(Cover Story)
Women of Inspiration

Have a little faith
Westina Matthews-Shatteen encourages others to have the faith of just one seed By Jean Nash Wells

Everyone is worthy
Karen L. Clark's survival
By g.r. mattox

Lovin’ It
Linda Dunham is a champion for young people
By g.r. mattox

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
Yolanda Lezama-Clark relies on the power of prayer
By Glenda Cadogan

Keeping the connection
Elinor Tatum continues a tradition
By g.r. mattox

Rocking the Baby
Sylvia Woods is at the top of the soul food chain
By g.r. mattox

A Shepherd's Corner - Reginald T. Jackson
By Rev. Jackson Pastor of St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, Orange, NJ
and Executive Director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey

The State of New Jersey has a new governor and the General Assembly has begun a new legislative session. Governor Jon Corzine and this General Assembly have a lot on their plates-- a four billion dollar budget deficit, soaring property taxes, a school construction program which has wasted millions of dollars and needs around $12 billion to build and renovate schools in poor urban districts and addressing a crisis at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

The focal point of Christianity, the phenomenon written, preached about and experienced by every born again believer, is the power of Christ’s transforming love. I am seeing that Christ’s love opens doors, enhances our love for each other, and adds so much enjoyment to our lives since Paul and I invited Jesus to be the master of our home.

My View: Just One Look
By Rev. Theresa Nance Pastor of
The Church By The Side Of The Road
108 Hoover Ave., Passaic, NJ.

It was just a look. Really.

But both the glance and the smile spoke volumes about the progress that had been made in the print media, which in earlier times was inundated mainly with white scribes from white cultures. That was back in 1983. I, as the general assignment reporter for a local daily publication, had been assigned to cover a gala event at Newark's Symphony Hall. It was a celebration of the first official commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday nationwide.

Guest Editorial: A Call to Women…For Such a Time as This
By Rev. Shirley B. Cathie, MAT, MTS. Ed/D.
Pastor Emeritus, Community Church of God
Plainfield, NJ

Welcome to the month of March, set aside for the recognition of women, our struggles and accomplishments, our ongoing challenges, hopes and dreams for our children, our families and our community. First, I feel compelled to strike a resounding note of praise, commendation and appreciation for the work of Ms. Jean Nash Wells, editor-in-chief of The Positive Community magazine. We applaud you, Ms. Wells for your diligence, tenacity, constancy and daring to guard the dream of this publication from its infancy to the classic production that it is today.

THE WAY AHEAD:
By Mwandikaji K. Mwanafunzi

2Kings 4:1-7 tells of a prophet's widow and her two sons. When a creditor threatened to enslave the sons, the widow asked the chief prophet, Elisha for help' Elisha asked the widow what she had in her house. One jar of oil, she replied. Elisha instructed her to borrow many empty jars from neighbors, close the door, and fill the borrowed jars with the oil from her own jar.