Mission Moment 11.20.24

Angel F. Lee 
Chaplain, Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC

My ultimate desire for my life is peace. I used to understand peace as the absence of conflict and people pleasing. As a Black woman in America, I have learned that there is no peace without conflict. I continue to see people who look like me being killed and treated unjustly. I constantly face microaggressions and oppression in the spaces that I occupy. Choosing not to address injustice fills my being with hopelessness, as it feels that there is no end to injustice. My former understanding of peace is what the dominant culture wants me to believe so that the status quo will remain. Yet, it was leading me to a slow death, and I felt it in my spirit. 

What has saved my life is an understanding of holy peace. Jesus says to his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Understanding Jesus as a radical prophet who taught and exhibited God’s love for all creation, contrary to the dominant culture, helped me to understand holy peace. 

I get to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in my work as a chaplain educator. I teach clergy to connect with divine wisdom and to care with love and compassion. I advocate for those who are experiencing injustice within the hospital and the community. I love my students and patients with the love of God. True peace comes by acknowledging and combating “the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) with the love and power of God. 

My classroom is a brave space for clergy to identify such forces and process how to address them with divine love. What brings me the most joy is witnessing the transformation in my students’ pastoral care, preaching and leadership due to my radical love and teachings. To know that God uses me to advance peace IS saving my life right now. 

Writing also saves my life; for I hear the voice of God when I write. I wrote the poem below several years ago. This piece was healing then and continues to heal me when my spirit is affected by the evil and hate in this world. May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding rest in your heart.


Pray, Practice, Ponder
Read the poem below slowly, meditatively, as a form of prayer. 

Woman of Confidence
I look in the mirror and see a woman of worth.
She is so blessed that her cup constantly overflows with riches.
So, she gives her time, wisdom, care and materials so that others can know their worth.
I look in the mirror and see a woman of love.
She is so blessed that she is surrounded by caring communities.
So, she smiles and basks in the glory of her natural and spiritual family.
I look in the mirror and see a woman of strength.
She is so blessed that God sends angels to protect her on all sides.
So, she walks confidently everywhere she goes, knowing that she is God’s anointed.
I look in the mirror and see me. 

Pray. . .Give. . .Go.

Mission Moment 11.13.24

Carson and Laura Foushee
CBF Field Personnel, Kanazawa, Japan

Nestled between the Japan Alps and the Sea of Japan in Central Japan lies the city of Kanazawa. Though traditional sites and cultural activities as well as delicious seafood are a few of the reasons I love my city, what saves my life is time spent along the Saigawa (Sai River).    

Snowmelt from the mountains runs down into the Sai River and is carried out to sea. Flowing through the middle of the city and located just under half a mile from our family’s home, the river features greenways on either side that go for miles. These provide space for exercise, communal gatherings and appreciation of the beauty of nature that surrounds us.  

Podcasts escort me on runs as I look up at the snowy peaks, take in the clear water and search for herons, whom I affectionally call my “bird friends,” hunting for supper. I pass youth heading home from school on bicycles, couples chatting on steps leading to the water and groups of seniors playing ground golf on the floodplains.

Public parks dot the greenways and offer places for families and friends to gather. My family and I often spend weekends, our children climbing on playground equipment, pretending to fish with sticks in a tadpole pond and playing tag with school friends and their families. 

Each season brings new beauty and opportunities for adventure along the Sai River. Picnics under puffy white blossoms on cherry trees in spring offer chances to deepen relationships with old friends and to make new ones. Unobstructed views of firework shows in the city and in towns in the distance light up summer evenings. Bright yellow, orange and red leaves burst forth in the trees along the banks to announce the arrival of fall. In winter, small hills and open spaces create pleasant sledding spots for all ages.

While all of this leads me to join the earth in shouts of joy to the Lord, it is the unpredictable nature of these trips that make me appreciate life along the Sai River even more. Due to its location on the west side of the mountains, coupled with unique weather patterns that come across the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is one of the rainiest extratropical cities in the world. Wet and heavy snowfalls are also a winter reality and often force me to stay indoors. Weeks sometimes go by before I find myself on the river once again.

But I know that when I return, the river, in all its beauty and opportunity, will be waiting. And this continues to give me life. 

Pray, Practice, Ponder
Take a walk in a natural space today. Observe the life and beauty that abounds. Join the earth in praising our Creator God who has and continues to make all things new. 

Pray. . .Give. . .Go.

A Way You Can Help

The relief needs are changing daily. The immediate needs at this time are: generators, heaters, basement dehumidifiers, Visa cards, cash, and prayers. We do not need any more clothing or cleaning supplies donated for the time being.

That said, there are so many great ways to help our WNC neighbors in need. May I offer what I heard folks saying they needed to better serve hard hit areas like Mitchell and Yancey Counties? HEAT!!! 

They have ample supplies of most other things but REALLY need these on Amazon (but certainly other places, too): heaters, generators, dehumidifiers for basements, and air purifiers. Please consider this as a possible way to honor a family member or loved one for early birthday or Christmas present. 

You can ask that it be shipped to: Helene Recovery Coalition, 2002 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28804. This is the staging warehouse serving WNC counties.  Thank you!

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries requests that we temporarily suspend providing supplies and instead provide monetary donations.  Given the current situation with Hurricane Helene’s suppliers, the needs of clients are changing daily.  A monetary donation will allow them to purchase specifically what is needed at any point in time.  To donate, please drop off a check at 191 Skyland Drive or mail it to PO Box 188, Sylva, NC 28779.  Thank you!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

This week, we had an “Uncle Sam” week. Jay Coward came and spoke to the kids about the importance and process of voting and what is like to hold local office. We had an election of our own to elect an After School president with Ivy Abbey winning the title. We are gearing up for our Christmas program, so we had play practice as well, while the beautiful fall leaves provided a plethora of fun outside! 

Three Ways You Can Help 1st Explorers

  1. Assistant Director Kayla Hartman would love to have some folks from Sylva FBC help with the monthly Bible Q&A Time.  Please see her for more details.

  2. Anyone who would like to share a skill, present a program, read a story, etc., for After School would be most welcome.  Just let Kayla know.

  3. Snacks are always appreciated.  Leave individually wrapped snacks on the cart at the back entrance to the church.  

First Baptist Church of Sylva, 669 West Main Street, Sylva, NC, 28779, United States828-586-2095fbcsylva@gmail.com

First Baptist Church of Sylva

669 West Main Street | Sylva, NC 28779
828-586-2095

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