Monday, August 23, 2010

Saluting Charles L. Webber, Founder of Faith Ministries, Inc.


Established in 1999 and inspired by the blessed, miraculous birth of his daughter Faith, Pastor Charles L. Webber became the Founder and CEO of Faith Ministries, Incorporated. Faith Ministries, Inc. is located in Shelby, North Carolina and serves the surrounding townships and cities of Cleveland and Gaston counties. Pastor Webber understands that the greatest assets in our community are the people who live there. Quite often, people do not know where to go or who to contact when they are in need of core necessities. Faith Ministries, Inc. collaborates and builds alliances with various community agencies, community-based ministries, local and statewide businesses, to serve as an intermediary to help find the answers to the questions many members of the community need. The motto of Faith Ministries, Inc. is “The substance of things hoped for!”

Charles Webber realizes that we have to stop the generational poverty, illiteracy and carnage that plague more communities than we care to count. “We are not ignorant to the fact that these problems can become catastrophic once these issues start to hemorrhage into our neighborhoods,” he says. After reading a recent report with alarming statistics about the plight of at-risk youth in the surrounding communities, Charles Webber decided to engage these youngsters in something they enjoy doing, while requiring them to become actively involved in some type of community outreach activity.

He designed and is launching a new program in 2011 called “Storming for Success.” This summer youth development program will enable 50-75 underprivileged and disadvantaged boys and girls between the ages of 13-18 to receive some much needed support and assistance in three key areas: academic enrichment, life skills training, and job-seeking/employment skills training. Sessions will be conducted by former NBA and college players about the value of participating in AAU sports. Local and area leaders will speak to participants about job-seeking skills, developing good work and academic study habits, effectively dealing with peer pressure, proper etiquette at home and in the community, as well as several other personal empowerment sessions. The objective is to teach the youth how to pay it forward to others naturally, while building character and life skills for their future.

As we discovered with many local nonprofit organizations, Faith Ministries, Inc. does not receive any state or federal funding and depend on in-kind donations to keep their community programs operating. For more information about Faith Ministries, Inc. and how you can help, please visit their website at http://www.ministryoffaithinc.org/. While there, you may sign up for their FREE e-newsletter, The Fountain where you can keep up with all of the latest community projects Faith Ministries, Inc. is spearheading and participating in. For inquiries, you may contact Pastor Charles Webber at info@ministryoffaithinc.org.

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes Pastor Charles L. Webber for never giving up hope when situations, people and circumstances appear hopeless. Faith Ministries, Inc. is not only the substance of things hoped for, but it is undoubtedly the evidence of things not seen!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Congratulations April Faith Eason, Winner of “In the Spirit of Inspiration” Book Give-a-way!


When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.
-- Helen Keller

April Faith Eason is a 29-year-old single mother of two boys who are nine and ten. She is a full time student majoring in social work at UNC Charlotte. She is very passionate about being able to travel to Africa and helping to educate and provide medical treatment for those infected with HIV/AIDS after completion of her BSW. April loves God with all of her heart. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose says April. She believes that God is preparing her to go places she has never been and to see things she has never seen.

Congratulations April! Thank you for your support and be blessed by your great reads.

www.kymgmoore.com

Congratulations Carolyn Graham-Murray, Winner of “In the Spirit of Inspiration” Book Give-a-way!


Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward.
-- Henry Ford

Carolyn Graham-Murray, one of our "In the Spirit of Inspiration" Grand Prize winners, lives in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Benedict College and the mother of one son, Brandon Murray. She is a member of the Young Chapel Church in Columbia, where she serves as the Planning Committee Coordinator. She is an Account Executive for Fashion Fair Cosmetics covering the Southeastern part of South Carolina and August, Georgia regions. Her favorite hobbies include cooking, entertaining and reading great magazines. Her motto is “Put God First!”

Congratulations Carolyn! Thank you for your support and be blessed by your great reads.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

GRADUATION DAY 2010!


The day seemed so surreal as I marched into the Time Warner Arena behind hundreds of Masters Degree candidates to the area where people stood in front of our section holding oversized flags on poles that clearly identified who we were. Even as I glanced over at the neighboring section of students where oversized flags indicated that they were the Bachelors Degree candidates, I was reminded of the journey I took, when I sat in the same section as I graduated from the University of South Carolina 30 years ago. Thirty years ago? Yep, exactly 30 years and 3 months ago! Even in the excitement of cheering family members and friends who packed the designated visitors section of the arena and over 800 degree candidates, I am swept away by the sounds of the bag-pipes as the ceremony began.

Now, sitting here the day after Commencement Exercises, I believe it is finally setting in that I sat in an audience of my peers, listening to inspiring speeches, and then walking down the aisle to march on stage and shake the hands of college officials, congratulating me on another one of my monumental achievements. Just hearing the bittersweet sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” indicates that we shall stand tall, collapse in the arms of our accomplishments and grasp our mandate to serve our purpose as God intends. Now that I am an official Masters of Business Administration Degree recipient, I am elated and grateful to God for getting me through some difficult and frustrating days of climbing this academic mountain. One of my nieces asked me, “so what are you going to do next?” I said, “I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it will entail climbing a bigger mountain as I keep dancing and celebrating life!” And as Forrest Gump says: “That’s all I have to say about that!” But stay tuned! I just may surprise myself! I am not ruling out a doctorate degree at this point!

I encourage you to dream bigger dreams, turn your visions into reality, extend your hands to help someone along the way and encourage them to go to the mountaintop and experience excellence and greatness. Be all that you can be and remember…time waits for no one!





Thursday, August 5, 2010

A Soul Stirring Multi-Cultural Experience!

I had the honor and pleasure of attending a fabulous event on Wednesday evening, August 4, 2010 that was hosted by the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange (WIE) and The Light Factory located in Spirit Square, in uptown Charlotte, NC. The exhibition, “My Family, My Culture” was such a powerful, emotional and spiritual experience. WIE members used the power of photography to tell stories that illustrated their culture, their families and their everyday lives. As you viewed each exhibit and read the myriad of stories representing a diversity of cultures of Native American, African American, Italian, Indian, Hispanic and many others, we discovered that we are so much alike. For more information about the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange, visit their website at http://www.wi-ce.org/.

The Light Factory, a contemporary museum of photography and film, spearheaded the creation of the museum quality exhibits for each one of the participants. If you live in Charlotte, North Carolina, I urge you to take some time to visit The Light Factory, whose mission reaches the school system and the community to teach them about the power of photography and the aesthetics surrounding this amazing art form. Here is the information for only one of four contemporary museums of photography and film in the United States:

The Light Factory
345 North College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
704-333-9755
http://www.lightfactory.org/

Sunday, August 1, 2010

For the Rest of 2010


As of today, August 1, 2010, we can officially say that we have 5 months remaining in this year. Just like everyone else, I continue to have my share of challenges in one area or another and sometimes the agony from the pressure seems unbearable. On the other hand, I am reminded to celebrate my life’s purpose and achievements. When I think about my short-term and long-term strategy for emerging from the ashes of discouragement, adversity and alleged defeat, I reflect on this scripture that has become my daily mantra: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

I welcome and grip a sense of peace that tells me to focus on God instead of my circumstances. I pray that I can truly be a catalyst of encouragement to others that energizes their spirit to strive towards upward mobility, instead of downward stagnation. Sometimes life deals us an unexpected deck of cards where the odds seem to be stacked against us. Yet, we take the hand we are dealt, and ask God to show us His divine plan, through possibilities that seem humanly impossible.

May we continue to embrace the fruits of the spirit that will lead us to our divine calling and the impact we make on others: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance. Let us reenergize our minds, body and spirit. However, if we are caught up in the midst of a ball of confusion, that often hits us like a run-a-way freight train, we must remember to step out of that circle of chaos into the arms of quiet serenity extended from God. Continue to be encouraged by embracing the peace within. Do not allow the current challenges of life to dictate the rest of the chapter you are writing for the balance of this year.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/