For the Mayor and City Council:

One thing is for sure. We as a people have lost our focus. We have taken our eyes off of the prize – Jesus Christ. It is about God. It is about pleasing God to meet the needs of the people.

There is much disputing among yourselves. How can you solve the problems of the community? It is obvious that you have personal issues which are erupting in your everyday work ethics. You must tear down those walls around yourselves, then will you be able to help one another and the people around you.

If you are bickering all the time, then you cannot hear one another and there is no solution to the problem One thing is for sure. The world has lost its focus. We have taken God out of everything that could be imagined. We have exalted man higher than God and have not humbled ourselves. We do not respect God who is in authority or those who have authority given by God.

A change has got to come. Power should not be abused in any kind of form, fashion or way. The needs of the people vs. community needs to be emphasized. One thing is for sure. We have lost our focus.

God is not a respecter of persons. Some things should be kept behind the scenes. Some things are better left unsaid. We have oppressed one another for way too long. It is time for a change.

When will the needs of the people be met? When will someone stand up for the right? How long will we give up the right for the wrong? When, oh when, will we come to our senses?

What we should be saying is “Let’s put prayer back into the schools. Let’s put the Ten Commandments back where they belong. We should help one another instead of labeling, stereotyping, and being prejudiced towards each other.

One thing is for sure. We have lost our focus. When will we be the people God has called us to be? When will the cries of the people be heard? When will the cries of the children be heard? They are screaming out for help but no one is listening. When will we stand for something and stop falling for anything? When will we address the real issues?

I am so sick of hearing about black and white. The problem lies within not transforming ourselves by the renewing of our minds daily. This is about meeting the needs of God’s people. We need jobs, shopping centers, a Wal-Mart, youth center, a recreation center. We need a technical school. It makes no sense that we have to travel 40 and 50 miles out of Washington. One thing is for sure. We have lost our focus.

We need to open our eyes to the suffering of our people because we refuse to change our mindset and let go of traditions passed down from generation to generation. God is calling for one nation. If we want this town to be prosperous then we need to cultivate seeds of love. It takes something small to grow into something great. Let us make our own community beautiful with love, patience, kindness, compassion, peace, joy, and humility. Let us volunteer to do our own landscaping and change up the sceneries. Let’s move forward to the present. Let the past stay in the past and leave it there. We have been in darkness too long. It is time to move forward and bring fruit to this barren land.

God is pleased when we dwell in unity and “love thy neighbor as thyself.” I was so disappointed in the broadcast of the council meeting. It showed a lack of respect, communication, and professionalism. There comes a time when childish things need to be put away. Deal with the needs of the people. Be honest and diligent in everything you do. Truth will speak for itself.

We should look at the Haitians how they lost everything from loved ones, homes, jobs, and so much more. People from all over different ethnics come together in perfect agreement. Here we are in this small town and can’t agree over the small issues.

We have lost our focus. Let us put God back where he belongs. God is listening and he is watching. Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that ask or think according to the power that worketh on us. God is able.”

Benita Bianca Jenkins