About Chaplain Lonzie Symonette

"Give it up! Your book will never be published!"

Even when all the doors had been slammed and pad-locked in my face, I talked to God about it. God said, [I am] "...opening doors no one can lock... I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut," (Revelation 3:7b-8a Msg).

In 1992, the camera-ready layout for our first book, A New Slave Song, was cut and pasted on my dining room table. We sold two thousand copies, and we remembered the promise from God: "Behold I have put before you an open door which no one can shut..." (Rev. 3:8 NAS).

Since 1994, the company's logo has been a lock with a key. The world's largest publisher of Christian Bibles, Thomas Nelson (Word Press), opened their doors desiring a contract with LMS. After negotiations, the second book He Calls Me By The Thunder, a revision of A New Slave Song was published.

Many asked, "How did you get two books published in two years?” And then in the same breath, a second question followed, "Will you teach me?"

The answers to these questions developed into a self-publishing workshop. Another opened door of opportunity to encourage unpublished authors and to witness of God's goodness. We taught the workshop in the local community center. Soon the workshop became an Adult Continuing Education course on the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus. LMS wanted an easy to understand, step-by-step workbook to give to each student. Rewrites and draftings of the workshop materials birthed a third book, You Can Do It Too!

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Preacher, Teacher, Mom, Nana, Author of many articles and books

Chaplain Lonzie Symonette graduated from Miami Dade College, Nazarene Bible College and Fuller Theological Seminary. She is a Board Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) retired. She served as a member of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Professional Advisory Board, Penrose St. Francis Hospital Spiritual Care and Mission Department. Also Adjutant Faculty Fuller Theological Seminary in Colorado, teaching a course for thirteen years on Death & Dying, AKA Breaking the Silence on Grief & Loss Death & Dying (Retired).

A hospice and palliative care Staff Chaplain for fifteen years, she founded and was the officiating Chaplain of a constantly, transcending Ecumenical Hospice & Palliative Care Church service. For many years, relevant church services met in an actively dying, acute ward for patients, families and staff. Her incarnational ministry of serving in a sacred space of peoples’ lives began with a desire that people will not only be connected to their local congregations, but to look also beyond the four walls of the church into other venues of service. Symonette has presented workshops on the subject of death and dying, especially from the African American Perspective, to local, state, national and international platforms. She is a “Professional Chaplain who continues to provide meaningful end-of-life pastoral care while maintaining the hard learned lessons of boundary keeping.” 

An Associate Minister at Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Colorado, she also served as Coordinator for the Desert Mountain Annual Conference Women In Ministry, Rocky Mountain District, and 5th Episcopal District Women In Ministry Executive Board as Secretary, Worship Leader and mentor/consultant for the ministry of Chaplaincy. 

With humorous stories from her childhood in Miami, Florida, she highlights the importance of embracing and enjoying real happiness based on applying God's Word to our daily lives.

 Awards and Special Recognition:

  • Colorado Springs NAACP Centennial Fund Award of Excellence in Community Outreach 

  • Recipient of The Colorado Springs Business Journal Woman of Influence award that recognize and identify women who have made a difference in the marketplace and in the wider Colorado Springs community

  • Girl Scout-Wagon Wheel Council Woman of Distinction/Community Sector award, Nominee

  • Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Hats Off  honoree

  • A key organizer of One Voice At A Time (OVAT) an innovative and educational approach to reaching African Americans with information for easy access and the benefits of hospice care. This innovative outreach to the community won the Colorado Hospice Organization and Pikes Peak Urban League Award for its award-winning strategy

  •  Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service front page Easter Sunday Morning, The Gazette Newspaper wrote, “Chaplain Symonette helps the dying prepare for last journey…meets death at the elevator…and she prays for the strength to deal with it… trained to journey with those who are facing the impact of life-threatening illness” 

  • Her books include He Calls Me By The Thunder, Meditations on Freedom, endorsed by Vinton Randolph Anderson, 92nd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (deceased)

  •  Everyday Soaring Since My Emancipation, Meditations on Inspirational Living, endorsed by John Richard Bryant, 106th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (retired)

  • Chaplain Lonzie has written lessons for the African Methodist Episcopal Church School, Adult Class and co-authored other writings in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Review

  • Currently working on a new book release 

  • A praying woman, Mom of two adult daughters and a Nana; happily married for nearly 50 years to Norman, a Vietnam US Army Medic, Disabled American Veteran (DAV), and two-time Bronze Star recipient before his death and home going.