Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the Bethune Cookman University in Florida, was a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. Before passing away she wrote her Last Will and Testament. In it she says, “I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for education. Respect for the uses of power, faith, racial dignity, a desire to live in harmony with all people, and with a special responsibility for our young people.” As the Apostle Peter was about to pass away, he too, left some end-of-life words. In his second letter Ch 1, Peter reminds his readers of how God brought them into His favor by the unique saving work of Jesus Christ. Based on that, he says we can experience greater favor and peace as we grow in fellowship with God by faith. He then identifies what our response should be as followers of Jesus Christ. He says we should add these qualities to our faith: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone. He says the more we grow in these qualities, the more productive and useful we will be in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
