Christopher D. Braswell is an amazing young man. I was immediately captivated by his smile, spirit and heart. Meeting him led to a Starbucks date where we talked almost three hours. We only stopped because of prior commitments. My take away: God has given Christopher a job. He may be young, but with obvious deep faith he has heard a call that includes reaching the lost.
As a writer, you try to give people language that helps to explain their lives. Author Pat Conroy, with his lyrical voice, always does that for me. I discovered Christopher’s language is about faith, love, unity, and family, which he uses to reach those in the community.
His mother, Montrell, has told him through the years, “Go higher than your hands can reach.” Here is one example of Christopher following that admonition. He wants to acquire a shotgun house near downtown Rocky Mount. He will have to apply for a grant that justifies restoring the house to help homeless people. This will not only be a place a person can have a shower, but where they can be connected to resources for help. He will have to reach out to the community to support these efforts with a contribution of money or using personal skills in the restoration and repurposing on one of our shot gun houses. I love the proposed name, Braswell Transitional Home.
I’m impressed with this fine man. He is great fun. He speaks and looks at the world through his love of Jesus. We can all agree that what the world needs now is love, sweet love. What Rocky Mount needs is his added encouragement to work together, find enough unity to plan together, to pray together, to be the change we hope from others. This happy photo of Christopher and his quote, are evidence of how blessed I already am with this new friendship. He believes we must show love where ever we find people, what ever their circumstances. He has placed on my heart the need to try and go higher than my arms can reach. I will continue to use my voice in the preservation, restoration and repurposing of historic downtown. I never ignore the politics in these efforts. So I must add, “Your vote is our only hope for change in October’s election.”
I hope you cross paths with Christopher to receive your own blessing from him.
Main Street Rocky Mount 
You have described a very fine young man of impressive faith. I myself am praying that he influences many more to follow his example. Thank you to you both.
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