Last Sunday, our associate pastor summoned all the men at Bethesda Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith to the altar for prayer. This special prayer was in response to the two deadly police involved shootings of unarmed black men. When will the madness end? Babes, toddlers, teens, adults, the elderly, any male, who could walk or be wheeled in, packed the front and jammed the aisles.
The women, who remained in their seats, were instructed to stretch out their hands toward them and pray. We need You Lord Jesus to survive in a dark world of hate. On one accord, we petitioned Jesus for their safety in a hostile environment, their faith not to waver, and discernment. Afterward, the congregation sang Hezekiah Walker’s “I Need You to Survive.” I know the words speak of loving one another, but without Jesus, we won’t be able to survive. In a society where black men are stereotyped as dead beat dads, thugs, dope dealers, and other demeaning titles, many times readers ask me if my Jamieson male characters are based on real men—yes. They are the men who are faithful to their families and the Lord Jesus. They are the men who would risk their lives to keep their loved ones safe.
Most importantly, they are the fearless black men who stand up against injustice. T
hese are the men who make us proud with their accomplishments, integrity, and submission to God. They aren’t all in one place, but all around us. We do need our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and others to survive. But they need backup. The devil has brought the battlefield to our front doors, so before we open up, head to the war room.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Pat is the multi-published author of more than a dozen Christian titles and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.
As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors and then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.
Pat is currently overseeing the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Pat converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter.
Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net or on social media.
Download her latest release JET: Back Story to Love Led by the Spirit for only .99
