I once saw an interview with some parishioners who came out to see pope John Paul II when he toured America for the last time before his passing. During the interviews, one woman said that touching the hand of Pope John Paul II was like touching the hand of God Himself – indicating that to her – no one was closer to God than the Pope. I feel that way about someone, but he is not the Pope…

…he is The Archbishop David I. Hartman.

The Archbishop, or The Most Reverend Dr. David I. Hartman is the Metropolitan-Archbishop to the Apostolic Fellowship of Churches of Christ International, and Patriarch of Christ International Cathedral, soon to come to Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops’ Congress. Archbishop Hartman is the first African American Chief Chaplain for the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). He served as Director of the Clergy Crisis Responder Program for the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) under The Honorable Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. This directorship governed the spiritual care component and management of a team of clerics from varied denominational backgrounds and support staff from the New York City Police Department, whose overall mandate was to provide City-Wide spiritual care and support to those who were impacted by the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001. This initiative, which was the first of its kind, has since served as a national model for Spiritual Care.

In 2002, Archbishop Hartman retired from the New York City Police Department after twenty-one years of exemplary law enforcement service. He received his education from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is a graduate of Full Gospel Bible College, and Kingdom University School of Ministry. In addition, he is a certified Victim Chaplain, and holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Doctorate of Divinity from Northwestern University, as well as a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. In May of 2004, he was graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University Family Development Credentialing Program. He is a bishop to bishops and his passion is to see kingdom minded citizens become transpneumigrated into kingdom ambassadors equipped to minister to generations of anointed vessels of valor.

That is what he is according to his bio, but to me – he, if possible – is so much more than that. He is my Spiritual Advisor, he is my very dear friend – and he is the one and only person that I willingly turn to when I am in need of counsel, advice, guidance – or prayer. I can name at least half a dozen occasions when I was in need of Spiritual guidance – and without me contacting him – he somehow showed up. He was the first person to pull the river of tears out of me two years after September 11, 2001. He knocked on my door at the TLC when I had no Christmas spirit and needed an Angel of Mercy – and he came out here to New Jersey just last weekend to see me for the first time since 2005, to catch up, reunite – and to once again guide me in the right direction going forward.

When he and his lovely wife Audrey pulled up to my complex, my first instinct was to ask him to get out of the car and give me a big hug – which he did without me even asking him to. After catching up for a few minutes, we headed over to a Japanese restaurant to enjoy a good meal – and break bread with this wonderful amazing man. We talked about what we have both been through since we last saw each other, what we are doing now – and how much we missed each other’s company. Truth be told, I am one to, as many of my friends and colleagues put it, “never shut up.” But when he talked to Julie and I – I sat silent and absorbed everything he said like a sponge in an ocean of wisdom. I wholeheartedly welcomed every word of advice, each pearl of wisdom – and each path of direction he pointed me in. To me, his advice is priceless – and I am honored that he chooses to give it to me.

After dinner, because he is allergic to Beavis, we sat in his car and spoke about our futures rather than go to my home. Instead of Archbishop Hartman giving us his incredible advice – it was his wife Audrey who bestowed upon us words of wisdom that would rival any Sermon even the Pope himself could give. Both Julie and I sat and stared at each other in sheer amazement as she told us how we should love each other, be honest with each other, be each other’s best friends – but always turn to God and keep Him close to us – because He is always there when we need Him.

When we got back to my complex – Archbishop Hartman, his wife Audrey and Julie and I joined hands – and he said a prayer for us that, as he always does – brought me to tears. His words to me are, for lack of a better example – like a can of spinach to Popeye. Instantly, I felt infused with faith, strength, hope, promise – and passion. After I wiped the tears of joy from my face – I told him that he made me feel like a million dollars – and whatever stress and concerns about my own life I currently have melted away – and that no one else could do that for me spiritually.

Two days after our meeting, I received a message from Archbishop Hartman that read, “Just wanted you to know that I had the best time spending it with u and Julie. I haven’t smiled that much in recent memory. You are a great treasure. Love ya.” I have to tell you that I never thought I would get close enough to an Archbishop to get not only an audience – but such a lovely accolade – nor would I have ever thought that such an important man with such a busy schedule and demands from countless parishioners take the time to come all this way to spend time with me. There is no one and never will be a man on this Earth that will be closer to our Lord to me then Archbishop David I. Hartman. I love that man and thank him so much for all that he has ever done for me – something I said to him through tears that night – and something I will always mean.

God Bless you Sir – God Bless you – and thank you for blessing me with your friendship, wisdom – and faith.