Hi! I’m Donald. I’m 28 years old. I’m the oldest of two (Dominique is my younger sister) from loving parents (Donald & Regina) who raised me well and introduced me to God and the love of Jesus. I’m currently in seminary looking to, both finish a degree in the Fall and, take a gap year (The World Race); after which, I would like to go back and confer one last degree.
I work as the Study Abroad Coordinator at Liberty University. I thoroughly enjoy my job. It has taught me a lot about myself. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world and to lead student trips. This job has provided the opportunity to see how the Holy Spirit is moving across the globe and to see the body of Christ through new lens. I have learned from my job and my travels how much I enjoy building relationships across ethnic and cultural contexts.
I am a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax County, VA and Hill City Community Church (HC3) in Lynchburg, VA. Antioch is where I grew up, it’s my home. HC3 is also my home, it’s where I have learned the value of community and reconciliation (racial/ethnic, gender, and generational). I currently lead the Madison Heights Missional Community group with my brother in Christ, friend and roommate, Vincent.
I’m an athlete, reader, writer, photographer, traveler, enjoyer of coffee and tea, enjoyer of food. Family is important. Friends are valuable.
There is so much I want to say and yet, I feel there is little that needs to be said. So, allow me to conclude this introduction with a short synopsis of where I am at:
Here goes nothing…
I won’t say I have no fear. I will say, my faith in God supersedes any doubts or fears I do have. There are a lot of things that I am considering, praying through and about. I find myself exuberantly excited yet, tentative and uncertain. Nonetheless, the love and joy that is in my heart is so profound that I am giddy.
There are 5 scriptures that I would love to call to your attention. These scriptures have encouraged me and speak volume to how I am feeling:
- Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to die is gain, to live is Christ.”– My confidence and hope are in a life with Christ for eternity. I believe that eternity started when I received salvation. Yet, so long as I am on this side of heaven, my life is about living for Christ and the Kingdom of God now.
- Mark 8:36“What good is it for someone to gain the world yet forfeit their soul.”– The riches and materials of this world are of no true value. My treasure and reward are in heaven. I want to live for the long-awaited reward.
- Matthew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”– When I truly found Christ and understood my identify in him, I felt like I found true treasure.
- Ephesians 2:10“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – I was created by God for God. My identify is in Christ. I was created to usher in the Kingdom of God, to live out and share the truth and love of Jesus to all people, everywhere.
- Luke 14:28-35(this passage is long, so I don’t have it copied) I have counted the cost. The cost is high and to some foolish. Even so, I have evaluated it, counted it, and I still say, “here I am Lord…send me (I Samuel 3:4 and Isaiah 6:8).”
I hope with fervency that if you are reading this blog that you won’t say, wow, look at him. Good for him, he’ll do great. Instead I hope that you will agree with me that God has taken hold of my life, and He will do a great thing through me. I hope that you will come along side of me and pray with me and support me (financially, prayerfully, with kind words, etc.) however the Lord leads you. I’m amazed and blessed to be here. Three years ago (2015) I applied to the World Race, I wasn’t accepted. Now, here I am… I hope that you will join me in this journey.
With hope, through peace and in love,
Donald
