All tagged justin barnett
The Christmas season is a special time of year where many celebrate with friends and family, but it can also be a difficult time of year for many. Therefore, each year our church family at Jackson Heights OFWB Church comes together for our annual Christmas gift giveaway to try to help make the Christmas season a little merrier for those in our community.
Our nation may be more divided right now along the lines of race that it has ever been before. Recent events have shaken our country. People of color are especially hurting, and many are angry. What our nation needs now is healing. In order to heal, we must come together. In order to come together, there must be understanding.
I know someone is thinking about the popular argument “If you went to visit the president of the United States or the Queen of England, don’t you think you’d wear a suit and tie?” Maybe so, but not if the POTUS was my dad or the Queen was my mom. When Christians are gathering to worship, we gather to worship our Heavenly Father. We are not meeting with a strange dignitary. We are meeting with someone we have a loving relationship with. He knows our every thought. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and His concern is not your clothing. His concern is with your heart.
Over the next month or so, many will gather with family and friends to eat and to celebrate. However, for some, the holiday season will not be a time of happiness and celebration. The reality is that many people grieve during this time of year.
September is national suicide prevention month, so I decided that I would write an article about this issue. Since I have preached the funerals and ministered to the families of a few people that committed suicide, and because years ago I came very close to committing suicide myself, this is an issue close to my heart.
Jackson Heights Original Freewill Baptist Church will hold its first LIVE Addiction Recovery Outreach event Saturday at Pearson Park.
