News Letter - Feburary 2000, Volume IV

Drawing of Lighthouse

Pastor's Harbor

Antioch Lighthouse

Here at Antioch, we are Disciples for Christ, the Church of Three Ships: Worship, Friendship, and Fellowship; Where our worship is produced by our daily devotion with God, Where our friendship is produced by our love, Where our fellowship is produced by our relationship with Christ. Here at Antioch, we are Kingdom Building.

Rev. Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
Staff/Writers: Bonnie Frizell, Rosemary Jordan, Shelly Robinson
Editor: Stella Thomas

February 2000
Volume IV

Search For Significance

O LORD, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Ps 8:1-4 (NIV)

Several years ago there was a book published entitled, "The Search For Significance." This book was published in 1985 and the republished in 1990. It was the prefect book for the eighties and nineties, but I feel it is very applicable now. Our Theme for 2000 is 'Here Am I', this really has to do with significance. The great tragedy is most people feel that they are marginal at best. We really believe we have nothing to do with the plan of God, so we live out lives in

obscurity never answering the call that is before each of us.

In the month of January, particularly fourth Monday, was Iowa's Caucus. Since then I have had a new sense of mine, and our significance. It is 'get out the vote time'. Understand me now. This is not a point of complaint, but of observation. I received all kinds of calls in weeks past from all kinds of people. They had an agenda in mind, to get their candidate elected. Now, this was just fine with me. The thing that grips me is how important we are to the process. I don't want this point to be lost in the moment. God uses the things of this world to confound the wise. We have forgotten our godly significance.

It has been seven years since I came to Antioch Baptist Church. In that time God has been pleased to bless us in many ways still I feel that is more to come. These blessings have not solely been because of me only but of you also. I want you to stand and be counted. It was important for us to be at the caucus' on last Monday. I put before you that it is more important for us to be in the trenches day in and day out for the Lord. It will be in the trenches that the war is won God. wants

you to know that He is mindful of you. He wants you to answer His call.

The African American people have from the early part of the civil war and reconstruction period sought to define their collective destiny. I believe god has been at the heart of this search for significance. This is not a slap on Africa. This is Abraham coming out of Hur. I want to press on us the significance of casting our destiny with God. This is about the soul of a nation and the destiny of a people. God is concerned with the perfection of America as a nation and we as a people are part of that redemptive work. god is also taking us as a people to a promised land and America is a part of that deliverance.

The purpose of this article is to stimulate conversation concerning the direction of the people of God. I do not want you to be caught up simply in our times. Search our past, examine our present, and look for our future. Each of you are significant in this labor.

A Tribute to Black America

God in His infinite wisdom knew the importance of having all mankind created in His universe, because He knew that we all have our contribution to make. Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if Blacks had never been born. Well read below and see the very many important contributions the we, Black Americans, have made. We are a peculiar people, created by God, with the abilities to be any thing we want to be.

There would have been very few crops that flourished because this nation was built on a slave-supportive system.
There would be no cities with tall skyscrapers because Alexander Miles, a black man, invented the elevator, and with it one would find great difficulty reaching high floors.
Three would be few, if any cars because Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gear shift, Joseph Gammell, also a black man, invented the Super Charge System for Internal Combustions Engines, and Garrett A. Morgan invented the traffic signals.
Furthermore, one could not use the rapid transit system because its precursor was the electric trolley, which was invented by another black man, Elbert R. Robinson.
Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate, they were cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper.
There would be few if any newspapers, magazines and books because John Love invented the pencil sharpener, William Purvis invented the fountain pen, Lee Burridge invented the Type Writing Machine and W. A. Lovette invented the Advanced Printing Press. They were all black.
Even if Americans could write their letters, articles and books, they would not have been transported by mail because William Barry invented the Postmarking and Canceling Machine, Walter Purvis invented the hand Stamp and Phillip Dowing invented the Letter Drop.
The lawns would be brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invented the Lawn Sprinkler and John Burr the Lawn Mower.
When they entered their homes, they would find them to be poorly ventilated and heated. You see, Frederick Jones invented the Air conditioner and Alice Parker the Heating Furnace. Homes would also be dim, because you see, Lewis Lantimer invented the Electric Lamp, and Michael Harvey invented the Lantern and Granville T. Woods invented the Automatic Cut off Switch. People would also find it difficult to keep their homes clean because Thomas W. Steward invented the Mop and Lloyd P. Ray, the Dust Pan.
Their children would meet them at the door -- barefooted, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect since Jan E. Matzelinger invented the Shoe Lasting Machine, Walter Sammons invented the Comb, Sara Boone invented the Ironing Board and George T. Samon invented the Close Dryer.
Finally, they would resigned themselves to at least have dinner amidst all of this turmoil. But here again, the food would have spoiled because another black man, John Standard invented the refrigerator.

So you see, we are and always have been a very important part of these United States of America. We do play a significant role. We were created in the image of God, and God chose ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things. "The challenge is to remember Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me".

Antioch Baptist Church
Rev. Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
426 Sumner Street
Waterloo, Ia. 50703