WSSN Stories

By Lou Yeboah

As we celebrate Black History Month recognition is given to the mighty men and women of valour who paved the way for all of us. We recognize them for their heroic courage, dedication, commitment, and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, intimidation, and even death… all for the equity for people of color.

Black History Month! A time to think about what it means to be an African American. Black History Month! The story of God’s action in the United States. Black History Month! The story of good beating evil, of liberation, of freedom. Black History Month! Remembering the great heroes of the faith who faced horrible suffering and great temptation to sin, yet they persevered spiritually because they looked to Jesus. [Hebrews 12:1-3].

Black History Month… a time of reflection, rejoicing, and recommitting.

Starting with Reflection. One of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., believed more than anything else is that we as a people need to come together and stop hating on each other. “United We Stand, Divide We Fall.” He believed that the only way we can stand strong in our families, churches and communities is when we walk in unity and guard against division and strife. If we want God’s blessing, power and presence, we need to walk in unity: In our homes, in our churches, workplaces, schools and communities.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the disciple Paul urged us to be in agreement and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be united in the same mind and with the same purpose. For when we lack unity, our credibility is worthless. Our testimony is useless. [Ecclesiastes 4:12], says that, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” There is strength and unity in numbers, and if we desire to impact our community, our city, our world, than we need to stand together. Christ gave us even greater insight when He said in [Matthew 12:25] a house divided, a city divided and a nation divided cannot stand. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” [Psalms 133:1].

You know in [Genesis 11:6] concerning the tower of Babel, God said because of their unity there is nothing they couldn’t accomplish if they put their minds to it. Now these were ungodly people without the prophetic purpose of God at heart. What could this mean to a people fulfilling the call of God on their lives and pursuing the purposes of God’s Kingdom? I’m afraid as Malcolm X said; we have been bamboozled, hoodwinked, and led astray. We are divided and separated over insignificant issues. It is a trick of our enemy to bring such contradictory structure into our lives. We fight over issues already settled in God’s Word. The problems are so many and yet the answer begins with one simple step, repentance and reconciliation. We must forgive each other and return to God’s purpose. We cannot do it alone. God never intended it. Divided we fall short of God’s intent. United we stand ready to see the completion of the world harvest God has set before us.

Who Is Responsible? We are all responsible in the body of Christ to see true reconciliation. We are all given the ministry of bringing a lost world to Christ. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not in the church, then where? We must love not in word only but in deed and truth. It is time to recognize the need, repent of our sins and reconcile the family of God. Then and only then will we have validity to speak prophetically to our nation and our world.

Black History! As we take time to celebrate this notable occasion we remember how God has delivered His people. We remember the way God led His people through trials. We remember the victories God has given, and we remember the blessings God has bestowed. Why do we remember? We remember so that we can keep in mind the great price paid for our freedom and for our salvation. For it is that memory that connects us and brings our histories and lives together in ways that are life renewing and life giving. So remember the story by recalling the story. Remember the story by making the story your story. Remember the story by doing the story, and remember the story by being the story. Black History Month — A time of reflection, rejoicing, and recommitting!

Photos by John Coleman, Community Photographer

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

By Lou Yeboah

You know when Moses went to the Lord and asked Him what He wanted him to tell the people, the Lord said, tell them, “Go Forward!” [Exodus 14:10-15].  The word “Forward¨ carries the idea of advancement and progress. The Lord says you have been camped where you are long enough and it’s time to pull up and go forward. It’s time to move on. The problem is you have been stationary. Stationary means, you are not moving or not capable of being moved. You are fixed. God does not want you to be stationary. He wants you to be making progress forward. He doesn’t want you to be stubborn and fixed; He wants you to advance and progress.

Some of you have been camped out in the place of hurt feelings for too long and it’s time to pull up stakes and go forward! Some of you have been camped out in the place of anger for too long and it is time for you to pull up stakes and go forward! Some of you have been camped out in the place of depression for too long and it is time for you to pull up stakes and go forward!  God is ready to take you on a journey. He is ready to take you out of that place of depression into a place of joy and happiness. He is ready to take you out of that place of laziness or don’t care, and take you to a place of service and power. He is ready to take you out of that place of easiness and comfort and stretch you and take you places you haven’t been with Him before. God is ready to take you out of that place of satisfaction and fill you with hunger and thirst for Him like you have never had and lead you into a greater dimension of His glory than ever before. You can’t stay in those places camped out if you want to experience the glory and power of God in your life. If you stay in those places long enough, the enemy will destroy you.

The purpose of my thought and intention today is to convey the significance of the moment or occasion we as a people of God have embarked upon. It is an occasion of opportunity, a point of entering, a moment of possessing, a time of taking hold of. And in order to seize this opportunity I tell you, “It’s Time to Move forward” into the blessings of God that is set before us without reservation. “For a great door and effectual is opened unto [us].” God desires to take us places that “eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Therefore, let us shake ourselves off from the things that inhibit or obstruct our mobility and progression from entering into the things God has prepared for us. I tell you, it’s time to move forward!

God has created an open place for you to walk in. He said, “I open up doors that no man can shut… If you would just believe and move forward into the things of God, “He would supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God is an all-powerful God: if God leads us, if he wills us to do something, then there is nothing that can hinder it from happening but our own selves. I don’t know about you but there are not enough demons in hell to keep me from accomplishing God’s will for my life.  On the onset of entering in, on a day of a new beginning, great are our opportunities. Therefore right now, I call to reality God’s council in your life. I call to reality your dreams and visions. I call to reality the manifestation of His blessings in your life today. In Jesus Name, Amen! It’s Time to Move Forward!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—LOS ANGELES, CA— The film, a rare gem in the crown of the late musical genius, has not been seen before now due to technical and rights issues.

“It’s such a blessing to open the festival this year with Amazing Grace,” expressed PAFF Co-Founder and Actor Danny Glover. “Aretha Franklin is a rare treasure. To be graced with this film is an honor and a testament to the perseverance and long-standing prominence of the festival’s impact.”

Over the past 26 years, The Pan African Film & Arts Festival has sought to increase cultural awareness and bridge diverse communities from the African diaspora by providing a creative safe space for the development and expression of the Black narrative through film, poetry, art and music. This year, PAFF will amplify and ignite the Pan-African experience through next generation storytelling.

“27 years ago, we made a political, cultural, social and intellectual decision to get involved in film festivals as it became clear that a platform to showcase Black films was needed,” shared Ayuko Babu, Executive Director and Co-Founder of PAFF. “It’s been a privilege to be a platform for many filmmakers and talent to share their unique stories through the lens of their own experiences, visions and creative artistry.

The on-going challenge is… who’s story gets told on the small screen and big screen? The Pan African Film Festival is a way of showing distributors the stories that matter to people of color.” PAFF’s legacy is evidenced by the success of storytellers and talent who’ve contributed works to the festival such as Will Packer, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Ryan Coogler, Berry Jenkins, Taraji P. Henson, Ava Duvernay, and countless others. The program’s platform exists proudly as a conduit for the careers of thousands of talented actors, directors, producers and executives; many of which have gone on to win the industry’s top honors including the Golden Globes, Emmy’s and Oscars.

As an official Oscar-qualifying festival, many of PAFF’s short and live-action films will be up for consideration for an Academy Award.

To further “amPAFFify” PAFF’s proud history, the organization recently launched an “#IAMPAFF” Meme Generator, designed to allow festival supporters to share their own stories on social media. Festival supporters can join in the fun by creating a meme to tell their story at paff.org/iampaff.

This year’s program features a robust schedule including the Filmmakers Brunch, ARTFest, PAFF Institute Panels, StudentFest, LOL Comedy Series, Children’s Fest, SpokenWord Fest, Seniors’ Connection and much more. Individual screening tickets and all festival passes can be purchased at paff.org/tickets. Group sales discounts are also available. For more information, visit the PAFF website at paff.org or call 310-337-4737.

OPENING NIGHT FILM SCREENING

AMAZING GRACE (US)

Directed By: Sydney Pollack

Date: Thursday, February 7

Time: 6PM Red Carpet | 7:30 PM Screening

Location: Directors Guild of America, DGA Theater Complex, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90047

Synopsis: In 1972, Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, brought producer Jerry Wexler, her backup singers, the Reverend James Cleveland, and the legendary Atlantic Records rhythm section to The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, California, to record a gospel music double-album before an enthusiastic live audience. The album, “Amazing Grace”, went on to become the top-selling gospel record of all time, Aretha Franklin’s most successful album, and one of her most beloved works. Few realized that the sessions that produced the album “Amazing Grace” which are certainly among one of the most exciting musical events ever to take place in a church, had also been filmed. But, due to technical problems and conflicts over rights, the electrifying events had not been seen; until now!

Stars: Aretha Franklin, Reverend James Cleveland, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Alexander Hamilton

By Lou Yeboah

If you have decided to walk in the newness of the New Year, you must begin with repentance. The question of Salvation has to be settled. Because with Salvation comes the knowledge, revelation and power, not only of your own deliverance from the dominion and condemnation of sin, but also the revelation of that part of God’s plan which He wishes to work out in you for the age in which you live. God wants to do a “new thing” in you in this New Year, but you got to come correct. You can’t do it no other way.

We’re in the Age of “Moving In.” In a world where very little emphasis to put on repentance we must be careful to “make our calling and election sure, by the Word, because when it comes to the modern day teaching of “just believing”, remember, the Devils also believe and tremble [James 2:19]; but the Devils are not saved – they cannot experience Salvation. And True Salvation is an “experience” with God, after which we are never the same again. So if you are sure that you want to walk in the “Newness of the New Year,” then make sure that it’s all or nothing. Because as much as one professes to believe in Jesus, and accept Him as their Savior, without genuine “repentance” from the heart, all of your believing is in vain. I’m talking about walking in the “Newness of the New Year.” I’m talking about the “New You in the New Year!”

Jesus says, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: …..be zealous therefore, and REPENT. [Revelation 3:15-17, 19].

Listen, ain’t no need of fooling yourself. If you have really decided that you want to walk in the Newness of the New Year…. Then make it right… because the times of ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:” and repentance means “to have another mind”, to “change the mind””. It is used in the New Testament to indicate a change of mind in respect of sin, of God, and of oneself.  [Acts 17:30]

Therefore, I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Romans 12:1].   I’m talking about the “New You in the New Year!”

By John Coleman

Tyisha Shenee Miller, (March 9,1979-December 28, 1998) was an African American woman from Rubidoux, California.  She was  shot and killed by police officers called by family members who could not wake her as she lay, unconscious in a car.”.

The press and the public don’t know whether the shooting of young Black men by police officers was less usual in 1998 than it has become;  only in 2018 have laws begun to require,  instead of forbiding  record-keeping and reporting of  on-duty shooting or other forms of ‘use-of-force’ by police officers….BUT, the shooting & killing of a 19-year-old, teen-age  GIRL (who several days after Christmas, was celebrating with other young female relatives & friends, but stopped at a gas station for help with car trouble,) was ‘outrageous!!!

The black community came close to erupting.

In the months (and years) that followed a lot happened.. but a lot did not immediately happen.  Voices were raised at the local, state, & national levels…Impacts originating in the Tyisha Miller death continue to emerge in American law, policy & practice.

In Riverside and surrounding Inland Empire communities the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability (RCPA) as part of it’s program, & in concert with it’s partners:  the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU-IE);  the Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC);  & the Environmental Justice Committee of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside  co-sponsored their (‘second’  first was held, December 28, 2008) memorial service, in memory of “the Death of Tyisha Miller, 20 Years Later: SAY HER NAME”: focused on keeping her alive in our & the communities hearts & minds. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a leading women’s service organization, concluded its international executive board meeting at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas on Jan. 12, 2019 with the induction of Wynona Kidd as an honorary member. Kidd is the daughter of Viola Tyler Goings and niece of Myrtle Tyler Faithful, two of the sorority’s founding members. At 95 years young, Kidd is the oldest living descendant of the organization’s five founding members.

Baker, Zeta International President. Zeta members voted to induct her as an honorary member during its 2018 Grand Boulé in New Orleans, La., along with Louisiana State Senator Regina Ashford Barrow.

Kidd, a native of Clairsville, Ohio, aspired to become a Zeta while a student at Wilberforce University, but was forced to drop out of college to help support her family when WWII began. She became a founding member of the local Jack and Jill of America chapter, but was not able to become a Zeta. When asked about how she felt about becoming a member of Zeta, Kidd stated, “I can’t believe it! I feel like Cinderella…I am so happy to be a member of Zeta!”

During the sorority’s visit to Nassau, Zeta leadership made a courtesy call to Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert A. Minnis, and Bahamian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest. While on the island, International President Hollingsworth-Baker also presented a $25,000 donation to the Ranfurly Homes for Children on behalf of the organization.  

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University. The international organization’s 125,000+ initiated members, operating in more than 850 chapters, have given millions of voluntary hours to educate the public, provide scholarships, support charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change. For more information about Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., please visit www.zphib1920.org.

By Lou Yeboah

You need to resolve that you will have “No More Drama” in your life. You know Mary J. Blige had a hit record entitled, “No More Drama.” In this song, “No More Drama”, Mary J. Blige talks about how tired she was from having so much drama in her life. She talks about how tired she was from having a broken heart. She talks about how tired she was from being burned by some so-called friends. She talks about how tired she was from being hurt, being in pain, being in tears. She talks about how tired she was from being in so much stress, being in bondage and that she wanted to be set free from all the drama, and from all the madness that was taking place in her life. And because Mary J. Blige said she was so tired of the drama that was taking place in her life, she decided, “No More! “No More Drama” in her life.

I tell you, if you are going to start the New Year off right, there are some things that you need to let go of: Hatefulness, unforgiveness, bad relationships, bad attitudes, lying lips, malicious gossiping, disobedience, drugs, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, anger, and anything that come between you and the Lord. Anything or anybody that hinder your relationship with Christ, and it brings nothing but drama in your life, you need to let it go! I’m talking about the “New You in the New Year.”  You are committed to things you really don’t need, and you are not committed to the things that could change your life. Apostle Paul tells us to forget those things that are in our past, those things that hinder us and press forward to achieve the goal that Jesus Christ has won for us.

I tell you, we would do good to follow the examples of the people we see in scripture and throw off every pain that hinders us and get busy running our race with perseverance. Jesus said in [Revelation. 21:5, “I am making everything new.” I don’t know about you, but I like that…. Everything new! It’s a New Day, It’s a New Season, and it’s a New Year…. Walk in it with Total Newness!

By Lou Dowdy

(ENN—EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK)—Couples Wanted is WHAT It Do! Who will be crowned king and queen?

LUE Productions is hosting its 1st Plus Size Couple Model Competition and Fashion Show! Male and female couples are wanted to compete for a $1000 cash prize along with other prizes. This event will bring awareness to body shaming while promoting team work and unity.

The winning couple will walk away with the following:

• $1000 cash
• Crown
• Trophy
• Photoshoot
• Newspaper/Magazine Feature

The registration fee is $100 before February 1 and $150 after.

Below are the requirements:

• Must be a size 14 and up
• Must be 18 and or older
• Must be willing to participate in all activities surrounding the promotion and success of the event
• Contestants can be related, friends, dating or married
• Must register no later than Marc

How to register:

• Registration fee can be made in person by texting (909) 567-1000, (909) 556-7637, or (714) 833-3196
• Once we receive your registration fee our application will be emailed to you requesting the following:

Two Photos of the contestants

Categories include:

1. Talent (show us your talent)

2. Super Hero’s (embody your favorite super hero)

3. Free Style (Let us see your personality through your clothing)

4. Formal Wear (Question and Answer)

Tap in with LUE Productions!

By Lou Yeboah

Please don’t take it for granted! Know that grace is an opportunity for us to make our hearts right with God, not a chance to take advantage of it and live as crazy and on the edge as we can. Do not take the Lord’s grace for granted by continuing with the same attitudes, desires and carnal actions. Instead, let that grace transform you bit by bit every day. Think about your way of living. Examine your hearts to see if there is anything in you that is not beneficial. Do a spiritual check. And please, if you have not given your life to the Lord, “behold now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.”

May this year be one of great spiritual growth for you.  May it be one where you learn the name of Jesus, and never fail to see him for who he is, and what he is doing.  May it be one where God does new things in your life, not just on one day, but on all of them.  And may it be one where you resolve to live with hope, and with love for God. Christ’s blessing be upon you in 2019, and always.

” Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- ” [Psalms 103:1-2]

” Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ” [Lamentations 3:22-23]