The Whole Truth

Bishop Sheard: I just want people to be able to think about wanting to be better, wanting to do things right, and saying I want to be close to God.‘So, a man thinketh so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7). So, say it to yourself. Internalize,‘Am I getting better?’ Internalize,‘I want to be what God will have me be.’ Internalize,‘I am going to be pleasing in God’s eyes.’ And once you say that to yourself, then start telling

TWT: We must say it to ourselves first, then we internalize it.

Bishop Sheard: Oh yes, put it in the atmosphere so your family will know.This is what I am! This is what I do! Say it to yourself first, then tell it and afterwards, live it. It’s one thing for you to say it but can others say it according to how you live? It’s a bad person who would say,‘Do as I say and not as I do.’ So that is where I am there.

HOLY CONVOCATION 2023

TWT: Holy Convocation rapidly came and went and was a great success! What were some of the key things that you have been able to implement as Presiding Bishop con cerning this annual meeting? Bishop Sheard: I think some of the major things we’ve tried is to trim some of the fat out.When I say trim some of the fat out, I am talking about unnecessarily long services.We strive to be timely and offer qualitative services, not necessarily quantitative. In other words, I want us to get to the point. I want the Gospel to be the high point of any service.We feverishly sought God’s direction for Convocation. I kind of feel something about saying it like this because I don’t want to act like others were not seeking God for Convocation. But I know my heart’s desire, and it is that the people of God be blessed tremendously, and that they enjoy services. At the same time, I hope they were able to see that they have a leader who is interested in being a part of the service, and extremely interested in them having a spiritual experience.

it. Let people know! ‘Oh yeah, this is my intent.This is what I intend to do.’ Then let your life be reflective of what you are telling people, and of what you have said to yourself. AYPWW topic says,“Our lives should be the mir - rors that reflect the image of Christ.” Keep saying, ‘I am created in the image of Christ.’ My number one objective is to give Him glory. Not only do I inter nalize that, but I say it to anybody. It does not matter where I am. I want to say that my life is to give God some glory, and then my life must mirror what I say.

THEWHOLE TRUTH 13