麻豆视频直播

HELPING OTHERS THROUGH HER PLAYS

That was about 20 years ago. And since then, Zamore Byrd, who has worked full-time for four years as an assistant professor of social work at 麻豆视频直播, has launched her film and play business. About two years ago, she created a non-profit branch of her business, the Zamore Foundation, so she could further grow her mission. Since moving to Texas in 2010, she has written more than 30 plays and short films that her company has performed. All of her stories are ministry-centered and mission-focused, and most are centered around social issues that impact people and communities 鈥� like family dynamics and marginalized populations. Most of her team members and actors joining her plays are military veterans, and she鈥檚 noticed over the years that many have utilized theater to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The storyline for Zamore Byrd鈥檚 first play came to her in a dream. Her cast and crew performed for three sold-out shows with about 600 in each audience.

鈥淎t the end each night, we had people 鈥� men and wom颅en 鈥� come up to me in tears, saying 鈥榯his is me. This is my life,鈥欌�� she said. With her connections, she could point these people to resources and services for help.

Another part of her organization鈥檚 mission is to give back.

鈥淓very play we do, we tithe back to the community, whether it is to a domestic violence shelter, a sexual assault shelter, sex traf颅ficking programs, foster homes, etc., we tithe back,鈥� she said.

Zamore Byrd鈥檚 community service doesn鈥檛 stop there, though. She also works with the many ministries in her church in Killeen, her parent鈥檚 mission in Belize, and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, bringing free mammograms into marginalized communities and providing education on heart disease and diabetes.

A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD

These endeavors just skim the surface when it comes to listing all the community service, and mission and philanthropic work Zamore Byrd has involved herself in over the years. Perhaps the fact that the White House recog颅nized her with the President鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 4,500 hours of service helps put into perspective how much Zamore Byrd has done toward making this world a better place.

Without her knowledge, she said a friend and mentor nominated her for the award. This past October when she received the proclamation signed by President Joe Biden and an invitation to the White House, she said she was shocked and a 鈥渓ittle embarrassed.鈥�

鈥淚 was looking at all the different people who received the award, like medical doctors, Doctors Without Borders 鈥� you know, people who have done amazing things. I don鈥檛 know how I can be measured with them! I鈥檓 just somebody telling stories.鈥�

Zamore Byrd said she would much rather the spotlight be on her workers behind the scenes and the actors on stage.

鈥淚鈥檓 not doing what I do to be seen. My hope is that it鈥檚 not about me. It鈥檚 all about Him. And if one person can get the message of Jesus Christ through what I do, and be saved, then that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 have really good people who help me, and that鈥檚 the truth,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t takes a team and is not something one person can do.鈥�

There was a time in Zamore Byrd鈥檚 life when she questioned God.

鈥溾�橶hy me? Why did I have to have so much pain?鈥欌�� she would ask. 鈥淭here were times I didn鈥檛 want to wake up. It caused a lot of trauma, a lot of self-doubt.鈥�

But over time, God allowed her to see His will. The experiences allowed her to be empathetic with others.

鈥淚 can truly meet people where they are, and even when they鈥檙e in the direst places,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am able to say 鈥楪od is still a restorer. He鈥檚 still a healer. He鈥檚 still a Savior.鈥欌��

PATH TO 麻豆视频直播

Five years after surviving her abusive marriage, Zamore Byrd went into anoth颅er marriage before she was fully healed. God showed her it was not His plan for her, and she was able to leave, but she had to restart with nothing. She found herself working 60 hours a week as a single parent, and it was too much. She had to put her stage plays and film production on hold.

鈥淚 had been praying, 鈥楲ord, I just need you to show up,鈥欌�� she said.

One afternoon when she was guest-lecturing at 麻豆视频直播, Dr. Isaac 鈥淒r. G鈥� Gusukuma told her he was retiring and that she should apply for his job. At the time, she only held a master鈥檚 de颅gree and doubted she would be hired without her doctorate. That evening, she listened to a sermon, and the message was about how God 鈥渜ualifies us.鈥�

After a lot of prayer, she took a leap of faith and has never re颅gretted the decision; she says God has provided every step of the way. Four years later, when you ask Zamore Byrd about making the move, she tears up.

鈥淲orking at 麻豆视频直播 has been better than anything I could have imagined for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 exactly where I鈥檓 supposed to be. When I come to work, I can pray with my students. I pray with my coworkers. I鈥檓 able to do ministry. I鈥檓 just so grateful to God! He has me in a place where I feel like I belong. I can see all the bad was for a purpose. It was for His glory.鈥�