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

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

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

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

Getting To Know You…

“So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”
-1 Thessalonians 2:8 NRSV

Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me.
-Julie Andrews in The King and I

As I was doing my devotional reading this week, I encountered the above words from the Apostle Paul found in his first letter to the Church at Thessalonica. These words, coupled with the refrain sung by Julie Andrews in The King and I, have been resonating deeply within me. First Baptist Church Family, I love and care for you deeply. I have poured that love into sermon preparation and delivery, Bible study preparation and facilitation, and even into these Pastor’s Pen entries. But while I have had moments of sharing with a handful of disciples, I am determined to know and be known by each member of the congregation. I believe that in order to Move Forward Together, we have to know those with whom we share the journey.

You already know that I am a wife to a true gentleman and mother to two amazing daughters, but you may not know that when the sillies get a hold of us, our laughter is contagious. You know that I love music, but you may not know that Hymns and Hip-Hop are my two favorite genres. You know that I am a nerd, but you may not know that I was a contestant and winner on a Nickelodeon game show, “Make the Grade” in 1989. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am determined to know you, all of you. Please stop by the office sometime or make an appointment so we can spend some time together.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

Divine Determination and Discernment

Today concludes our series, Moving Forward Together, examining the book of Ruth. We have been invited to name the losses we’ve experienced, personally, and as a congregation, so that we may grieve as the first act of moving forward into the amazing future that God has for our lives and for this church. We stand at a crossroads— will we choose despair or will we forge ahead with divine determination as we discern the voice and activity of God? I have already witnessed through the disciples of this church that First Baptist Church is choosing to move with divine determination and discernment. Hallelujah! Yet we recognize that the roads won’t always be easy to traverse, so we pray for fortitude, friends for the journey, and the favor of God to rest on our church. Graced with fortitude, friends, and favor, we are in the place where the rubber of ministry hits the road of our faith. This is where God challenged us, myself included, to identify where we are in ministry, imagine ways to do ministry with excellence, to be holy instigators, and to be industrious as we move from COVID era inertia to an invigorated ministry. It’s time for the doers to rise up, to be good stewards of the gifts and graces that God has given you, and to work the works of Him to called you out of darkness into His marvelous light! Moving forward together is possible with the power and presence of Almighty God!

I invite each of us to meditate on this series and ask God: What losses do I need to grieve? What decisions do I need to make? What do I need to go the distance? What particular ministry or ministries is God calling me to? How can I rely on God’s power so that I can do my part in moving forward together?

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

How ARE you being FBC?

Last week, I wrote about what the WE in We are FBC means as it relates to our theme Moving Forward Together, and how WE need YOU in order to be everything God has destined for us to be!

This week I am thinking about the verb ARE as God continues to speak to us and beckon us to Move Forward Together. The verb ARE is the first person singular and second and third person plural of the present tense of the verb "to be." It speaks to the existence of a thing--right here and right now. We are FBC!

Notice, we don't say, "We were FBC!" While First Baptist Church has a rich and impactful past in this community, this county, our state and national conventions, and across this world for the cause of Christ, the church is not defined by or confined by her past. We also do not say, "We will be FBC!" In other words, while we are vision and future oriented, we recognize that we are not waiting on the not yet in order to be who and what God has called us to be.

But right here and right now, our worship, our ministry, and our service within and beyond these walls testifies that We are FBC! And I believe as we ARE being FBC, that God shaping our future before our very eyes. So the question is, how ARE you being FBC here and now?

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

The Meaning of “WE”

Last week I wrote about what We are FBC means to me as I immerse myself in the life of the First Baptist Church of Englewood. Since then, I have been thinking about how We are FBC relates to our theme Moving Forward Together, and what it means from a biblical and theological point of view. 

I’ve been meditating on the WE in We are FBC. We is a first person plural pronoun. We signifies a group. We signifies togetherness. We signifies interdependence. From Creation when God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” to God creating and covenanting with the nation of Israel to the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the Church “joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love,” God has always been concerned about WE.

If God is concerned about WE, then we should also be concerned about our interdependence and togetherness as a church. As you move through the week, interrogate your relationship with WE. If you find yourself isolated, disconnected, or otherwise functioning outside of WE, ask God for a supernatural connection and immersion in the life of FBC because if We are FBC, then we need YOU!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

“WE ARE FBC!”

There is something quite powerful that happens when people join their voices together. When one voice joins another and another and another and all of a sudden the many voices become one. This sonic event is felt at basketball games when the away team has the ball and the home crowd chants “Defense! Defense!” This is also felt at parties, when the DJ is playing Frankie Beverly and Maze’s “Before I Let Go” and turns down the volume at just the right time so all the partygoers can belt out, “Before I let you go––––oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh.” This is also felt in church sanctuaries when the congregation lifts their voices together in acts of worship. I especially notice this on Sundays when Sis. Roland or Deacon Zachary ends the announcements and the congregation joins them saying, “WE ARE FBC!” 

We are FBC speaks to a shared identity and common mission as followers of Jesus Christ and the particularity of ministry to which God has called the First Baptist Church of Englewood. I have been thinking about what it means when we say, “We are FBC!” As my family and I settle in, for me it evokes a sense of family, hospitality, and pride. I also think of an arrow, which has a clear starting point and a future in the direction of endless possibilities. 

What does it mean to you when we say, “We are FBC!” What stories and images come to mind? What qualities and characteristics stand out? What keeps you coming back Sunday after Sunday? I invite you to think on these things and so that together, with pride and joy, we can shout, “WE ARE FBC!”

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

You Are God’s Field

I recently became a plant mom. I have twelve plants in my home—fiddle leaf figs, monsteras, and more—that I have been tending. I also became a novice gardener. Last year I planted herbs and vegetables. I’m hoping that we will feast on cucumbers, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and cantaloupe this year.

God has used my house plants and garden to teach me vital lessons about church ministry. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that everything grows at its own rate. I started my tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, and cilantro in window boxes at the same time. The cucumbers and tomatoes grew at the same pace, the mint grew wild and wonderfully, however the cilantro wasn’t growing. I checked the window boxes daily and saw the same thing. At one point I was ready to toss the cilantro. There were a few days where I didn’t check the seedlings. When I finally went to tend to them, the cilantro had sprouted and was taller than the others. 

This reminds of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth… For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” Family, if each of us continues to do what we are called to do, worship, pray, study the Bible, evangelize, and share our testimony, I have no doubt that God will continue to grow First Baptist Church spiritually and exponentially!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

You and All This People

First Baptist Church Family, today marks a shift into an intentional thematic focus for the remainder of 2023: Moving Forward Together. God impressed this theme on my heart after I received confirmation of the call to be your Pastor. God’s voice was clear. God has an incredible future ahead for First Baptist and will use this church to do great and mighty works for the cause of Christ, however we must be prepared and willing to MOVE.  This is not any kind of movement, rather it is communal and aimed in a particular direction. 

Our theme comes from the first chapter of the book of Joshua where Joshua assumes leadership after the death of Moses. In this critical time in the life of Israel, God says to Joshua, “Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites.”

Proceed. God is not calling us to keep time by marching in place. God is also not calling us to move backwards. God is calling us to move forward. You and all this people. This forward movement is predicated on unity, oneness, and interdependence in the church. So for the remainder of this year, our preaching and teaching will steer us in this direction, Moving Forward Together, the direction that God has for this great church! We are FBC and we are Moving Forward Together!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah

New Things Are Coming

Jesus crucified was an unparalleled ending. Its violent haunt so great it prompted atmospheric shifts, where the sun ceased shining, and left in its wake the anguished souls of those who followed Jesus and put their hope in him. But, as Craig D. Lounsbrough wrote, “The size of an ending will never offset the inevitability of a beginning.” Whereas Good Friday marks a significant ending, the God we serve does not stop at endings, but has a beginning for every ending experienced. Resurrection Sunday—with its rolled away stone, empty tomb, and Risen Christ—is about the inevitability of beginnings!

As we reflect on beginnings, we thank God for the new beginnings in our spiritual lives, inaugurated by the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!” And as the old spiritual goes, “I looked at my hands and they looked new. I looked at my feet and they did, too!” In Christ, newness is within and around us.

However, I would invite us to extend our gaze. In this season, I sense that in Christ, new things are coming into being at the First Baptist Church of Englewood!  If we look closely,  we will see new opportunities, new possibilities, new disciples, new initiatives, new energy, new life, and new hope! So as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday and move into Eastertide, I invite us to embrace God’s new thing at FBC!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah