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Magazine Online |
The Authority On African-American Conventions, Incentives, & Leisure Travel |
RELIGIOUS REVIEW
Patrice A. Kelly
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
BOOK MARKS
In a collection of inspirational poetry, I'm Still Walking: Spiritual Thoughts, author Florine Crews and featured authors Ethel Hill and Tracy Crews give praise and honor to God. The poems within the book deliver the uplifting message that the burden of life's troubles is lessened through faith in God. A 29-year cancer survivor, mother of two and grandmother of three, Crews thanks God for her blessings. She earned her GED at 40 years old and continued her education to earn a master's degree at 57. She is now retired after 15 years teaching kindergarten.
From stay-at-home moms to corporate executives, women are increasingly suffering symptoms caused by unrelenting stress. Sharie Neal, president of a life and home-management company, Influence, Inc., who is an African-American woman, mother and wife began teaching seminars and wrote The Christian Woman's Guide to a Blessed Life to teach practical personal management principles. Neal's book details principles for how women can: regain control over their attitudes, behavior, and choices; and structure and manage their personal life, family, and home.
NEWS NOTES
Religious meeting professionals, representing a vast array of denominations and faiths, will convene in Orlando, Florida, February 5-8, 2008 for the 36th World Conference and Exposition of the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA). This annual multi-faith event attracts key meeting planners and industry representatives from throughout the U.S. and overseas who manage 17,000 conferences and assemblies that annually attract 14.7 million attendees.
Convening in the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, the conference will focus on the theme Exploring New Horizons and present a variety of learning experiences aimed at bolstering the planner’s meeting and management skills, plus provide numerous networking and fellowship opportunities.
A special feature of the conference will be an innovative “Behind-The-Scenes Experience” in which attendees will personally participate in the inner operations of a television station, hotel, convention center, public relations firm and advertising agency. Registrants will have the opportunity to actually work beside the professional staff in performing hands-on tasks such as preparing a TV broadcast, cooking in the hotel kitchen, setting up banquet rooms or creating an advertising campaign for a city-wide religious convention.
For more information call (317) 632-1888 or go to www.rcmaweb.org.
WORDS AND DEEDS
Hilton Garden Inn, the mid-priced brand of the Hilton Family of Hotels, the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC), with headquarters in Memphis, TN, and Area Hotels, LLC based in Mundelein, IL, broke ground for the new Hilton Garden Inn® Memphis/Downtown on November 8, 2007. at the southwest corner of Second Street and Linden Avenue.
The Church Of God In Christ has been planning to build a development in downtown Memphis for many years. The denomination owns the land where the hotel groundbreaking took place.
The Hilton Garden Inn Memphis/Downtown hotel will feature 118 guest rooms, including six suites, offering complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access and remote printing to the hotel's business center; the Garden Sleep System(TM) bed; ergonomic Mirra® desk chair by Herman Miller; high definition flat screen television and innovative clock that allows guests to play their MP3 or portable CD player.
The hotel will also feature flexible meeting space with high-tech capabilities; a 24-hour complimentary business center; a workout facility; an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool; a full-service restaurant; and an onsite guest laundry facility. Construction of the Hilton Garden Inn Memphis/Downtown is expected to begin in 2008 with an anticipated opening in Spring 2009.
The third annual Women in Ministry International (WIMIN) Conference was held at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 20-24, 2007. The event drew nearly 400 influential religious leaders of color to the destination. Women in Ministry International is an advocacy, mentoring and congregation placement movement for Black, Latina and Native American religious leaders. The annual conference is a gathering of women in church stewardship from around the world, presenting an opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other through forums, group discussion and presentations from some of the profession's most experienced women of faith.
The Reverend Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, a senior pastor at the Believers Christian Fellowship in New York City, hosted the conference, themed Sisters Soaring to Success. The Reverend Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook has led a distinguished, diverse career. In addition to stints as a producer with all three major television networks, she has authored six books – including Too Blessed To Be Stressed and Sister Strength, both best sellers – and taught professional speaking at Harvard University. She has served as a Presidential Advisor, as well as a White House Fellow on the Domestic Policy Council. Dr. Cook also stands as the only African-American Woman appointed to the historic President's Initiative on Race.
The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) hosted the first-ever strategic planning session dedicated to developing a five-year plan to significantly reduce cases of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. The meeting was co-chaired by pastors Bishop T.D. Jakes and Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, on October 8-9, 2007, at the AOL Time Warner building in New York City.
The meeting marked the first time that leaders from all sectors of the African-American community, including clergy, scholars, government and health agencies, have joined forces to fight HIV/AIDS. Meeting attendees included Congressman Charles Rangel; former mayors Willie Brown and David Dinkins; Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Garth Graham, deputy assistant secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health; and Dr. Gail Wyatt, associate director of the UCLA AIDS Institute.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 2-7, 2007, “Rejuvenation Retreat for Vibrant Health, Inner Peace & Happiness,” Land of Medicine Buddha, Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center, Soquel, California. Contact (831) 462-8383 for information.
December 8, 2007, “Encouragement Fellowship,” Women with a Purpose, Wingate Inn, Charleston, West Virginia. Contact Wanda Smith at (304) 345-5962 for information.
December 16, 2007, “Christmas Dinner& Concert,” Women with a Purpose, Ramada Plaza, Charleston, West Virginia. Contact Wanda Smith at (304) 345-5962 for information.
December 26-28, 2007, “California State Youth & Young Adult Convention,” National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., Marriott Hotel, Santa Clara, California. Contact (650) 474-0231 for information.
January 12, 2008, “23rd Annual Stellar Awards,” Central City Productions, Grand Ol’ Opry House, Nashville Tennessee. Contact A. Jalila Larsuel at (312) 654-1100 for information.
January 14-21, 2008, “2008 Holy Hip Hop Week,” Holy Hip Hop, Center Stage Arena - Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Marietta, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact Minister eDDie Velez at (404) 893-5752 for information.
January 25-27, 2008, “Association of Conference Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries 2008 Annual Meeting,” Association of Conference Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries – UMC, Simpsonwood Conference & Retreat Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact Sandy Zeigler at (615) 340-7179 for information.
January 28-30, 2008, “Mid-Winter Board Session The Historic Joint Baptist Board Meeting,” National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact Rev. Dr. Gerald M. Dew at (773) 873-4433 for information.
January 30-February 1, 2008, “A Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant,” New Baptist Covenant, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact (678) 547-6455 for information.