Baby Dedications at South Brooklyn

We take our responsibilities seriously at South Brooklyn. Very seriously. We don't want there to be an opportunity where we did not get our work done successfully.

One of our most important works is to dedicate children back to God, much the way Hannah did Samuel, or Elizabeth did for John (the Baptist). While we are responsible for the dedication and the charge to the parents to do right, the ultimate training comes from the parents, themselves. We do offer extended support and resources to the parents, so they are not left totally alone.

We recently had our first baby dedication for the year and look forward to following up with the families in the near future. Please join us in congratulating them and offering the Christ-like support that they will need in order to train their children in righteousness. Children don't come with instruction manuals, but the Bible does provide a roadmap for life.

Photos from the dedication are provided below and can be seen on our Flickr page.








God bless you, as you bless others.
Elder Scott Hampton

Haiti Didn't Ask for the Earthquake

Haiti didn't ask for the earthquake. It came suddenly, like a flood. True, some scientists said that a catastrophe such as this was due to hit the island, and they were right, but people generally weren't expecting it. The earthquake caught the island off guard.

My heart and prayers go out to the Haitians in this troubling time. Many people died instantly. Some shortly after. Many are injured and suffering. When I watched the news this week I saw the hurt, the pain, the destruction... My heart was heavy and torn apart.

As a human being, I was empathetic to these individuals who I never even met. That's the kind of compassion that Jesus has to all mankind. He hurts when you hurt. I know God will send His mighty healing hand down and touch everybody. I'm praying for them hard and constantly.

Does God know the Haitians are suffering? Of course. Is God responsible for that? Of course not! The Bible tells us that God knows our future and He has plans for us to be successful, not destroyed. That includes Haitians! God didn't want the earthquake to hit the island.

Brothers and sisters, young people, keep the faith. A lot of people blame God or blame Haiti, but they don't know the truth. Remember, God has plans for us all to prosper!

God bless,
Elder Claudius Taylor

Heavenly Whereabouts

The Bible always talks about Christ's second coming, and pastors preach that all of heaven will be empty when Jesus comes. But where will God the Father be?

The Bible says "…in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself". God the Father will be in the same position as He was when Christ came the first time—right there with Jesus.

It's a reassuring thought that God the Father and God the Son will be in the same place. If we remain where Jesus is (by doing what He asks us to do), we will, by simple association, be in the same place God the Father is! That kind of thought lets me sleep good at night.

So, how do can we be where Jesus is, who is always where God the Father is? The Bible gives us a simple formula and it calls for unity, at its core. Jesus wants us all to be unified as a body of believers so that we can be with Him. He is with His Father. So we can be with Jesus, who is with His Father, and we can all be together.

Is there anything stopping you from being unified with your brothers or sisters? Take a moment to resolve your differences. It's the Christian thing to do! Once reconciled, you'll be in unity, and therefore with Jesus, who is with the Father.

God bless you as you go about doing good.
Elder Pauline Thomas

Tragedy in Haiti

On Tuesday, the nation of Haiti was rocked with a devastating earthquake that registered an astounding 7.0 magnitude, which sent aftershocks of up to 5.9 further across into the Dominican Republic. Without a doubt, something major happened that should send a message to Haitians, Haitian-Americans, Americans, and humans in general.

One message that the earthquake should have sent is that, as predicted eloquently in the Bible, there will be a time when strong buildings, cities, and nations will not be able to stand. There will be earthquakes and famines. Major tragedies.

But another message is sent, one that pulls at the heartstrings of every human with compassion. What is that message? That we love one another. That, I believe, is a message that we can all accept.

Jesus Christ said "…by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another", and I believe that. In this time of tragedy for the Haitians, we as humans have to rise to the occasion and take a firm grip of the indomitable "human spirit"—the same one that New Yorkers resorted to during the tragedy of 9/11—and show our love to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

What can you do to support? Find what you can satisfactorily do and exert the effort to see it through to fruition. There are humans in legitimate need depending on your benevolent assistance. Find the most wholesome resource to give to, and then trust that God will do the rest. If you need help choosing a place to give, consider ADRA. Their track record is impeccable.

God bless you, as you bless others.
Elder Scott Hampton