Run Tony Run

It's been a couple of months since my last blog. I've been working, churching ( yes, I made that word up but I wanted to keep with the ing theme), serving, mothering, studying and doing everything else that makes me wear this S on my chest. But if you have read any of my blogs then you're probably asking yourself, "well Tasha Mac, how is that any different from your normal routine?" I'm so glad you asked. I've been taking on a new venture as of lately. Yes, I have managed to fit another task into my already hectic, but busy life. However, this is so worth the additional energy I conjure up at the end of day when I get off work and then head over to the campaign's headquarters. 

If you haven't figured it out by now, I've been volunteering on a political campaign. To be exact, Councilman Tony T. Yarber is running for Mayor of the city of Jackson, MS. I'm usually a behind the scenes political junkie. However, when someone who has a vision I wholeheartedly believe in is right in my backdoor, it was time to not just tweet about it but be about it.  So then with all of that being said, who is Tony Yarber?  I can give you a well-thought out, political answer. However, that will not say anything about who he is. Councilman Yarber is a man of God, a husband, father, son, brother, friend, educator, servant of the people and leader of the leaders. I had the pleasure of walking alongside of him, his family, campaign staff and other volunteers in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Jackson. As I'm signing up parade goers for volunteer work, I see the cheers, the love and devotion the people have for the Councilman and his family. I kept hearing phrases such as " he's a good man, they are good people, great man of God, he is my former principal." I'm just taking it all in as I'm writing down names and thanking people for their support. But, that day I honestly said to myself, people really love and respect him. And more than that, they believe in him. The people of this city needs a mayor who they can truly relate to and one who has our best interest at heart. What makes me think he has our best interest at heart? I can hear it in his voice whenever he addresses a crowd of supporters. He delivers his messages without political, propaganda and agendas, but with sincerity, clarity, passion, conviction, grace, and more importantly humility. Last week while volunteering at the campaign headquarters, I met a young lady who began to tell me a story about how she became connected with the Councilman and his wife. She said some years ago her and her husband were living in a small town in Mississippi about two hours away from Jackson. They had lost a child. The Yarbers drove to the graveside service to be of service to the family in whatever way they were needed. She was telling me this story and she was still in awe over the servants hearts of the Yarbers and how they were there to help her and her family during such a difficult time. I thought that was awesome and one of the many reasons why this city needs him so much. I remember when Trayvon Martin was tragically killed in 2012, Councilman Yarber led rallies, marched and gathered supporters not just for Trayvon, but against the senseless killings that take place in our own communities and communities abroad. He didn't rally as a politician, he rallied as a father, as a black man who was once 17 years old. 

Why do I support Tony Yarber? As a single mom of four daughters, I have faced many hardships and challenges along the way. However, I believe Jackson is a great place to raise a family with morals, values and to be decent, productive citizens. It is important to me that my girls accomplish two tasks in life; first and foremost they must serve the Lord God with their whole hearts and minds and secondly they must get a good education. Tony Yarber has a plan for this city that will assist me in guiding them along the way. I believe in his vision for change because he is the change that I and so many others want to see. 

On April 22nd the voters of Jackson, MS will have the opportunity to vote for proven leadership that is Tony T. Yarber. 

***Disclaimer***

I am not receiving any financial gain from this blog. This blog is the expressed written opinion of Tasha Mac. I was not asked by Tony Yarber or any member of his campaign staff to write this blog. This blog is intended to share my opinion of the candidate I support as the next mayor of the city of Jackson. 

Love Thy Neighbor

Amy and David Lancaster - Founders of We Will Go Ministries

Yesterday ( August 7, 2013) I performed community service with my coworkers at a place called We Will Go Ministries. The firm I work for has a summer of service project requirement that each employee must participate in annually. You only have to do 1 project per year. When I signed up for We Will Go Ministries I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I really enjoy community service projects and any opportunity to help someone is rewarding in itself. 

Upon arriving at 9am we gathered in the pavilion and the staff of missionaries greeted us with such warmth and gratitude. They began with prayer and meditation and great testimonies. Let me just tell you about the staff of missionaries. We Will Go Ministries was founded by a couple David and Amy Lancaster who by trade are an engineer and dentist respectively. This devout Christian couple left a life of corporate and privilege to answer a call by GOD of true discipleship. They moved their family to Jackson, MS after traveling and being missionaries all around the world and renovated some of the worst crack and brothel houses in the city. They mentor other young missionaries in discipleship so they too can assist with carrying on God's missionary work throughout the city of Jackson. These people are so extraordinary and amazing I felt privileged to be in their presence. I felt as if I were living right in the new testament with true disciples. 

They took us to a place called The Community Center. It's a homeless shelter where people who are in need can receive a meal and wash up. This day they had medical personnel there performing free screenings and some of us participated in the free screenings. Outside a guy named Kevin who was introduced to Christ by the Lancasters after a long life of drugs, and drinking was ministering a word to the people including my coworkers and myself. Kevin's testimony was incredible in itself and inspiring.  After lunch we returned to the We Will Go main house and heard more wonderful testimonies by the other missionaries and we prayed and worshiped the Lord. Which I thought was absolutely wonderful. And then it was on to the bunk houses for painting and cleaning. 

The Lancasters are a Caucasian couple and their missionary staff is mostly Caucasian and some African American. I mentioned this because for the first time in my life I felt as if black and white didn't exist. As if there was no line drawn in the middle of the two races. Often times it's hard to come in contact with so called Christians who do not have a judgmental spirit. You know the ones who say God bless you in one breath and in the same breath talk about you like there's no end. But their cause and destiny goes far beyond color barriers. They reach out to people who have been deemed unreachable. They care for those who aren't being cared for. They truly look past people's faults and see their needs. 

As African Americans it can be difficult to not see the racial divide given the fact that we know our President is being picked apart, disrespected and ridiculed because of his skin color. We are outraged and disheartened over the verdict behind Trayvon Martin. I was there to provide a service to them but in turn they provided a service to me. They gave me a hope that Martin Luther King Jr's " I Have A Dream" speech will not be in vain. People will one day be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

For more information please visit wewillgo.org.