Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi delivers powerful message of hope
December 2025 — Drew Theological School’s student-led organizations closed out the fall semester with a series of worship services held in Craig Chapel and streamed online.
Among the highlights was a special service hosted by the Black Ministerial Caucus (BMC), featuring guest preacher Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, a Drew University trustee and Bishop in the United Methodist Church.
Moore-Koikoi opened her message on “Holy Healing” with an affirmation, “God is my joy. God is the strength of my life, sometimes all that needs to be said is that God is. Period. End of sentence.”
Drawing from Jeremiah 17, she reflected on the prophet’s spiritual wounds and the relevance for today’s ministry leaders. “Jeremiah was a prophet in need of a holy spiritual healing,” she said, reminding students that spiritual struggle is often profound when communities are on the brink of a transformation. “These spirits intensify their strategies when the organization that is working for the will of God is just on the verge of a breakthrough,” she said, pointing to recent developments in the United Methodist Church as a sign of hope.
She also invited the community to examine their spiritual health, naming common signs of woundedness such as imposter syndrome, false humility, and the pressure to save everyone. “It’s not up to you to save the people,” she emphasized. “That is up to God.”
“Irrespective of your woundedness, your healing is on the way,” she said, urging students to tend to their physical, mental, and spiritual health.
In addition to the BMC, The Theological Students Association, the AfriSCaD Caucus, and the Korean Caucus all held chapel services celebrating a semester of learning and spiritual community.
