My name is Cheryl Anne Brown. I was born in Washington, D.C., in 1949, and I’ve lived a life shaped by faith, curiosity, music, and a deep love for people. I didn’t grow up in the church, but near the end of high school, I was invited to a simple hayride and campfire. That invitation set me on a path that changed everything. I discovered a passion for helping others and for learning that never left me.
I studied the Bible and languages, even when there wasn’t a clear place for a woman to do so. When fear nearly stopped me, a professor took a chance on me and asked me to teach Greek. Saying yes changed my life. I became a professor, earned a PhD in Near Eastern religions, lived in Jerusalem, and eventually taught across Europe after the fall of communism. My husband and I traveled to many different countries for theological education, often teaching through translators while learning as much as we taught. Those years taught me humility, joy, and the beauty of being a guest in other cultures.
Fibromyalgia eventually forced me to stop working earlier than I expected, but it didn’t end my ministry. Here at Pilgrim Place, I serve through music, worship, and chaplaincy. I lead sing-alongs, plan memorials, and offer presence where I can. Music, above all, brings me joy—seeing faces light up, hearing voices join in, even softly.
Being American, to me, means knowing we are not the center of the world. It means respecting other cultures, learning from differences, and never assuming we are better than anyone else. I’ve had a good life—full, meaningful, and deeply connected to others—and I’m grateful for it.
I studied the Bible and languages, even when there wasn’t a clear place for a woman to do so. When fear nearly stopped me, a professor took a chance on me and asked me to teach Greek. Saying yes changed my life. I became a professor, earned a PhD in Near Eastern religions, lived in Jerusalem, and eventually taught across Europe after the fall of communism. My husband and I traveled to many different countries for theological education, often teaching through translators while learning as much as we taught. Those years taught me humility, joy, and the beauty of being a guest in other cultures.
Fibromyalgia eventually forced me to stop working earlier than I expected, but it didn’t end my ministry. Here at Pilgrim Place, I serve through music, worship, and chaplaincy. I lead sing-alongs, plan memorials, and offer presence where I can. Music, above all, brings me joy—seeing faces light up, hearing voices join in, even softly.
Being American, to me, means knowing we are not the center of the world. It means respecting other cultures, learning from differences, and never assuming we are better than anyone else. I’ve had a good life—full, meaningful, and deeply connected to others—and I’m grateful for it.
