"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9 KJV

Many of us experienced much trepidation and anticipation concerning the General Election. Now the voting has been completed and vote talling continues; however, there has been a projection of Former Vice President Joseph Biden as President Elect with his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, as Vice President Elect. This duo will soon be officially confirmed as the elected leaders of the greatest Nation in the Free World. They face the monumental tasks of Unifying a severely Divided Nation ( i.e., 74 Million votes for Joseph Biden and 71 Million votes for Donald Trump), effectively addressing a raging Pandemic (COVIS-19), and safely healing a crippled economy while assisting the massive number of persons experiencing unemployment. Biden supporters are jubilant and excited while those who supported Trump are hurt, angry and accusatory about the election outcome. Our Nation needs healing and a spirit of unification and reconciliation. This can only happen if BOTH sides recognizes each other as “competitors not enemies”  and have hearts that are open to reconciliation and to seeking the greater good beyond individual agendas. What does the Bible say about our hearts? God's Word says as we think in our hearts so are we and that it is very important to protect our hearts because out of our hearts come the issues of life. (“For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he … “ Proverbs 23:7a; “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23”) Mankind cannot change hearts. Only God can change hearts and heal our land. (“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 ) 

  We as people of Faith, must pray for and extend our well wishes to President Elect Joseph Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris. We must also pray for a peaceful transfer of power from the outgoing administration to the new one. We must petition God in pray for a healing of our Nation. We must pray for and seek reconciliation with competitors, as President Elect Biden so accurately stated “ we are Competitors and not Enemies.” God Bless America and let us ever strive to make this quotation from the Declaration of Independence a reality “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Office of the Fayette County Sheriff is honored to introduce our new Community Outreach Coordinator, Ricardo Franklin. In this role, Ricardo is committed to improving relationships in the community and making Lexington a better place to live. Ricardo states that he looks forward to, “Continuing Mom’s work and being on the front lines with community members, forcing the issue of a need for change.”
As a Lexington native, Ricardo is deeply invested in making Lexington a safer place for all who live here. He is a graduate of Henry Clay High School and was on the Dean’s List at the University of Kentucky where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications and a minor in Coaching. Ricardo also worked as a Student Assistant Recruiter for the University of Kentucky Football Program.
Ricardo first began his relationship with the Office of Sheriff during the summer after his graduation from Henry Clay High School and before he began his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. Ricardo, along with many in his family, has become a strong advocate for survivors of homicide and together, they lead the Antonio Franklin, Jr. Violence Intervention Project Peace Walk which calls for an end to gun violence in Lexington.
We look forward to Ricardo’s leadership here at the Office of the Sheriff and in Lexington as he carries on the legacy of his mother, the late Anita Rowe Franklin.

COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS

• The Mayor’s Mobile Neighborhood Testing Program provides public testing at no cost to the individual. Testing is available without an appointment, with both walk-up and drive-up options. Since starting the mobile testing program in late June, nearly 13,000 tests have been administered in 52 testing days. 
  
  
• Drive-thru testing is available at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, 500 Newtown Pike, through Bluewater Diagnostic Laboratory. Testing is available, without appointment, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  
  
• Free drive-thru testing also continues, through Bluewater, at Southland Christian Church, 2349 Richmond Road. Testing is available 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary.
  
  
• Bluewater, which also administers testing at Mayor’s Mobile Neighborhood Testing Program locations, is offering tests at no cost to the patient. Health insurance information may be requested, but is not required, to receive testing. Tests are available to anyone. Results are generally available in 48-72 hours.
  
  
• Additionally, through a partnership with the University of Kentucky, UK HealthCare and Wild Health, testing is available to the public at 1505 College Way and 1350 Bull Lea Road. These sites are not intended for UK student testing. Free drive-thru testing is available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., seven days a week. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting lexington.wildhealth.com.
  
  
• Drive-thru testing is also available seven days a week at the Walgreen’s testing location at 2296 Executive Drive (the corner of Winchester Road and Executive Drive). Tests will continue while test kits are available. Online registration is required at walgreens.com/coronavirus.

Finally, most private healthcare providers are offering testing options for their patients. Urgent Care Centers are also offering COVID-19 testing.

For information on more testing sites go to: lexingtonky.gov/COVID-19.

Bluewater Diagnostic Laboratory has been recognized by the state of Kentucky for expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Based in Mount Washington, KY, they are committed to be an industry leader in cutting-edge instrumentation and testing methodologies.

HEALTH MATTERS

As flu season begins and the COVID-19 Infections and deaths continue to increase, it is so very important for us to continue to observe the CDC Guidelines :

• Get a flu vaccination as soon as possible  but getting it any time in the flu season is beneficial.  VaccineFinderexternal icon to find out where to get vaccinated near you.​

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick, maintain at least 6 feet from others who are not from your household,
• Wear face masks when in public (Mandatory in Kentucky and is being extended on a 30 day basis until the spread is under control),
• Wash your hands frequently,
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and leave home only when absolutely necessary.

IN-PERSON WORSHIP STATUS

The HPGMBC Joint Board met as scheduled on Saturday, October 24, to assess the safety of resuming In-Person Worship Services. With prayerful consideration of the current COVID-19 Virus infection rate and the composition of our membership, it was decided to not resume In-Person Worship Services for the remainder of this year.  The Joint Board will reassess the situation in January, 2021.

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

• Please join our Virtual Prayer Service by phone on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Rev. Ron Jones teaches the week’s Sunday School Lesson at 7:30 pm. Call: 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592; Meeting ID: 685 433 0718

• Sunday School Lesson broadcasts Saturdays 9:00 am and 3:00 pm as well as Sundays at 7:30 am on WJMM FM 99.1
  (This Sunday’s Lesson: "Abiding Love," John 15:4-17;
  Next Sunday's Lesson: "Confident Love," I John 3:11-24)

• Virtual Worship Service on Sundays at 10:00 am on the Church Facebook Page and on YouTube. It can also be viewed on demand on the church website, http://www.hpgmbc.com/
• "Children's Sunday Worship" 12:00 noon. See Children's Ministry Facebook Page to Signup

• Thank you for giving Tithes and Offerings by mail or the Givelify App. Our address is:

                Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church
                PO Box 11845
                Lexington, KY 40578

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Brother JE Adams' family (passed after lengthy illness) (Sister Cleo Washington's brother) Service was Saturday, November 7, Cannan Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
• Brother Benjamin Brown, Jr. ( UK Samaritan Hospital) (Son of Bonita Brown and Ben Brown)
• Sister Priscilla Morehead (Hospital, Ohio) (Rev. Jonathan Morehead's mother)
  
• Sister Delores Spencer (St. Joseph East)
  
• Brother Chris Sykes (VA Hospital Cooper Drive)
  
• Sister Gwen Johnson (Central Baptist ICU)
• Sister Gloria Tompkins (Homestead Rehabilitation Unit)
• Shantrinia D. Clay (upcoming surgery) ( JaQuan Clay's mother)
• Sister Shirley Edwards (Portsmouth, Virginia) (Sis. Gloria Tompkins' sister)
• Brother Cameron Jones (Home) (Bro. Richard Taylor's grandson)

• Brother Larry Leath (Upcoming Surgeries, FL)
• Residence of Homestead, Pine Meadow and other Nursing Homes
• Each person listed on our Sick List
• COVID-19 Victims around the world
• Healthcare workers, First respondents, etc.
• The Entire Pleasant Green Church Family
• HPGMBC Pulpit Committee
• Our Nation and our Government Officials

Thank You, God, when You grant me victory over my enemies, but also help me to be strong when I fail. I'm grateful to be in Your family. In Jesus Name. Amen [Our Daily Bread. November 7. 2020

Mayor's Commission on Racial Justice & Equality 

On Friday, October 23, the Mayor's Commission on Racial Justice & Equality Report was released. We are proud of two of our own HPGMBC family members, Sister Kim Baird, Esq and Brother Anthony Wright , who were prominent members of subcommittees that contributed input to the final report.

Click Mayor's Commission on Racial Justice & Equality Report to view the complete report.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

• If you have not completed the HPGMBC In-Person Re-Opening Survey, please click SURVEY and complete it. In preparation for in-person worship services, the Re-Opening Committee would like each member to complete the survey.

• In an attempt to expand the options for communicating information to HPGMBC Family Members, if you have a cell phone, please complete the Cell Phone Information Form for yourself and encourage others to do the same.
• Volunteers are needed to assist in the HPGMBC Online/Virtual Communications Ministry. Some of the needed knowledge and skills are Facebook and/or YouTube live streaming, video recording, video editing, general computer use, etc. If you are willing to assist, please click and complete this Contact Form. Thank you in advance for your willing spirit to help in Outreach and Kingdom Building.