REV. CHARLES E. KING has been appointed Senior Pastor of Camphor Memorial UMC by Bishop Peggy Johnson effective January 1, 2010. Rev. King and his family were warmly welcomed to Camphor on the First Sunday in January when he preached his first sermon to the congregation.
Rev. King comes to Camphor from Wesley United Methodist Church, Reading, PA, where he served as volunteer pastor for the past four years. He focuses his ministry on preaching, teaching and counseling and enjoys using technology to reach out to the congregation and community. He is a life-long British Methodist, now United Methodist.
Rev. King holds diplomas in Theology (with distinction) and Ministry from Trinity College, Ghana. He received the B. Div. from Trinity Seminary (Legon, Ghana), the Certificate of Management from the Center for Management & Institutional Development (Accra, Ghana) and the Masters in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. His undergraduate work focused on general aspects of New Testament Theology with pastoral care and counseling as a minor. At the graduate level, his focus was on Paul in his letters to the Romans, Philippians, Galatians as well as Jesus’ use of Parables.
He began his ministry at the Methodist Church in The Gambia (2001-2006) where he served as Minister in Charge and Circuit Superintendant of Wesley Circuit. While in that capacity, he was elected to serve as Synod Secretary to the Methodist Gambia Church (2002-2003). (click to read full profie)
THREE DAYS TO LIVE! This is the first of a three-part series on the above subject. The first thing that comes to mind when one sees the title is 'am I going to die?' It is a paradox when one considers the intricate interconnection that exists between life and death. The process of death begins as soon as one is born and the process of life in a whole different dimension begins as soon as one dies! Confused? Stay with me on this: with every passing day after a baby is born, there is a countdown to the day of death. If you believe that our days of life are all before God's eyes as soon as we are born, every day you live to see is a day closer to your death. It is like checking into a hotel with your spouse for your honeymoon. You check in on January 10th and plan staying till January 16th. On January 11th, you have enjoyed a day in your honeymoon, but you have also subtracted one day from the 7 days. Day two means 5 days to go, day 3 means 4 days to go and so on.
Many have not paid attention to this pattern of life because we have a natural tendency to postpone our death because we want to live long and enjoy life. In some cultures, it is even abhorrent to mention death to the living. The way we adorn our dead relatives is a classical example of our attempt to make them appear as though they were alive. Unfortunately, until the resurrection, Hebrews makes it clear in Heb 9:27 that we only have one life to live, after which is the judgment.
With 3 days to live therefore, let us look at the first day. YESTERDAY. We rewind movies, music, events caught on spy cameras and digital information in the form of audio, video or mp3. We are however yet to see someone rewind time. The hymnist says 'time like an ever-rolling stream, bears all who breathe away, they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day (UMH 117 vs. 5).' Under the label 'Memories' posted by Vinspire on March 5th 2009, these are the words written about yesterday: "One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone!!" How many times have you heard someone say 'If I knew..." "If I could take back what I said," "if I could, I would have..." "how I wish I had..." "had I known..." These are all expressions of the inability to turn back the hands of time. We have done things, said things, not done and not said things, we have missed opportunities, delayed, committed and omitted, we have allowed situations to pass and captured some that we should have let go, we have trod on paths we shouldn't have and acted on impulses we shouldn't have. Yet this is all in the past! Some of our words, thoughts, actions and decisions have led to consequences that we cannot reverse. God may allow those consequences to remind us of what is means to act in the ways we acted, speak in the way we spoke, decide on the way we decided or move in the way we moved. God might allow those consequences as a testimony for us to caution others to better choices. In some situations, though, the consequences speak for themselves because they were too dire to leave behind a living witness. May the good Lord keep us to be alive to testify about our wrong choices of yesterday.
Yesterday is a voided check, it is history, it is unchangeable and irreversible. Yet we can't allow our precious selves to wallow in the failures and hurts of yesterday so much that we are hindered from seeing what new things God is making available to us on a daily basis. Sometimes, guilt eats into our lives so much that we think God is still punishing us for our misdeeds of yesterday. God forgives us but we find it hard to forgive ourselves. Our guilt stems from our subconscious effort to maximize our deeds and continually punish ourselves for ever. STOP NOW!! God has forgiven us through Christ. Don't carry a burden Christ has already rolled in the sea. Leave yesterday to where it belongs - in the past!! Posted by Rev. Charles King on Feb 02  WHERE IS YOUR FAMILY?
The term 'family' has assumed varied and new definitions that would have caused our forefathers to shiver.
The dawn of the new morality has caused a systemic shift from the traditional man, woman and child/ren family structure to incorporate same sex couples and gay/bisexual/lesbian families and this has left many Christians and well-meaning people confused and bewildered as to the meaning of 'family.' Their sense of bewilderment is not only restricted to the concept of family but to other areas such as morality, right, wrong, truth, the place of sex, discipline of children versus abuse, and the list goes on. We are more comfortable towing the lines of 'relativism' and compromise in order to be politically correct and to maintain our sanity and place in society instead of taking a definite stance as our forebears did. We know we (click here to view full message)Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 24 LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BEHOLD I'M DOING SOMETHING NEW!!!
At the beginning of every year, we make resolutions and hope to keep them. Unfortunately, many of those resolutions do not see January 2nd; some of us resolve to lose weight, to save some more money, to be better spouses, to spend more time with your families or to be more diligent at work or school. We make such resolves because we envisage a better future and desire to forget a bitter past. We want to move into a realm God is carving out for us and experience progress and not retrogression.
A few things however barricade us from moving forward:
1. Worries - We are worried about tomorrow, we worry about things that have not even happened. We develop high blood pressure from what our 'experience' (click here to view full message)Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 10 Setting High Standards
As parents, we desire high standards for our kids; we endeavor to create the most conducive home environment for them to blossom beautifully. We decisively and intentionally prevent them from witnessing those moments of tension in our marriages in order to prevent them from seeing mom and dad as hostile and hateful. We further place them in schools that will build their character and prepare them as responsible citizens both now and in the future. As the head of an organization, the standards you establish determines the character of your organization and these standards will be the measuring rod by which your performance will be evaluated. Whether you like it or not, the customer and outsider decides to either start or continue business with
your company depending on what he/she sees in and around your environment. (Click here to view full message).
Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 08
PRAYER FOR FAMILIES GOING THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES Father in heaven, hear the cries of parents, grandparents, wards and foster parents who's pillows are wet with tears day and night. Listen to the groans of parents as they cry for their children to stay on the straight path of life. Lord our present day is ordered by a freedom and attitude that you frown upon from heaven above. Our children do what they want, say what they want and behave however they, society or their peers think is right. Lord there seems to be no standard of right or wrong. Father, parents struggle to bring their children to Church but they can only do as much as lies in them. You touch the hearts of our children Lord; you break their hearts of stone and perform divine surgery as you promised in Ezekiel 36:26 when you said "I will remove their hearts of stone and give them a heart of flesh."
Father, I pray for parents struggling to make a living, paying bills and putting food on their table; I pray for parents whose partners are in jail or facing charges of different sorts. Encourage their hearts and give them wisdom to see the way you are opening up for them. I pray for parents whose kids are in school and about to complete. As they think of moving into another phase of life, give them the tools, the resources and the patience to take one day at a time. When you walk with us, our way is clear; when we realize you are walking with us, our journey, though far, will be made easier.
We pray this through Jesus Christ your Son.
Amen. Posted by Rev. Charles King on Feb 02 PRAYER FOR HAITI This is a difficult time for the people of Haiti. This is a trial of faith for those who have already been victims of poverty, underdevelopment and deprivation. This is part of the christian journey that can be a channel for refining of faith. Someone once said that 'talent was born in solitude, but character in the vicissitudes of life.' Our prayer is that after all is done, the character and resilience of the Haitians will be stronger and their resolve to become more united in their faith and quest for development will be firmer.
God who answers by fire will thunder down from the mountains and answer the many cries lifted up from all parts of the world. The humanitarian spirit exhibited during this time of great adversity is a demonstration of the world's oneness in fighting evil and striving for brotherhood and sisterhood.
May God raise up more warriors to intercede for the nation of Haiti, for leaders and for all who are working relentlessly towards building broken lives and rebuilding broken walls.
Speak Lord, speak from your throne above. Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 25 PRAYER FOR DIRECTION In the mighty Name of Jesus Christ, I pray for you reading this post now. I pray that God will open your eyes to see the right path God is opening up for you. Whatsoever be the hindrance to your vision and your dreams, I dispel them in the Name of Jesus. I summon the hosts of heaven to give you clarity of thought, singleness of purpose and resolve of mind to think aright and act aright. I apply the blood of Jesus to your mouth and your tongue so that you won't bring downfall and failure to your way by your words and your pronouncements. The power of life and death is on your tongue; begin to make positive pronouncements, begin to speak the word of faith and not of fear. The Lord is breaking through what you thought was unbreakable; He is pulling down what used to be the barrier to your breakthrough. In the Name of Jesus I denounce sickness, the ploys of the enemy and the powers of darkness rallying against the Lord's anointed. They will gather but they will be scattered; they will rally but they will be dispelled; they will set up a standard but with a mighty wind and wave, the Lord will vanquish them in the evil imagination of their hearts.
For you thinking of venturing into that unknown, that uncertain, I pray that God will direct your thoughts in the path that leads to godliness! Isaiah 30:21 says "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Listen, listen, listen, remove all distractions and listen to that still small voice. IN the Name of Jesus I pray.Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 11 WELCOME! I welcome you to the Camphor Memorial United Church prayer portal. As I hear from you, as I hear your heart's cry and the challenges that bewilder you on a daily basis, I will lift them up with you to God who has promised to answer prayer. We will together light a holy fire before God and send up intercessions with groans and cries to the Father of lights. He has promised that His ears are not deaf to hear us when we call; He has promised that He won't turn away any who come to Him.
Come with me on this journey into prayer.
God bless you all!Posted by Rev. Charles King on Jan 08 • More News
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[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
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Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Robert Guillaume, Kirk Franklin, and Shirley Caesar, are among the 80 African-American celebreties reading, singing and composing music for The Bible Experience, a new 70-hour Genesis-through-Revelation dramatic audio performance of the Scriptures. The New Testament in CD and MP3 formats will be in retail outlets, secular and Christian, storefront and online by September. The Old Testament follows in 2007. Click to hear audio sample and click on CD cover to order.
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