A Message from Pastor Sherman J. Fort

March 1, 2021

TO: MY CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
FR: PASTOR SHERMAN J. FORT, SENIOR PASTOR, THE WORD CHURCH (AKA CANAAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH), MESA, AZ.
RE: MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR MARCH 2021

Greetings in the name of God our Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit our constant company keeper.  Brother and Sisters, I pray this letter finds you prospering and in good health, even as your soul prospers.

All, I have several things to share with you.  Please be sure to read this letter from beginning to end, to pray with and for me, I am praying with and for you and to respond and reply as you are able.

First, thank you to everyone who participated in our “28 Days of Prayer & Fasting” in the month of February 2021.  I pray you were encouraged as we studied God’s Word together with our 2021 Prayer & Fasting Guide and our Monday Morning Manna bible study time.  

We would love to hear how God has spoken to you in the month of February.  Consider sharing a 1-minute video of your February Prayer & Fasting testimony with us in the next two weeks.  Place your camera on landscape mode (sideways), greet us and share your 1-minute testimony.  Then, contact the church office for the link on where to send your video.  

• Our Passion Week Virtual Revival!  Sunday, March 28th through Tuesday, March 30th, 2021 we will host our first ever Virtual Revival.  Revival service will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.  Our guest evangelists include:  Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Dallas Texas and Rev. Dr. MarQuerita Story, New York/Pennsylvania.  We will share who our third guest preacher is once they have been confirmed.  Pray that God moves in a mighty way.  Participate by spreading the word about revival.  Be present personally each evening as we look to hear from God.  
  
  
• Church Family & Friends Day!  Saturday, April 10, 2021 we are hosting a safe, secure and straight fun outdoor event at the church.  The event will include evangelism (sharing Christ and offering prayer), live music beneath our newly constructed Pergola, guest gospel artist and rapper Derek Collins, games and activities for children and families, food trucks, distributing food boxes and more.  The time of the event will be shared soon.  Volunteers are needed.  To help coordinate or to volunteer please contact the church office today at (480) 835-6320.  
  
  
• Virtual Leadership Meeting.  Saturday, March 6, 2021 all ministry leaders are asked to attend our virtual leadership meeting from 7:45am to 8:45am via Zoom.  Check our church leadership app and your email for the Zoom link 24 hours prior to our meeting time.
  
  
• Our Return To In-Person Church Survey.  Church family, in anticipation of our eventual return to in-person worship following clearance to do so from the appropriate authorities I am asking that every member complete our electronic survey.  The survey is short but so very important for me to hear from you personally.  The survey is available now HERE, on the church website, church app and is being sent via email as well.  The survey is anonymous.  Thank you.  
  
  
• Getting serious about the ministry of Social Media & More.  I am excited to announce that we have formally secured the services of the Reverend Eric Archer, II!  I have utilized the gifts and talents of Rev. Archer in small ways in the past, Rev. Archer is now joining our church team virtually from his home state of California.  Rev. Archer is a full-time employee at the Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda, CA, Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Curry Jr., senior pastor.  Rev. Archer will be assisting us and helping us grow through the management of our church website, church app, growth via social media and more.  Rev. Archer will formally begin working with us March 1st, 2021.  A special time of virtually meeting and greeting with Rev. Archer will take place soon.  
  
  
• New church phone system.  Family, we will purchase a new phone system in the coming weeks.  This is a long overdue purchase as our current phone system is simply no longer meeting our needs.  The new system will allow us to better connect with guests and one another.  
  
  
• With a grateful heart for her compassion, care, concern and love for our children and youth I share the news that Minister Rosanna Taylor’s personal and professional schedule will no longer allow her to serve as the children as our children and youth pastor.  Rosanna is committed to staying in position and in place until we find a new person for this role.  Please join me in thanking Rosanna for her excellent service to our God and His children and youth at TWC/CMBC.  

Our goal is to help you, your family and friends to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and become mature disciples.  To this end did you know that as a member and friend of TWC/CMBC that you have FREE access to more than 20,000 Christian video resources via RIGHTNOW MEDIA from authors such as:  Dr. Tony Evans, Jo Saxton, Frances Chan, Jenny Allen, Mark Keller, Bianca Juarez Olhoff, Les & Leslie Perrott, Wayne Cordeiro along with children’s programs such as:  Adventures in Odyssey, Paws & Tales, Owlegories, Bible man; Free Webinars, Conferences and much more.  

Family, can you believe that we have not consistently shared in in-person worship on a consistent basis for a year now?  However, we are striving to stay connected, make disciples and grow in our faith each day.  To this end, I thought it would be helpful to remind you of some of the things we have done and are doing to this end.  Did you know that since the pandemic/Covid-19 has begun we have …

• A weekly, Wednesday, 6:00pm Prayer Line.  Rev. Lois Bryant and Rev. Michael Samuel lead the prayer line.  The prayer line has been operating for the past 6 years.  To participate the dial in number is:  (712) 432-6110.  Access code: 912197.  Contact the church office or Rev. Lois Bryant for more information.  
• More than 190 different video offerings via Live Stream on our church website?  They include but are not limited to Sunday morning worship services.
• Sunday School hour with Pastor Fort & Guests.
• Weekly, online video lessons for our children and youth with Sis. Rosanna Taylor and Minister Pierre Singfield via Facebook Live.
• Throwback Thursday revival, annual day’s and special services.
• Dinner With Danielle (also known as:  “Food Friday”).
• Exercise for all ages with Doctor’s Ayo & Natasha Osho  (also known as “Workout Wednesday”)
• Tuesday evening Bible study with Rev. Kevin Swindle

And more …

Did you know that we have several specialized teaching and engagement videos available on our The Word Church AZ and my (Sherman Fort) facebook pages?  They include but are not limited to:

• Preaching 101 videos for associate ministers and gospel preachers of all ages.
• SJF Ministries shares personal and in depth “Conversations” with seven pastors (myself included as host) and special guests from around the country to include:  Dr. Nathan Johnson, Michigan, Dr. Fred Campbell, California, Dr. Emil M. Thomas, California, Dr. Charles Grant, SBC, executive committee and others monthly.

And more …

A special note- In the past three weeks I have met the new principal at Lindbergh Elementary School east of our church.  We have renewed our commitment to encourage the faculty and staff of Lindbergh Elementary School as well as to encourage children on a quarterly basis at the school as part of our commitment to community engagement and service.  We will be calling on you for your help and support.

The special music project I recently mentioned in a special video announcement will prayerfully be completed in the next several weeks.  I have asked my friend and Brother Arthur “Buddy” Strong, Jr. to lead this special project and vision of professionally produced, gospel music videos that God has allowed me to have.  The project will include both classic and modern/contemporary gospel music that will benefit our church family during the remaining months of the pandemic and for years to come.  My vision is that non-members, members and Christian friends from various backgrounds will participate in this project to include our own music ministry team at TWC/CMBC.  Join me in prayer over this project and ask God to use it for His glory.  

Family, if you have not already please downloaded our Church App available in the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore.  

Now may The LORD bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, may God life up the light of His countenance upon you and give you His peace.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Agape,
Pastor Sherman J. Fort