Toni Anderson Poem by Luke Easter

In the Book of Numbers, God caused the donkey to speak,
And yet there are those who say women should not preach,
God can use a jackass as Samson kills a 1,000 with its jaw,
152nd Cleveland, Ohio 121/11/11 you would’ve been in awe.

City of God an initial sermon & licensing of a new minister,
A momentous occasion not just because the him was a her,
The service was a combination promotion & family affair,
“Wherever two or more are gathered together” Jesus is there.

Made very special, as it was all business, there was no play,
From the praise team to what Pastors & Deacons had to say,
Songs of glory, prayers giving praise, no comedy, no jokes,
No talking from the congregation, nothing unequally yoked.

Pastors Mark, a fiery Kenya Banks, Powerhouse Ministries,
Responsible for an inauguration of the well deserving Toni,
Her spiritual half Robert, “Deac” crooned his favorite song,
Changing the words while as a choir the church sang along.

Saying to Mr. Anderson, “I’ve been called, what shall I do? ”
And with his utmost sincerity, “that’s between God and you, ”
Ha! I knew, as she told me to get rid of my cane, June 2004,
So that was the last day ever used it as I walked out the door.

Tough? Looking back not as tough as still leaning on a cane,
With stumbling & bumbling and originally thinking it insane,
At her urging, she was challenging me to take a step of faith,
There was such an authority in her voice I dared not hesitate.

Not that the ceremony needed any kind of harmonious uplift,
Organist and drummer put me in remembrance of DJ & Cliff,
Minister Queen McDaniel urged the ladies not to step in fear,
Afterwards, coffee, juice, chocolate cake, hugs & many tears.

Another soldier in the army successfully graduates boot camp,
Toni Anderson, God is assured on a hill she will burn her lamp,
Truly, without a shadow of a doubt faithfully leading her flock,
A foundation not on wood or sand, securely on Christ the Rock.

The word of God shall remain; everything else withers like grass,
For those nay Sayers who say no, you are dumber than a jackass,
It’s obvious you’ve never heard of Hurricane Kenya that is why,
Or that Tornado off the coast, Minister Anderson, Toni with an I.