Apr 26, 2024 |
WLSU, Conversations with Nancy
| Guest Speaker
WLSU, Conversations with Nancy
My guest today is the Reverend Dr. Herschel Wade. Herschel is the Associate for Discipleship here at the Church of the Redeemer, and I am so grateful for him. He has been with us for just a few short months in this job and he's still relatively new to the priesthood, but he brings so much to the table, so much passion, so much energy, so much joy and laughter, and so much thoughtfulness.
While growing up, my life at home was never peaceful or stable. My father ran the streets and slept around with other women. He spent little time at home. When he was at home, he physically, emotionally, and psychologically abused my mother and beat us regularly at the drop of a dime. My mother turned full-alcoholic and gave up on everything except trying to keep my father from leaving for good. The long fight to keep him and endure the abuse would effectively break her spirit and strip her of her remaining dignity. She never seemed to recover.
Somehow through the beatings, I hit a breaking point. I grew tired of watching him beat my mother while courting and pampering other women, who could not have loved my father as much as my mother did. One night stands out in my mind. Like a crazy fool, I attempted to stop one of my father’s attacks on my mother. He was beating her on our front porch for the world to see, again. “Leave my mama alone Goddammit. Leave my mother alone!” My father chased me down the street. You damn right to assume he did not catch me. Had he caught me, the chance of me being able to retell this story would be less zero! The effects were no less devastating. My father kicked me out of the house; my mother packed my bags. Sadly, my actions that night would have long lasting effects on my younger sister. She, too, caught the “I don’t give a damn bug” and cussed my father out minutes after my departure. She would depart in the same way I did that night. She was twelve and would not return for years—yes, years.
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When he opens his mouth you are going to laugh and you're going to think that is going to happen. I'm so grateful for that. His sermons remind me daily. Every time I hear him preach, I am reminded of the importance of prayer. Obedience to Christ following Jesus no matter what. And he's lived that in his own life.
He's lived out and he continues to live out the desire to follow Jesus. No matter what this position associate for discipleship is new at church of the Redeemer, but it's important for us. To focus as we move forward into the next chapter of our church's life, to focus on our following our discipleship, our decision to pick up our crosses and follow Jesus for our entire lives.
And I believe Herschel is just the person to help us understand how to do that. I'm so grateful for him and grateful for him contributing to the podcast today. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Somehow through the beatings, I hit a breaking point. I grew tired of watching him beat my mother while courting and pampering other women, who could not have loved my father as much as my mother did. One night stands out in my mind. Like a crazy fool, I attempted to stop one of my father’s attacks on my mother. He was beating her on our front porch for the world to see, again. “Leave my mama alone Goddammit. Leave my mother alone!” My father chased me down the street. You damn right to assume he did not catch me. Had he caught me, the chance of me being able to retell this story would be less zero! The effects were no less devastating. My father kicked me out of the house; my mother packed my bags. Sadly, my actions that night would have long lasting effects on my younger sister. She, too, caught the “I don’t give a damn bug” and cussed my father out minutes after my departure. She would depart in the same way I did that night. She was twelve and would not return for years—yes, years.
Want to support our podcast?
Give Here https://redeemercincy.tpsdb.com/Give/podcast
