{"id":1708,"date":"2021-03-11T22:25:10","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T22:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2021-03-11T22:30:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T22:30:32","slug":"oghs-because-healing-empowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2021\/03\/11\/oghs-because-healing-empowers\/","title":{"rendered":"OGHS: Because Healing Empowers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cMama O\u201d is a survivor, a healer.<\/p>\n

Her moment of greatest need led her to Black Women\u2019s Blueprint<\/a>, a civil and human rights organization headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2008, Black Women\u2019s Blueprint is specifically focused on the needs of Black women and girls. At 65 years of age, Mama O is among the eldest survivors of sexual violence in the organization.<\/p>\n

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Sisterhood and community through the Sistas Van.<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite living with the lifelong trauma that results from sexual violence, Mama O is a pillar of strength for other survivors, both young and old.\u00a0 One Great Hour of Sharing gifts are helping Black Women\u2019s Blueprint in its vital mission to take action on social justice issues and to deliver educational resources and support services to women like Mama O. Through their work, they seek to address the unique struggles of Black women and girls within the context of the larger racial justice concerns of Black communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough all of Mama O\u2019s ups and downs, she returns to community, holistically and ever-present,\u201d said Sevonna M. Brown, the organization\u2019s associate executive director. \u201cShe has continued to contribute creative healing arts and spiritual intercessory prayer on behalf of our survivor communities, carrying us through transitions, challenges and triumphs.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Community members receiving support from Black Women’s Blueprint during the pandemic.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Rev. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator for the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People<\/a>, the organization\u2019s partner, says, \u201cDespite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, Black Women\u2019s Blueprint continues to be out in the community addressing issues of trauma and providing things like food and housing assistance that people need in order to be whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mama O is just one example among the many women who now bless and lift up others, an ongoing benefit of the organization\u2019s partnership with the PC(USA), for which Brown is especially grateful.<\/p>\n

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Associate Executive Director Sevonna Brown packing groceries for community members impacted by COVID-19.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe want to share our gratitude for the continued leadership that the One Great Hour of Sharing and Self-Development of People partnerships have shown over the years,\u201d said Brown. \u201cWe are hopeful that times will grow brighter, and that we will come out on the other side of this with more wisdom, care, compassion and strategies for healing our communities and walking hand in hand towards a future of greater possibilities and opportunities to center survivors as the key to community thriving and justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, programs like Black Women\u2019s Blueprint are lifting up women just like Mama O. Every gift makes a difference in the life of someone who deserves God\u2019s love and support; someone who deserves our love and support. We are the Church, together<\/em>. And when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.<\/p>\n

Let us pray<\/h4>\n

May our healing spring up quickly, as the prophet Isaiah proclaims. May these gifts, God our physician, be a balm and medication for your people and your world. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Join us<\/h4>\n

For more information and resources related to One Great Hour of Sharing, please visit pcusa.org\/oghs<\/a>.
\nThis post is based on a Minute for Mission which can be found as a script<\/a> and a video<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please give generously to the Offering:<\/p>\n