Jacques Review

Jacques Review would like to welcome Samuel Jeudin to Spotlight. This interview series features conversations with interviewees of various backgrounds and occupations. It provides a look into the planning and unique personal career journeys of each individual. It even offers small glimpses into their private lives. The finished product hopes to convey that every story matters, is worth hearing, and has a great deal of significance to the mosaic called humanity.

I’ve known Samuel for a while now. I can’t recall how we first came across each other. I know it was through Facebook between 2005-2009. In the SDA online community, we tend to run into a good number of people that we’ve never met before. Mutual followers made it easy to be in conversations with people from many parts of the country. Sam and I became cool through that platform. We have even met in person during my time taking theological courses at Oakwood University. We kept in contact through the years talking about boxing, exercise, and of course, theology.

I have always admired Samuel for his exceptional hair-cutting talent. Throughout the years, we have seen him display superb craftsmanship in regard to both cutting and shaping up. The brother is gifted. “I cut my own hair. I haven’t been cutting hair as much lately,” He says.

I recognize Samuel as a quiet intellectual who is always willing to go indepth on a topic when engaged privately. Samuel has an insightful way of looking at a situation and highlighting an area that attention isn’t being given to. I’m looking forward to perhaps seeing a book from him in the future.

Seeing that your parents are of Haitian descent, were you born here or in Haiti? If you weren’t, have you ever been there?

Both of my parents were born in Haiti and emigrated to the U.S. in the 70s. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent the first part of my childhood there. I grew up in Philadelphia. I never got a chance to visit Haiti as a child, but four years ago, I got a chance to go for the first time with my cousins and aunt. I liked Haiti. I had a good time. But I don’t know if I got the full experience because we stayed at a resort the whole time. We did get to visit a museum and also an orphanage. I took a lot of photos.

How many siblings do you have? How was life growing up with them?

I have one younger sister. We’re four years apart. Growing up, she was my best friend and confidant. We had the normal brother-sister spats but we were completely inseparable. Still are to some extent.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I have a lot of good childhood memories—too many to mention. One of my favorite childhood memories was getting on the train and going to Coney Island as a kid. Another was after my family moved to Philadelphia, we would often come back to New York on weekends to visit family. I loved going to my aunt’s house in Crown Heights—she would always have a delicious meal for us after church. And then sometimes we would visit my other aunt, uncle, and cousins in the Bronx. Another memory is playing baseball in the house with my cousins. We would unscrew a dustpan stick and that would be the bat and then we would ball up a sock as the baseball. Sometimes we would break stuff in the house and everyone would get in trouble. Those were the days.

Who would you say played a significant role in who you are today?

My father. My mother as well. I am a perfect blend of the two. My mother is peaceful, diplomatic, sweet, kind, caring, and often deferring, very considerate of others—sometimes too much. My father often quoted and still quotes the Scriptures to me—particularly the Proverbs. So he was always giving us “million dollars worth of game” as they say. He taught me to not let people run over me and always stand ten toes down on what you believe. My father couldn’t care less what people thought of him. He always meant business but he knew how to let loose and dance and joke and have a good time.

You earned a master’s degree from Andrews Theological Seminary. What was your favorite class? Who was the professor?

Yes, I have a Master of Divinity from Andrews. This is kind of unfair. But I would say Dr. R. Clifford Jones was my favorite. He taught Contemporized Preaching: African American Homiletics, I believe the class was called. Another one of my favorite classes and professors was Dr. Roy Gane. His Sanctuary class was great. And then there was Dr. Martin Hannah who I had for Revelation, Inspiration, and Hermeneutics. I can name so many more, like Dr. Baldwin who taught a class in Genesis or something along those lines. Or my World Religions class taught by Dr. Bauer who told me I should think about getting a Ph.D. someday.

Were you part of any organizations during your time there?

I really can’t remember. I helped out here and there with organizations but I didn’t commit to joining any.

If you had to give three study tips, what would they be?

Don’t procrastinate.

What was a tough day like during your schooling? What did you do to get through?

During seminary, the worst days were the days when the lake effect snow was pummeling the place and you had to clean your car off several times a day. You had no way around it.

Prior to your current role, you were a pastor. Did you always want to be a pastor growing up? What made you join the ministry?

I felt the call to ministry when I was in the 11th grade. I interpreted that call as a call to pastoring. And so I did what I needed to do to get into pastoring. I went to school, did Bible work in the summers, gave Bible studies, led folk to baptism, and preached. When I finished seminary I didn’t have a formal call to pastor a church, so my pastoral mentor, Pastor Jerome M. Hurst called me to come work for him locally at the Southeast Church in Cleveland, OH. That was great 8 months.

What did you enjoy about pastoring?

The people. The people are the greatest challenge but also the greatest reward. Some of my former members still keep in touch with me in one way or another. God blessed me to have a good rapport with them.

You are now an Air Force chaplain. What made you take this decision?

It’s a very long story but Dr. James North, Sr, who was a professor at the seminary at Andrews was the first to put the bug in my ear. He is a retired Air Force Chaplain. That was in 2009. It wasn’t until 2015 or 2016 that I made up my mind to pursue the military chaplain route after a good friend of mine from seminary made the change from pastoral to chaplaincy ministry. Also, my wife, who was just a friend then, saw the heart of a chaplain in me as far back as 2014.

You shared part of your journey with the Air Force with us online. What was the hardest part? Did you have to engage in physical training?

Military chaplaincy is very rewarding in general. Air Force chaplaincy is more so in particular. I was commissioned through Officer Training School which is basic military training for officers. It wasn’t that bad. I enjoyed it or at least made the best of it. If there is a hard part, it’s the moving.

If someone would like to become an Air Force chaplain what advice would you give them?

Just do it. Don’t think twice about it. Pray and move. Reach out to a chaplain recruiter through the Air Force Chaplain Corps website.

You don’t have to answer this next question. You can keep us guessing if you like. Any plans for future studies? If so, what degree and in what area?

I am somewhat of an academic nerd and would love to do more schooling. But I am in no way going to accumulate more debt. So that’s that.

Where would you like to head next in your career?

By the grace of God, I plan on doing 20 years in the Air Force. Beyond that, we’ll see where the Lord leads.

Samuel gave the invocation at Goodfellow Air Base for a Juneteenth event. “It was awesome. The keynote speaker was one of our African American commanders on base.”

Of All the places you’ve gone on vacation to, which one is your favorite? Why?

That would probably be Universal Studios.

What is your favorite dish?

Baked macaroni and cheese or lasagna or diri ak djon djon (black mushroom rice). But pizza has always been my favorite eat-out food.

A few years ago you picked up boxing. I have seen the workouts and the positive response of family and friends at the motivation that the training clips provide. Why did you choose boxing?

When it comes to sports, boxing is the first sport I ever knew about. One of my earliest childhood memories is watching boxing with my dad. I remember I was standing on the bed and mimicking the boxers. I picked up boxing in 2017 to aid in managing my health. Boxing is one of the best forms of cardio you can get. You have to run, jump rope, hit the heavy bag, the speed bag, the double-end bag, shadowbox, and do rounds of mitt work with coaches or colleagues. But nothing beats a good 3 to 6 rounds sparring session. You burn so many calories sparring and it improves your cardio fitness. My sister also boxes and she encouraged me to pick it up.

What is something you enjoy doing that most people don’t know about you?

Baking mac and cheese.

I encouraged Samuel to tell us more about his cooking/baking experience.

I can cook. Haitian food (with some exceptions)—basically I can cook any kind of rice and some meat dishes. I can cook some soul food and I bake a little. When I was pastoring in Alabama my members raved about my mac and cheese.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

The last book I read was Soul Keeping by John Ortberg. The last book I read that I really enjoyed and would recommend is No god but God by Reza Aslan. It’s about the rich history, theology, orthodoxy, orthopraxy, present, and future of Islam. I believe every Christian should read it to get a more proper understanding of that religion. But the one book that I enjoyed above all is The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelho. Absolutely amazing! I’ve read it about five times this year and I’m currently reading it again.

Are there any projects and/or organizations that you are involved with that you would like the community to be made aware of?

None that I can think of.

Samuel Jeudin, pleasure to have you.