A Week of Contrasts in Cuba

Dear FBC Family…

Our Cuba pilgrimage is still taking root in me. It was a week of contrasts—beauty and brokenness, scarcity and abundance, despair and unshakable faith. I want to share some of what we learned and experienced with our beloved partners at William Carey Baptist Church."

Pastor Amós Lopez

Pastor Sarahí Fernandez

Kim Christman

Daniela & Yasmani

Pastors Sarahí Fernandez and Amós Lopez welcomed us with open arms.  And our translator, Kim Christman, who serves in Cuba with her husband Stan Dotson through the Alliance of Baptists—was a Godsend every day.

The resilience, ingenuity, humor and radical generosity of the Cuban people are undeniable.  And the faith and love radiating from our brothers and sisters there is something I wish our whole congregation could see.

At the same time, like the majority of Cubans, the people of William Carey lack most of the basic necessities: food, money, electrical power, adequate healthcare, transportation. The government-run sanitation systems stopped picking up garbage in Havana months ago. Many are low on hope, especially the young adults I talked with. "I see no future for Cuba," one young man said to me. "Something must change."

On our third night in Cuba, we took a group of 16 church members to a nice restaurant in Old Havana—an experience some hadn't enjoyed in years. For two hours we laughed, told stories, and savored delicious food together. The bill for 22 people—including drinks, mains, desserts, and coffee—came to $161. We marveled at spending just $7.50 per person. Then we learned that the monthly pension for a retired government worker in Cuba is $5. Our delight at the “bargain” suddenly felt very different."

I was so proud of First Baptist DC while we were there. Signs of your generosity were everywhere. In addition to a gift of a little over ten thousand dollars that will help William Carey care for their community and congregation, we brought five suitcases full of prescription medicines that Becky Waugh spent months organizing through an organization called Blessings International—antibiotics, prescription medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, migraines, and on and on.

And remember the shipping container we helped to fill last summer? Your generosity was everywhere—from the sheets we slept on and towels we dried ourselves with, to the spices in the food we ate and the pots and pans in the kitchen. A young adult woman named Esther told me that receiving the contents of the container last summer felt like Christmas.

Worshiping together on Sunday was pure delight. The children of WCBC sang, as did the adult choir (one of the songs in English!). Becky Waugh shared a beautiful testimony. Our group sang Christ Be Our Light and taught the congregation the chant we sometimes sing here: Be Still and Know. We presented banners and paraments that have hung in our sanctuary in the past. And we gave them signed copies of Christi Harlan’s books about President Jimmy Carter’s time at FBCDC. You can read my sermon, Discovering the Unshakable, here.

Pastor Ideal Montero Pacheco

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Havana

During the week we visited Ebenezer Baptist Church in Havana, where we met with their pastor, Ideal Montero Pacheco, before he gave us a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center next door. The place was alive with children and adults visiting, playing, welcoming guests.

On our next-to-last day in Cuba we drove 65 miles from Havana to the town of Matanzas, where we toured the Matanzas Seminary, the only ecumenical seminary in Cuba, which serves some 200 students from 13 denominations. Pastor Amós from William Carey also serves as Dean of the Seminary.

We also dropped in on First Baptist Church of Matanzas, which is led by Pastor Orestes Roca. FBC Matanzas provides vital services to the Matanzas community, and they founded the Kairos Center for Art and Liturgy. We received a warm welcome and tour from the center's director, Wanda Hernandez Murga.

Both Ebenezer and FBC Matanzas were two of the first Baptist Churches in Cuba to become open and affirming of the LGBTQIA community.

Our pilgrims—Becky, Joel, Al, Tim and Taylor—outdid themselves in showing honor and care for the sisters and brothers of William Carey. In just seven short days, the bond between our congregations grew stronger and deeper.

Wanda Hernandez Murga

I'm glad and grateful to be in this ministry of accompaniment and friendship with our dear friends in Cuba. Before we left, we promised to begin exchanging prayer lists between our two churches so we can know each other better through prayer as we entrust one another to God.

Yes, they need us. And…we need them.

Returning to DC just before the snow emergency was an eye-opener for me. The "empty shelves" at our Trader Joe's still held more abundance than anything our Cuban friends can find or afford. And yet, they persist. They worship. They love God. They love their children. They sing and praise and care for one another and their community.

I hope this has given you a taste of what our week in Havana was like. Again, thank you for your prayers. Joel, Al, Becky, Tim, Taylor and I felt them every day—as did our William Carey friends.

And many, many thanks to the Cuba Planning Team: Katie Cantone-Hardy, Terry Provance, Becky Waugh, and Pastor Eric. The months of logistical and informational preparation they invested paid off beautifully. From visas to medicines to cultural briefings, every detail was thoughtfully considered. Their work freed those of us in Cuba to focus entirely on building relationships and deepening our partnership with William Carey.

In a place where hope seems scarce, we witnessed hope that refuses to die. That's what resurrection looks like—faith that persists, love that endures, praise that rises even in the hardest circumstances. I'm grateful—for the journey, for your support, for our Cuban family, and for a partnership that feels more vital than ever.

Paz y bendiciones,





 

 

 

A Decade of Transformative Ministry: Celebrating Pastor Julie’s 10 Years at FBCDC

On January 1, 2026, Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell – "Pastor Julie" to most of us – marked a remarkable milestone – ten years of ministry as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC. This makes her the longest-tenured Senior Pastor our congregation has had in almost 35 years – a testament to the depth and vitality of her leadership.

This anniversary is made even more significant as it coincides with another milestone: in April of this year, Pastor Julie will celebrate her 40th anniversary of ordained ministry. These anniversaries together invite us to pause and reflect on a decade that has not only transformed our congregation but has deepened our witness as a community of radical inclusivity and contemplative faith.

Pastor Julie arrived at FBCDC as a nationally recognized trailblazer among Baptist women in ministry, having shattered stained glass ceilings as the first woman senior pastor in multiple congregations, including becoming the first woman to serve as senior pastor of a Baptist church in Texas. Yet what has defined her tenure here is not merely her prophetic "firsts," but her profound ability to companion us – as individuals and as a congregation – into deeper authenticity and spiritual courage.

Under Pastor Julie's leadership, our church has experienced genuine transformation. We voted to become an explicitly welcoming and affirming community, living into our baptismal conviction that all people are beloved children of God. We strengthened our partnership with Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, and leaned into racial reconciliation rooted in honesty about our past, friendship, and mutual understanding. We completed a comprehensive sanctuary renovation in 2022, and in 2025, we opened and dedicated our new community building – a space now buzzing with our spiritual formation gatherings on Sundays and community groups from across our city and nation during the week. Through an 18-month strategic planning process with Ministry Architects, we reimagined our mission, vision, and governance structures, positioning ourselves for faithful witness in a changing world.

"Here I am as I am,
in the world as it is.
Supported by grace,
open to God's love,
present to my life in Christ."

Yet perhaps Pastor Julie's greatest gift has been that of presence. Whether through texts, phone calls, emails, meals, or visits, she has consistently shown up for important moments in our lives, assuring us that God is there, too. Her model inspires and teaches us to do the same: to show up for our lives and the lives of others with honesty and openness, trusting in the presence, love, and goodness of God.

With her joyful, humorous, and delightfully whimsical spirit, she invites us to breathe together mantras that we repeat three or four (or five!) times until they settle into our bones. "Here I am as I am, in the world as it is..." is one we have come to love and carry with us. Her own mission, drawn from the mystical writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen, is to be "a feather on the breath of God." Using this as her north star, she has taught us a spirituality that embraces both vulnerability and trust, inviting us into practices that attune us to the Spirit's movement in our own souls.

As co-director of the Shalem Institute's Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership Program and a spiritual director herself, Pastor Julie has woven contemplative formation into the very fabric of our congregational life. Her warm, maternal presence has created space for us to encounter both the comfort and the challenge of the Gospel: to practice radical love while pursuing justice, and to sit in silence while raising our voices for the marginalized.

Pastor Julie, thank you for these ten years of faithful companioning, prophetic preaching, and transformative leadership. You have helped us become more fully who God has called and is molding us to be – a community where all are welcome, where contemplation and action dance together, and where we show up, again and again, as we are, trusting the breath of God to carry us forward.

Happy Anniversary, Pastor Julie.
We love you, and we are grateful for you beyond measure.

Join Us in Celebration

Our Personnel Ministry Action Team and Ministry Leadership Team invite the entire congregation to join us on Sunday, February 1, as we celebrate Pastor Julie's 10th anniversary at our monthly potluck with cake and opportunities for reflection and gratitude. More information will be available in the weeks ahead.

Christ-Soaked: Divine Love Saturating Everything

The Epiphany story begins with light—a star leading seekers to Christ. In this new sermon series we reach back even further, to Creation itself, when God's presence first permeated all things. Richard Rohr calls this a "Christ-soaked world."

We'll trace Divine Love, embedded in everything, revealing itself through Jesus' life and teaching, moving from cosmic wonder to personal encounter. John's Gospel traces our story to Creation—when Divine presence first permeated everything. We live in a "Christ-soaked world" where God's love has been embedded from the beginning. This Epiphany, we receive an invitation to open ourselves to the Light shining in darkness that can't be extinguished.

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 | Sabbath At-Home

Sabbath at Home

There is no in-person worship December 28. Instead, we invite you to observe a Sabbath at Home—a day to rest, breathe, and notice where God has been present in these in-between days.

We've created a worship liturgy, gathered all our 2025 Breath Prayers, and recorded a short video introducing the Daily Examen—an ancient practice of prayerfully rummaging through your day to find God in the details.

Take this gift of time. Rest. Renew. Reflect with those you love.

We'll gather again next Sunday, January 4 for First Sunday Communion and Potluck.

view at-home worship guide
Breath Prayers at FBCDC 2025

Advent 2025 Light Rising: An Advent of Stubborn Hope

Advent begins on Sunday, November 30. This year's Advent theme is "Light Rising: An Advent of Stubborn Hope."

In a year marked by war, division, and democracy under strain—not unlike the world into which Christ first came—we turn to those who first bore witness to the light. Isaiah saw it coming, John proclaimed its arrival, Mary carried it within her, and Joseph protected its fragile beginning. These ordinary people from the margins became light-bearers, tending flames of justice and joy until dawn broke. This Advent, their witness calls us to discover the light that's already rising, even when we can barely see.

Welcome Our Newest Member: Juan Carlos Aviles

We are delighted to welcome Juan Carlos Aviles to our First Baptist family! Juan Carlos just completed a 25-year career in federal public service, where he helped families access higher education and healthcare while supporting children, refugees, and communities in need. He recently began an exciting new chapter as U.S. Programs Communications Manager at Habitat for Humanity International, continuing his commitment to ensuring every family has a safe and healthy place to call home.

Juan Carlos and his husband Joe have been together for 11 years. He finds peace in his garden, joy in time with nieces and nephews, and meaning in the quiet conversations with God that have sustained him through life's journey. He shared with us that he's drawn to FBC by kind voices, people, and the voices and songs of the choir.

When asked what makes his heart sing, Juan Carlos offered a beautiful poem (which he worked on for the better part of a week, with a little AI assistance). 

I enjoy good music, soft and with rhythm,

Like plants and blossoms swaying in the light.
In my garden, my hands find peace,
Among all plants, worries paused.

My heart sings loud, both full and true,
Even though out of tune...
I laugh at myself with a loving lens.
And from the young I knew—
My nieces and nephews, playful and free,
Their joy charges my soul and gives me hope.
We play, we laugh, we sing our hearts away!

I love my husband, family, and friends so near, smart, funny, and kind
They make me happy, bring me cheer.
In every smile, in every part,
They hold a sacred place in my heart.

I like conversations with God above,
A quiet exchange of grace, concerns, but still faithful love.
In my whispers, I pray, I try to find my way,
A steady light through night and day.
And, with my grandmother's prayer tattooed in my heart,
I reference it as a fond memory and guiding light.

What else makes my heart sing?
I find delight in helping hands,
In lifting others where they stand.
Good food, sweets, and small libations delight my palate.
And shopping trips and travel? I love them all.
My spouse will tell you, Ha!

But most of all, my soul takes flight
When happiness is shared in sight.
Surrounded by others that also shine,
 Life fills my heart with great delight.

Please join us in extending a warm FBC welcome to Juan Carlos as he joins our community of faith, bringing his compassionate spirit, thoughtful faith, and commitment to service.

SERMON SERIES | LETTERS FROM THE ROAD | Wisdom from a life on the move

The Apostle Paul wrote his letters from dusty roads, crowded cities, and even prison cells —circumstances that deepened his understanding of what it means to live in Christ. His words speak with startling relevance to our modern battles with comparison, failure, anxiety, community, and fulfillment. Join us as we discover how these letters, tested by hardship and refined by experience, offer Christ-centered wisdom for living with purpose and grace.

Going Deeper: New Contemplative Group

Led by Pastor Julie - Starts in September

  • Does the velocity at which you are living prevent you from being fully present with the people in your life?

  • Do you want to learn practices that will help you live and act from a more grounded place?

  • Do you want to be more aware of God’s presence in your daily life?

  • Do you want to learn to listen for the Spirit's voice in the company of other spiritual pilgrims?

If so, this contemplative journey from September to May 2026 may be just the thing your soul needs most.

Group is limited to 8 participants.

Sign up today! Contemplative group alumni welcome...preference given to newcomers.
Deadline to sign up: August 22.

Basics:

  • Group is limited to 8 participants 

  • We’ll meet one Saturday morning per month for 2.5 hours, Sept.-May (first gathering lasts 3 hours; dates to be determined by the group) 

  • We’ll gather in group members’ homes (hosting isn’t a requirement to join) and share a light breakfast together 

  • No prior contemplative experience needed, just an open heart, a willingness to commit to the 9-month journey, and a desire to be more fully present with God and your “one wild and precious life,” as the poet Mary Oliver put it. 

Monthly themes include: 

  • personal presence in God

  • practicing personal and group discernment

  • addressing conflict prayerfully

  • sacred activism from the contemplative heart

  • and more…

If you want to talk with Pastor Julie, reach out to her at jpr@firstbaptistdc.org. 

Sign up here. Deadline is August 22.

sign up now

Urgent Appeal for Cuba

Dear FBC Family,

2017 FBC At William Carey Baptist Church

The Compassion and Justice Team invites you to join us in a vital effort to support our sisters and brothers in Cuba, particularly our sister church, William Carey Baptist Church in Havana. They, along with many other Baptist congregations across the island, are facing immense challenges: daily blackouts, severe shortages of food and medicine, an exodus of young people, and relentless inflation. 

How We Can Make a Difference

We have a unique opportunity to send much-needed supplies directly to Cuba. We're working with the Alliance of Baptists and Northminster Church in Monroe, Louisiana, to fill a shipping container with essential items.

William Carey Baptist Church has provided us with a list of their most pressing needs, including a wide range of items from food and linens to computers. To ensure these supplies reach them in time, we've determined the most effective way for our congregation to contribute is financially.

Please make your donation through the
FBC website by Sunday, June 1.
Our goal is $3,500.

Give to Cuba Relief Now

Our staff and compassion and justice team will take funds from the love offering to purchase and send supplies on behalf of our congregation on June 2, ensuring they arrive at the Miami assembly point by June 10, when the container will be loaded for Cuba.

More Than Just Supplies: A Message of Hope

Your financial support isn't just about sending supplies; it's about sending a powerful message of kinship and solidarity. It's about letting our friends at William Carey know that we stand with them in their struggle, and that they are not alone in these difficult times because the love of Christ connects us across borders.You can ​offer a tangible sign of hope and love by donating today.  You may do so via Tithely by choosing the drop down menu for Cuba Relief.

In Christ,

Marlan Golden, Megan Golden, Clayton Carmon & Jesse Seals
(Compassion and Justice team)

May 4 Community Building Dedication and Celebration

Brochure

A Shepherd Among Us: Remembering Pope Francis

Francis. Even his chosen papal name signaled a different kind of shepherd. Electing to honor the humble saint of Assisi, known for his devotion to the poor and creation, Pope Francis signaled a papacy marked by compassion. This past Easter Monday, at 88, we mourned his passing, a loss felt far beyond the Catholic Church.

For twelve years, Francis offered spiritual leadership rooted in humility, peacemaking, and a profound love for all God’s creation, especially the marginalized. He chose simplicity, residing in the Vatican's guesthouse rather than opulent papal apartments, a living testament to his values. He knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan's rival leaders, imploring them to make peace. He washed the feet of prisoners and laughed with children. He possessed a rare ability to connect, to see and be seen.

Francis’ 2015 visit to Washington D.C. captivated the nation. I recall watching from our house in Atlanta as he addressed Congress, a historic moment. His gentle spirit, calling them “dear friends,” and his heartfelt advocacy for immigrants and refugees, social justice, and environmental stewardship moved me to tears.

Pope Francis's engagement with global issues flowed from a deep, personal faith in Christ. He sought to make Christ's love tangible, particularly for those on the peripheries of society. His was a ministry of presence, of walking alongside those who often felt unseen.

Interestingly, while his emphasis on mercy and pastoral accompaniment resonated deeply with many outside the Church, it sparked debate within. Some questioned whether his approach risked doctrinal ambiguity. This tension, between mercy and law, between pastoral application and doctrinal clarity, is a familiar one, mirroring the very theological polarizations Baptists have grappled with for decades.

Pope Francis, in his own way, wrestled with these questions, seeking to embody the mercy of Christ in a world often marked by division and despair. He reminded us that we are all part of a larger flock, a global family bound by our shared humanity.

Let us remember Pope Francis with warmth and gratitude. May his legacy of love and service inspire us to reflect Christ's light in a world longing for mercy.

Thank you, Francis. Rest in Christ’s loving embrace.




Holy Week Photos

Palm Sunday & Parade

Holy Monday

Maundy Thursday with 19th Street Baptist Church

Good Friday

Photo :Julie Pennington-Russell

Easter Sunday

Photo : Doug Duval

A Holy Week Letter from Pastor Julie

My Beloved FBC Family,

As we walk through this sacred Holy Week, my heart is deeply intertwined with yours. I carry a profound ache within me, mirroring the anxieties and griefs I know many of you carry. The state of our nation and its reverberations across the globe weigh heavily on our collective spirit.

I am acutely aware of the concerns that ripple through our congregation, concerns that echo my own. The uncertainty surrounding jobs, livelihoods and retirement plans casts a long shadow. The fear for our neighbors, for our Black and Brown siblings, for the lives of immigrants, for our LGBTQ+ family, and for our poor and marginalized communities is palpable.

We witness with dismay the disregard for due process, the pain of unlawful deportations, the chilling effect on free speech, and the erosion of the very principles of law we have cherished. The silence and capitulation of those who know better amplify our feelings of helplessness.

And perhaps most heartbreaking of all is the daily grief of witnessing millions who profess the name of Christ actively celebrating these developments, a stark contradiction to the very essence of the gospel we embrace. This dissonance can leave us feeling isolated, helpless and afraid.

In the face of such heavy realities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, lost in a sea of anxiety and despair. And yet…it is precisely in this darkness, in this profound sense of human frailty and societal brokenness, that the unwavering light of Holy Week shines most brightly.

Because this week reminds us that even Jesus, the Christ, walked through the valley of the shadow of death, experiencing betrayal, abandonment, injustice, and the crushing weight of the world’s sin. Jesus knew fear, sorrow, and the agonizing silence of those who should have stood by him.

But thank God, the story doesn’t end there. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the radiance of Easter Sunday. The tomb, meant to be the final word, becomes the beautiful testament to the unfailing, unshakable love of God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a living, breathing promise that death does not have the final say. Injustice does not have the final say. Fear does not have the final say.

This Holy Week, let us all draw closer to the heart of Jesus. Let us lament the brokenness we see, both within ourselves and in the world around us. Let us acknowledge our fears and our feelings of helplessness.

And…let us also cling fiercely to the unwavering truth of God’s love, a love that conquered death itself. And let us open ourselves to the tender, transforming presence of Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be instruments of God’s peace, agents of God’s justice, and channels of God’s love in a world desperately in need of these.

Friends, may this Holy Week be a time of both honest reflection and profound renewal for each of you. Know that you are deeply loved, and that we walk this journey together, held in the embrace of a God whose love never fails.

With deep love and gratitude for you,




Everything in Between | Lenten Sermon Series 2025

Our Lenten theme, “Everything In Between,” will invite us to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. We will explore supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” These ideas often seem to oppose one another.
 

However, as we explore these concepts within the scriptures, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between.

Young Adult Retreat Reflections | February 2025

Over President’s Day weekend, about twenty of our young adults packed their bags, loaded into vans, and made the two-hour trek outside the city to Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges. Graves Mountain is nestled in the small town of Syria, Virginia, and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

As anyone who has ever been on a retreat knows, weekends like these are more than just a getaway. Retreats have the potential to be a transformative experience that deeply impact how we live, move, and show up in everyday life. Retreats offer a unique opportunity to step away from the distractions of everyday life, build deeper friendships, gain perspective, and invest in spiritual growth.

From Saturday morning through Monday afternoon, our young adults spent time together in worship, small group discussion, coaching sessions, fellowship, rest, food, and play. We took a deep dive into four roles God’s people were called to live in the Old Testament: Prophet, Sage, Queen, and Priest. Our retreat speaker, Rich Havard, reminded us that when we live out these roles faithfully, we contribute to shalom – the Hebrew word that signifies wholeness, connection, peace, justice, and flourishing. 

Examining these roles prompted us to ask the core question, “God, who are you calling me to be in this moment?” We answered this question throughout the weekend in small groups and in one-on-one sessions with April Robinson, a certified life coach who came alongside us for the weekend.

Both April and Rich invited us to listen to the voice of Howard Thurman, who famously said, “There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all ofyour life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”

It is difficult to hear that voice, especially now. The days before we left, and after we returned, were noisy and tumultuous. Many of our young adults find themselves directly or indirectly affected by changes to the federal work force. Some feel the effects of the loneliness epidemic plaguing our country and our city. Others are navigating challenging familial relationships. More than a few continue to shed remnants of faith that cloud the voice of God and the way of Jesus in the world.

When we returned home from the retreat, I found myself in the quiet space of my condo with that post-retreat depression settling in. Yet, I found myself silently offering thanks to God for these twenty and thirty-somethings in our midst. For their earnest desire to follow Jesus in the world. For their deep commitment to the church, local and global. For their many gifts which they hold with humility. For their unconditional love and hospitable welcome to all people. For their contagious laughter. And, for the hope that lives on in their resilient witness. 

A friend of mine often says, “It’s impossible to have a thriving young adult ministry when you have a languishing church.” Her words have been in the back of my mind as I have reflected on our retreat. As much as I have celebrated this weekend away with young adults, I have celebrated our faith community at the corner of 16th and O. There, you and so many others are creating an authentic, warm, relational, and dynamic community. In that space, all of us – especially these young adults – are learning to live into our collective calling of building a loving and active community of faith shaped by the spirit of Christ.

With great hope.


We are All on the Same Boat

“Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Jesus, Matthew 25:35)

Friends, words are coming hard these days. The volume and velocity of the chaos and cruelty being visited upon the American people (and the world) in this moment defydescription. 

Some of you, I know, are feeling the pain in personal ways. Your jobs are in jeopardy.Your personhood is under threat. Your very existence is maligned. I am praying for you daily. 

This afternoon, my heart and mind are with the thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers in our country. People who pay their taxes, contribute to our communities, strengthen our churches, enrich our schools and are some of the best neighbors imaginable are terrified right now. 

A few weeks ago, while walking our dog Charlie around campus at Catholic University of America, we passed through CUA’s Welcome Plaza where Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz’s striking sculpture, “Angels Unawares,” was blanketed with snow. 

The 3.5-ton bronze piece is the second casting; the original artwork was commissioned by the Vatican and unveiled by Pope Francis in September 2019 in St. Peter’s Square for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

The 20-foot sculpture depicts 140 diverse migrants and refugees from different countries and historical eras huddled together on a boat as if seeking a safe harbor. 

The figures in the front of the boat include a Muslim woman fleeing Syria, a Jewish man holding suitcases while escaping Nazi Germany, a pregnant woman from Poland, and an Irish boy leaving home because of that country’s potato famine. 

In the back of the boat is the figure of a Cherokee man clutching his face in grief as he is forced from his tribe’s lands during the “Trail of Tears.”

And in the boat with all the rest of the immigrants and refugees is the Holy Family, shown on their flight into Egypt with Joseph holding carpentry tools and Mary cradling the baby Jesus in her arms.

Rising from the middle of the figures standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the boat is a set of large angel wings. The sculpture includes the quote from Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” 

As I stood there with Charlie, the freezing, gray day and stark snow seemed to amplify the desperation of those in the boat. Every immigration story carries with it anticipation and anguish, longing and fear.  

“Don’t mistreat or oppress an immigrant, because you were once immigrants in the land of Egypt,” says God to the people. (Exodus 22:21) In other words—we are all in that boat. 

Friends, if we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who himself was a refugee, and to see Christ in all people, especially those who are vulnerable, then we need to understand that ours is a story of connectedness, not separateness.

When “Angels Unawares” was unveiled in St. Peter’s Square six years ago, Pope Francis said, “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.”

May it be so in our time.


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The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
1328 16th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 387-2206

Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 10 AM–4 PM
Friday-Saturday Closed