Preference/Conviction:
Conviction – A basic scriptural principle that we purpose to follow no matter what the cost. A conviction never changes!
Preference – A choice or idea that changes according to the situation. A preference changes from situation to situation.
Principle – A standard, value, law
Absolute Truth:
Absolute truth is that which is true for all people, for all times, for all places. Absolute truth acknowledges that the distinction between right and wrong is:
Objective – defined outside of ourselves, not subjectively determined. (not based on feelings or personal opinion)
Universal – for all people in all places, does not change from person to person or place to place.
Constant – for all times, does not change from day to day.
How does truth affect (change) behavior? When you believe there exist an objective standard (standard which is unbiased, based on facts, free from personal opinion and feelings) for distinguishing right from wrong-that certain things are right for all people, for all times, for all places-you acknowledge that there are fundamental moral and ethical guidelines that exist independently of your personal opinion. When you accept an objective standard for truth, you adopt a moral and ethical viewpoint that guides your choices of what is right and what is wrong. Your “truth view” acts as a lens through which you see all of life and its many choices.
Modern Underground Railroad Concept:
The promotion of the Modern-Day Underground Railroad Concept expresses the youth’s flight from modern-day slave masters known as premarital sex, alcohol and other drugs, violence and racial disharmony. Just as the Underground Railroad had its abolitionist such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, William Still and countless others who made unforgettable contributions towards the abolition of slavery, Kiamsha youth consider themselves Modern-day Abolitionist. The enslavement of our African ancestors parallels the state of our youth today. Youth are faced with overwhelming challenges, choices and changes. Many are slaves to modern-day slave masters such as alcohol and other drugs, premarital sex and other harmful lifestyles of sin because of the choices they make. Kiamsha youth work diligently to reach their peers and to abolish the ills that have caused many of them to fail in school, to fail in society, living hopeless, nonproductive lives. Kiamsha, which means “that which awakens me” exists to re-ignite a spark in the community by motivating our youth to empower themselves in their communication, presentation, leadership and workshop development skills.
Slave/Enslaved Concept:
Slave – Someone who gives up their freedom willingly.
Enslaved – Someone whose freedom is taken from them.
You may find it surprising that 200 years of slavery held no slaves but the legends and unknowns of that era were enslaved by their slave masters.
Birth of Sin:
There are three steps to the birth of sin. In other words, there are three steps before a negative CHOICE becomes a negative ACTION.
STEP ONE – CONCEPTION
A thought conceived in the mind as abstract concepts and have no external or substantial reality. If the thought is negative, you should capture and get rid of it at this stage in order to prevent it from becoming an action.
STEP TWO – GESTATION
Mental conception and development of an idea. (as is the period of carrying offspring in the uterus after conception and the offspring steadily develops into a full-fledged human being) so our thoughts gestate into full-fledged sin. If you allow negative thoughts to reach this stage, you have actually committed a sin in your mind.
STEP THREE – BIRTH
The negative thought now becomes an outward ACT OF SIN THAT CAN BE PHYSICALLY SEEN BY YOU AND SOMETIMES OTHERS.
Seared Conscience:
Conscience is a gift from God. It is the internal sense of what is right and wrong that governs our thoughts and actions, urging us to do right rather than wrong. A seared or withered conscience is developed when we continue to ignore the promptings and screams of our conscience when it is telling us to do the right thing.
Fruit of the Spirit:
Qualities of life that can only be developed with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces these character traits and we cannot obtain them by trying to get them by ourselves. These qualities of life are found in Galations 5:22,23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (which is self-control), against such there is no law.”