Volume 19 Issue 5 MAKING OUR WORLD A BETTER

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1 MAKING OUR WORLD A BETTER Volume 19 Issue 5

2 MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for another opportunity to share with you about the goodness of the Lord in our beloved Church. By the grace of God we are still making progress. Here is a quick report on the latest updates: Spiritual Development: I am pleased to report that we have stepped up the level of theological discourse in our Church. Our worship experience is becoming more and more fulfilling and the teaching/bible study hour during our Midweek service has improved. Thanks to all of our worship team, prayer ministry, technical crew and everyone involved in helping us to raise the standard. I believe with all my heart that God is getting us ready to become a serious spiritual force in Central Louisiana. I am excited that we are positioning ourselves to receive the blessing. Physical Development: Permit me to inform you about various projects that we still believe God to do in our Church. The list includes: Visitor Welcome station in the Church lobby; Stage Lights in the Sanctuary; Replacement of our Sanctuary pews with theater seats; Replacement of our Microphones for the Worship team; Complete overhaul of our Church website; Complete overhaul of our Media Ministry equipment; Purchase of Two additional Church vans; Complete overhaul and expansion of our Church parking lot; Conversion of our Sanctuary inner walls into video display; The above list is not exhaustive. Our goal is to remain on the cutting edge of technology and innovation in Church ministry. Also, we are committed to continue to raise the bar for Church ministry in the Community. It is not a coincidence that the Bible said let your light so shine among men that they may see your good work and glorify your father which is in heaven. I believe that God has raised up Zion Hill to be a trail blazer and a pace setter in Central Louisiana. We cannot afford to shy away from this divine assignment. It is a good thing. For example, if you have noticed, God has used us to be a trail blazer in the use of bill

3 board, digital board, big screen, Luxury Church Bus, television broadcast, praise/ worship team, etc; in Central Louisiana. Since then, many local Churches have stepped up with a spirit of excellence in their own ministry just like Zion Hill. This is a good thing for our community. So, let me encourage you not to be weary in well doing. For in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. Finally, let me share with you about how we will accomplish all of the above. The Bible said that by wisdom, a house is built and established. My prayer for our Church is to accomplish our vision with little or no borrowing. In other words, rather than going to the bank to borrow money every time we need to do something, we can rely primarily on God and our own commitment for the provision. For example, when we wanted a Hammond Organ, we did not go to the bank to borrow any money. Instead, we asked our music department to raise half of the cost while the Church came up with the other half. The approach worked perfectly. As a result, we were able to get the organ, borrowed no money from the bank, positioned every giver for the blessing of God, saved the church a lot of money and got many people involved in the work of the ministry. The same approach can be used in other projects. So, I am asking the following department and/or ministries to help and assist our Church to raise half of the funds needed for the projects listed above. The Church in turn will match the funds with the other half. Below, please find a list of the projects along with the list of departments who will provide the leadership. Welcome Center The Greeters Ministry Church Stage Light The Music Department Worship Microphones The Praise/Worship team Sanctuary Pews The Deaconess Ministry The Church Website The Media Ministry Two Church Vans The Deacons Ministry Media Equipment Overhaul-----The Parent Church Church Parking Lots The Parent Church Sanctuary Wall Video The Parent Church The good news is that there is no deadline to complete any of these projects. We do not have to rush nor overburden our people. The Pastor will be working directly with ministry/department leaders both on the question of fundraising and timing. Let us continue to believe God for divine wisdom and favor to make things happen. The best is yet to come for us individually and collectively. I strongly believe that we are on the right track of history and God will continue to use us to make our world a better place in Jesus Name. Amen! Yours in Christ Jesus, Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, Pastor

4 The Zion Hill Prayer Ministry We take this opportunity to thank each of you who attends prayer on Friday nights. We greatly appreciate all of you and the ministries who have been helping us lead prayer. Special thanks to all of you who came and participated in our Good Friday service.we had over a hundred people in attendance.. We want to encourage you to invite others to join us for prayer. We want Zion Hill to become a house of prayer. This can only happen when we all come out and support prayer. May God continue to bless and keep you. See you Friday night 6PM. Prayer Ministry A Journey Called Destiny Brenda Dozier's story is on sale in the Zion Hill Bookstore for $7.00. All proceeds will go to the Joy Dara Ministry. Readers will experience her challenges and the importance of faith and staying in the presences of God. BRENDA DAVIS- DOZIER ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. PHI GAMMA OMEGA PRESIDENT PINEVILLE, LA CHAPTER BS LSU BATON ROUGE MS NSU, NATCHITOCHES, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUPERVISION & ADM CELL THE SENIORS HAVING FUN MINISTRY RECENTLY CONDUCTED A SEMINAR ON POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SPIRITUAL WEIGHTS. SENIOR GROUPS FROM SEVERAL AREA CHURCHES ATTENDED, AND ENJOYED A VARIETY OF GREAT PRESENTATIONS. A BLESSED TIME OF FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP WAS HAD BY ALL.

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7 SENIOR MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM The City of Alexandria will accept applications for the Senior Minor Repair Program from Monday, May 5, 2014 through Friday, May 16, Qualified Applicants who are 55 and older may receive up to $5,000 in assistance for minor housing repair. Residents, who own their own home, live within the Alexandria city limits and have a gross annual income that does not exceed the following income guidelines are eligible to apply. Family Size Income Limit 1 27, , , , , , , ,750 Persons interested in applying may do so at the City of Alexandria s Community Development Department located in the Customer Service Building, 625 Murray St., third floor, between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 4:00p.m. The office is closed daily for lunch from 12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m. For more information, contact: Community Development Department City of Alexandria Krystal Johnson-Wimbley Program Manager Community Development City of Alexandria Tel: ** Fax: Krystal.wimbley@cityofalex.com

8 CARING FOR WIDOWS- AND NOT JUST ON MOTHER S DAY Main Idea: 1Timothy 5:3-10 give us two guidelines for putting religion into practice. The specific issue is Caring for Widows. 1. Guideline #1: Find out who s really in need (3) A. She is part of a church family. B. She cannot meet her own needs. She is destitute. C. She has no family to help. D. She meets certain spiritual qualifications. 1. God is real in her life (5). Although she is alone, she s not alone. She trusts God. 2. She herself has a track record of giving (10). i.e. finances, time, dedication 2. Guideline #2: Find out the most God-Honoring way to meet her need (4). The family needs to learn that they are responsible first (4). The woman is responsible (5-6). 1. She is to do all she can. 2. She is to trust God (5). Her prayer life is evidence that she trusts God. 3. She isn t to live for pleasure (6) (worldly minded) C. The church is responsible (7-8). 1. The reason isn t merely humanitarian. It isn t to make a better society. We are to be caring people. 2. The reason is the testimony of Christ. The early church was concerned for spiritual and social needs. Implications: So what must we do? In order to put religion into practice, we need to take inventory: 1. Take inventory of your own life. Can people see Christ in you? To show Christ, you must know Christ. 2. Take inventory of your own family. Do you see needs there? Do you have a grandparent or parent that needs your help? Maybe there is a single mom in your family. 3. Take inventory of your church. Do you see the needs in your church family? What about the widows, the moms, the shut-ins, and the fatherless? Perhaps a phone call, a card, a visit, an invitation for dinner, tune up the car, repair broken appliances, mow the lawn, give clothing or shoes. Remember that we are family to. Although the specific issue is to care for widows, this principle applies to benevolent ministry in general, and shows us a tangible way to practice what we profess. PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD AND THE FATHER IS THIS, TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION, AND TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED BEFORE THE WORLD James 1:27 HAPPY MOTHER S DAY!!!!!! PASTOR SHERRYL WILLIAMS (WIDOWS ENJOYING LONG LIFE) Pastor Tyler Paul Was featured as one of the guest speakers for the: Prayer Ministries International Fellowship Convention on May 2, 2014

9 New Creations Women s Ministry 2nd & 4th 6:00PM (FLC) For more information please contact Zion Hill front Or see Destin Harris or Tracy Clayton

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11 She is someone you can tell your secrets and worries to, and she hopes and prays that all your dreams come true. She always loves you, no matter what. She can see past temper tantrums and bad moods, and makes it clear that they don't affect how precious you are to her. She is an encouraging word and a tender touch. She is full of proud smiles. She is the one person in the world who loves you with all her heart, who remembers the child you were and cherishes the person you've become.

12 Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, Pastor 312 Hunter Street Pineville, Louisiana Postage Mailing Address: P O Box 3914, Pineville, LA Phone: Fax: Mailing Address 1st Wednesday Family Talent (Taping of Always Joy) Newsletter Staff: Deadrian Ficklin, Reporter Krystal Wimbley, Graphic designer / Reporter Rose Vanburen, Reporter & Photographer LaQuonda Burise/Photographer Office Hours: 9:00am - 4:30pm Administrative Assistants: R. Diana Mitchell Patricia Wilson