“Teach to bike, not to fight. Teach to love, not to hate,” Pastor DeForest B. Soaries said during last year’s blessing. “We pray for unity and love that transcends today. Let it become a legacy for our children.”
This year’s event will include a rally to stop violence and bullying.  For additional information, click here.

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This weekend, as we celebrate motherhood, I thank God for my wonderful grandmothers, mother, and the mother of my boys, my wife Donna.  So today, it is only fitting that I write about my grandmothers who, in spite of extreme hardships and limitations, always had money!

My father’s mother was a seamstress with a sixth grade education.  Just after she had her sixth child, her husband suffered a stroke and became confined to a wheelchair.  She faced great difficulties, but when she passed at 80 years old, she owned three houses and all were completely free of mortgage debt.

My mother’s mother was a domestic worker – she did housework for wealthy families.  Her husband was an alcoholic, but she too owned her house.  Whenever one of my cousins or I needed money, my grandmother always had cash to assist us.  There were no ATM machines in those days but if we asked Grandma for a few dollars, she would pull out a white handkerchief, (I won’t say from where), and give it us.  If we need more, Grandma would produce her bigger bills from another stash.  Again, I won’t say from where!

I’m amazed that both of my grandmothers did so much with so little income!  They knew how to handle money and of course, neither felt the need to buy new clothes every time the style changed; they did not buy things at the supermarket that they did not need; and neither of them had credit cards.  They both gave money to the church regularly and they owned their own homes.

I decided that if my grandmothers could accomplish what they did with the challenges they faced, then shame on me if I could not do at least as well as they did.  I did not want to be like the servant in Matthew 25:14-28 who was chastised because he did not even think to put money in a bank to earn interest.

As you celebrate mothers and motherhood, read Matthew 25:14-28, thank God for the many mothers who do so much with so little, and pray for strength to make prudent financial decisions.

God bless,

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

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Mortgage rates remain at near record lows and many homeowners are looking to buy or refinance.  Before you do, please remember the following.

Your ability to secure a mortgage is directly related to your credit worthiness.  If you have credit card debt, revisit the second phase of my book, dfree: Breaking Free from Financial Slavery – Get Control.  Make and start a plan, make power payments and start power savings.  Remember – no debts, no delinquencies, no deficits!

Then, do your homework.  First check your credit report.  You should regularly check your report for errors and to help guard against identity theft.  You are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies.  For additional information, visit the following site https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp.

Know the terms of your loan; shop around. Beware of rates that are low for an “introductory period” because as the rate increases, the mortgage payment skyrockets.  Always demand a full accounting of terms and fees including the application fee, and fees for loan origination, attorney review, closing, and title search.

Most importantly, seek guidance from the one source who can truly guide us to freedom, both spiritually and financially.  Pray for God’s guidance as you pursue this process.

God bless,

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

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Our nation has recently experienced several tragic events. We have struggled to recover from the ravages of massive weather events and we’ve grieved over the shootings of

innocent children and adults. We have dealt with sinkholes and factory explosions, and we’ve struggled to deal with the realities of a terrorist attack. In the aftermath of these horrible events, we come together to rebuild, heal, and to pray with urgency, that our nation will move closer to God and His principles.

As such, please join me for the National Day of Prayer event on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. This event, hosted by the FBC Prayer Posse, will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. On that day, we join people of faith in communities all over these great United States, in prayer and supplication before the Lord.

This year’s theme, Pray for America, focuses on Matthew 12:21, “In His name the nations will put their hope.” First Lady Donna Soaries, First Baptist clergy, and several special guests will lead us as we pray for our government and government leaders, the brave men and women of the armed forces, the business community, families, and more. The program will include special musical presentations and I will be the keynote speaker. If you cannot join us onsite, please join us online. The service will be streamed live on our website, www.fbcsomerset.com.

Refreshments will be served in the Rev. C.H. Brown Fellowship Hall immediately following the event. I hope to see you there.

God bless,

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

Please join Harvest of Hope Family Services Founder and CEO, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., at the North Brunswick Community Park for the Second Annual Harvest of Hope 5K Run/Walk “Destination Home: Be A Champion for Children”.  This event, held Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 8:00 a.m., will serve as the kick off event for the celebration of National Foster Care Awareness Month.  Join Rev. Soaries at the starting line and trophy presentation.

We are excited to announce that four-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs will again join the festivities, and the Robert Wood Johnson Fitness team will return to offer race participants the opportunity to win free limited memberships.

Please share this information with friends, family, and associates via word of mouth, email, and social media.  We hope to see you there!

Click here for registration. For additional information, please call 732.247.1270.

Thank you for your commitment.

Maureen E. Archibald, MSW, LSW

Executive Director

Harvest of Hope Family Services Network, Inc.

and the

FBCLG Women’s Retreat Ministry

for a

Free Gospel Concert

featuring

Marvin Sapp