Christmas Flashback 1988: Christmas Flashback 1985

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Set Me Free Drama-Lighthouse Church Youth Group 2014

Children's church message!

Children's church brings back so many memories (all good)! 😃

Christmas Play, Skit, Drama Life Church Youth Christmas Drama

The importance of diversity: Multicultural Conference & Festival 2009

The importance of diversity: Multicultural Conference & Festival 2009

Some events that I have attended: Voce Prepares for their "I'll Follow the Sun" Conc...

Some events that I have attended: Voce Prepares for their "I'll Follow the Sun" Conc...

Easter celebrations held across the state

I've been to some Sunrise Services. You sing hymnals & when it's all done there is fellowship afterwords. Sunrise Services is every Easter Sunday and it's from 5 AM-6 AM (Service time varies from different churches). People also enjoy munchkin donuts, coffee, and orange juice, etc.

Parts of Massachusetts that I've been to: Parts of Massachusetts that I've been to

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Parts of New York I've been to: Parts of New York that I've been to

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The time that I was in Boy scouts 1988

I remember when boy scouts had Conservative values back in 1988 when I was in boy scouts.

I must have been 10 when I was in boy scouts when I attended Shiloh Christian Church (SCC) in Hartford on the West Hartford line. In boy scouts us boys were the following: Competitive, some of us were jealous of each other, some of us were like soldiers, and others showcased their leadership skills while in boy scouts. I remember learning about the different knots while in boy scouts.

I used to invite my friend Teyrence to cub scouts & Teyrence used to invite his friend Ian to cub scouts. My mom used to take me, Teyrence, and Ian to cub scouts every Wednesday night at church. I remember the different knots all of us cub scouts used to tie while we were at church (I was always good at tying the granny knot same as the square knot).

One night while attending a cub scout meeting, Brother Norman one of the greeters at (SCC) also in charge of the boy scouts ministry had threw a party for the boy scouts. US boys had come a very long way from the time we all first came to boy scouts and the party was a way to interact with each other. I remember bringing duplex sandwich cookies with creme in the middle to the party we had. For some reason when I have bought food like that to parties I always have a lot left over.

Anyway, Brother Norman noticed I had a whole lot of cookies left over and thought it would be a good idea to use my mom's cookies for snacks for after 3 1/2 hour Sunday church service at Shiloh Christian Church. I initially felt comfortable and I remember saying "Sure why not" and I had given my mom's cookies to Brother Norman because I thought that was a really good thing to do.  Teyrence reminded me that that was a wrong thing for Brother Norman to do. When I had given up the cookies my friend Teyrence 8 going on 9 said to me, "Don't give your mom's cookies away like that. Your mom bought these cookies and you have a whole lot of cookies left over. This man might be a church friend but he is trying to con you out of your mom's cookies by telling you that they would be for after church service on Sunday. This man could take these cookies home to his family and they would probably eat the cookies up or he would probably eat the cookies up. You probably wouldn't see this man in church again or if you saw him again he would probably have an excuse what happened to the cookies and you never know what really happened to the cookies because the cookies would be all gone." Teyrence made a whole lot of sense to what he was telling me. Sometimes kids need to have buddies to make sure that they are not being conned by other kids or in this case an adult. I remember coming up to Brother Norman and telling him that I don't think that it would be a good idea to give away my mom's cookies like that. You would never think that people would try to con people in church like that but the truth is people who are true con artists will con people even in church & from that experience that I had I learned that every one in church is not honest. I still trust people but you have to always be watchful. 

Philippians 4:6-7King James Version (KJV)

"6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6-7&version=KJV

2004 Flashback: 2004 Flashback

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Truth Baptist Church (Christmas Cantata): Truth Baptist Church (Christmas Cantata)

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Housework & Activities: Hanging out riding with a really good friend of th...

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Some events that I have attended: 1985 Fishing Experience

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Some events that I have attended: Oasis Christian Church Coffee Hour

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Are Community Churches like Denominational Churches?: Are Community Churches like Denominational Churche...

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The importance of diversity: The importance of diversity

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Some churches I've enjoyed visiting: Some churches I've enjoyed visiting

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Oasis Christian Church

1.) Did you attend a church service on Sunday? Yes.

2.) What is the name of the church that you attended? Oasis Christian Church.

3.) Where is the church located that you attended? Windsor, CT.

4.) Is the church a big or small church? Small church.

5.) Is the church that you attended a Denominational or Non Denominational church? Non Denominational.

6.) Is this the first time that you attended this church that you went to? Yes.

7.) What was your experience like at this church that you attended? I could feel the love from the moment me & my mom pulled in the church parking lot!

8.) You mentioned that you and your mom had a warm welcome at this particular church. Please explain. The people were loving on us as they greeted us. I have not experienced a warm-welcome at a church like this in a while at a church.

9.) Was there any special event going on at this particular church? We had communion because it was 1st Sunday.

10.) What time does church service at this church start? Service is at 11 AM.

11.) Was there anything that you noticed that made you feel like this felt like a church home? Yes.

12.) What did you notice about this church that stood out the most out of all of the churches that you have visited? "Come as you are" people dressed comfortably, church had people of all races', and me and my mom really enjoy worshiping and fellow-shipping with everyone at church service.

13.) How long was church service? 1 hr. 20 minutes.

14.) Do you see this particular church as a possible church that you and your mom would consider attending regularly? Definitely!

15.) Do this church remind you of a particular church or churches that you visited? Yes. The Full Gospel Interdenominational Church growing up & Faith Community Church only in the sense that you put your offering in a box after church is over.

16.) When anyone go to church they for the most part like to fellowship and that's normal. People also go to get their praise and worship on. What is the praise and worship like at the church that you and your mom attended? Very lively & what we are used to!

17.) How did you first hear about this church that you and your mom attended? I spotted it in the phone book and saw the phone number and address.

18.) Were you glad that you came to the church service at this particular church? Yes!

19.) Do you think this could possibly be your church home? I don't know (I have to keep coming then I will know).

20.) Did you hear a really good word? Yes! I was blessed by the word that guest speaker shared. The Lord's return is near!

Attending Church Services Up North and Down South

Up North

Down South

Visiting churches is always a good way to decide if you are going to be a member of that particular church or not. I've visited so many churches in the Greater Hartford area. I've been involved in Children's church, Youth group, Sunday school, etc. and I always had fun interacting with children when I was in children's church and teenagers when I was in youth group. The fellowship is awesome and meeting different people is always a great experience! When you visit churches it's important to remember that church services is important, this will help you decide to choose which church is right for you. I must mention this that chances are that you may have to travel out of state to find a really good word church up North. I find that the churches that are around me where I live in Bloomfield tend to be traditional. What I mean by traditional, you have to look a certain way and some churches take up 3 offerings. My advice is to stay away from churches like that. The reason I say that is because it's almost like you are felt to feel condemned for not giving if you are not able to give every offering. Also, you should be able to go to a church and feel comfortable. I mean men can wear jeans if they want or women can wear makeup if they want. Any church that have people wearing dress clothes "dress to impress" is not a church I feel comfortable being in. The Bible says "come as you are" and that's how all churches should be. Try not to be involved in a church pass 2 hours. First off, any church that goes beyond 2 hours long, will not have you under any anointing. Them kind of churches I encourage you to walk out and never go back and don't look back. If a church service can't respect people that got to eat, have to take medication, or any emergency that he or she have to tend to, then that church is not a church you want to be a part of. The church is designed to do the following: Praise and worship, offering, preaching the word, prayer, and altar calls for anyone who would like to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. What I noticed in quite a few churches that I've visited is when a pastor of a church or churches may ask if anyone has a testimony or a praise report. Pay careful attention to the length of their testimony or praise report. If their testimony or praise report is anywhere between 3-10 minutes long, then it's most likely a good testimony or praise report. However, if their testimony or praise report is 30 minutes or longer, then it's most likely a long winded testimony or praise report to where people wish that he or she will hurry up. Having long winded testimonies and trying to impress people, it don't really impress people. Those are just heads ups on the churches up North that I am mentioning.

Meanwhile, churches Down South are the complete opposite. Whenever I visit a church down South, the people always greet you and are very friendly. By the people tending to be more hospitable down South, they make you feel right at home when you visit a church or churches. The church services are timely and they don't hold service all day long. The longest I've been in a church down South was 2 hours that I can remember but for the most part 1 hour- 1 hour 30 minutes. The church service consists of the following: Praise and worship, Tithes and offering, the pastor preaching the word, prayer, and altar calls for anyone who want to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Church flows smoothly and people usually fellowship with others after service is over. I have nothing but good things to say about the churches down South. People may ask you if you want to join and become a member. If you're just visiting, then let them know that you're from out of state visiting. The people always say, "You're always welcome here and that you have a church here that you can visit." The people in the churches down South are always welcoming and they say, "Thank you for coming and come back again anytime you are in the area."

It's not that the people in churches up North are not welcoming. The people in churches down South is friendlier in how they welcome you than the people in churches up North. Probably one of the biggest difference with churches up North and the churches down South, is people go where they are led to go to church. The people down South have a much better understanding of that than the people up North do where I'm from. Just because you've been to a church 5 years or longer does not mean that you are going to stay at that particular church forever. God call people to minister, even start a church of their own, and people just have to understand that where I'm from and not be so envious. It's not good to be envious of anyone when it's God calling them to do something. Christians need to learn how to be in agreement with one another and God may even lead him or her back to that church if he feels led to send them back there.

Dream Warning of False Church Leaders Part 1 & 2

I am going to first start off by quoting a Bible verse in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (KJV) to reference a time we are living in. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power therefore: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was." The more I observe and notice what is going in the world and in a lot of churches, I am reminded of the Bible verse 2 Timothy 3:1-9. The Bible is fulfilling and the more I think back on how things were in churches back in the 80's and 90's, I'm reminded constantly that things are not the same. The one thing that will never change is the power of prayer and God not only changing things but also the cold hearts of people who have selfish motives or intentions. I never would have thought that people would have such a selfish way about themselves that they wouldn't want to help people that are in need of help. I look at how I was brought up and how I was taught if you see someone in need, if you can help them then help them out if you can. When it's getting to the point where churches who people looked up to as good word churches that is begging for money asking people to give so much money to keep their Mega churches going, it's a big sign that we are in these last days.

I am not a teacher, minister, pastor, reverend, deacon, etc. or any titles that people are given or give themselves. However, as a person who was brought up in the church since birth, I am well aware of what is going on with how the false prophets are coming in churches getting the born again believers to stray away from the path that is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. I can't say that I have not made mistakes in my life because I have and none of us are perfect but there is a big difference when Christians ask God for forgiveness and fully repent of their sins like it says in Hosea 14:4 (KJV) "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." There is also a big difference when Christians willfully sin and act like "well God has forgiven me so I didn't do anything wrong" like it says in Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins..." I think there are a lot of Christians that are in the same boat that I'm in where they have to watch good preaching on TV in order to get a good word because a lot of churches are becoming like a recruiting camp like in college football, college basketball, the NBA, and the NFL. Like in college sports, the NBA, and the NFL recruit and draft players, the churches have become like a recruiting facility to draft and recruit members in those particular churches. Alter calls nowadays have become not as much focused on salvation as much as it is as getting visitors to join the different churches. The churches are in need of more than just a couple of people who are on fire for God to come but collectively the church need everyone to be on one accord. The church need more Christians praying and believing in faith like it says in Matthew 18:20 (KJV) "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Churches have to get back to where when God calls different members to use his or her gifts to where everyone is receptive and not jealous or envious of them because they may be more gifted than him or her in different areas. There are people who are more gifted than me in a lot of different areas. For example, I have always been more of a hidden talented person. Some people may ask me how can a person who is always trying to encourage other people be a hidden talented person. It's simple when people tried to tell you all of your life you would never succeed like they have told me, it's easy to prove them wrong by showing them and not uttering a single word. Yes it hurts but the more you prove the doubters wrong, the more they are not likely to say negative things about you. James 1:6 (KJV) "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Jude 1:22 (KJV) "And of some have compassion, making a difference..." I think in these last days we as Christians need to be around fellow Christians with like minded and precious faith that are going to help built people up and not the kind that will only built up certain people and belittle others. I just thought I would share from my heart what's going on and I just wanted everyone else to do the same. God blessed each and everyone of us with a gift. Whether you have hidden or non-hidden talents don't be afraid to use your gifts and talents.

Flashback 1984 Part 2

The second family I remember staying with back in 1984 who also attended The Full Gospel Interdenominational Church in Manchester lived in Squire Village in Manchester (which was not far from the church in Downtown Manchester 6 minutes to be exact). The family was black and knew me and my family. Naturally, I thought that the family who I stayed with would relate to me. I was disciplined when I needed to be Proverbs 23:13-14 "13 Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Proverbs-23-13_23-14/ was like the theme while I stayed with the family who I was staying with for a week. I remember that the mom Sister Brooks of the family who I stayed with told me right off the back, "In this house you do what you are told, you don't talk back, and you eat what is put in front of your plate!" All I could think about at 6 years of age was how I was going to learn the true meaning of discipline from the family who I was staying with. For one thing I was quiet. Secondly, I was taught not to talk back to adults. Lastly, my mom made sure that she taught me to eat what was put in front of my plate.

I remember the family who I stayed with showed me the guest room where I would stay at and I remember the family who I stayed with had 2 TV's (one in their bedroom and the other one in the living room). The mom of the family who I stayed with was outspoken and did all of the talking and I listened really carefully. I remember when we ate what I was used to eating for breakfast (cereal or oatmeal and occasionally pop tarts) like cornflakes & bananas and milk or raisin bran & bananas and milk. I remember I had to get up at a certain time in order to eat a certain time and whatever I didn't finish eating I was going to eat it either for lunch or dinner. (It was military style because the woman's hubby was in the military). The family who I stayed with was strictly about discipline to the core (you could say that they didn't let up when it came to discipline). The mom of the family who I stayed had no problem doing the discipline when it was necessary. The mom of the family who I stayed with introduced me to her big thick paddle she called "Soratie." The mom of the family who I stayed with showed me that little kids who acted up got disciplined with "Soratie." I did what I was told, ate what was put in front of my plate, and for the most part I didn't talk back. However, I was not a big vegetables eater and the one vegetable that the mom of the family who I stayed with made that I absolutely didn't like was sweet peas. At 6, it looked like the mom of the family who I stayed with was going to have a challenge because my own mom could never get me to eat sweet peas. I would eat carrots, spinach, and broccoli but cabbage and sweet peas; no one could get me to eat those vegetables. I remember I began to act stubborn with the mom of the family who I stayed with when it came time for me to eat my sweet peas and the mom of the family who I stayed with said, "Paul you better eat your sweet peas!" I said, "No!" The mom of the family who I stayed with said, "I said there is no back talking!" The mom of the family who I stayed with hit me with her paddle. I started crying and said, "But I don't like them!" The mom of the family who I stayed with hit me again with her paddle and said, "Paul in this house you do what you are told!" I remember crying and eating my sweet peas up until I was all done finally finishing my sweet peas. I immediately didn't hesitate and wrote my mom a letter telling my mom how the mom of the family who I stayed with made me eat my sweet peas hitting me a couple of times with her paddle. I will never forget how my mom and my older brother who knew I didn't like sweet peas drove from Hartford to Squire Village in Manchester and came and got me. My mom did the mom who I stayed with hair because my mom is a hairdresser at her house in Squire Village. The mom of the family who I stayed with had let me play my older brother in some games of checkers at her house up until my mom got threw doing her hair. I remember how amazed my mom was, how the mom of the family who I stayed with used her trustee paddle "Soratie" to discipline me & get me to eat my sweet peas. I gave Sister Brooks the silent treatment up until my, mom, older brother, and me left her house. Sister Brooks, "Paul you don't like me anymore. You had your mom pick you up and take you home because you don't want to be in Sister Brooks house anymore." It was so annoying, I remember frowning and how glad I was that I wouldn't have to go through something like that again. I had 2 experiences with different families who I stayed with in 1984 (one was white & the other was black) and I learned how to be content no matter how things were. I can honestly say that I've enjoyed the experiences that I had with the 2 different families who I stayed with.

Squire Village in Manchester (I will never forget this place)

Cornflakes, bananas, and milk pretty good combination

Raisin Bran, bananas, and milk (I liked this combination better when I was a kid).

Wow, who would have thought that I didn't like sweet peas. The mom of the family who I stayed with made me eat these in 1984 but my mom was the reason why I liked sweet peas in 1989.

The mom of the family who I stayed with (Sister Brooks) used her trustee paddle named "Soratie" to discipline me with to get me to eat my sweet peas.

Once my mom & older brother came to Squire Village, Sister Brooks (the mom of the family who I stayed with) let me play my older brother in some games of checkers and I was immediately reunited with my family when the week was up staying with a family.

The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Lighthouse Chapel

The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Lighthouse Chapel


1.) Did you attend a church service on Sunday? Yes (my spiritual birthday).


2.) What church did you go to? The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Lighthouse Chapel.

3.) What was your experience like at the church that you attended? The people were warm-hearted & very welcoming.

4.) What time does church service start at this church that you attended? Sunday school is from 10 AM-11 AM & Regular church service is from 11 AM-12:15 PM.

5.) Where is this church located where you attended? Next to Geissler's Shopping Center & across from the Windsor Public Library in Downtown Windsor.

6.) Is the church that you attended at a big church or a small church? Small church.

7.) How did you hear about the church that you attended? My mom heard about this church on WIHS 104.9 FM radio & how the Pastor of the church donated to the radio station to help WIHS stay on the air to continue giving the good news on their Christian radio station.

8.) Does the Pastor have one or more than one church at the church that you attended? More than one in many different locations.

9.) What did you learn from the message that was brought forth from the church service? That it is important to invest our time in praising the Lord & being grateful for all he has done for us. We also want to be a living testimony praising the Lord both in the good & bad times.

10.) Did the church service that you went to reminded you of an event that you went to at the church that you attended? Yes. It reminded me of the parties that my mom's African customers had at their house. The Africans was dressed up in their African attire & celebrated and sing in their native African language.

11.) You and your mom were visitors at the church y'all attended. How did they greet the visitors at this church? The people came up to us and greeted us shaking our hands and said, "Welcome we're glad to have you here!"

12.) What did you noticed about the church that you attended that stuck with you? The Pastor emphasize on Prayer & Praise, one offering was given and it was at the end of church service, the Pastor have given me and my mom books, cards, contact information, and the Africans fed us their traditional African food after service.

13.) Were you and your mom glad that y'all came to the church service at this church? Yes.

14.) Would you invite people to come and worship at the church you and your mom attended? Yes, because going to things that people are not used to is what helps people get into things that are more diverse.

15.) Would you come again to this church that you attended? Me & my mom said we can't say if we will and we definitely can't say that we will never come back either.

My Testimony on being saved 33 years

My testimony is simple and there is not much of a big story on how I got saved. I remember growing up with my older brother (my mom's 6th son) and me (my mom's 7th son). My mom took all of us to church and my older brother and I were in church since we were 2 months old with our mom being right there in church with us. I remember growing up along with my older brother in a single parent home (with my mom raising us mainly by herself) and it was challenging with us not having our father in our lives but our praying mom always trusted in the Lord and had such a strong faith in God. The church I attended was The Full Gospel Interdenominational Church in Downtown Manchester in Manchester, CT. I grew up around diversity and was embraced by so many people in church and a lot of hands picked me up and held me when I was a baby. I can remember as a little boy how so many people were prophesying so many encouraging words to me. I had my moments when I tried to act like a knucklehead. My mom disciplined me with the belt when she had to (my mom always told me that I never caused her trouble).  Proverbs 13:24 King James Version (KJV) "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+13%3A24&version=KJV

I think what really made me be a good boy was when I went to church and decided to give my life to Jesus Christ. I was only 5 years old at the time and there are all kinds of influences that can cause a child that young to get into trouble. I will never forget what changed my life when the late Reverend Phillip Saunders did an altar call one night on June 5, 1983. We had just got done with church service and I remember Rev. Phillip Saunders asking the congregation "How many would like to be baptized, saved, and filled with the Holy Ghost?" Most of the people who raised their hands that I could remember were in their 20's, 30's, and 40's. You have to understand that no one under 20 years of age raised their hand at that time let alone teenagers or children. But here is this bold 5 year old child in me raising my hand. I will never forget that experience. My mom was asking me, "Paul are you sure you want to do this?" I responded by saying, "Yes ma I'm ready to give my life to Jesus Christ!" My mom again wanted to double check to make sure I was ready and asked, "Paul are you really sure you want to be baptized because you will be all wet when you go in that water?" Not wavering and standing by what I said I replied, "Yes ma I'm ready!" My mom didn't have to ask me a third time if I was ready because she knew how serious I was about being saved & making Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I'm reminded of what Matthew 19:14 which simply says, "But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid not, to come unto me: for of such is the Kingdom of heaven."  I remember being the only child giving my life to Jesus that night. I will never forget the very first Christian program that I watched on TV that being Shepherd's Chapel. I'm thankful for the people that the Lord have used to be in my life and who were such a blessing to me. Everyday I'm thankful to the Lord for saving me when he did and it's a constant reminder of how good God has been to me!

 A photo of me and my Baptismal Certificate I didn't get this certificate until 2 years after I got saved (in 1985 until the church started recording baptisms).

The Full Gospel Interdenominational (Downtown Manchester) in Manchester, CT. This is the church where I got saved at in 1983, the pastor at the time was the late Reverend Phillip Saunders.

Shepherd's Chapel was one of the very first Christian Programs that I watched after I got saved 33 years ago (RIP Pastor Arnold Murray).

Truth Baptist Church (Selah Service)

1.) Have you ever been to a Selah Service that you know of before? No. This is my first time going to a Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church.

2.) What your experience like going to a Selah Service for the first time at Truth Baptist Church? It was a different experience.

3.) Did you like your experience at the Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church? It was okay.

4.) You mentioned that your experience at the Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church was different please explain. Singing, no clapping or worshipping. I thought that this particular service would be more lively like the Christmas Cantata that I went to back in December of 2015.

5.) What time was the Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church? 6 PM.

6.) Would you come back to another church service at Truth Baptist Church? Probably (I can't say that I would never go to another service at this church).

7.) Do you think that Truth Baptist Church is more diverse or less diverse the 2 times you been there? Definitely promotes diversity & more diverse.

8.) Was there any other surprises about Truth Baptist Church that really surprised you at the Selah Service? Yes. I was surprised at how quiet it was. I'm used to praise, worship, and alter calls for those who are not saved and who would like be saved and delivered giving their life to Jesus Christ!

9.) Did the Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church reminded you of a concert? It kind of reminded me at being at the opera.

10.) How long was the Selah Service at the church you went to? About 1 hour & 30 minutes.

11.) How did you adjust to being at this particular service? Simply blending in when we were all standing & singing.

12.) Since this is your very first Selah Service that you remember going to would you recommend anyone go to a Selah Service at Truth Baptist Church or a church that have Selah Service? Only if that is what he or she is used to.

1987 The time that I needed to ask for forgiveness

A woman by the name of Ms. Gigi (we called her sister Gigi) went to Shiloh Christian Church then on Prospect Ave. in West Hartford ran errands and needed help at the Supermarket so my older brother 13 & me 9 went with her to then Copaco Supermarket (now Stop & Shop) in Bloomfield. Sister Gigi did her shopping and you know how when you are a kid in a supermarket you see things that interest's you at the checkout line (like candy for instance). Well, sister Gigi said to me, "Pick out anything you want but it can only be one thing and I will buy it for you!" I was 9 and even though at that age I thought I knew what I wanted to get so I hesitantly picked & finally deciding that I wanted TWIX candy bar. Sister Gigi aksed, "Are you sure this is what you want to get?" I had a chance to change my mind but decided I was going to get TWIX (boy I wished I would have gotten the gum).

Meanwhile, My older brother knew off the bat what he wanted to pick for sister Gigi to purchase and it was something I should have picked out. My brother picked out Bubblicius Bubble gum. The reason why my older brother picked out a better choice than I did because his would last longer like a week or 2 weeks because bubble gum has so many pieces. I started to realize as I was eating my TWIX, that the Twix was going to be all gone that same day, that I should have chosen gum from the get go. Anyway, what did I do in that situation, what any child would do I said, "Sister Gigi I wanted the gum." Sister Gigi responded, "Now Paul you said to me that you wanted TWIX and I paid for you to get TWIX because you told me that was what you wanted." I answered, "But I meant to get bubble gum like my brother got." Sister Gigi replied, "Paul you should not have chosen TWIX if you was not sure that that was what you wanted. I paid for you to get TWIX and that's it, you can't have both TWIX & gum." I threw a tantrum and didn't speak to sister Gigi on the whole ride home. Naturally, I was upset with sister Gigi and told my mom why I was so upset. My mom told me good advice that I needed to hear and my mom simply told me, "Paul you were wrong for the way that you acted towards sister Gigi because sister Gigi paid for you to get TWIX and sister Gigi didn't have to buy you anything. Sister Gigi was nice enough to think of you and your older brother when y'all went with her to the store. I think that you need to ask sister Gigi for forgiveness." Those words admitting that you were wrong is words that you never want to hear especially when you're a kid and it's true that you were wrong. I remember wrestling with this and I will never forget what happened that Sunday when we all went to church. I went up to sister Gigi and I remember telling her these very words, "Sister Gigi, I am sorry for the way I acted towards you at the supermarket and I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?" Sister Gigi responded with a smile, "Yes I forgive you!" Me & sister Gigi greeted each other (hugged each other) and I learned a very important lesson on repenting when I am wrong.

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