Higher Ground News let ter o f The Lans ing Chur c h o f Chr i s t

Spring 2014!

The Nursing Hone Ministry will

visit the Tri-State Nursing home on

Saturday April 5, 2014 at 10am.

The Virtuous Woman Ministry

and The Lansing Center Presents

Classic Cooking 1.1. starts April

5, 10:30—1:00 pm

Youth Skating Event –April 12th

Check the calendar for the next

Senior event. .

Sewing Class 2nd Saturday.

Transportation: If you need a ride, please

contact Bro. Levi Kensey, Sr. at (708) 710-

2869.

Inside this Issue:

2014 MSP Fair 2

The Nursing Ministry The

Daniel Plan

2

New Editor– Rebekah Cole 2

Minister’s Corner - St. Jude 3

VITA—Tax 3

As We Grow 4

Cookies & Hearts 4

Volume 1, Issue 3 April 2014

But Thou, O man of God, flee these things;

and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight

of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto

thou art also called, and hast professed a

good profession before many witnesses.

The man of God is known for the things he

follows after, flees from and fights for. Within

the borders of the Body of Christ in Lansing

stands the Man of God; in complete victory

because of what he follows after, flees from,

and fights for.

The Man of God (Bro. Levell Kensey) demon-

strates his love for God and his people be-

cause of what he:

Follows After: Righteousness, godliness,

faith, love, patience, and meekness.

Flees From: For the love of money if the

root of all kinds of evil, and some people

craving money have wandered from the true

faith and pierced themselves from many

sorrows.

Fights For: Fight the good fight for the true

faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which

God has called you, which you have con-

fessed so well before many witnesses.

These are just a few of the outstanding charac-

teristics of the Man of God, whom the Lord has

granted me the privilege of working with, as an

Associate Minister in the congregation at Lansing;

which has been a beneficial and up lifting expe-

rience. Allow me to share a little background of

how this relationship commenced in my search for

a congregation where I could and would be al-

lowed to use the gift that God had given me in

the area of preaching and teaching, I heard Bro.

Kensey preach. Because of what I heard, I want-

ed to hear more, which happened on a few oth-

er occasions. In fact, he and I were on a program

to preach at the same event on one occasion,

where my desire to hear more became stronger.

As time went on and visits to Lansing became

more frequent, prayers became more fervent for

God to lead and guide my decision to place my

membership with the Lansing Body of Christ. The

confirmation came, and I placed my membership

with the Body of Christ in Lansing. The Preacher

and I seemed to have had an immediate spiritual

bond, which has allowed us to work very good

together. I am grateful and I thank God for

leading me to the Church of Christ at Lansing.

O’ Man of God keep on Following, Fleeing,

and Fighting. To God Be the Glory!

Bro. Michael Prewitt

“ His Spirit Lives On ”

Dedication to Bro. Michael Prewitt– Associate Minister

March 12, 1959 - March 10, 2014

Bro. Michael Prewitt

On September 29, 2013, The Inaugural Issue of “Higher Ground

was dedicated to Brother Levell Kensey, Minister. Bro. RP Whitaker,

Assistant Minister and Associate Minister Bro. Michael Prewitt were

asked to submit an article regarding “What it meant to be a minister

at the Lansing COC and working with Bro. Levell Kensey.” Below is

Bro. Prewitt’s article to Bro. Levell Kensey

Higher Ground Page 2

2014 MSP Fair & 5th Sunday

The 2014 MSP Fair was a

big hit with many of the

members of the Lansing

Church of Christ and guest

that were able to have a

face to face conversation

with the MSP Leaders. This

years theme was “The Evi-

dence of Our Faith.” Rebec-

ca Gosey Sanders served as

this years MSP Chairperson.

Many of the MSP Leaders

were excited because they

were able to increase their

list of volunteers and also

sign up others for many of

the classes they offer.

Please support all of the programs offered at the Lansing Church of Christ. If you would like to volunteer

for any of the programs, please contact the committee chairperson. A special thanks to: Brenda Terrell, Cameron and Candis Owens, Khalia Gates and Imani Whitaker who served as host-esses for the MSP Fair. The Fifth Sunday Fellowship was held on that day as well. Many enjoyed the home cooked dishes and a delightful, uplifting afternoon message by Bro. George Boyd.

New Editor for “Higher

Ground” Rebekah Cole has agreed

to serve as out new editor in chief.

Rebekah Cole has been a member of

the Lansing COC since 2009. Rebekah

was previously a member of the Chat-

ham-Avalon COC, where she was bap-

tized. Rebekah is the mother of two

daughters. Rebekah is a business ana-

lyst for a financial firm and is a current

graduate of DePaul University. She

enjoys creative writing and was for-

merly an editor for the Chatham-Avalon’s Ladies Newsletter. Rebekah

also serves as a contributing editor for her company’s newsletter, The

Chicago Buzz. in her spare time. Rebekah also enjoys gardening, bak-

ing, reading, fitness activities, and fishing with her family. Elisheva

Cole-Turner will serve as her editorial assistant. Please welcome Re-

bekah and Elisheva Cole-Turner as our new newsletter staff.

Cynthia Cathey Young and the Nursing Ministry Committee: .

“THE DANIEL PLAN” Nursing Ministry Coordi-

nator, Cynthia Cathey Young, kicked off the

year on a healthy note with The Daniel Plan.

“The Plan is designed for members to take a 40 day chal-

lenge to incorporate FAITH, FOCUS, FITNESS AND FOOD

into their daily lifestyle ,” says Cynthia Cathey Young. A

kick-off meeting was held on March 16, to introduce Lan-

sing members to the new plan. Members are learning and

incorporating new healthy habits into their daily life style.

At the first meeting the nursing committee took each partic-

ipants weight and waist measurements as a benchmark to

see how successful they will be in getting to their desired

goal. The program encourages partnership and prayer

and incorporates scriptures throughout the study guide to

strengthen each member spiritually and physically. The

group began an exercise regiment after Sunday morning

worship service and are committed to the 40 day chal-

lenge to a healthier life. Cynthia Cathey Young continues

to rally the group to new heights. The Daniel Plan has nu-

merous resources on-line and several books as part of the

program to keep you focused and on track.

Rebekah Cole

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 3

The Lansing Church of Christ has had another stellar year offering free tax preparation for individuals that have an income of $50K or less annually. Tax preparation services run through mid April. The Lansing group is part of VITA and all tax preparers are IRS certified. Leading the Lansing group for another successful year is Sister Genora Reed., along with Sisters; Bar-bara Kensey, Diane Kensey, Catrina Owens and Kendrick Colin. There are others that participate as assistants and help the group with check in and paperwork. It is a valuable service to those at church and in the community. The infor-mation is posted on the Lansing website, but many clients come in based on

word of mouth. Genora and team we CONGRATULATE YOU on another successful year!

The Minister’s Corner

Lansing Church of Christ - St. Jude Walk - 2014

The congregation of Lansing will host a walk and fun fair to raise money for St. Jude, to aid in finding a cure for terminal illnesses that affect many children. This event will take place October 4, 2014. Participants will walk approximately 1.3 mi. along the designated walking path in the neighborhood cross the street from the church, and then return to the building for the fun fair activities. By hosting this event, we will contribute to the groundbreaking research and pioneering care done at St. Jude to save the lives of children everywhere. We will en-gage Lansing Church of Christ in a meaningful event that will bring both us and the community together. Everyone can add to the success of this great event by collecting donations, and

inviting others to participate in helping to fulfill our goals. Our collective monetary goal is to accumulate $20,000, in which 100% will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospi-tal. To help achieve this, each participant is challenged to collect or donate $100. With God,

prayer, and faith, we will make it happen.

Respectfully submitted by Bro. Levell Kensey

Lansing Church of Christ 2014 Tax Preparers

Bro. Levell Kensey

Minister

Note: This newsletter is the property of The Lansing Church of Christ and should not be reproduced without prior permission.

www.lansingcoc.com

Location

17277 Wentworth Avenue

Lansing, IL 60438

Phone: 708-474-9199

Lans i ng Chur ch o f Chr i s t

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www.lansingcoc.com

Note: This newsletter is the property of The Lansing Church of Christ and should not be reproduced without prior permission.

www.lansingcoc.com

Sunday School 10:00 am

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am

Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm

Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:00 pm

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

Email: familygrowthcenter@lansingcoc.com

.Special Birthdays in January

Sis. Emma Kensey January 1

Sis. Zora Tang January 28

Thanks to Shannon Payne and Amenia Jones, Cookies and Hearts was one sweet

affair. On February 15, Lansing youth had the pleasure of baking a variety of

cookies to decorate and eat and were able to take home some love.

Pictured is Khalia Gates, Imani Whitaker. Below L-R: Jaylon Edwards, Zion Gates,

Jayden Holeyfield and Amenia Jones. .

Plans are being made for next February’s “Cookies and Hearts” for an even big-

ger social event for the youth.

The Lansing Center - Cookies and Hearts 2014

As We Grow and Wish to Glow

As we grow and wish to glow, we muscle to make it We strive to succeed We war to win. To shine and to be seen. We think life is about acquiring that career. And living is as we please. We think life is our own and for our own glory. We built strong careers to become our strong bases to stand. Yet no base without Christ. The chief cornerstone can truly stand. In our visions we fail to fit in God; In our struggles to succeed, we never rely on Him for help. Our plans are never structured around his plans. Everything is about us and for us. Yet nothing we achieve on our own can ever last. Alone and

only what we achieve through God and for God can last a lifetime. For as we live we live for His glory, not ours. As we live, we live for his honor, not ours. As we grow and wish to glow, let us then remember that to God alone, belongs all the honor, and all the glory; and that only through knowing Him and working hard with Him, can we truly stand and shine. By: Morula Wa Kutukgolo