Originally posted on A Beach Keeper's Journal:
I woke up today in great anticipation and humble expectations. Of my ten Teen SOYO members, I was only expecting a handful to show up. Most of them are involved in sports and had other activities planned before I came up with this idea. The ones who…
Originally posted on A Beach Keeper's Journal:
On the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Sunday, September 8th), I made this announcement at St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church: Brothers & Sisters in Christ Our Teen SOYO will kick-off what, I pray, will become a consistent Orthodox presence in the East End of…
Originally posted on A Beach Keeper's Journal:
At the very end of Jefferson Avenue in Newport News is a diamond. A place that shined with great spiritual hope for African-Americans during segregation. Pinkett’s Beach at King-Lincoln Park was one of few places black people could go and enjoy the water on a hot summer’s…
Originally posted on A Beach Keeper's Journal:
In the fourth century, many Christians fled to the deserts of northern Africa and the Middle East to escape worldly distractions and struggle against their temptations. Some were tired of the growing complacency that was creeping into the Church now that Christianity had become legal. Others had…
Originally posted on The Modern Monastic Order Of Saint Simon of Cyrene:
I had the privilege to speak at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service at Mount Nebo Baptist Church on Sunday, January 20th at 7 pm. The event was sponsored by the West Point Ministers Association. For some reason or another, I was…
And now, things begin in earnest. I was ordained into the Holy Diaconate of the Orthodox Church by His Grace Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Charleston, Oakland, & the Mid Atlantic. This took place at my home parish, St. Basil Orthodox Church in Hampton, on December 9th. All praised due to God. About … More Ordained for Evangelism
I grew up with traditional black Baptist revivals. Over the years, I’ve been to various conferences and services of different races and denominations. No matter what the event, there always seemed to be a push to get some sort of “high.” Perhaps from the keynote speaker, music concert, prayer session, something was supposed to give … More Ancient Christianity and Afro-American Conference 2018: A Sober Joy
Originally posted on A Beach Keeper's Journal:
I am no fan of heat and humidity. This is a combination that only gives misery and discomfort. Indeed, many people who like the outdoors dread this time of year because of temperatures in the nineties with enough humidity that it really feels as if it is…
The Brotherhood of St. Moses in Virginia met on July 24th at St. Basil Orthodox Church in Hampton to pray the Canon of Racial Reconciliation and a small Compline. For a reflection of early African Christianity, I pointed to Carthage. For those who forgot, or paid no attention in high school world history; Carthage was … More July Meeting: Carthage and the Faith of Outsiders
After dragging my feet way too long, I’ve called the VA Peninsula fellowship of the VA Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black together for a monthly meeting. Fr. James and I led the Compline prayers with the Canon for Racial Reconciliation. Following the prayers, I led a discussion about the role St. … More May Meeting Reflection
Desert Fathers Dispatch 