How do you invite people to your church

 

How Do You Invite People to Your Church?

How do you invite people to your church? I thought of this question a few weeks ago, after a pastor and another person  invited me to their churches.

I was at the store, looking for a few items, when he approached me with his business card. I asked why and he said he was trying to talk to me, but no really I'm a pastor. I want to invite you to my church. He failed the most important question when I asked if he had special needs kids and adult programs, but he said he would create one if he needs to. 

Another trip to the 99 and I was approached by a man, while I was waiting for my Uber home. He asked if I had a church home and I said yes. I go to Houston’s First Baptist, Loop Campus. The man wondered why I went so far when his church was closer. I know of his church. I have been to a few of their community events, but I already knew they do not offer special needs programs. 

My neighbor also invited me to his wife’s family's church, on Sunday, while I was heading to my church. He also wondered why I go so far to church. Apparently going an hour to church is too far, when people spend hours on road trips and going to and from work. His church also does not have special needs programming. 

I started going to my church for one reason and one reason only. Brad. I am here because of Brad. Brad has been put out of churches since he was four years old. As soon as the choir starts moving and grooving, he starts jumping and screaming. You can scream for Jesus, but not when it comes to a toddler child. I am tired of the familiar tap on the shoulder, asking me to remove my child from the sanctuary. 

My former church said they could not handle him because he had a massive scream fest, when he was 17. I was upset. I was sad because I had been looking for churches we could attend, once he was 18. I did not want to be church homeless. Many churches do not offer programming for special needs adults. 

When the staff member called me to recommend Houston’s First, I checked my master list of churches I had compiled and Houston’s First did not make the list. 

When I moved into my first apartment, in 2016,  I knew I had to look for another church because my old church was not on the bus line and I was now living on the bus line. I also knew the church vans did not pick up in the new area, I lived. I started looking for and visiting churches in the area. 

One church said they had special needs programming but they walked my kids around the building, while I was in the sermon. Another church--Brad had a massive meltdown and no one came to help. Once I got him calm, We walked back home. I had one church, where a member told me their church does not like kindles and my kindle keyboard in church. I bet they won’t like me taking notes on my laptop now. So I decided to go back to my old church, even if it meant, we caught a ride or an Uber. I knew our stay would end soon but I wanted familiarity. Visiting churches was hard work, mentally and physically. 

I walked into Houston’s First, not knowing what to expect, but I felt the church had something special when I first walked in with my kids. I did not know what it was yet. My goal was if they truly accepted Brad and Kalen, I would join the church, even if the pastor and choir was bad. Turns out I love my pastor, the choir, everything. 

The staff has been amazing. The staff has helped out in challenging situations and for that, I am truly appreciative. My family has a place to call home. We do not have to worry about being put out. 

If I was inviting people to my church, I would say my church has a library and a bookstore, with amazing coffee selections. The prices are reasonable. Chips are .50.  20 mints for a dollar. The church also has an amazing cafeteria with good food, like avocado toast and breakfast croissants. We have a wide selection of events like Boots N Bling, the special needs prom and the monthly women's ministry events. We have VBS during the summer and Celebration during Christmas. Our church is biblically relevant and based. The praise and worship team gets you moving and grooving. 

We are on the bus line. The church is across from a bus station. 

Finally, we have programming for special needs kids and adults. If your child is 2 or 62,  my church has a place for them. You have a church home. You do not have to be church homeless. You are welcomed with so much love.

Churches with Adult Special Needs Programming:

• Houston’s First Baptist, Loop Campus. Houston’s First. Thru the Roof. 

• Grace Fellowship, Katy Texas

• The Ark, Conroe Texas

If you know of any more, let me know and I will add them to my master list on Google maps. 

Thank you. Happy Easter. 

Stacie D. Wyatt

Church People Movie Review (Momentum Influencer Network)

Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing a sample of the product for this re view. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

 

I watched Church People, in exchange for honest review from Momentum Influencer Network. The first part came in patchy. I tried both  the pc and kindle but it would not play smooth. I tried again on the pc and it worked. 

The movie is about Guy Sides, ta youth pastor. Guy became known for a gimmick, but got tired of the gimmicks in church and wants to bring back the pure gospel in the church. His pastor, Skip Finney, is the king of gimmicks, and created an "interesting" gimmick for Good Friday, which doesn't go over well with Guy and Skip's daughter. The gimmick includes one of Guy's kids in the youth ministry, who recently gave his life to Christ. 

Guy's manager, played by Donald Faison, is money crazy, and wants Guy to use more gimmicks. 

Can Guy stop Skip, while also spreading the love of Christ. Is the pure gospel of Christ enough to bring people into church? Does the church have to rely on gimmicks to draw people in?

I loved the movie as the movie progressed. Definitely went through a range of emotions especially when the scene involved Pastor Skip. The ending----can't wait for you to see it. 

You can rent or buy the movie on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, The Apple Store, and more. Church People is also available on DVD. 

Discussion Guide

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Boss Women: Seven African American Women Tour and Giveaway (Write Now Literary Book Tours)

 

Write Now Literary is pleased to be organizing a two-month book tour and $25.00 Amazon gift card for Boss Women: Seven African American Women Who Built Their Business From The Ground Up by Gwen Richardson. The book tour will run Jan- Feb 25, 2022. 

 

Genre: Youth

ISBN- 978-1737449607

Gwen Richardson has been an author, entrepreneur, and "boss woman" for decades. She is the author of 13 books, including Boss Women, and is a graduate of Georgetown University. She has been twice nominated for NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work, wants to inspire children to seek entrepreneurship as a career path. Richardson resides in Houston with her husband, Willie, and adult daughter, Sylvia.

 

Boss Women features seven African American women who started their businesses by themselves or as co-founders with family members. Some of the enterprises are relatively new, while others have been established for decades.

 

The businesswomen profiled in this book are Janice M. Adams (JMA Solutions), Valerie Daniels-Carter (V&J Holding Companies), Bea Dixon (Honey Pot), Janice Bryant Howroyd (The ACT One Group), Garnetta Sanders (Neta Scientific), Janell Stephens (Camille Rose Naturals), and J.C. Sykes (90 Degree Construction).

 

Boss Women uses poetic phrasing to make it easier for children to read and understand. While reading each poetic profile, children will be able to see themselves in these women’s successes and dream big dreams for the future. The book is also a motivational tool for adults who are seeking encouragement on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Website   Facebook

Barnes & Noble  Amazon

$25 Amazon Gift Card

Tiger Rising Review (Momentum Influencer Network)

 Disclaimer: I received access to this movie, in exchange for honest review

I watched Tiger Rising, in exchange for honest review. The movie is about a little boy, Rob, whose mother has died.  Rob and his father move to a hotel in a new area and Rob has to attend a new school.  Discovering a tiger in the woods, helps open him up emotionally. He also meets a girl named Sistine (like the Sistine Chapel), who is also new to the area and school. Both are getting picked on by other students.  

Official Synopsis: 

Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid star in this beloved tale based on the New York Times best-selling book by Kate DiCamillo. When 12-year-old Rob Horton (Christian Convery) discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild and life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With the help of a wise and mysterious maid, Willie May (Queen Latifah) and the stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), he navigates through childhood memories, heartache, and wondrous adventures in this heartwarming adaptation.

Rob definitely has an active imagination in the movie. 

Queen Latifah plays a hotel maid. Katherine McPhee plays Rob's mom in flashbacks. Dennis Quaid plays Beauchamp, the angry owner of the hotel. Quaid is not as mean as he was in Goliath, playing Wade Blackwood. Real men do business in Tigers.

The movie was excellent. It definitely tugs on your heart strings. I definitely loved the aerial views of the trees. 

Family discussion Guide: 

You can watch Tiger Rising on Prime Video; Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube. You also can watch in a theater

Pure Flix A Show About Anthem Lights Episode 8 Review

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a temporary subscription for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

I received a subscription to Pure Flix in exchange for honest review from Momentum Influencer Network. I was chosen to review Episode 8: Flutey Influencer. The show was created by Affirm Originals. New Episodes will be released, every other week. 

Pure Flix offers clean, faith-based, family-friendly movies, shows, and documentaries. 

First things first, I love the short episodes, which is great for my attention span. The show is about Anthem Lights navigating their way through stardom--from figuring out the algorithm to deciding what music to make.

Episode 8 focuses on Anthem Lights coming up with a new gimmick to attract new fans. Some of the ideas are interesting. Anthem Lights rival, The Handsome Knights, also starts their social media journey to become influencers. 

Can't forget about the interesting song, Baby baby Baby Hey baby lol. I loved watching the series and can't wait until a new episode is released. 

Heat Press DIY Mini Heat Press Review (Tomoson)

I received the #HeatPressDIY mini heat press, in exchange for honest review from #Tomoson. I wanted this to help with a mask project, I started. I also started working on an backpack purse with transfer vinyl. I love exploring my creative side. Who knows what I can create next?

The mini heat press is great for for small and/or challenging projects. It also has an LED display, which shows both Fahrenheit and Celsius degrees. It also has a timer built in. The kit also comes with a spray bottle; a carrying case; and a heat-resistant foam mat. 

This was my first time, using a heat press and I still have a lot to turn, like turning the temperature settings on, which I have struggled with, since I received it, but once it is on, I can work on my projects. I also like how the press is small and portable. 

Youtube Video: 

You can purchase the mini heat press, using the link above. New customers can save 10%, using code: HPDIY10. Have a great day.

2021 Reflection

December 31, 2021

2020 brought a lot of new changes, but whoo that 2021 brought more changes. Behavioral changes. Anxiety. Massive depression. We have to move in 2022 because the complex is being sold to the city to build a pond. Lack of sleep. Stress. Crisis line. 

Ice storm Texas. Pipes bursting. Kids lost their mattresses. Blackouts. No hot water for almost 3 days, last week. 

On another note: I can go to church for both Sunday School and the Sermon again. I can ride the bus again. I can walk to the store or for fast food again. I haven't fixed a hole in the wall in a while. I don't have to rely on Uber and Lyft to get me around mostly. Completed a customer service experience job training course, through ClimbHire. 2 job interviews coming up. Pray for me and my sanity. 

God has definitely brought me through another year. 

2021 Reflection

 

Trazodone Induced Dreams: The mob

 

December 21, 2021

No clue what was going on in this dream, last night. I was watching Addicted to Marriage; My 600 lb life; and Too Large before going to bed. I even stopped watching crime shows, especially anything on Discovery ID, before going to bed because the dreams can get weird. Nothing to do with gangsters and mobsters. Definitely confused the hell out of me. I seem to remember more dreams when they have people, I know in them.

Here is the parts, I remember. 

I was at my grandma's old house, with a few friends and their kids. Me and one of the kids, went for a walk. The kid told me, that his mama said she didn't care if I got covid walking with him, but he didn't need to get it. I was upset. When we tried to walk back in the house, a mobster stopped us by aiming a gun in our face. I don't know if he was going to shoot us or not. He didn't after we told him, we wanted to go in the house and see our family. He was upset because his friends doesn't consider him family and let us go. 

I went in the house to collect my kid but he wasn't there. No one knew where my child was. Apparently, I had left the house for a while. The friend was upset but I had a mob situation. 

Then some way, some how, I left my kid with a friend, to run errands, but got chased by the mob. They was looking for someone but Im not sure who.  

Another part:

The mob was after us in my grandma house. Me and a few relatives went to hide upstairs because it was more secure. I played dead and didn't get shot. It was hard because I still had to breath, while also scanning the room to see if everyone was ok. 

Another Part: 

I went over someone else's house and the gangsters came in the house, ransacking the place. I hide in the bathroom because of the secured door. But when other people came in the house, the door mysteriously disappeared and I could be seen. 

Another Part: 

Someone brought my grandma's house because they thought the family was dead, even though we was playing dead. Some of the family took on another identity. A tennis player figured out who one of us was because of an award. 

One of my relatives got on tv and was talking about a tennis championship, they won as a kid. The other tennis player realized they was the opponent and got upset because they thought my relative had died. 

The End: I hope I never have a dream like this again. I had strange dreams, like this before, but I haven't had them in a long time. 

Trazodone-Induced Dreams: Missing the Bus.

December 17, 2021

This was definitely one of the strangest dreams, I had, this week.

I had to take my youngest to school because he missed the school bus. I wasn't sure whether to take a rideshare or public transit to get him there. I went to sign him into the office, but there was not a late sign-in sheet. I had to bring Brad with me. 

The lobby then turned into a high school reunion, where I was hugging and greeting old classmates. While I was dealing with Kalen, the group headed to the park (where did it come from) across the street from the school. 

I also had to meet with the new nurse #4 to give her some meds for the month. Kalen was in the nurses office, as well. The nurse mixed his meds in with ranch powder mix and water. Kalen drunk the mix through a straw and loved it. I thought it was a strange way to dispense medication, but then again, it's Kalen and you have to get creative sometimes. 

I walked back outside, where a 9th grader was bringing his brother to school. He wanted to ask a question to the secretary. Since his brother missed the bus, He also missed his bus to a field trip and wanted to know what to do next. The security guard did not want to hear the 9th graders question and wanted him to leave the school. I also was asked to leave when I tried to ask the same question. 

Now, Brad was missing. Where was Brad? He was at the park with the high school reunion, jumping in the bounce house. I grabbed my kid and we headed to the bus stop. I had an appt and needed to head back home to take a bath, then catch the bus. Or do I catch an rideshare, even though I don't have enough money to do that, and head home and take a bath. Maybe just head to the appt, regardless of hygiene. 

The public bus stop turned into my grandma's house, where I used to catch the school bus. I apparently also had some craft supplies, set up outside, and was grabbing some to take home with me. I also needed a truck to pack up the majority of the supplies to take home. I had rainbow glitter, shoe slime (whatever that is), and other bottles of colorful stuff. I then woke up to get Kalen ready for school. 

Trazdone-Induced Dreams: Attack of the Ex

 

December 12, 2021

I had my first Trazodone nightmare, two nights ago. An ex, who lives in another state, wanted me to testify for him, in court, saying he wasn't there, doing whatever he wasn't supposed to be doing. I live in Texas. He lives in GA. I also had an appointment or something, I was doing the same day. If the offense or defense lawyers did any research, they would realize, I wasn't in the state and I was busy at the time, but the ex was persistent. 

He traveled to Texas to convince me to lie for him in court. He didn't care I would be locked up and away from the kids. One of which, he did not even ask about. He tried choking and strangling me. He tried dragging me onto the train tracks, while the train was coming. He tried to harm my niece. He was seriously angry, I would not lie for him and risk my freedom for someone, who does not care about me. 

Both me and my niece tried to escape from him and thought we was free. Nope, he found out where we lived and banged on the door hard, shooting a gun in the air. The niece was able to escape through the window, outside to a small park, where our other relatives was. I wasn't able to squeeze all my belly through the window. 

The small park had my cousin, Chad, who is in college; his grandmother (my great aunt, who passed away, a few years ago). The park had trees and the clouds was bright-white, like we was in Heaven or something.