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Dr. C.T. VivianPasses the Torch...

renowned minister,author, educator,community activist, and

humanitarian Rev. Dr. C.T.

Vivian, was celebrated at

his 85th birthday on July

31, 2009 by 700 of his

friends, community

leaders, and admirers.

The C. T. Vivian

Leadership Institute hosted

the 85th Birthday

Celebration for Dr. Vivian

who was a close friend and

lieutenant of the Reverend

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

during the American Civil

Rights Movement. His

birthday commemoration,

themed Leadership Now:

Passing the Torch,

included a full day of

activities including a

Discussion Summit ; a

Networking Mixer; and

the main attraction,

Narratives of my Life: A

Spiritual Journey , which

Rev. C.T. Vivianwas a closefriend andlieutenant of Dr.Martin LutherKing, Jr.

Civil Rights Pioneer

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featured passing the torch to a new

generation of leadership.

The Discussion Summit -- Leadership

Now: Passing the Torch, hosted by Angela

Yvonne Robinson, Derrick Boazman, and

Alisha Thomas Morgan, offered an

occasion to recall some of Dr. Vivian’s

history-making moments in time; such as

the confrontation at the Edmund Pettus

Bridge with Sheriff Jim Clark in Selma, AL

and the historic Freedom Riders. Featured

speakers and presenters at this event

included Warren Ballentine, Elizabeth

Omilami, Dick Gregory, Phyllis Yvonne

Stickney and Isaiah Washington.

Alisha Thomas Morgan, Jovita Moore

and Isaiah Washington hosted the evening

dinner party Narratives of my Life: A

Spiritual Journey. Presentations were made

by Monica Pearson, George Andrews,

Henrietta Antoinin, Derrick Boazman, and

others. Leadership Torches were passed by

Reverend Dr. Teresa Hairston and

Reverend Dr. Gerald Durley to those

individuals who participated in the “passing

the torch” discussions earlier in the day.

Entertainment for the event was provided

by Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra and the

Youth Ensemble of Atlanta.

“Narratives” of Dr. Vivian’s life were

written and published in a journal that is

offered for sale by the C. T. Vivian

Leadership Institute, the non-profit

organization founded by Dr. Vivian. The

Institute is committed to developing

minority communities and organizational

leaders through relevant issues and

meaningful programs.

With his family surrounding him, the

evening closed with Dr. Vivian giving his

own narrative and recalling stories about

his life and the people who influenced him.

Commenting on the program, the exuberant

Dr. Vivian said, “I really like this (the

format). I never thought about doing this

before; but it’s very effective. It’s more

personal and allows people a close-up view

of my life in the movement.”

For additional information about the C.

T. Vivian Leadership Institute, please

contact ctvivianleadership@yahoo.com or

visit the website at www.ctvivian.org. gt

Passing the Torch...(l-r) Rev. Gerald Durley, Dr.

Vivian, Warren Ballentine and Dr. Teresa Hairston

Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher

of Movieguide, a Christian watchdog

agency in Hollywood, announced today

that Movieguide is asking Americans to

sign a petition urging the MPAA to end

the ratings system and adopt a Code of

Decency.

“The MPAA’s ratings system never

worked really well, but it has gotten

much worse since it added the ambiguous

PG-13 rating,” Baehr said. “Parents,

especially mothers, can no longer trust

the ratings for movies, especially in light

of the PG-13 ratings for movies like ‘The

Love Guru’ and ‘Land of the Lost,’ and

the R ratings for pornographic movies

like ‘Brüno.’”

Baehr said the problem with the

MPAA ratings is that they are not based

on standards.

“This is not true of the Code of

Decency,” he added, “so it is clear that

the entertainment industry must return to

the kind of system it had during the

‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ and the

‘Golden Age of Television,’ when it was

a wonderful life in America because Mr.

Smith went to Washington, Ricky still

loved Lucy, and the Bells of St. Mary’s

rang across the land.” To sign the petition, go to

http://www.movieguide.org/mpaapetition. gt

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Make aDifference atthe Movies!

Congratulations to Pastor Juandolyn Stokes!

Friends and family came together on Sunday, August 9, 2009, to celebrate the pastoral

anniversary of Pastor Juandolyn Stokes, at the Deeper Life Church in Atlanta, GA. The

theme was “The Unveiling of a Diamond.” Among the celebrants was Dr. Stokes’ father in

the Gospel, Bishop Larry D. Trotter.

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PULPIT VACANCYFull Time PastorNEEDED

Springfield MissionaryBaptist ChurchP O BOX 91110

Washington, DC 20090202.234.0648www.sbconline.org

The Springfield Missionary BaptistChurch, Washington, D.C. is currentlyaccepting applications for the position ofPastor. Interested persons should submitall info contained in this announcementby mail postmarked no later than August31, 2009.

Order your subscription TODAY!gospeltoday.com

Order copies for your churchbookstore: 770.719.4825

for more info:gospeltodaymag@aol.com

entrepreneur’s

boot campPrepare your Mind, Body & Spirit for the next season of your journey!cHristiAn Writers | publisHers | AutHors

you’ll leArn:

nHow to launch/manage a publication

nHow to write press releases that get noticed!

nHow to write articles that will get published

nBasic strategies for business success

“I'm inviting those of you who areready to take the next step on yourpath to purpose to spend a day withme that is especially designed to helpmove you into the place God has foryou! I hope you'll make the sacrificeto be part of this special event!”—dr. teresA HAirston

spend time with gospel today publisher,

teresA HAirston

october 30, 2009 | AtlAntA, GAA t l A n t A A i r p o r t M A r r i o t t H o t e l

*SPACE IS LIMITED. YOU MUST APPLY AND BE ACCEPTED TO PARTICIPATE. FOR APPLICATION/COSTS, SEND EMAIL TO: drhairstongt@aol.com

only $299**Includes conference fees and lunch meal. Hotel offersairport shuttle. Does NOT include hotel accommodations.

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This Week

The Skaggs Family, a group of

Grammy nominated musicians and a

local church came together to help a

business in a small town in Alabama.

Maytown, Alabama, recently

suffered a tragedy. The Tri-Cities

Convenience Store, the town's only

business, burned down recently. This

was particularly upsetting because the

store was literally the only business in

the entire town, and, as such was the

sole source of tax income, and support

for the city’s fire truck.

Four-term mayor Ann Goolsby

recently told a local news reporter: "We

all believe out here in less government

and being very frugal with our money

and doing the best we can and make

every dollar stretch," Goolsby said,

"and the best way to do that is to go to

the community and ask for help, just let

'em know what your problems are and

they'll come through in the end for you."

This past Monday (August 17th), the

Skaggs Family, a four-time Grammy

nominee played a benefit for the town

at the Maytown Baptist Church.

Pastor John Killian commented,

"People are hurting, Christians should

be front in line to help."

For more information, or to help,

contact: Shore Fire Media,

718.522.7171.

doing unto others...

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