Bishop Peggy Johnson presents a special message for Ash Wednesday in American Sign Language and English.

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Transcript of Ash Wednesday Video

The Greatest Resource

Every day as I listen to the radio while I am driving I hear constant talk about the economy and the lack of money in just about every area of life.  Indeed we need money to operate and resources that money can buy to do the work of the Lord.  But money is truly not our greatest resource.  It is one of the means to accomplish the work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples, but it is not the main resource.  The greatest  resource costs nothing, is accessible to all people at all times, can move mountains, can stop rain from falling for three years, can heal spiritual and physical illnesses, can repair broken relationships.  The greatest resource is often acknowledged as important but for the most part not used or used only during a crisis.  This greatest resource is one of the few things that all people of faith in every tradition can agree.  What is the greatest resource? PRAYER.

As we begin the season of Lent I call everyone to prayer…prayer each day.  Give God your praise, your thanksgiving, your confessions and your petitions.  While you pray take time to listen to God’s quiet voice of direction and wisdom.  Pray expecting answers!  Pray boldly!  God is an awesome God who inhabits our prayers!

Beginning March 1st I am praying for a different district in our area each week especially but will be praying for all of the churches, pastors and members every day.  If you have any specific prayer requests please send them to areapryrmnstry@gmail.com     Also, remember to report back the answers to prayers so we can give God the praise.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Stimulus Package

This week the senate and congress are working on a stimulus package to boost the nation’s economy in what appears to be one of the worst financial slumps in US history.  There is no question that our churches have felt the impact on the many lost jobs and diminished stocks.  Many people stand in need of the help of the church at this time.

An important thing to remember is the discipline of tithing, not just now but always.  Malachi 3:10 clearly calls us to give tithes (10%) and offerings (gifts above and beyond the tithe)    Jesus alludes to it in Matthew 23:23 as well.  How many people actually tithe in our churches?  How many of our pastors tithe?  People tell me that they cannot afford to do this.  I agree that this can be a stretch but isn’t that the meaning of faith?   When we depend on God for something we cannot see or logically figure how it is going to work out: that is faith!  I have never met anyone who tithes who has any regrets over it. On the contrary tithers report that God has always taken care of their needs when they trusted God with their money.  When you tithe you bless people in need with that money and you are not burdened with unnecessary  material things in your life.  Most importantly it shows where you heart is.  Jesus says you cannot love both God and money.  You trust one or the other.  When you tithe you are showing God that your trust is in God.

Can you trust God with your money?   Try tithing….try it for even a month and see if God will not take care of you.  It can be a new step in a deeper walk of faith with the Lord.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Wanted: People Interested in Deaf Ministry

Are you are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened or deaf blind?

Do you have a deaf family member or friend?

Do you have a deaf ministry at your church or want to start one?

Are interested in working with a ministry with deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened or deaf blind people?

Do you know sign language or want to learn sign language or can interpret for worship services?

Do you want to help with deaf camp or join a deaf ministry committee in either EPA or Pen-Del?

If so.... please write to areadeafmnstry@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Bishop Peggy Johnson

Going Green

Many of our churches purchase coffee and chocolate using “fair trade” products.  This enables farmers to get a living wage for their crops.  Here is a new way to help farmers in time for Palm Sunday.  For years farmers have been harvesting palms for Palm Sunday celebrations in America in rain forests in tropical countries.  Most of the time they over harvest the palms and there is much waste.  The worst part of this over-harvesting is that it is threatening the health of the rainforests.  The University of Minnesota has an “Eco-Palm” program in conjunction with palm farmers in Guatemala and Mexico.  They are selling palms at a fair market price and the palms are harvested in a careful way so as not to hurt the rainforests.  For more information contact: www.ecopalms.org  or call 612-624-7418.  The deadline to order palms by mail is March 2nd or March 9th for credit card orders.

Stewardship of the earth is an important part of living out our faith as brothers and sisters on the same planet.  There are many ways we can curb consumption and make the best use of our natural resources.  Green is the color of life and as Christians we can encourage life by protecting our world.  What can you do to make your church more environmentally responsible?  Recycling, curbing the use of paper products, using environmentally safe cleaning products, putting insulation around doors and windows are just some ways churches can make a difference.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Prison Ministry

Jesus calls us in Matthew 25 to visit those in prison.  Throughout Jesus' ministry he talks about the captives and we are in a unique position in our area to minister to people in our many prisons as well as those who have been released from prison.  I am aware of a number of ministries and would like to have a prison ministry training event.  This email is a call to find out who is doing prison ministry and where.   If you have a prison ministry or if you would like to begin one please email me at areaprsnmnstry@gmail.com.

Also if your church has old but usable Bibles (preferably modern translations) or hymnals (any kind) we could use them for a prison ministry in Northeast Philadelphia that has a need.  Please use the above email address to let me know about that as well.

Pray for this vital ministry!

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

Black History Month

February is “Black History Month” and indeed among the many famous African Americans are people of faith who “turned the world upside down” because of their commitment to the gospel and the freedom and equality it proclaims.  One such famous African American was Harry Hoosier (1750-1806).  He was born into slavery in Fayetteville, NC and eventually ended up working on a farm in Perry Hall, Maryland.  He was converted to the Christian faith through the witness of the wife of the farm owner.  He began preaching at the chapel that was built on the farm.  Francis Asbury, the first bishop of Methodism came to preach at this farm and met Harry.  Harry was freed from slavery and began traveling with Asbury and many of the early circuit riders.  He was the first African American to receive a license to preach.  Harry drew large crowds when he preached and journals of the circuit riders report that he converted nearly 10,000 souls during his traveling ministry that took him from NY to NC.  He would preach late into the night sometimes in order to accommodate the work schedules of the slaves.  Harry never learned how to read or write but he preached totally from memory.  His favorite text was the Jesus cursing the fig tree that did not bear fruit.  He preached boldly for people to renounce the sin of slavery and racism. 

Harry Hoosier taught the world that God uses best those who are willing to serve and are humble.  Harry’s preaching had a lot to do with the spreading of Scriptural Holiness in the areas of EPA and Pen-Del.  Now it is our turn to keep telling people about Jesus…keep inviting people to become disciples….keep boldly speaking in favor of justice and equality.

 

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson