Welcome to Pastor’s Pen!
Letters of love from Pastor O.
The POWER of God
I am penning these words on Sunday night, still reveling in the glory from worship after sharing the announcement that God blessed our church through the generosity of an individual who donated $100,000 towards the total upgrade of our media system and the purchase of a brand new church van. This generous gift brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Ephasus:
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 NRSV)
I remarked in service and on social media that “God will sometimes give you BIG VISION with a small budget, just to show you how good God is at being God!” We serve a God who has all power. Through this gift, we witnessed the POWER of God at work. We did not have to labor to make this happen, but God made it so. Not only are we witnesses to the power of God at work, the size of the gift, and therefore the impact and reach FBC will have through the wise, faithful, and Spirit-led stewardship of this gift, is abundantly more that my biggest vision for our church. In the words of the viral praise song, “E3:20” by Pastor Latoya Brewington, “God’s done more than I ever expected.”
Which brings me to the greatest lesson I’ve gleaned from this process. We don’t serve a stingy God of puny and paltry blessings. We serve a God who calling us individually and as a church to believe BIG, ask BIG, imagine BIG, think BIG, dream BIG, vision BIG, strategize BIG, expect BIG, anticipate BIG, and hope BIG as we spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and trust that God is ready, willing, and ABLE to accomplish more than the biggest ideas our minds can conceive. Who’s ready to think BIG with me as we move towards 2024?
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
When we gather together.
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 NRSV
The words, “Not neglecting to meet together,” especially when translated, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves” have been separated from the preceding verse and used to bully people into Sunday church attendance. However, when we consider the context clues in these verses, I believe these words are to encourage believers to gather together--because God does something beautiful and powerful when we gather together.
I have experienced Hebrews 10:24-25 more as an ethic, an invitation to community and deep relationships filled with love, joy, laughter, tears, care, concern, etc, etc. Every time we gather as a body of believers, whether as two or three on the prayer line or one hundred in sanctuary on Sunday morning, God reminds me how much we grow and develop in community. Together is where and how God desires we be stirred to love in a world where we are often battered by the storms of life. Together is where and how God desires we be provoked to good works in a world filled with indifference and evil. Together was and always will be where God uses each of us to bring out the best in each other so that we can fulfill our mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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, gathering together, and watch our God show out!
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
One’s heart - a swinging door!
As we Move Forward Together, continuing our church wide series on love, I want to reflect upon the words of theologian, philosopher, and Civil Rights activist Howard Thurman. Thurman wrote, “To love is to make of one’s heart a swinging door.”
Thurman’s words remind me of my maternal grandmother’s kitchen door in her North Carolina home. The kitchen was my grandma’s haven. It was where she did her best work making green beans, smothered turkey, and rolls from scratch. The opening of the kitchen had a bright yellow swinging door that made a creaky sound when opened and would continue to move back and forth even after we had walked through it. The image of this door conjures up feelings of connection between what is outside and what is inside. Even though grandma was in the kitchen preparing a feast, we were always invited in and if we needed her, she would make her way through that swinging yellow door. The image of this door conjures up feelings of ease. A gentle push to the door would swing it open for all to enter. Even a small child could enter the kitchen without effort. Interestingly enough as I was thinking about grandma’s bright yellow swinging door, I realized that swinging doors are never really closed. They are the essence of hospitality. There is an openness about swinging doors that you don’t find in panel, flush, pocket, French and even bi-fold doors.
To love is to make of one’s heart a swinging door. And herein lies our invitation from the Holy Spirit. May we have hearts that are connected to one another; hearts that give and receive love with gentleness and ease; and hearts that are always open to the possibilities of joy, peace, and contentment that love affords us. In this way, we are obeying the command of God to “Love one another…” and witnessing to the world the great power of God’s love as evidenced in our lives.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Love Connection Challenge
Long before I was called to ministry, Bible Study was important to me. As a lover of God and learning, delving into the Holy Scripture in community with God’s people was exciting to me. In hindsight, I recognize that I am the disciple, pastor, preacher, and teacher that I am because of Bible Study.
On Sunday I issued a challenge to the congregation to commit to attending Bible Study for the Love Connection Series. I want to highlight why I offered this challenge and the benefits of accepting this challenge.
As God’s people, we are called to be disciples of Christ. Bible Study is the spiritual disciple whereby we mature in our faith, are transformed by the renewing of our minds, and become more Christlike. Part of my responsibility is to make available and to encourage Christian maturity. Since love is the ultimate mark of a disciple of Christ, I issued this challenge so that we as God’s people would mature in our love.
Accepting this challenge has benefits for individuals and the congregation. Attending this study will foster Christian maturity and bear fruit of love in our individual lives. When we are more loving, peacefulness tends to follow. As a congregation, the more of us that participate in this study, the more we will be empowered to love each other which will make worship exciting, fellowship joyful, ministry impactful, and will also echo in the world as a witness to the presence and power of Christ.
So family, we hope to see you in Bible Study this week where we will continue our Love Connection Series, focused on God’s Sufficient love.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Songs in our Hearts
One of the pervasive questions that has been asked from generation to generation is, “What is love?” The question has been raised across disciplines—religion, science, social studies, and literature. People have sought to capture love in various art forms—music, poetry, painting, and dance. Hallmark has made billions of dollars over the years crafting greetings cards that convey our sentiments of love in times of great joy and great sorrow. What is love?
Recently, I came across a definition of love that resounded in my heart. The author said, “To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and sing it to them when they have forgotten it.” I love this equating of love with song, because music is such a powerful and vital part of our lives. Each of us, in some way, can recount the songs that have been part of the soundtrack of our lives. And whether we have melodious voices or we cannot hold a tune—like me—each of us has songs in our hearts. There are songs in our hearts that give us hope. There are songs in our hearts that soothe our souls. There are songs in our hearts that motivate us to press forward in the face of obstacles. There are songs in our hearts we sing to calm anxieties. Each of us has songs in our hearts.
To know the song in someone’s heart is to be intimately acquainted with the essence of that person. To know the song in someone’s heart is to have a deep connection with them. And in the case of someone being so overcome with despair, grief, loss, or trouble that they lose their songs, we love them by being present with them and singing the songs of hope, joy, motivation, peace, and calm. “To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and sing it to them when they have forgotten it.” Family, I invite us to share our love with each other, by reminding them of the melodies in their hearts—if they have forgotten their song.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Mistakes: A Fact of Life
If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that in life, we will all make mistakes. Mistakes are defined as errors in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, or insufficient knowledge. We may do something we should not have done, or leave undone something that we ought to have done. We may say something that we should not have said, or kept silent when we should have offered our voice. At some point, or another, despite our best and most valiant efforts, each of us will fall short. Here, I am not talking about sin–falling short of God’s mark–but rather, those daily bloopers, lapses, and blunders we make.
Another way of understanding making mistakes is to misstep or stumble. At the studio where our girls used to take dance lessons there was a sign above one of the classrooms that read, “When you stumble, make it part of the dance…” What a fine lesson for dancing and for life. Notice the quotation does not say “If you stumble.” Rather it says “When you stumble…” pointing to this idea that mistakes are a fact of life. Also, notice the positive invitation given in response to the mistake. Many of us, when we make mistakes, are harshly criticized. And sometimes the voice of critique comes from within. Many of us, when we stumble, get the wind knocked out of us. We stop moving and focus on the mistake. But instead of letting our mistakes stop us in our tracks, the sign invites us to find a way to learn from our mistakes and incorporate the lessons into living more fully.
Family, I invite us to approach our mistakes, and the mistakes of others, with forgiveness and grace. For in doing so, follow God’s choreography—not skipping a beat, even when the circumstances of life, our shortcomings, or the shortcomings of others try to stop us in our tracks.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
Finishing Together
Though it has been several years since I’ve been on the pavement, I am a runner. I am not the most graceful runner, nor am I the fastest runner, but I am a runner. I can recall several years ago, when I ran my second organized 5K race, a wonderful lesson that God shared with me. The race was organized to raise money for a local arts center. There were men and women, boys and girls, of all ages. As start time drew near, I took my position towards the back. I am what many call a back of the pack runner. When the race began, I started slowly and paced myself as I passed one mile and two miles and two and half miles. When the three mile marker appeared, I was tired, but I knew that I could make it. That is, until I saw this massive hill in front of me. As I ascended the hill, my breathing was labored and my pace slowed. I was just about to begin walking when a woman came up from behind me. She said to me, “I don’t know you, but I’ve been following your lead all race. You have encouraged me to run when I wanted to walk. You have encouraged me to run when I wanted to quit. It’s my turn now. Don’t walk. Let’s finish this together.” And we did. She and I ran up that hill, and down it and crossed the finish line together.
Family, this reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” As disciples of Christ, we are always to follow the leading and example of Christ. We never know who is watching and how our witness may encourage them to continue on their journey of following Jesus. Likewise, we thank God for the disciples in our lives, whose example gives us the motivation to keep moving when life gets tough.Whether we are leading or following, by God’s grace, we will all cross that finish line and God will grant each of us a crown of glory that never fades.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
The Power of Rest
I am writing this entry from my bed as I position myself for God's complete healing from COVID. I preach and teach rest, but like the Apostle Paul, "I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but...I press on toward the goal." In other words, when it come to rest, I am a work in progress. This bout of COVID has forced me to rest, and reminded me of words I penned eight years ago, words that I offer to each of you:
We live in a society that lifts up exhaustion as a virtue. Many of us are burning the candle at both ends. We live in a culture that values tiredness. We are burning midnight oil. But burning the candle at both ends and burning the midnight oil have one thing in common—burning. And all of this burning ultimately leads to burn out.
This week I learned a beautiful lesson from my baby girl. On Friday evening, she had a fever. This fever went from bad to worse over the course of three days. She was fighting some kind of infection and her little body was so hot. She was burning up. When we took her to the doctor, we learned that there was not much we could do except keep her hydrated and rested. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, my baby girl woke up in the morning to eat and for the remainder of the day went through a cycle of short wake times and long naps. On Monday, she went down for what we thought would be a nap at 4:20pm only to wake at 6:20am. The next day she repeated the cycle going to sleep at 5:00pm and waking at 6:30am. Interestingly enough, when she woke on Tuesday, her fever was completely gone. When she woke on Wednesday she was her joyful and lively self. What she taught me was the value and power of sleep and rest in our healing. English playwright, Thomas Dekker, wrote, “Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.”
With that, Family, I'm going back to rest and I bid you sweet and healing rest.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Roots and Wings!
“We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first one is roots, the other one is wings.” Sudanese Proverb
Roots are the anchors that, when grown deep and wide, give trees strength and stability. Roots make it possible for a tree to withstand in the time of heavy winds and storms. But roots are also the place where water and nutrients are absorbed so that a tree is able to grow, develop, and repair when damaged. Deep and wide roots are found in trees that the Psalmist writes of, “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)
Wings are the part of a bird’s body that give it the ability to fly. Bird flight, depending on how the wing is positioned, can take on several forms. Wings help birds to soar—to reach higher and farther. Wings give birds the ability to take off and land. Wings carry a bird forward, but also allow it to position itself for rest, nourishment, and protection. For the believer, these wings are from God, “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I invite us to reflect on our roots; The people, places and things that God placed in our paths to provide us nourishment and anchoring for this journey of life. I also invite us to be carried by our wings; The dreams, goals, and aspirations that God uses to carry us forward as we live to His glory!
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Growing in Ministry
Last Sunday evening when the sun had gone down and the air was crisp, I put on my Crocs and went into my garden to see what was going on. There were many vegetables growing, but none were ripe except the cucumbers growing on the vine crawling up the side of the house. I cut two cucumbers off the vine and took them into the house. Then I washed, sliced, and drizzled them with a balsamic glaze before enjoying them. They were absolutely delicious!
Just as there is satisfaction when enjoying fruit from your own garden, there is also satisfaction when God shows you fruit in ministry. I have enjoyed our Summer worship with robust attendance, bucking against nationwide trends of declined church attendance during the summer. I have enjoyed watching our congregation grow. But the truth is, I cannot take credit for any of this. The website churchgrowth.org reports that 2% of people start attending church because of advertising, 6% by invitation of the Pastor, 6% by organized visitation, and 86% because a friend invited them. That means the overwhelming majority of our guests and visitors have come at your invitation. It also means that an overwhelming aspect of church growth is dependent on each of you.
As we enjoy the last month of Summer and transition into the fall, I invite you to pray and ask God for wisdom, discernment, and holy boldness to tell people you encounter about Jesus and to invite them to worship with us at the First Baptist Church of Englewood. And if you do that, I know that God will bless and grow our ministry!
In Christ’ Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Get ready! Get ready! Get ready!
In her critically acclaimed novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston writes, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” I know this to be true in my own life and in my ministry journey. To be honest, the years that answer are far more comfortable than the years that ask questions, but both are necessary as God unfolds God’s plan for our lives.
The year 2007 was a year that asked questions as I answered my call to ministry and wondered, “What next, God?” The year 2010 was a year that answered as I graduated from Seminary, was ordained to the Gospel ministry, began my position as Assistant to the Pastor at the Bethesda Baptist Church, and married the love of my life, Joseph. The years 2012 to 2014 were years that did both as I settled into motherhood and wondered what my future in ministry would be like with two small children. The year 2015 was a year that answered as the Spirit led me into Clinical Chaplaincy to hone my pastoral competencies. The year 2018 was a year that asked questions as the Spirit reminded me of my call to Pastoral ministry. The year 2019 was a year that answered as I prayerfully responded to the Pastoral Vacancy Announcement for the First Baptist Church of Englewood and went through the process of interviewing via Skype, in person, and preached “Hope Does Not Disappoint” as a candidate. I thought 2020 was going to be a year that answered; I was invited back to FBC to preach and teach Bible Study and by early March was informed that I was the final candidate. And then COVID-19 hit, and like all of us, life was filled with nothing but questions. The years 2021 to 2022 had many questions, but the answer remained the same–God was calling me to be your next Pastor and I was to wait on Him and on the Church with good courage. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, 2023 has been a year that has answered; Serving as your Pastor is both a privilege from God and the confirmation of what the Spirit whispered in my soul four years ago!
For this reason, I am eagerly anticipating Installation Weekend! We are going to have a good time to the glory of God! I cannot wait to celebrate the faithfulness of God in the ministry of the First Baptist Church of Englewood! I cannot wait to praise God for answering your prayers, and mine. I cannot wait for my mentors, colleagues, and community to see what a wonderful church God has called me to! I cannot wait to be formally united as Pastor and People so we can continue the good work that God began in us! Family, I hope that you, too, are as excited as I am! In the words of Bishop T.D. Jakes, “Get ready! Get ready! Get ready!”
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Divine Interruptions
In my devotional reading this week, in a devotional plan on the Bible App called, “Soul Rest: 7 Days to Renewal,” I came across a quotation from German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer that has both convicted and challenged me. Bonhoeffer said, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
What a powerful statement, one that cuts to the quick of our busy lifestyles. Truth is, we are beyond busy. We are over scheduled and multitasking while running here, there, and everywhere. We have little time for rest or leisure. When we do pause our bodies, our minds are still racing a mile a minute. For these reasons, I was pierced by Bonhoeffer’s statement, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
Bonhoeffer’s statement raises questions we must grapple with: Have we busied ourselves so much that we have no room for God to speak? Have we scheduled ourselves so much that God has been relegated to the waitlist? How do we make space in our lives for divine interruptions? The simple answer to these questions, at least for me, are: yes, yes, and rest. But as I shared in the sermon, “Working on a Coal Mine” resting must be an intentional act on the part of believers, not just for the sake of our bodies, but for our growth as disciples. So Family, I invite you to sit with Bonhoeffer’s statement and the questions I’ve raised above and see how God moves you to ready yourself for divine interruptions.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Cultivating your Spiritual Life
As a preacher, one of my aims is to make Scripture come alive for the congregation through the use of illustrations, modeling my preaching after Jesus who used parables and metaphors to express theological truths. Jesus used imagery familiar to the crowds who gathered to hear him. As you may have noticed, most of my sermon illustrations come from music and television. Now that my brown thumb has turned green, the Spirit of God has been showing me biblical and theological truths through gardening.
As previously shared, Joseph has worked really hard to keep our lawn green and lush. It looks beautiful. Imagine my surprise last week when I received a shocking revelation about our lush, green lawn. A representative from our lawn care company was present for our mid-year evaluation. In his evaluation he noted that our lawn was full of weeds. Weeds. What appeared to be healthy blades of grass were actually weeds—wild plants that take over spaces and compete with cultivated plants. Thank God the representative did not leave without giving us a plan for cultivating a lawn that is lush, green, and healthy.
In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns us to avoid the weeds—those who are holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. And while it is easy to point the finger at others, as I reflected upon my healthy looking lawn, I was challenged to evaluate my own life and notice the areas where weeds have grown, inconspicuously, and to seek God’s word for a plan for cultivating a life that is wholly pleasing to God. So as you go about your week, I invite you to consider these questions: What weeds have grown in your spiritual life? What do you need to do to cultivate a healthy discipleship?
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
The Beauty of God’s Creation
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. -Psalm 19:1
Although most people think of Mount Vernon as the suburbs because of its proximity to New York City, much of Mount Vernon is as urban as the Bronx and Queens. I'm from the concrete jungle. I grew up in an apartment complex, surrounded by tall slabs of concrete and brick. The building across the street was 40 stories high, blocking the view of the sky. Looking up at the clouds was not one of my childhood pastimes.
As I've grown older, I have come to greatly appreciate the sky, both during the day and at night. This appreciation has less to do with an unobstructed view, and more to do with a spiritual attentiveness to the beauty in the whole of God's creation. I was reminded of this on Monday as Joseph, the girls, and I hiked and went paddle boating at Bear Mountain. God's glory and majesty were on full display. It felt like God showed up and showed out, just for us.
My hope for each of us is that we would have moments to reflect on the wonder of creation, moments where God directs our gaze upward to take in the praise party in the sky, moments that last long enough for us to raise holy hands and lift our voices to join the heavens and the skies in declaring and proclaiming the glory of our God.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah
Home to glory .. I will see him again!
This may be my last time
This may be my last time
This may be my last time
It may be my last time I don't know
Well, it may be the last time you hear me preach
It may be my last time I don't know
Well, it may be the last time you hear me preach
It may be my last time I don't know
Growing up at Bethesda, we would sing this song at the close of service. As a young adult, I did not know the gravity of this song, but now I do. On Monday, June 19, 2023, God, in His Sovereign Wisdom called my beloved Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Allen Paul Weaver, Jr., home to glory.
I did not realize that the Pastoral Installation of my brother, the Rev. Paul Weather, on Sunday, April 23, 2023 would be the last time I would see Doc. I did not realize that would be the last time I would hear Doc preach. And my, did he PREACH! To be honest, I was looking forward to Doc sharing with FBC for my Pastoral Installation, so you all could meet him and he could meet you. And while April 23rd may have been the last time I saw Doc on this side of glory, I know that I will see him again, and when I do, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
Into The Body of Christ
Take me to the water
Take me to the water
Take me to the water
To be baptized
Today is a momentous occasion in the life of the First Baptist Church and a momentous occasion in the Kingdom of God. Today we will celebrate the ordinance of baptism as we welcome three persons into the body of Christ and to our church family.
Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Baptist church where those who have made a profession of faith that Jesus is Lord and Savior of their lives, identify with the baptism of Jesus and, by being immersed in the baptismal font, symbolically identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save us. Baptism is a public witness demonstrating a personal declaration of faith. Baptism is one of my favorite occasions in the life of the church.
When I was a student at the Theological School at Drew University, a Methodist Seminary, I became acquainted with the ritual that many Protestant denominations have where baptized believers reaffirm their baptismal vows and recite the words, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” So today, as we celebrate the ordinance of baptism, I invite each of us to remember our baptism—to remember how Jesus died for our sins; to remember how Jesus descended to hell and took the power of death, hell, and the grave and; to remember how Jesus rose with power so that we may have life eternal in God’s presence and life abundant here on earth. And as we remember our baptism, may gratitude overflow from our hearts.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
Fathers, a Gift from God
I must confess that I am delighted, glad, and elated so much so that I plan to rejoice, praise, and clap my hands as a response to what God has done and will do in our midst.
Happy Father’s Day to the fathers, grandfathers, god-fathers, mentors, coaches, and all of the men who have been father figures in the lives of children and young people. Fatherhood, at its best, is a gift from God.
I have been blessed to experience many wonderful relationships with fathers, starting with my own father, John Powell. I am a self-professed Daddy’s girl. My dad exudes a quiet strength and exemplifies what it means to be a loving provider and protector. He instilled a love of learning in me and pushed me to always do my best. I am who I am, because of my father’s love and care.
I have also been graced with spiritual fathers in the persons of the Rev. Dr. Allen Paul Weaver, Jr. of the Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle, NY and Bishop Dr. Ronald L. Owens of the New Hope Baptist Church of Metuchen, NJ. Dr. Weaver was foundational in my growth as a Christian disciple, a student of the Bible, a preacher of the gospel, and a pastor after God’s own heart. A serious man of faith, Dr. Weaver nurtured me and gave me room to grow into my gifts. When it was time to leave Bethesda, Bishop Owens welcomed me to New Hope’s ministerial staff as a spiritual daughter. His care extended to Joseph and our growing family.
Lastly, for eleven years, I have had a front row seat to the beautiful and blossoming fathering of my husband, Joseph. It has been a joy to witness his loving care and firm support of our daughters. He works hard so they can have everything they need to grow and succeed in life. He also plays hard, so they never take themselves too seriously, that they would always know, as he often says, “the little joys of life.”
For these fathers, and so many others, I give God thanks! And today, I invite each of us to remember the men in our lives who have fathered us, whether related by blood or by spirit, and give God thanks for their care and love.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
Prioritizing Our Dreams
I must confess that I am delighted, glad, and elated so much so that I plan to rejoice, praise, and clap my hands as a response to what God has done and will do in our midst.
Last year I planted a small vegetable garden on my deck with the hopes of one day having a full garden. Full disclosure, I have lived in apartment buildings or condos all of my life and know nothing of gardening, but a girl can dream, can’t she. I shared my hopes with our neighbor John, even showing him pictures on Pinterest of my dream garden. John quickly sketched a fenced in garden, priced the materials, and went to work building a garden on the back side of our house. John is a doer who gets more done! The structure was completed before the cool temperatures arrived and as soon as Spring was here, he added the fencing and door just in time for me to plant seeds. This was shortly after beginning my pastorate here at FBC.
I immediately went to the nursery and purchased seeds: onions, cantaloupe, peppers, spinach, and two types of tomatoes. I tilled the soil to prepare for planting, and then the rubber of real life hit the road of pastoral ministry. Today marks our 98th day together as Pastor and people and by God’s grace we have been fruitful in such a short amount of time. Needless to say, every time I had time to garden, I opted to watch Hulu or sleep instead. So much time passed that I missed the window of opportunity to grow directly from seed. So I let more time pass until, finally, I purchased some seedlings from the grocery store. I was determined to have my garden, hook or crook.
As I was planting the seedlings this week, the Holy Spirit revealed several things with me that I want to share with you. One, our dreams are possible when we have the right support in place. Two, procrastination can defer and even be the death of dreams. Three, life always happens so we must prioritize our dreams. Four, even when hope seems to be lost or the clock has run out, God always has a measure of grace so our dreams become a reality. Be encouraged and keep dreaming!
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah
Out and About
I must confess that I am delighted, glad, and elated so much so that I plan to rejoice, praise, and clap my hands as a response to what God has done and will do in our midst.
On Monday, I had the privilege of marching with the First Baptist Church in the City of Englewood Memorial Day Tribute. From the Presentation of the Military Units to our very own Deacon James Cosby singing the National Anthem to the Veteran Reflection, it was a fitting tribute to our US Military Personnel who lost their lives in service to our nation. Despite the whipping winds, the sun was shining and it was a glorious day for a parade!
To borrow the phrase used by Brother Teddy Chapman on his Facebook page, I was “Out and About” in the community. I witnessed the great pride in the City of Englewood by her residents. I was able to see the vast diversity of Englewood while also noticing the beauty in the particularities of each racial/ethnic group present. I felt the vibrancy of the city. And to be honest, I felt right at home.
I enjoyed meeting Mayor Wildes and other City Officials. I equally enjoyed meeting the movers and shakers in the community who are as influential and revered as those with titles and positions. I enjoyed running into people from neighboring churches and organizations who wanted to formally welcome me to Englewood. However, my absolute favorite part was spending time with you, the members of First Baptist Church. Getting to know you. Hearing your stories. Sharing laughs. Chanting “We are FBC!” as we paraded down Palisade Avenue. These are the moments that embody the essence of our theme, “Moving Forward Together.” These are the moments that will strengthen us for ministry. These are the moments I cherish most and hope to have many more of in the near and distant future.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah