State of EMERGEncy

Whenever a State of Emergency is declared everyone understands that something of major proportions is taking place--something that demands everyone's immediate and full attention. During a State of Emergency all resources--physical, financial, emotional--are required and people instinctively put their differences aside to pool those resources for the sake of the common good.

This past Saturday, The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church family joined the voices of those who have been crying in the wildnerness, "State of Emergency!" with regard to the enemy's attacks on the family. We decided that our first coordinated response would deal with one of the most virulent, invasive, yet least-discussed issues, Domestic Violence.

We had an incredible array of speakers and professionals who gave powerful presentations, insightful information, provocative perspectives and tear-jerking testimonies about the scourge of domestic violence. Some of their statistical sources were not all necessarily the same, but regardless of whether or not the data was in agreement, the presenters and participants were in 100% agreement that regardless of who perpetrates family violence it is an attack that must be countered by more than silence. We are in a State of Emergency!

Women are hurting men, men are hurting women, parents are hurting children and children are hurting parents. This is NOT God's will for us. We are in a State of Emergency!

Our keynote speaker, Jewel Diamond Taylor, reminded us that the very declaration of a State of Emergency contains within it the notion that something must "emerge" out of the crisis. When we look at the enemy's attacks on the family--which is THE unit that God established as a reflection of His divine, fruitful, life-giving love--if nothing else, the church must emerge as a voice for justice, a source of healing and a bearer of truth and light for our families.

I thank God for my husband/Pastor the Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry for his attentiveness and responsiveness to the voice of God in casting the vision for our Domestic Violence Summit. I pray that what we did here in the nation's capital will resonate in the hearts and spirits of those throughout our city limits and beyond.

Pray for us as we continue the charge of God to keep our families, "Moving Forward! Living and Loving Without Abuse!"