Today we trekked to Moab Utah for The Canyonlands to hike the Mesa Arch and Aztec Butte. Although it was a gift to be together, my mind and body was wearied, more than I realized, with the news of the tragic recent loss of a beautiful young man. It was a day filled with all sorts of unexpected emotions and contradictions. One one hand I was compelled to cling tighter to my family as I marveled at God’s beauty. On the other hand, as I marveled at God’s ability to create such beauty I could not help but wonder why this same creative-power would not intervene in such a tragedy. Yet in it all, I remembered the tension and paradox of a world given over to the reign of sin and death being turned upside down—or should I say, right side up—by the reign of Christ.
Stepping into Holy Week I’m drawn to the passion of the Christ who arrives triumphant on a donkey of peace in the midst of mad and violent world filled with men on horses of war. In a day filled with contradiction I was able to see, and even feel in my body, so poignantly, that the Creator of these mountains stooped down to the lowest low atop a different mount called Golgotha, so that the cross of Christ would become a crown of victory for all who would trust and believe—just like Wusu trusted and believed.
Yes, death has given way to resurrection life. And even though it feels like a Holy Saturday, I trust and believe that Easter Sunday is coming.
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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