The Struggle Between the Robe and the Woman: Forty One Years of Celibacy, Fire Shut Up in My Bones

This is about a woman who denied her desire to be loved by a man. She intentionally puts all the thoughts of being in a loving relationship behind the ministry. Her sole concentration is the robe, being pastor to the congregation. She preaches and teaches the word 24-7, on the job all day to give service to her church and membership. She made a vow of celibacy to God at age fourteen-she asked God to help her to hold out until her name was changed. Because of this vow, she did not date or prepare for life with a man. Her sole purpose was serving the kingdom. But in the middle of the night while the pastor was asleep, the woman woke up and wrote poetry. When the preacher was asleep, the woman would express her need to be held and her desire to be loved. Therefore, the struggle begins between the robe and the woman.

Dr. Reverend LT Leticia Rouser was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Beonville and Mary Rouser. She is the tenth child of twelve. Dr. Rouser has always had a close relationship with God; she gave her life to Jesus at the age of nine and was baptized. Educated in the New Orleans Public School System, she received a BA from Xavier University, a Certification A in paralegal studies from Tulane University, and a MDIV from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She has pastored six churches and has been in ordained ministry for twenty-eight years. In 1996, Leticia was deferred a doctor of ministry. She served as a navy chaplain for almost eleven years, deployed with the Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit. She is the wife of Kelvin Thigpen and the mother of David, Zaye, Cathy, Pam, Rhonda, and Britany. She has eleven grandchildren and one great-grandson, Kylan, Kailee's son. She honors spending time with family.