My generation experienced the election of the first African-American President, the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, Desert Storm, Iraq War, historic government bailouts, the passing of healthcare reform, and the greatest economic downturn since The Great Depression.  However, in my opinion, the greatest shifts we will experience in our lifetime are happening now!

According to next generation thought leader Blake Mallen, “most new online technologies have one root intention: to make it simpler for people to communicate and collaborate.”  Of all the tools and websites created to connect people, Facebook seems to be the most popular starting place for many.  With more than 500 million users (that’s right – 500 MILLION AND GROWING), we all have at our fingertips the tools to find, friend, and engage with people.  Imaging how churches can use this platform to expand the Kingdom of God!

Consider this:

To reach 50 million users, it took:

1. Radio – 38 years
2. TV – 13 years
3. Internet – 4 years
4. iPod – 3 years

FACEBOOK ADDED 100 MILLION USERS IN LESS THAN 9 MONTHS

Source: United Nations Cyber School Bus Document/Mashable

Additionally, according to a Grunwald Associates National Study, “at the end of 2010 Generation Y will outnumber baby boomers…96% of them have joined a social network.”

QUESTIONS

Considering this social trend, how will the church respond and leverage social media to help expand the Kingdom of God?

How will business owners leverage social media to market their goods and services?

How are you leveraging social media?

Is it possible to have a two-day hangover?  I’m here to tell you that IT IS!

What an incredible weekend at Mars Hill as we celebrated Mother’s Day in a very special way.  We kicked off our celebration on Friday with thousands attending our “Women’s Only” Worship Empowerment Service.   We reminded women that they are a “Fragrance of Beauty” and gave gift bags to them as they entered our worship center.

Their gift bags contained the following items:

1. A Compact mirror – to remind them they’re beautifully created in God’s Image
2. An Emory board – to remind them how God has the ability to file away the rough edges
3. A packet of Kleenex – to remind them that God can wipe away every tear

Additionally, the service included:

1. Women’s Praise Team
2. Women’s Dance Group
3. An all Women’s Band
4. A Woman Sound Engineer, & Camera/ Video Operator

In short, women were empowered to DO IT ALL & had fun doing it!

Yvette Williams gave a powerful testimony that had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats.  1st Lady Shauntai Stowers gave a riveting introduction that literally brought the ladies to their feet (maybe she should’ve gave the message).  I preached “As Is” from John 4 which told the story of The Woman at the Well.  The point of the story is how Jesus accepts our condition “as is.”  We don’t have to cover up, make excuses, or hide behind shame. It was truly an inspiring message.

The evening concluded with prizes given to the woman who had the most guests in attendance. The winner’s prize: Dinner for two with my wife & I.  Shauntai and I are looking forward to this special event.

Here are a few of the many comments I received:

“It was indeed AWESOME, the devil tried to keep me home, but I’m glad I came…”

“AWESOME indeed…had a life-transforming experience”

“Pastor thanks for delivering a message from God that encouraged and ministered to women…that we can meet God just as we are…The women in attendance needed that…”

“Pastor thank you for seeing the need & delivering a dose of medication that was so necessary! I am more empowered today than I was on yesterday.”

“I came to the service expecting & ready to receive and I got WAY MORE!”

In closing, I want to publicly thank our staff & the hundreds of volunteers who gave their time & talents!

Fraternity is commonly defined by Webster as the state of being Brothers, a brotherly relationship within a student organization formed chiefly to promote friendship and welfare among the members.

The opening of the school year, 1905-1906, found at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, a group of students distributed in the various colleges of the University, who were desirous of maintaining more intimate contacts with one another than their classroom study permitted.  They often met in groups during the Autumn of 1905 and talked of the possibilities of closer contacts among themselves.  Different ones among them took the lead in calling these meetings, which were informal in ever detail.

After several meetings, on December 4, 1906 those in attendance decided to become a fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha was born.  It came as an evolution through trial and struggle.  It was not spontaneous, but gradual in its growth.  Alpha Phi Alpha has not always been the great fraternity that it is today.  Its founders, however, were always great men with keen vision, undaunted courage, indomitable fortitude, and unparalleled tenacity.

There were seven men who founded Alpha Phi Alpha in 1906.  Each of these men were destined to play a highly significant role in the formative years of our great fraternity.  The members of Alpha Phi Alpha have decreed that the Founders be designated as JEWELS of the Fraternity.  The Founders (Jewels) of Alpha Phi Alpha are as follows:

Jewel Henry Arthur Callis
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones
Jewel George Biddle Kelley
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy

The original seven who remained steadfast to the idea of a Greek-letter Fraternity, during the months of uncertainty, did not waiver in their effforts to bring about the realization of their vision.  Therefore, I salute all the men who’ve crossed the burning sands and proudly call themselves “Alphas.”  Happy Birthday dear brothers & always remember:

Manly deeds, scholarship, & love for all mankind…

Onward & Upward – ’06

Brother Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.
Jackson State University
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Phi Chapter – Spring 1987
“The Naughty 9″