Welcome to Issues and Answers.
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Have you ever wondered
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what's involved in being
able to really get together
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community program that
really puts you in a situation
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to be a real
service to your community?
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How do you get your
church or other groups involved?
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Today we're gonna talk about
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how to organize a massive
city wide plan to be able
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to serve for Jesus Christ.
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Our guest today is
Pastor Fred Batten.
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He is the pastor
of the Word of Life
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Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
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He is also a
graduate of Middle Tennessee
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State University
with a degree in Business,
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Vanderbilt University
and then Andrews University
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where he is
currently working in Masters--
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no I'm sorry,
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a doctorate
degree in Urban Ministry.
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We are so
excited to have him here
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and look forward to
the tools and the resources
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that he is going to
share with us today.
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Thank you so much for
coming to Issues and Answers,
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Pastor Batten.
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Thank you so much, Karen.
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Glad to be here
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we're just elated to be
able to come and share today
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Well, fantastic.
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So I understand, the name
of the program was "I serve."
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Yes, "I serve"
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and we patterned
after in all those things
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in the internet
and so forth, "I serve"
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we want to be able to
have people in the church,
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identifying themselves
with service to the community.
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And this program
began by-- several years ago
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when the General
Conference talked about
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mission to the cities.
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And to those making a vision
along with the Southern union,
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they decided to
have a couple of cities
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in the Southern Union to
promote evangelism emphasis
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for a five-year period.
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Tampa, Florida, that was
one and Memphis, Tennessee
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was the other in
the Southern Union.
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And so with that in
mind, our conference president
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for the South Central Conference
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of Seventh-day Adventist
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and the Kentucky,
Tennessee conference presidents,
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they got together
and also even the--
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Gulf States Conference
president came alongside of us
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and we began to talk
about what it would mean,
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what it would look like
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to have some
emphasis of evangelism
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and outreach in the City
of Memphis in the greater
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metropolitan area of Memphis.
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So no one cared
about conference lines
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or territories or anything?
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Every one just kind
of got together and said,
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"Hey, we're gonna focus on
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metropolitan
Memphis and do something."
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Yes, we decided
to come together.
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Now it also took time for us
as pastors in various churches
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because we have
different programs,
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different
ministries, different emphasis
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that is going on
in our own churches,
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in our own congregations
and the areas where
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we serve in the City of Memphis.
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However, we came together,
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we started to pray and
we started to eat together.
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You know, eating
together and praying together.
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That's good, you know. Yes.
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We started doing
those kinds of things
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but we had some
ideas that were fantastic.
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We just want to go and take
the City of Memphis by storm.
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But we had to step back.
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One of our
mentors for the group,
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Elder Benjamin Jones,
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he said to us that we need
to be able to trust each other
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so that we can
work with each other.
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And so as we began to fellowship
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and get to know each
other, know our interests,
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our likes and ministry
emphasis and strengths,
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we began to dialogue more
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and we began to know each other,
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had fun, played games.
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Those kinds of things there
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and we were able then
to come up with some ideas
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that we could all get together
and get behind and focus on
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and so we began to do that
and that's why-- that's how
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"I serve
Memphis" came into being.
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Wow, so once
every one got together
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and you're
saying that the brethren
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and sisters had
unity of the spirit.
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What was the project
that was planned after that?
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What was the next
thing that happened
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after everyone came
together, eating together,
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playing together,
what happened next?
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Well, I will say that
that took a little time,
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that process itself
took over a year and a half
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or so of doing
those kinds of things,
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meeting on a kind of
a like a monthly basis,
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except for
during the summer months
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when people were
traveling and so forth.
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But we came
together and we decided,
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there was
something that was going on
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in the community.
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the mayor of Memphis
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wanted to beautify
the City of Memphis
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and he wanted other
non profit organizations
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and churches faith based
organizations to get involved.
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And so we-- I was asked to
be the point person to talk
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with the organization that
was heading up for the mayor.
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It was called "Faith in Action."
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And so we got
together and we talked about
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what that would look like
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and what they were
asking for us-- of us to do.
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So we brought it
back to the committee,
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to the pastors
and the pastors then
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talk to their churches
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and organized
their congregations
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to come out and to serve.
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We wanted to
beautify the City of Memphis
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so we had an opportunity
to go out into the community
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and to just you
know, pick up trash,
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you know, just clean
up... Something simple.
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Simple, but it was something
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that we all could be able to do,
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young and older alike
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and so the Adventist
church in the City of Memphis.
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We came together
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because we
believe that we could--
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we would be stronger together
in serving our community
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And so we eve had t-shirts
that were ordered and placed
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and the people wore
t-shirts on that day.
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Do you have one
of those t-shirts?
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I do.
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I was called-- this
is the t-shirt here,
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"Adventist serving Memphis."
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And it's a part of
the "I serve" opportunity
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that we have
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and so it was
very, very positive.
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It was October--
in October of 2013
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that we came
together for the clean up.
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That was the first project.
That was the first project.
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And then after the
first project in 2014,
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we began to look at some
other more traditional ways
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of coming together.
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Matter of fact,
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we planned as the
pastors came together,
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we planned a
camp meeting service
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for the City of Memphis.
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It was awesome.
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We had great
speakers and singing going on.
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Like who, who did you have?
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Well, actually the
first time we did have it,
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we had persons,
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our conference president
from South Central Conference,
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Dana Edmond.
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And we also had Wesley Knight
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from the South
Atlantic Conference
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and they came in to speak for us
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and some other
pastors came to highlight
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that particular four-day event,
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small camp meeting
for the city of Memphis.
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We packed out
the Longview heights,
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Seventh-day
Adventist Church there,
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we had a great
crowd... Like how many people,
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people who've not
been to Longview, how many?
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Well... Few
thousand people there?
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At this particular time
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we had approximately 500
of the members that come.
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It was a good
gathering for the first event.
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For the first event.
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Now how many churches
are in that area that...
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there are Ten areas,
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ten churches rather in
the area that helped you
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comprise this particular group,
matter of fact, the ministers,
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we affectionately
call ourselves "MAMA."
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That's Memphis area
ministerial alliance.
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And so we come together
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and we want to be able
to share the love of God
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and in challenging our members
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to be more engaged in fellowship
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as well as in service.
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So now for going
back to the first one
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where you were mentioning,
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where you were working
with the City of Memphis
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in the mayor's office.
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How did that come to be?
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Well, actually,
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we had talked with the
mayor a few months earlier,
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the group of
pastors came together
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and we wanted to
talk with the mayor
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and let the mayor know that
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we want to be a part of
serving the City of Memphis.
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We want to able to--
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not just to be
persons or organizations
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that will try to
take for ourselves
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and get for ourselves
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but we wanted
to be able to serve
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the City of
Memphis, matter of fact...
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What was the part of that group?
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Like you if decide to go,
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say if someone who's
going away into their city,
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who would you
suggest to be that group
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that would go and
talk to the mayor's office
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at their local town or city?
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Well, it should be a person
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who is representing the church,
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a pastor that could
represent the church
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or it could be
someone that maybe a liaison
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that is in
connection with the church
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and the
community, those persons.
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You need to have
some kind of connection,
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some kind of calling card
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if you will to be able
to do that kind of thing
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and be able to be
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with the idea of
you going into serve,
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find out where you can serve,
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not going in with your programs
and say, I want to do this...
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Right.
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I want to be able to serve,
how can we serve the city.
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So you kept it open
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when you wanted to
go talk to the mayor.
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You came with the
group of people and you said
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we're just here to
serve, what can we do.
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Yes.
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And the mayor didn't...
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Wow, that-- is that a
little scary a little bit,
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what the answer might be?
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Well, when you come in
and you go in with the idea
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that is outlined
in Jeremiah 29: 7.
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I think you have
that Bible text for us,
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could you mind reading
that for us, in Jeremiah 29: 7?
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There is
something there in that text
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that outlines an
idea or an emphasis
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that as churches
and church leaders
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we could learn from
it in Jeremiah 29: 7.
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Okay.
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"And seek the peace of the city
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where I have caused you
to be carried away captive,
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and pray to the Lord for it;
00:11:05.79\00:11:07.96
for in its peace
you will have peace."
00:11:08.00\00:11:11.30
That says it in a nutshell
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because as we know
that text, the background,
00:11:13.74\00:11:16.57
the context is the
children of Israel,
00:11:16.60\00:11:19.24
God's people were
in Babylon in captivity
00:11:19.27\00:11:22.74
and some,
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the false
prophets were saying that
00:11:24.48\00:11:25.95
they were
getting ready to leave,
00:11:25.98\00:11:27.32
ready to get out of captivity
00:11:27.38\00:11:29.32
but God told
Jeremiah to tell the people
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that you're gonna be
here for a little while
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so you might as well
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just be able to seek
the peace of the city
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and when you do that,
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you will gain the peace as well.
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You will be benefited by
being able to seek the peace,
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the shalom of the city.
00:11:47.10\00:11:48.64
Now, Pastor Batten, you
know, Seventh-day Adventist,
00:11:48.67\00:11:50.74
there's a lot of conversations
about Jesus is coming soon
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and we are in last days
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and people are looking
forward to going to heaven.
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Are you actually suggesting
00:11:58.78\00:12:00.35
that we should seek
the peace of where--
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the cities where we are
and actually stretch out
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until the Lord comes?
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I do believe that is the case
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because when we are recognizing
00:12:11.09\00:12:14.56
that Jesus said
that we should occupy
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until He comes, occupy what?
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Occupy where?
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That means to say that
we should be able to serve,
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work and be engaged in
the culture where we are.
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That is to say not necessarily
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take on every
aspect of the culture
00:12:30.95\00:12:33.78
but we should be able
to speak to the culture
00:12:33.82\00:12:36.52
and be able to recognize
that we are part of that culture
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and that we are wanting to share
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a counter cultural prospective
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Biblically to the
people that's going to help
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to bless them,
00:12:50.20\00:12:51.53
to help to encourage
them and help them to know
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that God is love
00:12:54.74\00:12:56.07
and that He is
coming back real soon.
00:12:56.10\00:12:58.44
And that the only way
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that we can get
that information out
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is to mingle among the people
and to seek to bless them.
00:13:02.41\00:13:07.32
So you're in the mayor's office
00:13:07.35\00:13:09.25
and everybody is
there and you're saying,
00:13:09.28\00:13:12.65
"Mr. Mayor,
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.39
what can we do to make
the City of Memphis better?"
00:13:14.42\00:13:18.69
What did he
respond, Mayor Wharton?
00:13:18.73\00:13:21.13
Mayor A. C. Wharton,
he began to talk about
00:13:21.16\00:13:23.20
several different things.
00:13:23.23\00:13:25.10
Some of us-- the initiative
00:13:25.13\00:13:26.60
that he's talked
about in the city,
00:13:26.63\00:13:29.47
the mentoring
program that he has
00:13:29.50\00:13:31.87
and some other activities
that he was talking about
00:13:31.91\00:13:35.24
the "Gun down Memphis"
00:13:35.28\00:13:37.21
whereby they tried to
get the guns off the streets,
00:13:37.25\00:13:42.72
holding sessions in
churches and so forth like that.
00:13:42.75\00:13:46.82
That particular
piece was not something
00:13:46.86\00:13:49.62
that we felt we
wanted to get engaged in
00:13:49.66\00:13:52.06
at that particular time.
00:13:52.09\00:13:53.76
But the other piece
about beautifying the city
00:13:53.80\00:13:57.30
and doing some other
things we thought that...
00:13:57.33\00:13:58.97
Like what other things?
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.84
Well, other things regarding
the helping individuals
00:14:00.87\00:14:05.24
with mentoring,
those kinds of things
00:14:05.27\00:14:09.24
and though there's pastor,
buddy of mine in Memphis,
00:14:09.28\00:14:12.58
Pastor Kymone Hinds,
00:14:12.61\00:14:14.05
he's engaged in mentoring,
00:14:14.12\00:14:17.49
he is a pastor
of the Overton Park
00:14:17.52\00:14:19.35
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:14:19.39\00:14:20.76
So there are other things
00:14:20.79\00:14:22.66
that we are engaged
in maybe individually
00:14:22.69\00:14:26.26
as a particular congregation
00:14:26.29\00:14:28.66
but for the "I
Serve Memphis" portion,
00:14:28.70\00:14:32.23
we wanted to do something
00:14:32.27\00:14:33.80
that we all could be engaged in.
00:14:33.84\00:14:36.27
And it would be something
00:14:36.30\00:14:37.64
that we could
galvanize our people,
00:14:37.67\00:14:40.68
our members to be
able to be the hands
00:14:40.74\00:14:44.95
and feet of
Jesus in the community.
00:14:44.98\00:14:47.42
Okay, so you settle in
a project with the mayor.
00:14:47.48\00:14:50.55
And then how did you
go about setting a date
00:14:50.59\00:14:53.19
and then getting the
word out to the churches
00:14:53.22\00:14:54.96
and the members,
I should say 'cause
00:14:54.99\00:14:56.46
churches are just
building, how did get them,
00:14:56.49\00:14:58.29
the word out to the
members of the church?
00:14:58.33\00:14:59.89
Well, we were able to--
00:14:59.96\00:15:01.73
we tried to take a page out
of the young people's play book,
00:15:01.76\00:15:07.57
we use in the social media,
00:15:07.64\00:15:10.41
we use different
ways of communication,
00:15:10.44\00:15:14.28
church bulletins, one on one...
00:15:14.31\00:15:17.05
What social media did you use?
00:15:17.08\00:15:18.45
Well...
00:15:18.48\00:15:19.81
Did you create a Facebook page?
00:15:19.85\00:15:21.25
We did a Facebook page.
00:15:21.28\00:15:23.32
We created a website
which is "iservememphis.org.
00:15:23.39\00:15:30.23
And people could go and sign up
00:15:30.26\00:15:32.33
to register to be involved
00:15:32.36\00:15:36.26
in the event on
that particular day
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.13
so there was
some pre-registration
00:15:38.17\00:15:39.83
that was done
for people to sign up
00:15:39.87\00:15:42.57
for the "I Serve Memphis"
00:15:42.60\00:15:44.47
that big day in
October 27, 2013.
00:15:44.51\00:15:50.51
So now you were able then
to-- so you have the help-
00:15:50.55\00:15:53.58
like you said some young people
00:15:53.62\00:15:55.02
that were able to get
you up on social media
00:15:55.05\00:15:57.79
and so that's free. Yes.
00:15:57.82\00:16:01.56
They have the time,
they have the technology,
00:16:01.59\00:16:04.26
they have the
energy, they know how
00:16:04.29\00:16:06.13
and my goodness, they
can do a marvelous thing
00:16:06.16\00:16:10.77
with the technology today.
00:16:10.80\00:16:12.30
And so using those
things and getting them engaged
00:16:12.33\00:16:16.07
as well was
helpful in that regard.
00:16:16.10\00:16:18.81
Okay, so you created a
website, Facebook page,
00:16:18.84\00:16:21.71
you started getting the word out
00:16:21.74\00:16:23.38
and then how was the response?
00:16:23.45\00:16:25.11
The response was great.
00:16:25.15\00:16:26.51
People signing
up to participate.
00:16:26.55\00:16:27.88
People signed
up, matter of fact,
00:16:27.92\00:16:29.98
on the day that
we went out to serve
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.22
on that particular
portion of "I Serve Memphis,"
00:16:32.25\00:16:36.02
we had over 85
people from the churches
00:16:36.06\00:16:39.69
to come out. 85, wow.
00:16:39.73\00:16:41.03
You know, to come out to
beautify the city, you know.
00:16:41.06\00:16:43.33
I thought that
was an awesome thing
00:16:43.37\00:16:46.17
and would like more
00:16:46.20\00:16:47.87
but hey, 85 people to
come out on a early morning
00:16:47.90\00:16:51.87
over the weekend,
hey, you can beat that.
00:16:51.91\00:16:55.31
So then you had 85
volunteers, they all came to--
00:16:55.34\00:16:58.61
what part of
Memphis did they come to?
00:16:58.65\00:17:00.25
Actually we
started in the Frayser area
00:17:00.28\00:17:03.05
of Memphis in Word of Life.
00:17:03.08\00:17:04.85
We met at the
Word of Life church.
00:17:04.89\00:17:07.19
We had snacks for
them that morning.
00:17:07.22\00:17:09.92
What kind of snacks?
00:17:09.96\00:17:11.29
Well, we had
some breakfast thing--
00:17:11.33\00:17:13.63
breakfast bars, cereal bars,
00:17:13.66\00:17:15.53
fruit and water and
those kinds of things.
00:17:15.56\00:17:17.40
Where did you get all that from?
00:17:17.47\00:17:18.80
Did somebody just buy
that, was that a pool of money
00:17:18.83\00:17:21.30
from the organization?
00:17:21.34\00:17:23.07
Well, the organization
and the Memphis Area
00:17:23.10\00:17:26.17
Ministerial Alliance,
"MAMA" purchased those items
00:17:26.21\00:17:29.84
so that members can be able to,
00:17:29.88\00:17:31.88
you know, they
didn't eat breakfast
00:17:31.91\00:17:33.25
just that
morning, they had something
00:17:33.28\00:17:34.68
to hold them over.
00:17:34.72\00:17:36.32
And what kinds of
things that people,
00:17:36.35\00:17:37.89
so you mentioned
about the t-shirts.
00:17:37.92\00:17:40.06
Did people wear those t-shirts?
00:17:40.09\00:17:41.49
Did you have t-shirts? They did.
00:17:41.52\00:17:42.89
They wore the t-shirts.
00:17:42.92\00:17:44.36
Actually they had to
purchase their own t-shirts,
00:17:44.39\00:17:46.49
they were able to do so.
They were excited about it.
00:17:46.53\00:17:50.13
They purchased their t-shirts,
00:17:50.17\00:17:51.50
wore their t-shirts.
00:17:51.53\00:17:52.87
It was a great day. Wow.
00:17:52.90\00:17:55.80
So were they
divided strictly by churches
00:17:55.84\00:17:59.41
or was it just by teams?
00:17:59.44\00:18:00.84
How did you divide up the--
00:18:00.91\00:18:02.74
how did you
organize the volunteers?
00:18:02.78\00:18:04.38
Well, we
organized the volunteers,
00:18:04.41\00:18:06.55
we put them in groups,
00:18:06.58\00:18:07.92
we had different
areas of clean up.
00:18:07.95\00:18:10.12
They were
different streets that were--
00:18:10.15\00:18:12.49
we had persons that were
captains of different streets,
00:18:12.52\00:18:15.92
different areas
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.29
and they would go
to different areas.
00:18:17.36\00:18:18.79
One of the events
on that particular day
00:18:18.83\00:18:20.93
was also, we were
able to be engaged with
00:18:20.96\00:18:23.77
a elementary school
00:18:23.80\00:18:25.50
where we were
able to do some things
00:18:25.53\00:18:28.07
to spruce up their
campuses, well, on that day.
00:18:28.10\00:18:30.41
So there were
some who were doing
00:18:30.44\00:18:33.41
the street clean up,
and there were others
00:18:33.48\00:18:35.81
who were at the
elementary school.
00:18:35.84\00:18:37.55
What kind of work did you
do at the elementary school?
00:18:37.58\00:18:39.55
We kind of spruced
up their area and paint,
00:18:39.58\00:18:42.12
did some painting. You painted?
00:18:42.15\00:18:43.49
Yes.
00:18:43.52\00:18:44.85
Did you rake leaves,
you know, what did you do?
00:18:44.89\00:18:46.22
Well, we painted their parking
lot on that particular day.
00:18:46.25\00:18:48.56
That's a big job.
00:18:48.59\00:18:49.92
That's not a little some things.
00:18:49.96\00:18:51.66
Okay, so you
painted a whole parking lot?
00:18:51.69\00:18:55.03
Volunteers did. We
striped their parking lot.
00:18:55.06\00:18:58.03
Wow, that would be normally
very expensive enterprise
00:18:58.07\00:19:01.27
if the school
had to pay for that.
00:19:01.30\00:19:03.17
So that was
something that volunteers did.
00:19:03.20\00:19:05.67
Did you have a machine
or did they do that by hand?
00:19:05.71\00:19:07.78
How did they do that?
00:19:07.81\00:19:09.14
Well, it would've
been nice to have a machine
00:19:09.18\00:19:12.25
but it was nicer
to have the rollers
00:19:12.28\00:19:14.78
because it made us
interact with each other
00:19:14.82\00:19:18.02
and we were able
to have a good time,
00:19:18.05\00:19:20.62
just, you know,
get a little paint
00:19:20.69\00:19:22.82
on our clothes and our hands.
00:19:22.86\00:19:24.63
Wow, that is totally awesome.
00:19:24.66\00:19:26.73
So then how did the neighborhood
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.73
receive people coming through
cleaning up their neighborhood?
00:19:28.76\00:19:33.37
Well, the neighborhood people
were pleased, matter of fact,
00:19:33.44\00:19:38.81
the mayor came
out and took a picture
00:19:38.84\00:19:42.04
with one of the groups
00:19:42.08\00:19:43.45
that was out on
that particular day.
00:19:43.48\00:19:45.51
So he noticed? He did.
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.78
He took notice. He did.
00:19:47.82\00:19:49.18
Wow, so...
00:19:49.22\00:19:50.59
And we give all
glory and praise to God.
00:19:50.62\00:19:53.56
Amen, amen.
00:19:53.59\00:19:55.16
So what kinds of
equipment did people bring?
00:19:55.19\00:19:57.89
Did they, you know,
did you supply every thing
00:19:57.93\00:20:00.80
or did they bring
rakes and bags and, you know,
00:20:00.83\00:20:03.26
how did that work out?
00:20:03.33\00:20:04.67
Well, the city
provided some thing.
00:20:04.70\00:20:06.27
They provided some bags,
trash bags and some gloves.
00:20:06.30\00:20:12.27
Now, but others
brought some rakes
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.28
and those kinds
of things to help.
00:20:14.31\00:20:16.58
But mainly were--
00:20:16.61\00:20:18.71
it was kind of self contained
in terms of not needing
00:20:18.75\00:20:21.85
the whole lot of
tools and utensils
00:20:21.88\00:20:25.99
but we were able to
do what we needed to do.
00:20:26.02\00:20:28.76
Pick up some things, move tyres,
00:20:28.79\00:20:31.03
put them out to
this curb in the city
00:20:31.06\00:20:33.19
where they can come
by and pick them up.
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.10
So how was the weather that day
00:20:35.13\00:20:37.03
when everyone say,
hey, 85 volunteers,
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.47
they want to come out and serve?
00:20:39.50\00:20:40.90
Was it sunny, was it
warm, was it perfect weather?
00:20:40.94\00:20:44.07
Well, it was in October.
00:20:44.14\00:20:46.34
In October,
sometimes in Tennessee,
00:20:46.37\00:20:48.14
in Memphis, Tennessee, is
a kind of-- sometimes iffy.
00:20:48.18\00:20:50.58
Sometimes it will rain
a lot during that month
00:20:50.61\00:20:53.65
but it started
out a little cloudy
00:20:53.68\00:20:56.72
but it cleared up,
00:20:56.75\00:20:58.69
God blessed us
and gave us favor.
00:20:58.72\00:21:01.59
I think it was a
little sunshine that day.
00:21:01.62\00:21:03.09
It was a little
cool that morning.
00:21:03.12\00:21:04.46
But as the day went
on, we started at 8:30
00:21:04.49\00:21:07.86
and we ended at 11:30,
around 11:30, 12 o'clock.
00:21:07.93\00:21:12.23
So how much territory
were you able to cover?
00:21:12.27\00:21:14.57
How much of the neighborhood
were you able to clean up?
00:21:14.60\00:21:17.71
It's a good question because
00:21:17.74\00:21:19.07
what we in dividing up
different streets, we were,
00:21:19.11\00:21:25.21
it was kind of broad breath
of area where we served...
00:21:25.25\00:21:29.65
Miles or two...
00:21:29.68\00:21:31.55
Well, from Word of Life,
00:21:31.59\00:21:33.46
I would say that
the farthest street
00:21:33.52\00:21:35.96
that we covered was
about five miles away.
00:21:35.99\00:21:38.93
Because it was the
one that was recommended
00:21:38.96\00:21:41.43
by Dr. Bill Burn,
00:21:41.46\00:21:43.40
one of the community
leaders in the city--
00:21:43.43\00:21:45.03
in the area of Frayser
00:21:45.07\00:21:46.87
because he has a group
that does clean up as well.
00:21:46.90\00:21:50.44
And he recommended that
that we do that particular area
00:21:50.47\00:21:53.31
because it was
heavily cluttered with litter.
00:21:53.34\00:21:56.78
Then we did the
area by the school
00:21:56.81\00:21:58.75
and then we did Highway 51
which is a major thoroughfare
00:21:58.78\00:22:02.45
from Memphis to the
city called Millington,
00:22:02.48\00:22:07.69
Highway 51, Thomas Street
00:22:07.72\00:22:09.56
in that area
where there are some
00:22:09.59\00:22:12.06
retail stores and so forth.
00:22:12.09\00:22:13.43
And were out there on
that main street as well.
00:22:13.50\00:22:16.13
How did the
retails owners, how did--
00:22:16.16\00:22:18.93
what did they think about that,
00:22:18.97\00:22:20.30
everybody cleaning
outside of their store?
00:22:20.34\00:22:22.14
Well, the CVS store,
00:22:22.17\00:22:25.41
they were very
excited about us being there.
00:22:25.44\00:22:28.48
They appreciated it very much
00:22:28.51\00:22:30.11
and matter of fact, the manager
00:22:30.15\00:22:34.48
'cause we are cleaning
up outside of the store,
00:22:34.52\00:22:36.75
we asked if we can throw
some trash into his dumpster.
00:22:36.79\00:22:41.62
He said, "You
guys out here don't--
00:22:41.66\00:22:44.23
he gave us some water, you know,
00:22:44.29\00:22:47.60
free of charge
just gave us water.
00:22:47.60\00:22:48.93
So as the way of
saying, thanks for cleaning up.
00:22:48.96\00:22:51.97
So has the media
covered any of the events
00:22:52.00\00:22:54.37
that you've held?
00:22:54.40\00:22:55.74
Well, this particular one,
00:22:55.77\00:22:57.57
we didn't have media coverage
00:22:57.61\00:22:59.11
but we had media
coverage for some other events
00:22:59.14\00:23:01.68
that we've had since then.
00:23:01.71\00:23:03.95
Okay.
00:23:03.98\00:23:05.31
So you did another event like
this at another time in the...
00:23:05.35\00:23:08.18
Yes, in the
month of April of 2014.
00:23:08.22\00:23:12.35
We have another clean up.
00:23:12.39\00:23:13.96
It was kind of rainy that day.
00:23:13.99\00:23:15.39
But we went out
and served anyway.
00:23:15.42\00:23:17.86
Even though it was raining,
we went out and did service
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.30
and the media actually came out
00:23:20.33\00:23:22.60
and caught us in
serving in the rain.
00:23:22.63\00:23:25.83
Oh, that's cool. That's cool.
00:23:25.87\00:23:27.67
So what other kinds
of events have you held
00:23:27.70\00:23:30.77
or that you're planning?
00:23:30.81\00:23:32.34
Well, we've had
some other events,
00:23:32.37\00:23:34.54
matter of fact, we
earlier this year in 2015,
00:23:34.58\00:23:39.58
we've had an
event called a Symposium
00:23:39.61\00:23:44.15
for Law Enforcement.
00:23:44.19\00:23:46.72
We wanted to be able
to recognize the tensions
00:23:46.76\00:23:50.03
and the things that
are going on because--
00:23:50.09\00:23:52.56
or things that were
happening across the country
00:23:52.59\00:23:54.96
where police and citizens
being in violence and so forth.
00:23:55.00\00:24:01.57
We wanted to be
able to show that
00:24:01.60\00:24:04.21
we cared about
our police department
00:24:04.24\00:24:06.68
and want the police
department to know that
00:24:06.71\00:24:08.34
we were concerned
about our city as well.
00:24:08.38\00:24:12.35
And so the churches got together
00:24:12.38\00:24:14.85
and we went out to
the different precincts
00:24:14.88\00:24:17.59
where nearest to
our churches location.
00:24:17.62\00:24:21.92
And we prayed for the
police at the police precinct.
00:24:21.96\00:24:26.56
And they were ecstatic
about that because, you know,
00:24:26.59\00:24:30.17
sometimes the police,
although they are there to
00:24:30.23\00:24:32.93
protect and to serve. Yeah.
00:24:32.97\00:24:34.30
Sometimes they get a bad rap
00:24:34.34\00:24:36.34
because if something goes
down, something goes wrong
00:24:36.37\00:24:38.51
or why, then the finger
is pointed at a police--
00:24:38.54\00:24:43.55
at law enforcement.
00:24:43.61\00:24:45.68
But we wanted them
to know that we were
00:24:45.71\00:24:47.58
supportive of them
and that were wanted
00:24:47.62\00:24:50.15
to know that-- want them to know
00:24:50.19\00:24:51.59
that we were praying for them.
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.42
So who was involved
in that particular event?
00:24:53.46\00:24:55.79
Was it just the churches only,
were there other city officials
00:24:55.82\00:24:58.96
or county
officials that were involved?
00:24:58.99\00:25:01.03
Well, that particular piece
00:25:01.06\00:25:03.10
in praying for
the police department,
00:25:03.13\00:25:05.40
the churches went
to the location. Okay.
00:25:05.43\00:25:08.87
And later on that
day, we decided to have
00:25:08.90\00:25:13.27
what we called a Law
Enforcement Symposium
00:25:13.31\00:25:16.75
and where About we
met at one of the churches
00:25:16.78\00:25:19.05
and some city officials came.
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.35
They were invited,
00:25:21.38\00:25:22.72
the district
attorney was invited,
00:25:22.75\00:25:25.12
city council
persons were invited
00:25:25.15\00:25:27.29
and the police
department was invited
00:25:27.36\00:25:28.86
and the
neighborhood and the churches
00:25:28.89\00:25:31.99
were invited to come,
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.40
Seventh-day
Adventist churches were invited
00:25:33.43\00:25:34.96
because we wanted to
talk about what are the things
00:25:35.00\00:25:38.40
that we can do
and teach our children
00:25:38.43\00:25:40.24
our young men,
00:25:40.30\00:25:41.64
especially our young
African American men,
00:25:41.67\00:25:43.47
how they out to respond,
00:25:43.51\00:25:45.27
what should they do if
they were stopped by the police,
00:25:45.31\00:25:49.71
how should they
respond or what should they do
00:25:49.74\00:25:52.61
what question should they ask,
00:25:52.65\00:25:54.12
what things should they know.
00:25:54.18\00:25:55.65
Okay, very-- in the few minutes
00:25:55.68\00:25:57.69
that we have
left for the program,
00:25:57.72\00:25:59.25
what were some of the highlights
00:25:59.29\00:26:00.92
of some of that
advice that was given
00:26:00.99\00:26:02.66
and that came from that?
00:26:02.69\00:26:04.06
Well, one of the things
00:26:04.09\00:26:05.43
that stood out very dramatically
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.86
was one of the officers
just gave us this information.
00:26:07.86\00:26:11.97
If you are stopped,
especially at night,
00:26:12.00\00:26:14.87
if you are stopped by police,
00:26:14.90\00:26:16.74
what you need to do
is turn on your light
00:26:16.81\00:26:18.87
inside the car,
00:26:18.91\00:26:20.31
put your hands on the wheel
00:26:20.38\00:26:22.28
and just follow the
officer's instructions.
00:26:22.31\00:26:26.85
That way you can be and safe
00:26:26.92\00:26:28.95
and the officer
can be safe as well.
00:26:28.98\00:26:31.92
How was the
feeling of the event,
00:26:31.95\00:26:34.26
you know, once it ended?
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.22
How did people feel
about having come together
00:26:36.26\00:26:38.66
and done all of those
activities with the police
00:26:38.69\00:26:40.90
and the county etc.?
00:26:40.93\00:26:42.36
Well, the
members of the churches
00:26:42.40\00:26:44.13
were excited about it.
00:26:44.17\00:26:45.50
They were glad that we did that
00:26:45.53\00:26:47.40
and they are looking for more.
00:26:47.44\00:26:49.44
The police department
was appreciative of the fact
00:26:49.47\00:26:52.31
that we felt the need
and the desire to do so
00:26:52.34\00:26:56.18
and they said,
they'll be willing
00:26:56.21\00:26:58.41
to do it again to help us
00:26:58.45\00:27:00.55
as we seek to
try to help the city
00:27:00.58\00:27:02.78
as we seek the peace of the city
00:27:02.82\00:27:05.22
as God instructed
through Jeremiah 29: 7.
00:27:05.25\00:27:10.66
Amen.
00:27:10.69\00:27:12.03
So is there resources
00:27:12.06\00:27:14.10
that you guys could consider,
the gentlemen, the pastors,
00:27:14.13\00:27:17.93
the-- was it "MAMA" of the city?
00:27:17.97\00:27:20.77
Yeah, Memphis Area
Ministerial Alliance.
00:27:20.84\00:27:22.57
Okay, that you
could put on your website,
00:27:22.60\00:27:24.84
iservememphis.org that
could help other people
00:27:24.87\00:27:27.71
who are interested in
starting programs in their city?
00:27:27.74\00:27:31.08
Okay, they can contact us
00:27:31.11\00:27:34.32
through that particular website.
00:27:34.35\00:27:36.38
We have information
out there about the events
00:27:36.42\00:27:39.09
that we've had in the past
00:27:39.12\00:27:40.99
and there will more things
that we would put on there
00:27:41.02\00:27:43.63
as we move further
along in the future.
00:27:43.66\00:27:46.63
Okay, well, thank you so
much for coming, Pastor Batten.
00:27:46.70\00:27:49.40
I really
appreciate your sharing.
00:27:49.43\00:27:50.83
Thank you.
00:27:50.87\00:27:52.20
That was pretty awesome
00:27:52.23\00:27:53.57
all the things
that we're involved.
00:27:53.60\00:27:54.94
It is a group of people coming
together to make a decision
00:27:54.97\00:27:57.31
to do something
different for their city.
00:27:57.37\00:27:59.47
And for those of you at home
00:27:59.51\00:28:01.01
who want to make a
difference, there we go,
00:28:01.04\00:28:02.74
we've been shared--
00:28:02.78\00:28:04.21
he shared with us
how we can do that.
00:28:04.28\00:28:05.91
We can get
together a group of people
00:28:05.95\00:28:07.98
to go to the mayor,
00:28:08.02\00:28:09.35
to be able to
pray for our police.
00:28:09.38\00:28:12.05
Let's just be that
light in the world today.
00:28:12.09\00:28:14.02
Thank you so
much for joining us.
00:28:14.09\00:28:15.42
Have a great day.
00:28:15.46\00:28:16.79