All Posts

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Fear is one of the most effective prisons ever built because the bars are invisible and the sentence feels self-imposed. I see it every day in my work with incarceration both behind literal bars and in the free world where people wake up every morning confined by anxiety, shame, scarcity, and the dread of what might happen next. Fear does not need a judge or a sentence. It only needs agreement. Scripture is clear about fear’s intent. “For God h

Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed America is drifting into a darkness that feels painfully familiar. The kind of familiar that echoes the 1960s, when hatred was spoken freely and laws were weaponized against people who simply wanted to live. Today we are watching an American president use racial slurs against Somalis, Haitians, and immigrants from African nations and the country absorbs it like background noise. ICE raids in Minnesota intensify, communities live in fear, and someh

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed There are seasons when our prayers grow quiet. Not because we don’t believe, not because we’ve turned from God, but because life has pressed us so deeply that the most honest word we can whisper is simply, “Help.” People don’t always talk about those seasons. The times when the tears fall faster than the sentences. The times when your heart is so full of confusion that forming a complete prayer feels impossible. The times when you want to speak

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Tonight, as the temperature drops, the wind cuts sharper than knives. People hurry from car to doorway, doorway to home, tucking their bodies deeper into coats and hoods to escape the bite of winter. But for thousands of our brothers and sisters right here in Charlotte and millions across this nation, there is no doorway. No heat. No shelter. No escape. Every corner in this city holds a story. A tent. A blanket. A body huddled under a bridge. A

How We Bring Back the Joy of the Holy-Days By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Christmas is called a season of joy, yet for many of God’s children… it is the hardest time of the year. As lights go up on houses and carols fill the air, a quiet ache sits inside the hearts of countless believers. And beloved, that ache is real. It is holy. It deserves to be spoken. The Bible never told us to pretend. It told us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. So today, we bring our

By Minister Dearest Happy Honor Day Some woke up today and said, “I can’t do Thanksgiving this year” and God understands. We all grieve, and that grief deserves to be honored. Every tear, every ache, every silent moment of missing someone is evidence that love lived here. We all feel, and honoring one another’s feelings is a sacred act. Compassion is not weakness; it is the bridge that holds us together. We all breathe, and every breath is another day to honor the simple gift

By Dearest Price | Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church “Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” — Matthew 4:8-9 (KJV) Can you imagine if Jesus had caved? Picture it, our Savior standing on the mountaintop, looking down at the world He came to save. The tempter whispers promises of power, wealth,

By Dearest Price America is breaking before our eyes. Not just politically, not just economically, but spiritually. The SNAP benefits that once fed the hungry are suspended, healthcare will soon climb to astronomical levels, ICE has stripped due process from human beings, and our National Guard patrols the streets like soldiers at war with their own people. Books are banned, women’s rights erased, and Black women, those who have carried the moral backbone of this nation are b

As 2025 draws to a close, the Spirit is calling Jonahville back to the altar, back to prayer, back to fellowship, and back to purpose. This is not just a season; it’s a divine invitation. For those returning to Jonahville, those finding their way home, and those standing in the gap for their families this is your moment. A Church Built on Faith Jonahville has always been more than walls and pews. It is a place of healing, a lighthouse on the hill, and a refuge for weary souls

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14:22–30 Title: Power of Prayer Preacher: Pastor Mark A. Evans Jonahville AME Zion Church Pastor Evans preached with fire and conviction from Matthew 14:22–30, reminding the congregation that prayer is not just a moment, it’s power. In this familiar passage, Jesus walks on the water, and Peter, filled with faith, steps out of the boat to meet Him. But when Peter looks at the winds and waves, fear takes hold, and he begins to sink. Pastor Evans remind

Rev. Dr. Anthony Freeman Pastor Mark A. Evans, Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Pastor Mark A. Evans Last Sunday, the Spirit filled Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church as Rev. Dr. Anthony Freeman preached a sermon that pierced the soul — “I Escaped Again: Running for My Life.” Drawing from 2 Corinthians 11:22–33, he reminded us that this life is a battleground, not a playground. “We are about to die,” he declared. “So you’d better know what has happened to your soul if you haven’t rep

Sills Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, Rev. Merriweather Guest Preacher: Pastor Mark A. Evans, Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Scripture...

There are moments in our world that make heaven weep. News of children zip-tied in an ICE raid inside their own home is one of them. The...

Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Pastor Mark A. Evans Today, our hearts are full as we reflect on a sacred Communion Sunday and the powerful...

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us into a new month. We ask for wisdom, discipline, and courage to face what lies...

Death has a way of silencing even the loudest voices. And yet, when a person who spent their life sowing hatred and speaking evil passes...

One of the most beloved hymns of the church begins with a simple but profound declaration: “I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,...

I am the teacher who witnessed a fight break out in her class. My classroom, the one place I had prayed would remain sacred, where no...

At Jonahville, our Pastor has designated Monday as his Sabbath. On this day, he respectfully asks that we refrain from scheduling...

Thank you, Pastor Evans, for the Word that reminds us once again that in God, there is no failure. Acts 16:25–26 “About midnight Paul and...