“Out of all the students that walk this campus, God trusts you to give some sort of peer leadership.” -Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes

On Sunday, Sept. 14, Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, founding co-lead pastor of The Double Love Experience in Brooklyn, New York, opened her address to attendees of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel’s “A Call to Chapel” service with the words “we give God praise for our exodus.” 

Sunday’s service highlighted this year’s new student leaders as they enter the legacy of leadership at the university with a commissioning. A student commissioning is a tradition where students are formally dedicated and affirmed in their role of service.

Echoing the lyrics of the choir’s song and the words of one its members who urged the young leaders in the room to “mark today as your exodus,” the reverend took a moment to acknowledge the students being commissioned. 

“For those who said yes in this time, let’s celebrate them,” said Rev. Wilkes.   

Preaching from Genisis 25, verses 29-34, Rev. Wilkes focused her message on the theme, “Not for Sale.” Calling attention to the fact that while some things can be bought (and at times “sold out from under us”), there are certain things that we hold for ourselves, things that are “not for sale.”

“I would offer that Howard University, this great mecca of Black education, has said through the years, some 150 plus years, that Howard is not for sale,” said Rev. Wilkes. “That the way that we educate Black minds in not for sale. The way that we occupy space on our campus is not for sale.” 

Challenging all to think on something of value in their lives that is “just for you,” the reverend again addressed the student leaders in attendance. 

“Students leaders, there are some trials that you’ve been through to get into the position that you’re serving in; there are some things that you’ve given your attention to, your time to, your network to, and it ought not be so easy for someone to snatch it from you.” She repeated, “Some things are not for sale.”

Referring back to the scripture, Rev. Wilkes said that the brothers, Jacob and Esau, were perhaps unknown to them, in the middle of a sale. Noting that we too can sometimes be so focused on the details of our days to notice potential dangers. 

“Sometimes the busyness of life can cause you to miscalculate who’s for you and who’s not,” she said. “Sometimes the attention to detail; the work that is before you that you got to execute, can sometimes cause you to forget to take stock of who’s around you.” 

Again, turning to the student leaders, Rev. Wilkes told them they had a tough challenge ahead of them, as they “quite literally signed up for this.”

“You signed up for more visibility,” she began. “You signed up to have office hours, you signed up to be on Instagram. … You signed up for this, and yet you are human. And sometimes while you try to stay committed to the yes you gave in August and September, you forget around December and January, to check your surroundings.” 

University leaders representing the Howard University Student Association (HUSA), Graduate Student Assembly (GSA), Undergraduate Student Assembly (UGSA), the Divine 9, and more were encouraged to not only be aware of their surroundings, but of the gifts God has given them that cannot be taken away. Using the story of Jacob and Esau, she explained Jacob’s first-born privilege and likened it to those in them room standing in their purpose. 

Telling them to remember that “God positioned me for greatness, God set me up,” she preached of those who may feel the need to defend the “favor” in their lives and the position they hold. She encouraged attendees, especially the leaders being commissioned, to understand the burden that comes with those gifts. 

“God has done something for you that is more than ordinary,” said Rev. Wilkes. “Out of all the students that walk this campus, God trusts you to give some sort of peer leadership. God trusts you to be accountable is stuff goes wrong.”