Reporting On Pulpits Saved My Life

Author: Davidae 'Dee' Stewart

In 2001 I moved back to my hometown to die. I had begun to become very tired after I had my daughter, Selah in March 2000. It took my doctors almost a year to diagnose me with postpartum heart failure, a form of heart disease that affects one in every 1500 to 15000 pregnancies a year. My husband, who felt very guilty about my illness disappeared from the hospital and didn’t return. Our marriage was over, and so was my career in church architecture. And as far as I knew I had two years to live. So I moved in with my father and began to write letters to my one-year-old daughter.

I didn’t want to her to think that I was a failure. I didn’t want her to have a reason to be angry with God.

At a family gathered I shared my writing with a friend, who was also a minister. He advised me to take my mind off of my situation, by thinking about what I can do with my life right now. I had been a writer since I was a edited the gossip column for my junior high school gossip. I always wrote poetry and little treatments for young adult television series. He referred me to another minister, who owned a local Christian radio station. I began working there as a news consultant. The radio later published a newspaper. I became editor, and then my new life began.

I interviewed local pastors, politicians and business owners. My column became the monthly features article, as I began to delve into more issues that affected the local community. We investigated claims of tax evasion, pulpit politics and rumors about pulpit indiscretions. The newspaper became controversial and in some eyes a welcome change from church propaganda pieces. I took my job seriously. I investigated, but kept God’s vision in focus. Pastors began to ask for me when they wanted to set some records straight. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

But a year and a half later I had to return to Atlanta to receive rehabilitation at Emory Heart Failure Clinic. Through them God also gave me a new chance at life. My heart function was improving.

Yet, I missed my work in Valdosta. I missed connecting with other Christians.

Then a miracle happened. After two weeks of my moving back my editor launched an Atlanta version of the same newspaper. Yes!! I continued my work and began to receive more writing opportunities with local Atlanta magazines and newspapers.

From there I've written for so many Christian magazines I've lost count. I’ve interviewed: Rev. T. D. Jakes, Bishop Paul Morton, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Kirk Franklin, Reverend Della Reese, and a host of local pastors, comediennes, entertainers for Christ. Today I have a syndicated entertainment column. I am a publicist for ministers, Christian actors and television hosts. I receive speaking and teaching opportunities nationwide. And this year I coordinated the Christian Fiction Workshop Panels for the RT Booklover’s Convention in Houston, Texas. And I plan to launch my own online Christian news magazine.

But most importantly, my daughter knows who I am and form whom I live.

My best advice is not to think of reporting as an opportunity to market your own writing, but as a chance to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit moving creatively in our world and your life.