The Sawubona Video-Tele Info Center has been birthed by the SDPC out of dire necessity. As the COVID-19 pandemic runs rampant, negatively impacting African Americans nationally (as well as African peoples globally), the usual denied, devalued, dismissive and, thus, delayed and, too often, outright permanently deterred responses of government on the local, state and federal levels continue to tragically, immorally and unethically prevail. And while actions must be taken to hold to account all elected politicians guilty of this abysmal neglect, history has taught us too well that we cannot afford to apathetically sit around or wait around for them or others to act on our behalf. In the absence of their moral will and political genuineness, the deep wailing cries and persistent unmet needs of “we the people” have summoned SDPC in to action. Thus, seeing the hope, help and healing needs amongst us, Sawubona Video-Tele Info Center (SVTIC) has manifested.
As the headlines and stories keep coming, evidencing our plight as a people detrimentally impacted by COVID-19, it is with our love and faith lens that we see beyond the headlines and the stories with clear, 20/20 vision, to hone in on the anguished faces, the tortured minds, the grieved hearts, the crying souls as well as the devalued and neglected needs we continue to have as a people. Thereby, in these trying and troubling times, we are grateful to God for the specific vision, role and responsibility given to us at SDPC as a response to the dire ontological and ethical challenges for such a time as this: the Sawubona Video-Tele Info Center.
Through SDPC’s Sawubona Video-Tele Info Center, we literally have the capacity to see by reaching our virtual eyes and arms far, wide and deep into our communities as a much-needed resource of help, hope and healing. Together we will be able to caringly and sensitively provide the spiritual and professional support needed to aid in addressing the new hurdles and realities due to COVID-19 and the all-the-more exacerbated spiritual, psychological, emotional, cognitive, behavioral and social needs affecting us.
As a faith-based organization, we’re expectant and trusting of what God will do to bless our unified efforts. You are one of our greatest resources
and we are committed to making your time with us as meaningful to you as you are to us. We hope you find Sawubona to be a place where you are warmly welcomed. We really don’t want to and can’t truly maximize this journey without you. “We see you. We respect you. We value you. You are important to us.”
Sawubona,
Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers
General Secretary