Jan 1st, 2026 - Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Praise the Lord we made it to 2026! Things have already been busy and in full swing, and there are numerous transitions and changes happening in my life, so please pray for me as I navigate this new year, and the territory that comes with it! Nonetheless, as a word of encouragement I’m holding on to the blog post I wrote at the end of last year. In 2026, I am determined to be a giant slayer. So with that being said, here’s an update on what’s happened in January! (Click here to read my blog post on giants!)
January 16th, 2026 - MLK Challenge Weekend
A little over a week ago from Jan 16th to 19th, roughly 40 students and staff gathered in Front Royal Virginia (a short drive outside Washington DC) for The Impact Movement’s Mid-Atlantic MLK Challenge and Retreat! For four days students from seven different universities fellowshipped with one another in worship, workshops, and excursions to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Some of the major sites we visited during the trip were visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and also the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Likewise, one of my personal major highlights during the weekend was visiting Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Gainesville Virginia. While there, the pastor of the church Rev George D. Carlisle delivered a powerful message about calling and anointing in context to David in 1 Samuel 16-17 (isn’t it ironic how giant slaying came up again?). Anyway, by the end of the sermon EVERY SINGLE ONE of the college students was bowing down on the altar in a posture of prayer. It was truly an incredible sight to see as that church really was a blessing to us that Sunday.
Lastly, one final highlight during the weekend was getting to see my friends. Personally, one of my favorite parts about traveling is getting to visit friends and family from all across the states. While visiting DC, I got to see one of my good friends from UMass, Selassie Kendrick, and while we were eating at a restaurant called Nando’s for the first time, we happened to stumble upon another one of my friends all the way back from high school! Like who could have planned that? We truly live in a small world.
And last but not least, while preparing to head back home to Massachusetts, I also got to visit my “extended family” in Williamsburg, VA and see my “little brother from another mother” Josiah Walston and celebrate his 18th birthday. The Walstons were sone of the first people I met in the Impact Movement in 2021. Ever since then, they are like a second family to me! So once again, it was a blessing to see them.
30 Day Passage Challenge - January 20th, 2026
Some of you might be familiar with something called “The Four,” the “KGP (Knowing God Personally Booklet),” the “The Big Story,” or something else. Needless to say, all of these tools are helpful guides in articulating the Gospel or the “Good News” of Jesus Christ; and because of that these tools are often used during outreach/evangelism.
So, with all that being said, while helping facilitate a workshop on outreach, I felt a nudging from the Lord to invite students to participate with me in a 30 day Gospel reading; and in the Impact Movement the resource that we use to articulate the Gospel is called “The Passage.” (Click Here to Read the Passage!) Therefore, as of today, numerous students have begun this journey with me of meditating on the passage daily! Pray that the words of the daily reading of the Gospel would mold and transform our lives! (and if you’re interested in joining this journey with us, let me know!)
Anyway, that is all for now! Thank you for reading, and God Bless!
My Prayer RequestS
1. Pray for my discernment regarding next steps and decisions!
2. Pray for the Impact Movement as there are a lot of changes happening in our infrastructure.
3. Pray for 5 college students as they start the spring semester.