Newborn Community of Faith Church is a small congregation that meets in West Baltimore at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Presstman Street. We worship in an area that has been historically marginalized but is also the historic center of Black Arts in Baltimore City. Famous and up-and-coming Black entertainers used to regularly come to our area of the city to perform and showcase their talents. We continue that legacy by showcasing the artistic talents of our community in numerous ways and outlets. Poetry is one of those outlets. Poetry is also one of the ways we protest the systematic and interpersonal challenges within our environment, express our hope and faith in Jesus the Christ, and affirm the inherent dignity of our congregants and neighborhood. The poems within this book reflect the hopes, pains, joy, and faith of our congregation. It also reflects a small portion of the talent contained within this powerful group. Poetry is one of the ways in which we express ourselves, name our experiences, and communicate with God. As such it is a pathway to healing and thriving, and an expression of prayer. Every week, one of our members recites a poem during our worship service. To us, poetry is as much a part of our worship experience as singing.

This book represents a portion of the poems spoken each week. We intend for this publication to be the first of several volumes of individual and collective poems. We hope that you are moved by our words and find them relatable and inspirational for faithful living.