After reading your past columns on pre-planning and attending a funeral with my husband and nineteen year old son, who lost his best friend to the mean streets of Cleveland, my husband and I did something we thought we’d never do.
Bishop Moultry:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
After reading your past columns on pre-planning and attending a funeral with my husband and nineteen year old son, who lost his best friend to the mean streets of Cleveland, my husband and I did something we thought we’d never do.
Your columns helped make this happen and attending the funeral service where the minister had to ask everyone to assist the boy’s mother, who is single, by putting money in the basket as it was passed around. First, Bishop, I never attended a funeral where money had to be raised. Also, I’ve never seen a coffin so cheap it looked like cardboard covered up with blue cloth. The people attending the funeral, made up of “thugs,” and young people didn’t give much money but they made a lot of noise with cell phones going off, talking during the service, and walking around even when the minister was trying to preach.
Many of the young girls attending the service looked like they were dressed for the night club or dressed to go swimming at the beach. Our young people are in deep trouble to say the least and I know we as parents have a lot to do with it.
Bishop, after the service, my husband and I talked to our son about why his friend was killed and how it affected him. Bishop, I’m a registered nurse, his father is a police officer so my son knows better and been taught better but he made it as you always say, “cut-throat” clear that he was not going to get out of the gang he’s in and he also told us that he’ll continue to do his thing. His dad wanted to jump on him and knock him out when he said this but instead we did something better.
We took him to a funeral home and pre-planned all of his arrangements. I cried during the visit but my husband was tough, even trying to make him get in the coffin to see if he could fit in. My son saw us put down the first payment installment.
Bishop, since that experience, he’s not only been quiet and thinking but he’s back in school working on getting his G.E.D. He attended church twice with us and we didn’t even have to make him go with us as we usually do.
Now, instead of hanging with his “boys,” he’s just spending time at home with his girlfriend when she comes and visits and watch different movies with us. Bishop, my husband and I just want you to know that you are making a difference in the lives of many people.
Signed,
You Made a Difference
Dear You Made a Difference:
I hope every parent read this letter from you and be lead to give a wake up call to our precious youth who are dying to the mean streets. I don’t know if your approach will work for other parents but I see it didn’t hurt. Amen!
Bishop:
I’m fifty-three years old with four children, a lot of bills not including food and clothes to buy for the children and a deadbeat father. How can one even began to think about pre-planning needs for death when one can’t even preplan to live? As you’ve said, “I’m just keeping it real” with you.
I have health issues including heart problems and high blood pressure but, as far as I’m concerned, if I died tomorrow, they can just burn me.
No disrespect just making myself “cut-throat” clear as you’ve said in many of your columns.
Signed
GET REAL
Dear GET REAL:
Let me ‘get real’ with you and tell you that it even cost to burn your (oops) see, you trying to take me there and it even cost to even put your butt a container. HELLO! Pray for me, Pray for me!
Next, do you love your children? If so and already you have said you have health issues, what will happen to them if you died today? What kind of situation do you leave them in? HELLO!
You seem a little angry in regards to your situation at hand but you’re not thinking. Even with your pre-health conditions if you started a life insurance policy, right now with as little as $40.00 a month in payments and if you lasted at least two years alive, that policy will kick in and you’ve covered your children with something! YOU GET REAL! HELLO!
The policy is not about you but, in reality, looking out for your love ones being your children once you’re gone. They should not even have to worry about how they going to get money together for your ashes. Just call me at the church and let me assist you with an individual who can help you in this area. “You stuck on stupid and parked on dumb”. Let me help you for the sake of your children! Ooowee! You took me there! I have to pray more!
You can e-mail the bishop at bishopspeaks@aol.com or write him at the church, 969 E. 140th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44110. Stop by the church each Sunday 11 a.m. for the praise service or call the church (216) 761-7100. The church located directly across from the Job Corps Campus. Visit bishop on Facebook under Bishop Prince J. Moultry or the In Touch for Christ Christian Center or the church website at www.intouchforchrist.com.
