"You are the Church"

Written on April 30, 2009 by The Reverend Raymond Walters

Senior Pastor of Stone Squarer Ministries

The above statements are found in the Catechism at the back of the Book of Common Prayer. The word "church" can take on many different meanings in a variety of contexts. It can mean the building, it can mean the Sunday worship event, and it can refer to the institution or denomination. We most often use the word to reference something beyond ourselves. "Where do you go to church?" "This is such a beautiful church!" "Church was very nice today."

But when we depersonalize the church we forget that the very essence of the church is the people. The church is not something beyond us; we are the Church.

The Christian church began as small gatherings of people who believed in the Christhood of Jesus. They first met in homes and tombs to eat together and to remember and experience Jesus. Eventually the Church became an institution. Institutions always forget that they are essentially organized people. They allow themselves to become defined by their buildings or creeds, or even worse hierarchies within the Church. Like governments and universities, the Church too often is defined, even overpowered by the details--- those things meant to support the people without whom there is no institution.

The church is only as strong as the people who consistently come together to witness to the love of God in their lives and the world!

Remember this, the church is not a building; it is not a budget or an endowment. It is not the lay and ordained staff. These are simply gifts, tools to empower US for ministry.

The Church is a group of people who believe that God can do more to transform their city and the world through them collectively than individually.

God and our forbears have blessed us with wonderful gifts that we can use to further God’s Kingdom--- and we should do our best to care for them. Without the Church, the community is just empty.

Joel Buckner is a trailblazing songwriter awe inspiring singer, and a man that is all about fulfilling his purpose in life. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Joel began honing his God-given talent while being mentored by one of the most endowed Ministers of Music, Bishop Johnathan E. Alvarado. At the age of 13, an opportunity presented itself and Joel became a youth choir director for the Bible Way Church. During the 1990’s Joel was influenced by gospel groups like Commissioned, The Winans and Carl Thomas and through them, he developed his individual style, which ignited within him a movement of change in leading people to worship.

DaytonBookExpo.com. The first Dayton Book Expo will occur on Saturday, May 1, 2010 in the great City of Dayton, Ohio! The all-day event includes panel discussions for aspiring authors, activities for children at Kidz Zone and book signings! We have already received significant support and anticipate over 1,000 book lovers to attend the Dayton Book Expo (DBE).

Award-winning songwriter, artist and producer - Antonio Neal - is known for "Fallen in Love" the title track of Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" sound track. "I like to help create opportunities for urban artists who might feel like they don't stand a chance in this business," says Antonio. "Any success I have is something way bigger than me. I don't even want it to be about me. I want it to be about opening doors...the same kind of doors that have been opened to me. "I want to write and sing about the things I go through, and a lot of people go through. I know, and I think it's clear in my songs, that and at the end of the day, Who's in control, and Who's going to get me through. And that gives me the freedom to look at, and live in, and write about all the aspects of His creation." Or, you could simply say, real music about real life.

Click the play button to listen to the Prose, Rhythm and Praise! Podcast with Antonio Neal.

Click here to download the Prose, Rhythm and Praise! podcast with Antonio Neal!

The term "Musician's musician" would aptly describe Rodnie Bryant. Bryant began his musical training under the tutelage of Ms. Mattie Moore. A few of his awards... Bryant was a first-round nominee for a 1998 Grammy Award. He was also a final nominee for a 1999 Soul Train Award. He won the 1998 GMWA Excellence Award for Choir of the Year & Song of the Year. In 1999 he won the WHHH - 96 Gospel Radio/TV Award and won an Inside Gospel Award in 2002. Rodnie has toured with such gospel headliners as Donald Lawrence and Karen Clark-Sheard, Ricky Dillard, just to mention few. Following the success of the albums "He's A Keepa" "My Father's Business" and "Change of Seasons", the aim of Bryant's ministry is to spread God's Word. Rodnie Bryant is a director, producer and music arranger. Having been inspiring audiences for more than thirty years, his hope today is to be able to help those who will pass this way after him.

Click the play button to listen to the Prose, Rhythm and Praise! Podcast with Rodnie Bryant.