Our Blog

A chance to talk with Jesse Cole

main image

As I stare at the portrait of Mr. Jesse Cole, I cannot help but think that the members of the First Baptist Church Nassau Street Descendant Community and I would like to spend a few minutes with him. We want to hear what compelled him to donate land and a building to free and enslaved African Americans here in Williamsburg to gather and worship. As we struggle in the 21st century with the unresolved and difficult conversation on race in Virginia, and in the country, we feel that he could perhaps help us to understand a lot by sharing the reason for his decision. It had to be an unpopular and even dangerous position to take centuries ago. What could it have been? Was it his faith in a God that loves us all? We need just a few minutes with you Mr. Cole.

Posted by Connie Harshaw with 1 Comments

The Togolese Population Needs Water

main image

In the past quarter-century, the percentage of the Togolese population with access to safer water sources has been steadily increasing from less than 50 percent in 1990 to 63.1 percent in 2015. Despite this improvement, water quality in Togo is still relatively poor with more than 30 percent of its population that remains unable to obtain water safe for consumption. In rural areas, the population suffers from health complications due to a lack of access to clean drinking water sources and sanitation. As Pastor of the First Baptist Church, I will join Senior Pastor Michael Simone of Spring Branch Community Church in Virginia Beach, VA and father of Rev. Travis Simone of the Williamsburg Community Chapel and others on a mission to improve the situation and bring hope to the villages of Togo, West Africa. I want to hear from the congregation and visitors on other things that we can do to help the government and private citizens in providing aid to the villages of Togo.

Praise

main image
Praise is a poet's rhapsody, full of admiration for a guardian whose reckless love has saved their life/soul.
 
A symphony of voices singing Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord
 
Praise is a young child's prayer thanking the Lord at night before bed
It is the twirls and jumps of dancers and the bold expressions of mimes telling the story of deliverance
 
Praise is the joining of a congregation coming to celebrate their blessings and the release from tribulations
 
Praise is extending a hand to a sister in Christ pulling her out of her stupor, It's giving your brother the strength to carry on
To push forward and don't give up 
 
Praise is spreading love to those who are considered undesirable
 
Praise is calling out to God even when things are rough because while I breathe , I hope 
 
And I as long as I have breath in my body, I will glorify him in every way I can.
 
Declaring him the One and Only ruler of My Soul 
 
Because as Psalms 71:8 says:"My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long".
 
This is an original poem written by Ms. Demetria George on Saturday, August 3, 2019 for a special service at the Historic First Baptist Church.
Posted by Demetria George

123456