Living Waters Ministries Monthly Quote
“You reap what you sow-not something else, but that. An act of love makes the soul more loving. A deed of humbleness deepens humbleness. The thing reaped is the very thing sown, multiplied a hundredfold. You have sown a seed of life, you reap life everlasting. ”
Frederick William Robertson
Inspiration
Harvest Season
By: Jennifer L Smalls
We've come the last quarter of 2023 we're entering a new season...Harvest Season! It's a time to give thanks for that which we have harvested.
Harvest Season for the Farmer is the time to gather his crop, it's reaping season, and it's time to reap what has been sown. You always harvest what you plant; you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9). To reap big you must sow big. Even on our Christian journey, we can follow the steps of the farmer:
Choose Your Crop: what seeds are you planting? How about the Fruits of the Spirit? We all should sow seeds of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-control, Gentleness, (Galatians 5:22-23)
Know Your Source: Spend time with God and build your relationship with him, look to Him to guide you. Pray consistently and study His word. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:13)
Sort Through Your Crop: Separate the good from the bad. Pull up weeds of doubt, confusion, unforgiveness, idolatry, lack of confidence, unbelieving, selfishness, hatred, and jealousy (Matthew 3:12).
Bring Your Crop to the Market: You have sown and reaped now it's time to spread that which you have reaped. Spread love, joy, and peace. Be patient, kind, and good to yourself and others. Be faithful in your relationships, be gentle, and exercise self-control. Share the good news of Christ and tell of His goodness.
"As we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, in fellowship with other believers, in praise, worship, and prayer, we sow to the Spirit. And the outcome of sowing to the Spirit is reaping the bountiful harvest of everlasting life." (Philippians 4:8)
Happy Harvesting!
News from Living Waters Ministries
Happenings Around St. Augustine
National Night Out, Tuesday, October 3rd, The City of St. Augustine Beach presents National Night Out at the St. Augustine Beach Pier. Neighborhoods all over the U.S. host block parties, festivals, cookouts, and other community events with safety demonstrations, exhibits, and the opportunity to meet law enforcement personnel.
St. Augustine's National Night Out at the St. Johns County Pier in St. Augustine Beach features live music, kids' activities, giveaways, complimentary food and beverages, and more.
First Friday Art Walk, October 6th, downtown St. Augustine 5-9 p.m. First Friday Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of every month, exhibiting creative artworks throughout St. Augustine's fine art galleries.
First Friday Art Walk Concert Series, October 6th. First Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m. This organ recital at the Cathedral Basilica in downtown St. Augustine is free and open to the public on the first Friday of every month. .
Pink Up The Pace 2023, Saturday October 7th, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. A 5K promoting breast cancer awareness that raises money for early detection services. Register Here
Pride in the Westside, Saturday, October 7th, beginning at 8:30 a.m. meet up on the corner of King and Woodlawn Street.
New Found Favor Ministries 100 Women in White, Saturday, October 7th, 3:00 p.m. Pastor Lavern March will be the guest speaker, at Palm Coast African American Cultural Center, 4422 N. US 1, Palm Coast Florida.
West Augustine CRA Domestic Violence Awareness Brunch, "If These Walls Could Talk"
Saturday, October 7th, 10:00 am Webster Elementary, 420 Orange Street.
Grand Opening of St Johns Botanical Garden, Sunday, October 14th, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 813 County Road 13, Hastings, FL. The St. Johns Botanical Garden is situated among 16 acres that include a natural live oak forest.
During the opening, visitors can walk the 2.5 miles of trail winding among the individual gardens and the nature preserve. The celebration includes live music, an animal show by Wild Wonders, a butterfly exhibit, and food trucks. This unique setting is home to more than 2,400 species of plants, including more than 300 species of palm trees and other rare and endangered species. The Nature Preserve is left in its natural state so local flora and fauna can grow, hide, and feed, and so visitors can enjoy a glimpse of old Florida.
Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries 5th Restoration, Saturday, October 14th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. 711 Pearl Street, come out to help clean up and restore 2 of the oldest African-American Cemeteries in the state of Florida. After the clean up everyone is welcome to join the West Augustine Improvement Association for some good southern cooking. Please bring your own tools, i.e. clippers, rakes, pruners, trimmers, wheelbarrows, torps, brooms, gloves, etc.
News For Us By Us
Granddaughter of Nelson Mandela Dies of Cancer at age 43
This month as we pause to bring awareness and promote early detection and treatment of cancer it is with great sadness to report that Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela died of breast cancer the day before her grandmother Winnie's birthday. She passed away on September 25th surrounded by friends and family.
Zoleka was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. After receiving treatment, she was in remission, but the cancer would return spreading to her liver and lungs in addition to other major organs. She was extremely open and honest when speaking on her treatment plan for cancer as well as her history of drug addiction, struggling with depression, and being sexually abused as a child.
She shared her struggles on Instagram, posting “I don’t even have the words to articulate my thoughts and feelings, the words to describe how scared I am right now. What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around, I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be okay when it’s not? I’m dying … I don’t want to die,” last August. However, she eventually made peace with her illness.
In a statement, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said "Her work in raising awareness about cancer prevention and her unwavering commitment to breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease will continue to inspire us all.
Depictions of Confederate Generals Replaced with Messages of Racial Justice on the Stained Glass Windows of the Washington National Cathedral
On September 23rd, 2023, The Washington National Cathedral unveiled two new stained glass windows entitled " Now and Forever." The space once held four glass windows honoring Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
The new windows pay homage to a march for justice by African Americans, the descendants of the very people the officers fought to keep enslaved. The new set of windows will display the exemplary dignity of the African-American struggle for justice and equality and the indelible and progressive impact it has had on American society, per the Washingtonian.
Calls for removal of the old stained glass windows began following the shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina in 2015.
The dedication service was attended by many clergy from the Washington area’s historically Black churches, as well as leaders of social justice organizations. The prayers, Bible readings and brief speeches were interspersed with gospel music and spirituals, as well as the contemporary song, “Heal Our Land.”
New Townhomes Being Built in Charleston's Historic Gullah Community
JW Construction of Ridgeland, SC , a black owned construction copy is a part of the construction of the new Golden Dream Townhomes.
The Golden Dream Townhomes project is a development set to provide affordable housing for many families. The fact that it is being constructed by a black owned construction company speaks to the growing diversity and inclusivity in the Construction industry. JW Construction is known for delivering high quality projects and their commitment to excellence.
Established in the late 1800s Liberty Hill is a historic African American community located in North Charleston, South Carolina. It's history dates back to the Civil war era and was once home to many African Americans who were formerly enslaved and migrated to the area in search of work and a better life.
Liberty Hill became a hub for African American businesses, churches, and social organizations during the Jim Crow era. The community thrived and was a source of pride in the face of racism, discrimination, and segregation.
Today the Liberty Hill community is still vibrant with a strong sense of history and culture and home to many historic landmarks.
"The Black history of Liberty Hill is a testament to the resilience and strength of the Gullah community in North Charleston and beyond. Despite facing many challenges, the residents of Liberty Hill have persevered and continue to make important contributions to the city and the country as a whole."(Black Southernbelle)
Georgetown University Attempts to Right the Wrongs of 19th Century Enslaved People Through Reparations
The descendants of 19th century enslaved people who were sold to fund Georgetown University will receive 27 million in money and land donations from Georgetown University and the Jesuits.
According to the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation the descendants will receive $10 million from Georgetown University and $17 million from the Jesuits in money and plantation land were people were enslaved.
"In 1838, the Jesuits who ran Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved children, women and men from Jesuit plantation in Maryland to pay off the university’s debts, according to the university." (N.Chavez, 2003)
Monique Trusclair Maddox, CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation and chair of its board of directors, stated, “These contributions from Georgetown University and the Jesuits are a clear indication of the role Jesuits and other institutions of higher education can play in supporting our mission to heal the wounds of racism in the United States, as well as a call to action for all of the Catholic Church to take meaningful steps to address the harm done through centuries of slaveholding.”
The funds will go to support the three primary functions of The Truth & Reconciliation Foundation: Invest in descendants' education throughout their lives; to fund programs and community leaders already engaged in anti-racism advocacy; and to support descendants for the rest of their lives.
Hopefully the donations will be a crucial step in rectifying the injustice enacted upon 272 enslaved men, women, and children sold from Jesuit plantations to settle Georgetown's debts in 1838.
WELLNESS
The Month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, aimed to to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects one in eight women in the United States every year and 2.3 million women worldwide. But this is not just a woman's disease as it also affects men. In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden designated October 17 to October 23 Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. About 2,710 American men this year are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 530 are expected to die from the disease.
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month begin as a week long awareness campaign in 1985 by the American Cancer Society, eventually it extended to a month long event, in 1992 the pink ribbon was introduced. The pink ribbon was inspired by Penelope Laingen who tied a yellow ribbon around a white oak tree in her from yard in Bethesda, Maryland in November 1979 helping to bring awareness to the Iran hostages, her husband Bruce was amongst the 52 people held hostage. Ironically, Mrs. Laigen died of breast cancer in April 0f 2021.
Maimah Karmo , founder of the Tigerlily Foundation was 31 when she received her breast cancer diagnosis and although she was given no more than five years to live, she has been well and thriving for seventeen years after her diagnosis. Initially, Maimah found a lump in breast doing her routine self-examination. She was certain it was a sign of breast cancer however, her mammogram came back negative. her physicians tried to reassure her telling her she was too young to be concerned, nor did she have a history in breast cancer in her family. But not convinced, she challenged their diagnosis and pushed for a biopsy, this time the diagnosis would come back as triple-negative breast cancer. The doctors offered an apology and said that they missed the lump due to the density of her breasts. The cancer was aggressive and she was to told that it would probably recur in five years, and be metastatic and she would more than likely die.
Maimah was determined to make a difference in the five years she was given, she was determined to do whatever was in her power to make a difference and ensure that people have the right to live.
Seventeen years later Miamah is thriving and continues to say healthy by eating a raw vegan diet, and constantly consuming alkaline water, she says she also makes time for colonics and sauna visits to purge toxins, tries meditation, reiki and acupuncture, gets plenty of rest, fasts (juice fasting for a week or two, occasionally, just water for a week), and avoids stress with the help of yoga.
The Tjgerlily foundation advocates, empowers, and participates in projects that benefit both women who do not have breast cancer and those who do. Miahmah pushes for Black women to take part in clinical trials especially those with the disease, given that studies show Black people are less than five percent of clinical trial participants despite having some of the highest death rates across a variety of diseases, including breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It says TNBC differs from other types of invasive breast cancer “in that it tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options, and tends to have a worse prognosis (outlook).” (Okine, 23h)
Here are some tips for awareness and prevention:
Know Your Risk
Knowing your family history is lifesaving. Talk to a doctor about your family history and see how that history impacts your risk of breast cancer. You and your doctor can create a personalized plan to monitor for signs of the disease.
Get Screened
For those at average risk, have a mammogram every year starting at age 40. If you have any signs of breast cancer, finding it early and treating it early may save your life.
Know Your Normal
It’s important to know what’s normal for you so you can talk with your health care provider if something doesn’t look or feel right.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Living a healthy lifestyle is within your control and may lower your risk of breast cancer. Maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol intake and exercise regularly. It all matters when it comes to your overall health and risk of disease.
Take Action
There are many ways you can join our fight to save lives. Whether it’s by supporting one of our generous corporate partners; becoming an Advocacy Insider; fundraising through the Race for the Cure, MORE THAN PINK Walk or our Komen 3-Day; participating in a fundraising challenge on Facebook or creating a fundraiser of your own that is meaningful to you, your support can help us take action to invest in research and help those facing breast cancer today.
Reflections
September in Review...September we exited summer and entered into fall. We started off the month dedicating our newest youngest member Little Miss True Brown. Dr. Ronnie Warren and his wife came to worship with us and Dr. Warren spoke to us a lesson on the Parable of the Sower and reminded not to become distracted and or consumed with our "fixations". We closed out the month with our annual Friends and Family Day, this year's theme was "How May I Help You?" Taking the Form of a Servant. The message came from Minister Zachary Russell of Living Faith World Ministries, Daytona Beach Florida. The day ended with a Friends & Family Day Concert and a time was had. Take a look below.
LWM Friends & Family Day 2023
Snippets from Friends & Family 2023 Concert
What September looked like at Living Waters Ministries
Living Water Ministries Upcoming Events
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