In light of Black History Month, Walter Strickland, Professor of Theology, acquaints us with Phillis Wheatley

Black History Month is an excellent time to be introduced to new literary, theological, and political figures.  I’d like to acquaint you with a young poet who lived in the second half of the 1700’s by the name of Phillis Wheatley.  Born in Senegal in approximately 1753, Phillis was brought to Boston, Massachusetts, on a slave ship in 1761, where she was purchased by John Wheatley as a personal servant to his wife. 

Under the tutelage of Mrs. Wheatley, Phillis became skilled in Latin and Greek and began writing prose at the young age of 12.  Her first volume of poetry was entitled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral and was published in 1773.  This publication made Phillis the second published African American poet and the first published African American woman.  Phillis died after living a short, yet rich, life in 1784. 

Despite the endless accolades Phillis has collected, not to mention interesting biographical details of her life, Phillis’ greatest boast was that she is a child of the King.  In my estimation the best way to honor this brilliant young poet is to allow her to speak for herself. The following are two of my favorites:

An Hymn To The Evening

SOON as the sun forsook the eastern main

The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain;

Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing,

Exhales the incense of the blooming spring.

Soft purl the streams, the birds renew their notes,

And through the air their mingled music floats.

Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are

spread!

But the west glories in the deepest red:

So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow,

The living temples of our God below!

Fill'd with the praise of him who gives the light,

And draws the sable curtains of the night,

Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind,

At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd;

So shall the labours of the day begin

More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.

Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes, 

On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell

Ere yet the morn its lovely blushes spread,

See Sewell number'd with the happy dead.

Hail, holy man, arriv'd th' immortal shore,

Though we shall hear thy warning voice no more.

Come, let us all behold with wishful eyes

The saint ascending to his native skies;

From hence the prophet wing'd his rapt'rous way

To the blest mansions in eternal day.

Then begging for the Spirit of our God,

And panting eager for the same abode,

Come, let us all with the same vigour rise,

And take a prospect of the blissful skies;

While on our minds Christ's image is imprest,

And the dear Saviour glows in ev'ry breast.

Thrice happy faint! to find thy heav'n at last,

What compensation for the evils past!

Great God, incomprehensible, unknown

By sense, we bow at thine exalted throne.

O, while we beg thine excellence to feel,

Thy sacred Spirit to our hearts reveal,

And give us of that mercy to partake,

Which thou hast promis'd for the Saviour's sake!

"Sewell is dead." Swift-pinion'd Fame thus cry'd.

"Is Sewell dead," my trembling tongue reply'd,

O what a blessing in his flight deny'd!

How oft for us the holy prophet pray'd!

How oft to us the Word of Life convey'd!

By duty urg'd my mournful verse to close,

I for his tomb this epitaph compose.

"Lo, here a man, redeem'd by Jesus's blood,

"A sinner once, but now a saint with God;

"Behold ye rich, ye poor, ye fools, ye wise,

"Not let his monument your heart surprise;

"Twill tell you what this holy man has done,

"Which gives him brighter lustre than the sun.

"Listen, ye happy, from your seats above.

"I speak sincerely, while I speak and love,

"He sought the paths of piety and truth,

"By these made happy from his early youth;

"In blooming years that grace divine he felt,

"Which rescues sinners from the chains of guilt.

"Mourn him, ye indigent, whom he has fed,

"And henceforth seek, like him, for living bread;

"Ev'n Christ, the bread descending from above,

"And ask an int'rest in his saving love.

"Mourn him, ye youth, to whom he oft has told

"God's gracious wonders from the times of old.

"I too have cause this mighty loss to mourn,

"For he my monitor will not return.

"O when shall we to his blest state arrive?

"When the same graces in our bosoms thrive."

A few years ago, I went to the Women’s Life Office and the receptionist was talking about her Discipleship Group. When I inquired about the groups, Denise O’Donoghue asked me if I would be interested in leading one!  She assured me that it would be a valuable addition to the Biblical Counseling degree that I was pursuing.  I prayed long and hard about becoming a D-Group leader, since I am in my late sixties. The Lord and the Holy Spirit guided me to lead a D-Group. This reminded me of Philippians 4:13 . . .

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

With the Lord’s guidance, I could move forward more confidentially.

Discipleship Groups, which are commonly known as D-Groups, are required of every first-year college student at Southeastern.  According to the Office of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation,

“The D-Groups are an incredibly effective forum where students are encouraged, challenged, and equipped to better pursue an authentically Christian way of life.”

The curriculum that the students work through orients them around the beliefs of the Christian faith. It explains why and how our beliefs should be lived out as we love God and love one another.  After the first year, students who have participated in a D-Group should be equipped to start leading their own D-Groups, whether in the local church or here at Southeastern.

In 2011-2012, I decided to lead my first D-Group. We were permitted to use the conference room in the Women’s Life Office for our meetings. Four young ladies worked through the D-Group materials and discovered the challenge of diversity.  The second semester, one of the ladies decided to complete her D-Group requirements at a local church.

In 2012-2013, I again volunteered to be a D-Group leader. I was assigned to co-lead the group with the (then) Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Carrie Gilliam. We actually already knew one another! Carrie and I were assigned four young ladies who helped to make our sessions very stimulating.  Once again, we met in the Women’s Life Conference Room. During this year, we realized the necessity of encouraging consistent attendance. This time all of the girls remained with us for the second semester. We were thankful that they realized how important studying I & II Timothy would be in equipping them for discipleship.

Each year is different than the last. In 2013-2014, I volunteered for another year of D-Group activities. This year, I was assigned another co-leader, the new Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Lesley Hildreth. Lesley thought that she would be the oldest women in the room, but we really have a great generational cross-section.  I am seventy-one and Lesley is 43 (and not the oldest one in the room!). One of our ladies is a 35-year old spouse of a seminarian with 3 children. Another young woman is 21 and has spent some time in Costa Rico. Our youngest group member is eighteen, but she has already traveled to India a few times because her father is from India.

One thing that is important for our group this year is that each person respects the others’ ages and opinions.  Further, it is interesting to hear how things are different from one generation to the next.  Sometimes, we are not able to finish our lessons exactly the way that we plan because of other concerns that we need to address. We are thankful that the Office of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation  has given us enough flexibility in the lessons to discuss such things. Our goal in all of our lessons is to glorify God.

Another neat aspect of our group this year is that we are able to help each other in so many different areas.  For example, Lesley can help the ladies with parenting questions relating to both sons and daughters, because she has both.  I can help answer questions about daughters, because my own daughters are 48 and 46, a little older than Lesley.

As D-Group leaders, we prepare well for our lessons, because we know that we cannot glorify God with a poorly prepared lesson.  We pray on a regular basis for members of our group. We talk through assignments together and offer suggestions to make things easier. We are encouragers and mercy-givers. We love to nurture people in the Lord and we enjoy helping people grow in their Christian walk.

Are you interested in D-Groups? Contact the Office of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation at gmichael@sebts.edu.

Ladies, the 2012 Fall Embrace Leadership Training will be held on Southeastern's campus October 26-27. There may still be volunteer opportunities available for those would would like to serve and attend the conference for free. Please contact the Women's Life Office if you are interested in serving. Otherwise, see the link below for more information and to register for the conference. It promises to be an uplifting and informative weekend!

Click HERE for more information.

Lessons from the Field is a series from one of our own who is serving overseas.  Please join us as we learn about what God has taught and continues to teach her as she and her family serve. To view the earlier post from Amy Lynn* click here.

My previous employer expected new personnel to move quickly from learner to leader.  From day one, we had a saying that you should constantly be training your replacement.  As you worked, your supervisors or other higher ups would be mentoring you and teaching you to lead, especially those who showed promise for future leaders.  God has taught me many, many lessons on leadership, year after year honing my skills in a variety of ways from secular employment to leading a women’s bible study.  In many ways, there has been a certain level of pride that followed me into the field because of this.  God used this last year and half to continue humbling me and refining me, reminding me that this journey is not about thinking you have finally arrived but rather, a daily stripping away of what you hold dear in order to bring you closer to Him.  Leadership was one of the comfortable blankets wrapped in my death grip, and God has used this over and over to teach and train me.  That is why lesson #3 is:

3.  A Tight Lip – Look, Listen and Feel, Leading by Example

The first few months I was full of anticipation, remembering the things I had learned in theory and now felt ready to try out, desiring to spread my wings.  Unfortunately, this was often met with unexpected results.  Within weeks, I began to feel as though I was treated like a green shoot with no experience, rather than a 35-year-old women with 4 kids, who served in the Navy and had years of experience at home.  Talk about humbling!  It took several months for me to quit being angry about it.  I spent a lot of time complaining that I wasn’t appreciated or listened to.  I felt like my perspective and gifts were being stifled until I proved myself as a seasoned worker.  It felt unfair and I spent a lot of time judging and criticizing, rolling around in my own misery.  

I had blinded myself to what God was trying to teach me, becoming completely distracted by how I felt, rather than receiving and acknowledging that gentle nudge from the Spirit.  He had a better lesson for me to learn.  It wasn’t that He didn’t want me to lead, but I needed to learn in this season how to do it by example and through influence, while keeping my mouth closed and my eyes and ears open.  I could not learn how to become a better leader unless I spent time in observation, thought and meditation.  God stripped me of the right I felt to be a leader and instead showed me that sanctification was more important.  I have found that He never lets us stay too long comfortable in our relationship but instead pushes us and gently coaxes us into a deeper intimacy.  Slowly by looking, listening and feeling my way to see what God was doing, what he was teaching me in each and every circumstance and by focusing on what I could learn, my perspective changed. 

 

God began using my previous experiences to shape and mold how I evaluated what was going on around me.  I began taking notes on the things I saw and what God was teaching me through them.  One of the early lessons when we were evacuated was that those in authority over you might not always act in a way that you believe is in your best interest, but remember that God is the conductor of the symphony.  Rather than condemn the leadership, I started to show grace realizing that we are all human and imperfect and this is no excuse to not extend grace.  I also saw the importance of really knowing your people.  Our team spent a lot of time in what I lovingly refer to as “forced intimacy”, which led to really getting to know each other, our struggles, strengths, weaknesses and how we were coping with those.  Knowing these details helped immensely in my journey of how to relate well to others and become team.  

There were other times that lack or failure in communication helped me realize its vital importance when leading. Communication and honesty is key in leadership.  God continued to remind me of things like how to delegate better which allows the team to really excel in their giftings.   I took time to try and hone these skills in the small things God allowed me the authority over.  If I was in charge of fellowship meal, rather than take on the whole task myself, it became a way to learn leading by example, delegating to others from their strengths.  I began trying to purposely and intentionally look at the team’s giftings and find ways I could encourage them.  Just because God has not placed me in a direct role of leadership does not mean I can not act like one. Always take the initiative to set the example rather than complain about leadership. 

One other smaller yet just as important rule I began setting for myself in dealing with peers and leaders was to quit sending long blovating emails.  Too often I learned the hard way that the longer the email, the easier I was misunderstood.  I had to learn that my leaders are very busy people as we all are, and directness and thinking before I sent anything is a much better approach.  Another instance in which God guided me to control those wiry emotions.

Ultimately, God used and will use these lessons to guide me onto the path he has planned for my husband and I, and in the end we will be better leaders because of this time.  Learning to lead by example has not been an easy task for me, as I always want to take the bull by the horns so to speak, however it is a much-needed skill in kingdom work.  God will prepare you in his time and use you when he and you are ready for the task.  Which leads to the next lesson, never assume you know what God is doing!  See you next week!

Amy Lynn* has been married to her husband for 15 years.  He graduated last May from SEBTS with an MDIV in International Church Planting.  They are currently serving in the Middle East.  They have 4 children, ages 13, 11, 5 and 2.  Amy Lynn enjoys reading, writing and working out when she is not studying Arabic or visiting friends. 
*Name has been changed to ensure protection for our contributor. 

 When you became a leader, did you think it would be easy? I am not sure I thought it would be easy, but I sure didn’t’ think it would be as hard as it’s been!  I mean, we’re serving God, as His calling…why would that be anything but blessed all the time? Truly, leadership has been more blessed than I dreamed it would be, but also more difficult than I ever thought.

If you scan the book of Joshua, you see so many incredible leadership principles. Let’s look at 3.

1. Leadership Takes Courage: Take a quick look at Joshua 1. You see several times God tells Joshua to “be courageous and strong.” Why does he tell him that? Must have been something scary going on…a difficult task. (You even see these words from Moses to Joshua if you back up one book and read Deut. 31:6-7.) Moses was commissioning Joshua to go take the Promised Land. He and the Israelites would finally face those giants that had scared them off 40 years before. This time they would make it, but it wouldn’t be easy. So, Moses encourages Joshua with those words. Don’t you imagine those under Joshua’s leadership were saying, “you want us to do what? Pack up and move in 3 days?  How? There’s a big river and big giants over there.”  But, the command was to go, and go they did. What “giants” in ministry are you facing right now?

2. Leadership Takes Obedience: It’s hard to be obedient in difficult assignments unless we have courage. In Joshua 1:16-17, the Israelites said they would do all that Joshua had commanded them to do.  They even repeat the words, “be strong and courageous.” Maybe they are learning! In Chapter 3, they reach that first main obstacle, the Jordan River, in flood stage no less! Ok, how are we going to do this one, Joshua? God instructs the priests to go in front and step into the water. What happens when they do? (hint: Joshua 3:15-16) God provided as they obeyed, not before the priests put their toes in the water but AS they did. What is river is God asking you to put your foot in? Trust Him to part the waters as you walk in obedience to whatever He has already told you. I love the comment T. W. Hunt makes in his study, From Heaven's View, “When God gives us a command, we don’t need to understand His directive, we need to understand His authority!”

3. Leadership Takes Remembrance: In  Joshua 4:1-7 we see what the people do after they all cross the Jordan safely. They build a memorial so that all who saw it would ask what it means. The people, and subsequent generations, would recount the story of God’s faithfulness and provision. They would remember from now on the wonderful works of the Lord. As leaders, we must tell the stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives, through the good and bad times. How else will others see through us how God uses all things for our good and His glory? Romans 8:28

Learn from Joshua about courage, obedience and remembrance. Teach it to others!

Chris Adams is the Senior Lead Women's Ministry Specialist in Training and Events, LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention where she recently received the Career of Excellence Award.  Chris has been a consultant, speaker and conference leader in a variety of church and denominational roles. She is consultant, contributor and guest editor of Journey, a women's devotional magazine with monthly circulation of over 214,000 that deals with real issues women face daily.
She has compiled two books, Women Reaching Women: Beginning and Building a Growing Women's Ministry and Transformed Lives: Taking Women's Ministry to the Next Level, contributed to the books Leading Women to the Heart of God and HeartCall: The Call to Prayer, and has written for various publications including Home Life and Journey magazines.
She has been married since 1971 to Pat, her most vital ministry supporter. They live in Hendersonville, Tennessee and are active members at Long Hollow Baptist. They are the parents of grown twin daughters, Amanda (and Dan) Dugger and Alycia (and Brian) Neighbours, and are grandparents of seven: Alex, Baylee, Lauryn, Braden, Annie, Isabella, and Emily Grace.
For fun, Chris likes to spend time at the beach, exercising, watching ice skating, playing with grandchildren, traveling with Pat, and spending time alone with God.

Web site: www.lifeway.com/women

Blog:   www.lifeway.com/womenreachingwomen

www.Lifeway.com/allaccess