"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

“In Times Like These”

Happy New Year! We start 2026 off reflecting on familiar church songs and the biblical inspiration behind their creation. Although they were written years ago, their impact continues to soothe our souls through words of faith and hope.

Songwriter Ruth Caye Jones wrote these words back in 1943…

“In times like these we need a Savior; In times like these we need an anchor. Be very sure, be very sure. Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

A pastor’s wife in Pennsylvania and the mother of five, she was distressed by the headlines of her Pittsburgh newspaper which also published the World War II casualty lists. The times were incredibly challenging. Supplies were rationed at home, and everyone was living under grueling strain.

Ruth shared that she drew inspiration from 2 Timothy 3, pondering the opening words, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”

A song began composing itself in her mind. She jotted some lyrics on a small pad in her apron pocket. A series of notes also played in her mind. Soon the notes and music congealed to become one of the most beloved Gospel songs of the 1940s and 1950s, “In Times Like These.”

The lyrics go on to say, “This Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the One. This Rock is Jesus, the only One! Be very sure, be very sure. Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.”

Hebrews 6:19 was also a source of Ruth’s inspiration, which says: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast….”

To God Be The Glory for the Bible, our incredible source of uncompromising truth and strength. As we begin this brand new year of 2026, may the lyrics of this song continue to resonate. 

“In Times Like These” let us all be very sure “our  anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

Sister Cathy Black

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

• Join our Virtual Prayer Service by phone on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Bible Study from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
  
  Call: 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592;
  Additional Phone Numbers:
  564-217-2000; 646-558-8656;
  646-931-3860
  Meeting ID: 685 433 0718
  
  
• Radio broadcasts Saturdays 9:00 am and 3:00 pm as well as Sundays at 7:30 am on WJMM FM 99.1
  
• International Sunday School Lesson
  This Sunday's Lesson:
    
  "Holiness Honors God: How Should We Honor God's Presence In Our Lives?" Ezekiel 43:1-12 
  
  Lesson Nugget:
  In today's lesson, Ezekiel narrated a vision of being in the presence of the Most High. He related that God consumed those that defiled His Holy Name with their abominable behavior.

      Do we as Christians revere and give homage to        our Mighty God with our daily behavior?                  

• Next Sunday's Lesson: "Faithfulness Under Pressure: How Can We Remain Faithful When Facing Pressure?" Daniel  1:8-21

• In - Person Worship Service on Sundays at 10:30 am  and  Streaming on the Church Facebook Page and YouTube. It can also be viewed on demand on the church
  historicpg.org website by selecting "Watch Us Live." 
  
  
• Thank you for giving your Tithes and Offerings In-Person, by mail or with the Givelify App. 
  
  
• Give with CashApp: $1790pgchurch
  
  Our mailing address is:

Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church

PO Box 11845
Lexington, KY 40578

Upcoming Events

Virtual Prayer Service 

Tuesday, January 6, 7:00 PM

Call: 253-215-8782;

Meeting ID: 685 433 0718

Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, January 8, 6:30 pm

 Bible Study,

In-Person & Virtual

Saturday, January 10, 10:00 AM

Call: 253-215-8782;

Meeting ID: 685 433 0718

Pleasant Green Kid Moments!

Greetings from the Youth Ministry and Happy New Year! We pray that all is well with our Church family! We are thrilled to begin another year of learning about God's Word and witnessing about His goodness. We look forward to continuing our study of the Great Characters of the Bible by Alan B. Stringfellow and growing a stronger relationship with God. With the help of the Lord, this year, the Youth Ministry is pleased to present the newest piece of our ministry, Sisters In Christ and Seekers, in which the Youth will as young women and men, respectively, begin to learn and sharpen essential "life skills." Led by scripture, we will incorporate different weekly activities and events that will help them from now into young adulthood, from cooking, to lawncare, financial literacy, trades, and more, as well as volunteer opportunities! We are excited to be able to share these important skills with our Youth and we ask for your continued support and prayers.
Beginning this month, the Youth will meet EVERY Wednesday at the church at 7pm, as well as other locations (to be determined.) We welcome ALL Youth and please bring a friend! All reminders and events will be posted in our GroupMe messaging app. Contact Sis. Heather Happy (859.509.2927) for additional details.

Yours In Christ,

Youth Directors

WE ARE ONE!

Welcome to the 40 Year Christians' Cooking Corner! 

Here we will feature recipes from the 40 Year Christian Group. This week's recipe comes from Sister Alyce Emerson by way of the UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Blessings to all.

Sister Linda Gates, President

Name: Keith Delaney

Current Focus: I would like to grow closer to GOD while enjoying life. It’s a blessing to be retired. Just being able to take life easy and enjoy it, that’s where I am right now and I’m grateful to GOD to be in this place.

Career: I am a retired Conductor and Brakeman for CXX Railroad. I retired with 20 years. It took me 28 years to get the 20. I got laid off a few times. Laid off for me didn’t mean not working. It just meant not working for CXX Railroad. I was a person that would work. I always wanted to have some money coming in from somewhere. Laying around and twiddling the thumbs wasn’t for me.

Getting those 20 years wasn’t easy. My mother prayed for me. She prayed for me a lot. I made it through. I’m thankful for a praying Mother and I give GOD all the credit.

Why this Career?: I was watching my oldest brother, Victor. So was my younger brother, Art. Victor was a Conductor and a Brakeman. He was making good money. He had benefits. I followed Victor and became a Conductor and a Brakeman. Art followed and became an Engineer.

My route was the Huntington, West Virginia Division. I went to Columbus, OH, through West Virginia and to Pikeville, KY. I saw where the coal mines used to be. There was a lot of outdoor scenery—the wilderness. Nature was truly something to look at in the daytime. In the nighttime, well, you knew you were in some towns where not many other people looked like you. Not many black people in those towns. That awareness made you glad when you got back home.

What do you want your church family to know about you?: I am truly a believer in GOD. That’s the first thing. That’s the most important thing. If you want to know a little more, I’ll share a little more. LOL.

I was born and raised in Danville, KY. When I was younger, I played basketball. I was decent. I wasn’t

long and tall, but I was decent. LOL. I went to Boyle County High School. I graduated from Boyle. I went to EKU. My parents moved to Lexington while I was a student at Eastern. So, I moved to Lexington too. I graduated from EKU with a degree in Vocational and Industrial Teacher’s Education. I got a teacher’s certificate. Most people with that degree go on to teach in vocational school. I never pursued that. I went in another direction – the railroad.

I also was in the military. I was half-way trying to follow in my father’s footsteps. My father was in World War II. He was in the Army. I joined the Navy. I had basic training in Great Lakes, Chicago. On the ship, I went to the Philippines. I also made stops in Hawaii and Guam. I received an honorable

discharge.

The Navy blessed me to see parts of the world as a young man. As a retired man, I’m blessed to enjoy my life at home. I have my home in St. Martin’s Village in Lexington, and I have my church home, Pleasant Green. I gave my life to the LORD at Pleasant Green. After just accepting the LORD in my life, I became an usher. I don’t usher anymore but that was a good place for me to start as a new member. I must say, our late pastor, Pastor T. H. Peoples Jr. was one of the best preachers I had ever heard. His preaching helped me get closer to the LORD. I am still trying to get closer to GOD. We all should be, right?

I hope my church family sees me as a good Christian and as a good person. I am trying to be both.

Is there anything special your church can do for you? Be on one accord. Respect each other. And treat each other as we should as Christians.

What do you want your church family to know about GOD?: Know and believe that GOD is real and that JESUS is coming back to gather up those who are truly HIS followers.

Parents: the late Mr. Victor Delaney and the late Mrs. Annette Delaney

Brothers: the late Victor Delaney Jr. and Art Delaney

Sisters: Gloria Conners (everybody knows Gloria LOL) and Janice Fox

Jaeda Miraha Tompkins is shown in the center of the photo above

All 27 of our nurse aide students, including Jaeda Miraha Tompkins  have taken state boards this year have passed, and we have a 100% pass rate, again! 

This is one of our awesome programs at BSHS that allows us to be ranked #1 in postsecondary readiness in FCPS and ranked #1 for large schools' postsecondary readiness.The nurse aide course is dual credit with BCTC, and the students earn 3 college credits for this course. They are also earning a license with the Kentucky Board of Nursing and can work in all 50 states as such. These students are a great representation of the hard work and determination happening in our building and we are SO proud of them! Please help us congratulate them and their dedicated instructor, Ms. Lewis!

Jaeda is the daughter of Sister Jannifer Bates and the granddaughter of Brother Ollie and Sister Phyllis Bates.

Recent Requests

• Family of Sister Alberta Mayberry, who passed. (Sister of Brother Marvin Thomas)
  
  
•  Family of Brother Drery Shelton, who passed (Friend of Sister Bonnie Shelton)
  
  
• Brother Willis K. Bright, Jr. (Indianapolis, In)
  
  
• Sister Charlie Peoples Brown (Home)
  
  
• Rev. Wendell Emerson (Home)
  
  
• Brother Darius Hall, Jr. (14 year old Grandson of Sister Marion Hall) (Home)
  
  
• Brother Bruce from Tates Creek Golf Course Clubhouse
  
  
• Sister Gloria Coleman (Home)
  
  
• The Kierra Joseph Family
  
  
• Sister Vicki Laine (Home)
  
  
• Sister Jackie Lindsay (Home) (Sister of Brother Wayne Frazier)
  
  
• Brother Bill & Sister Penny McCann (Austin, TX)
  
  
• Sister Charlet McLellan & Family
  
  
• Little Brother Braylen L. Moody (2 year old Grandson to Rev. Freddie Moody)
  
  
• Sister Sharon Scarber (Home)
  
  
• Sister Kendra Taylor (Home)
  
  
• Sister Carol Thomas (Home)
  
  
• Rev. Tyrone Vinegar (Home) (Son-in-law of Rev. Leo Fain)
  
  
• Brother William "Bill" Young (Home)

Ongoing Requests:

• Brother Levi Fishback (Harrodsburg Health & Rehabilitation Center, Harrodsburg, KY)
  
  
• Sister Anna Jarber (Homestead Nursing Home)
  
  
• Sister Thelma Masterson (Homestead Nursing Home)
   
• Brother Glenn Allen (Home) (Relative of the Brooks Family)
  
  
• Sister Mary Ann Banksden (Florence, AL) (Sister of Brother Sammie Brooks)
  
  
• Sister Lillian Bell (Ruston, LA)
  
  
• Sister Ruby Branham (Prestonsburg, KY) (Mother of Sister Jackie Peoples)
  
  
• Sister Beverly Bowman (Home)
  
  
• Sister Bonita Brown (Home)
  
  
• Brother Byron Brown
  
  
• Sister Patricia Brown (Home)
  
  
• Sister Carrie Clay (Home) Upcoming surgery
  
  
• Sister Charmaine Collins (Home) (Daughter of Sister Debra Collins)
  
  
• Sister Debra Collins (Home)
  
  
• Brother Lonnie Cowan (Home)
  
  
• Crutcher, Jones, & Payne Family (especially Little Brother Vince Crutcher III and Sister Brittany Payne)
  
  
• Sister Laura Dunaway (Home)
  
  
• Sister Christa Dunn (Home)
  
  
• Brother Billy Edwards (Home)
  
  
• Sister Shirley Alcorn Edwards (Portsmouth, VA)
  
  
• Sister Jessica Embry
  
  
• Sister McKinley Emerson (Home)
  
  
• Brother Greg Forrest (Kevil, KY) (Nephew of Sisters Janice Jackson and Barbara Ridgeway)
  
  
• Sister Johnetta Frazier (Home)
  
  
• Sister Wanda Frazier (Home) (Sister of Brother Wayne Frazier)
  
  
• Sister Erica Gill (Daughter of the late Rev. O. D. Gill) (Home)
  
  
• Rev. Jerry Gumm (Home)
  (Friends of the late Dr. Charles Black's family)
  
  
• Sister Sheryl Haskins (Home)
  
  
• Sister Jeanette Higgins (Home)
  
  
• Sister Gwendolyn Holloman (Home) (Wife of Bishop J. B. Holloman)
  
  
• Sister Iris Horice (Paducah, KY) (Niece of Sisters Janice Jackson and Barbara Ridgeway)
  
  
• Brother Daron Houtman, Jr. (Wichita, KS) (Nephew of Sister Lisa Leath)
  
  
• Brother Branson Irvin (Indianapolis, IN) (Cousin of Sister Mary Thomas)
  
  
• Brother Julian Jackson (Home) (Father of Brother Jarold Jackson)
  
  
• Sister Kemona Johnson (Home)
  
  
• Sister Norma Johnson (Home)
  
  
• Sister Vera Johnson (Home) (Sister of Sister Marion Hall)
  
  
• Brother Vincino Johnson (Home)
  
  
• Brother Travis Jones (Home ) (Brother of Sisters Liz Brooks, Trina Morton, and Sobona Sweat)
  
  
• Sister Janet King (Classmate of Sister Norma Johnson)
  
  
• Brother Larry Leath (Home)
  
  
• Sister Lindsey Leath (Home)
  
  
• Sister Patricia Leavell (Home)
  
  
• Sister Karisma Lockhart (Los Angeles, CA) and her family (Niece of Rev. Freddie Moody)
  
  
• Sister Danise Madison (Seattle, WA) (Sister of Sister Bonita Brown)
  
  
• Brother Latemus Marshall (Home) (Husband of Sister Valerie Marshall)
  
  
• Sister Dawn Gay Martin (Home)
  
  
• Brother Everett Martin (Home)
  
  
• Sister Genice Moody Mays (Los Angeles, CA) (Youngest sister of Rev. Freddie Moody)
  
  
• Sister Irene Sykes McKenzie (Home)
  
  
• Sister Elnora Miller (Home) (Mother of Sister Lisa Miller)
  
  
• Sister Lisa Miller (Home)
  
  
• Brother Daryl Moberly (Uncle of Sister Marva Eubank)
  
  
• Sister Tyailan Moberly (Home) (Cousin of Sister Marva Eubank)
  
  
• Brother Charles Moore, Sr. (Denton, TX) (Brother of Sister Shelia Williams)
  
  
• Sister Dorothy Offutt (Home)
  
  
• Sister Ashanti Owens (Granddaughter of Sister Mary Thomas)
  
  
• Sister Brittany Payne (Home)
  
  
• Brother Stevie Pepper (Columbus, OH) (Cousin of Sister Mary Thomas)(Home)
  
  
• Sister Darlene Pope (Home)
  
  
• Brother Steven Prater (Richmond Hill, GA)
  
  
• Sister Ruth Rawlings (Friend of Sister Kim Bond)
  
  
• Veronica Ridgeway (Louisville, KY) (Cousin of Sisters Janice Jackson and Barbara Ridgeway)
  
  
• Sister Annette Reid (Home)
  
  
• Brother Ashley Roach
  
  
• Sister Gayle Rush-Coleman (Home)
  
  
• Sister Tamika Sales (Home)
  
  
• Brother Donald Scarber (Home)
  
  
• Brother Doug Smith (Brother of Rev. Michael Smith) (Home, Louisville, KY)
  
  
• Sister Lynn Smith (Home)
  
  
• Sister Pennie Smith (Home)
  
  
• Sister Eleanor Smothers (Home)
  
  
• Sister Delores Spencer (Home)
  
  
• Sister Tonia Stewart (Home)
  
  
• Brother Adrian Tatman (Home)
  
  
• Sister Anna Tatman (Home)
  
  
• Sister Cheryl "Midge" Taylor (Home)
  
  
• Brother Pete Thompson (Home)
  
  
• Sister Anna Ison-Walker (Home)
  
  
• Brother Kevin Walker (San Francisco, CA) (First Cousin of Rev. Freddie Moody)
  
  
• Sister Martha Warner (Home) (Mother of Sister Catherine Frye)
  
  

• Sister Tassa Wigginton (Home)
  
  
• Brother Melvin Williams (Home)
  
  

• Brother Leon Wilson (Home) (Brother-in-Law of Sister Mary Thomas)
  
  
  
• Each person listed on our Sick List
  
  
• HPGMBC Full Time Pastor Search Committee Members, their families and their work
  
  
• Victims of the Wildfires
  
  
• Families of the Children affected in war torn countries around the world
  
  
• Children orphaned due to war and worldwide crises
  
  
• Families affected by gun violence in our community and abroad
  
  
• COVID-19 Victims around the world
  
  
• The People of Ukraine
  
  
• Healthcare workers, First responders, etc.
  
  
• The Entire Pleasant Green Church Family
  
  
• Our our Local and National Government Officials

Heavenly Father, we will find hope in You when life is barren and empty. Thank you for Jesus. In His Name. Amen 

{Adapted from Our Daily Bread,  December 29, 2025}

Keep Your Contact Information Updated

Please keep your contact information up to date. In case of emergencies, changes of service times, etc., every attempt will be made to contact church members as expeditiously as possible using text messages to cell phones, phone calls, and emails. You can update your contact information by calling the church at (859) 254-7387.

If you would like to volunteer in assisting with contacting members on the rare occasions when information needs to be communicated to the church membership quickly, please call the church and give your name and phone number.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.