As evolutionary Christians, we are dedicated to increased intellectual and spiritual growth. From time to time, we invite guests from all backgrounds and walks of life to help expand our horizons.
Guest speakers are often clergy who are known for a powerful message and a compelling presentation of it.
Interviewees are noteworthy people whose faith has often been a driving force in their outstanding contributions and leadership. Our Pastor interviews these interesting people about their life experience and their faith.
2/17/17
Betty Daniels Rosemond, a native of New Orleans has lived in Cincinnati for the last 55 years. Betty left LSU to become a member of the Congress of Racial Equality, or C.O.R.E. as a
Freedom Rider under the leadership of Dr. James Farmer.
She was among those who picketed Woolworth’s in New Orleans. She went in one day and sat down at the lunch counter that was for whites only because she wanted her mother to be able to sit at any lunch counter she wanted.
As a Freedom Rider, she rode across the country with other young people from many different backgrounds. testing bus stations to see if they were in compliance with the ICC’s ruling that banned discrimination on intrastate travel. The Freedom Riders were faced with violence of epic proportions and even death. They faced much opposition and hostility but they accomplished their mission.
In 1961, she nearly lost her life during a Freedom Ride in Polarville, Mississippi. She was arrested in Alexandria Virginia during a sit-in at a downtown restaurant that only served whites.
She appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show with 189 surviving Freedom Riders to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first Freedom ride. Said Winfrey, “As an African American woman born in Mississippi in the South, I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Freedom Riders, as do we all. I know my life would be different were it not for them.”
November 9th, 2011, the National Women’s Law Center honored Mrs. Rosemond along with 14 other women Freedom Riders at their annual dinner in Washington D.C. They met privately with President Barak Obama, who gave them each a hug and kiss on the cheek. He noted that the Freedom Riders helped him make it to the White House in their efforts to advance equality in America a half-century ago.
In October, 2014 she was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
Today, Betty Daniels Rosemond is a poet and inspirational speaker who love the Lord and credits his grace and mercy for her being here today. When asked if she would get on that bus today, her response is, “Absolutely. Any cause worth living for is a cause worth dying for.”
3/26/17
Reverend Sarah Griffith Lund, author of Blessed Are the Crazy
I was that kid who the teacher called on to stay inside during recess to help students who needed extra time taking tests. No wonder I grew up to be a minister! Ever since college I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to serving God and helping others. I majored in religious studies in college at Trinity University, graduated with a Master of Divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, and also received a Master of Social Work degree at Rutger’s University. Ministry and Social Work blend together my two passions of loving God and loving my neighbors. I was ordained into Christian ministry by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2002 and began serving as a local church pastor in 2003. I’ve served large and small congregations in Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. In 2011 I earned my Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary with a focus on revitalizing the local church. My thesis is entitled, “The Challenges to Building a Beloved Community on Facebook.” I served the church as a Regional Minister, providing support and guidance to dozens of congregations in the United Church of Christ throughout central and western Florida. In November of 2014, I began serving as a Vice President for Seminary Advancement at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. I am excited about sharing part of the story about my family, faith, and mental illness with the world in my new book Blessed are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family, and Church. (2014, Chalice Press). I continue to be amazed at the resilience and strength of family bonds, as I give thanks for my own family nearly every day.