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Minister Sean Hackney serves as the Connection Minister at Faith Christian Center. A native of Detroit, MI, Min. Hackney is a graduate of Word of Faith Bible Training Center under the leadership of Bishop Keith A. Butler. Sean was licensed and ordained in 2006. In the past, Sean has also served over the Singles Ministry at Faith Christian Center. Sean has a strong desire to help new believers and altar call respondents follow through on the decisions they've made, by being a support. Sean has been a member of Faith since 1998 where he continues to do his part in making Jesus famous.
Reginald Hurns, Jr, better known as Min. Reggie, serves as the Youth Minister at Faith Christian Center.
A native of Cleveland, MS, Min. Reggie is a graduate of the University of West Georgia (M. Ed in Professional Counseling-School Counseling), Mississippi College (B.A in Christian Studies) and East Side High School. In addition to being the Youth Minister at Faith, Reggie is a Professional School Counselor within the Cobb County School District.
Reggie is humbled at the favor of God allowing him to serve as the husband to Toni, father to Christina, a high school counselor and the Youth Minister at Faith.
Minister Lamonte Isom serves as the Team Faith Head Coach at Faith Christian Center in Austell, Georgia.
Lamonte attended Troy State University in Troy, Alabama where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in music education. He graduated from Faith School of Ministry in Atlanta, GA. where he was licensed and later on ordained. Lamonte has served as an usher and small group leader, department head for the Ministry Room and Outreach Ministry. He and his loving wife, Jennifer, and their two loving children have been a part of Faith Christian Center since 1996.
Minister April Johnson, affectionately called "Minister A J", serves as the Children's Minister at Faith Christian Center in Austell, GA. April has been a part of Word of Faith/ Faith Christian Center since 1991.
April attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Nursing. She is a 1998 graduate of Word of Faith School of Ministry and was licensed and ordained that same year. April served as the Children's Minister for Faith Christian Center in Smyrna, from 1997-2008. After a break of just under a year, she returned as the Children's Minister a second time. She made the difficult decision to step back from Children's Ministry full-time because of her desire to be home full-time with her children. She has served in volunteer roles over the last few years before returning as Children's Minister. She and her amazing husband, Amos, are the parents of two beautiful girls, Pria and Malia. April has a unique call to minister to and grow children in the Word of God in a fun and creative atmosphere. Her passion is to train leaders to powerfully minister the Word of God in a way that is easy to receive and apply.
Kurt Lemons serves as a staff minister at Faith Christian Center in Austell, GA. He and his wife joined the church in 2001, and he has served in the ministry as an usher and Faith Group leader over the years. In 2007, he was appointed a deacon under the leadership of Pastor Andre Butler, and continues to serve in that capacity today.
In early 2014, he sensed God calling him to ministry school. In the fall of the same year he enrolled as a part-time student at Charis Bible College, an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries. He graduated from Charis in May of 2018, and was licensed and ordained at Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI by our founder, Bishop Keith A. Butler.
Kurt Lemons has a passion to share the gospel (the almost too-good-to-be-true news) of Jesus Christ, and to see people set free by the power of the love of God that is revealed in the gospel. He says, however, that his first ministry is to his lovely wife Erica Lemons and their beautiful daughter Bethany. He knows that he could not be the man of God that he is called to be without their support.
Minister Greta Newman serves as a staff minister at Faith Christian Center in Austell, Georgia. Greta grew up at Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Elementary Education.
Greta also attended Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greta served faithfully as the Children's minister at Word of Faith Christian Centre in Toronto, Canada for 4 ½ years. She then moved to Round Rock, Texas where she was the Children's Minister at the Faith 4 Life church for almost 5 years. For the last 3 years Minister Greta Newman served as the Children's minister for both the Round Rock and Dallas, Texas Faith 4 Life churches where she focused on teaching children to grow strong in the Word of God.
Dathan Thigpen is a singer, songwriter and musician. He proudly laid a foundation in Jackson, MS with humble beginnings in the local church and with the Mississippi Children's Choir as well as the Mississippi Mass Choir. Dathan recorded his very first live Praise & Worship CD in 2005 capturing a very unique experience to share with the world. He also graduated from Faith Bible Institute of Jackson, MS in 2008 to further his education in ministry.
Over the years tremendous doors have opened on a national and international stage. Music ministry has taken him around the world performing and teaching Praise and Worship in Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece and South Africa. He was a cast member on BET's Sunday Best Season 3- Top 6 (2010). Fans voted to bring him back on to BET's Sunday Best Season 8 All Stars edition. On Sunday, August 30, 2015 Dathan was crowned the winner of BET's Sunday Best Season 8 All Stars.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2015
Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888
On Monday, October 12, 2015, two men were observed exiting the Big R Store on South Main Street, Elkhart, with unpaid merchandise. Several employees as well as Norman Reynolds, 60 of Elkhart, pursued the fleeing men who were observed to enter a small truck and begin to pull away. At that time, Reynolds produced a semi-automatic hand gun and fired once at the truck striking the exterior of the passenger compartment. It would appear that no one was physically injured during the encounter and Reynolds did have a license to possess the firearm.1
The Elkhart Police Department conducted an investigation into the matter and on October 26, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney received preliminary information into the investigation. After reviewing the investigation material, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has this day filed formal charges of Criminal Recklessness by means of a Deadly Weapon and Pointing a Firearm, against Norman Reynolds, based upon his conduct during the October 12, 2015 incident. Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon and Pointing a Firearm are both Level 6 felonies and each offense is punishable by up to six (6) months to two and one-half (2 ½) years in prison and up to a $10, 000.00 fine.
The investigation shows that an alleged crime was in progress when Reynolds took action. However, his alleged conduct was unreasonable and created a significant risk of harm not only toward the intended target but also to potential bystanders. Reynolds was determined to be in lawful possession of a firearm however, lawful possession does not give license to use a firearm contrary to law.
While laws regarding the use of force are intended to allow means for protection of citizens from unlawful attack upon person or property, the law does not encourage the use of force in all situations. Any use of force must be reasonable under the circumstances and deadly force in particular, is generally limited to those circumstances whereby a dangerous threat is imminent.
The filing of this charge is in no way intended to assert that Mr. Reynolds set out to violate the law or that he intended to create a dangerous situation. To the contrary, by all appearances he thought that he was being helpful. However, his method of "helping" was also reckless under the law and could have resulted in grave consequences.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has requested that the Court issue a summons directing Reynolds to appear for initial hearing in this matter, with all future proceedings to be heard in Elkhart Superior Court No. 4.
"Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

subset: commoncrawl


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Sugar still struggling: This year's record-high beet yields in Weld County won't bring record incomes
December 3, 2013
Record-high sugar beet yields this year in Colorado don't mean record-high profits for growers after sugar prices fell sharply during the past year amid an oversaturated market. Yields have yet to recover.
Jerry Darnell, agricultural manager for the Denver-based Western Sugar Cooperative, which works with farmers in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana, said Colorado's average yield for sugar beets this year was 33.5 tons per acre, easily surpassing the state's record of 31.8, set last year.
Sugar content, though, was below average at 14.9 percent, likely due to the overabundance of moisture in September and October.
Growers in Weld County, who produce about 35 percent of Colorado's sugar beets, said their crops were right in line with the record-yield numbers, giving some local growers the best crops they've ever seen.
"The last three years we've had really good sugar prices, and growers made money. Now, we're back to where prices are falling, and we're at break-even.
— Jerry Darnell, agricultural manager for Western Sugar Cooperative
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But the severe drop in sugar prices, which has stabilized recently but not recovered, leaves many of them looking for ways to make up for lost revenue.
"It's gonna be a tight year," Darnell said. "The last three years we've had really good sugar prices, and growers made money. Now, we're back to where prices are falling and we're at break-even."
Local growers say the past few years they've enjoyed high yields, thanks to resilient seeds, and high prices, because of less product in the U.S.
But a surplus of sugar flooded the market, causing prices to fall during the past year.
Growers don't see the prices shooting back up anytime soon, they say, so they're settling in to face depleted revenue.
"I think we're better able to weather the storm in the next two to three years than we would have been without those recent profitable times we've experienced the last three to five (years)," said Marc Arnusch, who grows sugar beets, corn, wheat, sunflowers and alfalfa in the southeast corner of Weld County.
Arnusch noted that sugar beet prices fell to about $35 per ton this year from $54 per ton last year.
While farmers otherwise raise or lower production of a certain crop depending on the state of the market, sugar beet growers with the Western Sugar Cooperative don't have that luxury, as the organization's board allocates production amounts. Most farmers who grow sugar beets in Colorado and in parts of Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana have contracts with Western Sugar to grow a certain amount of beets each year.
Many point to the USDA's sugar policy as a major contributor to the overabundance of sugar imports that caused prices to drop.
"It has a lot to do with the policies of the USDA and the fact that I think an excess amount of cane sugar was allowed to be imported in this country to impact the supply and demand," said Artie Elmquist, who farms in southwest Weld.
Arnusch said he believes trouble for the industry started when the federal government stepped in to the zero-cost sugar industry to try to improve it and wound up making the market more unstable.
"The (USDA's) sugar policy is one where I don't think the government understood it could decimate a 98-percent-farmer-owned sugar industry," Arnusch said. "At the end of the day, the consumer hasn't saved a dime, but we've put an immense amount of pressure that wasn't necessary."
In accordance with federal law, the USDA has worked to remedy the oversaturated market, offering to purchase sugar from domestic sugarcane or sugar beet processors and subsequently conduct voluntary exchanges for credits under the Refined Sugar Re-export program. Some of that sugar has been purchased by ethanol producers after sugar processors forfeited product to pay off government loans.
"It remains to be seen, longer term, whether that can bring the supply level down to a point that we can anticipate a better balance," Elmquist said.
Growers say they're hoping to see more reform come to the federal policy regarding sugar, perhaps in the form of the proposed Farm Bill.
Essentially, they say they'd like to see the government help more by doing less in the market.
"I think we're going to have to ride this one out for a while," Arnusch said. "We've all seen how slowly things happen in Washington."
Until farmers see major changes in how the government imports sugar, they say they're doing what they can to make up for dwindling prices.
Weld County Commissioner Doug Rademacher, who farms corn, hay, wheat and sugar beets near Mead and Firestone, said he's free to adjust other crops, and he is putting more stock in wheat, which is selling at a good price, and investing less in corn, which isn't faring well at the moment.
"We just have to adjust like we have been," Rademacher said. "(Sugar beets are) the only crop we're contracted to grow."
Elmquist said as sugar prices go down, input costs to grow sugar beets stays the same, so farmers have to look at ways to operate more efficiently. For his operation — which produces sugar beets as well as alfalfa, hay, barley for Coors and corn — Elmquist said his focus is on working toward a no-till process, which he says cuts costs of labor, fuel and machinery expenses without damaging the nutrients in the soil.
"What we need to do now is manage our expenses better with the lower crop prices," he said.
While sugar beet prices are a concern for farmers, they say they're likely to stick with the crop, as it's been historically one of the more reliable for them.
"If you really analyze it, it's probably the beets that have been the most stable of the row crops," Elmquist said.
Growers say lulls in prices are part of the deal when you sign up for agriculture, and the key to success is keeping bad years in mind while enjoying the good ones.
"I think we've tightened our belts well, and we've managed ourselves well, and as an industry we will get through this, no doubt," Arnusch said.


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Bob Blancato
Matz, Blancato and Associates
Matz, Blancato and Associates
Bob Blancato is the President of Matz, Blancato and Associates. In that capacity, he also serves as the National Coordinator of the bipartisan 3000-member Elder Justice Coalition, the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs and National Coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition. Bob has more than 20 years of service in the Congressional and Executive branches, including the senior staff of the U.S. House Select Committee on Aging and an appointment by President Clinton to be Executive Director of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. He currently serves on the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. As a volunteer, he serves on the National Board of AARP and on the Tufts Nutrition Council. He chaired the Board of the American Society on Aging from 2016 to 2018. He holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MPA from American University. Bob has won numerous awards for advocacy, most recently winning the National Hispanic Council on Aging's 2018 President's Award awarded in December 2018. He was also knighted by the Italian Republic in 2011.


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De Laurentiis expects Reina to stay
Pepe Reina will see out his Napoli contract, but the club are "looking around for the future" says president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Spanish goalkeeper Reina has been linked with a switch back to the Premier League during the close-season, with Newcastle United - under his former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez - reportedly heading the queue.
His current deal at the San Paolo only has 12 months to run and, while it looks likely a new deal will not be offered, De Laurentiis expects Reina to remain in Serie A for the coming campaign.
"He [Reina] has another year on his contract and wants to stay with us, even up to expiration," De Laurentiis told La Repubblica.
"I'll talk to him soon though, with it being understood we're looking around for the future."
De Laurentiis was equally adamant that defender Faouzi Ghoulam would also remain at Napoli despite reported interest from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Like Reina, Ghoulam only has one season remaining on his existing deal but the president expects to see him to stay with the Partenopei.
He added: "Will he [Ghoulam] stay? Of course, he has a contract, why should he leave?
"No starters will leave. We are very busy in the upcoming season."
Meanwhile, De Laurentiis himself has committed his future to the club by insisting he has no plans to relinquish power in Naples.
"The future? We' re ranked 15th in Europe having been ranked 55th," he said.
"Now the club is worth at least EUR1billion.
"I have no intention of selling though and my movie is far from the end credits."