At the Lott Carey Spring Missions Conference, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soares, Jr. delivered a sermon that resonated with the deep-seated pain and hope in a time when persons and communities are seeking solace and strength. His words, rooted in the biblical passage of Jeremiah 20:7-13, served as a reminder of the enduring power of faith to transform lives and overcome adversity.
The core of Dr. Soares’ message centered on the transformative power of God’s word. He depicted it as a fire, potent enough to consume fear and warm those burdened with weariness. In a world rife with challenges, from the generational pain of the Black community to the trials faced by clergy during the COVID-19 pandemic, he emphasized that God’s word provides the strength and courage to persevere.
Dr. Soares did not shy away from addressing the coldness of our world – a world where resources are abundant, yet basic needs remain unmet, where education is neglected, and women’s rights are curtailed by archaic laws. He spoke of a country that prioritizes foreign aid over domestic needs and churches led by preachers more focused on wealth than on societal issues like gentrification and oppression.
Despite the bleakness of these realities, Dr. Soares offered hope. He presented the word of God as a source of warmth, light, and guidance – an eternal flame that empowers us to help others and spread divine love. It is a beacon that illuminates our path amidst duplicity and lies, reassuring us of our divine heritage and the promise of salvation.
Dr. Soares likened the word of God to a generator during a power outage – not the power itself but a channel for the power of God. It is a word for the weary, a fire in our bones that gives us the strength to fight, work, and show up, even when the world turns cold.
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