December 28, 2015

	CONTENTS
1	Pastor's Sermon & Prayer Requests
2	Call to Action: (a) Survey, (b) Kenyan Mission, (c ) Christmas Arms of Love, (d), Marketing, (e) Social  Media Contact Links
3	This Week's Schedule - (a) Mon, (b) Tue, (c ) Wed, (d) Thur, (e) Fri, (f) Sat, (g) Sun
4	Upcoming Engagements/Event Dates
5	Other Announcements - (a) Birthdays, (b) Isaiah
1	Scripture & Prayer Requests
1a	Romans 8:18
	Amplified Bible (AMP)
	18  For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!
1b	Prayer List (Chaplains - E. Paster, J. Brown, J. Champs)
	Deaconess Ethel Norwood & Family
	Mother JoAnn Champs & Family
	Sis. Thelma Hinkle & Family
	Anyone want to be added?
	Please send an email to with subject "Prayer List" to:
	Deacons-Deaconesses@greatfriend.org
	Prayer Line Request?
	Prayer offered day or night, 24 hour availability for prayer
	Call: 612-559-0061
2	Call to Action!
2a	GFMBC Ministry Survey b4 December 31, 2015!
	Take a few moments to fill out survey for All Ministry Meeting!
	TAKE MINISTRY SURVEY (Link)
2b	Kenyan Mission Pledge Drive!
2c	Christmas Arms of Love
2c	Market Your Ministry Events!
	Contact GFMBC Marketing Team:  Marketing@greatfriend.org
	● Need posters, flyers, announcements, event marketing (Click on Link Below 2 Start)?
	● Marketing Materials Request Form v1.01
2f	Social Media Contact Links
	Questions? Send email to support@greatfriend.org
	· www.greatfriend.org
	· facebook
	· twitter
	· youtube
3	Monday, December 28, 2015	-	Sunday, January 3, 2016
3a	Monday, December 28, 2015
3b	Tuesday, December 29, 2015
	7:00 PM	-	PACT II (Friendship Community Services)
			Support Services Meeting
			For those reestablishing lives disrupted by:
			incarceration or addiction
			(New Members Classroom)
			Email: fcs2600@gmail.com
			Web:  www.friendshipcommunityservices.org
3c	Wednesday, December 30, 2015		NO MEETINGS!
3d	Thursday, December 31, 2015
	5:00 PM	-	"The Beat" Radio Show with Darnell Davis!
			● Tune in to soarradio.com
			● Or download Live365 Radio App on your Smartphone
	6:30 PM	-	Faith Bible Institute!
			Register Now!   2016 FBI Registration GFMBC Classes Begin January 21, 2016
	10:00 PM		WATCH NIGHT SERVICE!
			Come out and celebrate as GFMBC Associate Ministers Preach in the New Year!
			2600 E. 38th Street
			Minneapolis, MN 55406
			www.greatfriend.org
3e	Friday, January 1, 2016		HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
3f	Saturday, January 2, 2016
	9:00 AM	-	Ministers Meeting in Fireside Room
			[1st Saturday of month]
	10:00 AM	-	Deacons & Deaconesses Meeting
			[Saturday b4 1st Sunday of month]
	10:00 AM		All Mission Ministry Meeting
			[4th Saturdays]
			Foreign Mission, Evangelism, Women, Men, and Bread Ministries
	10:00 AM	-	Doves Rehearse!
			[Saturday B4 1st & 3rd Sunday]
	10:00 AM	-	Jr. Usher Training!
			[Saturdays b4 2nd Sunday]
	11:00 AM	-	Young People of Praise (YPOP) Practice!
			[Except Sat b4 3rd & 5th Sundays]
	11:30 AM	-	Busy Bees Meeting
			[1st Saturday of month]
	12:00 PM	-	Adults & Teens Movers 4 Christ (Praise Dance) Ministry Rehearsal in Gold Room!
			ALL are welcome- children, teens and adults
			Questions: See Sis. Cynthia Taylor
	1:00 PM	-	Children Movers 4 Christ (Praise Dance)
			Ministry Rehearsal in Gold Room!
			Fortress (teen choir) Rehearsal!
			Email: YouthMinistry@greatfriend.org
3g	Sunday, January 3, 2016
	5:30 AM	-	Bro Pete Rhodes Presents:
			"Urban Perspectives"
			WCCO (Channel 4)
			Get Up! … with Urban Perspectives
			See Promo Link Below!
			PROMO!
			www.urbanperspectives.tv
			https://youtu.be/dvGSgiBmlb0
	7:30 AM	-	Song review & Devotion
			Deacon Brown Choir Room
	8:00 AM	-	Call to Worship --- Ministers
	8:05 AM	-	Devotion --- Deacons/Deaconesses
	8:20 AM	-	Doves Sing!!!
			Attire: Black, White, Red
	Sermon	-	Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell
	8:59 AM	-	New Members Class -
			Email: NewMembers@greatfriend.org
			Facilitated by Executive Pastor, Eddie Bolden
	9:00 AM - 10:30 AM	-	Marriage Ministry Presents…
	October 4 - December 13		Marriage Built to Last: Living Intentionally & Loving Biblically
			Email: MarriedMinistry@greatfriend.org
			Facilitated by Rev. L. Wilder & Sis. Jean Wilder
	9:01 AM	-	Sunday School -
			Email: SundaySchool@greatfriend.org
			Lesson for January 3, 2016: A Bride Worth Waiting For (Genesis 29:15–30)
		-	"We Got Next" Bible Study Session
			Bible Study for ages 20-50!
			Study from the book "Changeology", John C. Norcross
			Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor
			In GFMBC Sanctuary
			Email: ChristianEducation@greatfriend.org
	9:30 AM		GYE (Greater Youth Experience)
			3rd Sundays
			YOUTH TAKEOVER SUNDAY!
			2nd Sundays
	10:30 AM	-	Call to Worship --- Ministers
	10:35 AM	-	Grateful Praise (Adult Praise Team) Opens Service!
			Grateful Praise (Praise Team) Opens Service! [1st, 3rd, & 4th Sundays]
			Fortress Praise Team Sings!  --- [2nd Sundays, Youth Sunday]
	10:40 AM	-	Devotion --- Jr. Deacons/Deaconesses
	10:40 AM	-	Devotion --- Deacons/Deaconesses
	10:50 AM	-	Greater Praise Choir Sings!
			Attire:
	Sermon	-	Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor
4	­­­­­­­­­---------------- Upcoming Engagements/Event Dates ­­­­­­----­----­­­­­-----
	Thursday, January 7, 2016
	6:60 PM - 8:30 PM	-	Justice Reform Team Leadership Mtg.
			Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
			285 N. Dale Street, St. Paul, MN
			See Section 5b
	Saturday, January 16, 2016		MSBC Mid Winter Session
			Women's Auxiliary, Sister Sylvia Amos
	7:30 AM - 9:00 AM	-	Breakfast
	9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	-	Mid Winter Board Meeting
	10:00 AM - 12:30 PM	-	Seminars (No Cost!)
	10:00 AM	-	Minnesota State Baptist Choir Rehearsal
	12:30 PM	-	Morning Seminars End
	6:00 PM	-	Roller Skating Party
			Roller Garden
			5622 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
	Tuesday, January 26, 2016
			Mpls Public Schools Education Equity Team Mtg.
			Isaiah
			Be an Advocate for Our Youngsters!
			2600 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
			Email: Ministers@greatfriend.org
	Tuesday, February 9, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
	Sunday, February 28, 2016		11th Annual African Heritage Month Observance
	8:00 AM & 10:40 AM	-	SANKOFA: Empowerment Through Education
			(Hosea 4:6)
			Sub-theme taken from Minister Timothy Wright's song, "We're Going to Make It."
			The colors of our attire for the month of February are Red & Black.
			3rd Sunday is Health Sunday - "Have Faith In Heart Sunday/Wear Red" as we are partners with American Heart Association.
			Asante Sana (Thank You) and God bless
			-Minister Ora Hokes
	8:00 AM	-	Minister Justin Lewis Preaching
			George Stewart "Why we celebrate"
	10:40	-	Minister Ora Hokes Preahing
			Mya Davis "Why we celebrate"
	April, 2016
		-	Darnell Davis & The Remnant
			CD Release Concert!
	Monday, January 11, 2015
	7:00 PM	-	Taste of Friendship Committee Meeting
			Fireside Room
	Tuesday, April 12, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
	Sunday, May 15, 2016
	5:30 PM	-	Gospel Choirs United
			42nd Anniversary Concert!
			Theme: 'Joy Abundantly'
			Scripture John 10:10
			Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
			3355 4th Street North
			Minneapolis, MN 55412
	Tuesday, June 14, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
	Saturday, August 6, 2016
	12:00 Noon - 6:00 PM	-	Taste of Friendship!
	Tuesday, August 9, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
	Sun, Aug 26 - Wed, Aug 29, 2016
			MN State Baptist Convention
			Titus 2 Women's Retreat at Sea
			Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
			Sailing to Bahamas
			Cabin Deposit due August 16th
			Deposit $100 per person with 2 people per person
			August 26-29, 2016
	Tuesday, October 11, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
	Tuesday, December 13, 2016
	7:00 PM	-	Deacons, Deaconesses, & Mothers Outreach
			GFMBC Can Come!
			Providence Place
			3720 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
			www.provplace.com
5	Other Announcements
5a	Birthdays!
	Happy Birthday to those born
	in the month of		December
	Thank You & God bless!!
5b
	Dear GFMBC Family, Last week was incredible! On the day before Christmas Eve, over 100 people came out to support reform of our overly harsh drug laws. So many ISAIAH leaders and others gave very powerful testimony. (See news clips below). Now we are just minutes away from the final vote at the Sentencing Commission. No matter which way it goes, we have a lot of work to do to prevent prison expansion, stop CCA, pass Juvenile Justice Reform and end Mass Incarceration! Please come to the next Justice Reform Team Leadership Meeting Thursday January 7, 6:30-8:30pm Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 285 N. Dale Street, St. Paul MN We hope to see you there! (and Happy New Year!) Toya, Catalina & Lars PS: Check out these news Clips about the Sentencing Reform Public Hearing last week Star Tribune: Plan to overhaul drug sentencing brings out emotional crowd Public News Service: MN Religious Leaders Support Changes to Drug Sentencing Laws KTTC TV: Affected by addiction: Public sharing stories to change sentencing guidelines AP (pulled from Crookston Daily Times, but also ran in dozens of other papers): Panel hears support, concern for easing drug-crime sentences in Minnesota Rochester Post-Bulletin  Our View: Our Drug Sentencing Laws Need Reform Connect with ISAIAH               2356 University Ave W Ste 405 Saint Paul, MN 55114 isaiah@isaiahmn.org www.isaiahmn.org
5c
5d
5e