News and Views

For the seventh time in nine years, golfers from throughout the Peninsula-Delaware and Baltimore-Washington Conferences came together to support a great cause. The Seeds of Security tournament, held at Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville, raised more than $4,000 to assist those fleeing intimate partner violence.

“We all know that the most dangerous time for someone that’s caught in that web is when they decide to leave,” said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, host for the tournament. She and her husband, the Rev. Marion Easterling, have organized the tournament each year. “We want to help give them the resources and means to be able to find safety,” she said.

Over the years, the Seeds of Security golf outing has raised tens of thousands of dollars, the bishop said, through player registration fees, hole sponsorships, a silent auction, and other donations. The money is then given to local agencies who engage directly in this life-saving work.

This year’s tournament was especially poignant for the bishop.

“Often, we don’t have a name to associate with this because individuals need to be anonymous,” she said. “But this year, Dr. Cerina Fairfax is top of mind. She’s just an example of why we’re here and why we do this.”

Fairfax, a Viginia-based dentist, was married to the former Lt. Governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax. Published reports earlier this month tell the story of how, in the midst of divorce proceedings, Justin shot and killed Cerina before turning the gun on himself.

“I pray that those who need psychological help get that help so that we can end this scourge,” the bishop said.

Statistics show that an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year. In addition, nearly three in 10 women (29%) and one in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner and reported it having a related impact on their functioning.

Bishop Easterling said that she was excited that new people sign up for the tournament every year.

“Every year, our tournament has grown,” said the bishop. “We have 16 new participants who signed up this year, who have never participated before. We’re excited about that.”

One of those new participants ended up on the winning team thanks to someone who played last year and extended an invitation to play this year. Lisa and Paul Pellicani, both members at Severna Park UMC, invited two friends to join their team after having a great experience last year. Their team won with a score of 14 under par.

Mike Alahverdian, another member of the winning team, said that it was a wonderful experience.

“It was a great round of golf, great people, and a great cause,” he said. “It was my first time here and hopefully I’ll be back again and again and again.”

Robert Kramer, also on the winning team, said that he enjoyed a great round of golf. A commercial airline pilot, he had cleared his schedule to play because he was invited by Paul and he wanted to support a good cause.

Lisa Pellicani, the fourth member of the team, sad that her day was “amazing.”

“Today was amazing,” she said. “Last year, when we learned from our pastor about this event and wonderful organization, we said, ‘okay, we love playing golf’ and we went and they put us with two other people.”

This year, she said, they invited two friends.

“We had so much fun,” she said. “The laughing, the good playing… this was amazing.”

Just before the golfers went out for their shotgun start, Bishop Easterling offered a few words and a prayer.

“We want every person who finds themselves in that situation to be able to get to safety,” she said. “So, know that while you’re having fun today, you’re also doing something powerful – powerful – for someone down the road that we do not yet know.”

And as she prayed for those caught within intimate partner violence, that they may be kept safe, she also prayed for the golfers: “God, help them keep it in the short grass.”

To make a donation to this ministry and to learn more, plus to see a video and download bulletin inserts: https://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/love-like-jesus/wellness-missions/domestic-violence-prevention-network--sos/

 

*Erik Alsgaard is a retired Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference