Welcome to Issues & Answers.
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Say, have you ever
passed a church and said,
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"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 but you wonder
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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're 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's currently working
on a doctorate in Urban Ministry
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from Andrews University.
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Wow!
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We're gonna really
hear some good things today.
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Welcome to the
program. Thank you.
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So glad you can make
it to Issues & Answers.
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Oh, very glad to be here
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and glad to be of service today.
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Praise God.
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So, a lot of people said that,
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you know, 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
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to people and baptize folk,
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or is it actually
supposed to get out
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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
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is called 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 into
existence, created them,
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and then He called them again
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because actually
God is a missionary God.
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If we see in Genesis 3,
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that God came looking for them
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in the cool of the day.
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And so we see that theme
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playing out
throughout 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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to leave his comfort
zone of his natural habitat.
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Family...
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His family and
friends, and go to a place
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where God was sending him.
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And so as he was able
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to follow God's instruction,
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Abram, later Abraham,
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became a wonderful great leader
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and a blessing to others.
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A matter of fact,
Genesis 12: 1, 2 and 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 run
into it on the weekend,
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but the church is a place
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where we receive God's call.
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'Cause, actually,
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the Greek word for
church is "Ekklesia,
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" which means called out once.
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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,
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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?
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It's not a church club,
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although, the church is
also called to fellowship,
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fellowshipping with one another,
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encouraging one another.
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You see that in the
book of Acts, Acts 2,
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when the beginning of
the New Testament church,
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the people came together.
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They prayed together,
they laughed together,
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they ate together,
they fellowshipped.
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But all of that, that koinonia,
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that fellowship was to help
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not only the church
come together to bond
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and to grow together,
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but that was also
evident in church growth.
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Because in Acts 2:47,
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we see there that the text
says that the church did grow.
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After all of those elements
of praying and, learning,
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and receiving
instruction, and fellowship,
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and having things in common,
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 that 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
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people inside of the
church were looking in
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or you're talking about
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the greater
community was looking in
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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
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were growing
spiritually on the inside
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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
apostle's 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,
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that the church 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 diffuse in the air,
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if you will, 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,
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whereby 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're 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, we say,
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"we are going to a
church service," meaning,
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we're going to
a building. Right.
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We're 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 has 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
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is not
particularly community-oriented,
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that they've really gotten
into that fellowship thing
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and the pot-luck thing,
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you know, getting
to know each other.
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That's comfortable.
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What, 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 and the doors?
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Well, I think one way is to,
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again, go back to
what we were called to be.
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God called, Jesus calls
us to go and make disciples.
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Disciples are learners of God.
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Disciples are persons
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who are following
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,
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implementing at the Word of Life
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Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Memphis.
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Yes. I bless.
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We are blessed by
God, we are called.
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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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Matter of fact, I
use an acronym "blessed"
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in another way,
for prayer inferences.
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We pray for the, 'B' is for,
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we're praying for
person's body, their health,
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and their physical well-being.
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The 'L' is for labor,
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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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You know, there
are lot of people
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who are dealing
with emotional concern.
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We want them to be
able to have some peace
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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're 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 did you begin?
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Begin with your own family.
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Begin with your
friends, your coworkers,
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those that you are,
that you run across,
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that you come across every day.
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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
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God gives us a missionary
field right around us.
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It's located in
our own neighborhoods
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and in 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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in Memphis, Tennessee.
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What kinds of
things are you guys doing,
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in regard to the community?
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Correct.
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Well, what we're doing
to go out into the community
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is various things.
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Number one, I like to
suggest that we are able to,
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we're able to connect
with a local school in Memphis
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where we are located.
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The school system is
struggling academically.
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The children are struggling.
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Matter of fact,
some of the schools
00:10:50.48\00:10:51.81
had to be taken over by
the state because of poor...
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What 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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And that's in
northwest Memphis area.
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The schools were taken over
by the state, several of them.
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But we, God
allowed us and directed us
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to reach out to
a particular school
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that is about 1.5 miles
from our church location.
00:11:13.37\00:11:19.07
And we adopted
that elementary school.
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We've had some men go in
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to mentor some
of the young people,
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some of the young men there.
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And we also
provide school supplies
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at the beginning
of the school year.
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And even throughout the
year our community service team,
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they go in, and they help
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with other various things there.
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Matter of fact, we had
an opportunity to serve
00:11:40.93\00:11:44.43
that school
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by painting their parking lot,
00:11:46.47\00:11:48.90
that hadn't been
painted in a while.
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We striped their parking lot.
00:11:50.34\00:11:52.04
Those kinds of things
that the community will know,
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that we're doing these
things because we love God
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and we wanna show His
love in the community.
00:11:58.85\00:12:01.72
Pastor, let me ask you.
00:12:01.75\00:12:03.08
Can you paint a
picture for those
00:12:03.12\00:12:04.82
that are not as
familiar with Memphis
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or the particular area, Frayser?
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You know, what's
the population there?
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What are some of the
needs of the community
00:12:10.76\00:12:12.63
in the Frayser area
and this particular school?
00:12:12.66\00:12:16.90
Well, Memphis is
located in the west part,
00:12:16.93\00:12:23.10
corridor of Tennessee,
00:12:23.14\00:12:24.97
right on the Mississippi River.
00:12:25.01\00:12:27.18
The area of Frayser is a,
00:12:27.21\00:12:29.48
is a place where
there's a lot of crime.
00:12:29.51\00:12:33.75
There is low income.
00:12:33.78\00:12:36.58
Persons who are
struggling financially,
00:12:36.62\00:12:39.55
the unemployment
rate is rather high there,
00:12:39.59\00:12:42.96
some statistics say around 16%
00:12:42.99\00:12:46.39
in terms of unemployment there.
00:12:46.43\00:12:50.03
And so we have a
lot of single parents
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in that particular area as well.
00:12:52.17\00:12:54.17
And, of course, I
mentioned the schools
00:12:54.20\00:12:56.30
that are struggling.
00:12:56.34\00:12:57.67
We're trying to build them up.
00:12:57.71\00:12:59.44
They're trying to do
some things economically,
00:12:59.47\00:13:01.41
excuse me, educationally,
00:13:01.44\00:13:03.35
to get the
schools back on to par.
00:13:03.38\00:13:05.98
And so, we're there in that part
00:13:06.01\00:13:09.42
of the city of Memphis
00:13:09.45\00:13:10.89
trying to be a
blessing to the community.
00:13:10.92\00:13:15.22
If I may add, another
thing that we are doing,
00:13:15.26\00:13:18.56
the guys, they let us to
do, to help our community,
00:13:18.59\00:13:21.60
not only do we
provide school supplies,
00:13:21.63\00:13:25.47
but we have a
back-to-school block party
00:13:25.50\00:13:27.70
at the beginning
of the school year.
00:13:27.74\00:13:29.87
And we provide
the school supplies,
00:13:29.90\00:13:32.71
but we also have our
health ministry's team.
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.28
They are providing
blood pressure checks
00:13:35.31\00:13:38.55
and doing all
those kind of things
00:13:38.58\00:13:40.45
for the community
at that time as well.
00:13:40.48\00:13:44.05
One other thing, if I may add.
00:13:44.09\00:13:45.95
Oh, put it, no, no.
That's what we're doing here.
00:13:45.99\00:13:47.56
We are adding. We
wanna hear all your examples.
00:13:47.59\00:13:49.46
You go right ahead
and tell us about it.
00:13:49.49\00:13:51.76
God has led us
through some other activities
00:13:51.79\00:13:56.20
and because
there are some people
00:13:56.23\00:13:58.57
who are specially, elderly,
00:13:58.60\00:14:01.10
who are not able
to get out as much
00:14:01.14\00:14:03.41
or they may be
vulnerable to, how can I say?
00:14:03.44\00:14:09.11
Some people like to
take advantage of them
00:14:09.14\00:14:10.81
doing tax season.
00:14:10.85\00:14:13.08
Really? What are they doing?
00:14:13.11\00:14:14.98
Well, some people are charging
00:14:15.02\00:14:20.26
exorbitant amount of fees
00:14:20.29\00:14:22.62
to do your taxes.
00:14:22.66\00:14:24.33
To the senior citizens?
To the senior citizens.
00:14:24.36\00:14:26.03
So they call them up and
it's a scam kind of thing.
00:14:26.06\00:14:28.00
Well, there are some entities
that are taking advantage.
00:14:28.03\00:14:32.57
And I think I will
kind of leave it at that.
00:14:32.60\00:14:34.70
Okay.
00:14:34.74\00:14:36.07
They're taking
advantage of them,
00:14:36.10\00:14:37.51
but we have been
a part of a service
00:14:37.54\00:14:41.51
helping to provide tax service
00:14:41.54\00:14:45.38
for the community
for those low income,
00:14:45.41\00:14:47.65
and our team thereby assisted,
00:14:47.68\00:14:50.05
you know, Glenda Green.
00:14:50.09\00:14:52.02
They are doing a
very positive job,
00:14:52.05\00:14:55.02
it's called VITA,
00:14:55.06\00:14:56.56
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance,
00:14:56.59\00:14:59.36
and we work in partnership
00:14:59.39\00:15:01.50
with The United
Way in that area.
00:15:01.53\00:15:05.10
And we provide that
service free of charge.
00:15:05.13\00:15:07.17
And many people have come.
00:15:07.20\00:15:09.67
Last year alone, we
serviced 69 families
00:15:09.70\00:15:12.87
and we saved them over
$50,000 worth of income tax.
00:15:12.91\00:15:18.81
That's a 'I Bless' right there.
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.52
I Bless. Yes.
00:15:20.55\00:15:22.62
Wow.
00:15:22.65\00:15:23.99
So how did you
organize some of these,
00:15:24.02\00:15:25.49
like you've got the school,
00:15:25.52\00:15:26.86
how was it that you
approached your local school?
00:15:26.89\00:15:29.22
What did you guys do?
00:15:29.26\00:15:30.59
Well, we went to them,
00:15:30.63\00:15:33.56
'cause I went to the principal
and went to the school,
00:15:33.60\00:15:36.46
just visiting, making
myself known in the community
00:15:36.50\00:15:39.30
when I first came to Memphis.
00:15:39.33\00:15:41.47
And the Lord just
impressed me to go
00:15:41.50\00:15:43.87
and talk with the principal.
00:15:43.91\00:15:45.27
And we talked with her.
00:15:45.31\00:15:46.71
And we were asking about
how we could adopt the school.
00:15:46.74\00:15:51.15
And they shared
with us the process
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.62
going through
the school district,
00:15:53.65\00:15:56.58
the procedures there.
00:15:56.62\00:15:57.95
And so we were able
to adopt that school in,
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.99
through those procedures.
00:16:01.02\00:16:02.89
And we just had
a wonderful time.
00:16:02.92\00:16:05.56
A matter of fact,
00:16:05.59\00:16:07.53
each year,
00:16:07.56\00:16:09.06
we have a winter carnival
for the kids at that school,
00:16:09.10\00:16:15.20
that elementary school,
00:16:15.24\00:16:16.57
Westside Elementary School.
00:16:16.60\00:16:18.37
And the kids come
out on a Saturday night,
00:16:18.41\00:16:21.31
they come out and we
are there inside the school,
00:16:21.34\00:16:24.21
inside of their cafetorium
00:16:24.25\00:16:26.48
'cause they
don't have a gymnasium
00:16:26.51\00:16:27.85
at their particular site.
00:16:27.88\00:16:29.22
Right.
00:16:29.25\00:16:30.59
But we go in, and we have games,
00:16:30.62\00:16:32.19
and we just have a fun
night for the community.
00:16:32.22\00:16:34.49
Our way of
reaching the community
00:16:34.52\00:16:36.93
in a non-threatening way
00:16:36.96\00:16:38.89
to let them know
that we are called by God
00:16:38.93\00:16:42.66
to be a blessing to others.
00:16:42.70\00:16:45.00
So when you have the Winterfest,
00:16:45.03\00:16:47.50
about how many
people come to that?
00:16:47.54\00:16:49.17
Well, approximately
over 100 to 120 come out.
00:16:49.20\00:16:54.84
Matter of fact, we,
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.75
the other event that we do have,
00:16:56.78\00:16:58.88
because we are trying
to reach the community
00:16:58.91\00:17:02.22
without the traditional ways...
00:17:02.25\00:17:05.99
In other words, instead
of just coming to the church.
00:17:06.02\00:17:08.02
It's not that you guys
are coming out of your church
00:17:08.06\00:17:10.76
and using or using
the school, kind of,
00:17:10.79\00:17:12.69
as a base to go
into the community.
00:17:12.73\00:17:14.73
The school is a
base where we go in
00:17:14.76\00:17:16.97
and seek to bless the community,
00:17:17.00\00:17:20.47
the school community.
00:17:20.50\00:17:21.84
The parents get to
know other parents.
00:17:21.87\00:17:23.30
Matter of fact, I
go to the school now
00:17:23.34\00:17:25.97
and some of the kids
know me as Pastor Batten
00:17:26.01\00:17:31.08
or Pastor B.
00:17:31.11\00:17:32.91
And so we go, and we try
to just reach the children,
00:17:32.95\00:17:36.89
reach the kids,
and reach the families
00:17:36.92\00:17:39.75
by just being a
blessing to them.
00:17:39.79\00:17:41.72
There's something else,
you know, you're kind of slim,
00:17:41.76\00:17:44.79
you're tall, Pastor Batten.
00:17:44.83\00:17:46.43
If we had you stand up,
you'll be like, way tall.
00:17:46.46\00:17:49.30
Now is there
something that you do with a net
00:17:49.33\00:17:52.47
and a ball as well,
00:17:52.50\00:17:54.70
with the community?
00:17:54.74\00:17:56.07
I do play basketball.
00:17:56.10\00:17:57.44
I love basketball.
00:17:57.47\00:17:58.81
I played it for quite some time.
00:17:58.84\00:18:00.18
We do have a program
called Basketball Extravaganza.
00:18:00.21\00:18:04.88
A matter of fact, my
wife was instrumental
00:18:04.91\00:18:08.52
in helping to pull that
together some years ago,
00:18:08.55\00:18:12.75
before we came to Memphis,
00:18:12.79\00:18:14.49
we did it in another
district, another church.
00:18:14.52\00:18:16.62
And explain what is
Basketball Extravaganza?
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.43
Basketball
Extravaganza is a time where,
00:18:18.46\00:18:20.70
it's another community event,
00:18:20.73\00:18:22.90
where about we
invite the community,
00:18:22.93\00:18:24.80
we have them to
come out and we play.
00:18:24.83\00:18:27.64
We have three-point shoot out.
00:18:27.67\00:18:29.00
We have obstacle
course games for the little,
00:18:29.04\00:18:31.34
smaller kids inside the
gym just having a good time.
00:18:31.37\00:18:34.94
Matter of fact,
one of the things
00:18:34.98\00:18:36.51
that we do to draw the community
00:18:36.54\00:18:38.75
is we have
pastors in the community
00:18:38.78\00:18:40.85
to play basketball against
00:18:40.88\00:18:42.52
some of the
youth in the community.
00:18:42.55\00:18:44.25
Wow. That should be exciting.
00:18:44.29\00:18:45.92
It is exciting
but sometimes for us,
00:18:45.95\00:18:47.99
who are pastors and
who are a little older now,
00:18:48.02\00:18:50.93
it's time for
binge after the game.
00:18:50.96\00:18:55.26
So that brings the people out
00:18:55.30\00:18:57.00
and they have
concessions and everything?
00:18:57.03\00:18:59.63
The whole nine
yards, a matter of fact.
00:18:59.67\00:19:01.30
This last time, we had over
250 community guests to come,
00:19:01.34\00:19:06.17
and it was a great time.
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.21
That is awesome. That
sounds like a lot of fun.
00:19:08.24\00:19:10.61
You guys are
having a lot of fun.
00:19:10.65\00:19:13.01
The fun is great,
00:19:13.05\00:19:14.38
but the most important thing
00:19:14.42\00:19:16.02
is that we want the people
to know that we love them,
00:19:16.05\00:19:18.89
and that we want to share
the love of God with them.
00:19:18.92\00:19:21.12
And so we also
have opportunities
00:19:21.16\00:19:23.12
to invite them to things
00:19:23.16\00:19:25.79
that we're having at the church
00:19:25.83\00:19:28.00
to small group
Bible studies as well
00:19:28.03\00:19:30.30
as to other events
that we have at the church.
00:19:30.33\00:19:34.84
Now do you have
evangelistic meetings as well?
00:19:34.87\00:19:37.71
Do you have, you had
some of those as a follow-up,
00:19:37.74\00:19:39.67
maybe, to some of
these other outreach efforts?
00:19:39.71\00:19:42.14
Yes, we do.
00:19:42.18\00:19:43.51
We understand that the church
00:19:43.55\00:19:45.41
is called to share the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:19:45.45\00:19:48.78
And that gospel is not
only the good news of salvation,
00:19:48.82\00:19:52.75
but it is also helping others
in their day-to-day living.
00:19:52.79\00:19:56.99
And so we have the
evangelistic series
00:19:57.03\00:19:59.69
that we do from every year
00:19:59.73\00:20:01.63
and God has blessed us
00:20:01.66\00:20:03.33
as we have been
able to touch souls
00:20:03.37\00:20:07.34
in a practical manner
00:20:07.37\00:20:08.87
but also touching them in
a spiritual manner as well.
00:20:08.90\00:20:12.21
Wow.
00:20:12.24\00:20:13.58
So the church is called to
go beyond its community doors.
00:20:13.61\00:20:18.18
What are the some things,
00:20:18.21\00:20:19.55
how about the
health practitioners
00:20:19.58\00:20:20.92
in your congregation?
00:20:20.95\00:20:22.28
Have they organized any events,
00:20:22.32\00:20:25.49
walks, or health
events that's been going on?
00:20:25.52\00:20:28.52
We do.
00:20:28.56\00:20:29.89
We have, also have a walk.
00:20:29.92\00:20:34.53
We've done it for two years.
00:20:34.56\00:20:37.63
A two-mile walk,
00:20:37.67\00:20:39.10
that's at the Ed
Rice Community Center,
00:20:39.13\00:20:42.24
they have a track there.
00:20:42.27\00:20:43.61
And so we encourage our
folks to get out and walk.
00:20:43.64\00:20:47.74
For some reason,
that particular event
00:20:47.78\00:20:49.64
has not been as successful
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.61
in terms of
community participation,
00:20:51.65\00:20:54.88
but by God's
grace, we'll go back
00:20:54.92\00:20:57.15
and look at those
things and re-evaluate them
00:20:57.19\00:20:59.62
and see how we
can better coordinate
00:20:59.65\00:21:02.82
that with the community.
00:21:02.86\00:21:04.49
But we do have the
other activities for,
00:21:04.53\00:21:06.96
as the blood pressure
checks, and the weight,
00:21:07.00\00:21:11.03
the exercise class.
00:21:11.07\00:21:12.40
I forgot about
the exercise class.
00:21:12.43\00:21:14.14
Tell us about
the exercise class.
00:21:14.17\00:21:15.50
That is a very healthful.
00:21:15.54\00:21:17.27
Well, the exercise class is
a spin-off of something else
00:21:17.31\00:21:20.81
that we did in the
community at a local gymnasium.
00:21:20.84\00:21:23.68
What was it that
you did at the...
00:21:23.71\00:21:25.05
It is called the Be Smart
camp, it's during the summer.
00:21:25.08\00:21:29.05
During the summer,
the kids are out of school
00:21:29.08\00:21:31.42
and don't have a
lot of things to do.
00:21:31.45\00:21:32.79
So one week during the summer,
we have the Be Smart camp.
00:21:32.82\00:21:36.96
And the Be Smart camp,
00:21:36.99\00:21:38.86
it provides information
in a fun way for the kids.
00:21:38.89\00:21:43.57
They get to move
around to some upbeat music,
00:21:43.60\00:21:48.70
I will say,
00:21:48.74\00:21:50.07
that they are perhaps
more accustomed to hearing.
00:21:50.11\00:21:53.68
But the message
behind the music,
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.31
the message is helping them
to learn to brush your teeth,
00:21:56.34\00:22:00.25
go to bed, to eat right,
00:22:00.28\00:22:02.15
good fruits and vegetables.
00:22:02.18\00:22:04.22
So it's called Be
Smart and that is a program
00:22:04.25\00:22:07.06
that has come to us
from two individuals
00:22:07.09\00:22:10.29
who developed this
program from Ocala, Florida.
00:22:10.33\00:22:14.53
Grace Daley, a former
WNBA basketball player
00:22:14.56\00:22:18.03
and Ann Burnett,
00:22:18.07\00:22:19.40
they have developed
this particular program
00:22:19.43\00:22:22.20
called Be Smart.
00:22:22.24\00:22:23.57
So they've come to help us
00:22:23.61\00:22:25.17
to share that in the community.
00:22:25.21\00:22:26.54
Really? It's awesome.
00:22:26.57\00:22:28.24
It is a very
awesome opportunity.
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.65
And if you, if you ever want
some more information about it,
00:22:30.68\00:22:34.62
I can get that
information to you.
00:22:34.65\00:22:36.22
Okay, good.
00:22:36.25\00:22:37.59
Yeah, I'm sure
everybody does want to have
00:22:37.62\00:22:38.95
more information about that.
00:22:38.99\00:22:40.32
Yes. Okay.
00:22:40.36\00:22:41.69
So, and we'll cover that
again later on in the program.
00:22:41.72\00:22:44.29
So I wanna ask you
about how expensive was it?
00:22:44.33\00:22:47.56
For example, this
camp, did you have,
00:22:47.60\00:22:49.23
how did you feed the kids?
00:22:49.26\00:22:50.67
Well, we fed the
kids by donations.
00:22:50.70\00:22:53.07
We solicited some
individual businesses
00:22:53.10\00:22:56.77
and persons in the
community to help sponsor
00:22:56.81\00:22:59.81
and to help provide
those kinds of things.
00:22:59.84\00:23:01.68
So we are, the
church is a place,
00:23:01.71\00:23:06.31
is a organization and organism,
00:23:06.35\00:23:08.98
a living organism,
00:23:09.02\00:23:10.35
whereby we are
seeking to help the community.
00:23:10.39\00:23:14.19
And also get the name of
God's Church in the community,
00:23:14.22\00:23:19.09
to be able to
00:23:19.13\00:23:20.93
make not only
transactions buying stuff,
00:23:20.96\00:23:23.00
but build friendships.
00:23:23.03\00:23:25.13
And build rapport
00:23:25.17\00:23:26.77
and relationship
with the community
00:23:26.80\00:23:28.97
in such a way
00:23:29.00\00:23:30.47
that we can help
them in times of need
00:23:30.51\00:23:34.21
and they can help
us to provide services
00:23:34.24\00:23:37.38
for the community as well.
00:23:37.41\00:23:39.11
Now you said that
the Be Smart program,
00:23:39.15\00:23:41.48
that you spun off from
that and did another program.
00:23:41.52\00:23:44.39
What was that program?
00:23:44.42\00:23:45.75
We had an exercise
program at the church.
00:23:45.79\00:23:48.26
And some of the members
got involved, they wanted to,
00:23:48.29\00:23:51.49
perhaps, you
know, slim down a bit
00:23:51.53\00:23:53.36
or have some more
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.83
healthful
activity in their own life
00:23:56.87\00:23:59.20
and so we have an exercise class
00:23:59.23\00:24:02.17
that meets on Thursday
nights from 6:00 to 7:00,
00:24:02.20\00:24:06.41
just one hour, for those
who are interested in exercise.
00:24:06.44\00:24:10.81
And we have some community
persons coming to that as well.
00:24:10.85\00:24:14.22
Oh, wow. That's really awesome.
00:24:14.25\00:24:16.38
So did you face when
you were coming into Memphis
00:24:16.42\00:24:19.79
and coming into
your congregation,
00:24:19.82\00:24:21.66
did you have any kind of,
00:24:21.69\00:24:23.89
what challenges did you face,
00:24:23.93\00:24:26.16
maybe, with
your own congregation
00:24:26.19\00:24:28.03
to bring them to the point,
00:24:28.06\00:24:29.40
were they already very, very,
very active in the community
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.87
when you came?
00:24:31.90\00:24:33.23
Well, you said,
very, very, very active.
00:24:33.27\00:24:35.24
I was...
00:24:35.27\00:24:36.60
You're very, very, very active.
00:24:36.64\00:24:38.27
Well, I will say that
00:24:38.31\00:24:40.11
we were somewhat
active in the community.
00:24:40.14\00:24:42.48
We had some things
that we're already doing
00:24:42.51\00:24:44.71
but we just wanted to
add to that, amplify that.
00:24:44.75\00:24:48.68
And some members will
say, I've amplified it a lot,
00:24:48.72\00:24:52.12
but we want to make sure
00:24:52.15\00:24:54.22
that we are being
engaged in the community.
00:24:54.26\00:24:57.73
So we added to what
was already being done.
00:24:57.76\00:25:00.96
Built upon it. Built upon it.
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.40
Okay.
00:25:02.43\00:25:03.77
You know, in any
place that you go,
00:25:03.80\00:25:05.77
there are always some struggles.
00:25:05.80\00:25:07.90
Sometimes that we,
00:25:07.94\00:25:10.47
you may feel that the
pastor is moving too fast or,
00:25:10.51\00:25:16.38
you know, those kinds of things.
00:25:16.41\00:25:17.75
Right.
00:25:17.78\00:25:19.11
However, by God's grace,
00:25:19.15\00:25:20.48
we were able to move in a way
00:25:20.52\00:25:22.18
that was beneficial not
only to the congregation,
00:25:22.22\00:25:25.69
but to the community at large.
00:25:25.72\00:25:27.26
And I must say that we
still have much more to do
00:25:27.29\00:25:30.96
for the kingdom of God,
00:25:30.99\00:25:32.56
because not only do we
want to touch the people
00:25:32.59\00:25:35.40
with the
activities, with the events,
00:25:35.43\00:25:37.73
but the most important thing
is that we want to touch them,
00:25:37.77\00:25:41.00
want to bless them
00:25:41.04\00:25:42.80
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:25:42.84\00:25:45.01
Well, it's very, very exciting.
00:25:45.04\00:25:47.01
I mean, the idea of the church
moving beyond from, you know,
00:25:47.04\00:25:51.41
it being more social, to
being social and community.
00:25:51.45\00:25:55.18
Sometimes I think, we think,
have to do one or the other.
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.89
But you're
saying we can do both.
00:25:57.92\00:25:59.52
It is a balance.
00:25:59.55\00:26:01.09
We must do both
00:26:01.12\00:26:02.72
because if we just
stay within the four walls
00:26:02.76\00:26:04.93
of the church,
00:26:04.96\00:26:06.29
then the church will never grow,
00:26:06.33\00:26:08.86
never meet the people.
00:26:08.90\00:26:11.23
I believe that
Jesus said that the church
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.64
is called to be salt and light.
00:26:13.67\00:26:16.04
Amen.
00:26:16.07\00:26:17.41
In order to be salt
and to be effective salt,
00:26:17.44\00:26:21.34
the salt must touch
00:26:21.38\00:26:23.31
that which it
wants to bring salt to.
00:26:23.35\00:26:27.58
So we, in order
to preserve the meat,
00:26:27.62\00:26:30.49
the salt must get into,
00:26:30.52\00:26:32.55
must touch the meat.
00:26:32.59\00:26:34.82
So are you available to travel
and to be able to train people
00:26:34.86\00:26:38.99
or do you have some resources
that you can leave with us
00:26:39.03\00:26:41.76
here at Dare to Dream network
00:26:41.80\00:26:43.77
that we can
follow-up with people on?
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.90
I do have some
material that we are working on
00:26:45.93\00:26:49.64
as we are continuing to work
on our dissertation process,
00:26:49.67\00:26:54.54
demand process.
00:26:54.58\00:26:56.64
We do have information
that we have available.
00:26:56.68\00:27:00.42
And we will be more
than happy to come and share
00:27:00.45\00:27:03.52
the little we do know to
others who may be interested.
00:27:03.55\00:27:06.49
Wow.
00:27:06.52\00:27:07.86
How have your other pastors,
00:27:07.89\00:27:10.13
you know, have you
had any opportunity
00:27:10.16\00:27:12.09
to share this
story with other pastors
00:27:12.13\00:27:14.73
and other church members
00:27:14.76\00:27:16.10
beyond your
immediate congregation
00:27:16.13\00:27:18.00
in Frayser area?
00:27:18.03\00:27:19.63
Yes, we have, a matter of fact,
00:27:19.67\00:27:22.17
we have a strong
coalition of pastors
00:27:22.20\00:27:25.14
in the city of Memphis,
00:27:25.17\00:27:26.91
and we meet kind of regularly,
00:27:26.94\00:27:28.58
and we fellowship together,
00:27:28.61\00:27:30.05
and we bounce
ideas off each other,
00:27:30.08\00:27:32.21
and we share various
things with each other
00:27:32.25\00:27:34.42
regarding ministry
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.08
and being more community-focused
00:27:36.12\00:27:38.85
and mission-driven.
00:27:38.89\00:27:40.99
Well, I wanna thank
you so much, Pastor Batten,
00:27:41.02\00:27:43.02
for coming to the program.
00:27:43.06\00:27:44.39
Thank you so much
for coming. Thank you.
00:27:44.43\00:27:45.76
We're gonna continue to keep
in prayer your entire ministry
00:27:45.79\00:27:48.33
that you have there in Memphis.
00:27:48.36\00:27:49.80
Thank you so much
for joining us today.
00:27:49.83\00:27:51.73
We hope that you will
take some of these principles
00:27:51.77\00:27:55.20
that have been shared
00:27:55.24\00:27:56.57
to be able to become
more community-oriented.
00:27:56.60\00:27:59.07
And it's a challenge, you know,
00:27:59.11\00:28:00.44
'cause the
church consists of us.
00:28:00.48\00:28:02.24
We are the members, right?
00:28:02.28\00:28:03.75
And sometimes we say,
00:28:03.78\00:28:05.11
"Well, the pastor
needs to be the person
00:28:05.15\00:28:06.68
that leads the group."
00:28:06.72\00:28:08.05
But we could be that
person as Pastor Batten said,
00:28:08.08\00:28:11.15
that is the salt on the earth
00:28:11.19\00:28:13.76
and our community
to make a difference.
00:28:13.79\00:28:15.49
Let's do that
today. God bless you.
00:28:15.52\00:28:17.13
Thanks for joining us.
00:28:17.16\00:28:18.63