Since this is the last issue of The Answer Newspaper for 2009, I thought it appropriate that I take time out to say thank you to all of you who have supported the publishing of this paper this year – through advertising, writing, selling, reading, distribution, designing, and simply encouraging us through phone calls, emails and acknowledgements. I personally thank you for welcoming me into the Las Vegas community and showing me the ropes.

While the majority of my professional career has been in the media industry, I’ve learned a great deal from working within this unique atmosphere – Las Vegas. I’ve learned this is a large geographic al area but a very small community. I’ve learned that it takes more than tenacity and perseverance to break down some of the doors in this town; you just have to know people. Relationship is definitely key in this community. I would like thank Pastor Black for his help in that area.

But most of all, I’ve learned that when God gives you a vision, he will make provision. I have to thank those who have financially backed this publication and helped us to make it where we are today. While some continue to remain nameless, even when we couldn’t keep our end of the deal at times, you didn’t throw dirt on our heads. Thank you for your trust in knowing that all debts will be repaid!

We are proud to have increased our Worship Section to five pages as of this month. We published our first Spanish article last month and we’ve added a new business directory with coupon savings. Our publication can be read online at two different websites; we’ve added more than fifty new businesses as distribution spots covering more of the city, and we were honored by the Thomas Dorsey National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Chorus and the Catch The Word International Convention with media awards.

It is still our goal and vision to bridge the gap in the Christian community by sharing information from all denominations and continuing to foster fellowship within the body. Moreover, it is critical that we provide information to believers regarding businesses within the kingdom that we must support; outreach ministries within the kingdom that have obtained a blueprint that works; and resources available within the kingdom to help others.
If we understand that we are one body, we can grow stronger. Working within the Christian community, I’ve discovered that there are some churches which have strong youth ministries, while others are stronger in couple’s ministries and even others who have an ironclad system for training leaders. We really do need everyone to support the Body – but if one doesn’t know what the other is doing, how can we help each other? That’s where The Answer Newspaper comes in.

However, in order for this publication to be effective in its endeavor to bridge the gap, we need to know what’s going on in each ministry. Therefore, I charge the pastors to instruct administrators to send us your calendar of events to print. I charge our Ministry Partners to take advantage of your opportunity to write a column for Divinely Speaking. We won’t know unless you tell us.

In addition, we continue in our struggle to be known as a Christian Publication – not an African American one. While we are African American owned, we press to provide information that speaks to the body of Christ – the whole body – all nationalities and all denominations. However, we have encountered a great deal of resistance from churches with leaders who believe The Answer Newspaper is not for them because the people in the ads and other areas of the paper don’t look like them. We can only print ads and write stories about people we can reach.

We would love to have stories representing the Hispanic, Asian, Catholic, Middle Eastern and other communities. Please contact us and we’ll make arrangements to connect. We’ve knocked on many doors, some have just not answered and others have been slammed in our faces. But we’re not discouraged – we know the race is not given to the swift or the strong, but to the one who endures to the end.

I encourage you to be a part of the solution and not the problem. If you believe we are missing vital information, lacking in areas of concern, weak in our coverage – please call and let us know. If you’re sharing your concerns with people who do not represent decision makers for the paper, your voice will not be heard. We want to serve you better but we need your input to make it happen.

At the risk of breaking the rule of my Sacramento pastor, Rev. Wayne Sheppard (naming names), allow me to say thank you to a few of the people who I am deeply indebted to for one reason or another. Thank you to Rev. Leslie Terrell for the vision and allowing me to do what I do, to my partners Rochelle Schoener and Valerie Rice for seeing the vision and contributing to the cause; thank you to James Evans, Angela Britt, Pastor Henry Black, Lois Greene, Cassundra Shepherd, Jessie Graham, Pastor Sonya Cheltenham, Stephanie Vaughn, Patrice Coleman, Lynn Jasames, Pastor Robin Joyce, Wayne and Cindee Whiteman, Shaun Maddox, Dave Grant, Lynette Simmons, Arletia McInnis, Michael Durant, Pastor James Harden, Judy Donnelson, Pastor Joel Garcia, Nina Griffin, Elder Hudson Griffith, Pastor Billy McCurdy, Jacqueline McDaniel, Jeddidiah Tilleo, Damon Hodge,  Jimmy’s Cheyenne Market and Mario’s West Side Market.

My heartfelt, gratitude and prayers go out to two people who make it all happen, Katie Feldman and Don Snook. Thank you for hanging with me through the late nights, the dry spells and the last minute changes! We couldn’t do it with you.

Psalms 68:11 says “The Lord gave the Word and great was the company that published it.” We thank you for keeping company with us and we look forward to serving you another year.
Toni Terrell