Chris and I are still enjoying life in Key West.

We are both plugging away at our studies. I hope to be finished with my certification as a Christian Counselor by the end of the month, then on to Phase II to get certified in dealing with addictions and depression.

Martin is ministering to inmates in Ghana, and praying fervently, as am I, for God to bring him and his boys (Mark 12 and Abraham 14) here to Key West. God has me busy here, so it looks like I will not be going to Africa to minister and help with the orphanage hands-on until next year. You can get updates on the orphanage here.

The Aids Memorial in Key West

I have been busy with the ministry and working with fundraising so I can continue with the work that God has set before me—the orphanage in Ghana, this magazine, and personal ministry with women from all walks of life here in Key West.

Just the other day, I met a woman at a beach who was sitting amongst her companions, most of whom were homeless and un-bathed. We spoke of the homeless situation in Key West, the fact that she had just lost her husband to AIDS, and her concern that she too would soon be homeless. She said to me, “We need you here, Key West needs you,” referring to me being a minister of the Gospel.

Her friend added, “Key West is the devil’s playground.”

I informed them that a couple months back I had declared war on the devil and his doings here in Key West and I am not backing down! I handed them an unopened bag of plantain chips that I had on me, and told them I would try to come back soon. (I am believing God for a vehicle so I can get around more easily.)

Does Key West need another Bible thumper telling all the sinners of their sin? No, I think not. Key West needs people who, like Jesus did, show the love of God, without judgment, to those who so obviously need it. They know their sins and weaknesses, what they need to know is the forgiveness and strength that Christ brings to those who love Him. And how else to show them Christ, but to love them unconditionally.

Yes, I have declared war on the devil here in Key West, and the best way to fight the enemy is by loving those whom he seeks to destroy.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” Romans 12:21.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:34-35.

 

Please consider giving to this ministry. Thank you!

A few years ago, I was sitting in my church—Clover Pass Community Church, in Ketchikan, Alaska—and I was listening to Pastor Dave Hunter’s message. That message, I have long forgotten, but what stayed with me was what God was telling me through that message, “You need to be color blind.” My flesh rose up in defiance, “What do you mean I need to be color blind?! I don’t have a problem with black people! I have family and friends who are black!” But my spirit knew exactly what He meant.

Where I grew up, in Oregon, I rarely saw blacks. I don’t even remember having any black friends. I knew we had black family members, but had never met them. I grew up being taught by society and television shows (such as one of my favorites “The Jeffersons”) that there is nothing wrong with black people or having black friends, but blacks are “over there” and we (whites) are “over here” and we do not mix the two.

If only George Jefferson had been married to a white woman, maybe my growing brain would not have hung out in the shallow end of the gene pool. But unfortunately, it did. So even in the past couple years, knowing that I needed to be “color blind” I still had no idea why, other than that it is wrong. I just didn’t understand how wrong it really was, or how closed-minded I was because of it. Until recently.

A few months back, I knew where God was calling me on my next missionary adventure. But this was not to be just a short term mission trip, but I was to live there, to be immersed in a new country, a new culture, a new society, where I would stick out like a sore thumb–in Ghana, West Africa. Our ministry has taken an orphanage there as one of our outreach ministries, Messiah Needy Children Orphanage. They have 32 orphans ages 2-12, and I am very excited to go there and help the orphanage and establish the ministry in Ghana—a new adventure indeed! During these past several months, I have become close friends with the pastor there who introduced me to the woman who runs the orphanage and to the children.

Pastor Martin Richards

That friendship has grown into so much more. Pastor Martin Richards, a Ghanaian, is my best friend, whom I highly respect and deeply love. But when he asked me to marry him, I freaked out! I did not want to get married! Been there, done that, and it did not end well (twice!). I have enjoyed having God as my husband, my provider, and my spiritual advisor–He has been the best husband I have ever had, and I was not willing to hand that over to a man–especially, a black man. That’s right, I still was not color blind. And God made me realize in a very real and painful way, that I was a racist. Once I realized that I was harboring that deep-rooted sin, I handed it over to God, repented of it, and began to pray daily for absolute color blindness. I also sought His will, rather than my own, on the marriage proposal.

He reminded me that after my last marriage fell apart, I had given Him the right to choose any future mate. I sucked at mate selection! I had told God, “Next time, if there is a next time, you choose, and choose a man who truly sees my heart.” He chose very well. But I struggled, a lot, with His choice. Once I got over the hurdle of getting married again, I had to jump the “marrying a black man” hurdle. It was not easy, and I am ashamed to admit it. So why am I? Because I must. I know that I was not alone in that sin of racism, and sin must be revealed before we can confess it and be forgiven and redeemed.

The truth surely will set us free. I am so thankful that I have been set free, not just free from that sin and all my sins, but free to marry a wonderful, loving man whom I love so dearly, free to marry a black man. :~)

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” Acts 10:15.

In Jesus and In Health,
Angela J. Willard Perez
(Soon to be Angela J. Richards!)

http://www.fitchristian.com/events/wedding.html