Washington Media Pioneers saw a” Dream Deferred” as a “test” for #HealingAmerica. It would require an alternative vision of America’s future. Stephanie called on a few friends in the profession to “be the ones we’ve waited for. Photo (c) 1991 Marvin T. Jones & Associates.
By Stephanie A. Walker
Stradford and Eric Stradford, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
AMWS, February 23, 2016,
Atlanta – Stephanie A. Walker Stradford, Chair, Board of Directors, Youth Achievers USA Institute, awakened from a peaceful night sleep in her
own bed to report from her own perspective, her status and experience with a
recent medical diagnosis.
“I’m blessed,” she
declared. “Praising God for the test-i-mony.” The
“assumption of power” clause in her corporate by-laws, legally invoked prior to XI DAVINCI
ROBOTIC surgery, has been
rescinded. Now, whatever you’ve heard about “cancer,”
chances are you won’t see it or even believe in it until (a) it makes you feel
different, or (b) somebody you trust says you have it. It’s like one in 2.1 billion Christians on
Earth explaining Jesus to a dead guy. You’ve
got to hear the story more than once.
Since, trust is so hard to
come by, many historically disadvantaged Americans rely on their faith that “this too shall pass.” With ObamaCare firmly
entrenched into laws of the land, more and more cancer patients are confronting bad news with proactive Psalms. It seems, the more believers share their
personal story, fewer unbelievers walk around feeling hopeless about their
circumstances.
On the 6 am prayer call,
Stephanie shared in morning meditation with believers and bedazzled that which only they could appreciate. Pastor Kenneth
E. Marcus, Senior Pastor, Cathedral
of Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Marietta, GA convenes the
Lenten Season morning devotions as daily, proactive treatment for healing sick
folk. (6:00 am EST Mon – Sat. 1-712-432-3900 - Access Code: 586149#)
For Stephanie, a late
evening call from “her pastor” could have been Dr. Marcus, or it might have
been The Reverend William “Rick” Henley, Senior Pastor of the Beulah Baptist
Church, Philadelphia, PA. Stephanie’s 102 year old grandmother, Laurena
Puriefoy Walker and her husband Deacon J. D. Walker, invested spiritual value
in Henley’s West Philadelphia congregation since 1926. The investment continues to net returns for
Stephanie as one of their own.
At one point, friends like
Janice
Rubin, Philadelphia High School
for Girls, trekked Jewish Prayers from somewhere between California and Miami
Beach, FL just to make sure both Old and New Testament beliefs were still in
sync. And, of course there’s the
YouthUSA Corporate Village, bound by the alternate reality, “I believe I can
achieve whatever I believe I can achieve.”
One might perceive a
Facebook text from Penelope “Penny” Vails-Williams to be her late brother, Stellar Gospel Recording Artist Reverend Dr. Donald Vails “channeling” positive energy to a sick
friend. In Texas, Pastor Evangelist
Linda Holliday, wife of Matlock Actor Kene Holliday texted reports from the “War Room” that prayer changes things—fervent,
effectual prayer of few righteous friends changes things big-time. Geographically miles apart, but in the same
War Room, if you believe in a strong offensive strategy, The Reverend Dr.
Cecelia Williams Bryant is “in pursuit of the authentic MANIFESTATION
of the power of GOD in the earth realm.” Fellow NBC Media Pioneer, Reverend Aisha
Karima weighed in from
Washington, DC, “still prayin.” Rev. Dr. Debyii Sababu-Thomas, no stranger to barefoot benedictions, brought closure with a pinch of
emotion, “We love you.”
Depending on that which
you choose to believe, Stephanie’s “cancer” is a perception of reality with an
undetermined outcome. Dr. Jeffrey S. Cohen is awaiting lab reports as a follow-up
to Friday afternoon’s surgical procedure.
For the Thomas type of believer, the evidence may be more complex than
you are ready, willing and able to receive.
The prescription may be even tougher to swallow.
The testimony usually
starts with a test. Stephanie’s “test-i-mony”
started with a diagnosis or professional medical opinion of Dr. C. Gregory Nesmith, Atlanta Gastroenterology. He
took pictures—digital images, printed some copies, and suggested surgery to
remove a malignant polyp in a section of her colon. The surgery was delayed due to back-to-back
abnormal EKG tests.
Along the way Stephanie’s
Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Stanley Dysart, injected prayer along with a double shot of Cortizone. Chiropractor Dr. Patricia
Cohen, no relation to Jeffrey,
applied a holistic hug. After
consultations, examinations and more tests with primary care physician Dr. Suzanne Starke, and Cardiologist Dr. Ayushi Ahuja, Stephanie’s “test-i-mony” had rallied a whole village of medical
professionals, engaging them in an evolving story about faith and works.
The patient met with her
surgical team to pray for them individually and collectively. She took a praise pill to relax
herself, and quietly headed for the operating room. Dr. Cohen’s team powered up the XI DAVINCI at
Northside Hospital, Cherokee, GA for a ROBOTIC LAPAROSCOPIC LEFT COLECTOMY WITH
SPLENIC FLECTURE MOBILIZATION. “Can I watch?”
asked the official care partner. “No.
They won’t let us do that,” Dr. Cohen replied.
At that moment, all of a
400 year historically disadvantaged gulf of mistrust came down to the pronoun,
“they.” There was little comfort from
healers and holy rollers that met a cadence set some two thousand years
ago. John 11:4 - But when Jesus heard
about it he said, “The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory
of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this situation.”
In John 11:43 - Jesus
shouted a prescription for raising dead folk, “Lazarus, come out!” Then later in John 14:13 - Jesus empowered
believers for generations to come with promise and provision for making things
happen. “You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for
this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for
you.”
Dr. Sharon Davis Williams,
a close friend and prayer partner shared a word about “Fervent” at a private
birthday brunch just days before Stephanie’s surgery. Her text messages during the hospital stay
ministered healing through the simple word, “walk.” Dr. Williams was headed out for a long walk
as part of her own healing process. As
new “walking partners,” Stephanie saw that maybe this sister gets it.
Stephanie dumped part of
her prayer list on Sharon as a demonstration of how the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution might work in a “more perfect union.” In a memo on “Heavy Lifting,” Stephanie
shared with Dr. Williams the Money-n-the-Bank goals of some fifty YouthUSA
Beneficiaries of diverse beliefs.
Collectively, they share a corporate statement of faith, “I believe I
can achieve whatever I believe I can achieve.
Individually, they represent substance of hope for #HealingAmerica.
Some of the people in this
“test-i-mony” or, if you prefer, “cancer” watch things happen. They are 49% of the folks you meet. Another 49% are still wondering what’s
happening. They are waiting on the lab
to confirm that the best is yet to come.
Then there’s the 2%, those on the prayer team, the medical team, the
ministries of learning and earning. They
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
Stephanie’s beloved “Two
Percenters” are uniquely endowed to write the vision for an “IN GOD WE TRUST” constituency. But, to achieve
that which they individually and collectively believe, they’ll need more trust
than most political candidates and religious leaders have been ready,
willing and able to invest.
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