Legacy & The Mantle
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
— Habakkuk 2:3
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
Growing up in the Church of God—a multicultural yet predominantly white denomination—I became intimately aware of the impact of tension, division, and the deep need for healing from the spirit of supremacy that has too often crept into the church. While society often esteems race through the lens of skin color, in the Kingdom, race carries a different kind of weight—the weight of glory.
As 2 Corinthians 4:17 says:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
In God’s Kingdom, race matters not by ethnicity, but by divine identity. This is beautifully highlighted in 1 Peter 2:9:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
The call of God marks us as chosen, royal, holy, and set apart—our lives should testify of God’s power, mercy, and goodness. This verse paints a striking contrast between ignorance, sin, and spiritual death, and the reality of truth, holiness, and eternal life.
A Living Legacy: Bishop Jesse E.C. Abbott
In the life of Bishop Jesse E.C. Abbott—affectionately known to many simply as “Bishop”—we were given more than just a powerful example. We were blessed with living, walking fruit: in prayer, faith, wholeness, and love.
While countless stories could be shared, my personal testimony includes moments of trial and triumph alongside some of his favorites—especially Gloria, his wife. I thank God for her prayers! She’s seen me through many tribulations… and even helped me dodge some parental punishments. You know the saying: “You do the crime, you do the time”—well, thanks to her intercession, I sometimes got “time served with mercy!”
And then there’s the joy of knowing three of my favorites—Jessica, Jocelyn, and Jawanda—affectionately known as the J-ROCKS.
So many see the victories and the glory, but few understand the story behind it all. I have been blessed to witness not just people who love God, but those who carry the burden, love, and wisdom of ministry over a lifetime.
Never in a million years did I imagine I would live to see the man who carried a community in prayer, faith, hope, obedience, and sacrifice—now being carried in that same spirit by his family. And not just spiritually—but practically, through:
Taking turns staying overnight at the hospital
Rotating meal prep and medication schedules
Coordinating visits and family updates
Managing work while caregiving
Even as people of great faith, when it's your loved one, it weighs on your soul. You have to surrender the stress of making medical decisions, fear of losing the loved one or uncertainty about the future, guilt about not being able to do more, anxiety and emotional fatigue from long-term care to the only One who can carry it all: God.
And I believe God, in all His wonder, looked down and said: “Well done”—not just to Bishop, but to his family.
The Mantle Falls
While the world observed the transition of the Pope, leaving people around the world questioning the changing of the watchmen on the wall, personally :
We witnessed a shepherd in a father pass a staff to his daughter.
On Wednesday, April 23rd, around 11:30 p.m., I received a call—not unusual in time, but different in spirit. On the other end was my eldest God-sister, Jessica. She was speaking in her heavenly language. Immediately, my spirit was quickened, and I joined her in prayer.
From 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., we tarried in prayer—not just for healing, but for rest, for release, for revelation. And God answered. Jessica shouted, “That’s right, Daddy!” as he began to breathe easier. We rejoiced! We witnessed miracle after miracle. He was surrounded by angels and guardians. I specifically saw two angels and one I could only recognize from scripture, whom I saw touch his lips, reminded me of Daniel 3:25:
“Lo, I see four men loose… and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
We were in awe. They stood by by his left side—the same side Jessica confirmed he had been looking toward. Then, a nurse walked in—a believer. The Holy Spirit confirmed it. His presence followed her into the room. God answers prayers!
With joy and thanksgiving, we praised God as Bishop rested peacefully. That morning ended with our usual “Good night, see you in the morning.” Though the night felt long, it was nothing compared to the glory revealed.
Heaven’s Portion
Later, Jessica called with a holy mix of joy and sorrow in her voice. Her father had transitioned. As she described what happened, I could only exclaim:
“Oh my God, Jessica… the white cloak… the white! You have your father’s mantle!”
I began to shout and dance. During prayer we saw Jessica covered with a white cloak!
The Lord reminded me of 2 Kings 2:13:
“Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen… Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.”
This month, we were not only witnesses to the prophetic passing of the baton to the new pastor of the church; we also witnessed a sacred commission. We have been blessed to see the mantle fall upon the next generation—a sign that his assignment was complete and that the next generation’s assignment was beginning. This moment represents not just an inheritance, but an acceptance of responsibility for such a time as this. Hallelujah, we were not only witnesses to a spiritual, prophetic, and sacred transition, but participants in it. The mantle has fallen—not just as a symbol of inheritance, but as a call to responsibility. A sign that her father’s assignment is complete, and the next generation’s assignment has begun.
Called into Light
Bishop Jesse E.C. Abbott was a living witness that our identity in Christ is the reason for our witness. You don’t have to manufacture worth—you’ve already been called into the light. How we live, speak, love, endure, and serve should put God’s glory on full display.
And now… the light continues. The mantle remains in motion. The legacy lives on.What a mighty God we serve. Kingdom what Good News!
“Where everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord,” preached by Bishop Jesse E.C. Abbott!
