n early 2020, I found myself directly observing the profound physical, mental, and emotional trauma unleashed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). My wife, India, a registered nurse and hospital executive, stood at the front lines, confronting uncertainties and fear, and the stark realities of physical and emotional isolation. Each day she faced miraculous recoveries and the painful reality of loss, yet she continued to show up.

As an African American male with insulin-dependent diabetes, I found myself at heightened risk for COVID-19 and other co-morbidities, which can swiftly lead to irreversible damage to vital organs and potentially result in death.

Nationally, hundreds of thousands of black and brown individuals fall into this high-risk category — communities where COVID-19 exacerbates existing health disparities, as reflected in disproportionately high death tolls.

Factors contributing to these disparities included reduced access to quality healthcare, inflexible low-wage employment, lack of paid sick leave, overrepresentation in correctional and immigration detention facilities, and inadequate housing conditions. These long-standing inequities led to heightened rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death among racial and ethnic minority populations in the U.S. (Prevention of Chronic Disorders, 2023).

America was unprepared for this pandemic, which escalated into a national public health crisis. Initial medical assessments indicated underlying contributing factors leading to increased hospitalizations and suffering related to the virus.

Disparity Abolitionist
As a non-clinician man of faith, I sought ways to contribute positively. During this challenging time, I turned to God, asking about my responsibility. As a religious leader in a faith-based organization, I believe we are called to be health disparity abolitionists and not simply spiritual spectators in this critical current new season of health care apartheid in America.

In my consistent inquiry to God for divine wisdom, He clearly and directly downloaded the concept of DELIVERANCE to my mind and heart.

The biblical narrative reveals that the quest for deliverance began with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden, signifying humanity’s captivity. Throughout biblical history, deliverance was exemplified during the enslavement in Egypt and Babylon, culminating in Christ’s incarnation and the prophetic promise of renewal in His Second Coming. The term DELIVERANCE encompasses a profound historical context, particularly emphasizing the African Diaspora, while also offering hope for both the present and future wellness as designed by God.

The acronym DELIVERANCE starts with the letter D, which stands for Data. Without delving into technical terminology or the complexities of multi-scientific analysis, we can say that data answers crucial questions about origins: Who are you, and where did you come from? Moreover, data addresses how individual branches connect to the overall family tree. It reveals a generational perspective on family history concerning health, genetic inheritance, and physiological characteristics passed down through the generations. Understanding these critical factors is the starting point in the deliverance process. The more you know about your family’s wholistic history, the better you will understand yourself.

Understanding your data is a proactive response in this current society that often attempts to reshape history to whitewash a false narrative of America’s past, which in turn justifies ongoing discrimination against our communities. The deeper the data, the clearer the analysis becomes in explaining the causes and the unjust rationale underlying your existence within the imperfect American experiment. My intentional brokenness, once articulated, becomes the foundation for addressing the past and moving toward my deliverance and contribution to society.

To experience the liberation of DELIVERANCE: Rooted in Wellness, we must begin with personal self-assessment through Data.

Each letter in DELIVERANCE corresponds to a set of personal action items to help move the process forward. Below are a set of questions to help you discover your personal data past and future.