MY JOURNEY/MY STORY

My journey in seeking to serve vulnerable and marginalized children, youth, and families in addition to serving persons considered to be among "the least of these," began when I was led by God to resign from my position as an engineer to pursue my advanced degrees in clinical psychology. This was the beginning of my quest to obtain the degree that I felt was needed to do the work that my heart and soul longed to do. And what a journey that proved to be! With bags packed and the U-Haul filled with all of my belongings, I was off to to pursue my Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Clinical Psychology.  With the funds that I was able to save, I expected same to cover the cost of my tuition and living experiences with ease. Little did I know and to my surprise, what appeared to be sufficient funds, in my mind, were quickly depleted after the first semester. In realizing that I did not have the funds needed to pursue my advanced degrees in clinical psychology, I did not let that stop me or deter me, as I turned to God in fervent prayer. I prayed without ceasing that I would make an "A" in all of my classes, in hope of receiving a multi-year scholarship that would cover the full cost of my tuition and basic living expenses.

As a 25-year-old female from the south, the unexpected financial challenges encountered served to strengthen my faith, trust and belief in God, as I remained focused on my academics while seeking and searching for any funds that may have been available. I had no idea how expensive it would be to move from the south to the District of Columbia to attend an out-of-state, private university. Nevertheless, I remained persistent in prayer, and I am pleased to share that God heard and answered my prayers, as I watered my pillow with tears throughout the night, with my days being spent showing up for class while actively searching for the funds needed to keep a roof over my head, from one month to the next.  And, I am so very grateful to members of my family, friends, professors and mentors that showed compassion and concern in seeking to assist me to the best of their abilities.  I, also, am grateful for persons within the  University's financial aid department for offering me a parttime position, as I continued to pour my heart out to God in prayer, while continuing to seek out any additional resources and support  that may have been available.  I, thoroughly, enjoyed working in the financial aid office, which was the beginning of my ministry of service to others, as I looked forward to talking with and assisting the students that I was blessed to serve.  Several of whom also were in desperate need of funding to cover their tuition and living expenses; students that were, at times, unable to hold back their tears, as we discussed and sought a solution to their financial needs and related challenges.  I looked forward to assisting and advocating for the students; and I'm pleased to share that God came through for many of them and also for me, in blessing me with the multi-year scholarship that I prayed that I would receive, which exceeded my expectations!

Moving to the District of Columbia to pursue my advanced degrees in clinical psychology without knowing how I was going to cover the cost of tuition or keep a roof over my head, from one month to the next, was the beginning of my ministry of prayer, as I witnessed how God faithfully answered my prayers, as I remained focused on God while remaining prayerful throughout the day.  My experience in working with students who also were in desperate need of funding to cover their tuition and living expenses was the beginning of my ministry of service to persons in need of information, resources, and support, which remains a passion of mine to this day.  My ability to assist the students that I was blessed to work with brought great joy to my heart and soul, as I, simultaneously, remained focused on my academics while remaining persistent in prayer and laser focused on my academics. And, when I was almost convinced that I was going to be forced to pack my bags and head back south, as a result of not having the funds needed to cover rent for the upcoming month, I received a check in the mail with my name on it, from my former employer, which was just enough to cover the following month’s rent.  And, as I was starting to wonder if I would be able to achieve my Dream in becoming a licensed clinical psychologist, I can, joyfully and enthusiastically, say that the support received from my research chair and academic advisor in the form of a trainee assistantship grant allowed me to make it through the first year.  And God, subsequently, came through and exceeded my expectations in blessing me with the multi-year scholarship that absolved me of my persistent financial woes, worries and concerns.  I remained hopeful and persistent in prayer while persevering in putting in the work required to succeed with unwavering faith, hope, trust, and believe in God, with steadfast focus and determination in achieving my dream of being and becoming a licensed clinical psychologist, while concluding that the acronym Ph.D. stood for "Perseverance, hard-work and Determination".  God subsequently allowed me to know that my Ph.D. actually stood for "Prayer, healing, and Deliverance", while providing me with the name of the ministry along with what the acronym L.E.T.'S. RAP™ Ministries stood for, which I wholeheartedly received, accepted, and embraced.  

VOCATIONALLY

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I have been able to provide high quality, culturally-informed services to vulnerable children, youth, adolescents, families, and couples across settings, to include working within a pastoral counseling group practice and within community-based settings, which included working at a child and family therapy center, child advocate network center, and in school-based settings, to include working within a school for students with differing abilities and diverse learning styles. I, also, was blessed to serve as a Multisystem Therapy (MST) consultant with MST Services, Inc. And, it was a true honor and a privilege to be invited to join the teaching staff at my Alma Mater.  I, subsequently, was presented with the opportunity to serve as an associate director of training at Argosy University/DC campus. And in being concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of Soldiers returning from their deployments during the extended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the related stigma related to help-seeking behavior, I began to feel a burden that I couldn’t shake, especially in learning that the suicide rate among Soldiers far exceeded the national average, at that time. As such, I was led to join the United States Army Reserve and subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Following my deployment, I remained committed to working with service members as a Military and Family Life Counselor/Consultant and as a dual status military technician.  In 2019, I was led me to apply to seminary with a sense of urgency, which culminated in my accepting admissions at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in 2020.  A seminary journey and experience that I thoroughly enjoyed, culminating with the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree with a concentration in Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation and Certificate in Baptist Studies Program.

Attending seminary was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, in that, I am a life-long learner who absolutely enjoys reading and studying the Bible, with the Bible being my absolute favorite book to read.  A book that I look forward to reading over and over again, with revelation knowledge and insight being acquired as a result of same.  I also delight in listening to the audio version of the Bible over and over again, as I receive new revelation and insight, as revealed by God through God’s Spirit. I, absolutely, love learning and acquiring new insight and new knowledge about God and the Word of God. And there is nothing that I enjoy more than being challenged within academic settings, while applying what I learn to myself and to life in general.  In being a people person, I absolutely love people, to include persons that people may have given up on or consider to be difficult to love, to include persons who may struggle to see the good in themselves or in others. I also enjoy motivating and inspiring people to be all that God created and desires that they be, in pursuing and achieving their God-ordained purpose, from a spiritual, strengths-based perspective. While I delight in working with and serving all people across the spectrum, I have a special interest in serving with and alongside persons who may feel overlooked, unappreciated, marginalized, unseen, and ostracized by people and society, in motivating, inspiring, encouraging and supporting them in their quest to be and become all that God created them to be, in spirit and in truth. 

This is achieved through the use of God-inspired experiential, educational-based books, learning modules, and teaching tools that take draw on and incorporate much of what I have learned, acquired, and received over the course of my life and throughout my diverse educational, vocational, clinical, administrative, teaching, consulting, spiritual, and ministry-based experiences in serving and working alongside vulnerable children, youth, families, young adults and couples, with ALL honor, glory and praise going to God and to God alone!