Fayetteville, N.C. – For the second week in a row a Piedmont College men’s basketball player has been honored by the USA South as the Rookie of the Week as Marquise Lanier took home the honor for the first time. Lanier averaged over 15 points and 3 rebounds per game during the Lions’ perfect 2-0 week in conference.
In the Lions’ first game of the week on Friday against Greensboro, Lanier was the star of the show as he had a career best night knocking down a team-high 19 points in just 21 minutes of playing time off the bench. Ten of those points came from the charity stripe where he hit 66% including going to the line four times in the final 1:31 of the game.
Against Methodist, Lanier again was a solid threat at the line as he was 8-of-12 on free throws for a total of 12 points against the Monarchs. Lanier also had five rebounds and one of the Lions’ five steals in the game in his 22 minutes.
The freshman guard from Grayson, Georgia is the only rookie that has seen action in all 14 games this season. Lanier has not made any starts during his career but has played over 15 minutes six times this season.
This is the first time Lanier has earned an honor from the USA South and becomes the second player on the Lions’ men’s basketball team to be honored this season for Piedmont. Justin Vallejo earned Rookie and Player of the Week last week and Rookie of the Week earlier in the season.
The Lions will be back in action Friday night on the road at Ferrum College with tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Ferrum is currently 1-4 in the league and 6-10 overall while the Lions sit at 3-1 and 8-6 overall which is good for second in the conference standings.
Memorial services for Lois Helsel Cox, age 77 of Clarkesville will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM from the Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Demorest, GA – After winning three-straight with impressive second-half performances, the Piedmont College men’s basketball team had to survive a second-half comeback by the Monarchs of Methodist University to hold on for an 82-79 victory. The Lions have now won four straight, all inside Cave Arena, by an average of less than four points.
Chris Meeks was the star of the show for the Lions as he posted his second double-double of the year with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Sunday marked Meeks’ third start of the season but he has seen action in all but two games so far. Meeks currently leads the USA South in field goal percentage as he is hitting 57.4% of his shots.
The Lions began the game leading by as many as 8 in the first 5:00 of play. Midway through the first half both teams went scoreless for nearly 2:30 minutes before Landry Assinesi hit a jumper to spark a 12-3 run by the Lions.
Marquise Lanier hit the old-fashioned 3-point play with the bucket and the free throw to put Piedmont up by 19 with 3:42 to go in the first half. Lanier was coming off a stand-out performance in the Lions victory Friday against Greensboro after scoring 19 points in 21 minutes of play against the Pride.
The Lions were then outscored 13-2 heading into halftime cutting their lead to eight at the break and Methodist scored eight straight to open the second half erasing Piedmont’s lead and tying the game at 38. Chase England put the Lions back on top with a 3-pointer and Meeks followed that up with a layup to put Piedmont back on top by five.
The Monarchs made a run of their own and took their first and only lead of the game 44-43 at the 14:19 mark off a free throw by Tabias Hilliard, the leading scorer in the game, who had 23 for the Monarchs.
From that point on, these teams battled back-and-forth but Piedmont maintained the lead throughout, though it never increased to more than a 7-point game. In the final minutes of play it was all about the Lions at the line as Piedmont was 11-of-14 during the final four minutes of play with Trey Winders hitting a perfect 4-of-4 all within the final 20 seconds of play to help seal the victory.
Four players ended the game in double figures for the Lions including Meeks and England from the starting lineup while Trae Gaines and Lanier came off the bench to score 13 and 12 respectively. Lanier who was instrumental at the line against Greensboro again proved his worth from the charity stripe hitting 8-of-12.
With the win the Lions’ record moves to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in the USA South, currently the second-best league record behind Averett University who is 4-1. Piedmont is 6-1 to start the season at home which matches the program’s best start inside Cave Arena during the NCAA era.
Piedmont will return to the court on Friday on the road against Ferrum with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Panthers are currently last in the league with a 1-4 record in the USA South with their lone win coming in their last outing against Huntingdon College.
Today’s guest columnist is Dr. Eric Spivey, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cornelia.
I’ve been thinking about Genesis 18 since First Baptist Cornelia opened our doors for the first Cold Weather Shelter of the season. In this passage “the Lord appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre.” The Lord does not come in the form of a burning bush ablaze on the hill or as a cloud over the tabernacle. The Lord comes as three strangers at the entrance to Abraham’s tent.
Amy Oden, professor of early church history and spirituality at St. Paul School of Theology in Oklahoma City, says this text was quoted by early Christian leaders more frequently than any other text (including the Gospel passages) during the first 500 years of the church. This passage creates a paradigm for us to understand the marks of Gospel hospitality. These marks, like the white blazes on the Application Trail, indicate when we are on the right path to Gospel hospitality.
I’ve thought of these marks often lately during our experience of Gospel hospitality at the Cold Weather Shelter.
Readiness
Oden says readiness involves “intentionality and willingness to accept the difficultly of showing hospitality.” As our volunteers scrambled on Wednesday to prepare our facilities for our guests – I realized the importance of readiness. Our Red Cross shelter training came in handy as we prepared cots, registrations, food, and games. The intentionality made the shelter run smoother and with less stress than last year.
Risk
There will always be risk in hospitality because we are welcoming strangers. These strangers can “disrupt our lives and make us feel uncomfortable.” This is especially true when we welcome our shelter guests. These guests usually come to us in a frustrated place in their lives. They really don’t want to have to be here. Yet, as we show them grace and hospitality, we trust in God’s spirit to move in their lives. Without exception we have seen this make a difference in their lives.
Repentance
One of the great transformations that happens when we practice Gospel hospitality is not within our guests, but in our own lives. We are changed as we minister to the stranger who is different from us. I’ve seen this happen in me each time we open our doors to the strangers among us – cold weather shelter guests, Camp Agape campers, and even new members within our fellowship. As we listen to their stories, God’s grace grows within us.
Recognition
Finally, as we practice Gospel hospitality, we begin to recognize Jesus among us. I wonder how long it took Abraham and Sarah to realize these three strangers at the door to their tent were more than just traveling salesmen? As we welcome the stranger among us, we slowly begin to see Jesus. Not out there, but here among us. What a tragedy it would have been if we would have turned him away.
There are many opportunities to practice Gospel hospitality – from our homes to our church to our Sunday school classes to our fellowship hall. I hope that you will join me as we seek to love the world as God loves us – one stranger at a time.
The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson, is an excellent book about prayer. It has changed the way I approach prayer, specifically persevering in prayer. About a year ago, the church where I was serving as Youth Minister before moving to Clarkesville decided to go through the book as a congregation. How neat it was to see everyone, adults, youth, and children, studying and applying the same curriculum at the same time! Within the month, our church experienced powerful testimonies, extravagant giving, and faithful stewardship beyond what we could have imagined. To God be the glory for what He did in our church!
The story of Jericho, below, is, as the author puts it, the backdrop for the book.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of theLordand blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of theLord, while the trumpets kept sounding.14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For theLordhas given you the city!
This story is one of deliverance, provision, and fulfillment. The Lord made a promise to the Israelites that Jericho would be theirs, and the Lord fulfilled His promise when with shouts of praise, the walls fell and the Israelites took the city.
After finishing the book, our youth group continued to be challenged by the story of Jericho and the persistence of the Israelites. One Sunday night before youth group started, a group of our students and leaders literally prayed circles around our youth building, praying through the promises, hopes, and goals that the Lord put on our hearts for our Youth Group and our Church. Following the example of the Israelites, we walked 7 laps around the building praying silently during the first 6 laps before proclaiming our prayers loudly to God on the 7th lap. Thankfully, unlike the Bible story, our building did not fall down, but we did experience incredible breakthrough. Throughout the 2013-2014 year, our youth group experienced unbelievable growth and we saw fulfillment of prayers we had prayed years prior. Looking back, this continues to be a highlight from my years at that church, not because it was a cool experience, although it was, but because God blessed our group for His glory and for His purposes.
Our God is faithful and He fulfills His promises to us. Sometimes fulfillment comes in unexpected forms, but ultimately, our God does not forget nor forsake the promises he has made to us. Let us be encouraged to pray boldly and to persevere in prayer. Let us commit to praying for others and for those who lead Habersham County, our state, and our nation. Our prayers are powerful and when we commit to being Circle Makers, or those who pray fervently and with persevere, fulfillment comes. As Batterson says, “With each circle, their stride grew longer and stronger. With each circle, a holy confidence was building pressure inside their souls…If you keep circling the promise, God will ultimately deliver on it.” Let us partner with God as we pray His plans, His purposes and His will be done.
Garcia-Flores watches as shelter volunteers play checkers at First Baptist Church of Cornelia on Jan.9, 2015.
Alleged murderer Jose Garcia-Flores, third from left, watches as volunteers play checkers inside the cold weather shelter at First Baptist Church of Cornelia on Friday, January 9.
Jose Garcia-Flores
While working on a story about the cold weather shelter at First Baptist Church of Cornelia I encountered a young man in the church fellowship hall. Interested to find out what had led him to the shelter, I approached and asked if I could interview him. He cordially agreed. I pulled up a chair and sat down beside him.
He told me his name was Jadon Garcia. He said he was 28 and from Queens, New York. That part of his story rang true; there was no denying his thick New York accent. The rest of his story seemed odd, but plausible. He said he was traveling by Greyhound bus from New York to Marietta on his way to visit some friends. “Well, I was on my way to Marietta and I got off on the wrong exit and I got lost down in Toccoa somewhere,” he explained. He said he first looked for a phone, then a shelter. “I went goin’ through looking for churches and they were already closed.” So, he said he began walking. “I finally got to a liquor store and I asked them if they knew of a shelter around here somewhere and they called the police and a police officer came and picked me up and they brought me over here.”
He arrived at the shelter on Thursday, January 8. I interviewed him the following night.
Jose Garcia-Flores watches the news in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church of Cornelia. He stayed at the church’s cold weather shelter from Jan. 8 – Jan. 10.
The interview was brief. He never flinched or veered from his story. Although it didn’t quite add up, I didn’t press. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. I asked what he planned to do when the shelter closed Saturday. “Right now I’m gonna go to Marietta and from there gonna go back to New York.” I asked if he had a ride. “I’m looking for a way to get there right now,” he said, “that’s why I’m here ‘til I find a way.” I asked, “Do your friends know you’re here?” He replied, “Well, they don’t know that I’m here but they knew I was on my way. I lost my phone and everything and I don’t know their numbers by heart or nothin’ like that, so…,” his voice trailed off as he spoke.
We wrapped up the interview and I thanked him for his time. I reached out my hand to shake his. The fingers on his right hand were folded over his palm. I asked if he was okay. He mumbled something I couldn’t understand. He offered me his closed hand and I clasped it. We smiled at each other then I walked away, leaving him alone to watch the news on TV.
The events of that night replayed in my head later as my eyes shot back to the headline on my computer screen, “Police arrest man for grisly murder at Gainesville motel.” It was him! The man staring back at me from the computer screen was the man I knew as Jadon Garcia, a man whose real name is Jose Garcia-Flores, a man now charged with murder.
Gruesome crime scene
Murder victim Harmon Lavender was found dead in his hotel room at the Sun Suites Hotel on Jesse Jewell Pkwy. in Gainesville on Jan. 10. Police say he and the suspect Jose Garcia-Flores knew each other.
The description of the crime said it was brutal. The victim, 52-year old Harmon Lavender of Augusta, was stabbed multiple times. A maintenance worker at the Sun Suites Hotel in Gainesville discovered his body on Saturday, January 10, around 2pm. The crime shocked veteran law officers. Gainesville Police Corporal Kevin Holbrook told reporters, “I will say that this was a very violent, vicious, brutal death. This was one of the most gruesome crime scenes that we at the Gainesville Police Department and veteran members of the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) have investigated in our careers.”
I read Holbrook’s statement over and over. Brutal. Violent. Vicious. Death. The image of the scene Holbrook described and that of the quiet man sitting alone in the back of the fellowship hall were like Garcia-Flores’ story, they didn’t match up. One image was of pure evil, the other, sheer benevolence.
He asked for help and received it
The quiet man from New York told volunteers at the shelter the same story he told me. He told them his name was Jadon Garcia. He said he walked from Toccoa to Mt. Airy. He said he fell along the way and lost his cellphone and wallet. He explained that’s how he injured his right hand. Cornelia Police picked him up at the liquor store in Mt. Airy and drove him to the shelter. When he arrived volunteers administered first aid.
The shelter closed two days later on January 10 and volunteers helped guests get to their next destination. Garcia-Flores told them he wanted to return to New York. The pastor of First Baptist Church of Cornelia Dr. Eric Spivey says volunteers pitched in the money to buy him a ticket and a couple from the church drove him to the bus station in Gainesville. That’s where they left him. It was the last anyone in Habersham saw of him until his picture appeared in the news the next day.
Police said they were looking for him because he was a known associate of Lavender’s and was missing. They said they were concerned for his safety. Garcia-Flores’ picture made the rounds on social media and a shelter volunteer recognized him. They contacted church administrators and, since then, the church has been cooperating with investigators.
Garcia-Flores was arrested in New York a few days later and was extradited to Gainesville on January 14. He’s now in the Hall County jail charged with probation and parole violations and one count of malice murder. Police say more charges may be filed.
Disturbed but undaunted
Shelter volunteers and guests ‘puzzled’ over a puzzle in the church fellowship hall as Garcia-Flores quietly watched TV.
The realization there was an alleged killer in our midst is disturbing. It rattled the nerves of everyone who met him. Spivey says shelter volunteers were shocked and surprised.
“It’s traumatizing,” he says. “It surprised everyone who knew him. That’s why we’re working to care for our volunteers.” He says they’ve all shared their stories and have spent time in prayer. “We’ve given our volunteers opportunities to debrief, pray, and talk about how we can get better.”
The church congregation was told.
“At the end of the service today I told them what happened,” Spivey says. “We talked about what it means to be church. Our mission is to love the world as God loves us. Love is not always a sentimental love but it’s a difficult love. It’s not always easy and it’s not without risk.” He continues, “To be people of God in the world can be risky. You don’t have to be away on a mission field. You can be right in your hometown and you face risk.”
Spivey says the church is now discussing ways to mitigate those risks in the future. “The probability that this happened is so incredibly minute, but it did, so we have to build better procedures to make it safer.”
Garcia-Flores sits in the background. The church fellowship hall was the social gathering place at the shelter.
While the incident raises the question of safety, Spivey says he’s convinced the church did everything it could to protect volunteers and shelter guests. “I think everything we did, we did right – from the time before they showed up, to the time that they left, to cooperating with investigators.”
Spivey says his church congregation is disturbed but undaunted. Shelter volunteers and church members have expressed their support for continuing FBC’s shelter ministry.
“…rather than making us people of fear, it makes us people of faith.” ~ Dr. Eric Spivey, FBC Cornelia
“One of the things that I think we all are really aware of is that it has changed us, but rather than making us people of fear, it makes us people of faith,” Spivey says resolutely. “We are aware that in those 48 hours this gentleman was with us he was in a sanctuary. He experienced the love of God. We listened to him, we loved him, we provided for him, so, we continue to pray for this gentleman, for his salvation, for his life, for God to move in his life. I believe God’s love is big enough to do things even in his life.”
Looking back. Moving forward.
As he reflects on recent events Spivey says, “There is an inherent risk in all that we do.” Despite those risks, First Baptist Church of Cornelia is moving forward. “We’re going to keep going,” Spivey says. “We’ll be ready for the next cold air that comes down. We’ll be preparing for that. We’ll implement some additional safety procedures and we will be ready.” He adds, “I’m very proud of our church for the steps we take to care for those that are disenfranchised, for those that are marginalized. The Gospel fully expresses sharing Christ’s love with everyone, from the highest part of society to the lowest.”
Pastor Spivey says the recent brush with an alleged killer won’t change that.
“I think it just shows us that we are committed to love the world as God loves us. That’s not always easy, but with good preparation and good faithful hearts we can venture out to do that here in our community and around the world.”
The suspect charged with murdering a man at the Sun Suites Hotel in Gainesville, Georgia, earlier this month spent two nights in a shelter at First Baptist Church of Cornelia. 29-year old Jose Garcia-Flores registered at the church’s cold weather shelter on January 8, two days before the crime was discovered.
Garcia-Flores is charged with malice murder in the stabbing death of 52-year old Harmon Lavender of Augusta. A maintenance worker found Lavender’s body in a room at the hotel on Jesse Jewell Parkway on January 10. Police say an autopsy revealed Lavender died of multiple stab wounds. Authorities have not said when they believe the murder occurred.
Police released a photo of Garcia-Flores on Sunday, June 11, identifying him as a missing person.
“Initially, we were concerned with Garcia-Flores’ welfare, his safety and well-being. Once it was determined that he was safe, and through the course of the investigation, it was revealed that he was our primary suspect,” Gainesville Police Department spokesman Corporal Kevin Holbrook says.
Murder victim Harmon Lavender was found dead in his hotel room at the Sun Suites Hotel on Jesse Jewell Pkwy. in Gainesville on Jan. 10. Police say he and the suspect Jose Garcia-Flores knew each other.
Authorities say Garcia-Flores was born in Mexico but had lived in Gainesville for a number of years. They have not yet released a motive for the murder. They say the victim and suspect knew each other.
“It was a vicious, brutal attack,” Holbrook says. “Gruesome to say the least.”
Garcia-Flores was arrested in New York and returned to Georgia by US Marshals. He was booked into the Hall County Jail around 11 pm Wednesday, January 14 on a parole violation and probation warrant from Superior Court. Jail officials say the malice murder charge was added soon after.
Police say the investigation continues and more charges may be filed.
Demorest, GA – The Piedmont College women’s basketball team held on for an 87-80 win over visiting Greensboro College earlier tonight with inspired play from more than one Lady Lion as the Green and Gold (12-1 overall) are still undefeated in USA South play (5-0).
The 12-1 record is now tied for the best 13-game start by the Lady Lions in the NCAA Era along with the 2011-12 team who won the first 12 games of the season before falling in the 13th. Piedmont is riding a 7-game winning streak with an average margin of victory better than 15 points during this current stretch.
MARY KATE RUSHTON led all scorers with her 20 points hitting on five of nine tries from distance, 9-of-17 overall. For Rushton, the 20-point performance is the third time this season the junior has scored at least that many.
Turning in a double-double was JULIANNE BAYER who had 17 points and 11 boards, six rebounds in the first half alone. Bayer was a perfect 6-for-6 in the first half with many of her buckets helping to keep the Pride at bay as Piedmont led by 18 at the half.
LE’SHAUNDA JONES was the third and final Lady Lion in double figures with her 17 points, ten of those coming at the charity stripe.
The Lady Lions held a ten-point (28-18) lead at the midway point of a first half dominated by the Green and Gold who scored 50-plus in a half for the second straight time after dropping 56 against the Scotties of Agnes Scott in the second half of a win in Cave Arena Tuesday night.
The post presence of Greensboro’s Tiffani Stephens looked like it may changed the flow of the opening period as the 6’4 center for the Pride rejected a CARLY SALES layup and forced Piedmont to think about each drive into the lane. However, well aware of the shot-blocking ability of Stephens, Piedmont lit up the scoreboard from distance to combat the move connecting on eight three point field goals in the first half to open up nearly a 20-point lead at the break, 54-36.
Piedmont shot just under 40% for the contest, but free throw troubles did plague the Lady Lions again as they hit on less than half of their 39 tries at the line, a factor that allowed Greensboro to stay in the contest in the second half. The Pride used a 10-3 run over the first five minutes of the 2nd half to cut the lead to 11 (57-46) though a Rushton 3-pointer helped slow the visitors at the 14:28 mark.
Moments later, a CARLY SALES layup pushed the lead back up to 16 as the Lady Lions fought to keep the advantage in double digits. However, with Stephens checking back in at the midway point and another monstrous block by the Greensboro post player, the Pride started to dig in to make another run cutting the lead down to nine on a layup from none other than Stephens with nine to play.
Another Stephens lay-in and a three from Alexis Hite trimmed the margin down to four with 7:17 remaining, the closest the visitors had been to PC since 11:51 remained in the first. The two remained close for the next few minutes with the two trading baskets until another Greensboro three cut the lead to one at 72-71 and just under six to go.
With the lead hanging in the balance, Piedmont was able to stay in front using the energy of a raucous Cave Crazies section with the Lady Lions picking up the effort on the defensive end to shut down the Pride. Greensboro was held to just two points over the next three minutes by the Piedmont defense while the Lady Lions cranked out ten of their own, capped by a fast break lay-up from BRIANNA BARRETT.
Back up by seven with just under two minutes remaining, Piedmont again clamped down defensively with LE’SHAUNDA JONES giving the Pride a taste of its own medicine as she rejected a Greensboro shot on a key possession to give her team the ball back and help the Lady Lions hold on for yet another USA South win.
Piedmont is now 17-5 in their last 22 USA South games dating back to its debut season in the league in 2012-13. The win also moves PC to 12-1 overall and the Lady Lions are 5-0 in conference play, good enough for 1st place in the South Division of the USA South.
Piedmont will not have long to rest as the Lady Lions play host to USA South member Methodist University on Sunday afternoon for a 3:00 pm game in Cave Arena. Coverage can be found with live video and live stats on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network. WCON Radio will not air the game on its FM or AM frequencies due to previously scheduled programming, but online audio will be still be available with links found at Piedmont Lions.com.
Pictured are members of the Piedmont College Debate Team, front from left, Hannah Thomas, Thomas Looney, Augusta Gailey, and Rusty Crumley; back: Dr. Janice Moss, Sarah Smagur, and Sam Thomas. Not pictured is Josh McGowan.
Demorest, GA – Arguments and counter-arguments will be flying at Piedmont College in Demorest as the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association (GPDA) State Tournament gets underway Feb. 13-14.
Piedmont is hosting this year’s tournament, which is expected to attract up to a dozen colleges and universities from across the state.
Dr. Janice Moss, who coaches the debate team at Piedmont and is this year’s president of the GPDA, said the tournament will draw some 125 competitors to Habersham for the weekend. The tournament, for both novice and varsity divisions, will be held at Piedmont’s Swanson Center for Performing Arts and Communications and other locations across the campus.
The Piedmont debate team will be participating in both divisions. The team includes co-president Sam Thomas of Jefferson, co-president Sarah Smagur of Clarkesville, Augusta Gailey of Gainesville, Hannah Thomas of Jefferson, Rusty Crumley of Demorest, Thomas Looney of Demorest, and Josh McGowan of Baldwin.
Moss said Parliamentary Debate tournaments involve teams representing the “Government” and one representing the “Opposition.” Students are given a list of topic areas ahead of time but only learn the specific topic 15 minutes before the round begins. They can then search online for information about that topic, but are not allowed to bring copies with them into the match.
Topics range from a variety of policy and value subjects, Moss said. In past tournaments, students have argued the merits of reforming the national political campaign process, privatizing pension programs, and increasing consumer protections. Winners of the state tournament can attend the National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament to be held in Kansas City, Kansas.
The public is invited to attend and watch the debates, and more information is available at www.piedmont.edu/ GPDA-tourney.
