After the massacre in “Mother Emmanuel” AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, these friends had to find another sacred place to heal—somewhere within the bonds of love.

12  HARD PRAYERS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
by Hugh Carrington / God’s promise for those who pray for leaders.

13 SEVEN WAYS TO GET ALONG WITH CHURCH FOLK
by Tammy Darling / When conflict emerges among believers, it doesn’t have to divide.

14 SCARS THAT HURT A LIFETIME
by Claudio and Pamela Consuegra / How to begin to repair the damage caused by domestic violence.

15 PEACEMAKERS
by John Devine / Why sending in “the feds” won’t heal the violence, and how you can really help.

16 AFFIRMATIONS FOR A POWERFUL LIFE
by Mabel Dunbar / Violence takes a toll on one’s humanity; pray and heal knowing these truths.

18 A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
by David Person / After the attack on Emmanuel AME Church, three friends grieve and heal together.

20 GLORY!
by Lucas Lee Johnson II / James Settles spent years in the streets until the Holy Spirit arrested him.

22 IMPRISONED
by H. Jean Wright / Little light filters through the window in the “hole,” but God’s hope lights up the place.

4   ELEVATION
by Phillip McGuire Wesley / Media That Takes You Higher

5   GUEST EDITORIAL
by R. Clifford Jones / Stop the violence

6   EYE ON THE TIMES
by Kingsley Palmer / Christophe Ringer / current news & views

8  OPTIMAL HEALTH
by Donna Green Goodman / Save Some for Later

12  RELATIONSHIP Rx
by Willie and Elaine Oliver / This Marriage is Ruining My Spiritual Life—Can I Get Out?

22  MYTH BUSTERS
by Donald L. McPhaull / To Love Jesus Is to Live Jesus

24  FUTURECAST
by Carlton Byrd / Love Letter #6 Thou Shalt Not Kill

26 THE EXPERIENCE
by Ellen G. White / Blessing the Children

28 THE EXPERIENCE BIBLE STUDY
by Rashad Burden / What About the Children?

30 TWITTERVERSES & FAITHBOTS
by Debra McKinney Cuardo / Moral Wit from the Internet