I was blessed to be a participant in a powerful weekend of Faith and prayer for peace this past weekend in DC. The weekend’s events were organized by Christian Peace Witness - a coalition of Christian organizations calling for an end to the war, the redeployment of American soldiers, and the rebuilding of Iraq. Thousands of Christians and those of other Faiths participated in a peace service at the National Cathedral with the overflow watching from surrounding sanctuaries. I watched the service on the big screen at New York Ave. Presb. Church along with Pastor Andrew Foster Conners (Brown Memorial Park Ave. Presb. Church) and a few of my mentors: Dr. Arnold Howard (Enon Baptist), Dr. William Calhoun (Trinity Baptist Church), and Baltimore civil rights legend, Rev. Marion C. Bascom. It was a wonderful experience participating in that worship experience with thousands of Believers from across the nation.
It was even more gratifying and life changing to march forward with hundreds of prayerful people and be arrested at the gates of the White House for participating in an act of divine obedience (civil disobedience). I spent Friday night leading into Saturday morning in the custody of the DC Police Department. Being handcuffed, photographed, and fingerprinted for my beliefs was a liberating experience. Maybe that sounds like an oxymoron, but I found that carrying the cross of public arrest based on my convictions as a Christian, freed me to trust God in ways that I never had before. As I surrendered my physical freedom to those forces that secure the kingdom of this world, I secured my spiritual liberation to grow in faith to God. While family and friends were understandably concerned about my decision to go forward with being arrested, I knew that God required a higher level of sacrifice from me. I could not refuse the moment. I knew that that night was ordained by God and that my presence and participation there was divinely orchestrated.
Enjoy this video of a short speech I made at a peace rally organized by Baltimore United for Peace and Justice on Monday, March 19, 2007 – the 4 year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
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It doesn’t sound strange to feel liberated while being imprisoned. It sounds as if you are a good man. Thank you for your courage. Jim