The Ministry of Motherhood

This edition of Pastor’s Pen was originally posted in the January 2014 edition of Urban Faith Magazine.

Mothering is holy work; And motherhood a sacred journey. In the midst of soiled diapers, sleep deprivation, and shuttling children to their various activities, it may be difficult to embrace the truth that motherhood is ministry.

And He Gave Some to Be Mothers

Motherhood as ministry is not limited to personal spiritual growth. The biblical definition of ministry, as communicated by the Apostle Paul, is rooted in the growth and health of the body of Christ: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13 NKVJ). In his letter to the Corinthian church, the conversation is expanded to highlight the importance of each gift within the body of Christ as necessary to the proper functioning of the body. Within these definitions of ministry is the understanding that each person within the body of Christ has been uniquely gifted that the church would be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ: wholly loving, deeply selfless, and totally reliant upon God. Although the Apostle Paul does not explicitly name mothers in his litany of ministers, what would it mean for the church to take seriously the role of mothers in the growth of the church? Moreover, what would it mean for mothers to take seriously their roles as mothers—even the seemingly mundane aspects of motherhood—in the overall growth and health of the church? In particular, the ministry of mothers to mothers is of utmost importance.

Nobody Told Me the Road Would Be Easy

If we are honest, motherhood is not always an easy journey. It is downright hard some days. This truth rarely gets told. In recent days, this truth unfolded before our eyes on the nightly news. Her name was Miriam Carey. She was a 34 year old African-American woman who was fatally shot by police after a high speed chase from the White House to the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Her story is gripping, not because of the location where her life came to a tragic end, but because she was a young mother a long way from home driving recklessly with her one year old daughter in the car. In the days following the event the new outlets reported that she was suffering from postpartum depression. The diagnoses was changed to postpartum psychosis. Miriam Carey was a young mother suffering after one of the most joyous occasion in a woman’s life. And if the truth is told, Miriam Carey may have been suffering alone, but she was not the only one suffering.

According to the American Psychological Association, Postpartum Depression is “is a serious mental health problem characterized by a prolonged period of emotional disturbance, occurring at a time of major life change and increased responsibilities in the care of a newborn infant.” Postpartum Depression affects between 9 and 16% of women. It is more serious than the “baby blues” which affect most women after the birth of children.

It can be prolonged, lasting up to two years postpartum. It can be emotionally painful. It can be physically paralyzing. Mothers suffering from postpartum depression can identify with the Psalmist, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” (from Psalm 42:5 NIV). While I do not know Miriam Carey’s church affiliation, or if she was a disciple of Christ at all, surely there are new mothers in our churches dressed in their Sunday best while suffering deep within.

Sadly, within the body of Christ, we do not always know how to handle mental illness, including postpartum depression. As Terrie M. Williams, author of Black Plain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting, writes, “Too many of us believe that our pain is a kind of punishment for our flaws, that maybe if we were better people or better Christians we would not be suffering.” This is where the ministry of motherhood is vitally important. When I think about Miriam Carey, I wonder where were the mothers in her life? Where was the community of mothers praying with her? Where was the community of mothers telling their truths about the realities of motherhood?

There are three ways in which mothers can minister to one another during this time: prayer, plain talk, and presence.

First, the ministry of motherhood requires that mothers pray for and with one another. Scripture teaches,“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:17 NIV). Depression of any kind is not a sin, however there is power in praying with another mother. If you are suffering in any aspect of motherhood, tell the truth about your situation to another mother that so that she can pray with you and for you. There is healing in prayer. God inclines His ear to the cries of His children. And while your suffering may not be miraculously relieved through prayer, you will feel God’s presence in the midst of the valley and God will lead and guide you in a direction to get adequate help: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

Second, the ministry of motherhood requires that mothers tell the truth to one another about the realities of motherhood. Many mothers suffer a tremendous amount of guilt and feeling of inadequacy, especially in comparison with other mothers. If women tell the truth about the daily joys and grind of motherhood, perhaps many others would be set free. No one shared with me how difficult breastfeeding would be in the first few weeks of my daughter’s life. I felt alone and inferior because I was having trouble feeding my child. I now share my experiences with other mothers so they know that they are not alone, that they are more than adequate, and that there is hope.

Lastly, the ministry of motherhood requires mothers to be present with and for one another. This can be especially difficult in an age of texting, tweeting, and status updates. Motherhood can be an isolating experience and our society has abandoned the ethic of care that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” As mothers we should connect ourselves with other mothers face to face. This can be through playdates, which minister to mothers as well as to children. It could be a mother’s only date. Many mothers, especially stay-at-home-moms, are thirsting for adult conversation. If there is a mother who is struggling, offer to help her out: grocery shopping, washing dishes, or cooking a meal come to mind. When mothers are present for one another families are strengthened, which help strengthen our churches and communities. This is the heart of ministry.

This subject is deeply personal to me. I am an ordained minister and prior to the birth of our daughter 18 months ago, my husband and I made the decision that I would stay home from my position as an assistant pastor for a time to nurture and care for her. There were moments of intense joy, balanced with moments of insecurity and challenges. The biggest challenge was coming to the understanding that what I was doing was holy work. It was easy to qualify preaching, teaching Bible study, and counseling grieving families as ministry, but I had a difficult time seeing motherhood as ministry. This vocational tension, coupled with shifting hormones, led to a period of postpartum depression. But God sent some mothers into my life who prayed for me, encouraged me, and told me the truth about motherhood. Their witness, alongside the support of my husband, the help of a therapist, exercise and rest ushered me into wellness. And now, not only do I value the ministry of mothers, I engage in the ministry of motherhood, praying with, supporting, and encouraging mothers who need strength for the journey. If you are a mother struggling through the terrain of motherhood, get with some mothers who can encourage you out of their experience. And when possible, encourage another mother in her journey. Motherhood is not a perfect experience, but through it, especially when mothers minister to one another, we are being conformed into the image of a perfect Christ.

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Unashamed Witness - Sharing your Faith

Yesterday, before leaving for school, my Baby Girl, Adjoa, came to me and asked, “Mommy, do you have any Family and Friends Day cards?” With unbridled excitement she went on to exclaim, “I know three people I want to invite to church and I’ll take a few extra cards just in case!” As I grabbed some cards from my purse and handed them to her, the Holy Spirit began to stir within me. Her UNASHAMED witness enlivened me. Here was a nine year old actively looking for opportunities to share her faith and invite her friends to church. As her mother and Pastor, I couldn’t be more proud. But I must admit, as a disciple, I was challenged.

As I reflected on the moment, I heard the Spirit of God say, “Donna, how are you showing up as an UNASHAMED witness for Christ in your daily life?” When I thought about my life beyond Sunday morning in the pulpit and beyond my “official” duties as your Pastor, I was convicted. Sure, I am pleasant and share the love of Jesus with people in tangible and intangible ways, but I had to ask myself, “When was the last time you shared your faith with someone who doesn’t know Christ?”

Theologian Leonard Sweet once wrote, “Don’t preach to the choir. Don’t even preach to the congregation. Preach to the community zip code.” The truth is that while I talk about Jesus all day, I am often preaching to the choir. But since a little child shall lead them, I am inspired to follow Baby Girl’s UNASHAMED example, which is the mandate given by Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:8. First Baptist, I invite you to sit with the question, “How are you showing up as an UNASHAMED witness for Christ in your daily life?” and then be intentional about sharing your faith, not just for Family and Friends Day, but to participate in God’s great work of salvation.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Far Reaching Impact for Jesus Christ

Over the past few installments of the Pastor’s Pen, we’ve been exploring the Church Vision of being Disciples with Dimension, what it means, how it manifests itself, and the impact it will have on individual disciples and the congregation. We’ve talked about Going Higher in Worship, Going Deeper in Study, and Going Wider in Fellowship, all of which lead to the fourth aspect of the vision, Far Reaching Impact for Jesus Christ.

In thinking about what it means to have a far reaching impact for Jesus Christ, I return to the words of Nannie Helen Burroughs, “No church should be allowed to stay in a community that does not positively improve community life.”

First Baptist, why are we here? Why has God allowed our church to remain in this community for over 130 years? I know that we can look in the annals of church history and point to ministries and movements that have made a difference here in Englewood, yet I wonder, what impact are we having on our community now? In what ways are we improving community life? What does our community need and how has God uniquely equipped us to meet those needs?

A focus on community may seem small, however, I believe that ministering to the community is the first step in having a far reaching Impact for Christ; When we faithfully engage with and impact the community as a church, it ripples out to Bergen County, the State of New Jersey, the nation, and the world.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Going Wider in Fellowship

“The church exists primarily for two closely correlated purposes: to worship God and to work for his kingdom in the world ... The church also exists for a third purpose, which serves the other two: to encourage one another, to build one another up in faith, to pray with and for one another, to learn from one another and teach one another, and to set one another examples to follow, challenges to take up, and urgent tasks to perform. This is all part of what is known loosely as fellowship.”

This quotation from New Testament Scholar N.T. Wright gets to the heart of the third aspect of our church vision: Going Wider in Fellowship.

The witness of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is clear that God has always been concerned about our relationships and connection. From Adam and Even in the garden to the great gathering around the throne in Heaven, we were created to be in community. When we survey the New Testament, we recognize that Jesus calls us to be in relationship with one another and the church, at her finest, functions best when we are in community.

For FBC going wider in fellowship has two facets. First, we are joined together in worship, discipleship, service, and evangelism for the expressed purpose of strengthening each other--as iron sharpens iron--for work in the kingdom of God and lifting the name of Jesus. Second, going wider in fellowship is about being joined together for joy, delight and sorrow. This happens when we eat together, play together, cry together, and celebrate together. Part of this will require that we expand our understanding of “together” so that we connect with brothers and sisters beyond our usual circle. And I believe that when we go wider in fellowship as a body that we will be better for it individually and corporately to the glory of God!

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Going Higher, Deeper and Wider for Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ always stirs up within me an excitement around the possibilities of life. The Resurrection is a reminder to believers that in Christ there is forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, triumph over death, and the opportunity for a fresh start.

With this fresh start in mind, I want to draw our attention to our church vision: Developing Disciples with Dimension, which has four aspects:

• Going Higher In Worship

• Going Deeper In Study

• Going Wider In Fellowship

• For Far Reaching Impact for Christ

Over the next several weeks I will focus on one aspect of the vision and what new possibilities lie ahead. When I think about going Higher in Worship, I am reminded of the Psalter which begins with the understanding that those who delight in God will not only have deep roots, but will grow higher, flourishing in everything they do. The Psalter then crescendos in high praise in Psalm 150 with everything and everyone joining together in praise to God. God has shown me that going higher in worship will happen when we focus all of our delight on God. To reach this place, we will need the faithful effort of all leaders and members. By this time next year, I envision a twenty voice choir, a dance ministry that ministers every Sunday, more instrumentation that offers a robust musical sound, fewer announcements, and the participatory involvement of every member in the Sunday morning worship experience. Psalm 22:3 reminds us that, “God is enthroned in the praises of His people” and If we do our part to invoke the Spirit of God through our praise, I have no doubt that God will blow our minds!

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

Going Deeper in Study

The question that I am sitting with this week is how does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ impact the lives of believers? Another way to think about this question is, “What does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ require of me?”

I know this question may rub some the wrong way. We don’t like requirements. We enjoy being on the receiving end of a faith that doesn’t ask much of us. But I believe firmly that although salvation is a gift that we did nothing to earn, a gift we could never pay for, the grace of mercy of God through Jesus Christ ought to prompt and provoke a response from us as Unashamed and grateful recipients of the gift of God.

This brings me to the second aspect of our vision: Going Deeper in Study. Going deeper in study has at its core discipleship and a rootedness in the Word of God, with particular attention on the life, teachings, and revelation of Christ and the work of the early church. Discipleship is about our beliefs and behaviors being transformed, as Paul writes in Romans, “By the renewing of our minds...” To go deeper in the study of God’s word is a declaration of intent to grow in the knowledge of God, so that we become living witnesses.

There are two ways in which I invite each of us to “go deeper in study” individually, so that corporately we can become the church God intends. The first is to commit to daily reading of God’s Word. One of the best ways to do this is by using the YouVersion app which has reading plans suited to a variety of levels. The second way that you can go “deeper in study” is to attend weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays. I am a witness that the deeper you go in study, the closer you draw to God, the more your life will reflect the light and life of Christ in the world.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Expect a Miracle

“It is not easy to convey a sense of wonder, let alone resurrection wonder, to another. It’s the very nature of wonder to catch us off guard, to circumvent expectations and assumptions. Wonder can’t be packaged, and it can’t be worked up. It requires some sense of being there and some sense of engagement.”

Eugene H. Peterson

Today is the highest holy day in our Christian calendar. Though much attention is given to Christmas, Resurrection Sunday is the day where we celebrate Christ’s victory over death and the grave and--with awe and gratitude--we receive God’s invitation in Christ to a new life.

The Resurrection of Christ is a wonder. The greatest wonder of all wonders. The kind of wonder that should move God’s people to unfettered praise and unyielding tears of amazement. Yet I fear that life has dulled our senses of a sense of wonder. We have grown cynical and calloused. We have developed spiritual cataracts to the point that we can no longer see God’s miracles in our midst. And though the saying is true that wonders never cease, I fear we’ve ceased to be wondered.

But we serve a God who is still working wonders. Part of being Unashamed Witnesses--who go higher in worship--is to be on high alert for the miraculous activity of God. So on this Resurrection Sunday, we are kicking off our new sermon and Bible study series, Expect a Miracle, focusing on the miracles, signs, and wonders of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of John. For when we recognize God’s miracles in Scripture, we will be poised to recognize God’s miracles in our daily lives.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Jesus’ Final Week on Earth

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the commemoration of Jesus’ final week on earth, his crucifixion, and resurrection. For believers, this is in fact the most wonderful time of the year. As we enter this week, I Invite you to spend some time reflecting on Jesus’ final days:

• Palm Sunday: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem;

• Holy Monday: Jesus curses a fig tree and cleared the Temple;

• Holy Tuesday: Jesus teaches on faith and the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.

• Spy Wednesday: Jesus was betrayed by Judas and anointed for burial by a woman,

• Maundy Thursday: Jesus’ final Passover meal with the disciples;

• Good Friday: The crucifixion of Jesus where prophecy was fulfilled;

• Holy Saturday: The day of silence on earth as Jesus descended into hell.

Today also marks the beginning of the end of the Lenten Season. I am grateful for each of you who has made the sacrifice and joined the 6:30 a.m. call as we have prayed and read through Alicia Britt Chole’s “Forty Days of Decrease.” As we enter into this final week, I want to invite each of us to do two things:

• Consider your greatest desire. What is one thing that you are seeking from God? Each day this week, lift that request in prayer. The Bible says in Psalm 37:4, that when we delight in God, that God will give us the desires of our heart. We have spent this intentional time delighting in God and I believe God will keep God’s end of the bargain.

• Reflect on this time together. What was this experience like for you? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? Has this time contributed to your spiritual development? If yes, how? What long term habit, practice, or behavior will you implement as a result of this time? Next week I will have a survey so that we can use your reflections to prepare for future prayer gatherings and studies.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Springing Forward

I don’t know about you, but the time change throws me for a loop. No matter how much I prepare, I end up disoriented and discombobulated. I am okay in the Fall, but in the Spring it always takes my body and my mind a few weeks to adjust. Even so, I look forward to Springing Forward. For as much as the time change requires an adjustment, it serves as a reminder of the transformative power of God:

From gray bareness to verdant blossoms;

From Winter to Spring;

From death to new life;

From sin to righteousness;

From sickness to healing;

From bondage to liberty;

From fear to faith;

From self to the Savior;

From carnal to Spiritual;

From tradition to intimacy and;

From Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday;

As noted above in the transformation from Ash Wednesday to the Resurrection, the time change also signals the nearness of Holy Week and the immense love that God demonstrated to humanity through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. It signals that, when you put your absolute trust In Jesus, that death does not have the final say and that as Christians, we are a people of LIFE and life abundant. 

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Unashamed - We are Called

On this Missionary Annual Day, where we highlight the work of Missionaries within our church, I am considering the words of Jesus, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 

Jesus’ words, a charge for disciples of Christ in and of themselves, take on new meaning when considered alongside the quotation from Samuel Zwermer, “The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.”

Coupled, these words are a reminder that for every act of service, whether within or beyond the walls of the church, what we do is serving Jesus. These words also remind us that every disciple is called to mission work so that people in need can experience the power of a God who loves them, cares for them, and provides for them. 

How would our minds be changed and our hearts be bent towards missions if we recognized that God dispatches you and I to meet a need every time someone in our vicinity cries out to Him in prayer? How would our actions change if we understood our inaction toward human need and suffering--locally and globally--as the difference between someone experiencing the tangible love of God or not? On this Missionary Annual Day, what change will you make to be the answer to someone’s prayers?

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Unashamed: Pastor and People

I cannot believe that an entire year has passed since we began our journey together as Pastor and People. When I look back over the year, all I can say is, “To GOD be the glory for the great things God has done!”

On March 5, 2023 I delivered my first sermon as your Pastor-Elect. The title of the sermon was, “Time for Some Action!” In that sermon I preached that: Sometimes God’s people will find themselves stuck; God calls God’s people to action, even in crisis situations; and; God’s presence is what makes it possible for God’s people to move.

I closed with the illustration of the pilot cars that accompany vehicles carrying oversized loads, reminding us that like those oversized load trucks, we can move because we have Jesus going before us and grace and mercy following us all the days of our lives.

For approximately 366 days Jesus has led the way as we have worshiped, studied, prayed, fellowshipped, and served. During this time, we have been recipients of God’s grace and mercy, welcoming babies, funeralizing members, baptizing and welcoming new disciples into our fellowship, starting new initiatives, renovating the facilities, upgrading the media system, and drawing nearer to Christ and each other through it all. And though amazing, what excites me most is not what God has done this year...but what God will do in the years to come. So, FBC Family, let’s celebrate because this is just the beginning!

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Reflecting on the Past for the Future

There is a word in Twi from the Akan people in Ghana, Sankofa, which comes from the Akan proverb, "Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri," meaning, "It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind)." In English, we translate Sankofa to mean, “go back and get it.” One of the symbols for Sankofa is that of a bird whose feet are facing forward while its head is facing backwards picking up an egg in its beak.

The Sankofa bird and the meaning of the word is a fitting reflection for this Heritage Sunday. As people of God, disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a bright future ahead of us, a future worth walking towards. As Black people living in the United States, we have a rich heritage and legacy from whence we have come, a heritage and legacy of fortitude, creativity, ingenuity, knowledge, wisdom, joy, and overcoming. We would do well to reflect on the past, to gather the lessons, wisdom, and gems of our ancestors, and to use what we have gleaned as inspiration as we walk into our future. 

I see this principle on full display in Bro. Darrold Edgar’s arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by the Garden State Choral Chapter. Darrold honored the legacy of James Weldon Johnson while at the same time moving the song forward for a future generation. I can imagine a day where my daughter’s children will sing the original, sing Bro. Darrold’s arrangement, and in the spirit of Sankofa, create their own for generations to come. 

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Inspirational Leaders

Nick Chellsen, in his book, A Leader Worth Imitating: 33 Leadership Principles From the Life of Jesus writes, “There are two reasons someone might follow a leader: Obligation or inspiration. Obligation is when you have to follow a leader. Inspiration is when you want to follow a leader.”

As Pastor of this great and historic congregation, my chief aim is to be the kind of leader that inspires our congregation to impactful ministry to the glory of God. On this day where we install our 2024 officers, it is my deepest hope and prayer that each of our leaders would possess and exude the kind of qualities that foster inspiration rather than obligation.

As I’ve been thinking about the difference between leaders that inspire ministry versus leaders that provoke obligatory service, the difference lies not in human action, but rather in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate inspiration. In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit is Ruach (wind, breath) and in Greek, the Holy Spirit is Pneuma (spirit, breath, unseen force). If we are going to engage in inspired ministry, as we go higher in worship, deeper in discipleship, and wider in fellowship for far reaching impact for Christ, we can only do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. So I charge our leaders as Paul wrote in Ephesians, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

An Amazing Ministry!

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

I highlighted these verses from Hebrews in the Pastor’s Pen on October 15, 2023. In the final paragraph I wrote, “God has amazing ministry ahead of us! I have a God-sized vision for the thriving of this church and community dancing deep in my soul that I know will come to pass with the leading of the Holy Spirit and the productive provocation to love and good works when we gather together as a body of believers. Let’s continue to show up, gather together, and watch our God show out!”

Last Sunday, by the grace of God and your presence, we experienced the sweet fruit of this vision. We showed up, we gathered together, and God surely showed out in every song, every prayer, every offering of praise, and in the preaching of God’s word.

I don’t know about each of you, but I had a marvelous time in worship. Thank you for being present. Thank you for being on time. Thank you for inviting loved ones and friends. Thank you for embodying the spirit of Hebrews 10:24-25. Let us continue to embody this ethic of encouragement as Unashamed Witnesses for Jesus Christ and continue to watch God show up and show out!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

40 Days of Decrease

Last year I began my pastorate after the Lenten Season began, so I was unable to implement an intentional practice for our church during the Lenten Season. However, this year I want to invite all FBC disciples and friends to our 2024 Lenten Study & Prayer. Lent is “the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.”

For our 2024 Lenten Study & Prayer, we will be using the book “40 Days of Decrease” by Alicia Britt Chole as our guide. In the book, Chole writes, ““The purpose of Lent is not to force on us a few formal obligations, but to ‘soften’ our heart so that it may open itself to the realities of the spirit, to experience the hidden ‘thirst and hunger’ for communion with God.”

As we seek to be Unashamed witnesses for Christ, hungering and thirsting for communion with God is paramount. To that end, on weekdays, starting on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 14th through Friday, March 29th, we will gather on the conference line (605-475-4000 Pin 919803#) from 6:30am-6:45am to begin our days as a corporate body seeking God together. 

And since I cannot do this on my own, I will be asking for volunteers to help lead our sessions. During this time, I anticipate God decreasing us, that He might increase in us.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

The Strength of your Testimony

In last week’s sermon, we looked at the testimony of the man formerly known as the leper from the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel; This leper was a man who was an unashamed witness for Jesus Christ. The main takeaway from the sermon was that the leper, by telling his story, compelled others to want to know Jesus for themselves. At the end of that sermon, and in Bible Study, I raised the questions, “Who has come to Jesus off the strength of your testimony? Who has come to worship at First Baptist off the strength of your testimony and at your invitation?”

These are challenging, but necessary, questions. Many of us lament the emptiness in the pews. Many of us lament the absence of middle aged and young people. Many of us lament the church we once knew.

But lament, without subsequent action, is emotionalism for the sake of emotionalism. In other words, our lament ought to fuel righteous action. In this case, our lament ought to light a fire under each of us to do our part to draw souls to Christ and grow our church.

So I challenge each of us this week and every week of 2024 to be UNASHAMED witnesses. I Invite each of us to tell at least one person about how Jesus transformed our lives and invite that same person to church. I believe If we do that, God will honor our witness and work miracles In our midst.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

UNASHAMED witnesses - equipped

By the providential grace of God, the generosity of a donor, the exemplary work of the Somerset Media Group, and the faithfulness of our Media Ministry, we were able to get our new media system up and running last Sunday. We still have some things to learn and some kinks to work out, but by and large it was a great launch! My excitement about the media system is palpable. By my own account, I have been like a kid in a candy store on Christmas morning. A small part of my excitement centers around my love for technology and social media, but I am most excited about the ministry potential inherent in these new tools when used to the glory of God. Matthew’s Gospel records, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:18-20).

In his book The Connected Church, Natchi Lazarus writes: "Social media can be an important tool to help us fulfill this mission. Thanks to the Internet and social media, this generation is better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission than any other generation that ever existed. The phrase 'reaching the nations' sounds less daunting today than It did 100 years ago."

First Baptist, as we begin 2024, we are better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission. Let us go into the streets and post across social media, being UNASHAMED witnesses for Jesus Christ!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

I am an UNASHAMED WITNESS

Our first Sermon Series of the year 2024 kicks off today. The basis for this series comes from the common refrain in the Black Church, “Can I Get a Witness?” In this series we’ll be exploring six encounters in the Gospel of Mark with individuals who went on to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

What is the connection between being Unashamed and being witnesses for Christ? In the legal world, witnesses are called to testify of their personal and particular experience in a series of events. Likewise, witnesses for Christ speak of their personal and particular experience with God in Christ. That testimony for all believers starts with our conversion experience--the moment we received Jesus as Lord and Savior. From there, our testimonies may have similarities, however each of us has a unique story of how we encountered God. Some of us have been sick and know Good as a Healer. Some of us have been tormented and know God as our peace. Some of us have been down to our last dime and are living to tell the story of God as Provider. Whatever the experience and however we encountered God, this is the year to shake off timidity and to tell everyone with ears to hear about our AMAZING God. In the year 2024, will you be an UNASHAMED WITNESS for Christ?

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

Unashamed

Happy New Year! Blessed be God for granting us another year of life! What a gift is is to see the year 2024!

I use the word excited quite a bit to express how I am feeling about God and what God is doing through the ministry of the First Baptist Church. Truth is, I am beyond excited for what God has in store for us this year! I pray you are excited, too!

In 2023, we were Moving Forward Together as Pastor and People, getting to know each other as part of the foundation for a fruitful relationship. I am grateful for your welcoming embrace and the steps forward we have taken together.

In 2024, God is calling us to be Unashamed in our worship, discipleship, fellowship, and witness in the world. To this end, our worship, preaching, teaching, prayer, service, giving, and ministry will be centered around this theme. I believe that by the end of this year, God is going to develop within each of us a radical faith so that we will be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ that will have impact within and beyond the walls of our church. I believe God will reward our Unashamed witness with INCREDIBLE and UNIMAGINABLE blessings!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah

44 Weeks and Beyond

Forty-four weeks ago, on Sunday, February 25, the week before I began my tenure as your Pastor-Elect, I wrote the following words:

“To God be the glory for the great things God has done! First Baptist Church Family, we are over the moon excited that God has joined us together as Pastor and Congregation! I am inspired by the depth and breadth of FBC's ministry through almost 130 years and I am invigorated by the Holy Spirit and expecting God to do great things in and through our church and community as we move forward together in ministry. Special thanks to Sis. Reeves and the Search Committee, Deacon Addison and the Diaconate, Rev. Ponton, Sis. Roland and the Transition Team, and Minister Barbara Backous for all of their efforts in getting us here and settled in the church and community at large. Joseph, Afia, Adjoa and I are looking forward to meeting and getting to know each of you in the coming weeks. Don't be surprised if I ask to take a picture. #Iloveagoodselfie #wearefbc #socialmediaministry”

Forty-four weeks later, I am still giving God glory! Forty-four weeks later, I am more excited that God has joined us together as Pastor and Congregation! Forty-four weeks later, I am encouraged by the amazing things we have been able to accomplish together in our church and community with the help and grace of God! Forty-four weeks later, Joseph, Afia, Adjoa and I have developed deep and wonderful relationships with many of you and we are anticipating deepening our fellowship. I feel incredibly honored and blessed to be your Pastor.

And, yes, I still love a good selfie and more than that, I love a good “ussie” with my First Baptist Church Family, so for the next forty-four weeks and beyond, let’s take out our camera phones and capture these joyful moments together!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah