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“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” — Proverbs 31:10 When we picture the type of woman described in this scripture, we imagine a woman who is hardworking, dependable, wise, caring, organized, faithful to her family, and respected by others…SHE’S SUPER WOMAN! For most women, especially Christian women, a specific part of their character fits into the category of “virtuous”. For example, she might be faithful to her calling, or perhaps filled with hospitality. But, if she happens to be the Pastor’s wife, the character bar gets raised even higher. Church members add their expectations to the list of Pastor’s Wife’s virtues. So, now, she must be a woman of strength…with thick skin; a woman of dignity…always composed…even under pressure; an influencer…drawing from her well of resources to serve her husband, her church and others. But the truth is that the woman depicted in this scripture is Beyond Virtuous. Her character and wisdom are shaped by God. Her greatest treasure is the fear of the Lord (verse 30). A woman Beyond Virtuous doesn’t have to prove that she is strong. Her character says it all! She isn’t simply a good woman. She is a God-fearing woman.

Her faith influences how she lives; how she loves; how she speaks; how she treats people; how she responds to adversity, and how she makes decisions. Her relationship with God is her very foundation. Her value cannot be measured by money; it is established by her Creator… her Influencer. This is the secret of a woman Beyond Virtuous! Our First Lady knows that valuable secret!

ACF, I’m proud to honor Our First Lady, on Sunday, September 6th. Please join me in showering her with love and honor.

Proverbs 31:31 “Let her works bring her praise.”

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

Malachi 3:6 tells us, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
 
Life is changing all the time, from the smallest of things to bigger things,
from things we can control to things we cannot control. Seasons change,
as do people and relationships. Changes can be overwhelming.
Therefore, staying spiritually grounded during times of change is so
necessary. It is important to embrace God’s unchanging nature in changing
times. That alone is our stability.
 
We all go through seasons of life that are both joyful and sorrowful. There
are seasons of growth, seasons of waiting, seasons of loss, and seasons of
abundance. Like nature, our lives are in constant motion. Seasons of
blessing can turn to seasons of grief; seasons of clarity can turn to
confusion. God’s stability will steady us. “He is the same yesterday,
today and forever”. Hebrew 13: 8

During seasons of uncertainty, we need to remember:
· God’s love remains constant – Psalm 136: 26
· His promises remain sure – Hebrew 6: 13
· His character is trustworthy – Proverbs 20: 6
 
ACF, thank you for your Godly, cooperative response to the changes
and transitions that the church is experiencing.

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

Psalm 62:6: “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken!”

How many of you remember the late great, charismatic Rev. Carlton Pearson?  For decades, his revivals were heard and attended around the world.  His theme song was, ‘Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand”. The song starts with; Time is filled with swift transition.  None on earth unmoved can stand.  Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand!  

When we are going through transitions, and there is shaking all around us and beneath us, our immediate reaction might be to reach for something stable…something to balance our feet until things settle down.  And you might grab what would appear to be a sturdy branch, only to find that it was not at all secure. 

May I recommend reaching for something more stable, something with a guarantee…something with a promise…something that is unchanging?  As the song suggests, I recommend reaching for God’s unchanging hand.  It will steady you and keep you grounded in times of transition.  Isaiah 46:10 offers encouragement for unsteady times: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. 

Challenge:  Will you staygrounded and trust God’s mighty hand in this time of transition?

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

Today marks the greatest celebration in the life of the Christian Church… the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And yet, over 2000 years later, some people still don’t grasp the reality of the resurrection.

The Apostle, Paul, aware of unbelief and even cynicism, addresses some of the questions hypothetically in 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20. “But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died”.

The reality is…He rose!

Jesus died so that we might have forgiveness of sin and a restored relationship with God. He rose so we might have fulness of life.

Do you believe it? If so, be a bold witness!

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

My Brothers and Sisters,

As I pen this message with you on my heart, and with Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church on my mind, I do not consider it plagiarism to use his words of encouragement as my greeting to you. Philippians 1: 3-6 “I am so thankful every time I think of you. I pray that our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give each of you His fullest blessings and His peace in your hearts and your lives. All my prayers for you are full of praise to God! When I pray for you, my heart is full of joy because of all your wonderful help in making known the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns”.

So, my church family, carry on faithfully and joyfully the mission that God has assigned to you, and continue to pray for my strength as I pray for you.

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

My Brothers and Sisters, as I go through a period of rest, rejuvenation, and intimate time with God, my heart is still ministering to you, the household of faith. I’m praying for your spiritual maturity because it is God’s will that we all come to full maturity in Christ, and “Be conformed (grow) into the image of Christ”. Romans 8:29. The book of James gives us five marks of spiritual maturity. Today, and in the coming weeks, I will share some of those marks of Spiritual maturity.

Mark of Spiritual Maturity #1: Master your Mouth.

A mature Christian has mastered his or her mouth. “All of us make mistakes with our tongues. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does” James 3: 2.

When you go for a checkup, your doctor says: “Stick out your tongue.” He uses your tongue to check your health. God checks your tongue to determine your spiritual health also. James gives us several characteristics of the tongue: “It’s like a bridle to a horse, a rudder to a ship, and a spark to a fire, …It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison” James 3:8. “If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless” James 1:26. Gossip, spreading rumors, and constant negative talk is a sign you’re immature in the faith.

Dear Saints, please continue to pray for my strength as I honor the Lord by caring for my personal temple. I pray that you continue to honor the Lord with the fruit of your lips and “Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to respond to everyone”. Colossians 4: 6

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

This month we commemorate the most sacred, holy events in Christian history…the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. In the midst of our busy lives and familiarity of the Gospel story, we can find ourselves losing the reverence and sense of gratitude that these two foundational truths hold.

Jesus aligned His heart and will to His Father’s will through prayer. He is an excellent example for us to follow. Over the coming weeks, let’s follow Christ’s lead and spend special time devoted to prayer, preparing our hearts for what God wants to teach us regarding surrender and obedience. The Bible gives us scriptures to pray to help prepare our hearts for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

Philippians 2: 8-10 tells us that Christ was obedient even until death. “And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him to the highest place”. This week, I encourage you to pray that you will be determined to obediently submit to God’s will as Jesus did.

Pray: Thank you, Father, for a desire to obey you willingly. Father, I want to have the spirit of obedience in my life, not rebellion or pride, not resistance or hard-heartedness, but a sensitive heart that is willing to do anything You command or require of me. I rebuke rebellion and stubbornness in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

Black gospel music, as we know it today, evolved from songs, chants, poems and prayers of enslaved black people who communicated their dreams and hopes for freedom someday. Many of the songs were secret codes and road maps to freedom. Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”.

Music is rooted in the conversion of enslaved Africans to Christianity, starting with work songs sung in the fields and, later, with religious songs sung in various church settings, later classified as Negro Spirituals (which shaped much of traditional Black gospel).

At the start of the 18th Century, work songs, developed from African traditions, were commonplace in enslaved communities. Field hollers and chain gang songs were the predecessors to ‘spirituals’, the ‘call-and-response’ singing style forming the blueprint for many strands of Black gospel music that we sing today like: “If You Call on Jesus… He’ll Answer Prayer” and “God is a Good God… Yes He Is” and “Travel’in Shoes…Got on My Travel’in Shoes”.

Just as the Israelites did, our ancestors shouted songs of victory as they breathed freedom: “Then Miriam (the sister of Moses) took a tambourine and the women followed her with tambourines, dancing, and singing before the Lord: Victory is Ours!” (Para-phrased) Ex: 15: 20—21

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

As believers, we have access to the most important guidance on earth…God’s Word. It shows us how to live and what to strive for in our Christian walk. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV.

Yes, reading and reflecting on God’s Word is helpful with “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” It also helps us to act on our convictions and faith. Knowing what God is saying to us allows us to know how to direct our lives and helps us better understand Him. Thus, we can grow closer in our relationship with God.

The Bible instructs us to meditate on the Word of God, and that simply means to think about it, roll it over in our minds, speak it, and know that as we do so, it is renewing our minds and teaching us to think as God wants us to think. Meditating on God’s Word helps us to apply Romans 12: 2 “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds”.

Spend time everyday meditating on God’s Word. Join the morning ACF Inspiration Time on Zoom and get a fresh Word in the form of scripture, song, even a mini-sermon or Bible inspiration. Join the mid-week Bible Study Class and receive a powerful Word. Throughout the year ACF offers over 300 opportunities to grow in your faith through the Word of God. I challenge you to commit to a steady diet of God’s Word and watch what He does in your life.

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out
and trampled under people’s feet”. Matt 5:13

In this dark and troubled world, we, as believers, are called to be salt: preserving, flavoring, healing for those who live in darkness. When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He called them “the salt of the earth” In those days, salt was the only way to preserve food. As Christians, we, too, have a preserving effect on the earth because we have the only message that can deliver people from the corruption of sin and give them eternal life.

Salt that has lost its taste does not enhance the taste of food, and can actually makes it bitter. “It’s good for nothing”, except to be used as the Romans did when building the Roman Road system. As part of the Roman Road system, salt would be “trampled under people’s feet.” There is a balance with salt…too much of it will turn food bitter; too little makes food bland; just the right amount enhances the flavor. This what Jesus was saying…we are to be a spiritual influence in the lives of people around us. Just as salt enhances the flavor of food, our Christlike character and lifestyle is the essential ingredient that draws others to Christ.

You are salt!

Faithfully,
Pastor R. Mario Howell