While on My First Assignment ...

When I first surrendered to the call to preach, (after running from it for eight long hard years); the Lord sent me to a little coffee house outreach, called,"The King's Inn'', in Picayune, Ms. This was at the head of Goodyear Blvd. & Main St. This was where I began learning hands on ministry of teaching and preaching God's Word. I was also sent to the mission field of "Goodyear Blvd." The "Vard" was the hang out of the day. While making my usual trek, from what is now P.J.'s to the other end, where Mike's Quick Stop is now, I walked in front of the first Baptist Church and came upon a group of teenagers. I started telling them about this Jesus who sent me out where they were. One was a young teenage boy, sitting in his red convertible sports car. said, "Hey man, is it a sin to drink?" Immediately I responded: "The Bible says be ye not drunk with wine where it is excess but be filled with the spirit." He wanted to know where that was found. Even though I had my Bible with me I could not quote chapter and verse. So, I said a little prayer under my breath.  'Lord, You know I don't know where this is and if I can't show them this, these kids will think I am lying.' While standing under a dim lit street I opened my Bible to the exact verse of scripture, Ephesians 5 :18, and read it to them.



How amazed I was to think God could even control my hands and fingers so precisely that out of 31,103 verses, I turned to the exact verse! How great is our God!

Pastor- Steven Stockstill

Cry by Jordan Vaughn

Picayune

by Stephanie Mitchell Edge

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 9:08am.

Where do I even start? I feel like I have so many things to say, and not enough time to say it. I know, I’m only moving ... I’m not dying.. But it's so much more than that. I am moving away from my home. My family. My friends that I have had for as long as I can remember, and some that I just met and feel like I have know forever. Needless to say, I am terrified and excited all in the same breath.

This past year. Wow. If I told you how wonderful the people are who surround me are, you would never believe me. I have seen more acts of kindness and selflessness in the past year than most people see in their entire lifetime. Say what you want about Picayune. Heck, I say a lot too.. But the truth is..it is our home. Everyone knows you, knows your business and sometimes that is the thing that will get you through the roughest part of your life. It's those people who treat you to lunch when you can't afford to go, offer a smile when you are down, drop by to give you a hug when you are stressed, or just simply call to make sure you are okay.

I wish I could go through here and list everyone who has helped me this past year but there is no way. You know who you are. Saying thank you is not enough to express all you have done for me and my family. Your support, prayers, concern, acts of kindness, gestures, understanding, patience... the list just goes on and on. I know whereever I go in life I will never meet friends like the ones I have developed by simply living in this little town. I thank God for this opportunity to see more than Picayune, but I also thank him for allowing me to grow up here... and to raise my children here.

I remember when I was younger I couldn’t wait to leave.. And I did... and quickly realized I wanted to come back..lol. Who knows what God has in store for us..but I know that no matter where I go, or how long I stay.. I can always come back home.

Eternal Love (Rough Draft) - Jordan Vaughan

Jordan Vaughan currently resides in TX but is a native of Picayune, MS.  Please enter into worship with him as you view  and listen to this 'rough draft' the Lord has given him.  He is pursuing his passion of writing and recording his music and lyrics.

There IS Tremendous Power in Words Spoken Over Our Children and City

by: Kelly Sampson

I was putting my make-up on about 3 weeks ago and the Lord told me in the sweetest voice “I have chosen you to speak out for me.”  I told the Lord “I’m not from Picayune.” And He said, “Yes. but He knew in my heart I was feeling it was my home, too.”  I have been feeling this since the day I saw the mascot for The BLUE DEVILS...He told me “Parents all wonder why there is such a problem with drugs and the kids going crazy” and He told me “The parents have been calling their children devils for decades ‘Go Devils,  Go Devils.’” He said “The spoken word is very powerful and they just don’t understand what damage they are doing. Church going people that have been taught and know how powerful the spoken word is and still they call their children Devils!” The Lord said “NO, IT’S NOT JUST A GAME. IT’S THEIR LIVES and FUTURE they’re placing a curse on. The city of Picayune, Pearl River county and other counties will never be drug free and the jail will not stop being over crowded till you stop calling your children devils.”  So there you have it! Now Picayune, its up to you to do what you will with your children. 




~Devil from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The Devil is commonly associated with heretics, infidels, and other unbelievers. The Abrahamic religions have variously regarded the Devil as a rebellious fallen angel or demon that tempts humans to sin or commit evil deeds. Judaism sees the Devil as an adversary and an accuser whose role is assigned rather than assumed.


In mainstream Christianity, God and the Devil are usually portrayed as fighting over the souls of humans, with the Devil seeking to lure people away from God and into Hell. The Devil commands a force of evil angels, commonly known as demons. The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) describes the Adversary (Ha-satan) as an angel who instigates tests upon humankind. Many other religions have a trickster or tempter figure that is similar to the Devil. Modern conceptions of the Devil include the concept that it symbolizes humans' own lower nature or sinfulness.


People put the concept of the Devil to use in social and political conflicts, claiming that their opponents are influenced by the Devil or even willingly supporting the Devil. The Devil has also been used to explain why others hold beliefs that are considered to be false and ungodly.


Death and life are in the power of the tongue .  And those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21

THIS IS THE MASCOT YOU PICKED FOR YOUR CHILDREN??????? 

AND JESUS IS LORD OVER PICAYUNE, MS

Will Your Faith Stand?

by Jennie Heberg (August 26,2011)
Featured in:  Women of Faith
Picayune, Item

~ Just imagine you're a 15 year old living a life that affords you the best your country has to offer.

Your parents have seen to it that you are well established in the best learning facilities available but first and foremost have seen to it that your life is rooted and grounded in a great faith in The One True God, Jehovah.  You attend services regularly as a family, there is a habit of prayer in your household and God is sought in every area of your life.

God has given you great wisdom in all things in your life and you've been equally blessed with friends who are blessed just as you are.  You are of royal blood, living in the palace.

There comes a particular day that all your physical security is destroyed.  Your entire country is overthrown by another and everything to which you've grown accustomed is completely gone.  You, along with many of your friends, approximately 70 who also live in the palace and are of royal descent, have been kidnapped, physically unharmed, and taken to this foreign country who, in an instant, was solely responsible for turning your world completely upside down.

Your family's safety is utterly unknown to you.  As the next few days to by you realize that the King has chosen you and three of your close friends to serve him.  You've all been chosen because of your station in life and because you are well learned in academics, sports, and wisdom.

You've aligned yourself with your friends and have become the lead person in your group acting as the spokesperson.  In the first thirty days of your 'imprisonment' you find that you will be expected to attend classes to learn the language and customs of this new country you've been thrown into.

The King's Top Chefs will be preparing all your food consisting of every delicacy, pastry and drink available to that of only the 'rich and famous' however you've been raised not to partake of these things simply due to your belief in God and His standards.  Not only would these foods be unhealthy for your body, but the meats prepared had been offered up to idols and you've been raised to love and honor The One True God, Jehovah. 

The reasons you are so proficient in your studies, sports, and wisdom is that you honor God, Jehovah in every are of life not allowing foods offered to idols to be eaten.  Instead, you have lived on 'whole foods', health foods if you will, vegetables, grains, whole wheat and water.  You present your desire as a challenge that if you and your three friends can eat these things for ten days of the three years required, that you will prove that you all will test better than any others in the program.  You are given the permission to do so by the man who has been set as Supervisor over all.

At the end of that ten days you and your three friends prove that your God's way is best.  When tested, the four of you prove to be ten times better than any others in every matter of wisdom and understanding that the King consulted you about.  This happened simply because your four trusted your God, Jehovah.

As time goes on the four are put to the test over and over; every time you see the hand of your God, Jehovah deliver you from extreme circumstances.  Your faith stands strong against all your enemies throw at you and you prevail.  This is due to your lifestyle, the fact that you pray, listen to what God, Jehovah directs and you find favor and are friends to many.

The 15 year old we speak of died in the country he was taken to, living to be second in command of the conquering country, a friend to the King.  This young man lived to be over 80 years old before going to meet his God face to face.

This King he worked for came to see the hand of God work in so many ways that at the end of his life he also went to meet his God, Jehovah.  The influence of these four, especially this 15 year old young man, had such a profound influence on their surroundings, community, supervisors and ultimately the King of the country that God, Jehovah gave him favor on earth.

Now, I ask you again, will your faith stand?

~
The 15 year old, 3 friends and 80 year old I am writing about here are Daniel and his friends.  A LifeGroup on the study of the book of Daniel is currently being held in my home.  This article was written prior to the beginning of our group.  Amazing things are already happening. 

Remembering Hurricane Katrina six years later

August 27, 2011

Remembering Hurricane Katrina six years later

By Jodi Marze, Lifestyles Editor The Picayune Item

PICAYUNE — Six years ago today, Gwen Williams (a.k.a. Ms. Chocolate) left her home in New Orleans and her church ministry as a story teller behind as she evacuated to escape Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been six years,” she says.

She recalls when she returned to her home, after the flooding had subsided.


“I came home, after Katrina, to my house that held 30 years of my life, momentos, and furnishings. That day that I came home I saw that my house was gone and every earthly thing that I had in it was gone with it.”


She says (referring to the rose made of dollars that she brought with her), “I found this rose laying inside my front door, blackened and disgusting from the flood waters. My mom had given me the rose for my birthday. My brother warned me not to touch it. But I took it because I saw the value and the lesson in it. It will always remind me that you can be ugly and still have value. The petals are still legal tender and have not lost value because they went through a disaster. Your life can be ugly and still have a purpose. All is never lost. There is always hope.”


Williams, who wrote a book about her experience titled, “The Birthday Rose — What Katrina could not destroy ...” says she is doing better now and feels very settled in her home in Nicholson and community.


“All of us have been moved around and settled places; some of us have healed while others are still dealing with fraudulent contractors and higher home taxes because of the flood.


“People always ask me, ‘Are you a hurricane survivor?’ So I tell them ‘No! I am a hurricane overcomer. If I were just a survivor that would mean that I was back on my feet and ready for the next one; but I am here to tell you that I practice F.I.D.O. which stands for Forget It and Drive On! Through Jesus I am an overcomer!”


Williams has embraced some big differences coming from “a big city and huge church to small town and small church with different racial demographics.”


She says, “What I perceived to be Mississippi and what I have experienced in Mississippi are two very different things. I didn’t think that the community would be so warm and welcoming. I love nothing more than meeting people up at Treasures. There are no friendlier people around.”


Williams continues to build her ministry out-reach for children by writing her third book in the “Effie and his Encouraging F-words” series; launching her first DVD called “Ms. Chocolate: For Real” in its second production and staying active in her church. She attends First Baptist Church in Picayune where she sings in the choir, and teaches 5th and 6th- graders.


“They love my stories and can probably tell them now better than I can! I love it when they see me out and they call out to me, ‘Hey Chocolate!’ Everyone just looks like ‘What did those kids just call you?!’”


Williams is known for her humor and big smiles, but you can see the hurt in her expression when she speaks about local children who go to bed hungry.


“The hurt in my heart is for those children. I don’t see how someone can support children in other countries while the ones in their own back yard have no food. We have got to get the message out that these children need our help; they do not have uniforms for school and are not eating like they should.


“But this issue really goes deeper than that,” she says, “we have got to reach these babies that are out there having babies. These children grow up in survival mode and this is all they know. We have got to reach them before they start having babies and teach them that abstinence is a better way. We must help them do better than this.”


Williams says her next step in her ministry is to put her “Effie” character in costume take her act into schools.


She says, “I’m not an entertainer; I’m an inspirational story-teller. I’m not a survivor; I’m an overcomer. God has blessed me and opened many doors for me. He has brought me here and I feel that by the grace of God, I am in the group that has healed since Hurricane Katrina.”