A farewell word from Diane McBeth

MY GRANDMOTHER passed away when I was four. I have a few of my own fond memories of her, but I mostly think of the stories my mother has told me over the years about her. One such story is how she would prepare the symbols for Communion Sunday for her small church, the church I still attend today.

My grandmother would bring the cups and trays home to clean them for the service. She would put on white gloves and wash these cups and trays slowly and carefully and in complete silence.

by Darlene Maxey PhD

Darlene was appointed president of CBWOQ’s board at our April 2021 Annual General Meeting. She attends Sandwich First Baptist Church, the oldest active Black church in Canada. My mother said that everyone in the house understood that during this activity, she was not to be disturbed. They didn’t question it. for this was a sacred time to my grandmother; a time for her to be alone with Christ, a time of quiet submission, sincere devotion and spiritual preparedness.

I’m not quite sure why I thought of my grandmother as I began to write this. Perhaps it was that as a leader in the church, her actions demonstrated the importance of getting things ready. I believe that to successfully lead in any capacity, it is important to prepare yourself spiritually, mentally and even physically. I have loved being a member of the CBWOQ Board. It has been a slow, purposeful and personal cleanse for me. I have learned a lot. I am more than excited to assume the presidency and I understand the deliberate nature of getting the job done.

This Board is already an effective team and I am prepared to help strengthen it more through prayer and encouragement. I am prepared, along with the Board and the CBWOQ staff, to submit with purpose to the standards of excellence already established and to effectively communicate the vision to the constituency. Like my grandmother, I see my efforts as a time of sacred obedience to this mission and a time to be silent to hear the whisper of God.

I want to thank everyone for your prayers for the CBWOQ team and for your sincere devotion and support. We will not be disturbed as we prepare ourselves for what the future holds. 

HOW fAITHfUL God has been! You may suppose that I came into this role with some grand plan. In reality, all I knew was that God wanted us to grow closer to Him and to mission; and that He promised great fruitfulness for CBWOQ. Everything else came gradually— and often from people other than me. God has been so graciously faithful.

How grateful I am for our amazing staff who love God deeply, and have grown their ministry portfolios creatively and dramatically, Our board members take such responsibility and we have been able to extend our collaboration to our Baptist partners. And of course, I am so grateful for each of you—for your years of faithfulness and heart for others.

God will continue to be faithful. He still wants you to draw closer to Him and to mission. He still promises to make you fruitful. Here is what He says in Isaiah 30:23, “Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous.”

I pray that you will each experience ever-increasing union with Christ, leading to all the transformation, fruitfulness, and answered prayer that Jesus promised in John 15. And may God bless Helena as she leads you towards that. ~ Diane McBeth 