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ZION INFORMER - MARCH 2010
801 Washington Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Message From the Pastor
I often wonder what makes people feel like they can just go up to someone else and tell them what they need to do. I guess it was that same feeling that got in the crowd who brought the young woman who was caught in adultery to Jesus. For a moment, they forgot they were sinners too. They forgot the word says, “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” They forgot the scripture admonished those who would get a splinter out of the eye of another, while they have a log in their own eye. It was Jesus who brought them back down to earth. He responded to their accusations by saying, “he that is without sin let him cast the first stone…” Rocks begin to drop one after another. When he looked up, he asked the young girl “Where are your accusers?” There needs to be some “rock dropping” in the church today. It always amazes me how quick we are to point out the sins of others, and act as if our sins don’t count. There are no big sins or little sins in the sight of God. According to the word of God, all unrighteousness is sin. Just because you are not a homosexual, an alcoholic, on drugs or have had a baby out of wedlock does not mean that you are sinless. There is something in your life that you have done that is displeasing in the sight of God. Worry about your own sin, and let God take care of someone else’s. For the group who says they live the “sinless life,” let me remind you that 1John 1:8 lets us know that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Brothers and sisters, the church is supposed to be a hospital for sick souls. People should be able to come to the church and get love, not hate. Encouragement, not be insulted. They should feel if no one has their backs, the church does. I pray that what happened at the other church never happens at Zion. If you feel like someone needs to be told something, come to me and tell me first. I have a feeling that when you leave me, you won’t leave the way you came in. Because He Lives, Pastor Kevin E. Donalson, Sr. Spotlight on Wilson Mack
In 1993, Mr. Mack became a member of Zion and has been on the Usher’s Ministry since joining. He has served as an usher for 18 years. He now works with the Audio-Video Ministry of the church. Mr. Mack is also a Mason and a member of Capital City Lodge #47, where he is a 32nd Master Mason. Mr. Mack worked for WM (Waste Management). He retired after working there for 18 years as the Maintenance Manager. For the last four years he has been self-employed. Mr. Mack says God has truly been good to him. If it had not been for the Lord, he doesn’t know how he could have made it especially these last three years. He knows that God has been there for him, with him and has gotten him through his hard times. March Birthdays 01 Mary Littlejohn 01 King Ross 02 McKayla Moore 02 Clannie Washington 03 Amber Abraham 05 Willean P. Curry 07 Keya Jackson 10 Albert Thompson 11 Naomi Dantzler 12 Leslie Jordan 16 Donna Brice 16 Delphine Sellers 17 Kimberly Donalson 20 Milton Thacker 23 James E. Jones 24 Pastor Kevin E. Donalson, Sr. 24 Eva D. Napper 25 Delores M. English 27 Tara Pearson 27 Jarryd Walters March Anniversaries 23 James & Carolyn Jones 25 Otis & Cynthia Walters 29 King & Evetta Ross Scripture of the Month "My son, do not forget my teachings, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." Proverbs 3:1-2 (NIV) Upcoming Events March 02 — Annual Church Meeting, 6:00 PM March 05-06 — SC Baptist Brotherhood Annual Men’s Conference, White Oak Conf. Ctr., Winnsboro, SC March 05-06 — SC Baptist Congress of Christian Education Annual Faculty Retreat, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1101 Roe Ford Hwy 25, Greenville, SC March 08 — Greater St. Luke Baptist Church Men’s Conference, 7:00 PM; Speaker—Rev. Kevin E. Donalson, Sr. March 13 — SC Baptist Congress of Christian Education Church School Workshop, Benedict College March 14 — Daylight Saving Time Begins March 16 — Benedict College Founder’s Day Pooling of Funds Rally, Zion Baptist Church, 7:00 PM March 17-19 — Gethsemane Congress of Christian Education Workshops, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Lyons St. March 20 — First Day of Spring March 28 — Palm Sunday March 28 — Waverly Wide Awake 87th Anniversary April 02 — Good Friday April 04 — Easter In Memoriam Mrs. Almetta Crandell Mrs. Nellie Kelly Good News On January 29, Letitia A. Hope was promoted to the Social Services Director at White Oak Manor-York Nursing Home. She has been with the company for two years. In July of 2008, she was named Employee of the Month. In October, she was named the 2009 Employee of the Year. Letitia A. Hope is the daughter of William K. and Kathy M. Hope. Briana Abraham, a seventh grader at W. G. Sanders Middle School, has been invited to participate in the exchange program to Africa during the summer of 2010. During her two-week stay, she will experience the culture of Morocco and Ghana by visiting schools and touring historical sites. Seventh graders from nine middle schools of Richland One are poised to experience the learning and growth opportunity of a lifetime! Briana Abraham is the daughter of Nathaniel and Patricia Abraham. Woman of the Year
Flossie has been a member of Zion for 38 years. She is a member of the Mass Choir, secretary of the Usher’s Ministry, treasurer for the church, and serves on the Teller’s Ministry. Flossie is also very active in her community. She serves as financial secretary for the State Ushers, assistant treasurer for the Booker T. Washington Class of 1969, and is an executive board member of the NAACP. She was also active in Zion’s efforts to register voters in 2008. Flossie is known throughout the state of South Carolina and has traveled extensively throughout the United States and has visited Canada. Two hobbies she does that most of us do all the time (and some of us do some of the time) is walking and drinking lots of water. Pastor Donalson and the entire Zion family congratulate Sister Flossie Hall, our 2010 Woman of the Year. The theme for Women’s Day was “Zion Women Standing Firm in Our Faith: In the Midst of Spiritual Warfare.”
Spotlight on Our Youth - McKayla Moore
McKayla is very active in the Bible Way Girl Scouts, Troop 12 and participates in many activities around the city. She enjoys reading, writing, dancing and swimming. She is very active at Zion and currently participates on the children’s choir, bell choir and praise dance team. McKayla has a very sweet spirit and dreams “in color”. She also enjoys family trips and eating at family celebrations. A lot of her free time is spent with her two brothers, Antwan (16) and Alex (5).
Haiti: Still in Need of Aid
Zion Baptist Church Installs New Leader On Sunday, February 21, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., installation services were held for Reverend Kevin E. Donalson, Sr., the 10th pastor of Zion Baptist Church in its 144-year history. The guest speaker for the 11:00 a.m. service was Reverend Sam Tolbert, General Secretary of the National Baptist Convention of America, President of the Louisiana Home and Foreign Mission State Convention, and Pastor of Greater St. Mary Missionary Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Reverend Terry K. Anderson, Pastor of Lilly Grove Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, who is also Reverend Donalson’s pastor and mentor, delivered the sermon at the 4 p.m. service. After these inspirational, uplifting and dynamic sermons, Reverend Donalson accepted the charge to be Zion’s new spiritual leader, following the interim pastoral guidance of Reverend James B. Adams, Sr. Reverend Rickey Ezell, Sr. was moderator. Numerous ministers, other church and community leaders, family members and friends, including Reverend Donalson’s mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother; members from his former church, (New Sunlight Baptist, Lake Charles, Louisiana); and U. S. Congressman James E. Clyburn, U.S. House Majority Whip, joined Zion for this celebratory occasion. This was a great time of rejoicing, reflecting and starting fresh for both the congregation and pastor as he embarks on his mission of “building a better church.” God heard Zion the first time and sent Reverend Donalson to be “the server of our pot of stew.” Zion happily welcomed Reverend Donalson, First Lady Kimberly Donalson, and their two children Kyndall and Kevin, Jr. A reception followed in the Fellowship Hall. Sunday School March 07 - “Mission to the Community” - Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-9 March 14 - “A Community to Redeem” - Jonah 3:10-4:5 March 21 - “Family as Community” - Ruth 1:1-9, 14b, 16 March 28 - “Acceptance in Community” - Ruth 2:5-12; 3:9-11 National Nutrition Month: Tips on Eating Out National Nutrition Month is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign “focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.” Food choices while eating out are important to your health and weight because many of us are eating more meals away from home. Restaurants of all types are responding to customers’ desires with more options in portion sizes, preparation methods and menu items: (1) more appetizer-size portions of popular entrées; (2) more baked and broiled choices in meat, fish and poultry; (3) more fruit and vegetable side orders to substitute for fries. TIPS: (1) Instead of a large entrée, order an appetizer and a leafy green salad or choose two appetizers for a meal. (2) Start with a small serving like a cup of soup, a junior burger or a small order of fries. If you are still hungry, order something else. (3) Order a kid’s meal at a fast-food restaurant since many offer a choice of low-fat milk and fruits or vegetables instead of fries—I like Chick Fil A’s (can get diet lemonade!) (4) Savor your steak twice as much. Eat half at the restaurant, then take the other half home to enjoy sliced onto a green salad or as a sandwich on whole-grain bread. (5) Ask for a carry out tray at the beginning of a meal and put half your food into the container for a second meal. (6) Share from start to finish—order one appetizer for the whole table and then order one dessert with multiple forks. Sometimes, just a bite or two is perfect. (7) Share an entrée. You can ask your server to split the meal in the kitchen or divide it up yourselves at the table—great for huge omelets, 1/2 chicken, or a rack of ribs! from American Dietetic Association Time is Running Out !!!
(1) The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. (2) The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase. (3) The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. (4) The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less. (5) The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify. (6) For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. (7) For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. The $6,500 move-up / repeat home buyer tax credit at a glance: (1) To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years. (2) The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase. (3) The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500. (4) The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less. (5) The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010. (6) Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. Source: National Association of Home Builders
"Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master." Colossians 3:23
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Zion Baptist Church
I recently heard about an incident in a church where a young girl who had a baby was approached by someone who felt she should go before the church and “beg pardon” if she was going to serve. The Pastor who told me the story was troubled because the young girl had left the church and moved on to another where she was welcomed with open arms. He also stated no one felt more horrible about her situation than the young girl, but the way it was handled was very un-Christian.
Mr. Wilson Mack was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He grew up in the city of Orangeburg and also attended school there. He moved to Columbia in 1973 and married that same year. He is the proud father of five children; two daughters and three sons.
On Sunday, February 28, during Zion’s annual Women’s Day, the honor of Woman of the Year was bestowed upon Sister Flossie Hall. She is the fifth child (five girls and one son) of the late Sarah Woodberry and James Hall, Jr.
McKayla Shannon Moore is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frankie (Sherry) Moore. She is a third grade honor roll student at Caughman Road Elementary School. McKayla enjoys school and currently reads on a sixth grade level. She has received several awards for outstanding reading levels. McKayla’s teachers often express she is a very good student and they enjoy teaching her. She is also a member of the Caughman Road Elementary Step Team.
Pastor Donalson attended the National Baptist Convention of America, USA, Inc. Mid-Winter meeting in Nashville, Tennessee January 18-22 and came back with the idea of asking Zion members to donate Pampers/diapers for the children of Haiti. Zion collected many, many boxes of diapers, and the church also donated $1,000.00. Rev. Charles Mack, executive director of the Home Mission Board for the NBC said in his Haiti Disaster Response Update that a team from his Board will be traveling to Haiti with the hopes of being received by the government of Haiti. They will assess the conditions there and work to establish partnerships with missionaries and others who are already there. He asked, “Do we not long for a time in the life of the church when denominational participation gives way to solidarity with the savior long enough for us to come together for the sake of those who need us the most?” The Board is soliciting volunteers from churches, associations, and state conventions to complete the Haiti Missions Involvement form at http://www.nationalbaptist.com and be prepared to go and offer aid to our Haitian brothers and sisters. Or you can email:
disasterrelief@nationalbaptist.com for more information on ways you can continue to help without traveling there. The information from the forms will be used to guide the NBC in its relief activities and help address future needs of the people of Haiti--as their recovery and rebuilding will be a long process. There is also information available at this site about legal adoption agencies for Haitian children.
The $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit at a glance: