Fuel
Though now the pastor of Evergreen AMEZ Church, Charlrean’s journey began far from the pulpit—in the structured, fast-paced world of STEM and Corporate America. But even then, faith and community were the steady currents beneath her success.
In college, church wasn’t just a place Charlrean attended—it was a refuge. It was the one space where she didn’t have to prove herself, where she could simply be. There, no one demanded her participation, no one questioned her absence. She was just loved. That kind of love—the kind that embraces without condition—shaped her deeply. It’s what drew her toward a life of mentoring and ministry, a calling that now burns brightly in her work with young people.
Charlrean remembers Wingspan before it even had a name. In those early days, it was a dream taking shape over boxed lunches, a small group of passionate minds drafting bylaws, envisioning a mission, gathering support, and conducting interviews. She recalls the moment a student on the board shared their struggles with faith in college. It was a quiet but profound realization: students needed something different. Something bigger. She knew she wanted to be part of that solution. That fire led her to serve as the President of Wingspan’s board, determined to make sure her beloved AMEZ denomination was part of this movement.
“I want AMEZ students to know they can have a church on campus,” she says, her voice full of conviction. “We need to broaden our horizons and see how we can do church differently.”
Now, as Wingspan takes flight, Charlrean watches in awe at its energy, its urgency. It is growing swiftly, and she knows why. “People need a place where they can go and speak freely without judgment or contempt,” she reflects “Students are hungry for what Wingspan has to offer.”
And it’s not just big-picture leadership that makes Charlrean so beloved. She brings her full heart to this work, remembering what it felt like to be seen and loved as a young adult. That care shows up in countless ways—perhaps most memorably in her famous Midterm Mix, a homemade snack she lovingly bakes for students as they study for exams. It’s a simple gesture, but one that speaks volumes: You are not alone. You are cared for. You are loved.
