From the Heart of Pastor Jacqueline A. Thompson

Greetings Allen Temple Family and Friends,

 

I hope this midweek note finds each of well and trusting in the goodness of our God in spite of. Just this week we are at war with ISIS, battling issues of domestic violence and child abuse in America's beloved NFL. In addition, there are many other realities eclipsed by these two headlines including the crimes committed against us and those we commit against ourselves. And yet, as believers we know that human news outlets do not have the full story. There is a gospel, good news that ATBC member, Tiye Scott reminded us of last week in her faith journey: GOD WILL SUSTAIN US!

This week, meet Amelia Roberts, "Mimi" to those who love her and "Melia" to me. She is an active member having grown up in Allen Temple, and part three of the trio known as the Roberts sisters. She sings in the LYFE choir, works as a youth leader and is a member of the Deaconess Ministry. She serves quietly without fanfare and dispels the notion that Millennials are fleeing the church. I pray her faith journey encourages you on yours:

I realized when I was about 15 years old that it was God's plan for me to become a nurse. It was around the time when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. I felt that the Lord gave me a glimpse of what my career would be like. Honestly, at the time I did not know much about the profession, but before I knew it I was enrolled in nursing school at the University of San Francisco. As I started to take nursing courses, the four years of college flew by and I was amazed at how the profession seemed to be a perfect fit for me. It seemed like all of the nursing opportunities just fell in my lap without a lot of effort of my own. At the age of 21, I was excited about my future in nursing and the fact that I already had an emergency department job lined up for me after graduation. All I had to do was pass my licensing exam. I studied for months to prepare myself to take the national boards to become a licensed registered nurse. As I sat for this important exam, after seventy five questions the test stopped, indicating I was done. It would take weeks to get the official results, but I instantly knew I failed.

I immediately felt hopeless knowing that I would lose my job. I would be stuck with a college degree, but nothing to do with it. I was infuriated with God because I felt He let me down. I could not understand why He would guide me into the profession of nursing, keep and provide for me all throughout nursing school, secure me a job, and then allow for me to fail the test. I was lost, disappointed, and confused. My hopelessness then turned to depression; so severe that I had to temporarily move back home with my parents. After several days of being in bed, wallowing in my sorrow, my mother finally had enough of my pity party. She looked at me and said, "Do you believe that if you pass the test or fail the test that God has a perfect plan for your life?" I replied "Yes." In that moment I started to think about the plans and promises God had revealed to me over the years. As the days progressed I started to develop a peace knowing that regardless of the outcome God always makes good on his promises.

As I started to move on and think about the next steps of my life, I received a letter stating I passed the national board exam. I immediately realized that I passed the nursing test, but I had failed God's test. God was testing my faith in Him and my ability to trust him, even in hard times. Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Now 10 years into my nursing career, I never forget and stand firm on the fact that when God sets a path for you He will shelter you while you make the journey. Over the years when I did not think I was smart enough and expected failure, God surrounded me with favor. When colleagues lied on me and slandered my name, God promoted me. When I thought I was not good enough, God put people in my life that reminded me I was more than enough. God has proven over and over to me that he is faithful and a promise keeper.

Whatever path God may have you on, believe with me that He has a perfect plan for your life; He will answer every prayer and fulfill every promise!

Until next week, know God has a perfect plan!

Blessings to you,

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

 

We are in week two of our "I Believe" Faith Journeys. Special thanks to Rev. Phil B-D who reminded us so powerfully through his testimony that God causes all things, even the most devastating things, to work for our good. What a great midweek reminder!

This week's faith journey comes from one of our newer members. Meet Tiye Scott. She is active with the LYFE Choir and serves as Assistant Teacher for Sunday School Class Number 5. Tiye also works professionally in the field of graphic design and marketing communications.

In 2003 I was working at a really challenging job. But while there, I was developing skills that would help me in my career journey. In the fall of that year, I sensed the Lord was telling me to leave my job and start my own business. Up to that point, I had never worked for myself and never considered it.

At that time in my walk with God, I hadn't had a lot of experience making big "faith leaps." So when leaving my job to start my business came up, I ignored the idea at first. Even after the Lord used people to give me the money to purchase my business equipment and started to send me clients, I hesitated.

But one of the things I learned during this time was that God will continue to speak, until you hear it. It got to the point that everywhere I went, God was speaking. I even went to a concert where the artist said, "Some of you out there are supposed to start businesses...just do it!" I couldn't do anything but laugh.

The following year, I finally made the decision to quit. I was terrified and excited at the same time. I felt a sense of exhilaration and adventure - I was going on this exciting journey, I was stepping out on faith!

Then it happened. My first big client wrote me a bad check for a project I did for them. I was devastated and panicked. Had I misheard God? What was I doing? How was I going to take care of myself?

But God sustained me (the client eventually paid) and during the first six or seven months that I was in business, I had very few regular clients, and yet my rent was never late, and all my bills were paid.

I'd like to say that I never wavered during those early days. But there were a lot of moments of anxiety! Still, the Lord was faithful and I can look back on that time as benchmark in my walk with God, when what I learned about God in study, I began to experience with God in real life.

If I could share anything from my experience it would be recognizing that God is our source -- not a job, not people, not money - and we can trust Him to supply our needs. In my case, it was only when I didn't have a steady paycheck that I could see it was Him doing it all along. The other thing I would share is keep reminding yourself of what God has done for you. Because life can sometimes make you forget (even if temporarily) your experiences with God.

"Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you." Isaiah 46:4 (NASB)

It's good to know that God will sustains us! God will keep you going, not just materially, but in every way we need. I pray this reminder strengthens and encourages you to just believe.

Blessings to you,

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor

 

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

 

Hope this midweek note finds you well. As you know by now, our I Believe Campaign officially kicked off Sunday, August 24. You were invited to believe with us the words as recorded in Mark 9:23, "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."

I also wanted to share with you during this campaign some of the faith journeys that continue to encourage me as I endeavor to believe and stand on God's promises in so many areas. I hope during this campaign you will be strengthened and encouraged as well as get to know some of the faces of Allen Temple Baptist Church..

Meet Reverend Phil Bowling Dyer, affectionately known as Rev. Phil B-D, as he shares his I Believe experience with all of us.

I grew up attending Beebe Memorial CME Church: I still have deep roots there. When I chose to leave that congregation in 1998 and to join Allen Temple because of my new wife, my father and mother were both understanding and supportive. Philip and Hermanee Dyer were always the strongest and most faithful pillars in my life; I discovered the Christian faith through them, and grew in love with Jesus and His Church from their guidance, direction, and their examples of faithfulness and perseverance.

I was on the fourth floor of Kaiser Hospital in Oakland in the Spring of 2012 when the doctor relayed the news - the spot on Mama's lung was malignant. Mama began to weep, and my world began to get jammed. During her radiation therapy and hospice care, I was the faithful son who visited them and served them almost daily. My outsides continued to move forward, and the situation made sense to my brain--but my faith was stuck: Where was the God who healed her so many times before? Why did this need to happen in her life (and in my life) now? And things became even more jammed when a few months later (on the afternoon of Daddy's birthday), the doctor told me that my father had kidney failure. Again, my outsides continued to move forward and all of this made sense to my brain (he was 86), but my faith remained stuck - Why him now? Why both of them together? He only lasted for a bit more than a week. Because of God's sovereign timing, in the 59 years they were married, my parents were only truly separated for the 42 hours that Daddy preceded Mama to glory.

It was at their joint Homegoing Celebration a week later that my faith in Jesus began to move, from being stuck to unstuck. I was still sad and mourning their passing, but it was through the testimonies of my friends and family, the sincerity of the singing, and the fervency of the prayers that the Spirit of God began to remind me:

That precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15): God loves my Daddy and Mama, and has done so for a very long time.
That God works all things for good (Romans 8:28): Even things that truly are sad and tragic, God can work them for good, and has promised to do so for folks like me.
That God was still working in me, my family, my generation (Philippians 1:6): God started God's work way before, and then had passed that good work on to my parents, and then on to me and my family; we were to pass it on to others.

I still miss them a lot (especially around holidays). But as I think of them, every month I feel a bit less pain and a bit more joy, and I seek to pass on the good work God has given me thru them.

Blessings to you,

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor

April 14, 2014

 

Good Monday Morning To You!

We're here. We are at the last week of our Lenten Journey to the Cross: Remembering Jesus. For 5 weeks, we have been abstaining, adopting and reflecting all in an effort to grow deeper and closer to God. You have made it this far; I know you can make it to the end.

Thank you for the concern, prayers and support you offered to me and my Mother. She was released from the hospital and they were able to discover what caused her issue. She is back to her sassy 84 year old self and for that I am eternally grateful to God for God's goodness and mercy toward us. That experience reaffirmed for me once again that our faith journey is greatly enhanced by sharing in community. There is great comfort in knowing that, "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor. 12:26). I appreciate you!

This last week, we cannot conclude without exploring the one discipline that seems to characterize the entire life and ministry of Jesus. We know he lived a life of solitude, surrender, service, submission and simplicity. But I suggest to you that the theme of his time on earth could be encapsulated in the discipline of Sacrifice. The notion of 'sacrifice' is a familiar Christian concept. In the Old Testament sacrifices were central to sustaining, renewing and restoring covenantal relationship with God. In the New Testament, we are taught that we now have relationship with God through the belief in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In response, the apostle Paul challenges us to be "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1).

Sacrifice in each of these three instances clearly involves giving up something. However if we remain at this level of understanding sacrifice, it remains a notion associated solely with pain, suffering and loss. But I offer you an alternative view. Earl Creps, author of "In Off Road Disciples: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders", suggests sacrifice is about the ability to mold our life into a missional shape to fit a purpose larger than oneself. Isn't that exactly what Jesus did? Isn't that what are called to do? Sacrifice is about doing what we need to do to mold our lives into a missional shape to fit God's purpose for our life in every area of our life.

As we reflect upon this final week of scriptures, let's look specifically at the ways Jesus molded his earthly life and ministry to fit God's purpose praying for illumination on how we can more fully do the same.

Monday - Luke 4:16-21
Tuesday - John 10:11-15
Wednesday - Matthew 16:21
Thursday - John 10:17-18
Friday - John 15:13-17 .
Saturday - Hebrews 10:1-10
Sunday - (Worship)

I am so humbled that you would join me in this Journey and I pray that you are stronger, wiser and better for having made the trip. I would love to hear how you have encountered God in a new way over the 6 weeks. As we enter this Holy Week, I encourage you to be intentionally reflective upon what the sacrifice of Jesus means for you, our community and our world. I invite you to celebrate the Resurrection in community because we are so much better together. Finally, I challenge you to stay the course. The Lenten season is ending but the journey is a lifetime.

So, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let's Grow!

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor