DAYTHEN WALLACE JR. sings

by Jesse Irwin
For New Pittsburgh Courier
If one were to give a definition of the word family, the Greater Allen AME Church would exemplify it beautifully.
In a program run by the church’s Christian Education Department on April 12, families from around the city came together to watch their youth demonstrate their natural talents and show the need for religion in our lives. From praising the Lord to playing the piano, children of all ages performed in front of a lively audience in the Bethel’s basement.
Coordinated by Evangelist Dorothy Stubbs and Linda Hughey, the education department’s dynamic duo brought in kids from all over Pittsburgh to give them a chance to express their gifts. Having seen a need for encouragement and religious involvement in Brighton Heights’ adolescents, the two reached out to as many as possible to promote the event.
“Our entire department networked through local families, neighborhoods, communities, and even just people I knew,” said Stubbs. “We need to come out of the box and show these kids that there’s more to church than just Sundays and holidays.”
This isn’t the first event the church has hosted to bring the neighborhood together. A “Fun Night,” which included board games and more, occurred on Jan.18.
Evangelist Stubbs started off the night with some opening words and introduced the first act to a full room of 50 plus. Charles Grayson, also known as GA Rebel, then took the stage to perform two of his songs titled “Spiritually Fly” and “Yeah YUP.” Everyone was up and clapping their hands, kicking off the night perfectly.
Grayson is a deacon in training and is currently part of a fellowship program with CORO, a non-profit organization that teaches leadership skills for public affairs.
From there, performances of several classic records lit up the room. Surrounded by congregants and corned beef sandwiches, those present listened to beautiful renditions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” Local rappers Young Fire and Big-D also played, praising the Lord with a different flair, but with the same intentions.
Theodora Cotton, PhD, the church music teacher, said that she feels members of the congregation all have something to offer and that this is a great setting for them to share it.
“Families are in trouble right now,” said a concerned Hughey. “And anything we can do to bring them together to do positive things and introduce them to Christ is really what it’s all about.”
The Greater Allen AME Church, led by recently appointed Rev. Floyd W. Alexander, is home to 105 members, only twenty of which are children. Originally located a few blocks over on Columbus Avenue, the church switched to their current location at 3600 California Ave., in November 2000.
With the success of this program the congregation’s education department plans on holding similar events in hopes that youth are inspired and motivated to continue coming back.
“Kids mean everything to me,” said Stubbs. “So once they know we’re doing this quarterly, they’ll know what we’re really about.”

by Debbie Norrell

According to the New York Fashion Center green is the color of life.

Women’s Brunch
    APRIL 27—The SHOUT (Sisters Hanging Out United in Truth) Women’s Ministry of Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, 2117 Collingwood Ave., Swissvale, will host a Women’s Brunch from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Every fourth Saturday of the month, women will come together for food, fun and fellowship to praise the Lord and hear a Word from a woman of faith. This month’s special guest will be Rev. Terri Pennybaker. For more information, call Synthia Brown at 412-466-1150.
A Time for Tea With Me
    APRIL 27—The Sunday School Department of Clark Memorial Baptist Church, 1301 Glenn St., Homestead, will host “A Time For Tea With Me” from 1-3 p.m. Guests will enjoy fellowship, food, fun, prizes and more. For more information, call 412-462-1011.
Missionary Conference
    APRIL 27—Christian Tabernacle, 2601 Centre Ave., Hill District, will host a Missionary Conference. The theme is “Where There is No Vision-The People Perish.” There will be a Prayer Breakfast at 10 a.m. and a Worship Service on April 28 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, email Charles Mosby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Prophetic Workshop
    APRIL 27—Restoration Wellness Ministries will host the Prophetic Worship at 7 p.m. at 238 Penn Circle, East Liberty. This is an evening with the king, and the praise of healing, restoration and refresh. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.rwm-ministries.com.
Brotherhood Tea
    APRIL 28—The Brotherhood Ministry of Shiloh Baptist Community Missionary Baptist Church, 6940 Frankstown Ave., Homewood, will host its annual Brotherhood Tea at 4 p.m. There will be a worship of the Lord in song. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 412-441-8710.
Gospel Concert
    APRIL 28—The Pittsburgh Gospel Choir will host a Gospel Concert at 4 p.m. at Aspinwall Presbyterian Church, 299 Center Ave., Aspinwall. This will be a performance from the multi-age, multi-ethnic musical ensemble that performs American gospel musical in the western Pennsylvania area. For more information, call 412-781-0884.
Spring/Summer Training
    APRIL 29—Christian Life Skills will host its Spring/Summer Training Registration Deadline. The training will be held at the Lincoln Park Community Center, 7306 Ridgeview Ave., Penn Hills. The training will effectively address the pull of popular culture on youth and families. The training will be held one weekend a month in May, June and July. For more information, call 412-889-4065 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The Gathering
    MAY 1—Northside Institutional COGIC, 302 W. North Ave., North Side, will host the “The Gathering” When Women Pray at 7 p.m. The three-day event will feature guest speakers such as Evangelist Roberta Watkins, co-Pastor Sharon Robinson and Rev. Wanda Sawyer-Flipping. For more information, call 412-231-5683.
Financial Seminar
    MAY 4—The Young Women’s Initiative of Bethel AME Church, 2720 Webster Ave., Hill District, will host a Financial Seminar at 10 a.m. The seminar, which will be facilitated by Rhonda Carson Leach, director of the Urban Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Pittsburgh, will give women the tools needed to ensure a successful financial future. Registration is requested. For more information, call 412-683-2160.
    (To have items listed on the Church Circuit, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

DEBBIE NORRELL

It is definitely time for spring cleaning. Recently I was riding past several beautiful homes and the owners happened to have their garage doors open and the space that was designed to protect the car was full of containers and what looked like a lot of junk. Why put your Cadillac or Mercedes outside just so you can keep dozens of plastic containers that contain who knows what? Who ever invented the plastic container should get a prize.  They can last forever, they stack well, you can’t see through them and unless you label them you will soon forget what is inside.  
People keep so much stuff it has turned into several reality shows, have you seen episodes of Hoarders or Storage Wars? It is all about stuff. People’s hoards have them by the throat and then they rent a storage unit, put the junk in it and can’t pay the bill. Someone bids on the unit and makes money from someone else’s misfortune.  
If you don’t have room for something, don’t rent a spot to keep it. Get rid of it. Sell it, give it away or at least set a time limit for keeping the stuff. If you don’t have anywhere to put it after six months in the words of the late Robin Harris “got to go, got to go.”
While we are in April, which happens to be tackle your clutter month, there are many helpful tips to de-clutter your home. A new survey released recently found that 94 percent of U.S. adults de-clutter their homes more than once a year and donate their gently used goods to charities. Of the 94 percent who donate to charity, 36 percent of those surveyed claimed the garage is the space at home most in need of de-cluttering. One easy solution to tackle your clutter in April is to donate an old car. That is if you aren’t using it. I met a man who has 10 cars. Over the phone it sounded sexy until I got to his house and saw that that several of them didn’t even start.
The clutter in people’s homes causes most household arguments for most families. Despite the convenient and cost effective process of donating a car, only 5.4 percent of adults reported donating their used cars when they purchased a new one. Additionally, 4.6 percent of adults will keep their old cars and not use it, contributing to the clutter.
I donated a car once only because after I bought it I could not get the heap home. My only recourse was to donate. Donating a car really isn’t a bad idea sometimes you can get more of a tax refund than what you will get by trading it in or selling it. I know a car may be a big item to donate but read the book “It’s All Too Much” by Peter Walsh the former host of the show “Clean Sweep.” Walsh gives you the courage you need to go through your home, room by room, and even possession by possession and honestly assess what adds to your quality of life and what’s keeping you from living the life of your dreams. Let’s clean up.