By Mary Alice Miller
They say laughter is the best medicine. The Christian Cultural Center Drama Team opened One Brooklyn Health’s 15th annual OBH Gospel Fest with a hilarious skit. The Drama Team brought out all the stereotypes: ‘all you gotta do is anoint’, ‘therapy is demonic’, etc.
“Didn’t you say you were coming from therapy? “Yes.” “You just need to pray more. Trust God. And fast, too.” “Let me ask you, do you still take medication for your high blood pressure? “So, what does that have to do with any of this?” “Why don’t you stop taking those medicines and pray. Trust God. And don’t forget, fast.”
The audience erupted with laughter.
“Psychotherapy is just another treatment, just like you have medication therapy. They have therapy, support groups, physical therapy.’ “Well for me, it’s God and therapy. And now that my son is a teenager I am his mother. I can’t be his father.
Lord Jesus, just help me. And don’t you judge me.” “That’s right, I’m taking my medication and I am praying to my Savior.”
The audience expressed that recognition with sustained applause. The Drama Team ended the skit by normalizing the convergence between mental/physical therapies and the spiritual.
And, that was the point.
OBH Gospel Fest fosters unity between One Brooklyn Health’s healthcare facilities, clergy partners and devout members of the community, while highlighting the synergy between physical and spiritual health.
Pastor Gilford Monrose opened the overflow crowd in prayer and asked that everyone “give thanks for the executives of One Brooklyn Health, the faculty, the staff, and remember the patients who are here that they are given a blessing of healing” and that today will be a time that we “come and relax and receive inspiration and hope, joy, and love through good gospel music.”
Pastor Gilford Monrose took the time to recognize an attendee who has participated in OBH Gospel Fest since the beginning: Pastor Marvin Skeet who has provided sound for all 15 years.
Shacara gave an uplifting healing word before she got the audience to their feet, energetically singing “Bless the Lord” and “My Worship”.
Naomi gave a graceful praise dance to ‘Free”, by Kirk Franklin. Her metallic gold gloves perfectly accentuated her black and gold dress.
With a Caribbean flair, Joshua Robinson sang “Jesus You Are the Best Thing That Happened to Me.”
Frankie Chu was one of the first performers at OBH Gospel Fest. He sang “Goodness of God”.
Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman told of a funeral and community response for a 28-year -old man who was involved in a police shooting in her district.
“Going through so much emotion in one day, sometimes you are spiritually drained, physically drained. I had to go and fight for a Black woman who was just doing her job against a bully, Attorney General Letitia James. Fighting for what’s right, God will always lead you,” said Chandler-Waterman. “We need to be fed emotionally, spiritually, physically every day to continue doing what we have got to do.
There are a life changing things that happen here. We have people bringing life into the world. Thank you Brookdale. And then when my mother-in law took her last breaths here. This space sees a lot of trauma but also brings life. When you are doing God’s work, we need a blessing on this place.
Rev Dr. Wendy Mitchell, one of the first to participate in OBH Gospel Fest 15 years ago, presented Pastor Gilford Monrose with her book “A Child’s Guide to Jesus.” She sang a rousing version of “That’s Enough’.
Briana, visiting with church group Better Youth Works Ministry from Toronto, Canada sang “Because of Who You Are”.
OBH Gospel Choir sang “Grateful” while wearing black gowns with sparkles.
Dr. Sandra Scott, Chief Executive Director of One Brooklyn Health said, “I want to thank you for uplifting the spirit of One Brooklyn Health. One or two buildings away there are people who are really suffering. I am so grateful for the blessings that you have bestowed on us. The beauty and the joy of the community is reverberating through the building.”
The Phillips Movement closed the event with a rousing rendition of “Jesus Lifted Me’ and “Make it to That City” that had the crowd on their feet.