Now, here’s what you call a good start to a new year.
The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, proposed to his longtime love, Ouleye Ndoye, during Watch Night Service at the Auburn Avenue church.
Warnock acknowledged some family members and friends, according to a video on Fox 5 Atlanta. He then asked Ndoye to come forward and many in the congregation seemed to sense something big was about to happen.
There were screams and shouts as people rushed forward with camera phones to record the moment.
“Work it, pastor,” one woman is heard shouting.
As it rolled into the New Year, he pulled out a red box, got down on one knee and popped the question.
“Will you do me a favor and be my good thing?” he asked. “Will you marry me?”
A beaming Ndoye said yes.
He plans to marry one busy lady.
On her internet page, Ndoye is identified as a doctoral student in the Department of History at Columbia University in New York .
The New York native is a Richard Hofstadter fellow, focusing her studies on African history. She also received a degree from the University of Oxford and graduated with honors from Spelman College.
Her accomplishments are impressive.
According to Ouleye.com, at Spelman she majored in international studies, concentrating on francophone Africa. “Ouleye led the first group of Spelman and Morehouse students to Senegal in 2007 through her role as president of the Student Government Association.”
She lived in Asia for the first time as a Henry Luce Foundation Fellow. Back at home, she joined the Obama campaign team in both 2008 and 2012.
“She is one of the most brilliant people I know and also one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen,” said Warnock.