January 2016 Newsletter

Putting God First In Your Life- Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The Second Sermon of the New Year I preached at the 11:00am service was How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life.

With our Time

The truth is that the way we spend our time says a lot about what we value in life. God wants us to value his relationship with him, and we need to show God this through the quality time that we spend with him. I have found that whenever I make time for God in my life I am better for it. I get some of God’s love in my life, I get God’s thoughts in my mind, I get God’s wisdom in my decisions

With Our Sundays

He also wants the first day of every week that you live for the rest of your life. Every Sunday is God’s day. He doesn’t even make room for excuses. He doesn’t allow for us to have our own reasons why we shouldn’t give the first day of our week to him. In fact, when we Keep Sunday’s as Holy days for God, when we faithfully attend Church and use the day as a day of rest, it is a signpost to the world around us that we are God’s.

Ezekiel 20:20

Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

Of course every day is a day that the Lord has given us.

With Our Resources

You give your tithe to the Church where you go, because that is the place where you are being fed. It says, Bring all the tithes into the Church SO THAT there will be enough food in my temple.

God is saying, if we are all faithful tithers the Church is going to be able to be funded and empowered to do every single thing that God has called it to do. There won’t be lack, there won’t be decisions that need to be made according to the bank account instead of lining up to God’s direction for the Church.

We tithe so that there will be provision for the Church. This is the system that God has set up on earth to accomplish his work through the Church.

Your tithe sets your church up for success. But your tithe will also set you, and your family up for success.

Malachi 3:10-12

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight," says the LORD Almighty.

The truth is that you can’t out give God. The truth is that there is nothing like living under the blessings, provision and abundance that God promises to us and to our families if we tithe.

The truth is that by holding back our tithes, we are not only robbing God of what is rightfully his, we also rob our church and our families of the blessings, provision and abundance that God has planned and predestined for us. The choice to tithe is a choice to bring your family into the best of what God has for you.

God wants the best part of your time. And he also wants the best part of your resources, the first 10%. Commit to becoming a faithful tither and witness as the Church does more than it has ever done before and your family is transformed by the blessing, provision and abundance of God Almighty.

With Your Decisions

The final area that I want to challenge you in putting God first is in your decision making process.

Here is the standard, and the order, that each one of us needs to consider when we make decisions.

Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

However, since they were lamps for the feet the people could only see ahead to their next step. When you spend time reading your Bible, God will show you the next step that you need to take in life.

The church has been mandated by God to live in unity as the Body of Christ with Jesus operating as the head of the Church. A Church that is following God’s will and direction will be able to help you follow God’s will and direction as well.

Because we all have a similar cause and a similar mission, which is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to declare and establish the Kingdom of God, we all are affected by the decisions that we will make.

Church, as we continue to put God first in our life we are going to see him work wonders through our lives, our families, our Church. Our region will be completely transformed by the goodness of God. People will come to our homes and say, God is so good and here is the evidence.

My prayer is that every member of this Church will actively put God first in the way that we spend our time, the way that we spend our resources, and the way that we make decisions.

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UPCOMING SERVICES & EVENTS

January 22, 2016 (Fri)

Family Friday Fellowship Movie Night (7:00pm)

Location: The Inez Berry Fellowship HallThe acclaimed feature film War Room will be shown. Food will be provided (Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Soft Drinks).

January 24, 2016 (Sun)

Afternoon Fellowship at Greater Holy St. John BC (3:30pm)

Location: Greater Holy St John BC: 5536 Morgan Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011

January 26, 2016 (Tue)​​

Deacon Ordination (7:00pm)

Ordination of our Deacons in Training

Bro. Lester Jason & Bro. Connell Johnson will take place.

Please come out and support the ordination service.

January 30, 2016 (Sat)

Community Block Party (10:00am - 4:00pm)

Theme: “Growing the Body of Christ” “…Compel anyone to come in, so that my House will be full…” Luke 14:23 Come and meet members in your community! Fellowship and take advantage of the following activities planned just for YOU: Job Resources, Children’s Center, Nutrition, Clothing (Kid & Adults), Music/Drama, Health Fair, Prayer, Food Give Away, Hair Styling

January 31, 2016 (Sun)

Fifth Sunday ServiceOne Service - Unitee day (10:00am), Sunday School Service (9:00am), Congregational Care Meeting Sunday Following Service

Pastor Dandridge has called a meeting for those interested in being part of the Congregational Care Ministry. Please be prepared to let us know where you can help in this ministry.

Deacon Ministry Chair Deacon Weber and Deaconess Ministry Chair Barbara Dixon to meet with him to discuss church vision and goals moving forward.

March 16 - March 21, 2016

Holy Light Annual Visit to Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton, New Jersey to celebrate the 16th Pastoral Anniversary of our native son Rev. Dr. Darrell L. Armstrong

The dates are March 16th – March 21st. Please contact Pastor Dandridge if you are interested in making the trip this year. We have 23 members already confirmed for this trip.

Also a trip to the White House is in the works as part of the trip this year. This would be scheduled on Friday March 18th. Please be advised that the list must be submitted to the White House for all attendees. Once the White House list is submitted no new names can be added.

#sermon #matthew #lord #matthew633

October 2015 Newsletter

Sermon Message: Making Our Walls Fall Down Flat

JOSHUA 6:20 ALSO SEE (HEBREWS 11:30)

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

WALLS WILL FALL WHEN WE DO THE FOLLOWING

1. We Must Fall at the right feet – Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua is doing reconnaissance of the city of Jericho. He is alone and he is busy trying to devise a plan to overcome the walls that surround the town. No doubt, he is confused and concerned and he has no idea about what he needs to do. Then, Joshua meets a man who is standing with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua confronts this man and asks him to declare whether he is friend or foe. The stranger responds not by answering Joshua’s question, but by identifying Himself as “The Lord of Hosts.” This is the battle name of the God of Israel! Joshua realizes that this is no ordinary meeting. This is a manifestation of God, and He has come ready for battle. Joshua’s reaction to the presence of the Lord is worthy of note and he reveals to us how we should respond when we are confronting the walled off areas of our own lives.)

2. We Must Follow the Right Plan – Joshua 6:12-16

As the Lord details this plan to Joshua, it must have sounded strange to that old soldier’s ears. There was no talk of armor or armaments. There was no talk of soldiers, swords or spears. There was no talk of sieges, of strategies or of secret weapons. God’s plan involved the Ark of the Covenant; priests; trumpets and people. God said, “Joshua, take the Ark, have seven priests blowing seven ram’s horn trumpets go before it and have them blow those trumpets. Then, have the rest of the people follow along behind. Don’t say a word. Don’t shout. Don’t taunt the people of the city. Don’t even speak! Just walk. Walk once around that city every day for six and then do it seven times on the seventh day. When you finish that last lap, stop and shout the victory and the walls will fall down flat.”

Now, I don’t care who you are, that is a strange plan! From a human standpoint it makes no sense. From a military standpoint, it makes no sense. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense. Strange plans call for strong faith! Imagine the people of Jericho as the people of Israel marched around and around the city. Imagine the people of Israel and what they endured as they marched: ridicule, danger, and humiliation.

God’s plan boils down to this: walking. They were to walk in the right order; in the right path; for the right period of time; and they were promised the victory. This plan involved no input from the people; all they had to do was walk

By the way, God’s plan for His children is a bit strange also. All He asks us to do is nothing! The secret to living the successful Christian life is this: you can’t do it! It is not about what you can do, but it is all about what He can do. It is not about trying and failing. It is all about learning to abide in Jesus, and in drawing one’s strength from Him, John 15:1-8, Gal. 2:20. The Christian life can be condensed into that one word: abiding. If a believer can just learn to abide in Jesus; the walls in his life will come crashing down! If we can just learn to go with God and abide in Jesus, even when life makes no sense at all, we will see Him overcome the walls we have in our lives.

3. We Must Finish The Right Way Joshua 6:20-22

• Some Things Must Be Claimed – God gave Israel absolute victory over the city of Jericho. All they had to do was enter the city and claim what He had already given them. The fact of the matter is this: many people never enjoy real victory over the things that hold them back. But, God has given us absolute victory in Jesus. All we really have to do to enjoy that victory is claim it by faith I am telling you that there really is “Victory In Jesus” and you can have it, enjoy and live it all the time if you want to! (Ill. 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 John 5:4-5.) Do you want that victory in your life today? It is in Jesus and it is available by faith!

• Some Things Must Be Conquered – When Israel entered Jericho, they killed every single person in that city. Nothing associated with Jericho could be allowed to live. You see, the problem with Jericho was not the city itself. The problem there was the people in the city. They had to be destroyed or their ways would have corrupted the children of Israel. The same is true in your life and mine. When the Lord does give you victory and those walls come falling down in your life; you must rise up and put away everything that is associated with your Jericho.

• Maybe someone needs to be forgiven.

• Maybe you will need to develop a new circle of friends.

• Maybe you will need to change the way to go to and from work.

• Maybe you need to change the kind of TV you watch or books you read.

• When God gives you the victory in your life, take whatever steps are necessary to see that the problem in your life is totally conquered.

• That is the path to lasting victory.

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EVENTS & SERVICES

October 17, 2015 (Sat)

Providence District Ushers and Nurses Annual Workshop (9:00am-12:00pm)

Location: First Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church: 1200 N. Wilmington Ave., Compton CA 90222

Pastoral Installation Services (4:00pm)

The pastoral installation services for Rev. Dr. William H. (“Bill”) Dandridge III as the second pastor of the Holy Light Missionary Baptist church. Please come out and support and encourage our new Pastor. Pastor Darrell Armstrong of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey will bring the installation message. Food will be served in the Inez Berry Fellowship Hall following the service.

October 25, 2015 (Sun)

Holy Light Men’s Day (All Day)

Please come out and fellowship with us all Day. The speakers will be: 8:00am: Rev. Bobby L. Newman Jr. Pastor of the Citizens of Zion Baptist Church in Compton, and Moderator of the Providence Missionary Baptist District Association.

11:00am: Rev. Dr. Wiiliam H. Dandridge III, Pastor of the Holy Light Missionary Baptist Church. 3:00pm: Minister Chris Hall, Member of the Life of Faith Christian Church - Pastor Anthony Pigee Sr., Son of our own Rev. Ray Hall Please contact Rev. Ray Hall, the program chairman for any additional information. Food will be served between the 11:00am and 3:00pm services.

November 7, 2015 (Sat)

Church Leadership Meeting (8:45am - Noon)

Pastor Dandridge has called a meeting for the church leadership to meet with him to discuss church vision and goals moving forward. The first 1.5 hours be meeting among the HL church leadership. The second half will be a presentation on church leadership by Pastor Jerome Carter of the South Bay Abundant Life Church in Long Beach, CA.

November 8, 2015 (Sun)

Mt. Moriah – Fellowship In Riverside, CA (3:30pm)

Our annual fellowship for Pastor Willie Chambers appreciation services. A bus leaving from the church will be available for this trip.

November 22, 2015 (Sun)

Fall Musical (3:30pm)

#sermon

July 2015 Newsletter

MAINTAINING CHURCH UNITY

The Sermon Messages from first Sunday focused on Unity - Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity means in the scriptural text means that we are to walk together as one in the Lord. The Apostle Paul felt the necessity to urge and encourage the church to maintain unity within the body of Christ. Ministry without Unity is close to impossible. Unity is not created by man but we are encouraged to maintain unity by relying on that which is produced by the Holy Spirit within us. To the Philippian church he wrote “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,” Phil. 1:27. To the Corinthian church he wrote “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,” 1 Cor. 1:10. To the Romans he wrote “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits,” Rom. 12:16. The Apostle Paul is merely reaffirming the words of Jesus Christ when he urges us to be unified in the Spirit. Jesus said in his high priestly prayer as he was nearing his death in these verses “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me,” John 17:20-23. We need to maintain unity to be a witness to sinners and world that is now ravaged by sin. Paul mentions seven common elements that all believers share in Christ. These elements serve to teach us that unity in the church comes from our relationship with the Godhead. Every member of the trinity is involved making unity possible within the church. Seven as we know biblically is the number of completion. The seven elements in Ephesians 4:4-6 are

1. One Body 2. One Spirit 3. One Hope 4. One Lord 5. One Faith 6. One Baptism 7. One God the Father of All

God has created a unity within His church that can never be broken. It is as shatterproof as the godhead itself. We know that local churches have trouble and they experience what we call splits. However, the universal church, the Body of Christ, can never split. It stands complete and united in the power of God. We are different, but we serve the same God. We are members of the same family. We are indwelled by the same Spirit. We are headed to the same Heaven. We believe the same things. Thus, we must do everything in our power to live in the unity we have been given in Christ. It is not automatic, but it is possible as we live out the commands of Eph. 4:1-3. We should ask ourselves this personal question Am I doing all I can to help the church walk in unity?

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EVENTS & SERVICES

July 9 (Thu) & 10 (Fri), 2015

56th Annual Church Anniversary Services (9th & 10th: 7:30pm and 12th: All day services at 8:00am, 11:00am and 3:30pm)

Rev. Darrell Armstrong, Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey a son of Holy Light will bring the revival message and also be the speaker at 11:00am. The 8:00am speaker will be Dr. Richard Askew, pastor of the Greater New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The 3:30pm speaker will be Pastor Jerome Vincent Carter, pastor of the South Bay Abundant Life Church in Long Beach.

At the 3:30pm service there will be a special tribute to Pastor Brown. There will be food served between the 11:00am and 3:30pm services. We are asking for a donation of up to $56.00 which will be used towards memorial sign dedicated to Pastor Brown on the corner of 96th and Normandie.

July 18, 2015 (Sat)

Upcoming Church Vote - Concerning Pastoral Vacancy (9:00am - 1:00pm)

Please contact either Deacon Chairman Rodney Weber or Deacon Wendell Jones for information on the upcoming vote.

July 26, 2015 (Sun)

Sis Brown Musical for the Mission Ministry (3:30pm)

Save the date! July 26, 2015, at 3 pm for Sister Opal Brown's Musical. Stop look and listen in the name of Jesus! I would like to invite you to the most spirit filled musical ever! The MC will be Eric Johnson. Join us for a praise service with Nicole Branham and Chris Hall. The musical will feature Amandia Cabbil Hewitt and Christian Branham and many more. The colors are black and white and the proceeds will benefit the Mission of Holy Light Missionary Baptist Church.

#sermon