Walking by Faith, Constantly Tripping!

Jaye Lindo’s Ordination Service, August 30, 2025

By Noel Santiago 

“My help comes from the Lord! The one who began a good work will complete it.” (Psalm 121:2, CEB; Philippians 1:6) 

On a radiant summer afternoon in District Heights, MD, the art studio pulsed with life. But it wasn’t the usual buzz of brushes, canvases, or customers. It was something far more powerful: the joyful, Spirit-filled sounds of believers gathering to celebrate the ordination of Pastor Jaye Lindo. 

Surrounded by vibrant, colorful artwork, the gathering itself became a masterpiece, an expression of Lindo’s remarkable journey with God. Family, friends, colleagues, and the wider faith community encircled her with love and affirmation, testifying to the ways they had witnessed and nurtured God’s calling in her life. 

Pastor Lindo’s story is not one of ease, but of resilience and relentless faith. A descendant of enslaved people who toiled endlessly, she carries forward a legacy of perseverance, courage, and a deep-rooted hope.  

Her life has been a living example of everyday Anabaptism, of walking by faith, constantly tripping, as she and her husband reminded everyone through the T-shirts they wore at the celebration, yet always rising again with resilience and grace. 

From administration to youth ministry, from women’s ministry to launching the dynamic 7 Ways Home Fellowship with her ever-supportive husband, Brother Robert, Lindo has consistently stepped into new challenges with faith and openness. 

She fondly recalls Rev. Dr. Nelson Okanya as one of the first to recognize God’s pastoral call upon her life. At the ordination service, Dr. Okanya drew from Lindo’s cherished scriptures, Psalm 121 and Philippians 1:6, to frame her journey. 

The psalmist lifts his eyes and asks: “Where does my help come from?” The reply thunders: “My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.” Dr. Okanya affirmed that Pastor Lindo has lived and ministered from this bedrock conviction: her help has always come from the Lord. 

Linking this to Philippians 1:6, he declared that just as Paul encouraged the Philippians, so too can we affirm over Lindo: the God who began this good work in her will not stop halfway. God will bring it to glorious completion in Christ Jesus!

The service culminated in a powerful moment as the community gathered around Pastor Jaye and Brother Robert, laying hands, praying fervently, and rejoicing in God’s Spirit moving among them. It was holy. It was inspiring. It was unforgettable. 

And then, as only God’s people can do, the celebration spilled over into laughter, storytelling, and a feast worthy of the occasion: crabs, fried fish, Chesapeake chicken, mac and cheese; a table of abundance shared in joy. 

We bless and commission Pastor Jaye Lindo, Brother Robert, and the 7 Ways Home Fellowship to continue creating safe, Spirit-filled spaces where people encounter the living Christ. The journey is not without trips and stumbles, but it is always guided by the Lord, who gives help and who will surely complete God’s good work. 

Mosaic Conference is a global, intercultural community, blessed with many credentialed female ministers including some of African and African Caribbean backgrounds. Within this diversity, we celebrate that Pastor Lindo is the second African American female minister to be credentialed in Mosaic.