The Willard Park pavilion by Ellenwood Center was full of people with the same red shirts. As I approached, I could see that these folks came from all different walks of life. They were talking to each other and enjoying the morning together. I also saw face-painting and treats. Some attendees had ribbons around their necks and were sporting medals that said 5K.

It wasn’t long until I was directed to the organizer of the gathering, Kodi Pride. With an endearing smile and an infectious positive attitude, Kodi told me that the walk – the Total Healing F.A.I.T.H. Walk – was started in honor of her daughter Lorelle Faith Pride, and this was its eighth year.

Like many of the walks that occur this time of the year, it is a fundraiser. But what I thought gave it a little twist is that 100 percent of the money raised by the Lorelle F.A.I.T.H Foundation during the walk is used to give to other organizations. The mission of the foundation is to “Bless those who bless others.” This year’s recipient of the funds raised will be the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland.

Pride is well-acquainted with the McDonald House. She told me she stayed there for two months when Lorelle was born in 2009. Her daughter was diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 13 and the prognosis was that Lorelle would only have about a month to live.

After a few months, Lorelle exceeded expectations and came home, but was still in hospice care. She then exceeded expectations more by celebrating her first birthday. Soon after, Pride started the foundation in an effort to give back and help other families with hospitalized children.

The first of the fundraising walks was started in 2012. Kodi, her husband Omante Pride, and their children use to live in Bedford on Gould Avenue around that time, so that is where the Bedford connection comes in for the walks. The walks take place every year on the first Saturday in June.

Sadly, Lorelle passed away unexpectedly in 2015 at the age of 6 and a half, but not before she was able to touch many lives with her amazing story. The foundation’s website states, “Lorelle’s life has demonstrated God’s miraculous ability and His grace. Her life is the testimony behind the foundation, and our faith is the core.” On Saturday, Lorelle’s influence could still be felt after the walk, as I saw her beaming smile on posters throughout the pavilion.

I learned that the the acronym F.A.I.T.H. stands for Full Assurance in Total Healing. Pride said many people are in need of healing, physically as well as mentally and emotionally, and that everyone is welcome to get involved regardless of his or her beliefs. She said that many times we can’t change our circumstances, but we can share testimonies, and have hope.

Participation in the walks has increased over the years to more than 200 adults and children. More than $20,000 dollars has been raised and donated to organizations so far, and the goal for this walk was $8,000. Pride said there is no registration fee, just donations.

Last year, Matthew’s Lending Library, an organization that provides specialized equipment to adults and children with special needs, was the beneficiary of the monies raised from the walk.

I felt blessed to have “stumbled” onto this story, and to have learned about this organization’s beginnings, and how it is helping others. If you would like to learn more, go to their website at https://thelorellefaithfoundation.com

The post Around Town – F.A.I.T.H. Walk ‘Blesses those who bless others’ first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Meyer, who learned the ancient art of memorization while studying for 1,000 days in the Holy Land, will quote dramatically, from heart, the entire New Testament book of James. He then comments on the book from his experiences of living in Jerusalem.

Meyer is a member of Wordsower Ministry, which has a twofold focus of proclaiming the Bible from memory nationally and meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Christian orphans and widows. Tom has also been serving as a professor at his alma mater, Shasta Bible College and Graduate School since 2010.

Meyer has spoken the Bible from memory in over 30 states and in front of celebrities and leaders of the world. The non-denominational event is free and open to the public. For more info. visit www.thescripturecannotbebroken.com or call (440) 232-1054.

The post The “Bible Memory Man” to speak at Bible Baptist Church on Sunday first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Did you know?
One-half of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14; three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatment, there are long delays − sometimes decades − between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help.

Did you know?
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and celebration, but the stress and anxiety of the festive season can intensify mental illnesses. Images of smiling friends and family can also increase the feeling of being lonely, which can have a serious impact on mental health. According to one study, there is a 40% rise in the number of suicides just after Christmas.

Learn more about the warning signs of mental health, bullying, and suicide. Come to Bedford Church of the Nazarene on Saturday, December 8 from 10 – 11am for a presentation by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Cleveland called Ending the Silence.

The presentation is divided into two components. The family component is where parents and adults learn how to help your child and to detect the signs. The student component is where teens discuss the stigma, warning signs, how to help a friend, etc.

Both components will gather together to end their session with a young adult talking about their experience with mental illness.

Free and open to all who are interested.

The post Bedford Nazarene to host mental health presentation for parents, children first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

As school is winding down for the year, parents are probably already preparing to hear the choruses of “I’m bored!” from their children. One tradition for many churches is to hold a Vacation Bible School for one week in the summer. A VBS program typically runs for a week, where the kids learn about God and the Bible while having fun with other kids.

Signs will be popping up around the area promoting each church’s VBS. Parents will have a wide variety of themes and denominations to pick from.

Bible Baptist of Bedford, which is located at 20 Avalon Drive, off Columbus Road, will be having their Vacation Bible School June 11th through the 15th from 5:45 to 8:30 pm.

The theme for the 2018 Vacation Bible School is Time Lab – learning about Jesus from Eternity Past to Eternity Future. Each night of the program, the lessons will focus on a different aspect of Jesus’ life from both the Old and New Testament.

In addition to the lessons, the children will be participating in craft and science activities, playing games, and will have a snack. When preregistering, please make note of any food allergies so we can have an alternative for your child.

There will be some fun songs to learn, as well as hilarious skits about Professor Montgomery, a crazy, but brilliant scientist, and his two assistants.

The program is for children ages 2 to 12. Parents or guardians can preregister at https://bible-baptist.myanswers.com/time-lab/ They can also email VBS Director Shari Armstrong at biblebaptistbedfordvbs@gmail.com or call (440) 232-1054 with any questions.

The post It’s Almost Vacation Bible School Time first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Originally published as a series on LinkedIn.

Legacy & Inheritance

No bling bling, no ching ching!

Wise wealth building means that we and our children (or families) are for financially stable for generations. The Bible instructs us to leave an inheritance, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Prov. 13:22 NIV) We are to build for our grandchildren, not our children. As Christians (and all believers in their faith), we are required to be good stewards over the blessings we are given.

In business, company founders build legacies by establishing a profitable name or brand. With a good reputation, great leadership, and consistent profit margin, owners can transfer their companies from generation to generation, such as S. C. Johnson (5 generations), Perdue Farms (2 generations), Comcast (2 generations), and Wal-Mart (3 generations). Each new generation has the potential to expand the brand, the family’s legacy, and its profit.

Many other families establish the same pattern of wealth building and inheritance, employing trust funds and other financial avenues for wealth building. Accordingly, the Bible says, “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents” (Prov. 19:14 NIV). Good parents should pass down sensible values that encourage wisdom, so children can manage their inheritances to continue the cycle of wealth increase.

Godly parents encourage their children to glorify God with their wealth. God’s blessings certainly ensure that money will continue to be a blessing to the family. Simply, wise choices maintain the cycle of wealth for generations, in businesses, and the home.

Ok, we are allowed a tiny bit of a little bling bling and ching ching!

Planning & Investing

We are constantly told to plan when it comes to investing money for the future. While this is wise, there is a difference between pursuing wealth and growing wealth while pursuing God. We should not chase money. Why? Money, no matter how carefully stored, can disappear in an instant:

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Tim. 6:17 NLT

God wants us to make wise choices in all things, so the Bible also provides instructions for proper stewardship and investment:

PREPARE FIRST, BUILD NEXT: Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. Proverbs 24:27 NLT

DILIGENCE: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Prov. 27:23 NIV; The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 NIV

BUILD SLOWLY: Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11 NIV

STORE YOUR RESOURCES: “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” Proverbs 21:20 NIV

DEAL JUSTLY: “One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich–both come to poverty.” Proverbs 22:16 NIV.

 “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1 ESV (also Proverbs 16:11, 20:10, 20:23)

God even instructs to diversify investments: “But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. Ecclesiastes 11:2 NLT

Financial Responsibility

Proper management of resources is as important to God as it is to us? Yes, the Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), but money itself is not the root. Of course, we all want a better job, bigger house, nice car, and six vacation houses! However, if we cannot manage a little money properly, how can we manage more money properly: “If therefore ye will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luke 16:11 KJV).

Whether we like it or not, money answereth all things (Ecc. 10:19 KJV). That is, money is the preferred method of payment for what we want. Therefore, learning God’s instructions about handling our financial resources will ensure we don’t become poor and dishonor the name of God. We are also not to concentrate on being rich, because we then may deny (forget) God (Prov. 30:9).

Basic principles of wealth-building have a theme of integrity and fortitude: DILIGENCE: “Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8 KJV WISDOM: “Through wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 KJV

Reaping & Sowing

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow (Gal. 6:7 NRSV)

We all know this concept by another name – karma. That is, you get what you give. Or you don’t get what you don’t give.

The Bible is full of stories about reaping and sowing. Usually, the concepts apply to spiritual seeds and fruit (e.g., sow kindness and reap kindness). However, the Biblical concept of reaping and sowing applies to various topics, from finances to marriage. Many times, we may not reap what we sowed, because “the fruit” of wealth is for someone else, such as our children. But if we are not careful, even what we do have can be taken away.

We reap financial stability by sowing self-discipline, wisdom, and frugality with the money we earn. And no, winning the lottery does not guarantee financial stability. Over time, wealth grows through God’s blessing, patience, and diligence. This concept also applies to business ventures and growing capital: we sow hard work, smart choices, and a little risk, and the payoff – reaping wealth – will continue long into the future!

In the Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:20-26), Jesus talked about the man who did not sow what he was given to sow. Because he did not sow at all, what he did have was taken away. In finances and business, this is a sad reality: if we do not save and invest even what little we earn, more will be taken away through fees, missed opportunities, and debt accrual. When we don’t have the resources available, we end up borrowing and going into debt to compensate for the loss. We lose what little we have (and owe more money) in the long run.

The post The Proverbs Way to Wise Wealth Building first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

April 1^st is Easter Sunday. Bible Baptist Church, located at 20 Avalon off Columbus, is inviting anyone who does not have a church home to join them for a fellowship breakfast at 9:30. Pastor Mike Aiken will give a short devotional, and then everyone will share breakfast provided by the members. There will also be a short communion service for those who wish to participate as believes in Christ. After breakfast, everyone is invited to join in the morning worship service at 11:00 to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Bible Baptist’s normal services are Sunday School for all ages at 9:45, with morning worship starting at 11:00. Sunday evenings there is a prayer meeting at 5:00 before a more causal Sunday evening service. After a time of singing, the young people go downstairs for a time of Bible study, while adults have a separate Bible study.  On April 1^st, however, there will be no evening service to give everyone time to enjoy the holiday with their families after church.

There is a nursery available for those who need a place for young wiggly children to play during the service.

We hope to meet some more of our neighbors in Bedford.
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 25:5-6

The post Come Join Bible Baptist for Resurrection Sunday first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.