Onleilove Alston

Onleilove Altson, 2008 Summer Fellow, Sojourners

“The evangelism of the church has no power when the essence of the gospel is not lived out in the world. Peter, writing to the early Christians said, 'Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you' (1Peter 3:15). Which is to say, always be ready to explain yourself”. –Jim Wallis founder of Sojourners in The Call to Conversion

In 1996 at the age of fourteen I experienced a born-again conversion in an African-American Baptist Church. This conversion experience had a great impact on me both spiritually and socially. I identify heavily with evangelicalism and the Black Church tradition. My private faith convictions always had public ramifications. This belief that the Christian faith should speak to the social ills of poverty, violence, racism and sexism influenced my choice to study a dual Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work degree at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University School of Social Work. My faith is strengthened and maintained by social justice work. Furthermore when my humanity is challenged as an African-American woman from the inner-city the gospel gives me the reason for the hope that is within me. As a Beatitudes Society Summer Fellow at Sojourners in the Policy and Organizing Department my faith was strengthened as I witnessed a national movement of Christians seeking to fully live out their conversion in the public square.

During my time in Washington, DC I heard a great deal about the Kairos moment that we currently live in. Mainliners to young Evangelicals and Christians from every theological persuasion in between are uniting around the issue of poverty. I was blessed to see some of this first hand while working at Sojourners. Whether planning the Mobilization to End Poverty, a Justice Revival, or helping to organize local action teams for the Vote Out Poverty Campaign I was encouraged by Christians who are making the issue of poverty a top priority. Harvard Kennedy School Professor and veteran organizer Marshall Ganz taught Pentecost 2008 trainers and conference participants the importance of using your personal narrative in organizing. The Black church has a powerful tradition of testimony and I am now inspired to practice this tradition in my work.

During my fellowship I was able to increase my knowledge of public policy. This increased knowledge of public policy will influence my education as I focus on policy in the Social Work portion of my program. The increased knowledge of faith-based social justice and organizing has matured my approach to theological study. I now ask myself what ramifications a particular theological viewpoint will have in the public square. My career goal is to return to my community and practice the principles of Christian Community Development and community organizing. My learning as a Beatitudes Society Summer Fellow has taught me to use organizing, policy, and most importantly prophetic Christianity as tools for lasting change. I am inspired to continue the Black Church’s legacy of political engagement.

Strengthening the progressive Christian network for justice, compassion, & peace