The Rev. Brenda Brown-Grooms speaks to me about the importance of community, hard conversations, and paying attention to the people around us. Rev. Brown-Grooms talks about what led her to New Beginnings Christian Community in 2011 to co-pastor with Rev. Liz Emrey, the founder of the church. Rev. Brown-Grooms has also been an active member of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective. She will […]
Christian Picciolini is a former neo-Nazi leader who now devotes his life to helping people leave white supremacist and other extremist groups. He is the author of White American Youth: My Descent into America’s Most Violent Hate Movement–and How I Got Out. I had a moment to speak with Christian about compassion and empathy before his presentation at Mt. Zion […]
I participated in supporting the clergy response against the alt-right rally in Charlottesville. Recently, my heart was cut to the quick when I reread Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Particularly convicting was the first of two confessions by King: “First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the […]
On July 8, a group affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan came to my town, Charlottesville, Virginia. They came to protest the planned removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee in one of our city parks. I’m part of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, a group of faith leaders who have been meeting to discuss racial issues in our community. […]
Several months ago, my friend and fellow coach Ken Kessler issued a challenge to other coaches. He asked: “What are at least ten ways you can think of to encourage a coaching client?” Ken’s question inspired me to think of how I would answer. Here are my ten ways to encourage coaching clients. 1. Encourage by believing in the client. […]
Another Easter has come and gone. So how can our lives be different this year, post-Easter? Sunday, I attended the Easter Sunday service at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. During worship, my friend Lance King, the Pastor of Chestnut Grove, delivered a sermon that is still resonating in my heart and my spirit. I want to share my takeaways from the […]