The Children’s Museum of St. Croix presents: Jumbies
Mocko Jumbies at the Children’s Museum of St. Croix!
On Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., children are invited to explore these towering guardians of culture.
Activities include arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, prizes, and a make-your-own Mocko Jumbie event.
More information at www.childrenmuseumstx.org
As we come to the end of September, we also are coming to the end of suicide prevention awareness month. However, this is something that we should continue to be aware of. Suicide remains heavily on the hearts of those who have lost loved ones, as well as on those people who are contemplating the taking of their own lives.Natalie J. Lewis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. (Submitted photo)
According to SAMHSA, the suicide warning signs can look different for both adults and children. However, the outcomes are the same for them both when a suicide is carried out: DEATH. What does a suicidal person look like? I’m of the belief that it can be anyone of us. Life is meant to be lived. But sometimes, it is simply too hard to continue, and people may feel that the decision of committing suicide is the only one left to be made. The thought of having to go through another tomorrow may be too heavy of a burden to handle for many of us. Resources to help prevent suicide include but are not limited to the following: The Effective Suicide Prevention Model, Best Practices Registry (BPR), and the Zero Suicide Framework: A Safer Approach. SAMHSA also suggests the following:
“If you believe someone may be in danger of suicide:
Call 911, if danger for self-harm seems imminent.
Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to talk to a caring professional.
Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. This will not put the idea into their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.
Listen without judging and show you care.
Stay with the person or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person until you can get further help.
Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt” (https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/prevention)
Here in the U.S. Virgin Islands, we have lost loved ones, friends and family members to suicide. This happens here, as it does everywhere else, and we can no longer ignore or deny the fact that it does. Together we can all help by being aware of the signs, to lower the chances of this happening. We are all imperfect people living in an imperfect world, and tragedies do and will happen. But the time is now, for mental health counseling to become more normalized in our community, both in accessibility and in attending to our own mental health as though our lives are depending on it, because it is.Natalie J. Lewis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She is licensed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia and Virginia. She is a proud graduate of St. Croix Central High School “The Classic Class” (Go Caribs) and Nova Southeastern University (Go Sharks).
Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. updates the public on the Governor’s 2025 Workforce Summit and other matters during a press briefing Monday on St. Croix. (Screenshot from V.I. Government House livestream)
Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. pushed back on a recent statement from Del. Stacey Plaskett and said during a weekly briefing Monday that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. can do little to change the territory’s exclusion from the United States Customs Zone.
“The Virgin Islands’s exclusion from the U.S. Customs Zone was not a local choice,” Motta said Monday. “It never was. It was established by Congress in the Tariff Act of 1930, which means only Congress has the authority to change that status — not Governor Bryan and not the President of the United States — and that has been the case since the United States Virgin Islands was acquired by the United States in 1917.”
The comment came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order eliminating duty-free “de minimis” treatment for packages valued under $800, which the White House described as a “catastrophic loophole used to, among other things, evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids as well as other unsafe or below-market products that harm American workers and businesses into the United States” on its website.
The change took effect last month and created an “unfair burden for territorial residents” who rely heavily on sending and receiving packages to and from the U.S. mainland, Plaskett said in a statement last week. Plaskett said it “is the discretion and authority of the Governor of the Virgin Islands to make requests to the Federal Government about inclusion or exclusion from the Customs Zone.”
“I have said, for more than 10 years, that the Virgin Islands should determine if being outside of the Customs Zone has the same benefit that it did over 100 years ago to our Territory and residents,” she stated. “If not, the Governor of the Virgin Islands as the individual with authority to enter into arrangements of this nature with the Federal Government should request such change which would then require the executive branch authorization.”
On Monday, Motta said he was privy to correspondence between Plaskett and the White House regarding a potential exemption for the territory.
“And so that is what we’re tracking right now,” he said.
In her own statement, Plaskett noted her work in securing an exemption from port fees imposed by the U.S. Trade Representative earlier this year and said she will “apply that same determination to find a waiver for the U.S. territories from this customs duty requirement.”
That’s assuming the federal government will be up and running. By Monday evening, Trump and congressional leaders were continuing to spar over a spending bill needed to fund government services. If they fail to reach a compromise by Tuesday night, many of those services will come to a halt.
Locally, Motta said Monday that the administration doesn’t “anticipate any real impacts to our local government operations” and noted that the territory has weathered federal government shutdowns before.
“But of course, we always hope that they can avoid that, as it does impact our … federal government employees here locally, with respect to their pay, and certain federal government operations here in the territory,” he said. Motta added the impacts of previous shutdowns have been “fairly minimal and have been resolved long before any long-term impacts could be realized.”
The U.S. Interior Department has yet to announce whether a shutdown will include national parks and other sites, of which there are five in the territory. A contingency plan the National Park Service published in 2024 states that: “In general, the National Park Service sites will be closed during the period of a lapse in appropriations.”
“This means that the majority of National Park sites will be closed completely to public access,” according to the plan. “Areas that by their nature are physically accessible to the public will face significantly reduced visitor services. Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit National Park sites during the period of lapse in appropriations.”
Travel times may also be affected. While a shutdown would not affect airlines, U.S. Transportation Security Administration employees and air traffic controllers will be forced to work without pay.
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
Ministry is one of the few callings where people expect you to be both superhuman and constantly available. The same people who admire your strength often assume you have none of your own battles. The same ones who pull on your gifts sometimes forget you are still managing your own healing. That is the tension of ministry. If you are not emotionally aware, you will lose yourself trying to meet needs you were never meant to carry alone.
I have watched it. I have felt it. The quiet weight of pouring and praying and showing up. The moments when you do not have it, but you show up anyway. The nights when your body is present but your soul is exhausted. The times when you are processing disappointment, but you still have to lead the meeting, deliver the message, or be the example. And somewhere in the shuffle between calling and capacity, your identity starts to blur.
That is why emotional intelligence is so critical in ministry. Because you can become excellent at helping others and still be dysfunctional inside. You can preach healing and be bleeding internally. You can lead people to deliverance while quietly drowning. That is not drama. That is reality. And if you do not slow down and check in with yourself, ministry will become performance instead of overflow.
One of the biggest dangers in ministry is mistaking service for self-awareness. You can be active in every assignment but disconnected from your actual condition. You can be the go-to person for advice while avoiding your own mirror. You can be known and admired but completely numb. That is how burnout begins. That is how spiritual fatigue shows up. And that is how you wake up one day and realize you no longer recognize the person behind the collar or the pulpit.
Emotional intelligence is not just a leadership tool. It is a survival strategy for anyone who serves. It teaches you to sit with your feelings before they sabotage your flow. It teaches you how to rest before resentment sets in. It teaches you how to regulate your response when the weight of people’s expectations gets heavy. And it reminds you that you are not your role. You are not your results. You are not defined by how much you can carry. You are loved by God even when you say no. Even when you pause. Even when you are not performing.
I had to learn that ministry is not a replacement for therapy. It is not a substitute for processing. It is not a pass for neglecting emotional accountability. There were seasons where I kept going because I thought that was faithfulness. But the truth was, I was afraid to be still. I thought rest would make me look weak. I thought boundaries would make me look selfish. I thought silence would make people forget me. And the more I ignored myself, the louder my emotions started talking in ways I could no longer control.
That is where emotional intelligence changed everything. It gave me the language to say, “I am called, but I am still growing.” It gave me the courage to admit that I needed rest, not just for my body, but for my spirit. It gave me the tools to understand that every urgent request is not my responsibility. It reminded me that the Holy Spirit does not just work through what I say to others—it works through what I allow God to say to me.
Ministry accountability is not just about what you teach or how you lead. It is also about what you model. Are you showing people how to serve from a place of health, or are you normalizing burnout? Are you pointing people to the God of peace while living in constant chaos yourself? Are you teaching grace but refusing to give any to yourself? These questions are not meant to condemn. They are meant to confront.
Ministry is sacred. But it is not supposed to break you. It is supposed to refine you. And refinement takes honesty. It takes stillness. It takes structure. It takes asking for help before you collapse. And it takes recognizing that just because people expect you to have it all together does not mean you have to pretend you do.
If you are reading this and you are tired, I see you. If you are wrestling with the weight of showing up, I understand. If you are carrying pain that you do not feel free to name, let me remind you of something simple but powerful—you are allowed to be human. You are allowed to cry, to rest, to reflect, to reset. That does not make you weak. That makes you wise.
Do not let the assignment make you forget who you are. Do not let the platform become the only place you feel seen. Do not let ministry rob you of your mental and emotional health. You cannot pour if you never pause.
So take care of the vessel. Not just for them. For you. Because the best ministry flows from wholeness, not hustle.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
For decades, St. John’s only traffic light was the one mounted on the wall of the old Public Works Department’s maintenance building on Gifft Hill Road (Rt. 104). It didn’t work, of course. It was put there in the late 1990s as a wry joke by Ira Wade, then DPW deputy commissioner for St. John.
The never-installed traffic light was mounted on the wall of the Public Works maintenance facility on Gifft Hill Road. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
In recent weeks, some sharp-eyed residents passing the now-derelict building have noticed that the traffic light is missing. One of them, Cid Hamling, decided to investigate.
Hamling remembers well the spontaneous uprising in October 1996 that led to the traffic light’s functional demise. “Tyrone Martin, Department of Public Works special assistant, came to St. John and announced we were going to have traffic lights,” she said. “He had federal money, and he was hyped up about it.”
The idea of a traffic light in (what was then) sleepy Cruz Bay seemed absurd. During the fall of 1996, St. John was still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Marilyn. Community and business leaders had formed the St. John Action Committee to brainstorm ways to improve the island’s infrastructure and stimulate tourism. There were many items on their wish list, but a traffic light was not among them.
“The St. John community got wind of it and said, ‘We don’t want traffic lights,’” said Hamling, then owner of Connections, a mail service center. She offered the use of phones and fax machines to anyone who wanted to contact senators and other officials. Dozens of people used them to register their opposition.
Local officials held a town-hall meeting to discuss the matter on Monday, Sept. 30, 1996, and an overflow crowd attended. Hamling recalls that when one resident called out, “Who doesn’t want it? Stand up!” all but a few stood up.
But Martin had already identified a place for the light: near the Creek in Cruz Bay, where Boulon Center Road made a T at the Northshore Road. (According to Google Maps, Boulon Center Rd. has been officially renamed Edward Moorhead Boulevard.) Martin was determined to move forward in spite of the public’s protest.
A star indicates the proposed location of the traffic light in Cruz Bay, proposed in 1996. (Screenshot from Google Maps )
The day after the town meeting, Martin arrived with a crew in Cruz Bay and began marking the intersection with a can of spray paint; the coconut telegraph immediately went into high alert. “A large group of people went out to physically block them from proceeding,” said activist Pam Gaffin, who was on the scene.
“My understanding was the V.I. government had already indicated the traffic lights had been installed as part of a grant with an expiration date of the fiscal year end — September 30,” said Gaffin.
“They realized just days ahead of the deadline that they had one set of lights unused and decided to dump them on St. John. The lights were for a 4-way intersection — but St John does not have any 4-way intersections — not one. The First Bank corner is the closest, but since there is a one-way street that could not use the light, it counts as a 3-way intersection,” she continued.
Gaffin also said the lights were doomed to fail if they ever were installed. “These were the new, fancy computerized lights – with multiple lights on each direction. When WAPA goes out, they would not have been able to start back up again by themselves. Someone from St. Thomas would have had to come over to reset them.”
Gov. Roy L. Schneider was out of the territory at the time, according to a front-page story in the Daily News on Wed. Oct. 2, so Lt. Gov. Kenneth Mapp intervened by issuing a stop-work order. Schneider terminated the project upon his return.
The traffic light protest led to front-page headlines in the Daily News on Oct. 2, 1996. (Photo published with permission by the Virgin Islands Daily News)An editorial in the Daily News in October 1996 supported the community of St. John. (Photo published with permission by the Virgin Islands Daily News)
Following that incident, Gaffin said that Ira Wade, who served as deputy commissioner of Public Works for St. John, ”Swore he would never, ever install a traffic light on St. John, no matter what, and hung one of the lights up on the Public Works building.”
Ironically, the island’s recovery was faster than most people anticipated. Growth boomed over the next few years, and traffic congestion at the intersection near the Creek became a big problem. Barge companies began offering multiple trips throughout the day, and when vehicles lined up to get on or off, traffic often came to a standstill.
Wade went into high gear to deal with traffic woes and planned a roundabout to allow traffic to flow around the five-way intersection near O’Connor’s Texaco gas station. Five years later, construction on the roundabout still hadn’t begun.
It was an enormous undertaking that involved moving countless truckloads of earth to change the elevation of the site, forcing the Texaco Station to close down. The Theovald E. Moorehead Marine Terminal in Enighed Pond was completed in 2006, and barge services relocated from the Creek in Cruz Bay. When work on the roundabout was completed several years later, it was deemed a success. Gaffin said, “Boy, I miss Ira Wade; he really knew how to get things done.”
And what happened to the traffic light that Ira Wade put up on the wall of the Public Works maintenance building?
The traffic light remained on the DPW maintenance building even after being badly damaged by a hurricane in 2017. The building is now slated for reconstruction. (Source photo by Amy H. Roberts)
Two weeks ago, Hamling found it lying on the ground on Public Works property. The traffic light was removed in preparation for pending demolition of the building and remains in DPW’s custody.
Hamling wants to see the traffic light preserved as a reminder of a unique moment in St. John’s history. Members of the St. John Historical Society hope to display it as part of their collection so that this almost-forgotten pistarckle will live on in history.
Local educator Kyoka Gumbs, a second-grade teacher at Joseph Gomez Elementary School, has released her debut children’s book, “Kai and the Time-Traveling Lunchbox.”
Kyoka Gumbs, author of “Kai and Time-Traveling Lunchbox,” poses with a hard copy of her first-ever children’s book. (Photo courtesy Kyoka Gumbs)
The story marks the beginning of “The Adventures with Kai” series, written to reflect the lives, culture, and heritage of Virgin Islands children. In this first adventure, Kai discovers that his ordinary lunchbox holds the power to take him on incredible journeys through time.
“I wanted my students to see themselves in the pages that they read, both in the imagery and story details. So often, their stories are about faraway locations. This book immerses them in the places and cultural features that they are familiar with. I want kids to feel proud of who they are, curious about the past, and excited to see themselves in the pages of a book,” Gumbs said.
“One of the inspirations for this book was the class I taught last school year, who constantly complained about how boring some of their stories were. I wanted to create a book that would capture their attention. This included using the name ‘Kai’ because it was easy to pronounce and a name I knew they would be familiar with,” Gumbs said.
Set across iconic local landmarks including Fort Christian, Coral World, Magens Bay, and Emancipation Garden, this children’s book highlights the natural beauty and historical richness of the Virgin Islands. One of the missions of this series for Gumbs is to foster pride among local readers, with hopes of this story extending the powerful stories of Caribbean culture worldwide.
“Kai and Time-Traveling Lunchbox” became available for purchase earlier this month on Amazon. (Photo courtesy Kyoka Gumbs)
Gumbs admits the publishing process was challenging, taking nearly 10 revisions before approval. “The most unforgettable moment was holding my first draft copy in my hands and seeing my work come alive. My advice to aspiring authors is to prepare for a long, but rewarding road. There will be setbacks, but the fulfillment that comes in the end surpasses anything you could imagine,” she said.
“Kai and Time-Traveling Lunchbox” is now available on Amazon. Gumbs confirms that more adventures are on the way, noting that this is only the beginning of Kai’s journey. Readers can expect the second installation of this series to showcase new cultural traditions and locations connected to Virgin Islands heritage.
Attendees at the Deaf Awareness event sign along to a song, joining in the music and celebration. (Photo from University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Facebook)
Community members, advocates, and local officials gathered Saturday at the University of the Virgin Islands for Celebrating Deaf Awareness, an event hosted by the Virgin Islands Deaf & Hard of Hearing Advocates to honor Deaf culture and recognize the contributions of the territory’s deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.
Territorial ADA Coordinator Julien Henley addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in advancing accessibility. “Accessibility is not the work of one office or one agency. It is a shared responsibility of us all,” Henley said, underscoring the need for community-wide commitment to inclusion for people with disabilities.
Edi Utibe, special assistant in the Office of the Governor, reflected on the event’s wide-ranging program and its intended impact. “As we move through today’s program, from education to history to creative performances and heartfelt tributes, we want to leave here inspired to act, to listen more deeply and to ensure that accessibility is embedded in every part of our territory,” Utibe said.
The event included a tribute to former Sen. Virdin Brown, recognized for his long-standing commitment to public service and advocacy for the deaf community in the Virgin Islands. Brown served in the Virgin Islands Legislature during the 1970s and 1980s, where he played a key role in advancing education and services for deaf residents.
Brown’s efforts, alongside his wife Patricia, led to the creation of advocacy groups and successful petitions for improved educational opportunities for deaf students in the territory. Event organizers credited Brown’s leadership with helping many deaf students graduate from high school and pursue higher education and professional careers.
Members of the Virgin Islands Deaf & Hard of Hearing Advocates engaged the audience with a lively trivia segment designed to educate and raise awareness about deaf culture and history.
The trivia covered a range of topics. Attendees correctly identified that ASL stands for American Sign Language, and that ASL is not a universal language, as different countries have their own sign languages. When asked about Deaf Awareness Month, participants responded that it is observed in September, while Deaf History Month is celebrated in April.
Organizers shared that approximately 2,000 Virgin Islanders are deaf or hard of hearing, based on the 2020 census. Nationally, the number is estimated to be 48 million people across the United States, underscoring the widespread importance of accessibility and inclusion.
The group also challenged the audience to name famous deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Answers included Ludwig van Beethoven, the renowned composer; Helen Keller, a deaf-blind activist and author; and other notable figures such as hard-of-hearing actress Katie Leclerc.
Among the speakers was Shanelle Lawrence, a deaf tour guide and business owner based on St. Thomas and St. John. She operates VI Deaf Tours, a company that provides accessible tours for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, highlighting the history and culture of the Virgin Islands.
In addition to her work as a tour guide, Lawrence teaches about sign language and advocates for greater inclusion of the deaf community. Her efforts focus on making local tourism and education more accessible to all.
During her remarks, Lawrence spoke about the strengths and capabilities of the Deaf community. She emphasized that deaf individuals possess a wide range of skills and talents and are fully capable of contributing to society in significant and impactful ways.
“The Deaf community is fully skilled. We are creative. We have leadership ability. We can have our own businesses and make things inclusive for everyone,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence emphasized the need for more effective communication strategies when interacting with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. She explained that lip reading is often unreliable and can cause frustration.
She encouraged the use of alternatives such as writing messages down, using text on mobile devices, or learning basic sign language. These approaches, she said, help ensure that deaf people are fully included in conversations and community life.
Lawrence spoke about the language used to describe the Deaf community, urging attendees to reconsider terms with negative implications. She explained that the phrase ‘hearing impaired’ is now considered outdated, especially among younger generations, and encouraged the use of ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing’ instead.
“The world uses the term ‘hearing impaired,’ but it’s no longer really used or acceptable, especially for the new generation coming up,” she said. “It’s almost like an insult — it makes it sound as if we are broken, that something is damaged or wrong with us that needs to be fixed.”
Lawrence emphasized that deaf people are whole and complete. “Deaf people are not broken. We are whole. We may not hear, but we are whole, period,” she said.
Awards were presented to several community members in recognition of their advocacy and support. The celebratory event also featured skits, video presentations, and dancing.
Community members listen during Monday’s elder abuse awareness workshop on St. Thomas, the third in an outreach series focused on protecting seniors and disabled residents. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
One of the organizers of the elder abuse outreach series says they see signs of progress appearing. The third in a series of workshops designed to raise awareness about abuse of vulnerable elderly and disabled Virgin Islanders took place Monday on St. Thomas.
Unlike the first two sessions involving law enforcement personnel and banking professionals, Monday’s workshop engaged seniors and their caregivers.
About 50 people gathered at a community center in Estate Donoe to learn more about elder abuse and exploitation, and to ask questions about what they had heard. The event was hosted by AARP of the Virgin Islands and the Human Services Department.
Workshop presenter Jessica Whyte leads seniors through descriptions of elder abuse on Monday. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Participants were led through an exploration of elder abuse and the different ways it appears in the population. They heard from a banking executive about the warning signs of financial exploitation; they also heard from a representative from Legal Services of the Virgin Islands.
The elder justice series sprang from discussions among top government officials to tackle what some called a troubling trend of abuse and exploitation among the territory’s 22,000 residents aged 60 and over. They also took place as members of the 36th Legislature crafted Bill No. 36-0099 to improve the territory’s response to cases of elder abuse.
On Monday, the acting director of the Adult Protective Services Division said these ongoing discussions have been productive, reflected in the number of inquiries her office has received.
“It’s really information sharing and collaboration. And I believe that we’re making inroads,” said acting Director Heather Richardson-Henry. Officials speaking Monday said they would like to see workshops like these become an annual event.
After weather delays pushed back the start of their season, Antilles Middle School’s flag football teams made their debut count. The Blue Team (B team) defeated Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School 38-8, while the Grey Team (A team) shut out Gifft Hill School 39-0 on Saturday at Fishman Family Field on the Antilles School Campus.
Playing under the lights at Fishman Family Field, both Antilles squads delivered commanding performances that had parents and coaches buzzing about what could be a special season.
Coach Dariyan Griffin’s Blue Team rolled past Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School’s coed squad 38-8. Tucker Edwards was nearly unstoppable, breaking off runs of 60, 30, and 40 yards. The Martinez brothers showed some serious chemistry, too, with Max connecting with his brother Cameron to complete a 40-yard pass. Max also found Braydon Richardson twice, and Richardson added another 30-yard catch to his stat line. Sami Asfour, Patrick Mitchell, and Tre Richards all got in on the scoring action.
Meanwhile, Coach Art’s Grey Team put on a defensive clinic, shutting out Gifft Hill School 39-0. Quarterback Parker Spillane connected with Beckham Moskowitz for 30 yards and Jerome Boschulte Jr. for a two-point conversion. Boschulte Jr. joined the quarterback action, throwing touchdown passes to Gino Fero (20 yards) and James Henderson (50 yards). The highlight of the game was Liam Yoder’s 50-yard pick-six that brought the home crowd to its feet.
Parents were thrilled with what they saw. Brandon and Lorraine Richardson, Charles Edwards, Evan Martinez, and Robert Mitchell were all smiles, offering heartfelt praise as they cheered from the stands: “Good job, guys! Great win!”
Coach Griffin was clearly proud of his squad after the game. “The boys’ performance was awesome! After just about a month’s worth of practice, they came together so well and I’m proud of them. Most of them have been playing together since 4th grade so the chemistry is great.”
Looking ahead, Griffin’s already eyeing bigger things. “Right now, I’m anticipating both Antilles teams facing off against each other for the championship.”
He also had a message for the community: “Whenever you can, come out and support these young men — and young ladies! BCB has some young ladies on their team who really performed well. Your presence means a lot to the kids, and they would love to have your support.”
A 26-year-old man turned himself in to police Sunday in connection with a domestic violence incident that began two weeks earlier at Hull Bay, the V.I. Police Department reported.
According to police, Va’Shawn Daniel was arrested Sunday after surrendering to the Domestic Violence Unit around 3:30 p.m. He was charged with third-degree assault, simple assault, and disturbance of the peace — all domestic violence-related.
The charges stem from a Sept. 14 report made at Schneider Regional Medical Center, where a man told officers that Daniel had assaulted him after the two went to Hull Bay “to talk,” according to VIPD. The victim said an argument escalated and Daniel struck him several times.
The victim further reported that when they left the beach, Daniel seized both of his phones, then threw them back into the vehicle, striking the man in the face.
Daniel was booked, processed and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing, police said.
The case remains under investigation by the Domestic Violence Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the Domestic Violence Unit at 340-715-5535, or the Office of the Police Chief
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
Ministry is one of the few callings where people expect you to be both superhuman and constantly available. The same people who admire your strength often assume you have none of your own battles. The same ones who pull on your gifts sometimes forget you are still managing your own healing. That is the tension of ministry. If you are not emotionally aware, you will lose yourself trying to meet needs you were never meant to carry alone.
I have watched it. I have felt it. The quiet weight of pouring and praying and showing up. The moments when you do not have it, but you show up anyway. The nights when your body is present but your soul is exhausted. The times when you are processing disappointment, but you still have to lead the meeting, deliver the message, or be the example. And somewhere in the shuffle between calling and capacity, your identity starts to blur.
That is why emotional intelligence is so critical in ministry. Because you can become excellent at helping others and still be dysfunctional inside. You can preach healing and be bleeding internally. You can lead people to deliverance while quietly drowning. That is not drama. That is reality. And if you do not slow down and check in with yourself, ministry will become performance instead of overflow.
One of the biggest dangers in ministry is mistaking service for self-awareness. You can be active in every assignment but disconnected from your actual condition. You can be the go-to person for advice while avoiding your own mirror. You can be known and admired but completely numb. That is how burnout begins. That is how spiritual fatigue shows up. And that is how you wake up one day and realize you no longer recognize the person behind the collar or the pulpit.
Emotional intelligence is not just a leadership tool. It is a survival strategy for anyone who serves. It teaches you to sit with your feelings before they sabotage your flow. It teaches you how to rest before resentment sets in. It teaches you how to regulate your response when the weight of people’s expectations gets heavy. And it reminds you that you are not your role. You are not your results. You are not defined by how much you can carry. You are loved by God even when you say no. Even when you pause. Even when you are not performing.
I had to learn that ministry is not a replacement for therapy. It is not a substitute for processing. It is not a pass for neglecting emotional accountability. There were seasons where I kept going because I thought that was faithfulness. But the truth was, I was afraid to be still. I thought rest would make me look weak. I thought boundaries would make me look selfish. I thought silence would make people forget me. And the more I ignored myself, the louder my emotions started talking in ways I could no longer control.
That is where emotional intelligence changed everything. It gave me the language to say, “I am called, but I am still growing.” It gave me the courage to admit that I needed rest, not just for my body, but for my spirit. It gave me the tools to understand that every urgent request is not my responsibility. It reminded me that the Holy Spirit does not just work through what I say to others—it works through what I allow God to say to me.
Ministry accountability is not just about what you teach or how you lead. It is also about what you model. Are you showing people how to serve from a place of health, or are you normalizing burnout? Are you pointing people to the God of peace while living in constant chaos yourself? Are you teaching grace but refusing to give any to yourself? These questions are not meant to condemn. They are meant to confront.
Ministry is sacred. But it is not supposed to break you. It is supposed to refine you. And refinement takes honesty. It takes stillness. It takes structure. It takes asking for help before you collapse. And it takes recognizing that just because people expect you to have it all together does not mean you have to pretend you do.
If you are reading this and you are tired, I see you. If you are wrestling with the weight of showing up, I understand. If you are carrying pain that you do not feel free to name, let me remind you of something simple but powerful—you are allowed to be human. You are allowed to cry, to rest, to reflect, to reset. That does not make you weak. That makes you wise.
Do not let the assignment make you forget who you are. Do not let the platform become the only place you feel seen. Do not let ministry rob you of your mental and emotional health. You cannot pour if you never pause.
So take care of the vessel. Not just for them. For you. Because the best ministry flows from wholeness, not hustle.
