Religious indifference is harm. Religious passivity is harm. Civil conversation in the name of peacekeeping is harm. Conversation without action is harm. What-about-ism grounded in defensiveness is harm. Trying to ‘win’ by de-centering historically marginalized voices is harm.
Unqualified compassion is good. Unqualified generosity is good. Hard conversation in the name of peacemakingis good. Conversation followed by action is good. Compassionate and hospitable listening resulting in honest self-reflection is good. Trying to create mutual partnership and collaborations that center historically marginalized voices is good.
ABOUT THE PICTURE In Myanmar, the police have indiscriminately shooting protesters in the head in an effort to silence demonstrations. Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng, pictured here, put herself between the protesters and police by kneeling in humble presence pleading with them to stop their violence. Two officers fell to their knees and joined her. *Photo and Narrative credit: Mike Frost
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Through Orange Colored Glasses
My dearest mentor, friend, brother, pastor, activist and example. Read it. You won’t be sorry that you did.
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