“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Nov. 30 at the Carl Maxey Center, the Spokane Chapter of the Links, Inc., hosted an event called Sister Circle, in collaboration with several local leaders and high school girls. The theme of “You Belong” was reinforced with a potluck that included different cultural dishes; young women met older women in the Spokane community. During the meal, a roundtable dialogue, which included poetry, and topics relating to identity, fear, courage, support, and wellness took place, fostering intergenerational sisterhood. Faith leader Judy Brazell was among those in attendance.
In 2011, Brazell was licensed in the women’s ministry in Dallas, Texas, at the Potter’s House. She holds an associate’s degree in theology. In 2017, she subsequently became licensed and ordained at New Creations Church, also in Dallas, as a minister and prophetess. She went through a personal transformation during her time in Texas that eventually set her on a course to come back to Spokane after 17 years. She says Spokane is like her second home.
When asked what makes her love the city, she shared: “Well, the people, the friendship and the love.” Currently, Brazell serves in ministry under Pastor Benjamin D. Watson, Sr., of Bethel A.M.E.
As a woman of faith, Brazell stands firmly on following the purpose that God has set before her, and that includes uplifting others in love. Walking in purpose, for Brazell, means being solely surrendered and obedient to God.
“Not everybody can walk in that. And that’s how I know I am called to do it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter whether you read scriptures or whether you have a gift. Jesus commanded us to love one another no matter what color we are, no matter what race we are, no matter what gender we are, no matter what lifestyle we live, it’s basically just loving each other.”
She says that love can bring a dead family back to life; love can heal. Brazell hails from Belize, and shares that she was the fourth child of thirteen siblings.
“I was the first girl,” Brazell said, “and where I come from, I was looked at as the least, but God had a plan and a purpose for my life, right?”
She continued to explain in the interview that when we begin to experience light in our lives, courage is when you can take your brother or your sister out of the pit. Reflecting on community healing, a lot of times, she shares, when God helps you heal, you can be an agent to help others heal around you. When you know you have survived adversity, this is what reminds you of strength, she shared.
“You have to know when you’re walking in your purpose, and it takes courage for nobody to shut that door,” she said. Also, she contends that transformation is a part of life, and there is a force bigger than herself moving her through the journey. “I survived everything the enemy threw at me, because God had his hand on my life.”
With this understanding, Brazell shared during conversation at Sister Circle that it is also important to protect your peace and not to allow yourself to be mistreated or exploited. She shared that courage means not allowing anyone to hold you back; it is speaking truth to power.
She wanted the young women at the November Sister Circle to know that it is important to own your power.
“No matter what you’re going through,” Brazell said, “everyone matters.”