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Sometimes You Just Want to Say to God, Give Us a Break.

By Dr. Sherry Jones — The Labor Day weekend caused a sadness in our hearts as we met to plan our week of praying in the city streets. So many murders and so many shootings occurred.

So we searched the scriptures that would inform our prayer time. We lifted up our voices in worship and gave heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to our Father God. We prayed for families, friends, those wounded, the police officers, and ourselves. We prayed for and end to the overwhelming violence and lawlessness.

We then prayed for the nation and the global community. We prayed in faith and trust in our sovereign God, whom knows our frailty and limitations. We sought Him and Him alone to encourage us, touch us, and heal us. We ended with praying for the body of Christ to preach and live out loud the Gospel of Christ so many may be saved.

And then we rejoiced some more in our gracious and merciful God and Lord.

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Hopes and Dreams for the Community

By Dr. Sherry Jones — Last week in our praying for the intersections of several gun violence actions, we met with two community leaders. Ms. Angie and Mr. Ray both have decades of living in Kensington. They serve as block captains. They love their neighborhood and serve with great love and bravery. We talked about their hopes and dreams for the community; especially for the children. They both work tirelessly for clean streets, safe passage, violence reduction, and support of businesses. We prayed for them and the streets. We also prayed for Ms. Angie’s knees to be healed. These encounters are priceless when we can interact with the people where we are praying and they join us in those prayers.

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Looking to Equip a New Generation

By Dr. Sherry Jones — I met some of my former students from CUTS at some recent ministry events. One is a well known Bishop over several churches. We have been friends for many years. Another is now Executive Director of the Dell Music Center. I have such fond memories of both these students and are godly proud of their accomplishments. I write this story to say how much I am grateful to God for the part I played in each individual students’ life over the years. Oh. their accomplishments are their own, yet God had me in a minuscule part in their stories. The sovereign Lord designed it so, and I give Him the glory. I look forward to those I currently am imparting to accomplish all God has created for them to complete.

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A Peacemaker, not a Peacekeeper

By Dr. Sherry Jones — Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9). We were stationed to pray in four different areas where 4 or more murders have happen. We were there and police presence was noticeable. We met with street captains and a young minister who has been a peacemaker for several years, in a community called Kensington. We sat near a lot that has been turned into a safe haven for the children; filled with vegetables, fruit trees, and three chickens.  We prayed with gatekeepers, neighbors, and a peacemaker. Please note this was a peacemaker not a peacekeeper. He and his family live in the neighborhood and fight for all who live there. His work is evident, as he prayed for healing, laying on hands as he prayed. Just a note; peacemakers are people of great faith and faithfulness. Pray for Kensington, please.

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Let Transformation Begin with Me

By Dr. Sherry Jones — I came early to the Philadelphia Gospel Movement event. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with a former student, now a bishop, about the meeting. We reminisced about past times when those involved in urban ministry would meet to discuss how to fix the city. We had seen para-church, nonprofits, churches and christian leaders come and go not reaching their goal of transformation in the city. We always hope that this time it will be different. Maybe forming covenant relationships as sons and daughters of Father God, across faith streams, will heal the mistrust, remove agendas, cause forgiveness, and knit our hearts together. We must all agree “Let Revival Harvest, and Transformation begin with me.

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92 ° and Street Prayer

By Dr. Sherry Jones — It was 92 degrees that day, but I couldn’t miss our time to pray near Broad and Olney Ave. I had the opportunity to pray with a Philadelphia legend, Mother Mary Campbell. If you have interacted with city-wide  prayer groups or National Day of Prayer then you have met Mrs. Campbell.  Many of us call her Mother Mary or Mom. She is a Mother in Zion and persistent and agonizing intercessor. She prays at any time in every situation for all people. She is fearless in reaching people for Christ and she loves this city.