I'm happy to invite my colleague and friend, Emmanuel Sellers, to share and provide some thought provoking words during this time. Please take this time to read and understand. #Blacklivesmatter
Here's a little bit about him:
Born on July 15, 1995 in Portsmouth, VA to Ms. Vervette Sellers. Has two two younger brothers named Exavier & Ethan. Is an active member of the Young People's & Children's Division of AME Church. Has on served on the local & area as the president (2 years local; 2 years area), and currently serve as the Palmetto Conference 3rd Vice President. He enjoys music, mainly creating his own songs, with aspirations for a career a record label executive. I live by the simple code of God, Family (friends included), Music, & Sports in that order.
Favorite scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Here's his article, I really hope you enjoy!
"I'm Coming Home"
Emmanuel K. Sellers
Sept. 21, 2016
Proverbs 18:21 NET
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.
In light of all that has recently transpired in the past few days & weeks, I feel compelled to share a thought with you all. If you've been watching the news lately you've seen the recent wave of terror that has swept across the national media outlets. It's not anything too unfamiliar, but every time it happens, there is a new name to be added to the list. More and more of our own slaughtered for unjust reasons, and we sit helplessly and watch as it happens. We say their names: Terence Crutcher, Tyre King, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Jordan Davis, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin. Just to name a few. We march, cry for change, cry for indictments against the guilty party, have our leader give speeches from the press room at the White House. And then it happens again, every single time, over and over again. The cycle continues. Sons, daughters, Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends taken away from us because we look threatening and pose a subliminal danger to the society in which we live.
Why do I have to look at my brothers and wonder are they gonna come home safely from school. Why do I have to look at my mother and wonder if she's gonna come safe from work. Why do I look at myself and wonder am going to be able to go home safely after work. Why do I have to look at my Uncle Roy, an AME pastor, and wonder is someone going to come into his bible study and lay waste to the whole room. Why do I look at my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, and co workers and wonder is their face going to be the next one I see come across CNN. I look at my home town folks in Suffolk, VA and wonder am I gonna hear voices missing from the warmth that I've been accustomed to my whole life when I go visit. Why do I have to live my with the worry that someone I know and love might the victim of the hands of police brutality because the officers have no control over their own judgement and can't use the common sense God gave a squirrel.
We live in this America where we are guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But the most important thing in that is LIFE! WHY DO I NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO MY OWN LIFE?! WHY?! We live in this America where I am supposed to be able to play peacefully in the park. We live in this America where I am supposed to be able to walk into Greater St. Luke AME Church, or my home church Macedonia AME in Suffolk, and worship freely. We live in this America where I am supposed to be able to buy skittles and Arizona tea without being viewed as a threat. We live in this America where I am supposed to be able to call for help for my broken down car, and either drive off, or get a tow to take me to a mechanics shop. We live in this America where I AM GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. But I guess I didn't know that there were exceptions. I guess I made the mistake thinking that I can go worship. Maybe it's my mistake thinking I can play outside in the park. Maybe it's my mistake for putting my trust in people who are supposed to protect and serve the citizens of their community. Maybe it's my mistake for putting my trust in a person in a uniform who supposed to relay some assistance to my broken down car. Maybe it's my mistake for putting my trust and faith in people and not God! I didn't know that I was not afforded the same rights as those around me.
But this I do know. I know that it says in our scripture that "Death & LIFE are in the power of the tongue". And what that means is no matter the situation, if I speak with full conviction and faith in Jesus, that it shall be done in the perfect or ordered will of God. So right now I'm going to use my tongue and speak life not only over me but over you as well. First let me say to my mother Vervette, my brothers Ethan & Exavier, that I'm coming home. You will not see me on the news as a new name. I will come home. When ever I leave the house I will come home. No matter if I'm gone for 9 hours at work or 2 weeks on Vacation in Virginia, I WILL COME HOME!!!! I'm coming home. You all are coming home. You will not be a victim. God has his hands on you and you will come back home. I decree it in the name of Jesus you will come back home. To your families, to your loved ones, to your friends, to your life! You Will Come Back Home. The devil mighty busy! He got people out here doing his work. But as long as I am about the business of Father in Heaven I will come back home. Satan ain't gon get me. I WILL COME BACK HOME. Speak it over your life right now that you will come home. You will not be laid out in the street in blood, but laid down in your bed next your husband, your wife, your kids, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, friends: YOU WILL COME HOME!
God Bless You!
