LOVE IS IN THE AIR—Michael and Rae Fussell (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

For 21 years the season for sweethearts has kicked off with the Annual Kappa Sweetheart Ball. This year there was a new twist, the sweetheart ball morphed into “An After 7 Love Affair:” The 22nd Annual Valentines Extravaganza featuring national recording artist “After 7.”
KSEF (Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund) President Rex Crawley commended Brother Howard Russell and his committee for their unwavering commitment to achievement and making sure that Feb. 9, was one of the most incredible events in the KSEF history. The evening began with a VIP reception on the second floor of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. Guests were beautifully dressed in fabulous evening looks and dined on salmon, roast beef, turkey and enjoyed a tasty mashed potato bar.
After dining, it was time for the centerpiece of the evening, a live performance featuring R&B trio “After 7.” The sexy, suave and debonair group blew the audience away with their hits: “Can’t Stop,” “Ready or Not,” and “Heat of the Moment.”
The formal program portion of the evening, emceed by Dwayne Cooper, was brief but powerful. KSEF will give out nearly $500,000 in scholarships with the help of sponsors, Robert Morris University, Penn State University, NEED and State Farm Insurance. Highmark executive Evan Frazier also announced the endowment of the Aaron Walton KSEF Scholarship.
After a great concert it was time for your choice of after parties. During the entire evening, love was in the air.

S.H.O.TIME
FEB. 22—The Women of Power & Purpose Ministry of Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman St., East Liberty, will host S.H.O.TIME (Sistahs Hangin' Out at “The Street”) at 7 p.m. The theme will be “Women Growing in the Knowledge of God.” This will be an evening of praise, worship and the hearing of a preached Word. The guest will be Pastor June Jeffries of New Life Baptist Church  For more information, call 412-363-8082 or www.rodmanstreetchurch.org.
Women’s Brunch
FEB. 23—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. For more information, call Synthia Brown at 412-862-6750.
Prayer Breakfast
FEB. 23—The Pastoral Anniversary Committee of Triedstone Baptist Church of Rankin, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host its 9th Pre-Pastoral Anniversary Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. This is honor of the pastoral anniversary celebration of Rev. Nathaniel and Rev. Terry Pennybaker. The guest preacher will be Rev. Richard Wingfield of Unity Baptist Church, in Braddock. The cost is $10. For more information, call 412-271-3000.
Black History Month
Celebration
FEB. 24—Christ Missionary Baptist Church, 344 Hale St., Homewood, will host its Black History Month Celebration at 11 a.m. The theme is “Yes Black Women Can Achieve.” The guest speaker will be Deaconess Adrienne Lowry Ware of Georgia. For more information, call Pearl Hopson at 412-417-8783.
World Day of Prayer
MARCH 1—Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race St., Homewood, will host the World Day of Prayer 2013 at 1 p.m. Churches from Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, East Liberty, Homewood and Penn Hills will hold services together. The day is to bring informed prayer and prayerful action to the communities. Refreshments will be served following the event. For more ­information, call 412-241-1624.
Women’s Conference
MARCH 1—The T.J. Mitchell Ministries will host its 2013 Women’s Ministry Conference at 7 p.m. at the Georgetown Centre, 526 E. Bruceton Rd., Pleasant Hills. The theme for this two-day conference will be “Our Destinies, Journeys and Dreams.” It will feature spiritually uplifted guest speakers, such as Apostle Yvonne Black and Tanya Melendez.  Registration is requested. For more information, call 412-233-0971 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Revival Services
MARCH 6—Triedstone Baptist Church of Rankin, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host its Pre-Anniversary Revival Services at 7 p.m. The three-night event will feature several guest preachers, along with their congregation and choirs. They include Rev. Delbert Harris, Rev. Robert Tedder and Rev. Robert Young. There will also be a pre-anniversary Concert on March 9 at 5 p.m. The anniversary celebration will take place March 10 at 11 a.m. with guest preacher Pastor Darryl Grayson and at 5 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Braddock with Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis as the guest preacher. For more information, call 412-271-3000.
Heroes In Our Midst
MARCH 9—The Baptist Minister’s Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity will host “Heroes In Our Midst” from 1-4 p.m. at Stratigos Banquet Center, 131 Colonial Manor Rd., North Huntingdon. The theme is “Shifting into 21st Century Ministry.” The event will honor Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch and Rev. Dr. William Curtis, senior pastor at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. Steeler Ryan Clark will be the master of ceremonies. Registration is required and the cost is $50 per person. For more information, call Barbara Gunn at 412-823-4049.
(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. .)

PASTOR JEREMIAH THOMAS (Photo by Rossano P. Stewart)

Rapha Ministries, located at 6922 Upland St. in Homewood, is on a mission to Nairobi, Kenya.
Pastor Jeremiah Thomas, who originally hails from Philadelphia, has been in the Pittsburgh area for the past 35 years and has served as Pastor of Rapha Ministries for the last 18 years. He is also affiliated with the Pentecostal Centers of the World and serves an assistant to the Bishop of the Greater Pennsylvania State Counsel, The Honorable Bishop Ronald L. Young.
Pastor Thomas is no stranger to the motherland, Africa, for this will be his second mission trip with the Allegheny Christian Alliance Church and also the Center for Urban Biblical Ministries, which is a part of Geneva College which is celebrating its 25th year.
“I am so blessed and honored to be on my second trip to Nairobi, Kenya, because the first trip was life changing for me.” said Pastor Thomas. The word “RAPHA,” means to heal, so it is no wonder that the mission of the church, would be to heal, the mind, body and soul. Rapha Ministries is a fundamental Pentecostal organization, and the cost of the mission to Africa, comes entirely through donations to the church.”
“We exist to serve humanity and the world,” is how Pastor Thomas, explains it. Rapha Ministries, also supports scholarships, education and the elderly, both in the U.S. and abroad while exalting Jesus Christ. Nairobi, according to Pastor Thomas, is currently about 75 percent Christian. While relating memories of his first trip, he spoke of children from a village called “Upoko” who curiously asked him, if President Barack Obama, was the President of only Black America, upon which he, explained to them, that Obama, is indeed the President of the entire United States.
The church left for the mission on the Jan. 31 for two weeks. “Although they have very little there, they have very little stress and really appreciate the compassion we show them,” he said. God speed to the Rapha Ministries of Homewood and their safe return.

ON THE ROAD-- This Sept. 23, 2012 photo shows actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, left, and Viola Davis at the premiere of their film "Won't Back Down," in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Dave Allocca, File)

by Alan Scher Zagier

Associated Press Writer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The movie "Won't Back Down" starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis was a box-office dud, barely earning $5 million and disappearing from theaters soon after its September 2012 release.