Volume 5 Issue 19 22 May 2008
Unity -- The Birthplace of the Miraculous by Apostle Randy Morgan
Psalm 133:1 says, "...Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!" This scripture talks about the anointing, and we know from Isaiah 10:27 that the anointing removes burdens and destroys yokes, "So it will be in that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck...." And we also know from Luke 4:19 that Jesus was anointed for the miraculous, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED." So the anointing is what births the miraculous in our lives and in our churches!!! In the passage we just read, unity is the birthplace of the anointing. So, when we're walking in unity, there is a natural flow of the miraculous. Jesus said, if two agree as touching anything, it shall be done. This is again, a reference to unity and its miraculous virtues. Since agreement is so important for a season of the miraculous, we need to understand how to walk in unity with one another. Here are some steps: 1. Forgive each other as God in Christ Jesus forgave each of you, Colossians 3:13, "Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive." Think about all the times God has forgiven you and realize that once He's forgiven you, He never, ever, responds to you based upon the sin of you've been forgiven. This is our demonstration of forgiveness and agreement--that once we've forgiven somebody (even if it's by faith), that we never respond to them again based upon what we've released. 2. Choose to walk in love. Love is not an emotion or a feeling; it's a choice that's activated by faith. Activate your faith right now and choose to love one another. 3. Share a common vision. Right now at New Covenant, God has spoken that we've entered into a season of the miraculous. We need to set agreement (in unity) that we will see the miraculous. Spiritual atmospheres that are "charged" with disunity, will never see the miraculous. (cut & paste every evil work… which is the opposite of the miraculous). Discord is the birthplace of the anti-anointing. If the anointing removes burdens and destroys yokes, the anti-anointing places burdens and adds yokes upon people that they are not meant to bear-burdens of bondage and oppression. In closing, let's do what we know to do regarding our faith toward unity. Let's confess it: In the Name of Jesus, we proclaim that our hearts are in one accord; we forgive those who wronged us-we release them; and we declare that as we align ourselves with one another in God's will, we will see the blinded eyes open, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, souls being healed, and people being born again. Our faith is out there for unity, now let's walk in it.

A New Way to Use Your Computer: Part 3 -- The Backspace Key by Deacon Tonna Eidson
Probably the most used item in the home or office these days is the computer. Here's a way to use your computer to help you remember to pray for yourself for a victorious life: Look at the backspace key and as you think of it's function (erase), let it remind you of how God gives us another chance by "erasing" our bad stuff and letting us get a fresh start when we repent and rely on the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us. Acts 3:19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." Ephesians 4:23 "And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Isaiah 1:18 "Come on now, let's discuss this!" says the LORD. "Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool." I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Jeremiah 33:8 "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me."
Turning to Alcohol Didn't Fix My Problem - But, Turning to Jesus Did!!! (My Testimony) by Pastor Joan Castle
I was born in Nebraska to a Christian family in the early 60s. Dad started a chapter of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship and mom started Women's Aglow Fellowship. I heard many testimonies and personally witnessed miracles. At nine I was saved and eleven, was filled with the Holy Spirit at a revival--I knew I had a calling on my life. Every summer I attended church camp and had awesome experiences--one night we looked out and the clouds spelled out the word "LOVE" and formed a cross below it. We were in Awe! I attended a two-year college near my home and played on the women's basketball team in my late teens. I felt lost then (not knowing where I fit in) and tried alcohol. I felt more accepted and I acquired a taste for beer and could guzzle it. I later went with friends to Heritage USA in North Carolina and listened to many wonderful speakers. I was baptized there by Uncle Henry. I started searching, checking out different churches and I found a non-denominational church which I attended regularly and got involved in the Children's ministry, and Praise and Worship Ministry I also went on a mission trip to Jamaica where we did skits and ministered to the people of the community there. We went out witnessing and one thing that really stuck out to me was the degree of poverty and wealth right next to each other. In Nebraska, Pastor John and Delonn became great friends. I was fighting depression, bulimia, drinking, and I was searching for purpose in my life. A lay minister in the church saw my vulnerability and took advantage of me. My pastors helped me get out of myself and into two years of Word of Faith Bible School via satellite. When I was 23, I married and we became children's pastors and we were involved with praise and worship.We had a beautiful daughter, Crystal.The death of my mother-in-law sort of shattered my faith in "healing is for all now". I quit praying for sick people, because they kept dying. Crystal was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of four and the Lord told me to take communion with her and she would be healed, so I started back to praying for sick people--I still believe for the miraculous for her healing. Problems began to arise after seven years of marriage and we went to a lay minister for counseling. My husband was having gay tendencies and was having a hard time dealing with it. The lay minister told me that it was my fault that he was having gay feelings. This all hurt me to the core. Proverbs 18:14 says, "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" I had feelings like I never had before. I was so angry. Our marriage hit rock bottom in '92. I was enraged and didn't know what to do with my feelings-I was out of control and I checked myself into a mental hospital. My marriage ended and I moved and started drinking again. At one point, I thought I might be an alcoholic as I was drinking twice as much as my friends. Bulimia had a hold on me again. I struggled with a battle in my mind. I felt worthless and wondered, "How can God use me now that I'm divorced?" I went back to school and finished my degree in telecommunications management I married he day I graduated and we moved to Georgia. After two years of marriage I was drinking again, was bulimic and ended up going to AA (knowing I didn't want to kill someone on the road driving drunk). I felt that I fit in at AA and. I met a lesbian there that I was drawn to--and couldn't stay away from. One night we kissed! I hadn't experienced anything like it before! I knew then that I had found LOVE (or what I thought was love-there were a lot of fireworks). I didn't know that I was a lesbian until that moment. The light turned on and I knew who I was! My marriage ended and I came out and told everyone I was gay. I never thought I would lose my family. I quit going to church (because I knew what they believed because of my experiences with my first husband). After a few months I hit another rock bottom. My family disowned me, my first lesbian love had left me, I was divorced twice and all alone. I CRIED OUT TO GOD. I CRIED UNCONTROLLABLY ALL NIGHT. I remember laying in a fetal position and waiting for help. Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." The next morning I had a vision of Jesus holding me as a baby and rocking me and saying, "I knew you before the foundations of the Earth. I created you and loved you before you were born. I love you My daughter, even when you think no one does. My love is everlasting and will sustain you. When all others have let you down; know I am here for you and I love you." Psalm 139:13-15 says, "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret." I met Roe, the love of my life in '99. At that time I had lost my driver's license and I was taking the bus to work. Roe began picking me up for AA meetings. We bought a house together then went to Hawaii and got married. My parents started reaching out to us to go to church, so Roe and I started going to church where my family was going, and Roe was saved. We were playing it straight and single. However, I still struggled with my sexuality because the minister continuously taught against homosexuality. We both enjoyed praise and worship, but, we knew that we needed to find a church where we could be ourselves. A special minister came to church, and I surrendered to God. I told him that as much as I loved Roe, I would give her up if God wanted me to. I thought I had been "healed" of homosexuality. After a couple days I actually realized what happened was that I was healed of the affects of what other people thought about me and homosexuality. God kept telling me that Roe wasn't going anywhere when I thought I was giving her up. I was a new person! I had been reborn. I could be Saved and Gay! What a revelation! God gave me the best woman ever and I didn't have to give her up to please anyone, not even God. One day there was a prophecy given to me in Sunday School about "changing neighborhoods" but we didn't know exactly what it meant. A few days later, I met Apostle Randy at Pride and knew that New Covenant was where we were supposed to be. The changing neighborhoods was actually changing churches and we gained a circle of friends. The preaching and teaching took me back to my roots and I knew that God still had a call on my life and wanted to use me (I just didn't know how until I got plugged in at NCCA). Joshua 1:8 reads, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." I thank my God for seeing me through each step of the way. These are the best days of my life. I am over 10 years sober. My family is tolerant. I have the best wife in the whole wide world.Whatever it is you are going through, know God will get you through. Just hold on. Many times that is all I could do -- to hold on and know Jesus loves me. Sometimes I even had to laugh, saying "What else could go wrong?" I've learned and now know to stand! I've learned how to confess the word of God and make it a daily confession--to hold on to the promises no matter what, knowing God will see me through any situation. Revelation 12:11 (Joan paraphrased) "And I overcame Satan by Jesus blood on the cross and by the word of my testimony!"

Pastor’s Corner by Pastor’s Angela, Brian and Joan
Confession of Faith by Pastor Joan Castle	Strange Stranger by Pastor Angela Brown
I thank you Father that every Word of God is pure, that Your Words are Spirit and Life. I thank You that Your Holy Spirit dwells inside of me right now. I thank You that with His help, I can control my tongue. My mouth can be used to tell of Your mighty works, sing Your praises and declare Your Word at all times. From this moment on, in Jesus' Name, I do not speak perversely. I do not think wicked thoughts but, think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report. Is there anything of virtue or anything of praise? This is what I will think of. I do not whisper or gossip or repeat a matter. I will shut my lips because the Word says if I do, I will be considered perceptive.	We are set apart form the world because we are not of the world (John 17). When we gave our hearts to God, we figuratively and physically, became strangers in our land and to some of the people in our lives. Totally sold out to God’s word and realizing that the world held nothing for us, others began to see us as strangers that they no longer recognized. We don’t act the same or do the same things. Praise God! Continue on the path that God has for you and no matter how strange we might appear to the world, we are bright shining lights of glory to God. John 15;18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Lighthouse Ministries by Pastor Brian Grizzle
June 1st will be the next service for "Bible in the Bar." We look forward to God showing up again like He has in the past. He has been so consistent and faithful to be in our midst in these services. Pray for us as we continue to spread the word about this new ministry. If you're interested in going to one of the services at Clayton, call me at 404-281-3619. Our home Bible study has had a positive response and we are consistently running 14-17 people each week and for the last four Thursday nights we have had a brand new person come each week.
Upcoming Events
June 6- Women's Basketball Game @ Phillips Arena For more information contact Pastor Angela June 14 - Youth Gathering June - Family Reunion (Picnic in the park) - All Day Event June - New Covenant Cinema Night July - Pride Festival is July 4th-6th on the Atlanta Civic Center Property. July- New Covenant Cinema Night August - Pool Party September - Putt-Putt at Malibu Grand Prix in Gwinnett September - Gentlemen's Brunch Fellowship With a Key Note Speaker and Praise and Worship. -If you identify as male you will not want to miss this special event. October - Halloween Party on Nov. 1st. October - New Covenant Cinema Night November - Thanksgiving Potluck - Dinner and a Movie December - New Years Eve. Party - Back by Request Singles Quarterly Events Posting Soon - check back often - Looking for Married Couples to volunteer for chaperoning Singles Events. If you are interested please contact us.
Announcements Be sure to check out the 5-15 minute daily broadcast Growing in Revelation Knowledge from New Covenant Church of Atlanta Marietta Home Group is Moving Effective June 3rd, the Marietta home group will be meeting at Pastor Joan and Rose's home, 1575 Longwood Drive, Marietta, GA 30008 Pride 2008 - If you are interested in volunteering to work in planning and/or at the event this year, please contact Apostle Randy at pastor@newcovenantatlanta.com for call the New Covenant office at (404) 929-1400. Spiritfest 2008 - May 25-28, 2008 Joshua Ministries International is hosting a GLBT Christian Conference, SpiritFest 2008, at the Omni Hotel (downtown) at CNN Center in Atlanta, GA. over Memorial Day Weekend. They invite ALL people to join them for this exciting event. . Registration fee is $125.00. You can register at the event. SpiritFest 2008 Schedule May 22, 2008 Thursday registration 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Thursday PM service - 7:00 PM (Pastor Tony Hoult & Pastor Kay Thomas) May 23, 2008 Friday registration 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM Friday AM service 10:00 AM (Pastor Brian Grizzle) free time after service Friday PM service May 24, 2008 7:00 PM (Pastor Tony Sirten) Saturday AM 10:00 AM (Rev. Janet Robertson) BBQ at New Covenant Church of Atlanta after service Saturday PM 7:00 PM (Ruth Cooper) Sunday AM 10:00 AM (Pastor Randy Morgan) This service is FREE OF CHARGE and will replace the Sunday morning service at NewCovenant Church of Atlanta -- free time after service Sunday PM 6:00 PM (time change/ Pastor Tony Hoult) There will be no p.m. service at New Covenant Church of Atlanta. The worship leaders are Don Lewis and Paul Revere. Holy Spirit Hour: Beginning Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 6 PM (until 7 PM), we will begin “Holy Spirit Hour.” This is subject to change throughout the summer based upon the “birthing of other ministries that are on the docket.” In this time, we are going to begin “activating by faith” the miraculous power of God. We will have a time of worship, the Prophetic, “dream and vision interpretation” (more on that below), dance, laying on of hands, anointing the sick, agreement prayers for miracles that are needed, etc. We will begin “cataloguing” requests and miraculous answers to prayers. Though we have seen many prayers answered, we are under one of the most OPEN heavens we’ve ever been under before, and now it is time to make our requests known, and testify to the results we see. We believe that God has been speaking to many of us about releasing the “Season of the Miraculous,” and especially the releasing of the sound of His Voice. Over the past several weeks, God has been speaking in His awesome “dream voice” to many in our congregation. At first, many were thinking, “I had too much pizza for supper and it affected my dreams.” Now, we’re beginning to see that God is “breaking through” to us in night visions and speaking to us in our sleep, showing us plans and strategies and clarifying steps for us to take. It’s time to begin “Dreaming with God.” I encourage you, start a dream journal, keep it beside your bed, and ask God to begin to speak to you, and bring those journals to church on Sunday nights beginning June 1st, and we will as a congregation begin sharing and journaling what God is showing us in dreams and open visions. If you need a miracle, these services will be geared toward faith being applied for your situations. FYI: Tuesday May 27th the following home groups will be relocating for one week: The Tucker Home Group will be meeting at Chocolate Coffee in the Publix shopping center on Shallowford just off I-85 Tuesday night instead of meeting at Robert Kesler's home. We will gather out on the outside deck (unless there's inclimate weather, then we will get together inside the coffee shop). The Intown Home Group will be meeting at Jeff Karl's home. Attention: If anyone printed or saved a copy of the article on The Father's Love from last week's E-pistle, call Deacon Tonna at 770-882-8734. Ministry of Helps We need your help on a one-time or regular basis in the area of cleaning the church. Let us know if you are willing to participate at least once see Deacon Chuck Markins or Sara & Shelley. The Don't-Have-a-Yard-Sale Sale New Covenant Church of Atlanta now has an open account with Treasure Mart, 3641 Pierce Drive (off Peachtree Industrial near Chamblee-Tucker), Atlanta, GA 30341 (770) 458-1200. Their hours for accepting consignments are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All you have to do is call and make an appointment to drop off your items for the church. They will price them and sell them for you (and they do get much more than you could get in a yard sale for the items). Be sure and tell them it's for New Covenant Church of Atlanta. It's a HUGE warehouse and you might get caught up for hours shopping there and finding the bargains. The items are priced, then if unsold, the price reduces 10% per month until sold. Items valued at $5.00 or less will only be held for 30 days and then reduced 50% (space is limited). Each month they will cut a check for the church and mail it. It's as simple as that, get rid of your junk, free up your time and enrich the Kingdom of God at the same time. If you can't get it there yourself, bring it to church with you on Sunday and Deacon Tonna will take care of it for you if it's not heavy furniture. Here's what they don't take: clothing, exercise equipment, electronics, rugs, mattresses/box springs, drapes, bedding, records, sofas, light fixtures. It's easy if you think decorative! Make sure your items are clean and in good condition.
Fire Institute Weekly Reading May 18-24 Read 2 Kings 16 - 2 Chronicles 35 May 25-31 Read 2 Chronicles 25 - Psalm 45 Come ready to discuss these amazing passages!