Lea
Gabay listens to and records Rosine’s story, whose powerful efforts for change
begin from a place of faith. Here is Rosine’s story in her own words.
When you look at me, what
do you see? When you listen to me, what do you hear? I consider myself to be a
strong, God-fearing woman, living one day at a time. My name is Rosine, and I
am still discovering the power that I have through my faith inJesus. I see
myself as the last woman standing when everyone has given up.I will bend the
rules if I need to, and I separate myself from old traditions that belittle
women, children, and marginalized communities. Throughout my life’s journey, I
have been faced with incredibly difficult situations, but that has never
stopped me from forging ahead. Indeed, I will continue to use my voice and my
faith to fight for justice, equality, and human rights for all, in particular
for women.
My
upbringing
I grew up in a
traditional family in Togo. As the first daughter and middle child of the
family, I knew from an early age that I was different: I would rebel against
any kind of expectation tied to my gender by speaking more loudly in order to be
heard and defending my right to get an education. My outspokenness caused my
Mom to fear for my life. In her mind, women shouldn’t be too educated, for they
risk being ostracized by the community and not finding a good husband.
To me, Togolese women
are brave and are go-getters, yet they have to submit to men so as to comply
with the male-dominated gender norms in our society. I mean, do not get me
wrong, I agree with the Biblical order about family and marriage (Ephesians
5:21-33); however, I do not believe in abuse of power. Ephesians 5:21-33 in the
Bible mentions mutual submission: Wives submitting to their husbands and the
men loving their wives, as Jesus loves the Church. How did He love the Church?
He died for the Church. So, if you love your wife, like He loved the Church, you
will not hinder her progress, belittle her, or create traditions that cause her
to lose her voice. I didn’t want to be like that; I didn’t want to lose my
voice and my dignity to serve a man.
My calling is intertwined with my voice.
So, a godly man should not want me to lose; rather, I would like him to support
me and my voice. I can only be good to him and our loved ones if I am walking
in my purpose. Telling young girls and women
to avoid higher education for the sake of finding a good husband is the reason
why many African countries are suffering. An African proverb says, “If you
educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a
nation.” If I know my rights, my body, and I can handle my finances, I will not
have to be a liability to a man.
Another important
aspect of my childhood was that I was raised Catholic. However, I also
discovered early on that I didn’t like the way that the Catholic faith was
imparted to me. The Catholic education that I received contradicted my understanding
of my faith. I didn’t see myself in it, and I disagreed with the way that Jesus
was portrayed.
In my view, Jesus neither oppresses nor punishes; the Jesus whom
I know is gentle and forgiving. He supports and uplifts women rather than tears
them down; he stands for justice and wants to know who you are. He listens to
you before responding. From his teachings, I have learned to stand up in the
face injustice, which is why as a child, I refused to stay silent when I would
witness injustices, causing me to get into many fights. To this day, I continue
to fight for what I believe in, for it is what my faith has taught me. Funny
thing is that now my fight is with those who cannot choose Jesus over their
political views or patriotism...
My
academic journey
I left Togo as a
teenager and moved to the United-States where I am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree
in Leadership and Ministry with a concentration in Psychology. It was at the
university that I began to reexamine and question the religious beliefs that
had been inculcated in me as a child.
Through classes that focused on leadership capstone and
evangelism I became more aware that some religious leaders from the Christian
faith have abused their power in order to inflict pain and suffering onto others
(e.g. colonialism). Moreover, they have exacerbated divisions among various
religious and racial communities all in the name of religion. I also found out
that many missionaries and evangelists travel long distances-some for a good
cause, and some for popularity- to help others; yet, they are reluctant to
engage with members of their own community, in particular people of color, and embrace
differences. According to 1 Timothy 3:5, ministry first starts at home and then,
your communities before the ends of the Earth(Matthew 28:18-20).
With the knowledge and
experience that I have gained, I would now like to raise awareness of how people
can become genuine Evangelists and missionaries by drawing from the words of the
apostle Paul, which states that when we go into other countries, neighborhood, communities,
our characters should take precedence over our religious views. The apostle
Paul sat amidst the people, learned their ways, and ate what they served him
before he shared the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). He never manipulated them, nor
did he put them in chains, and dragged them to a foreign land to be oppressed
for centuries. That, my friend, is the true reflection of Jesus Christ.
Challenges
along the way
While I have been
involved in activities and initiatives meant to promote the positive values of
my faith, I have also observed the ways in which some church leaders and
members have a history of oppressing and rejecting people of color, especially
African-Americans, making many of us feel unwelcome in their places of worship.
I have seen examples of hypocrisy in the ways that certain white American
Evangelicals treat individuals based on their skin tone, background, and
marital status. More often than not I have been judged because of my
outspokenness and directness, my status as a single mom with two sons, and my
race and nationality. It has pained me to see that this kind of treatment is
still not challenged; so much so that I pray that I will treat everyone with
respect and dignity for the rest of my life.
My
goals for the future
My goal for the future is
to be the best version of myself. This may mean that I will have more enemies
than friends for doing the right things and speaking out, but I accept this
fate-I already face this in the ministry.I am called to use my voice where
religious people do not go: places that require bravery, integrity, and an
uncompromising faith in the face of opposition, and places where love comes
before religion and patriarchy.
Further, I aim to use the
teachings from my faith to start an NGO that supports a variety of marginalized
groups (e.g. survivors of human and labor trafficking and domestic abuse). I
would like to be a motivational speaker, life coach, preacher, and counselor, who
is not tied to the four walls of a church. Indeed, I believe in person-to-person
connection so as to be able to build relationships and establish trust with the
groups whom I will be serving. I also want to show those who have experienced
significant challenges in their lives that they can start over and pursue their
goals, whatever they may be. Their past does not have to dictate who they will
become.
After years of trying
to look for answers, I have finally found my calling: I am called to love people for
whom they are and to bring them the gospel. Even if our beliefs differ, it does
not break our relationships. I am called to keep fighting and create a world
that is more just, peaceful, and loving.
