“Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, Re-Imagining the Future”

“Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, Re-Imagining the Future” There is so much buzz in the air about what we are doing or planning to do with the Bethlehem Center once it is acquired. The Bethlehem Center has been an icon in our community for years, and has provided services in our community for over six decades. Unfortunate events closed the center, and the community has felt the loss, specifically our children. Although the center’s programs were being carried out at another site, the property that once stood as an empowerment tool for African Americans now stood empty and falling in disrepair. Intervention was needed and necessary to get these services back in our community. Who would do it? Whose responsibility was it to reestablish and resurrect the pride and hope of our community? Who cared enough and who had God given the resources to perform the act of breathing life into “dry bones”? I believe God called Second Nazareth for such a time as this! So, here is a sneak preview inside the heart of the Visionary while we remember the past, rejoice in the present, and re-imagine the future. Truly, we are turning a page in this new era of ministry and we are on the cutting edge of new paths breathing new life in our community and moving our church like never before in Kingdom Building. Remembering The Past Historically, the Bethlehem Center was established in September of 1945, during the period of American history when World War II forced women into the workforce in increasing numbers. The demand for women of all races to work created a situation of African American mothers having to devote more work hours to caring for the children of other working mothers. The African American "nannies" literally locked their own unattended children in their homes, then ventured to the homes of the other mothers to care for their children. This way of life caught the attention of Mrs. Julian Webb, a Missionary Woman of the Washington Street Methodist Church of Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Webb had a very devoted maid who took care of her twin children, but did so with the same great self-sacrifice. When Mrs. Webb reported this condition to members of her Sunday school class and to the Women's Missionary Society, the women decided something had to be done to alleviate this problem and others like it. Hence, in October of 1945, the Methodist Church National Division of the Missionary Society in New York City, New York, and the Missionary Council of the Methodist Church of South Carolina took action to purchase property and to open services under the name Bethlehem Community Center. For over 60 years the site worked to provide diverse educational and enrichment experiences engaging and empowering children and families of the Edgewood and Waverly Communities. Sadly, services ceased to operate at the 2500 Elmwood Ave site and our community was left underserved. The property stood vacant, as a reminder of what it once was for almost two years, until now… Rejoicing In The Present: The Heart of The Visionary It is no coincidence our Mission Statement reads: “The mission of Second Nazareth Baptist Church is to be an instrument of the power and love of Jesus Christ, to our congregation and our “community”, while leading those we encounter into a relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit through: prayer, outreach, worship, fellowship, discipleship, sharing, caring, teaching, preaching, forgiveness, and personal involvement.” The operative word is “community”. Our Mission Statement we adopted when I became Pastor fully expresses our concern for our community and those outside of the “church”. It is fully in keeping with what Jesus says when He declares the theme of His ministry in Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Jesus basically expresses His concern for His “community” and those affected by stigmas and situations befalling them in life. Since the poor, brokenhearted, captives, blind, and bruised people are a part of our present day society it becomes our duty as followers of Christ to minister to their needs. In so doing we fulfill our mandate and carry out actions pleasing to our Christ. Next, examine our goals. Can you see God moving in our actions to acquire the Bethlehem Center? Before this awesome opportunity presented itself, boldly and prophetically we set our goals. I believe God is answering our prayers and desires as we strive to be a purpose driven church. We are walking in Divine favor. This is truly our season and we have been granted our hearts desire. We can rejoice in the present! Goals of Second Nazareth Baptist Church 1. Meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of people in our region and world 2. Continually providing resources for purposes of outreach, ministry, discipleship, worship, and fellowship 3. Leading members in worship glorifying God and nurtures believers 4. Providing strong leadership resources for the ministries of the church 5. Developing a high degree of positive visibility for Christ and His church within the communities of our region 6. Providing adequate facilities for our ministries 7. Developing faithful Christian stewardship among believers Re-Imagining the Future: A Snapshot of What We Can Expect in the Immediate Future As we enjoy this season of expansion and ministry beyond our four walls we will move forward with all diligent speed to renovate and invigorate this “phoenix” rising from the ashes and pile of discard. We will aggressively and passionately restore the splendor and vitality of the property located at 2500 Elmwood Ave. This new property will become the home and headquarters of the Edgewood Foundation. We will introduce new programs, partner with community organizations, and work tirelessly to restore previous services and guiding principles. Some of our goals will be: Developing new and exciting educational and cultural initiatives for children and families The active participation and cooperation of Edgewood Foundation, Second Nazareth Baptist Church, government, business, education, and the private sector Providing quality management and fundraising efforts to support ongoing services offered through the Center As we pursue our goals, we are guided by six key principles: Guiding Principles Uphold Christ-Centered programming. Place the needs of the local community first. Strengthen public-private partnerships that support our programs. Use our programs to build a stronger, more efficient and more sustainable community. Measure and continually improve benefits of our programs to participants. Build collaborations with other organizations or individuals with similar missions. We plan to restore opportunities for children, youth and their families to participate in programs and services promoting healthy lifestyles and good citizenship through four core programs. 1. Enrichment and Academic After School Program offered to elementary school students who attend Carver Lyon, Watkins Nance and Bradley Elementary Schools. The after school program extends the school day with homework assistance and enrichment activities in the areas of math and language arts. 2. Summer Enrichment Camp designed for children 4-13 years of age. The full-day camp is offered Monday through Friday and provides enrichment and fun experiences for participants. 3. Buy-In-Blocks Project designed for youth 13-17 years of age and promoting good citizenship, community service, and exposure to cultural and civic activities. 4. Grandparents Caring For Grandchildren Support Group providing a mechanism for grandparents to find support and participate in open discussions about parenting skills and relevant issues. We also are exploring of the addition of Adult Day Care Services. I am so excited God has blessed Second Nazareth to have ample resources to bring empowerment and change to the Edgewood Community. Churches over the past generations have been weakened by a failure to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of their communities. Many have adopted a narrow vision, focusing on only one aspect of ministry, but in today’s culture of faith-based opportunities many Christians are eager to start reaching out to their world with both Good News and good works, and therefore they are searching for appropriate ways to integrate both into their ministry. We have discovered the jewel, the “diamond in the rough” where we can make a lasting difference and cement a legacy of being a true “community” church. In essence we are using “church community development” as a comprehensive outreach resource for developing holistic ministry, which is a balance of evangelism and social outreach. Through this project we will share the life-changing vision and biblical mandate for living the whole gospel. Church leaders will be encouraged in their process of developing and maintaining a holistic ministry, and the local church will rediscover a passion for loving the whole person the way Jesus did. With great humility and thanks for what God has brought together I am just elated God would allow us to be a part of His plan. Thank you God for letting Second Nazareth be your living epistle and witnesses personifying Isaiah 58:12 (NIV), “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” With Vision and Love I Remain, Your Pastor and Friend For Life, Rev. Johnny Ray Noble, Ph.D