Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary made her way to the tomb. She went alongside other women, carrying spices they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus. They were ready to faithfully honor Him in death through the sacred burial customs of their people, and wondered among themselves who would roll the stone away. Mary, in particular, carried a deep grief and the weight of a world that seemed to have crushed her spirit. Upon finding an empty tomb, she wept a

Rev. Lachelle Marie Dixon-Harris is a proclaimer of the Gospel, Christian educator, coach, and servant leader with more than 30 years of experience in ministry, instructional leadership, Rev. Dr. Gloria J. Otis currently serves as Interim Pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church in Lakewood, Ohio, where she is guiding the congregation through a season of grief, healing, and renewed hope for God’s future...

Rev. Lachelle Marie Dixon-Harris is a proclaimer of the Gospel, Christian educator, coach, and servant leader with more than 30 years of experience in ministry, instructional leadership, and organizational development. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the age of four...

Rev. Dr. Lisa Maxine Goods is a pastor, preacher, teacher, professor, chaplain, womanist, and justice-seeker. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a 20-year resident of Chicago, Illinois. A sought-after preacher, teacher, and revivalist, Dr. Goods is currently the Senior Pastor of The Shiloh Baptist Church of Cleveland, Ohio - the first female pastor in the church’s 176-year history.

Before answering the call to ministry, Rev. Federico enjoyed a long career in Special Education. She worked for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a classroom teacher, as well as a Behavior Specialist...

Rev. Christine A. Smith, Ph.D., was called to serve as senior pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, Wickliffe, Ohio in 2006. In 2014 the church relocated to Euclid, Ohio. Subsequently, in 2019, the church changed its name to “Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland, Inc.”

Jesus still offers us a complete joy that is abundant, resilient, and lasting. It’s not shallow, fake, or dependent on everything in our lives going right. We don’t need to feel happy all the time, nor do we need to express emotions that we don’t honestly have.