Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we enter November, we do so with grateful hearts and renewed determination. God has carried us through another season, and while this year is moving toward its close, our work and witness are far from finished. This is not the time to coast. This is the time to recommit, come together, and finish strong!

On November 9, we will celebrate the second anniversary of my historic appointment as pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church. As I reflect on these two years, my heart is filled with gratitude—for God’s faithfulness, for your prayers, and for the privilege of serving this extraordinary congregation. This celebration is not simply about an appointment or a person. It is about what God is doing among us and the journey we are sharing together.

We honor our history, but we must also embrace our future. There is much ahead of us: people to reach, relationships to strengthen, ministries to nurture, and neighbors to serve. Mother Bethel’s legacy calls us not only to remember what has been, but also to faithfully build what can be.

A key to that work is that we remain genuine—genuine in our love, sincere in our worship, honest in our relationships, and faithful in our service. We do not need to pretend to be perfect. We need to be a church where grace is practiced, truth is spoken in love, and every person is treated with dignity. Our witness is strongest when the love we proclaim on Sunday is the love we practice throughout the week.

Let us finish this year strong by showing up, praying together, giving faithfully, serving gladly, and encouraging one another. Let us make room for new voices, extend a hand to those who are hurting, and keep Christ at the center of all we do.

Thank you for walking with me these past two years. I am grateful for what we have shared, and hopeful about what lies ahead.

Our history is sacred. Our calling is clear. Our work continues. Let’s remain genuine, stay united, and finish strong!