Today, was my first day. I showed up, not as Mommy or Wife, but as Gina. And although it was the mommy and wife roles that helped to process me to bring me to this day, Gina showed up today to stake her claim. I've been wife for 20 years and Mommy or trying to be a Mommy for almost 10. Today I began to sketch out the new imprint that I will embody. First day of Seminary. Zj had prayed for me. She said she had hoped that if there were any bullies, at my school, I would have the words to make them get away from me. Isaac kissed me goodbye and handed me my specially prepared lunch. I had so many emotions and swirling. I’m I good enough? Can I do it? I got emails and text messages from loved ones affirming my ability and faith in God. Thank you! Even people I had recently met since orientation took time out to wish me well on my first day. I was nervous. First up on deck was my dreaded Hebrew class. I studied in advance so I was prepared as best as I...
Ethnography: Shalom International Ministries We visited Shalom International Ministry last week, understanding that this is a Christian ministry for refugee families in the Clarkston area, “the most diverse square mile in America” [1] ; but what we discovered was much more than was expected! The church building which houses Shalom belongs to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC). Although MDPC is an active congregation in PC(USA), the size and ability of the congregation has been dwindling since the 1980s, due to an aging population, less financial resources, and an overall shift in demographics of the area that it serves [2] , which includes Clarkston and Stone Mountain zip codes. Therefore, MDPC has become the grounds for Memorial Drive Ministries, which is an umbrella church-based nonprofit organization “that fosters diverse worshipping communities, innovative social services, and transformative relationships” [3] . Shalom is only one part...
This is a critic by Dr. Anna Carter-Florence, Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching, Columbia Theological Seminary, of my sermon "Do You Have Need Of The I Am?" 11 May 2019 Dear Gina, Thank you for your sermon. I think you have some wonderful gifts for preaching, all of which were out in abundance. Your reverence for Scripture is plain and your engagement with it deep and solid; you really convey to us that the text matters, that it is life-giving and lifesaving to you and to us. Even better, you chose a “greatest hits” text (one that we’ve heard many times before), and your exegetical work made it new and fresh and surprising. Your theological insights have feet-on-the-ground ethical significance. You’re a good storyteller: you condensed a complex and lengthy story (Exodus 1 and 2, leading up to the third chapter) with a sure hand, and kept the liveliness of the story. You understand the gift we need to hear in this Exodus text, and you understa...
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