Julie Carr book-signing

A release party for “Let Your Light So Shine” was held April 26 in Peeler Hall at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. Written by St. John’s member Julie Carr, the faith-based memoir tells the story of Carr’s journey with lung cancer. Proceeds from the book sales go to charity. It was published through a grant from the St. John’s Benevolent Foundation, as well as donations from church members and is available for sale in the church’s gift shop, Season’s Gifts.

During the event, Carr, a non-smoker, talked about her experiences with cancer, and the importance of lung cancer research. Following a question-and-answer session, she signed copies of her book.

NAACP coronation of Woman/Mother of the Year

The Salisbury-Rowan National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held the coronation of its Woman/Mother of the Year on May 4 during its annual Woman’s Empowerment Brunch at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church.

Dr. Tonyan Grace Schoefield was the keynote speaker and area churches sponsored candidates vying for the honorable crown.

The Woman/Mother of the Year Pageant is a fundraiser. The money raised is use to supplement the local, state and national budgets in their struggle to dismantle the systems of poverty, racism and discrimination.

Eva Knight-Wyzisk was crowned winner of the contest. She was sponsored by First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Knight-Wyzisk is active at Rowan Helping Ministries and with the DNC, outreach for seniors and the sick and shut-in members of her church. She received an expense-paid trip to participate in the NC Woman/Mother of the Year in Raleigh.

Annie Boone-Carroll was first runner-up. She was sponsored by Tower of Power United Holy Church USA. She serves as membership chairwoman of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP and is owner and operator of Boone-Carroll Funeral Home in Cleveland.

Second runner-up, Sara Oglesby, was sponsored by Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church. She is president of Hall’s Chapel’s Mother Board and a member of the missionary circle, ladies fellowship and pastor’s aid.

Linda Black is chairwoman of the Freedom Fund committee which sponsored the brunch. Yolanda Woods is chairwoman of the Woman/Mother of the Year. Gemale Black is president of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP.

Reaching Up and Out

Saturday, May 18, was a historic day in Far North Kannapolis. New Piney Grove Baptist Church, 1000 S. Chapel St., Kannapolis, and Parkwood Baptist Church, 1069 Central Drive, Concord, joined forces to bring the residents of Rose Hill and Far Side communities closer together by reaching out to know one another better and getting to know Christ.

A community hot dog cookout was held in the parking lot of New Piney Grove Baptist Church. In addition to these two churches, Enochville Baptist Church, Bethpage United Presbyterian Church and Kirkwood Presbyterian Church all had a big hand in making this event so successful.

The hot dogs were grilled by Gary Auten of Enochville Baptist. DeMarcus Russell of Bethpage United Presbyterian provided the entertainment by performing an outstanding spiritual mime routine. Music was performed by New Piney Grove Baptist Church. The food was served by volunteers of Parkwood Baptist.

Games were played: Get to know one another bingo; guess the number of jelly beans in the jar. Numerous drawings were held to give away gift cards to Food Lion, Old Navy, gas cards and more. The children were entertained by playing go fish, a water slide and balloons.

The evening concluded with a short program by the Rev. Michael Waters of Parkwood Baptist Church. What a blessing to see clusters of members from about five different churches assembled at New Piney Grove Baptist Church welcoming the community to fellowship, worship, share the gospel and pray for the community.

Reaching Up and Out is a program of Parkwood Baptist Church and goes hand and hand with the national program, Bless Ever Home. If your church has not started this program, check it out on line at Bless Every Home.