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Reverend Carolyn Williams

Chapter Title: Stronger, Wiser, Better

Signature Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct thy path."

  • Church Membership: Ebenezer Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA

  • Reverend Williams’ Background: A retired Officer Manager for over thirty years with The Salvation Army Developmental Disabilities Program, born and raised in Texas, but has called Philadelphia her home for over thirty years. A graduate of Manna Bible Institute and is currently enrolled at Sliddell Baptist Seminary, serving God in the teaching and word ministry over 14 years ministering to abused and displaced women.

  • Reverend Williams’ Testimony: While I value my Call to teach, I also have a passion for working with pregnant teens and battered women because that was my story. I empathized with women who were in an abusive marriage and were being torn between their marriage vows and their physical safety.

  • Reverend Williams’ Reflections: I’m stronger, I’m wiser, I’m better and if I could go back in time and speak with my younger self at the start of my ministry, I would advise me to find a strong female mentor. I would tell the younger Carolyn to connect with a dedicated woman of God who could analyze her walk and guide her through the stumbles and speed bumps that are inherent in ministry. In fact, I would caution younger Carolyn that while her relationship with God was to be her highest priority, there will also be five other important elements of her ministry: love for others, demonstrating compassion, operating in the Gift of Helps, being a drum major for listening to the Holy Spirit and accepting people where they are. I would warn her while these key elements seem simple, they are extremely challenging to walk-in daily and will require constant prayer.

  • Reverend Williams’ Observations: Working in Human Services for over thirty years, I understood how pregnant teens and battered women often felt trapped and broken; blaming themselves for their situations. Trapped women stay attached to their situations longer because it is a “Familiar Spirit” even though it is not of God. When you’re in a dysfunctional relationship long enough, you start to believe that’s all you’ll ever have because you’re not worthy of anything better. These feelings develop into shame and separation from people who can help them with spiritual nurturance through God’s Word.

  • Reverend Williams’ Challenges: Interacting with men who won't allow women clergy in their pulpits continues to be a challenge for me. Some men recognize my anointing, but they try to minimize its impact by not taking me seriously. Man will talk you up today and talk you down tomorrow. I'm always polite and respectful and will allow mild slights to go unnoticed. God has Called me to be humble and to remember my gift will make room for me and open doors for me as in Proverbs 18:16.

  • Reverend Williams’ Most Significant Accomplishment: Working with abused and depressed women, I address their need to know their situation is not the end, but rather an opportunity for God to do a new thing in their lives. They need to see and be encouraged by someone like me, who made it out of an abusive and unhappy marriage. They need to see someone like me, who didn't just survive, but who is thriving thanks to God's grace, mercy, and favor. They need to hear their “latter days shall be better than their former days” as in Job 8:7, and “no weapon formed against them shall prosper” as in Isaiah 54:17, and “greater is He who is in thee, than he who is in the world” as in 1 John 4:4-6. They need to be told "all things work together for the good of them who are the Called of God" as in Romans 8:28. They need to understand God wants them to let go of their "Broken down Boo" so He can give them their "Brand new Boaz".

  • Reverend Williams’ Vision for the Church: Our congregations are less focused on what we do inside the church and more focused on “The Message” and the service we give outside of the church. Many urban churches have children experiencing adult problems of physical and sexual assaults, drug and alcohol abuse, physical and mental illness and even homelessness. Their adult parents are frazzled. These problems have caused our preached messages to change. We haven’t changed the core of the message, which is Jesus saves, but we’ve updated the parables to connect and encourage our members. Jesus spoke in parables so the common man could understand His heavenly message and we as clergy have changed our preaching and teaching. We want to connect with our congregation so they too can understand our heavenly message and apply it to their daily living.

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