Queen Connect

What I No Longer Carry by Candace L. Smith I once believed hell waited for me somewhere beyond this life— a distant fire, a final judgment. But I have walked through it here, quietly, lovingly, while smiling. I have burned in rooms where my giving was expected, where my prayers were required, where my silence was mistaken for strength. I mistook survival for holiness. I mistook exhaustion for devotion. I mistook sacrifice for love. But I am learning. Hell is not a place I fear anymore. It is a lesson I recognize. It is staying too long. It is giving without return. It is loving without protection. Now, I carry my heart differently. I hold my faith with open hands, not clenched fists. I no longer bleed to prove I care. I no longer disappear to keep the peace. I no longer offer my cup to those who refuse to pour back. What I carry now is lighter— discernment, truth, rest. And if this is what survival looks like, then let it be said: I walked through hell and came back with my spirit inta...

When the Pulpit Becomes PR: Dr. Jamal Bryant, Public Backlash, and the Church’s Crisis of Credibility QCP Part 2 Feature What began as backlash over a dress has now grown into a much larger conversation about power, influence, hypocrisy, and how the modern pulpit is being used—not just for preaching the gospel, but for public relations, damage control, and narrative shaping. Dr. Pastor Jamal Bryant and his wife, Dr. Karri Bryant, became the center of public criticism after Karri Bryant wore a dress to a gala that many online deemed inappropriate for a pastor’s wife. The internet did what it always does—reacted loudly, emotionally, and publicly. But what followed may have been more concerning than the dress itself. During his New Year’s Eve broadcast, Dr. Jamal Bryant addressed the backlash directly. Instead of de-escalation, he escalated—labeling critics as people who were “lacking in life experiences,” “broke,” and “never been anywhere.” The moment instantly went viral. Commentary pou...