Wesley Theological Seminary

God's call is bold. Your seminary should be, too.

Menu
  • Study
    • What Wesley degree Is right for me?
    • Masters Degrees
      • Masters of Divinity
        • UMC Requirements
        • Close
      • Masters of Arts
      • Masters of Theological Studies
      • Close
    • Field Education: Practice in Ministry and Mission
    • Doctor of Ministry
    • Non-degree
    • Certificate in Children and Youth Ministry & Advocacy (CYMA)
    • National Capital Experiences
    • Course of Study
    • Resources
      • My Wesley
      • Academic Catalog
      • Course Schedule
      • Library
      • Student Writing Center
      • Office of the Reigstrar
      • Local Churches
      • Close
    • Close
  • Discover
    • Welcome!
    • Admissions
    • Choose a Wesley degree as unique as your call…
    • Visit Us
    • About Us
    • Faculty
      • Faculty Directory
      • Adjunct Faculty
      • Department Directory
      • Close
    • Community Life
      • Wesley Safety and Regulatory Information
      • CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid for Students
      • Close
    • Chapel Worship
    • Wesley Theological Seminary Campus Master Plan
    • Current Openings
    • Centers of Excellence
      • Lewis Leadership Center
      • Luce Center for Arts & Religion
      • Community Engagement Institute
      • Public Theology
      • The Hub
      • Close
    • Partners Schools and Programs
    • Close
  • Apply
    • Try a Class at Wesley
    • Office of the Registrar
      • Academic Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Close
    • Student Information
      • Course of Study
      • International Students
      • Housing
      • Close
    • Financial Aid
    • Apply Now
    • Close
  • Request Info
  • Alumni
  • Give
  • My Wesley

2024 Wesley Community Lenten Devotional

Let Love Lead the Way

View all 2024 Lenten Devotional Reflections »

Week Four

Dr. Debra Jean Ambush

Dr. Debra Jean Ambush

Community ConnectionsWTS MA 2021, Arts and Theology Specialization, African American Church Studies Specialization; Luce Center For the Arts and Religion, Faculty and Staff Team, Research Associate; Board of Trustees Delaplaine Center for the Arts, Frederick, Maryland; Current Exhibition “Reflections and Reckoning: Brown vs. the Board of Education at 70” Anderson Brickler Gallery, Tallahassee Florida.

Love ConnectionGrowing and sharing of liturgical music and visual art studio practice; Celebrating 40 years of Marriage in 2023Love LanguageJoy and Remembrance
Favorite Love SongWe are Just Learning How to Love,  Rodney Franklin
Favorite Love Quote“We wish two things for our children: the first is roots: the second is wings” -- Sudanese Proverb

The Arts, The Locked Doors, and the Road to Calvary
2 Kings 5 v1–15b

A

s a liturgical painter, I am often called in my studio practice to take what is particularly meaningful to me and shape it as a praise contained within thick applications of pigment, compelling harmonies, and vibrant brush strokes.

I am currently mining the writings (1957-1959) of my great aunt Julia Jasper Hudson, a member of the First Baptist Church Women’s Missionary Society in Farmville Virginia, who records through her personal writings, the deliberations of her missionary group regarding their collective rising up to the challenge of responding to the doors that had been chained and locked by the Prince Edward County Virginia school board as part of a massive resistance by white supremacists to the Supreme Court’s desegregation ruling for schools in Prince Edward County Virginia.

Like Naaman in Kings 5, the search for a God centered approach to the release of an imposed subjugation, a leprosy of the spirit, impacting the thousands of school age children was a remedy sought without resolution for the last several years. Oh how they must have cried and prayed. Aunt Julia lists opening hymns and scripture for each meeting.

Prophetically, they devise a way to work through the community based Freedom Summer Schools organized in a moment providing clarity regarding the “immersive location, the healing stream” location of where they would find the divine healing needed to address the unjust circumstance for those who could not attend school. Stevie Wonder, in his performance of “Heaven is Ten Zillion Light Years Away” crystalizes for me how it might have been like seventy years ago at that missionary meeting table. I allow this performance in this Lenten season to be my immersion into that sacred healing water and I celebrate these women and the road to Calvary. I invite you to take this step with me on the road to Calvary and listen to this recording I often play in my studio while exploring my painting “Adams Morgan Smiles” – art in yesterday’s devotion.

 

Reflection: Heaven is Ten Zillion Light Years AwayCan't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God?"
He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
People, "Where is your God?"
Inside, please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come

Support Wesley Students to Answer the Call

We are grateful for our Lenten Devotional contributors whose reflections have been offered as original submissions and reflect the views of the author.

Please consider a donation for this devotional and other WTS inspired works, projects and programs.

Praying Through The Seasons With Wesley

Journey with Wesley Theological Seminary (WTS) through the seasons of the liturgical and academic year. Connect through prayer with the Wesley Community, on campus and in ministry around the world.

Please return here each season to rekindle a rhythm of prayer that unites the Wesley Family, no matter where we are.

Yearning for more?   View all devotionals here!

Contact Us
Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
p 202.885.8600
f 202.885.8605
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
Apply
Who We Are
Support Wesley
Admissions
Academics
My Wesley
Resources
Alumni
Community Life
Consumer Information
Update Your Information

Wesley Logo

© 2025 Wesley Theological Seminary

Copyright © 2025 · Wesley Theological Seminary on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in