Little Sisters

Today we could really use a positive role model. With television, magazines, radio shows and movies all idolizing the “perfect” women, its hard for a girl to get caught up. Even as adults, women tend to obsess over the frivolous things in life admiring women they think are worthy. What we need is a breath of fresh air. Look no further than Apostle Joyce Braithwaite, Senior Pastor at Life Changing Word Tabernacle in Brooklyn, NY. This woman of God can serve as a positive role model in the lives of the modern woman.

Kendra Windsor: First of all I would like to thank you for your time, I know you are a busy woman. Are you excited?

Apostle Braithwaite: Yes! No one has ever interviewed me before.

KW: [laughs] Well this is my first interview and yours so lets start off.

KW: Family tends to have a huge impact on our lives. What was your family like growing up and how is it now?

AB: My family life growing up was very warm, there were a lot of us. It was exciting. We always had something going on because there were so many of us. And perhaps because of that I have always led a busy life after that. I would say it impacted my life in that it gave me the ability to do many things. It is a little different now, because I have less people. The church makes up for that since there are a lot of people in the church, so I’m around a lot of people all the time.

KW: Would you say that the church is your extended family?

AB: Yes I would say the church is my extended family, along with the people in the community as well.

KW: I understand you are a very educated woman, could you please tell us more about your educational background?

AB: I graduated from Eurich high school in Brooklyn, NY. I also attended the College of New Rochelle where I got a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing, and then I went on to New York Theological Seminary and I obtained my Masters of Divinity Degree. Right now I am pursuing a degree in Natural Health.

KW: Throughout your educational career would you say you found it difficult to pursue a higher a degree as a woman or a person of color or did you see it as motivation?

AB: I saw it more as motivation, challenge tends to motivate me.

KW: How do you feel about education for women in today’s society?

AB: I feel it is quite necessary, because as women we are competing with our male counterparts, but we are also competing against technology and the various changes in the whole educational process and the way of the world has changed. Education will open up for women new opportunities to be leaders as well as to be assets.

KW: What led you to become a minister?

AB: I would like to believe I was called into the ministry. I was seeking a career in music, and I began to hear sermons in my head. So I followed it up and began to pursue theological school. I also believe my genuine concern for people’s well being led me to this ministry.

KW: Have you worked with people in any other profession besides the ministry?

AB: Yes, for 18 years I worked in the human service field. I created and developed programs for children and families to address some of the social ills that were plaguing in them, in terms of hindering their progress in life. I developed preventative programs as well as aftercare programs.

KW: I can imagine after seeing these programs working it brought you great joy.

AB: Yes. I also think it led to ministry as well. We had the social programs, but in the human service field you could not address the spirit and I believe the spirit of a man plays a very important role in how he or she acts in life. It was a very rewarding field. Before that I worked in international banking. It was…interesting. But because I was not working with people maybe it wasn’t challenging enough for me.

KW: There is a certain stigma associated with ministry leaders. Did you face any struggles because you were a female?

AB: I did and I would say that I still do. Particularly not just because I am a female but because I am a female whose husband does not hold a major position in the church world. It has been difficult in terms of opening other doors of opportunity for me.

KW: Right now you are at a standing point where there are a lot of doors opening for you, what do you believe is the main reason these things have happened for you?

AB: MY persistence. Believing in myself, believing in my call. Also seeing myself as a forerunner to open doors not only for myself, but for my sisters who are moving in ministry with me and those who are coming behind me.

KW: Today, technology is becoming increasingly powerful and useful. How have you applied new technologies to your ministry?

AB: I have created meditative CD’s to address healing of specific illnesses such as diabetes. I have also incorporated YouTube. I have a facebook page and I am learning twitter. (laughs) Currently I am updating the website and blogging now. Other methods are using the media via BCAT television studio.

KW: Well I wont take up too much more of your time. In closing, imagine yourself as a big sister to women in the world. What advice would you give to your little sisters?

AB: I would advise them to believe in God. Believe in themselves. Make family a very important part of their lives. And be able to visualize their goals. See where they want to go. With everything they have, their finances, their education, their support, empower themselves. Never give up. With God on their side they will accomplish. But the main advice is to never give up.

KW: Well this concludes my interview, thank you very much for your time and your words of wisdom.

AB: Thank you.

As you can see, Apostle Braithwaite is no stranger to helping people in her community. I have looked up to her for years as a positive role model in my life. Through her encouragement and believing in God, I have been able to accomplish what the world thinks I cannot. Apostle Braithwaite has always taught us as women to be empowered, and believe in ourselves. With this faith in myself and in God, many doors were opened for me. I attended a boarding school in New Hampshire on full scholarship. Now, I am attending Columbia University in the City of New York, again on full scholarship, and seeking a degree in Chemical Engineering. Apostle Braithwaite has fostered the idea in me that I am greater than the “barriers” the world tends to put up. I can attest to her words of wisdom, that with faith in God and yourself, anything is possible. God Bless. Kendra Windsor