Pete's story The first time I met her was after she preached at a Discipleship worship service. I thought she was a masterful preacher. She was a different spirit, and a true champion of the gospel. Several years later, I joined the Associate Ministers' Ministry and was assigned to the same team as Ojeda. Our vision about ministry and social justice aligned and we often found ourselves working on similar projects and issues. We were committed change agents: I, as a retired police officer, and she, as a community organizer. I found her to be someone my daughters could relate to as a mentor and a role model. I found myself in conversations with her about issues I discussed with my daughters. Dating Ojeda was never a consideration for me...until God said yes! Ojeda's version I distinctly remember meeting Pete at a Social Action Leadership Team (SALT) meeting that I was leading in an upper room of our church. Pete took on the challenge of leading a listening session with members of his table to help us identify our most pressing social justice issues. As we left the meeting, we greeted each other and Pete spoke my exact thoughts about ministry at the time: "why don't the mission ministries all work together under one umbrella? I do prison ministry. You do social action. Why isn't your ministry working with mine?" From then on, we worked on social justice issues like voter registration, community policing, and even advocating for black history in schools. Pete was an ever-present help in ministry with his intellect, knowledge, quiet strength, leadership and wisdom. I loved his gospel! How we began dating In the second year of COVID, in the City of Baltimore, during the time of the "Great Isolation," I took myself on a "self-date." (As a single lady, I'd proudly take myself out on dates to places I wanted to go). Since my Dad played trumpet in bands even before I was born, I loved listening to live bands. There I was, one Friday night, walking up Lancaster street to Baltimore's newest jazz spot, Keystone Corner, and there was my buddy Pete hanging out with his friends. For some reason, he did not have a ticket, to which I replied "sucks to be you," and went in to see a great Marcus Johnson set. I enjoyed the music so much that I couldn't keep it to myself. I decided to stay for the next set and I challenged him to come back. What I learned that night was that, not only did we share a love of God, and a love of justice, but we shared a love of great music. In the days after, he sent songs from his playlist to me that blew my mind and spoke to my soul. (Pete's Version) Standing on the corner, outside of the Jazz club, I discovered that the show was sold out and we (the Friday Night crew) had not purchased tickets in advance. Completely disturbed and utterly embarrassed, I see Ojeda about a half a block away casually walking up Lancaster Street. We exchange greetings and I share my mishap and embarrassment with her and her response was empathetic as she strolls into the club. I subsequently left the venue and a short time later, I received a text from Ojeda that there was a second show, tickets were available and was I interested in returning to join her. My crew encouraged me to go back and the rest is history. We talked during the entire show and neither of us saw the show. Now, Ojeda no longer self dates. We have date night every week. She's become my constant companion at church, at Ravens' games, at Orioles games and in life. And best of all, we pray together every day. God's timing is always best. When God takes the initiative to bring two people together, He makes it work. We both came to New Psalmist Baptist Church around 2012 - both emotionally wounded and spiritually weary. By God's grace, we found a relationship that is more than either of us could have ever thought or imagined. We just work. Us. Our families. Our ministries. All things work together...