I have always been a storyteller. From a very young age, I remember writing short stories—mainly about horses—that brought imaginary characters and their worlds to life.
As a Project BRI(DDD)GE (Building Relationships in Durham through Duke Divinity Graduate Education) participant and leader, I’ve come to learn that story sharing is central to the art of ministry.
BRI(DDD)GE is a pre-orientation pilgrimage for entering residential and hybrid students that seeks to nurture a deep sense of place and cultivate lasting relationships within and beyond Duke Divinity School.
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Through BRI(DDD)GE, I was granted the gift of hearing Durham’s story—the story of its people and the story of its past, present, and future. I was tasked with reflecting on how my story, God’s story, and Durham’s story are interwoven."
When I was in the program as an entering student two years ago, I was granted the privilege of hearing the stories of many who were sharing in the same Duke Divinity journey as I was. I bore witness to their call to ministry, the ups and downs they’ve faced along the way, and how they might be feeling the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.
Through BRI(DDD)GE, I was also granted the gift of hearing Durham’s story—the story of its people and the story of its past, present, and future. I was tasked with reflecting on how my story, God’s story, and Durham’s story are interwoven.
BRI(DDD)GE spotlights voices that haven’t been well heard or have been silenced, including those from the Hayti community and Black Wall Street; the voices that once called Durham home but have since passed away, including Pauli Murray, who was the first African American female priest ordained in The Episcopal Church; and the voices of those who experienced hardship and injustice in the form of enslavement, including those who were enslaved at Stagville Plantation.
Together, these stories bring to life the city, culture, and community of Durham, and for me, began to orient me to the place I would call home for three years as a residential MDiv student.
As I enter my final year at Duke Divinity, I still hold my own Project BRI(DDD)GE journey close to heart, as well as the BRI(DDD)GE journeys I’ve helped lead and facilitate in the years since. The stories I bore witness to as a BRI(DDD)GER motivate me to continue sharing my story, listening to the voices on the margins, and growing in my calling to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world each and every day.
