Beyond the Suffering Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction Hebrews 12:1-3 “So Great a Cloud of Witnesses”

Session One “Ask for the Ancient Paths” Jeremiah 6:16

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

Co-Authors

Co-Editors

My Story/My Calling

Capital Bible Seminary

A Voice for the Voiceless

A Gift to and a Gift from African Americans Gift To: Validate Gift From: Value

Hebrews 12:1-3—Cloud of Witnesses “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Surrounded by Witnesses

Not a Bunch of Coach Potatoes, Out-of-Shape Fans

Surrounded by World Class Spiritual Witnesses Noah Daniel Abraham

Surrounded by World Class Spiritual Athletes! Lovie Smith, Head Coach, Chicago Bears Jon Kitna, Starting QB, Detroit Lions Tony Dungy Head Coach Indianapolis Colts

Surrounded by World Class African American Spiritual Witnesses

Entering Historical HurtEngaging Historical Hope Beyond the Suffering Genesis 16:13 “Let us throw off hindrances and sin and let us run with perseverance the race set before us”

Whet Your Appetite

Session One “Ask for the Ancient Paths” Jeremiah 6:16

“Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). Ask for the Ancient Paths

Following the Ancient Paths Helping Hurting and Hardened People Can Feel Like a Maze!

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Need Some Directions?

Following the Ancient Paths We Need a Biblical, Historical GPS for Helping Hurting and Hardened People

Ask for the Ancient Paths A Bunch of Dead White Guys! A Great Multicultural Cloud of Witnesses!

The Ancient Path of Spiritual Care Provides a Biblical, Multicultural, and Historical Approach for Soul Care: Healing for Hurts and for Spiritual Direction: Grace for Our Disgrace Ask for the Ancient Paths

Our Historical Treasure Map: Sustaining, Healing, Reconciling, and Guiding ♥ Sustaining: “It’s Normal to Hurt” ♥ Healing: “It’s Possible to Hope” ♥ Reconciling: “It’s Horrible to Sin, but Wonderful to Be Forgiven” ♥ Guiding: “It’s Supernatural to Mature”

Our Treasure Map: Sustaining— “It’s Normal to Hurt” ♥ Permission to Grieve ♥ Empathy ♥ Climbing in the Casket

Sustaining Felt by Octavia Albert “It was in the fall of 1879 that I met Charlotte Brooks. I have spent hours with her listening to her telling of her sad life of bondage in the cane-fields of Louisiana.” Listening to the Earthly Story

Sustaining Felt by Octavia Albert “Poor Charlotte Brooks! I can never forget how her eyes were filled with tears when she would speak of all her children: ‘Gone, and no one to care for me!’” Compassionate Commiseration

Sustaining Shared by Octavia Albert “Aunt Charlotte, my heart throbs with sympathy, and my eyes are filled with tears, whenever I hear you tell of the trials of yourself and others.” Shared Sorrow Is Endurable Sorrow

Sustaining Felt by Aunt Charlotte “La, me, child! I never thought any body would care enough for me to tell of my trials and sorrows in this world! None but Jesus knows what I have passed through.” Jesus with Skin On!

Jesus With Skin on Him!

Our Treasure Map: Healing— “It’s Possible to Hope” ♥ Christ in the Picture ♥ Celebrating the Empty Tomb

Healing Preached by Absalom Jones ♥ Exodus 3:7-8—“A Thanksgiving Sermon” ♥ “In this situation, they were not forgotten by the God of their fathers, and the Father of the human race. Though, for wise reason, he delayed to appear in their behalf, yet he was not indifferent to their sufferings.”

Healing: God Has Seen! (13 Times!) ♥ Our text tells us that he saw their afflictions, and heard their cry: his eye and his ear were constantly open to their complaint: every tear they shed was preserved, and every groan they uttered was recorded, in order to testify at a future day, against the authors of their oppressions.”

Healing: God Came Down! (4 Times!) ♥ But our text goes further: it describes the judge of the world to be so much moved with what he saw and what he heard, that he rises from his throne to come down from heaven in his own person, in order to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians. Glory to God for this precious record of his power and goodness.”

Healing Modeled by Absalom Jones ♥ When Life Stinks, Our Perspective Shrinks ♥ God Perspective: “God Is Good All the Time!” ♥ Eternal Perspective: “What Is God Up to?” ♥ Spiritual Perspective: 2 Corinthians 1:9

Our Treasure Map: Reconciling ♥ Horrible to Sin ♥ Wonderful to Be Forgiven ♥ Grace Superabounds!

Reconciling Practiced by Chaplain White “I came to see you, not to discuss a point of law as to the nature of your trial, for that is all useless, my friend, and I must tell you that today, at 12 o’clock you will be executed—yes, you will be shot. Now, let you and myself kneel down and address a throne of grace where you may obtain mercy and help in time of need.”

Reconciling: Sitting on the Casket! “I told him to stand up and walk with me. I took his arm, and went out to the gate where thousands of persons had assembled to see him. He entered the wagon, and sat on his coffin. I then got in with him, took a seat by his side, and commenced talking and praying all the way.”

Reconciling: In Christ Alone! “Do you believe that Jesus will be with you?” “Yes.” “Do you put all your trust in him?” “I do.” “Do you believe that you will be saved?” “I do; for though they may destroy my body, they cannot hurt my soul.”

Reconciling: In Christ Alone! “Forgive, him—forgive, O thou Blessed Jesus, for thou didst die for all mankind, and bid them to come unto thee, and partake of everlasting life. Save him, Lord—save him, for none can save but thee, and thee alone. Amen. Good-by, my brother, good-by.”

Reconciling Modeled by Chaplain White ♥ Loading the Conscience with Guilt, It’s Horrible to Sin, Exposing Shame, Repentance ♥ Lightening the Conscience with Grace, It’s Wonderful to be Forgiveness, Exposing Shalom, Mercy ♥ Dispensers of Grace

Our Treasure Map: Guiding ♥ Supernatural to Mature ♥ Empowering ♥ Equipping

Guiding Shared by Mother Jones ♥ “‘Lord, is there no way out of this?’ As I wept and prayed, the Lord sent Mother Jones.” ♥ “Well, this is just the way Jones used to do me. But when God sanctified my soul, He gave me enduring grace, and that is what you need.”

Guiding Received by Sister Smith ♥ “That is just what I needed. I have always been planning to get out of trials, instead of asking God for grace to endure.”

Guiding Modeled by Mother Jones ♥ Spirit-led availability. ♥ Humble story-sharing. ♥ Finding God is more important than finding relief. ♥ The grace that saves from sin also provides victory over sin.

Following the North Star “Every night before emerging from our hiding-place we would anxiously look for our friend and leader— the North Star.”

Following the North Star “Instead of N-S-E-W, our soul care and spiritual direction compass-points read S-H-R-G.”

Our Great a Cloud of Witnesses 1.Embracing African American sustaining like Octavia Albert 2.Embracing African American healing like Rev. Jones 3.Embracing African American reconciling like Chaplain White 4.Embracing African American guiding like Mother Jones

Beyond the Suffering Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction Hebrews 12:1-3 “So Great a Cloud of Witnesses”