can only bring.
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And then we also talk
about their social activity,
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their relationships, love
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and their family, and marriages.
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We are praying for
people in these ways.
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And then finally, we
pray for their salvation.
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So we are
blessing them with prayer.
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We are asking
God-- and we begin.
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You ask how to begin?
Begin with your own family.
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Begin with your
friends, your co-workers,
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those that you run across,
that you come across everyday.
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You know, God is not asking us.
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Even though society
tells us and research tells us
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that America is the
new missionary field
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with all kinds of
people coming to America.
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Yes.
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We must
understand that God gives us
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a missionary
field right around us.
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It is located in
our own neighborhoods
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and the neighborhoods
where our churches are located.
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So under the "I bless" program,
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at the Word of Life
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
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at Memphis, Tennessee.
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What kinds of
things you guys are doing,
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take it out of the community?
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Correct.
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What we are doing to go out
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into the
community is various things.
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Number one, I like to suggest
that we are able to connect
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with a local school in Memphis
where we are or we are located,
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the school system is
struggling academically.
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The children are
struggling, matter of fact,
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some of the schools had to be
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taken over by
the state because--
00:10:52.41\00:10:53.85
Where area of Memphis
is the church located?
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The church is located
in the Frayser community
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in the city of Memphis.
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That's in
north-west Memphis area.
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The schools were
taken over by the state.
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Several of them.
00:11:07.13\00:11:08.43
But what-- God
allowed us and directed us
00:11:08.46\00:11:10.57
to reach out to
a particular school
00:11:10.63\00:11:13.50
that is about 1.5 miles
from our church location.
00:11:13.54\00:11:19.21
And we have adopted
that elementary school.
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.68
And we have had some men go in
00:11:22.71\00:11:24.05
to mentor some
of the young people,
00:11:24.11\00:11:26.88
some of the young men there.
00:11:26.92\00:11:28.95
And we also
provide school supplies
00:11:28.98\00:11:31.85
at the beginning
of the school year,
00:11:31.89\00:11:33.62
and even through out the year,
our community service team,
00:11:33.66\00:11:37.49
they go in and they help
00:11:37.53\00:11:39.53
with other various things there.
00:11:39.56\00:11:41.00
As a matter of fact,
we had an opportunity
00:11:41.03\00:11:43.06
to serve that school by
painting their parking lot.
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They haven't been
painted it in a while.
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We should stripe
their parking lot.
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Those kind of things about
that the community would know.
00:11:52.14\00:11:55.64
That we are doing these
things because we love God.
00:11:55.68\00:11:58.95
We want to show His
love in the community.
00:11:58.98\00:12:01.98
Pastor, now let me ask you.
00:12:02.02\00:12:03.39
Can you paint a
picture for those
00:12:03.42\00:12:04.85
that are not as
familiar in Memphis
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.76
or the particular area, Frayser.
00:12:06.79\00:12:09.22
You know, what's
the population there?
00:12:09.26\00:12:10.83
What are some of the
needs of the community
00:12:10.86\00:12:12.56
in the Frayser area?
00:12:12.59\00:12:14.20
And this particular school.
00:12:14.20\00:12:17.07
Share with us that, please.
00:12:17.13\00:12:18.83
Well, Memphis is located
in the west part of corridor
00:12:18.87\00:12:24.01
of Tennessee, right
on the Mississippi river.
00:12:24.07\00:12:27.54
The area, Frayser is a place
where there is a lot of crime.
00:12:27.58\00:12:33.88
There is low income.
00:12:33.92\00:12:36.85
Persons who are
struggling financially.
00:12:36.89\00:12:39.69
The unemployment
rate is rather high there.
00:12:39.72\00:12:43.19
Some statistics say around 16%
00:12:43.22\00:12:46.66
in terms of unemployment there.
00:12:46.70\00:12:50.20
And so we have a
lot of single parents
00:12:50.23\00:12:52.30
in that particular area as well.
00:12:52.33\00:12:54.30
And of course, I
mentioned the schools
00:12:54.34\00:12:56.50
that are struggling,
were trying to build them up
00:12:56.54\00:12:59.54
and they are trying to do
some things economically--
00:12:59.57\00:13:01.58
excuse me, educationally,
00:13:01.61\00:13:03.55
to get the
schools back on to par.
00:13:03.58\00:13:06.21
And so we are there in that
part of the city of Memphis,
00:13:06.25\00:13:11.22
trying to be a
blessing to the community.
00:13:11.25\00:13:15.52
If I may add-- another thing
00:13:15.56\00:13:17.33
that we are doing,
the guys that let us
00:13:17.36\00:13:19.56
to do to help out community.
00:13:19.59\00:13:21.80
And not only do we
provide school supplies,
00:13:21.83\00:13:25.53
but we have a Back
to School Block Party
00:13:25.57\00:13:28.00
at the beginning of school year.
00:13:28.04\00:13:30.07
And we provide
the school supplies,
00:13:30.11\00:13:32.87
we also have our
health ministry's team.
00:13:32.91\00:13:35.44
They are providing
blood pleasure checks
00:13:35.48\00:13:38.65
and doing all those kind
of things for the community
00:13:38.68\00:13:41.72
at that time as well.
00:13:41.75\00:13:44.39
One of the
things, if I may add...
00:13:44.42\00:13:46.05
Oh, please. No, no.
That's what we are doing here.
00:13:46.09\00:13:47.69
We're adding, we want
to hear all your examples.
00:13:47.72\00:13:49.49
You go right ahead
and tell us about it.
00:13:49.52\00:13:51.99
God has lead us
through some other activities.
00:13:52.03\00:13:56.40
And because
there are some people
00:13:56.43\00:13:58.70
who are especially, elderly,
who are not able to get out
00:13:58.73\00:14:02.94
as much or they
may be vulnerable to--
00:14:02.97\00:14:07.41
how can I say.
00:14:07.48\00:14:09.38
Some people like to get
advantage in during tax season.
00:14:09.41\00:14:13.42
Really. What are they doing?
00:14:13.45\00:14:15.25
Well, some are-- some
people are charging exorbitant
00:14:15.28\00:14:21.16
amount of fees to do your taxes.
00:14:21.19\00:14:24.49
To the senior citizens.
To the senior citizens.
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.26
So they call them up and
is it a scam kind of thing?
00:14:26.29\00:14:28.13
Well, there are some entities
that are taking advantage.
00:14:28.16\00:14:32.67
And I think I will
kind of leave it at that.
00:14:32.70\00:14:34.80
Okay. They take
advantage of them.
00:14:34.84\00:14:37.74
But we have been a
part of a service--
00:14:37.77\00:14:41.58
helping to provide tax service
00:14:41.61\00:14:45.35
for the community
for those low incomers.
00:14:45.38\00:14:47.85
And our team led by
Sister Glenda Green,
00:14:47.88\00:14:52.22
they are-- doing
a very positive job.
00:14:52.25\00:14:55.09
It's called VITA,
volunteer income tax assistance.
00:14:55.12\00:14:59.53
And we work in partnership
with united way in that area.
00:14:59.56\00:15:05.20
And we provide that
service free of charge.
00:15:05.23\00:15:07.34
And many people have come,
00:15:07.37\00:15:09.84
last year alone we
serviced 69 families.
00:15:09.87\00:15:12.24
Wow.
00:15:12.27\00:15:13.61
And we saved them over
$50,000 worth of income tax.
00:15:13.68\00:15:19.08
That's why "I Bless."
Right there, "I bless."
00:15:19.11\00:15:21.45
Yes. Wow.
00:15:21.48\00:15:23.69
So how did you
organize some of this,
00:15:23.72\00:15:25.42
like you got the school.
00:15:25.45\00:15:26.79
How was it, that you
approached your local school?
00:15:26.86\00:15:29.42
What did you guys
do? What did you do?
00:15:29.46\00:15:30.83
Well, went to them
because I went to the principal,
00:15:30.86\00:15:35.53
and went to the
school just visiting,
00:15:35.56\00:15:37.17
making myself
known in the community.
00:15:37.23\00:15:39.40
When I first came to Memphis--
and the Lord just impressed me
00:15:39.43\00:15:43.57
to go and talk
with the principal.
00:15:43.61\00:15:45.44
And we talk with her,
and we were asking about
00:15:45.47\00:15:48.68
how we could adopt the school.
00:15:48.71\00:15:51.01
And they shared
with us the process
00:15:51.05\00:15:53.72
going through
the school district,
00:15:53.78\00:15:56.85
that the procedures there.
00:15:56.89\00:15:58.22
So we were able to
adopt that school and--
00:15:58.25\00:16:01.52
through those procedures.
00:16:01.56\00:16:03.09
And we just had a wonderful time
00:16:03.12\00:16:05.73
and as a matter of
fact, there, each year
00:16:05.76\00:16:09.50
we have a winter carnival
for the kids at that school,
00:16:09.53\00:16:15.37
that elementary school,
Westside Elementary School.
00:16:15.40\00:16:18.74
And the kids come out
on the Saturday night,
00:16:18.77\00:16:21.48
they come out and we are
there inside of the school,
00:16:21.51\00:16:24.35
inside of their cafetorium.
00:16:24.38\00:16:26.58
'Cause they do have a gymnasium
at that particular site.
00:16:26.61\00:16:30.29
But we go in, and we have games
00:16:30.32\00:16:32.35
and we just have a fun
night for the community.
00:16:32.39\00:16:34.72
Our way of
reaching the community
00:16:34.76\00:16:37.13
in a non-threatening
way to let them know
00:16:37.16\00:16:39.66
them we are called by God
to be a blessing to others.
00:16:39.69\00:16:45.30
So when you have the
winter fest, how about,
00:16:45.33\00:16:47.87
how many people come to that?
00:16:47.90\00:16:49.40
Well, approximately
over a 100 to 120 come out.
00:16:49.44\00:16:55.11
Matter of fact, we-- the
other event that we do have--
00:16:55.14\00:16:59.08
because we are trying
to reach the community
00:16:59.11\00:17:02.45
without the traditional ways--
00:17:02.48\00:17:06.29
Assisted just
coming to the church.
00:17:06.32\00:17:08.26
In not like you guys guys
are coming out of your church.
00:17:08.29\00:17:11.06
And using-- you're using
the school kind of as a base
00:17:11.09\00:17:13.46
to go into the community?
00:17:13.53\00:17:14.93
Yes, the school is
a base where we go in
00:17:14.93\00:17:17.27
and seek to bless the community,
00:17:17.30\00:17:20.54
the school community,
00:17:20.57\00:17:21.94
the parents
getting other parents.
00:17:21.97\00:17:23.41
Matter of fact, I
go to the school now
00:17:23.44\00:17:26.27
and some of the kinds know
me as Pastor Batten or Pastor B.
00:17:26.31\00:17:33.11
And so we go and we try
to just reach the children,
00:17:33.15\00:17:36.99
reach the kids and
reach their families
00:17:37.02\00:17:40.06
by just being a
blessing to them.
00:17:40.09\00:17:41.99
Well, there is something else.
00:17:42.02\00:17:43.36
You know, you are
kind of slim, you are tall.
00:17:43.43\00:17:46.03
Pastor Batten, if
you have to stand up,
00:17:46.06\00:17:47.40
you'll be like, way tall.
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.56
Is there something
that you do with the net
00:17:49.60\00:17:52.53
and a ball as well
with the community?
00:17:52.57\00:17:55.90
I do play basketball.
00:17:55.94\00:17:57.27
I love basketball
played it for quite some time.
00:17:57.31\00:18:00.51
We do have a program
called Basketball Extravaganza.
00:18:00.54\00:18:04.95
As a matter of fact,
my wife was instrumental
00:18:04.98\00:18:08.62
in helping to
pull that together.
00:18:08.65\00:18:12.19
Some years ago,
before we came to Memphis,
00:18:12.22\00:18:14.59
we did it in another
district, in another church.
00:18:14.62\00:18:16.99
Explain what is
Basketball Extravaganza?
00:18:17.06\00:18:18.79
Basketball
Extravaganza is a time where--
00:18:18.83\00:18:20.83
it's an other community event.
00:18:20.86\00:18:23.10
Whereby we invite a community,
00:18:23.13\00:18:24.90
we have-- and then
they come out and we play.
00:18:24.93\00:18:27.87
We have three-point shoot out.
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.24
We have obstacle course games
00:18:29.27\00:18:30.94
for the little,
smaller kids inside the gym,
00:18:30.97\00:18:33.58
just having a good time.
00:18:33.61\00:18:35.31
Matter of fact, we--
one of the things that we do
00:18:35.34\00:18:37.25
to draw other communities,
00:18:37.28\00:18:38.88
as we have
pastors in the community
00:18:38.91\00:18:41.05
to play basketball.
00:18:41.08\00:18:42.52
Again, some of the
youth in the community.
00:18:42.55\00:18:44.52
Wow. That should be
exiting. It is exiting.
00:18:44.55\00:18:47.06
But sometimes for
us who are pastors
00:18:47.09\00:18:49.02
and who are little older now.
00:18:49.06\00:18:51.03
It's time for being
gain after the game.
00:18:51.06\00:18:53.53
So that brings the people
out and they can have sessions
00:18:55.53\00:18:58.67
and everything.
00:18:58.70\00:19:00.10
At the whole nine yards.
00:19:00.17\00:19:01.50
As a matter of
fact, this last time,
00:19:01.54\00:19:02.87
we had over 250
community guests who'd come.
00:19:02.90\00:19:06.71
And it was a great
time. That is awesome.
00:19:06.74\00:19:09.44
That sounds like a lot of fun.
00:19:09.48\00:19:10.81
You guys are
having a lot of fun.
00:19:10.88\00:19:13.28
The fun is great.
00:19:13.31\00:19:14.68
But the most
important thing is that
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.45
we want the people to
know that we love them,
00:19:16.48\00:19:19.12
and then we want to share
the love of God with them.
00:19:19.15\00:19:21.39
And so we also have
opportunities to invite them
00:19:21.42\00:19:25.39
to things that we
are having at the church,
00:19:25.43\00:19:28.26
to small group Bible
studies as well as to go
00:19:28.30\00:19:31.07
at other events that
we have at the church.
00:19:31.10\00:19:35.14
Now do you have
evangelistic meetings as well?
00:19:35.17\00:19:37.84
Do you, have you had some
of those as a follow up maybe
00:19:37.87\00:19:40.01
to some of these
other out reach efforts?
00:19:40.08\00:19:41.94
Yes, we do.
00:19:41.98\00:19:43.35
We understand that
the church is called
00:19:43.38\00:19:46.35
to share the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:19:46.38\00:19:49.02
And that gospel, not
only good news of salvation,
00:19:49.05\00:19:52.95
but it is also helping others
in their day to day living.
00:19:52.99\00:19:57.13
And so we have the
evangelistic series
00:19:57.16\00:19:59.73
that we do from every year.
00:19:59.76\00:20:01.96
And God has blessed us
00:20:02.00\00:20:03.43
as we have been
able to touch souls
00:20:03.47\00:20:07.54
in a practical manner,
00:20:07.60\00:20:09.14
but also touching them in
a spiritual manner as well.
00:20:09.17\00:20:12.77
Wow, so the church is called to
go beyond its community doors.
00:20:12.81\00:20:18.21
What if the-- some things--
00:20:18.25\00:20:19.58
how about the
health practitioners
00:20:19.61\00:20:21.02
in your congregation?
00:20:21.05\00:20:22.38
Have they organized any events,
00:20:22.42\00:20:25.72
or walks or a health
events that's been going on?
00:20:25.75\00:20:28.76
We do-- we have,
also have a walk.
00:20:28.79\00:20:34.83
We have done it for two years.
00:20:34.86\00:20:36.73
And we've-- two mile walk,
00:20:36.80\00:20:39.23
that's at the Ed
Rice Community Center.
00:20:39.27\00:20:42.50
They have a track there.
00:20:42.54\00:20:43.87
And so we encourage our
folks to get out in walk.
00:20:43.94\00:20:48.01
For some reason,
that particular event
00:20:48.04\00:20:49.64
has not been as
successful in terms
00:20:49.68\00:20:52.25
of community participation.
00:20:52.28\00:20:54.98
But by God's grace we'll go back
00:20:55.02\00:20:57.15
and look at those
things and re-evaluate them.
00:20:57.22\00:20:59.75
And see how we
can better co-ordinate
00:20:59.79\00:21:02.99
that with the community.
00:21:03.02\00:21:04.66
But we do have
the other activities
00:21:04.69\00:21:06.80
for as the blood pressure checks
00:21:06.83\00:21:09.33
and the weight,
the exercise class I--
00:21:09.36\00:21:12.77
forget about the
exercise class that.
00:21:12.80\00:21:14.40
Tell us about
the exercise class.
00:21:14.44\00:21:15.77
That is, that is a very helpful.
00:21:15.80\00:21:17.37
Well, the exercise class is
a spin off of something else
00:21:17.41\00:21:20.88
that we did in the
community at a local gymnasium.
00:21:20.94\00:21:23.81
What was it
that you did at that?
00:21:23.85\00:21:25.18
It is called The Be Smart
Camp. It's during the summer.
00:21:25.21\00:21:29.28
During the summer,
the kids are out of school
00:21:29.32\00:21:31.49
and don't have a
lot of things to do so.
00:21:31.52\00:21:33.62
One week during the summer,
we have The Be Smart Camp.
00:21:33.66\00:21:37.19
And the Be Smart Camp
is-- it provides information
00:21:37.23\00:21:41.03
in a fun way for the kids.
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.80
They get to move
around to some up-beat music,
00:21:43.83\00:21:48.97
I'll say you,
that they are perhaps
00:21:49.00\00:21:51.94
more accustomed to hearing.
00:21:51.97\00:21:53.81
But the message
behind the music,
00:21:53.84\00:21:56.44
the message is helping them
to learn to brush their teeth,
00:21:56.48\00:22:00.42
go to bed, to eat right
and good fruits and vegetables.
00:22:00.45\00:22:04.52
So it's called Be Smart Camp.
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.42
That is a
program that's come to us
00:22:06.45\00:22:09.09
from two individuals
who developed this program
00:22:09.12\00:22:12.36
from Ocala, Florida.
00:22:12.39\00:22:14.63
Grace Daley, a former
WNBA basketball player
00:22:14.66\00:22:18.17
and Ann Burnett, they
have a-- they have developed
00:22:18.20\00:22:20.94
this particular
program called Be Smart.
00:22:20.97\00:22:23.37
So they have come and to help us
00:22:23.41\00:22:25.21
to share that in the community.
00:22:25.24\00:22:26.57
Really. It is awesome.
00:22:26.64\00:22:28.24
It is a very
awesome opportunity.
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.81
And if you, if you ever-- want
some more information about it,
00:22:30.85\00:22:34.92
I can get that
information to you.
00:22:34.95\00:22:36.45
Okay, good. That they--
00:22:36.48\00:22:37.82
I am sure everybody does
00:22:37.85\00:22:39.19
want to have more
information about that.
00:22:39.22\00:22:40.56
Yes. Okay.
00:22:40.62\00:22:41.96
So we'll cover that
again later on in the program.
00:22:41.99\00:22:44.53
So I want to ask you
about how expensive was it?
00:22:44.56\00:22:47.66
For example, this camp.
00:22:47.73\00:22:49.03
Did you have-- how
did you feed the kids?
00:22:49.06\00:22:50.83
Well, we fed the
kids by donations
00:22:50.90\00:22:53.17
that we, we solicited
some individual businesses
00:22:53.20\00:22:56.94
and persons in the
community to help sponsor
00:22:56.97\00:22:59.94
and to help provide
those kind of things.
00:23:00.08\00:23:01.78
So we are, we are--
the church is as place
00:23:01.81\00:23:06.41
is a organization and
organism, a living organism
00:23:06.45\00:23:10.32
whereby we are
seeking to help the community.
00:23:10.39\00:23:14.42
And also get the
name of God's church
00:23:14.46\00:23:18.13
in the community to be able
to make not only transactions,
00:23:18.16\00:23:22.46
buying stuff but
build friendships,
00:23:22.50\00:23:25.33
and build
rapport and relationship
00:23:25.37\00:23:27.94
with the community in such a way
00:23:27.97\00:23:30.57
that we can help
them in times of need.
00:23:30.61\00:23:34.34
And they can us
to provide services
00:23:34.38\00:23:37.41
for the community as well.
00:23:37.45\00:23:39.25
Now you said that
the Be Smart program
00:23:39.28\00:23:41.58
that you spun off from
that and did another program.
00:23:41.62\00:23:44.55
What was that program?
00:23:44.59\00:23:45.92
We had an exercise
program at the church.
00:23:45.95\00:23:48.46
And some of the
members got involved.
00:23:48.49\00:23:50.29
They wanted to
perhaps, you know,
00:23:50.33\00:23:52.29
slim down a bit or have
some more helpful activity
00:23:52.33\00:23:58.47
in their own life and so.
00:23:58.50\00:24:01.07
We have an exercise class.
00:24:01.10\00:24:02.44
It meets you on
Thursday nights from 6 to 7.
00:24:02.47\00:24:06.61
Just one hour for those
who are interested in exercise.
00:24:06.68\00:24:10.35
And we have some community,
persons coming to that as well.
00:24:10.38\00:24:14.55
Oh, wow. That's really awesome.
00:24:14.58\00:24:16.48
So did you face when
you coming into Memphis
00:24:16.52\00:24:19.92
and coming into
your congregation.
00:24:19.95\00:24:21.86
Did you have any kind of --
00:24:21.89\00:24:24.06
what challenges did you face
00:24:24.13\00:24:26.36
may be with
your own congregation
00:24:26.39\00:24:28.06
to bring them to the point?
00:24:28.10\00:24:29.43
Were they already very, very,
very active in the community
00:24:29.46\00:24:31.90
when you came?
00:24:31.93\00:24:33.34
Well, you said,
very, very, very active.
00:24:33.40\00:24:36.04
You're very, very,
very, sounds very active
00:24:36.07\00:24:38.47
there at the churches.
00:24:38.51\00:24:40.44
We were somewhat
active in the community.
00:24:40.48\00:24:42.61
We had some things
that we're already doing.
00:24:42.64\00:24:44.85
But we just want to
add to that, amplify that.
00:24:44.88\00:24:48.82
And some members will say
I have amplified it a lot.
00:24:48.85\00:24:52.29
But we want to make sure that
00:24:52.32\00:24:54.99
we are been
engaged in the community.
00:24:55.02\00:24:58.03
So we added to what
was already been done.
00:24:58.06\00:25:01.33
Built upon it. Built upon it.
00:25:01.36\00:25:03.57
You know, in any
place that you go,
00:25:03.60\00:25:06.10
there are always some struggles.
00:25:06.13\00:25:08.14
Sometimes that we-- you
may feel that the Pastor
00:25:08.17\00:25:13.21
is moving too fast or, you
know, those kind of things.
00:25:13.24\00:25:18.45
However, we, by God's grace,
00:25:18.48\00:25:20.35
we were able to move in
a way that was beneficial
00:25:20.42\00:25:23.99
not only to the congregation,
but to the community at large.
00:25:24.02\00:25:27.39
And I must say
that we still have
00:25:27.46\00:25:30.03
much more to do
for the kingdom of God.
00:25:30.06\00:25:32.76
Because not only do we
want to touch the people
00:25:32.79\00:25:35.73
with the
activities, with the events,
00:25:35.76\00:25:37.97
but the most important thing
is that we want to touch them,
00:25:38.00\00:25:41.00
we want to bless them
00:25:41.04\00:25:43.07
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:25:43.10\00:25:45.31
Well, it's very, very exciting.
00:25:45.34\00:25:47.24
I mean, to the idea
of church moving beyond
00:25:47.28\00:25:50.15
from, you know,
being more social,
00:25:50.21\00:25:52.88
to be in social and community.
00:25:52.91\00:25:55.42
Sometimes I think, we think,
we have to do one or the other.
00:25:55.45\00:25:57.99
But you're
saying we can do both.
00:25:58.02\00:25:59.79
It is a
balance. We must do both.
00:25:59.82\00:26:02.92
Because if we just stay within
the four walls of the church,
00:26:02.96\00:26:06.43
then the church will never grow,
00:26:06.46\00:26:09.03
never meet the people.
00:26:09.06\00:26:11.47
I believe that Jesus
said that the church is called
00:26:11.50\00:26:14.40
to be salt and the light.
00:26:14.44\00:26:16.34
Amen.
00:26:16.37\00:26:17.71
In order to be salt,
and to be effective salt,
00:26:17.74\00:26:21.81
the salt must touch
00:26:21.84\00:26:23.55
that which it
wants to bring salt too.
00:26:23.58\00:26:27.88
So we-- in order
to preserve the meat,
00:26:27.92\00:26:30.82
the salt must get
into, must touch the meat.
00:26:30.89\00:26:35.06
So are you available to travel
00:26:35.09\00:26:37.43
or be able to train people
or do you have some resources
00:26:37.46\00:26:40.73
that you can leave with us
here at Dare to Dream network
00:26:40.80\00:26:43.93
that we can
follow with people in?
00:26:43.97\00:26:46.07
Well, I do have some material
00:26:46.10\00:26:48.30
that we are working
on as we are continuing
00:26:48.34\00:26:51.01
to work on our dissertation
of process, the main process.
00:26:51.04\00:26:56.91
We do have information
that we have available.
00:26:56.95\00:27:00.65
And we will be
more than happy to come
00:27:00.68\00:27:02.35
and share the
little we do know to other
00:27:02.38\00:27:05.59
who may be interested.
00:27:05.62\00:27:06.99
Wow.
00:27:07.02\00:27:08.36
How have your
other pastors, you know,
00:27:08.39\00:27:10.66
have you had any
opportunity to share this story
00:27:10.69\00:27:13.33
with other pastors
and other church members
00:27:13.36\00:27:16.30
beyond your immediate
congregation in Frayser area?
00:27:16.33\00:27:19.73
Yes, we have, as
a matter of fact,
00:27:19.77\00:27:22.50
we have a strong
coalition of pastors
00:27:22.54\00:27:25.37
in the city of Memphis.
00:27:25.41\00:27:27.38
We meet, kind of regularly
and we fellowship together
00:27:27.41\00:27:30.45
and we bounce
ideas off each other
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.25
and we share various
things with each other,
00:27:32.28\00:27:34.45
regarding ministry and
being more community focused
00:27:34.48\00:27:38.79
and mission driven.
00:27:38.82\00:27:41.29
Well, I want to thank
you so much, Pastor Batten
00:27:41.32\00:27:43.12
for coming to the program.
00:27:43.16\00:27:44.59
Thank you. Thank
you so much for coming.
00:27:44.63\00:27:45.96
We are gonna
continue to keep in prayer
00:27:45.99\00:27:47.30
the entire ministry that
you have there in Memphis.
00:27:47.40\00:27:50.03
Thank you so much
for joining us today.
00:27:50.07\00:27:51.87
We hope that you will
take some of these principles
00:27:51.90\00:27:55.34
that have been
shared to be able to become
00:27:55.37\00:27:57.17
more community oriented.
00:27:57.21\00:27:59.21
I know it's a
challenge, you know,
00:27:59.24\00:28:00.64
'cause a church consist of us.
00:28:00.71\00:28:02.48
We are the members, right?
00:28:02.51\00:28:04.01
And sometimes we say,
00:28:04.08\00:28:05.41
"Well, the pastor needs to
be person that leads a group."
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.98
But we could be that person
as Pastor Batten said that is,
00:28:08.02\00:28:11.65
the salt on the earth
00:28:11.69\00:28:13.99
in our community
to make a difference.
00:28:14.02\00:28:15.56
Let's do that today.
00:28:15.59\00:28:16.96
God bless you.
Thanks for joining us.
00:28:16.99\00:28:18.33