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SOZO Living Magazine

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It started out just like any other morning for James. He headed out before the sun was up to deliver bread to stores throughout Eastern Carolina. His infec-tious smile and friendly disposition was something folks on his bread route had grown accustomed to looking forward to. But it wasn’t just fresh bread he wanted to deliver. He wanted to spread hope and encouragement everywhere he went. That hadn’t always been the case for James though.

Not long before James left to serve his country in the U.S. Coast Guard dur-ing World War II, he met his sweetheart Larue. While his ship was in port, Larue

went to Georgia to meet James. There they were married and started their

life together. After the War, they moved back to Eastern Carolina and started their family. Larue had come to know the Lord as a child, but James had not. Because of some bad choices in life, he had experienced plenty of rough spots. One day, however, all of that changed. A knock at the door and a simple invitation to church was the start of a new beginning. James and Larue accepted that invitation to visit Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville where James gave his heart to Jesus.

Just over a year later, on what seemed like just another routine day on his bread route, tragedy would strike and James would never make it back home. I’m sure he probably had no idea that when he kissed his wife good-bye and left their five children still sleeping, that this would be his last day on earth. While leaving one of his many stops at a crossroads community known as Speed, NC, a train struck James’s bread truck. He, along with his new trainee, was killed instantly.

I never had the chance to meet James

Edward Mumford because my mother was just twelve years old and was one of those five children he left behind that day.

There were, however, two significant things my Grandfather did just before that tragic event. The first was that he purchased life insurance. Had he not done so, there is no telling how my grandmother would have ever been able to raise those five kids. She never re-married, so that insurance was enough to keep them going and build a modest little home as she took in sew-ing jobs and found various ways to work from home.

What is SOZO?Sōzō is the Greek word for “Saved” in the New Testament and when combined with the adjective, “SalvatIon,” which is the word sōtēria, it has seven meanings. These two words get their origin from the Hebrew word Shalom.Sōzō – Saved, Healed, Delivered, Preserved, Protected, Made Prosperous,Make Whole

The second thing my grandfather did, was get some Legacy As-surance. He somehow managed to get some money together and took it to his pastor so that his church could start a radio broad-cast. My grandfather’s life had been so radically changed by receiving Jesus Christ, that he wanted as many people through-out his community as possible to hear about this Good News. And sure enough, that radio broadcast was launched just days after his death.

What is “Legacy Assurance”? Well, Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” This word “gift” here is not only referring to a talent, but also

referring to a financial gift. And we cer-tainly know, throughout scripture God has always referred to himself as a generational God. “I am the God of Abra-ham, Isaac and Jacob.” And although my Grandfa-

ther may not have realized it, his gift would one day make room for a future generation.

For a really long time now I have had this “thing” in me about Christian Radio.

In fact, I remember several years ago having a conversation with a well-known local radio broadcaster about his station at the time and asked him to consider a Christian format. Although I had almost forgotten that conversation, he remind-ed me about it some time ago. Little did I know that one day a door would open to launch a Christian station on that very same signal.

On November 1, 2012, 98.3 The Bridge went on the air with the mission of building a bridge of hope and encour-agement through positive music and a positive message. God strategically used Brother Johnny Bryant, Dr. Ronald Benfield and Wesley Hines, along with many others as “Bridge Builders” to help bring this vision to pass. Many local businesses and churches have joined in this mission, too, by becoming spon-sors, and we are hearing from people everyday about how much of a differ-ence 98.3 The Bridge is making in their lives. You see, just like my grandfather, I’ve

had some “rough spots,” too. But what has sustained me in life is a continu-ous revelation of His Grace through the “Sozo” Salvation that Jesus died on the Cross to give to us. And just like James Mumford, I want as many people as possible to experience this “Good News,” too!

May you be encouraged to share your life with others through giving and shar-ing the “Good News.” It may seem insignificant at times, but every time you do, you’re “building a bridge.” You are making a way for others to reach Jesus, and in doing so, He is well pleased.

Johnny Jones isPastor of South Point Community Church and founder ofSozoCommunications.He can be reached [email protected](252) 758-7355

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“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, that He isgoing before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”Mark 16:7No two words signify the purpose of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection any more than, “And Peter.” When Jesus uttered, “It is finished,” a whole new era burst onto the scene. The “Age of Grace” had been released into the earth, and Peter would be its first recipi-ent.

Peter had committed what many would have considered the “unpardonable sin” when He denied Jesus three times in the early morning hours leading up to Jesus’ death. After all, Jesus Himself had said, “If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father.” Peter must have thought to himself a hundred times after that rooster crowed, “If I could only take back those words.”Maybe you, like me, can relate to Peter. The very thing you swore you would never do, you did. The Apostle Paul could certainly relate. In Romans 7:15 (NLT) he said, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”

They say that the sense of smell can take you down memory lane quicker

than any other. Now you may have to be from the South to fully appreciate what I’m about to say, but any time I smell collard greens cooking, I’m immediately reminded of the fond childhood memo-ries of going to my grandmother’s house for a Sunday lunch or holiday feast. Those are great memories to me, but for Peter, the smell of a charcoal fire may have invoked memories that were not so pleasant.

As we see in John Chapter 21, it was beside a charcoal fire that Peter would get that chance to take back those words he had spoken just days before. The distinct smell of that charcoal flame must have taken him right back to the place he had been. When beside a charcoal fire and under the pressure of fear, he denied the one he loved so dearly.

From the words “And Peter” we get to see the heart of the Father expressed through Jesus. And on the shore of Gali-lee, Jesus, not in an attempt to frustrate Peter, but in an effort to restore him, asked three times, “Peter, do you love me?” He needed Peter to cancel out the words he had spoken just days prior, so that he could fulfill the plan and destiny the Father had for him.

I’ve heard people boast through the years of their love for the Lord, or some-one else’s love for the Lord. You know, “that brother/sister really loves the Lord.” We are not to boast of our love for Him, but rather, His love for us. Paul says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now that’s something to boast about--His love for us.

The essence of the “Good News” is that the Father’s desire is to restore us to Himself through the sacrifice of His dear Son. Regardless of what may have occurred in your past or what you have done, He wants you to know today that His plan for your future is so much greater than any mistakes of your past. Just say “yes” to Him today and walk in the complete and full restoration that Jesus died to give you.

There’s nothing in your past that’s greater than His purpose and plan for your future!

“ANDPETER”

SOZOTODAY.COM

Although the phrase “All In” is common-ly used in card games, the words them-selves can carry a much deeper mean-ing. They could be used to describe the resolute spirit one would have as they set out to discover something new. Such was the case with the earliest of settlers to Eastern North Carolina.

New Bern, the second oldest town in the state, was discovered by such a group, under the leadership of Christoph de Graffenried, Franz Louis Micheland, and John Lawson. Just like Christopher Columbus and others, these Swiss-German settlers left the land of familiar to come to a whole new world. Although they were met with many challenges and setbacks along the way, their faith in God and there sincere determination helped them build a life in the area we all call “home”.

It was in that same spirit that Shawn and Jeanette Nafziger came to the New Bern area. They had decided to tag along on a short exploratory trip with a

group of friends who were considering moving to this area from south eastern Pennsylvania. Shawn and Jeanette thought it would be a great opportunity to get away for a few days, and they wanted to support their friends as well. The thought of them moving to this area themselves, wasn’t even something they had considered. After all, they were so deeply rooted and connected to their family, church, community and business in Chester County Pennsylvania. But, as God would have it, over the next few weeks and months they began to sense a stirring in their hearts, that the Lord wanted to move them from their “land of familiar” to something completely new.

It actually took a great deal of prayer and consideration to say “yes” to this new move, but once they knew with-out a doubt that this was the area God wanted them to come to, they were “All In.” They knew however, that if this truly was God’s plan for the future of their family, then there would have to be a lot of things He would have to accomplish on their behalf. After all, their home and business would need to be sold.One of the real “Divine Signs” they felt God gave them was in the purchase of their home in Pamlico County. They had spent quite a bit of time looking at differ-ent properties, and had found a home with some acreage that they really felt a connection to.

ALL INSHAWN & JEANETTE

NAFZIGER

Not ready to make any sudden moves, they were just simply waiting on the Lord. But, when their Real Estate Agent called to tell them that a couple ofoffers were expected to be placed on that property in Pamlico County, they enlisted the help of some friends to pray with them.

In one such phone conver-sation with one of those friends, their friend sensed the Lord give her the verse Jeremiah 32:8. Now the friend was not familiar with this verse, all she felt like she heard in her heart was “Jeremiah 32:8”. Jeanette quickly grabbed her Bible and read the verse to Shawn.

“Then, just as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the ter-ritory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ “I knew that this was the word of the LORD.” Jeremiah 32:8

As things would happen, the Nafziger family made their way to Eastern NC. Although it wasn’t easy to say goodbye to family and friends they knew in their hearts this was the right move for them.

Having an entrepreneur spirit, Shawn and Jeanette wanted to start a business here, and after a couple of attempts at just that, they landed on one of New Bern’s best kept waterfront dining se-crets, Lawson’s Landing River Walk Café. In the same way the Lord led them to buy their home, He worked just

as Divinely in helping them start this great eatery as well.

Located at the North Carolina History Museum, they’ve garnered quite a bit of tourist patronage, but Lawson’s

Landing has also quickly become an eatery favorite for many of the locals as well.

Serving breakfast, lunch and an early dinner, their menu has no shortage of great dishes served in large portions. And, they areavailable for after hours private events and catering too.

If there is any advice Shawn and Jeanette would give anyone that believes God is leading them in a particular direction in life, that would be to be “All In.”

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That particular Wednesday night didn’t seem like it would be different than any other time Aaron Kennedy had attended Church. But, it was in that very service that night that Aaron heard loud and clear, God speak to his heart the words, “Tonight, you’re going to make a decision.”

Today Aaron is the Executive Pastor at Open Door Ministries, a church his father, Gregg Kennedy founded in 1986. “ODM,” as it is often referred to, has experienced some amazing growth through the last few years. Their vibrant style of praise and wor-ship and incredible teaching, along with the various ways in which they continually reach out to the com-munity has played a big part in their success as a thriving local church. I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Aaron as he shared his personal story with me.

“I knew I was called into ministry at a very early age and grew up in church where my dad had been the pastor all of my life. Basically as I began my teens, the church my father was pastoring was going through some difficult times, and I began to judge organized religion and the church. It was just a time in my life when I saw the hurt and pain thatChristians could cause each other. It caused me to really rebel against it and run away from the calling of God.

“You know that was a very interesting time in my life because I could never run totally or completely away from it. I defiantly dabbled in the world. I did all the stuff that you would assume any-

one who dabbles in the world does, but I could never totally get away from the love of God.

“Coming into my early 20’s, I just re-member how my dad always loved me. Even though, at times I knew I could be an embarrassment to him, and he knew I wasn’t living the right way. I had positioned myself in my relationship with God in such a way that I couldn’t feel His love for me, but I always knew that my earthly Father loved me. He was such an example of God’s unconditional love for me. It eventually came to a place where I repented and turned.

“I was sitting in the back of the sanctu-ary one Wednesday night, and my dad was speaking. I couldn’t even tell you what he was speaking on and I really

didn’t even care. I was just there try-ing to make Mom and Dad happy and I remember God speaking. Dad was getting ready to make some kind of alter call or something and I remember it was like a word dropped in my heart, “Today you are going to make a decision.” I was in the moment.

There are parts of me at times that has tried to question ‘that moment,’ but it was so strong. I knew that I was going to walk towards Him, or I was walking away forever.

“I stood up that night and walked down to the front, in front of everybody that was there that night, and I just remem-ber falling on my dad’s chest and into his arms and just weeping. Basically, just confessing everything that I had

Aaron Kennedy’s Personal Story

By Johnny Jones

Continued >>

hidden from him, everything that I had lied to him about, and he cried with me and forgave me.

“I think in that moment, as I look back over my life, it was first a humbling experience. I had to come to a place, that because of the pain I wasexperiencing, where I was at and what I was involved in, was so strong, that it didn’t matter anymore to me what people thought of me. Their opinions no longer mattered. It didn’t matter whether the people at church knew, or didn’t know that I was a mess. It just came to the place that man’s opinion didn’t matter.

“I had grown up in church all my life, so you’ve got to understand that man’s opinion when you’re growing up in ministry puts a huge pressure on you. So, in that moment, I kind of died to that and I wanted forgiveness and I wanted freedom a whole lot more than I wanted people to think, ‘Aaron had it all together.’ That was the first step.

“Ever since that time, God has been so faithful. He has brought incredible peo-ple into my life, like Clark Stallings who helped in mentoring me for a season of my life.

“I will just always remember that mo-ment in my life. And since that day, I felt like God called me to Open Door. He didn’t just call me to ministry, but He called me to a specific place. And I think He often times does that. He will call people to a specific place. It’s just as important sometimes to hear the place as it is the call.

“The biggest thing for me over the last ten or twelve years has been reallydying to the call of God on my life, which really to me is just turning it over to Him and saying, ‘God, You’re in control and here I am.’ It’s that Samuel issue and the Isaiah issue where you say, ‘Here I am; send me. I’m available to You.’ For me, it’s been serving my dad and my

dad has given me a place in ministry that I would have never had anywhere else. And through that, I’m able to reach more people than I ever would if I was out on my own.

“I’ve had relationships with great men that have surrounded and supported my dad, and it’s just a neat process to build the Kingdom and to be a part of a church that’s helping build the Kingdom.

“Today, it’s amazing when I look around and see all that God is doing. This year so far it seems like something has compounded, and it’s like we are liter-ally seeing revival type stuff. I don’t want to use churchie language, but it’s like revival is really happening. So many people are coming to Christ; so many people are being filled with His Spirit; the youth ministry is exploding, and kids are on fire for God. People are coming because of the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re even seeing what’s going on down town in a ministry we just started, where so many people are in love with Jesus.

“And you know, to think no matter how

bad I was, God’s love out ran my bad-ness. It came to a place where He overtook me. I thought I was unusable because of things I had done. But now I walk in the same community I partied in, and it’s all about Jesus.

“There were three friends that I had back in those days, that I knew I was going to have to walk away from, when I made this decision to follow Jesus. I mean, these were boys to the end, and there were two of them that I was really close to. We were all so tight!. But, God told me if I followed Him, that one day I would have the chance to lead them to Christ. And sure enough, this year I got a call from one of them because his dad was dying. I was able to minister to his dad, and lead him to Jesus. And three weeks later, I did the wedding ceremony for the other one, and he’s been in church ever since. So God is working on all of my three friends. I believe they are in transition, and I know His timing is perfect.

“His timing is always perfect, even though it may not feel like it is perfect. As I look back, I see that I’m a life,

where it has been proven that God’s timing is perfect--time and time again. “Today, ministry is fun now in my life. Now it’s a totally different thing than when I grew up. There’s life in it and it’s exciting! And, I get to serve along side the man that was the greatest example of God in my life and God’s love to me.

“The thing that makes this work is the gift of God that my wife Lauren is in my life. She helps me have a life other than church because she’s my balance. Church isn’t the Promise of God for our lives; it’s the conduit that He uses to reach the world and help us grow. And, church itself does not define my rela-tionship with God. So Lauren and our son, Wesley, are very much what keeps me grounded. Lauren and I have been

together for thirteen years since we first started dating.

“She came along at a time when I was very much on the fence, and her desire to know God really helped me come to this place of really stepping into my destiny.

“I believe Wesley has a call of God on his life and so now I’m able to speak over him the things that my daddy spoke over me. And, that’s the promise of God, that if you raise them in the ways of the Lord they won’t depart from them. I get the chance to lay my hands on that little boy and speak over him and prophecy over him the Word of God and that’s so cool. He gets to be raised in thepromise! It excites me to think about

what he will one day step into.

“I believe in the God in people a whole lot more because somebody believed in me and the God in me. There’s noth-ing good in me but Jesus. No matter how many times I messed it up, God still worked it out.

“So no matter if you give up or not, God never gives up on you. He will complete the work that He started. He is the Au-thor and the Finisher. “Just because I made that decision doesn’t mean there haven’t been tri-als and things I’ve had to walk through. But there’s never been a moment that I wasn’t glad I made that decision and that I know He’s been there to walk through things with me.

“That day I made a decision to accept a Friend that would walk through life with me, and He is offering the same to you. Yes, there is a choice out there, but you have Someone who is offering you a relationship, a friendship and uncondi-tional love. You have Someone that is willing to walk with you through every-thing that life will ever throw at you. The question is, ‘Are you smart enough to receive that gift?’ That’s the basis of it. We can try to manipulate people into it, even use emotion, but this is what Jesus offers. He offers LIFE. Has this life hurt you enough? Have you taken enough lumps yet to receive what He’s offering?

“Are you willing and ready to make that decision?”

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