Resilience

The wind blows in.
The rain pours down.
The tree bends back.
Resilience.

Windburned face.
Tear-stained cheeks.
Feet firmly planted.
Resilience.

Tired mind.
Battered heart.
Steady soul.
Resilience.

A breeze settles in.
Sunlight breaks through.
The tree stands tall.
Resilience.

Windburned face.
Tear-stained cheeks.
Feet moving forward.
Resilience.

~ Written April 30, 2021

It’s Resilience Week for Virginia. And collaborative community I’m involved with, Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network (GWTICN), has organized some incredible events around the theme of trauma and resilience. GWTICN has also connected with local organizations hosting events for the week. Find some that spark your interest and get involved.

#ResilienceWeekVA

About Fred

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.
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