Kim and Phillip have been acquainted since the late 1980s—specifically, their high school days. They were introduced to each other on one of those bus trips to the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education during the summer, possibly Nashville. In addition to the morning plenary sessions/classes/workshops, they had Youth Rally in the afternoons. Phillip was in the choir, and Kim flew to the drama department. They were friendly and saw each other occasionally (if Kim went to a Wilson SHS event). 




Fast forward to April 2024. The two were reacquainted with each other at the Homegoing of Mother Sadie Jenkins. God used some Christian “matchmaker” friends to initiate the first date on May 4th - dinner and a movie in Annapolis. It was a wonderful night of friendship and fellowship that ended with a kiss on the cheek. In the days and weeks that followed, they talked and texted almost daily. Both were prayerfully intentional about building a solid friendship but also acknowledged that there was a mutual attraction. Phillip chose Ronald Frazier’s birthday party to introduce Kim to friends and family. Although she was a little nervous meeting so many special people in Phillip’s life, Kim handled the “gauntlet” gracefully. 




The two officially declared their courtship (a committed relationship with God at the head) on Tuesday, June 4th. This was an essential moment in their relationship because they were officially seeking God’s Will for their lives together and with Messiah. This included initiating premarital counseling even though they were not engaged! Over the next several months, they grew closer together. They were seen publicly at each other’s church homes, social events, Messiah’s football games, and after-church dinners. However, in their private time together, their friendship and love for each other developed gradually and became stronger. 




As they continued in counseling, situations like death and sickness have brought them closer together. Phillip, who is used to being everywhere all at once, got sidelined by COVID. Without hesitation, Kim went into care mode for her man. She masked up, making sure that he got to rest and stayed hydrated, showing no fear, going over to check on him in person, bringing him food, and praying over him for healing. These acts of love and care were surprising to and appreciated by Phillip. Later in the summer, Kim was impacted by an acute illness. One Sunday, she drove to Phillip's house so they could go to church together. She was feeling nauseous and, unfortunately, got sick. Instead of being disgusted and horrified, he and Messiah laid hands on her and prayed for her healing. Kim knew that Phillip was unlike any man she had ever known. Most men would have waited for her to feel better and immediately let her go home. This man of God, this gentleman, was compassionate and caring and still looked at her lovingly after seeing her at her worst with her head in the toilet. Phillip’s niece and Messiah’s mother, Charday, passed away suddenly on September 2, 2024. Death has a way of testing one's faith and relationships. It will bring out the best and worst of our personalities. Kim and Phillip saw the strength of their love and commitment to each other through planning the homegoing arrangements and comforting him and Messiah in their grief. 




After months of seeking God's Will, Phillip heard the still, small voice confirm that he should propose. Being a man who honored Kim's mother, Marcella, he formally asked her for permission to ask to marry. She joyfully gave him the green light. He launched into arranging a surprise proposal on November 4th under the guise of an intimate pre-birthday dinner for Kim. Phillip had every detail prepared. He treated Kim to a pre-birthday manicure and pedicure and picked her up in a limo for dinner. She was oblivious to the surprise that awaited her. She entered the restaurant and was guided past numerous empty tables to the party room door. It opened slowly, and she was face-to-face with about 20 family members and friends. There were tears of joy and smiles all around. He, down on one knee, and Messiah asked her to complete their family, proposing marriage and a lifetime together. And she said YES!



There is an addition to this engagement story: Phillip proposed to Kim twice. The first time, Phillip presented Kim with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring. He had seen Kim's Pinterest page of favorite engagement rings, and most had a sapphire as the primary stone. However, the ring was too large. They went to the jewelry store a few days later so that the ring could be sized. During that visit, Phillip decided to show him the other ring he was considering. This engagement ring was a Princess cut diamond with two sapphires on either side. Everyone knows that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and Kim proved that is true. She told him, “You really shouldn't have shown me this ring. Don't get me wrong, I love my ring and don't want you to change it, but the bling on this ring is BAD!” She told him that he could get her a ring like that for their fifth wedding anniversary. 




Unbeknownst to Kim, Phillip contacted the store and told them not to size the sapphire engagement ring. He returned and purchased the diamond ring because he saw how happy it made her. Kim was expecting to pick up the correctly sized sapphire ring on November 13th and was disappointed when the jewelry store told her it wasn't ready. She went to church that evening for choir rehearsal. When rehearsal had ended, she, accompanied by the other choir members, walked out of Emmanuel Baptist Church and was greeted by Philip and Messiah, who presented her with a dozen white roses. Phillip proposed a second time in the parking lot and revealed the diamond engagement ring. Once again, Kim said yes and sealed her answer with a kiss for Phillip and a big hug from Messiah.


Kimberly Michelle Coleman was born on November 27, 1972, to Marcella B. Coleman and the late Reginald E. Coleman in Washington, DC. She was raised in Anacostia, Southeast Washington, and is a proud product of the District of Columbia Public School system. She and her mother lived in Schweinfurt, (West) Germany, from 1985 to 1987. The experience allowed her to travel throughout Europe and learn about various cultures. After returning to the United States, she graduated from the School Without Walls SHS. Her mother taught her to focus on getting a quality education from an early age. After graduating from the School Without Walls, Kim enlisted in the Navy and attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School. She earned three college degrees, graduating from Spelman College (BA, 1994), the University of Michigan School of Public Health (MPH, 2002), and Southern Illinois University Carbondale (PhD, 2006). She has also completed coursework at the Catholic University of America and Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (México). She is currently a program manager with the DC Department of Health in the Immunization Division.

Kim was her maternal grandmother’s shadow in her early years while her mom was at work or graduate school. Irma L. Bell was her babysitter, Bible teacher, prayer partner, cooking buddy, piano instructor, and Kim was her willing shadow and traveling buddy. Grandma Bell ensured Kim was in church at Emmanuel Baptist every week for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Bible Training Union. They would sing hymns, read the Bible, and watch shows like I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, and Walker, Texas Ranger together. Grandma gave her her first Bible, highlighting one of her favorite verses – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 3:14). She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at 8 years of age. When she was attending graduate school in Carbondale, Illinois, she united with the Ninth Street Tabernacle Ministries in Paducah, Kentucky. Under the leadership of the late Reverend James A. Turner, Jr., she accepted the call to ministry in 2003 and began instruction as a Minister in Training. She was active in the music ministry, praise team, prayer ministry, and as a Bible class leader. Upon her return to the DMV, she resumed worshiping at Emmanuel where she is a member of the music ministry and Family Zone Ministry.

Kim maintains several active memberships, including the American Public Health Association, Spelman College Alumnae Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter. She is a true animal lover, having cared for 10 feline fur babies since she was a junior in high school. She enjoys crocheting and traveling, watching true crime shows, reading horror and mystery novels, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Phillip Nathaniel Frazier was born on September 26, 1972, in the Nation's Capital. He is the son of the late Norman Smith and Christine (nee Moore) and Albert Frazier. He was raised in the Sursum Corda/Sibley Plaza Neighborhood in Northwest Washington and a proud product of the District of Columbia Public School System. He is a proud alumni of Woodrow Wilson SHS now Jackson-Reed SHS. Wilson having an emphasis on International Studies, exposed him to world cultures where he pursued Spanish. He obtained a scholarship with the Youth for Understanding Student Exchange Program and was exchange student to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon his return from Buenos Aires, he attended the Universit of Wisconsin Green-Bay on an academic scholarship. He completed three college degrees, graduating from UW-Green Bay (BA, 1994), the University of Wisconsin Madison (MA, 1996), Trinity University (MAT, 2002) and Calvary Bible Institute (Certificate in Ministry, 2009).

Minister Frazier received his spiritual foundation from the New Christ Holy Temple Interdenominational Church, where his entire family worshipped because of the family matriarch, his grandmother, the late Christine Isaac Moore raised her children and grandchildren. Later, he was introduced to Tenth Street Baptist Church by his surrogate father the late Rev. Dr. Paul Vincent. Buyck. As a preteen he united and was baptized at Tenth Street.

An ardent historian and genealogist, he has travelled to both Ghana and Sierra Leone, integral routes of the Middle Passage. He's the author of The Isaac Chronicles (2011). A published article, Where Are My James in the Afro-American Newspaper blossomed into Thr James Chronicles. He is currently a Language Acquisition Educator with the DC Public School System.