Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
As we gather around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts with family, laughter and cheers in the air, and Christmas songs playing in the background, remember the reason. It was a holy night, when Jesus Christ was born! Glory to the King! Dr. Rita & Family
from the MLM Team
Stevens
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DR. JACQUELINE
MIRACLE FELLOWSHIP GOSPEL MINISTRIES, INC. DEPARTMENT OF MINISTRIES Ecclesiastical Ministry Rev. Dr. Jacqueline G. Stevens, Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Willie B. Allen, Jr. Assistant Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Winifred C. Parker, Associate Minister Rev. Dr. Ginger Cornwell, Associate Minister Rev. Dr. Rickey Payton, Associate Minister Ceremonial Hooding Officials Rev. Dr. Frederick Hancock, Ceremonial Hooding Official Rev. Dr. Mary Price, Ceremonial Hooding Official Board Officers Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Stevens, President Dr. Ephraim Stevens, Vice President Dr. Emma Murdock, Secretary Dr. Loretta Taylor, Treasurer Board Members Dr. Michelle Etlin Rev. Dr. Winifred Parker, Chaplain Department of Music Dr. Ephraim Stevens, President and International Minister of Music Virtuoso--Global Music and Jazz Studies Minister Dr. Martin Cornwell, Vice President and Historic Global Minister of Music Rev. Dr. Willie B. Allen, Jr., Global Sacred and Gospel Virtuoso Minister of Music Rev. Dr. Rickey Payton, Global Maestro Virtuoso Minister of Music, and Director of Performing Arts Rev. Dr. Arlo Allen, Global Maestro Virtuoso Minister of Music Rev. Dr. Ginger Cornwell, Global Musician of Saxophone Studies Dr. Lionel Green, Music Business Educator and Consultant Department of Christian Education Rev. Dr. Ginger Cornwell, Director Apostle Dr. Vincent Price, Official Chair, Professor of Divinity, Theology, and Christian Leadership Training Bishop John Daniels, Executive Chair and DMV Professor of Doctor Divinity, Theological, and Pastoral Training Bishop Keith Wright, New York Professor of Christian Ministry Rev. Dr. Vincent E. Allen, Professor of Pastoral, Ministers, and Youth Ministry Training Rev. Drs. Martise and Natisha ("Dr. Tish") Coleman, Professors of Ministry Training, Discipleship, Relationship and Family Empowerment Training Overseer Dr. Ann Coles, II, DMV Professor of Ministry, Community and Global Outreach Evangelism Rev. Dr. Portia Scott, Professor of Christian and Community Education Rev. Dr. Rita A. Posey, Faculty Professor of Biblical Studies, Creative Writing, and Film Production Rev. Dr. Leslie Green, Music and Global Ministry Apostle Dr. Deborah Price, M.Min.,D.Min.,D.D. Professor of Biblical Studies and Global Ministries Rev. Dr. Kenneth Clark, Professor of Biblical Studies, Urban Ministries, Social Justice, Communications, and Theatre Arts Rev. Dr. Rickey Payton, Professor of Biblical Studies, Urban and Global Ministries, Music Education and Worship Studies Rev. Dr. Duane E. Mangum, Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology Executive Pastor Dr. Michele D. Mangum, Pastoral Leadership, Urban Ministries, Senior Ministries, Youth Ministry Rev. Dr. Timothy Day, Biblical Studies, Theology, Youth Ministry, and Marketing Rev. Dr. Johnny Jones, Professor of Urban and Youth Ministry; Biblical and Theological Studies Rev. Dr. Robin Brown, Professor of Biblical Studies and Global Ministry Rev. Dr. Luther Bailey, M.Min., D.Min., D.D., Professor of International Ministry for Miracle Fellowship Gospel Ministries, Inc. Apostle Margaret Bailey, Professor of Pastoral Training and Care for Miracle Fellowship Gospel Ministries, Inc. Rev. Dr. Arlo Allen, Faculty Professor of Theology, Leadership Training, Worship Music Ministry Special Needs, Disability, and Multiple Sclerosis Support Former Councilman Dr. Mark T. Stevens, Jr. Rev. Dr. Cynthia Stevens Pet Ministry (Dogs, Cats, and Goldfish) Shiquia Stevens and Rev. Dr. Jacqueline G. Stevens
ague
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Namun and Rhasheeda
Ministry and Love
Namun and Rhasheeda Hague are a married couple who have been together for the past fourteen years. Our three children, Naaman, Hadassah and Israel round out our immediate family. We are a family that is growing, developing, and aspiring to help encourage other families not only in their daily living, but also in their lives before the Lord. Within our ministry, Wisdom for the Wilderness, we focus on building the family unit. Our heart is to instill faith and confidence within each family member. Then the family as a whole will be helped as each member is fulfilled and complete. We desire to affectionately generate cohesion among the household of faith as well as ethnically. Our hearts are knit with people, especially younger men and women. By inspiring the next generation, it allows hope to flow immensely. And by loving the next generation, we encourage positive change. Wisdom For the Wilderness is about building families. We want to emphasize wholeness and have the entire family unit to work and correspond together. We desire to challenge the family to set some goals and then achieve them. Through making deeper connections, engaging in the word of God, focusing on effective communication and the willingness to honor one another, we bridge gaps and open doors which can heal the family. The entire family benefits when there is structure, order and purpose. That is when families grow and develop cohesively rather than apart. This brings everyone together. This is what Wisdom for the Wilderness desires to give; families the opportunity to accomplish great things. Growing is always learning, so there are always going to be some form of adjusting or tweaking that must be done. Truly, we do have a good understanding of one another and how to flow together. Rhasheeda, my wife, is typically going to lead with commentary or activity that correlates to an individual’s heart. There have been times with just a hug, she has been able to break through self imposed walls and barriers to expose the root of a matter. She contends to extract what is really going on within a person. Not that she is moved by tears or emotion, but that usually results from her correspondence with an individual. I, Namun, can be identified through my speech. The tone and the texture of not only my voice, but my words all change. The intensity and overall deliberation becomes ratcheted up. My mannerisms and gestures are very demonstrative. The most important aspect of flowing together is not having to be seen or to be in the spotlight. It is allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to operate and move through whomever he
deems necessary. If it is her, then I back up, I yield. If it is me then she relinquishes her position. We both want the Lord to have his way. Our romantic endeavors evolved as we were attending the same church and actively participating in the same areas of ministry. We knew of each other, but thus far, there was no attraction between the two of us. All this changed when one day I, Namun, was coming up to the entryway of the church when the Lord had begun to reveal Rhasheeda to me. After that, I had begun to pursue her. I was attracted to her much like Hosea was to Gomer. For the first time concerning her, I spoke fluently with her. This was significant because my practice was to keep conversations with women short and sweet. I was so engaged and involved in the conversation that I remained close to her for nearly an hour. I only became more intoxicated by her from there. Since I strive to be unique and different, I began writing notes in calligraphy and leaving them tucked under the windshield wipers of her car. On occasion, I would even leave a flower sometimes bundled in the note. After I had done this over the course of several weeks, she went and reported my activities to our pastor. He discussed with her that it was okay and that I was a good brother. She then asserted herself. She approached me and let me know that she had no time for games. If we were to seriously start seeing one another, we would go on a three day fast to hear from the Lord to ensure that this union is from Him. In my mind, three days were no challenge for me. I already knew who she was to me and most importantly I knew that I couldn’t see living my life without her. Following the completion of the fast, we began dating. After several months of strengthening our bonds, we were ready to set a date. Due to the timing and availability of our location and pastor, we settled for the day after our birthdays. This led to the coining of the phrase “Happy Annibirthery” (thank you DeDeauxs’). Over the last set of years as a couple, we have really begun to hit our stride. We have come closer than we have ever been. The most powerful change took place when I, Namun, began to communicate more intently. I purposed to share all of myself. Previously I attempted to protect myself from hurt and in a way establish control by limiting what I released. Simultaneously, I attempted to bury my flaws, but like with any mess, given time, it was revealed. That forced me to get before the Lord and determine, the husband, father, minister and collectively, the man that I wanted to be. Now, since that change has taken place, revelation has been the driving force for our marriage. We not only hear one another’s concerns, but we have determined to put a great deal of attention on what the Lord is saying to us. Also, along the same line of thinking, we have “placed everything at Christ’s everything” (acronym for PEACE Matthew 15:30). We are determined not to work independently of Him. We are agreeing with Him and with each other. This has ultimately led to a more peaceful and productive marriage and way of life. Within our home we have a motto: “Give yourself every opportunity to succeed.” In this we mean to eliminate excuses. We want to always be moving towards our goal and to not let so called barriers stand in our way. Time is the measurement of life, but if we are not mindful and calculating how we use it, we lose it. And with its loss comes the loss of opportunities. Everyone is full of potential, but how many people miss out on opportunities because of the amount of time they have wasted. Proverbs 11:1 says that: “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” So, knowing this, we must take advantage of the times and opportunities that lay before us. We must seize the day. MOGUL LEADER MAGAZINE | PAGE 27
S'ROHTUA CORNER
AVAILABLE IN AMAZON STORE
FOREWORD BY DR. DUANE E. MANGUM
Compiled by Dr. Rita A. Wallace Posey MOGUL LEADERS MAGAZINE 81
BIO
Pastors Herman and Shineka Dixon
Pastors Herman and Shineka Dixon are the proud parents of two wonderful sons, Darius who lives in heaven and Micah (20), a host of “acquired children”, and four grandchildren. They have been in ministry for over 22 years and pastor Bethel Worship Center Church International (BWCCI) in Portsmouth, Virginia. Herman received a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Biology and Chemistry and his master’s degree in Theology. Shineka received a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering and her master’s degree in Counseling.
The couple’s marriage ministry, Marriage God’s Way, has ministered to couples all over the world. They are developing a podcast called Marriage Moments. Their marriage ministry counsel’s individuals, families, and marriages. The motto of how the Dixons live their life: 1. Love God, 2. Be willing to do whatever He says, and 3. Encourage others to do the same.
Acknowledgements We would like to thank our parents for encouraging us. We would also like to thank all of our mentors and the many people who have invested in our lives. To our children and church, we want you to know that you can do anything if you put God first and allow Him to do it through you.
HERMAN AND SHINEKA DIXON, PASTORS PSTRDIXON@GMAIL.COM OR COPSTRDIXON@GMAIL.COM FB: BETHEL WORSHIP CENTER CHURCH INTERNATIONAL FB: MARRIAGE GOD’S WAY INSTAGRAM: @BWCCINC INSTAGRAM: @MGW_VA YOUTUBE: BETHEL WORSHIP CENTER CHURCH INTERNATIONAL WWW.BETHEL-WORSHIP.ORG WWW.MARRIAGEGODSWAY.ORG UPCOMING: MARRIAGE MOMENTS PODCAST
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How and Why God Prepares Us for Purpose
by Pastor Herman and Co-Pastor Shineka Dixon Question: If God gave you
one million dollars and then told you to give eighty percent of it away, could you, do it?
I would be remised, no, completely out of line, if I did not start by highlighting the fact that our thoughts about purpose are NOTHING like God’s! God Himself affirms this in Isaiah 55:8-9, when He declares that “as far as the Heavens are from the Earth, so are His ways and thoughts higher than ours.” One thing is true. You will never really understand your purpose until you understand a few things about God’s character, nature, existence and how He prepares us for our purpose. I would like to thank Dr. Posey for gathering several authors to help you reach your purpose. Warning: Bear in mind, we each only have one chapter to explain an eternal concept. We don’t have time to sugarcoat anything, or placate to egos, but rest assured that everything said will be seasoned in love and grace. You ready? Let’s begin. In the Book of Revelations Chapter 1, the Father gives us an amazing clue to how He operates. After telling us that He loved, adopted, and cleansed us, He gives us a look into His existence in verse 8 when He declares: “I am THE Alpha and THE Omega, THE Beginning and THE End,” says the Lord, “Who Is, Who Was and Who Is to Come, the Almighty.” Simply put, God is “the Alpha and the Omega,” He is “the Beginning and the End.” Notice that scripture did not say that He is “an” alpha, “an” omega, “a” beginning, or “a” end. Words like “a” and “an” are nonspecific. If there can be “an” alpha there can be “another or several” alphas. If there is “a” beginning and “a” end, there could be multiples starts and finishes. The term “the” however points directly to Him. No one else can be the beginning of a thing and the end of it at the same time. He is Lord (Owner of owners, Ruler over all rulers). His way will always have preeminence. He has all authority and the ability and strength to do anything about what He desires. This concept holds true in all languages that the bible is translated in. There are no exceptions. God is the be all and end all of all things. EVERYTHING, including our purpose, must start and end with Him. He is the absolute final authority, and nothing happens outside of His presence. No matter how small, big, insignificant, or intricate, if it is going to last and stand the test of time and eternity it must somehow honor God.
Revelations 1 also gives us a glimpse as to how God’s existence prepares us for our purpose. Almighty God declares that He is Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is to Come. To the natural eye, one would think that there is something wrong with this statement.The natural chronological order of time should be Who Was, Who Is and Who Is to Come. But to the spiritual eye however, one would see this as right on target. You see, God is not bound by time or even our understanding about it. He told the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “that before He formed him in his mother’s womb, He knew him. Before he was born, He set him apart, and ordained him to be a prophet to the nations.” In essence, God tells Jeremiah that before the clock started on his earthly life, He had already known him and commanded Jeremiah’s life and purpose. Which Is So how does this relate to us and our purpose? When God entitles Himself “Which Is,” He shows us a key step in how He gets us ready to receive what He has for us. Which Is connotes God’s interaction with us in the present. God establishes Himself as a present-day God. He is with you now! In this instance, God is willing to meet you now. No matter how negative our situation, He is willing to meet you. He will meet you not where you pretend to be, but right where you are. An encounter with the “Right Now God” can change everything. This type of encounter can take a drunk or a drug addict and turn their whole world around and have them walk completely away from what used to be holding them hostage. This type of encounter with God takes an empty person and fills them with hope. Although anyone can have a right now encounter, normally there are three types of empty people who have it. The first type are people who have grown tired of life as they know it. These people are desperate for change and have grown weary of life without purpose. They are sick and tired of everything and everybody, including themselves. These people often suffer in silence. Many of them wear a smile on their face but have given up. They can be in a crowd of people and feel lonely. The second group are those who live their life in opposition to God. Deep down inside they know God exist and either deny it or could care less. They tend to want to do things their own way without any regard for their purpose or the afterlife. They do not plan to give an account for the deeds they have done in their life. Many of them live in the moment and are very accepting of everything. Anything that goes against the very nature of God seems to draw them even more. Although they have insecurities, they appear to have little bother them or hinder them from a challenge. They are the most vocal about their disregard for their need of a higher being.
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