Kansas City is becoming more welcoming for black women who want to start their own businesses.
Adrienne Haynes, the managing partner at the business law firm SEED Law, says there’s more diversity in the entrepreneurial community today than in 2015, when she created the Multicultural Business Coalition with a few other organizations. Half of her clients are black women.
“It requires a tremendous amount of energy … to develop your own social capital,” she says. “It underscores the amount of grit and determination that black women have had in growing their businesses.”
Haynes’ first experience with business was when she was in 8th grade, watching her mom sell Mary Kay cosmetics. Years later, she worked at a health food store that also had an ice cream shop. She was impressed by the owner’s strategy in pairing the two businesses together.
That’s when she started noticing the differences between entrepreneurs who were able to grow their businesses, and those who just had a side hustle.
“I was very intrigued,” says Haynes. “It was really then that I said, ‘Oh, entrepreneurship is a thing.’”
At the time, though, she didn’t see many people who looked like her in the entrepreneurial community. By the time she was ready to graduate from law school, she forced herself to meet with a different attorney every week just to build her own network.
Haynes’ struggles got national attention in 2018 when Dell Gines, senior community development advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, published a report analyzing an unprecedented surge of black women owned businesses in spite of the challenges they face.
In the decade between 2002 and 2012, Gines had learned, the number of businesses owned by black women in America increased by 179%. That was an enormous increase, especially compared with the 52% growth for all women-owned businesses and a 20% increase for all businesses.
Black women were the only group of women in America with a higher share of business ownership than their male counterparts.
The Rt. Rev. George Phelps Mellick Belshaw, who served as the ninth bishop of New Jersey until his retirement in 1995, died peacefully at his home in Princeton on Feb. 29. He was 91.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Mellick Belshaw, the ninth bishop of New Jersey,” said the Rt. Rev. William H. (Chip) Stokes, current Bishop of New Jersey. “Mellick was old-school gracious and kind. He loved the people God called him to serve from Hawaii to New York to New Jersey. His leadership in the Diocese of New Jersey was strong and stable during the years he was bishop suffragan and later bishop diocesan. When I was a seminarian at The General Theological Seminary in New York, Mellick was president of the board. I will always be grateful for his warm affection then and in later years when I ended up in the bishop’s chair in New Jersey. I will miss his wise care and counsel and am eternally grateful for the legacy he left for those of us who have succeeded to the office he occupied so faithfully and well.”
George Phelps Mellick Belshaw was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, in 1928, the son of the Rev. Harold Belshaw and Edith Mellick. He attended St. Paul’s School, in Concord, New Hampshire, where he was a member of the Missionary Society. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of the South in 1951 and followed that with both a bachelor of arts in 1954 and a master of arts in 1959 in sacred studies from The General Theological Seminary.
After completing his studies at General, Mellick Belshaw served churches in Waimanalo, Hawaii; Dover, Delaware; and Rumson, New Jersey, where he was rector of St George’s-by-the-River for 10 years. He was elected Suffragan Bishop of New Jersey in 1975, then Bishop Coadjutor in 1982, and in 1983 became the ninth bishop of New Jersey. He served as diocesan bishop until his retirement in 1995.
Bishop Belshaw has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary and the University of the South; he has also been the recipient of an honorary degree from Hamilton College. His service to General Theological Seminary includes 31 years on the board of trustees, as well as serving at various times as tutor, fellow, adjunct faculty member, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and acting dean of the seminary.
One thousand schoolchildren in Zimbabwe have brighter smiles thanks to a two-week dental outreach program at The United Methodist Church’s Mutambara Mission Hospital.
The project — a collaboration between the church’s dental clinic and a Swedish team with Dentists Without Borders — provided free services, including oral health education, screenings, fillings and extractions of broken and decayed teeth.
The group also distributed 1,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste to five schools in the Chimanimani District, said Sara Elmqvist, a dental hygienist from Sweden.
“Brushing teeth twice every day with toothpaste is a very easy and a very effective way in preventing dental problems,” she said.
Elmqvist said buying a toothbrush and toothpaste is not cheap in Zimbabwe, especially with the economic hardships facing rural people in the country.
The Rev. Alan Masimba Gurupira, administrative assistant to Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, said the office of the bishop hails the work of Doctors Without Borders.
“Their contribution and support enhances the church’s health ministries. However, our challenge becomes the sustenance of this wonderful program,” he said.
Dr. Advance Chingwena, project coordinator and head dentist for United Methodist Dental Services, said Swedish dentists and hygienists visit twice a year (in February and July) to set up shop at Mutambara or Old Mutare Mission hospitals.
“The program (supports) the primary objective of The United Methodist Church dental clinic of taking dental care services to remote and disadvantaged communities (with) limited access to dental care,” Chingwena said.
Last month’s visit was the second trip for Swedish dentist Dr. Kjell Gustafsson.
With some of the most important games on the horizon, basketball analyst Julianne Viani gets to be center court for all the action.
But beyond interviewing coaches and players and giving fans a front-row seat, Viani is committed to making sure her talents and influence glorify God.
Viani, a fixture on ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NextVR, Big 10 Network and MSG Network covering men’s and women’s college hoops, the NBA and WNBA, is also a board member for the rapidly growing Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) presence in New York City.
It took nearly two years of planning between Sean McNamara, FCA’s Vice President of Field Ministry for the Northeast, and Frank Reynoso, FCA’s Inner City Regional Coordinator, to establish FCA in one of the world’s largest cities: New York City. Reynoso was thrilled at the opportunity to reach up to 11 million people living in the city’s five boroughs and Long Island.
As he considered influencers who could rally support, Reynoso looked to a former standout basketball player from New York who had a passion for the game and for God. Once he connected with Viani over the phone, she jumped at the opportunity to help.
“When you think of the impact we can have in a highly-populated area like New York City—there’s more people in each of the boroughs than in some states in the country—it’s unbelievable,” she said.
Viani quickly began speaking to athletes and sharing the ministry with other contacts, uncovering more ways God would use basketball to open doors.
“I started playing basketball in kindergarten, and literally my whole life has revolved around sports,” Viani said.
One of three girls, she says her parents were very committed to their daughters’ success—a commitment that has paid off. In high school, Viani won three of her four New York state championship games and helped lead her team to become one of the top teams in the country. Then at Marist College, Viani became a four-time MAAC Champion, made four NCAA appearances and led her team to their first-ever Sweet 16 in program history.
YAMAL PENINSULA, NORTHERN SIBERIA – The locals call this place “Yamal,” which means “the end of the world.” And in many ways, it is. There are no roads here. People use frozen lakes and rivers to get around on reindeer or snowmobile.
The Yamal Peninsula sits in the deep, frozen Siberian tundra above the Arctic Circle – Latitude 70 degrees north. Longitude 70 degrees east.
The temperature here fluctuates between -30 and -60 degrees Fahrenheit. As I prepare to venture outside, I put on layers and layers of clothing.
It’s a little after 6:00 a.m. Peter Khundi, our Siberian guide, does last-minute checks on a snowmobile that has a sleigh attached. The sleigh is covered with reindeer skins. This is how we are going to travel into the tundra.
The Dangerous Trek Across the Siberian Tundra
“I have to make sure we have enough rope and other emergency supplies in case we get stuck,” Peter says.
I ask him if this is dangerous. “Yes, it is,” he replies.
Our destination this morning is a four-hour journey deep into the wilderness to meet a nomadic family. Two hours into our journey, we stop briefly. It’s about 9:25 in the morning, and the sun has yet to rise.
The sun shines only a few hours during the winter. When it does appear, normally around Noon, the sunrise is something to behold.
“This is a special place,” Peter says.
Sharing the Gospel with One Family at a Time
Peter belongs to the largest nomadic tribe in Northern Siberia. It’s called the Nenets. He’s more than just a guide. He’s a Christian. And for the last few years, he’s been sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with his tribe and others who live here in the tundra.
“When I became a Christian, God gave me a new heart,” Peter tells me. “He also gave me a new heart for my people. I go out on my snowmobile meeting these nomadic families and telling them about the love of Christ.”
The Lifeblood of The Nenets – Reindeer
The Nenets are nomadic reindeer herders. The word “Nenet” means “child of a deer.”
Reindeer are the lifeblood of the Nenets people here on the Siberian tundra because their meat and their hides fetch a lot of money in the villages.
“Our food, clothes, shoes, homes, our transportation – everything comes from them,” says a Nenets herdsman. “Without deer, we cannot not survive.”
Tennessee residents devastated by last Tuesday’s powerful storms are still picking up the pieces of their shattered communities.
In the aftermath, churches across Nashville were destroyed – leaving clergies wondering where to hold upcoming Sunday services.
Members at Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church announced that their service would be a “Worship in the Rubble” where the congregation would gather in a parking lot next to their building.
They wrote in a Facebook post, “Despite the effects from the tornado that swept through our areas, we will continue to praise and worship the Lord God in Spirit and in Truth.”
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East End United Methodist Church encouraged their congregation to bring lawn chairs and worship in a park near their building.
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Come join us for worship at the East End UMC Park.”
The Church at Lockeland Springs held an outdoor community prayer and worship service where the community was encouraged to rise up and rebuild Nashville.
“We have a long road ahead, but God is still in control and He is still on the throne. Our strength comes from Him, and we will rebuild as a family. We are going to be okay, Nashville. Stay strong, keep praying, and continue loving your neighbor.”
United Nations staff in the U.S. are observing International Women’s Day today ahead of the annual March 8th designation. Supporters observe this day globally to advocate for women’s rights. IWD began in the U.S. at the turn of the century and quickly spread throughout Europe and beyond.
More about International Women’s Day here.
Despite progress in key areas, one-third of all women and girls worldwide suffer gender-based violence. Peggy Banks heads up Trans World Radio’s Women of Hope program, which helps women find their place in God’s story.
“We are encouraging them to see themselves from God’s perspective, to see that they have a purpose and a plan,” Banks says.
“We have teams on the ground in 125 different countries that connect with these listeners, do Bible studies. We do events… we have prayer groups. There are many ways that we touch and connect the lives of women, ultimately having them come to know Jesus.”
The Lord led Banks from working in local churches to the helm of Women of Hope’s ministry in 2016. “My passion is biblical counseling, so God opened up this door to really bring hope and Jesus to women around the world and across generations,” Banks says.
As described here, Women of Hope educates, encourages, and equips women to pray, listen, learn, grow, and give through media, small group interaction, and leadership development.
This year, Banks and her team want to help even more women find freedom and meaning in Christ.
“We hope to enhance our content, enhance presence on social media, maybe translate more languages so that women in other countries – especially closed countries – can hear a message of hope about a God Who loves them,” she explains.
Give to support Women of Hope’s work.
As an example, Banks describes the story of a young Farsi listener who wrote to Women of Hope staff. This young woman grew up in a Muslim home and “didn’t attend school because [her parents] didn’t believe that girls needed to attend school. So, she never had the opportunity to learn how to read and write,” Banks says.
This listener, and others like her, learn who God is through Women of Hope’s 30-minute radio broadcasts. The program also provides practical life lessons like “how to live with depression, how to live your identity, how to love your husband if you’re married, how to feed your children if you’re a mom, how to grow a garden.
“She says, ‘through your programs I’ve understood more about God’s love for me’.”
Duchess Meghan made a surprise stop at a London school in support of gender equity.
Prince Harry’s wife continued her “farewell tour” with an unexpected appearance Friday at Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, where she celebrated the achievements of women ahead of Sunday’s International Women’s Day.
The couple and their baby son, Archie, are moving to Canada as they officially step back as working senior royals on April 1. They’re in England for a final round of royal engagements.
Meghan’s visit commemorated Britain’s 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act in 1970, which prohibited workplace discrimination against women. The act was prompted when female sewing machinists at the Ford Motor Plant went on strike in Dagenham for equal pay in 1968.
“No matter how small you might feel, how low you may feel on the ladder or the totem pole, no matter what color you are, no matter what gender you are – you have a voice, and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right,” Duchess Meghan told the 700 students assembled to hear her speech. “It’s not just an opportunity to continue that, it’s a responsibility. I encourage and empower each of you to really stand in your truth, to stand for what is right – to continue to respect each other.”
She urged the young men in the room “to continue to value and appreciate the women in your lives, and also set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way. You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life – protect them. Make sure that they are feeling valued and safe.
“Let’s all rally together to make International Women’s Day something that is not just on Sunday – but frankly, feels like every day of the year.”
The duchess, dressed in slim black trousers and a fringed cream blazer, was joined onstage by Geraldine Dear, one of the striking Ford workers who helped spur the legislation.
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On Sunday, the royal couple were photographed driving to Sunday morning church service at Windsor. Harry wore a dark suit and striped tie, and Meghan donned a black fascinator, a white-collared dress and what looked like square-cut emerald earrings.
Their last engagement will likely be Monday when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to join Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal family, including Prince William and Duchess Kate of Cambridge, for the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The Wycliffe Discovery Center, which highlights decades of Bible translation work around the world, has been recognized as one of the top five religious museums in the United States by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2020.
“We’re passionate about celebrating cultures, educating people about language groups and highlighting the need to continue this important (of Bible translation) work until all people have access to Scripture in the language they know best,” John Chesnut, president and CEO of Wycliffe USA, said in a statement.
The center, which opened in Orlando, Florida, in 2002, came in fifth. The awards were based on the input of a panel of subject-matter experts and a public voting period.
The center regularly hosts youth events to “reach students outside normal school hours, and guests can schedule tours led by active missionaries who can offer first-hand insights into the displays,” Wycliffe USA said in the statement.
USA Today readers were asked to make their choice based on the stories, collections, and message at 20 U.S. museums, each dedicated to sharing the history, culture, art, and traditions of the world’s diverse religious groups and faith communities. The religious museum category included the country’s best Jewish museums, religious art collections, heritage centers, and other sites, from 14 states and the District of Columbia.
The center “tells the story of the Bible from an interesting perspective, its translation and distribution to cultures around the globe. Visitors learn what goes into translating scripture and hear talks from missionaries and linguists involved in the work,” USA Today said.
“Whether you’re 5 or 75 years old, you’ll enjoy learning about people, languages and cultures all over the world. You’ll also come face to face with the staggering number of people who are still waiting for a single word of the Bible in their own language,” the center says on its website. “Hear amazing stories of how lives are being changed as God’s Word is made accessible to those who still need it, and find out how you can be a part of what God is doing all around the world through Bible translation.”
J’Den Cox has won wrestling matches at the highest levels, including a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games — but he believes the battles he wrestles with himself often usher in the greatest victories.
Cox, 24, is a three time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion, and an Olympic bronze medalist who also won 4 state titles while in high school, amassing only three losses in that time-frame.
He also won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships. These are just a few of his accolades.
Still, it is Cox’s internal matches that have truly ushered in his most transformative victories.
In his freshman year at the University of Missouri, he found himself struggling to the point where he wondered if he should just throw the towel in all together — and not on a wrestling match, but on his very life.
Listen to Cox reveal his incredible faith journey:
The climax came one day when Cox was in the midst of battling the demons from his past; he found himself on the edge of a highway, considering ending it all. A chance phone call from his coaches at that very moment helped save his life.
Years later, he’s better and has no problem opening up about his past struggles.
“For a long time, I was ashamed to talk about it because people struggle to show empathy for things they can’t see and understand,” Cox said of his past emotional struggles. “I was afraid to ask for help, and I think that’s something I try to preach now.”
Cox began to go to therapy and changed his mindset, as he worked on bettering his mental health — all while not missing a step on the wrestling mat.
SOURCE: Christian Post; Pureflix.com, Billy Hallowell
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