Still on Fire!

A man of God commenting on Hebrew 4: 16, which states..."Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." He said that boldness attracts grace. Let us take big and bold steps into the destinies that lay ahead of us. It is the secret of remaining ablaze!!!
---- Zangai A. Peabody

Running Man...An Influence and the Influenced

The Link below is a short powerpoint presentation of what life has been for me for the last ten years. Inspite of all I feel or think, Sober Watchman Ministries will always remain the most influential organization I ever encounter in my life-time. I will do my best to lift up the hands of those who are carrying on the work today through prayers and other means possible.


The word INFLUENCE means a lot to me. My christian life started as a result of one influential person at school-Alexander Kollie. His unspoken influence drew me from the back of the classroom where all the bad guys hang-up to the front where Alex worshipped God in silence and read his blue Gideon Bible. And how has that affected my own life? From Monrovia to New York, my desire for outreach has lead me to drug dealers and users, homeless people,and muslims. My platform includes: buses, subways,street corners, and ferry boats. Influence is like the cold flu. When you have it, other people around you will surely get it. But in order to share your flu, one must cough. Like wise, in order to influence others, one must do or say something. I love to be influenced by important people. But most of all, I love to influence people for Christ.

Lets do this Thing

Papa P at Boot Camp with young people in Silver Spring Maryland, USA

Over the years the Sober Watchman Ministries have been running her annual camp that has been a blessing to thousands of young people.

This ministry tool has been very successful wherever it is implemented.

While serving in Cameroon for four years we commenced the “youth camp” as we know it to be: an arena of youthful bliss. Young people were given the opportunity to express their faith, in an unthreatening atmosphere. It is a place where “iron sharpens iron”. Young men and women are actually “arrested” when they see their peers taking spiritual leadership in worship, prayer, and decision making.

In Douala (capital of Cameroon), we saw the camp grew from 65 persons to over 150 in just three years. (Presently, they are over 200.) The camp then spread out to several other provinces in Cameroon: Limbe and Yaounde, each hosting similar youth camps to challenge teens and expose them to the Word.

After our tenure in Cameroon we came over to the USA. Here in The US, the youth ministry was blessed by having one of the best youth ministry team I’ve ever known, the Rev. Charles K. Wesley and his wife Mrs. Maima Wesley. The lives of the young people took a good turn upon their arrival.
After Pastor Wesley’s passing we were called upon to take over and we saw the need for camp, SOWATHMI style.

70 plus persons, mainly from Silver Spring, were ministered to at the first camp in 2005. Camp 2007 registered 180 persons and young people from about 10 States. The Bethel World Outreach church in Silver Spring has over 40 nations represented in its community. Through this tool we are practically influencing the world.

How many young people have passed through the walls of SOWATCHMI camp? Many of these young people are leaders in one capacity or the other.

At the camp, I’ve come to realize that morning devotions are not an end in themselves. I believe it is a tool to teach teen a disciplline pattern to develop personal vision and articulate their goals. I remember that it was one means by which we used to launch our daily events on camp and therefore prayed through everything to be done for the day. The very act of having a quiet time or devotional period, builds into a young person the discipline of waking up early and planning his or her events of the day. This challeneges teens to use time wisely.

Developing disciplne leaders is a primary objective at camp. To be a dorm leader, a group leader and any other leadership positions at the camp takes certain interpersonal skills and strong christian convictions,inorder to present a positive 'pressure' on peers. Being a school group leader or a neighborhood group leader allowed teens developed accountability skills to their leaders and peers. Every neighborhood coordinator was responsible to find means to bring his or her group (most of the time over 20 persons) to the camp site. These cell leaders had to deal with parents, pastors and school authorities and convince them to let their kids attend camp, sometime while the civil war raged on in other parts of the country.

Let us not become wary of well doing. Our Master said, “…work while it is day for the night comes when no man can work.” It is high time to cease the moment…the opportunity afforded us to impact lives. Let us give our time, talent and treasure to see others touched with the same “fire” that touched us and transformed our lives completely.

Camp is still a moment of blessings and bliss for those in their teens. let us make those formidable years a one of Godly impressions and irresistable christian testimony for the next generation.

To share your gifts and prayers for the annual Sober watchman Ministries camp, call 202-4926549 or talk to Lucia Shafah at 262-9149836. And thanks for your mutual support.

An Influence or the Influenced

"It is the very order of things that so must it be. Truth could not be truth in this world if it were not a warring thing, and we should at once suspect that it were not true if error were friends with it. The spotless purity of truth must always be at war with the blackness of heresy and lies .
...Until the second advent, the Church must be the Church militant, the Church armed, the Church warring and the Church conquering".
--- C. H. Spurgeon

There is no demilitarized zone. Every zone is the go-zone. To preserve the relevancy of the truth, it demands that the Church must contend for the truth and remain aggressively armed, ceaselessly.

Aggression here is active and progressive as well as offensive.

Been a teen Christian on campus can be lonely and loaded with all kinds of pressures. Professing Christianity as a teen can therefore become aggressively offensive to some , if of course you are truly standing for the truth and maintaining a testimony amongst classmates and peers.

Even though conformity breeds peace, this peace is not peaceful. True peace resides in the Truth. Standing true demands contending...
Anything else attracts crippling conformity of identity crisis and an eventual lost to personal values and testimony. The war is to stay true to your new identity in Christ.

Every Christian teen is pressured to conform. The pressure to conform is incessant. It will never stop! But it should never stop us!

Post-modernization has never brought a cessation to the battle between conformity and true Christianity. To think so, you are already deceived.

Think about your days as a Christian in your high school. Remember your days standing as that lone Bible totter in your neighborhood or classroom.

Has peer pressure ceased?
Oh then been a Christian has...

Has the pressure to fit stopped?
Oh then opposing forces to truth has...

Truth lives!
So the crisis teens face at school, at home and in their neighborhoods manipulate and demand their loyalty.

Therefore at Sober Watchman Ministries camp, we evoke the spirit of the warring Christian and challenge students to:



Radically stand up for and with the truth as they witness personally through their lives and speech.
Remain different and avoid strange fires.
Be the influence and not the influenced by staying the head and not the tail with excellent grades, good conduct and a fearless Christian lifestyle.
Beginning this October, we are giving everyone the opportunity to be a part of the ministry's effort to challenge teens in West Africa to be the influence and not the influenced.

To share your gifts this camp season, contact SWM at soberwatchmanministries@yahoo.com and retain Sober Watchman Ministries staff, students, campus presidents, campus ministry and neighborhood fellowships in your prayers.

Or call Lucia Shafah at 2629149836.

Sober Watchman Ministries: Communication Counts

Sober Watchman Ministries: Communication Counts

Papa P chills with his family

Hold onto daddy!!! This is a priceless photo indeed. Ruhamah enjoys the moment of hanging onto daddy's shoulders, while the boys receives shield from the 'fearsome' ocean waves. When a youth minister hangs out with his own kids, it is not just family time. It is a priceless testimony.

Every warrior deserves a good time out on a yatch with his family....or just to simply enjoy the sunshine beating his brow. Papa P retreats with his family. Even at the beach, kesed won't let daddy nap... How lovely....

Papa P

Watch this clip. A synopsis of youth ministry. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7451514471707273851

Pastor Zangai Peabody serves as assistant pastor of Bethel Silver Spring alongside Bishop Darlingston Johnson where he mentors young people. He also serves as international director for youth outreach of Bethel World Outreach Church (BWOC), Silver Spring. He oversees, plans, and implements church-related ministry to youths. He is also the international director of Sober Watchman Ministries (a BWOC-affiliate ministry founded in 1992 by the late Rev. Charles Wesley).

In 1994, Rev. Peabody became the director of Sober Watchman Ministries in Liberia. Rev. Peabody held this position from 1994 to 2000. Under his leadership, the ministry grew extensively and reached over 10,000 young people in Liberia and extended into neighboring Sierra Leone. From 1992 to 1994, Rev. Peabody served in Liberia as drama minister of Sober Watchman Ministries.

Before joining Bethel Silver Spring in 2004, Pastor Peabody and his wife, Mrs. Jarsa Peabody, ministered in Cameroon. From 2000 to 2004, they served as assistant pastors for youth ministry in Bethel Central Church, Douala and coordinated youth work in three other provinces: Limbe, Bamenda, and Yaounde. At Central Church, the Peabodys started the youth church with 15 youths, 0 cell groups, and 0 trained indigenous leaders. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the youth church grew to 100 youths, 15 cell groups, and 25 trained indigenous youth leaders by 2004. Upon the Peabodys' departure in 2004, two of these leaders (who had been licensed) began pastoring the youth church.

The Peabodys have four children: Ruhamah, Destiny, Tobe, and Chesed. Pastor Peabody is a native of Liberia. He has a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from Carolina University of Theology in Manassas, Virginia.

Over the past 16years Papa P has impacted and shaped the destiny of countless numbers of highschool students. Most of those mentees are now married, and leading careers while others are now leaders of youth groups and mentoring yet other young people.

http://www.bwomi.org/

Soulman

Edwin Williams "nailed" between two campers at 2006 camp, held at Ricks Institute. Edwin is a youth minister and also a hip-hopper, into gospel rap music. He is to soon start his debut album but have been featured on couple of tracks with some of the finest Christian artists in Liberia; and spends his time writing songs. Edwin is a senior at the African Methodist Episcopal University, studying sociology and Mass Communication.

Deep Calleth Deep...

Students who attend Sober Watchman camps are expected to become sober and vigilant influences on their peers in their schools,neighborhood and at home among their families. Here we affect the destiny of our country one student at a time, planting scriptural truths in the hearts of young people one verse at the time . "As iron sharpens iron, so a man will sharpen his friend." At Sober we believe that, besides parents, the greatest influence on a teenager is another teenager. Kids with strong Christian testimony at home and school interacts with new Christian young people and help shape their vision and impact their destiny for a radical christian lifestyle. Here kids dig into their Bibles in cells to grow sound and sober.
http://www.cellexplosion.com/

Moses D. Cooper mentors his cell on camp

Administrator, Moses D. Cooper mentors young people at 2006 camp for high school ministries and neighborhood fellowships. Campers remain in their same interactive cells all through camp for small group mentorship where they learn and grow in a welcoming and friendly setting. In these groups, mentors use object lessons, brainstorming, workbook activities, question and answers, stunts, icebreakers and games while challenging students with truths and speaking into their lives. Within these small groups, students can exercise their individuality and receive counseling and be prayed with by their mentors.

Moses is a senior at the University of Liberia, where he studies Accounting and Business Administration. He also leads the university campus ministry,Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and his local church's Youth Ministry.

Pamela Bernard Sawyer...gathers her girls

Campers are carefully grouped into ages and grades to allow for appropriate learning environment where their learning and interaction are tendered for their age group. Whatever the age range, campers can all expect to work through their Bibles and listen to speakers who are passionate about living a personal relationship with Jesus and being a radical influence on their families and peers. Mrs. Pamela Sawyer has served with the Sober Watchman Ministries since her high school day. She is a youth and children minister and also a Registered Nurse. Pam most often is the ministry's medical staff on camps. Pam is married to Wenny Sawyer who is also a youth minister. Both have a sweet 2 year old daugther called Wennel.

Interactive cells on Camp...'Soulman' Edwin John Williams speaks to young people

A scene from one of the many cell groups on 2006 camp. Youth minister Edwin Williams is before his group of teens preparing to help them understand God's purpose and perspective in this interactive small group section.

...ought to pray...

Children and youth minister Nahdi Sekajipo prays with youth workers and the young people at the most recent U-Turn Conference, August, 2007: Front counter clockwise, Missionary Nahdi Doe Sekajipo, Outgoing National Director; Superior S. Siryon, National Director; Pastor Louis Roberts, Director for Operations.

Thirsty....Come to the river

The stream of God is full of water." psalm 65:9 Pretty simple, isn't it? With God, there is always a flowing river. God is a river of life. That's good news for a thirsty generation, yet sad for those who refuse to stop and wade.

My last journal entry was dated many months ago. honestly, the cause of my delay has been "dls." oh, you know of it, i think: dry land syndrome. you know, the long days. the empty days. the riverless days. dry land.
Several times I sat down to write but each word was like hard labor under a july sun. soon it became clear that whatever came forth would be true... but possibly not true in me. avoiding hypocrisy, the keys fell silent.
I didn't want to admit it, but ultimately there was no way around it. I am the fool who would not wade into the River of Life. oh, I'll go far and wide to talk about it, speak of it, preach on it, and proclaim it. but, we all know there is no life in ministry. the river of life is in God.

Somehow I became an expert on The River, yet wasn't standing in the flow.

A month ago, a college minister was sharing with me how my journal on the passion web site has impacted the students he leads. as he inquired about the possibility of a new edition, my heart sank.
Finally I confessed no new journal had come because my up was a little dry.
"write that," he said. "what a huge encouragement to know you struggle, too... that would be great!"
However, I wanted more than just the chance to be vulnerable. I wanted the fountain of life to spring forth in me. I longed to say with the psalmist, "all of my fountains of joy are in you." psalm 87:7.
"dls" remained.
what happened? a lot of things. it would be easy to play the martyr, talk about the sacrifice of the schedule... the demands of the mission. but, it's not really what did happen that is important, but what did not. I did not come to Jesus.
Come! talk about a potent word. this one's like plutonium. check out these words from the mouth of the River Himself, Jesus Christ.
"if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."
"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."
"come to Me all who are weary and weighted down, and I will give you rest."

The actual tense of the first verse says it all: if anyone is thirsty let him keep on coming to Me and let him keep on drinking of Me!

Figuring out how to experience abundance in Christ is not rocket science. it is as simple as manna. by design, God sent manna to his people in the desert. not beef jerky, a power bar, pop tarts, or some other food source that could easily be tucked away in the pocket of a robe, holding the bearer for days in the wilderness. manna is a daily thing.
Jesus is the manna of God... and yesterday's drink from the ever-flowing stream is never enough for today, certainly not for tomorrow.

Many of us proclaim Christ, yet live on fumes. how sad. we must ask ourselves, are we filled with the present life of the living Christ or sadly baptized with memories of what it was like to touch the hem of His clothes in days gone by? Jesus is alive! the river is flowing. the invitation is now. come! will you? will I?

A few weeks ago, all of atlanta watched as a radio promotion gone wrong finally came to an end. on march 11,24 lucky souls were chosen to board the "great american scream machine, "the baddest wooden roller coaster around, in an event sponsored by a local rock station, six flags, and the atlanta area jeep/eagle dealers. the deal? whoever stays on the longest wins a jeep wrangler!

Think you're ready? Here's the catch. you ride from 8 am to 1 am with a five-minute break every hour and a 45-minute break for lunch and dinner. (can you say throw up?) you sleep on the ride's platform and do it all over again the next day. your friends and family can visit, but Only on the weekends, and then they have to pay to get into the park!
when i became aware of the contest, three riders remained...in their 41st day. spring break? easter? family? jobs? life? for most of march and all of april, they rode. cold days. dark nights. sunshine.
Rain. Through it all they rode. for what? a $16,000 jeep wrangler.
on may 11, with the u.s. and world records long since shattered, the contest mercifully came to an end after 61 days. sixty-one days!!

Losing money daily and faced with razed contestants, the sponsors relented, offering all three remaining riders a jeep if they would just get off! fortunately for us all, they did.
my first thought was, "idiots." 12,456 rides,61 days. insane. no way I would pay that kind of price just for a jeep.

Then the question turned. would i pay that kind of price to know God? would i seek Him for just one day from 8 a.m. - 1 a.m.? would i forsake family, work, ministry, life, comfort, pleasures, or agenda to pursue the Living God? would i contest for the prize of Him?
upon closer examination, i was an idiot, too... willing to pay such a high price for the things of earth. not the wrangler, mind you. but i ride daily for prizes i'm too embarrassed to name. i have a thirsty soul and a huge appetite.

But "dls" has a cure. it�s called come. Christ paid severely that i might stand in the river of God today. the least i can do is whatever it takes to get there.
today i have renounced the river of ministry as a quencher for my soul and waded into the river of Jesus. it is impossible to go back to yesterday. i have no thoughts of tomorrow. but i�ve found manna outside my tent today and a river of life within. "as for me, the nearness of God is my good." psalm 73:28a.

[Father, I cry out for the waters that flow from Your throne... for the fresh flood of life across a
parched and weary soul. things are not enough. not for this soul made for You. Jesus, You are he manna of God. have mercy on me and give me a heart eager to come to You.] http://www.268generation.com/

What we believe...?

We believe the bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:15-17.We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. John 1:1-4; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-4 and 4:15; Acts 1:11 and 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful man, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and the Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Titus3:4-7; Luke 24:46-47; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life. Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:9.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life, and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation and eternal punishment. Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that all true believers and members of His body, the Church. Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12 and 27.

We believe that the ministry of evangelism is a responsibility of both the church and each Christian. Romans 10:9-15; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 3:15. www.mikeguzzardo.org

Communication Counts

Dear SoWatchMi,

Kindly find attached to this email, a recent picture as you requested, and a short powerpoint presentation of what life has been for me for the last ten years. Inspite of all I feel or think, Sober Watchman Ministries will always remain the most influential organization I ever encounter in my life-time. I will do my best to lift up the hands of those who are carrying on the work today through prayers and other means possible.

Thanks, Debeter Parker, October 30, 2007

-------------------

Good day,
Thanks for the invitation. I am happy to hear about this.
By the way, what are some of the projects Sober Watchman is involved with.
I just returned from Canada a week ago and would love to contribute some new skills and knowledge to the Ministries.I will also get in touch with the local base.
I am very happy to have these supportive mails in my box. I have looked at the attachments and would love to receive all of them more frequently. This puts me in a better position of options and my best family support at all times.
Thanks for all the hard work and keeping in touch with past members, yet active in some ways. I will keep in touch with the local base.

Vonyee Newton, YMCA Liberia; SWM


---------------

Hi Debester

I am Stanley Fallah, and have been working with the
ministry for a very long time. But it is unfortunate
the way things go in this ministry. It is not that we
are only concern about the money that
people sent to us. We are also concern about the lives
that pass through the ministry and continue to make
significant contribution to the work of the Lord.
If I were to state why we could not get in touch with
you it would not solve our hurts and take us forward
in the work of the Lord and in raising discipline Christian leaders of young people.

We have always prayed for you that God will make a way
for you our of your situation and that your labor of love
will be remembered. Since we came in touch with your
brother Mich, we've always remember to speak to the
Lord on your behalf. May I say this to you: We haven't
been able to access the net like u people have been
privileged to over in the US. Therefore it has been difficult to
keep within the circle the link that we need to keep.

Praise God for u that you stay have a heart to serve to keep the ministry in what you dream it to be. Remember it is not just your money but your life. We need to set the pace for the next generation of SWM leaders and students. And this can only be when we forget the past and focus on the future.

thanks,
Stanley Fallah
-------------
Dear Brethren,
I am completely grateful to God for the level of commitment you guys have exhibited over the years, especially being there readily to be used by God in these times.

On my part, I can beat myself over, and again for just not doing my part except prayers.Please continue these communications for they serve as great reminders to our should-be commitments to the growth of christianity amongst our youths through the ministry.
I know that it's not too late to do what God has planted us to do.
When the budget is made for the camp, I would like to be a part of the financial obligation, so please keep me in touch.

May God give us the strength to continue for the harvest is truly plenteous,

Emmanuel OkekeT

----------

Hi everybody at SWM,

It has been a long time since I last communicated with leaders of the ministry. It disappoints me that leaders of SWM do not make it their business to stay in contact with members who are experiencing or has experienced some life-changing situations. However, they are on time when it comes to soliciting funds for camp and other stuff.

I lived with kidney problem for over six years before having a transplant last year April. But during those tough days of my life, I try all I can to stay a member of SWM. I even try contributing financially when I could, and started doing street outreach in New York under the ministry name. Only the late Charles Wesley recognized my work and situation. But since he died, my interest in SWM lessen because nobody care enough to even ask of my health or well-being. So why do leaders of SWM keep writing me about events and trying to solicit my support? Is that all to Christianity? I really need an answer to these questions.

Thanks
DEBESTER D. PARKER (Indiana, USA)

Aunty Nahdi ministers to young people in Liberia. 2007

Sober Watcnman Ministries Inc., Pastor Nahdi Doe Sekajipo leading young people before the Lord. Mrs. Sekajipo is a youth and children Minister who served as missionary to the peolple of Cameroon,Ivory Coast and Ghana--- http://www.bwomi.org/ . She believes young people and children can be transformed and lead a life of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and become God's influence at home,at school and in their neighborhoods.

Sober Watchman Ministries teaches that God's word can influence the lives of young people and enabled them to impact and influence their home,school,neighborhood and influence culture.
Keep her in your prayers; encourage her with your correspondents.