I was 16 when I first started talking seriously about where I would spend my college years. New York University took the early lead. I refused to give credence to any other school in the country. I was bound for New York City, where I would no doubt spend my days in class and my evenings playing viola in a…
Ever since I moved back to Louisville, my three best friends from high school and I have made a tradition of getting together for “girls night.” Normally, we will meet at my house, order pizza, and talk about life. But, last night, I was tired of my house, and my girls had other plans in mind. Jodi suggested a restaurant…
I dreamed of being a member of the CBF Fellows Program from the day the initial cohort formed. As the first ended and the second began, I watched in awe of the way friendships developed and learning led to confidence, joy, and clarity in calling. I desperately wanted to experience such mentorship, community, and growth as I began my ministry at Broadway, but I knew it would be nearly two years before the dream would even be a possible reality.
A week ago, I stood in the third floor Sunday School room at First Baptist Decatur. I looked around the room in the faces of my new friends, and I saw a dream making its way to reality in the eyes and hearts of the 15 other “young” ministers surrounding me.
Many of you have likely read or created a “Where I’m From” poem like the one below. “Where I’m From” poems were made famous by Kentucky poet laureate, George Ella Lyon, and they serve to help take us all back to our roots. I wrote the one you are about to read during our church’s women’s retreat. I hesitated to…
Like 2014, 2015 was a year of ups a down, both for me personally and for our world in general. In the history books, 2015 will be a year remembered for more mass shootings than days, racism, and, well, Donald Trump. In Louisville, it will be marked by the biggest scandal to come out of any UofL sports program in…
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. Over the next four weeks, I will share the stories of ministers who impacted my life and faith journey. Today, however, I begin Clergy Appreciation Month with a look back on my first year as a full time clergy person. At this time last year, I walked into the church building each day with a…
Martha Jean Martin. Born September 2, 1928 in Louisville, Ky., to Ann and Benjamin Ray Smith. One of five children, Martha grew up during the most economically challenging time in United States history. I don’t know much about her childhood, except that she grew up in downtown Louisville when that was the place to be, and graduated from Manual High…
Each year, I become more and more sentimental about birthdays. At first, birthdays were just days to celebrate a new milestone – one year closer to driving, adulthood, college, being “legal,” graduating, etc., etc., etc. Now (and with the dawn of Facebook), birthdays are days to reflect on all the memories, relationships, and experiences that have shaped me into the…
2014 has been a year of ups and downs not only for me, but for our country and world. I feel like I’ve said far too many goodbyes over the past year, heard too many stories of violence tearing families apart, and watched as political disputes exposed how nasty we can be to one another. But 2014 was also a…
As I prepare to begin my last day at my current job, I can’t help ruminating over the last four years of meaningful and transformative work I’ve gotten to participate in at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Many of you may not know that I started work at CBF on a contract basis calling churches to remind them to order their…
Rev. on the Edge 