Now

 

Jesus is an abolitionist.

He ascended and left the gift of His Spirt to reside with us. An abolitionist Spirit.

The Bible tells us that the meek shall inherit the Earth. And for millennia we have been praying “on Earth, as it is in Heaven”. 

Today, we steward the Earth in alignment with the directive to transform Earth to resemble Heaven. We bear the image and likeness of the Trinity as we sojourn. 

The Spirit of Jesus is abolition.

The abolitionist movement to end slavery in the United States spanned 100 years. A century. The critical year of 2020 started the clock in our generation to begin the work of abolishing human trafficking and its cousin the criminal “justice” system. 

A century's work experiences ebbs and flows, and demands commitment.

We are abolitionists. 

This nation’s movements are led by the Spirit of Jesus. Quakers led Abolitionism. The Civil Rights Movement had its prophets and apostles. Today’s ekklesia must show up in this next reform. 

Years ago, I awoke from a dream with three imprints: “Martial Law”, “Reconstruction”, and “Repurposing”. I am not an ecclesiastical scholar but I believe that the current call for spiritual revival is a harken to a new reformation period. 

We are experiencing martial law in the natural today. If it is to be, then we must lead. My plan - informed by my ancestry and heritage - is to turn my bluetooth speaker on LOUD, and with tambourine in hand, walk the streets accompanied by the music of traditional mass choirs. I will penetrate the atmosphere of my city with (the) GOSPEL.

Bold Woman

 Good Girl Bold Woman.

My voice is a riot. I disturb the status quo with bold expressions meant to interrupt complacency. 

Jesus modeled deconstruction of the old way of living and relating to God. His challenge to us was to put away performance and live from God's love. And God's love enables my courage.

My team went out and met a new partner organization, Girls, Inc. Moved by their mission - because I too was a girl who obtained access to resources through community-based programs - I connected them to my workplace. That one meeting grew into fundraising support, senior leadership recognition, event sponsorship, and more. One instance of advocacy, blossomed.

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Speaking of his wife, Graham Cooke shared, "I would do anything and everything to accelerate and elevate who she is because she is my beloved." His modeling of the way Christ loves the ekklesia has sparked my own reflection. Am I exhibiting love to my beloved - whether person or community - through acceleration and elevation of who they are?

Revelatory Truth for Activation

My faith confronts my biases, evidence of its activation.

I told my coworker about my family. "My mom and sisters are in North Carolina," I recounted. "My mom is also raising my young cousin." I could tell that my last remark piqued intrigue. I explained, "Her parents live with addiction. They just couldn't get it together."

As soon as the words left my mouth, they choked my consciousness. 

Despite my immersion in service to those who are traditionally underserved, I was confronted by the truth that I believe individuals living with addiction lack the willpower (strength) to order their lives. My academic training and work experience have taught me that addiction is a disease - in importance and requirements for care like cancer, diabetes, and the like. And even still, I harbored a deep belief about how it worked - and this belief was likely influencing my decision-making whenever I had to be adjacent to addiction in any form. 

I repented.

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I awoke in the middle of the night and couldn't return to sleep. At 4:30am, my doorbell rang. Shaken,  I checked the security camera. A woman under the influence of something jiggled our door's lock, rang the bell, and waved at the camera when it lit up. For the next two days, I couldn't sleep. I prayed that God would free me from the fear that something far more sinister would happen to my family in the coming days. 

Finally, revelation. I heard God say, "She was never a threat to you. She rang your doorbell for help." I knew then that I was to exact authority. I prayed - better yet, commanded - that she would be arrested by the Holy Spirit during her incarceration. I prayed that she would be freed from addiction. I prayed that she would be reconciled to her family. I felt a deep release after my prayer. 

I've slept well every night since.

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We spoke with my cousin's mother recently. She's doing well - appearing to have settled into life free from addiction. We pray for reconciliation and restoration. 

I pray for my heart to receive more truth, and for my faith to be thrust into action for improving how we exemplify the Spirit of Jesus in our work, relationships, and stewardship of the world we curate.