COMMENTARY
A Brighter Day is Ahead
By William M. Meanes Sr., D.Min., D.B.A. National Chaplain B e encouraged because life will be better in the future. My mentors, Brothers Rev. Samuel D. Proctor, the 47 th Laurel Wreath Laureate, Rev. Gardner C. Tay- lor, and Basil Paterson, often said, “Lift up your head and look towards the hills where our help comes from. Your help comes from God.” I was uplifted and in- spired to smile, encouraged to look for a diamond in the sky, and moved towards further achievements! As the Fraternity’s National Chaplain, the foundation established by my pre- decessors Chaplains Dr. William A. Ad- kins, Jr., Rev. Michael R. Moore, Bishop Gregory K. Blue and Rev. Tony C. Ev- ans, Sr. has been solid. They enabled the ability to respond to the trauma, tragedy, and transition we are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, a strategic plan exists with several goals to spiritually serve the membership. One goal is to increase and certify 100 fraternity members as lay and clergy chaplains by December 31, 2020. I and others have made several appeals via social email and emails inquiring about members who are interested in the work of our Fraternity and support the spiritual needs of the membership. Thus far, 56 chaplains have joined our ranks. The second goal is to compile a Chap- lain's Directory Database and a Chap- lain's Resource Repository. Through the development of the Chaplain's organizational structure, a flow chart, a description of the background, history, definition, mission, vision, goals, and accomplishments, values and interest in the work of the chaplain has increased and become more clearly understood by all.
The third goal is to spiritually encourage, uplift, and inspire members to improve the mood, morale, and tone of the Fraternity in relations to one another. Through the chaplain’s campaign to offering members acknowledgements, accolades, recognitions, and condo- lences during events in their lives, the chaplains have contributed to shift from anger to inspiration and hope in brighter days ahead. Due to the alarming arrival of the COV- ID-19 pandemic, more focused efforts, prayers, and webinars have increased to weekend prayers conference calls. We have co-hosted a pray webinar with the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Finally, my activities as National Chap- lain's has allowed me to call quarantine hospitalized patients, host province prayer conference calls, connect families with needed community services while at the Mayo Clinic, host Prayer Webi- nars, analyze the impact of the Kappa/ Omega Prayer, offer a free Chaplain's training course, and to distribute food to the needy. Please join me to supporting the Fra- ternity during this unprecedented and difficult times.
Respectfully submitted, Rev. William M. Meanes Sr. National Chaplain
THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2020 | 109
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