For the final of three nights, on Wednesday October 19th at 7 p.m., the Threshing Floor Tabernacle, will host Evangelist Milton Martin, Jr. for a time of worship, healing, changed lives and revival for individuals and the Antioch community. Based in Georgia, Martin is on a West Coast tour, preaching in churches in both southern and northern California, as well as Oregon.

Now in his 40th year of ministry, Martin has been preaching and ministering in churches throughout the United States as well as traveling to foreign countries, such as Russia, Africa, the Philippines, Venezuela, Peru, Poland, Ukraine, and Belorussia.

The Threshing Floor Tabernacle is located at 1793 Vineyard Drive in Antioch and is led by Pastor Henry Killings.

For more information about Evangelist Milton Martin, visit www.mmjm.org. For more information about the Threshing Floor Tabernacle call (925) 778-5700 or visit www.threshingfloortabernacle.com.

The new East Bay Chaplains display their certificates. Top Row: Pastor Will Byrns from His Praise in Antioch, Pastor Charles Salter, John Foster, Jeffery Robinson. Second Row: Rudy Hernandez, Tim Vaughn, Reverend Austin Miles, Major General Dan Helix. Third Row: Salena Boatner-Miller and her husband Pastor George Miller, Pat Martin, Bill Swenson and his wife Julie Swenson, Felicia Purcell, Angrett Davies, Dusty Salazar, Karen Manuel, Laura Collin, Jose Chavez. Seated: Kermese Harrell, Segura, Chaplain Priscilla Martinez and Olga Chavez. Photo by Jane Vaughn

By Rev. Austin Miles

In a colorful ceremony complete with pageantry, on Tuesday, September 25th, 21 chaplains were certified for duty in the East Bay area of Northern California. The sacred and joyful event began with this writer (who founded the East Bay Chaplains and trained them), starting the ceremony with a brief talk and opening prayer, then introduced Priscilla Martinez who had been appointed as the new Chaplain Instructor.

Following her informative address, Priscilla next introduced the graduates. General Dan Helix and Colonel Timothy Vaughn, both in dress uniforms, led the processional. After each was standing in place, the certificates were presented.

General Helix gave the keynote address which was interrupted several times with appreciative applause.  Then, in a totally unexpected move, The General called this writer up, “Front and Center.” to present an award certificate and medal-of-honor for having organized and taught the original chaplain classes.

From L to R: Colonel Timothy Vaughn, Rev. Austin Miles,Chaplain Trainer Priscilla Martinez, Felicia Purcell, General Dan Helix. Photo by Jane Vaughn

Pastor Felix Golden, who graciously hosted this event in his church, His Presence Christian Worship Center, the home church of Chaplain Priscilla and 17 of the new chaplains, wrapped it up with a brief but very meaningful talk. And the entire event packed with action, went exactly one hour. Two other churches were represented, as well, including His Praise in Antioch and the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in Oakley.

The East Bay Chaplains play a vital role in Contra Costa County. Their motto is: Stand Ready, Be Prayed Up, and Keep the Vessel Clean.

Several have already received assignments. New chaplain Felicia Purcell, dressed in colorful African apparel, is being asked to be the chaplain for the wives and family members the Golden State Warriors basketball team.

Joan Segura is already officially the Chaplain for El Pueblo low-income housing in Pittsburg. Christian Rap Artist George Miller and his wife, Salena Boatner-Miller will be chaplains for their concerts while Bill and Julie Swenson who both were certified, work as a team to broaden their ministry to the homeless and addicts.

Olga Chavez and her husband Jose Chavez are looking to take their ministry back to their homeland Peru when Jose retires. Jeffery Robinson is interested in serving in a prison ministry. John Foster plans to work with addicts. Tim Vaughn works with veterans and holds a position with East Bay Chaplains. Pat Martin will use her new position as part of her counseling ministry. Karen Manuel has been working with Visions Beyond Borders helping where needed and will be taking her ministry to Southeast Asia, Thailand, Nepal, Burma, India Laos, Cambodia, Cuba and Romania. Kermese Harrell, who is 80-years-old mentors young women.

All others will be placed, some with Instructor Priscilla, who is chaplain of Shepherd’s Gate, a home for battered women and children. And this is just the beginning.

At the end of the service there was a long standing ovation. The chaplain’s motto is: “To serve others at their time and place of need.”

It is a totally devoted ministry where they willingly give up all rights to themselves to always be available to others. There is no such thing as convenience for chaplains. They are there for the convenience of others who need them, often at a split second notice. It is a totally unselfish endeavor that places all others before themselves.

This new class is an example of diversity at its best, with graduates coming from all backgrounds and a couple from different countries. Each one would be a welcome addition to any community.

“I am looking forward to see these new chaplains ministries grow and helping them along the way,” said Chaplain Priscilla Martinez. “I feel so honored to know each one of them.”

Priscilla Martinez contributed to this article.

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper opened the annual Antioch Prayer Breakfast by leading the Pledge of Allegiance and with a prayer on Thursday, May 5.

By Allen Payton

About 300 people attended the annual Antioch Prayer Breakfast at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, Thursday morning, to pray as part of the National Day of Prayer. This year’s theme was “Wake Up, America.”

Emery Williams of The Church @ Antioch sings America the Beautiful at the beginning of the annual Antioch Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 5.

The event, held on the first Thursday of May, each year, included prayers for our nation, state and local officials, military, businesses, as well as schools and students, led by various pastors and individuals.

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper opened the morning event with the Pledge of Allegiance and by  quoting from the Bible, Second Chronicles, chapter seven, verse 14: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

He said “Prayer is not a spectator sport. You have to join in,” then led the audience in an opening prayer.

Those in attendance were also treated to a capella renditions of America the Beautiful and God Bless America by Emery Williams of The Church @ Antioch, and sang along with her during the latter song.

Pastor Larry Navilhon or Cornerstone Christian Center offered a prayer for our nation and state. SMS John Steger, USAF, Retired then prayed for the military. He was followed by Shantell Owens of Dickey’s Barbeque Pit who prayed for businesses in our community. Tim Forrester of the Antioch Unified School District then offered a prayer for our students and schools, followed by Pastor Kent Valentine of Calvary Open Bible Church who prayers for our local community and families.

Each time a prayer was said for a different level of government or different segment of our community, those who serve or work in that area were asked to stand.

Led by event coordinator Mike Pollard, those gathered then stood and joined in reciting this year’s National Prayer, written by Dr. Tony Evans, this year’s Honorary Chairman, as follows:

Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation.  First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

For more information about the annual observance, visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org.