Metadata
Gary Sheng, Joseph Lasante & Pastor Terrance Kearney - Spiritual Teaching Session
Date: July 27, 2025
Location: Los Olas Beach Club & Seafood Grill area, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Context: Spiritual counseling and biblical teaching session during Dr. Lael Alexander's birthday dinner events
Participants: Pastor Terrance Kearney (leading teacher), Joseph Lasante (Dr. Alexander's right hand), Gary Sheng (listening observer)
Executive Summary
Deep spiritual teaching session led by Pastor Terrance Kearney, one of Dr. Lael Alexander's spiritual advisors, providing biblical guidance through the story of Joseph to Joseph Lasante, Dr. Alexander's operational right hand. The conversation centered on understanding divine purpose, character discernment, loyalty, and God's orchestration of circumstances for the purpose of "saving lives." Gary participated primarily as listener, observing the spiritual foundation and infrastructure supporting Dr. Alexander's expanding influence.
Key Biblical Teaching: The Joseph Paradigm
Core Scripture and Message
Biblical Foundation:
"The stone that the builders rejected became the cheap cornerstone... This is a reward story, and it's marvelous."
Pastor Kearney's central teaching focused on the story of Joseph from Genesis, presenting it as a framework for understanding Dr. Alexander's journey and calling.
The Pit to Palace Progression
Stage 1: Family Rejection (The Pit)
"So the first thing they did. The first thing they did was put him in a pit... So God said, look at me. Thank you for putting me down... Well, in life, who's the first people that puts you down? Your family. Because they don't believe you."
Stage 2: The Seed Metaphor
"Joseph became a seed to his future... That seed don't look like a tadpole. But what's in that tadpole is us. So God said, put that seed in the earth... I put in you a destiny. Not for you."
Stage 3: Testing and Character Development (Potiphar's House and Prison) Pastor Kearney detailed Joseph's experiences with Potiphar's wife and his time in prison, emphasizing character development through trials.
Stage 4: Elevation for Purpose (Second in Command)
"Kind of where you go from the prison to the pharaoh say he's second in command. You don't answer to nobody but me. Everybody else got the answer to you. From a prisoner... Only God can do that."
Divine Orchestration Principle
God's Strategic Positioning:
"I said God always orchestrates and manipulates situations. That there's always a need. So he'll manipulate a situation where there's a need. The brother who you put down 13 years ago is the one God gave. The solution for the need."
Recognition and Perspective:
"See, what you thought you did to me. You didn't do that to me. God orchestrated all this. And he sent me ahead of you to save lives."
Core Message: The "Saving Lives" Purpose
Divine Calling Application to Dr. Alexander
Pastor Kearney's Direct Message:
"I texted him this morning. I said, I don't know where you come from. But God, at this time. Now. God has sent you to the world. That you may save lives."
Character Filter for Relationships:
"Can't nobody attach themselves to him if it's about you. If it's about what? If it's about you... If it ain't about saving lives. Then you're not going to be his bitch."
Historical Pattern Recognition
Pastor Kearney referenced multiple people over the years who tried to attach themselves to Dr. Alexander for wrong reasons, emphasizing the importance of spiritual discernment in relationships.
Spiritual Discernment and Character Assessment
Pastor Kearney's Discernment Gifting
Character Reading Ability:
"A discerning spirit... I'll be able to discern a conversation... I ain't got time for you to be sitting here. Wasting your time. Talking to somebody that ain't dealing with us."
Fortune 500 Executive Ministry:
"So I did this for a guy. He's the first African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company. By the name of Lord Ward. He's out of Detroit. By way of Louisiana."
Truth Revelation Principle
Hidden Things Will Be Revealed:
"There is nothing you have... that you will never reveal upon the face of this man... Everything that a person experienced in life has been told by that person. Ain't no hidden secret."
Joseph Lasante's Loyalty and Commitment
Devotion Beyond Financial Considerations
Commitment Statement:
"I tell people it's a difference. Because I'm loyal to him, I can love him the way I'm supposed to... We can be broke. We can be broke. It don't matter. I'm going to do what I was supposed to do."
Brotherhood Recognition:
"That's my brother. That's my daughter. That's my brother. I love him to death. I'm loyal to him."
Spiritual Foundation for Business Operations
Joseph's responses throughout the conversation demonstrated deep spiritual grounding in his operational role, viewing his work with Dr. Alexander as ministry and calling rather than merely employment.
Pastoral Care Philosophy
Personal Care Over Circumstances
Pastor Kearney's Approach:
"You saw me come down on Friday... First question I asked him. Hey, how you doing? I heard about all that stuff. I don't care about that... They need to know that somebody cares. Not just the ones who have to. They need to know somebody cares."
Focus on the Person:
"My brother, how you doing, man? You good? You good? That's all I want to know. We ain't talking about nothing. Just let me know. You good?"
Strategic Spiritual Infrastructure
Integrated Faith-Business Model
The conversation revealed sophisticated integration of spiritual guidance with business operations, where:
- Biblical Framework: Provides theological context for understanding challenges and calling
- Character Discernment: Spiritual assessment of business relationships and partnerships
- Crisis Support: Personal pastoral care during difficult periods
- Purpose Clarity: Emphasis on "saving lives" as filter for all decisions and relationships
Spiritual Advisory Structure
Pastor Kearney serves as one of multiple spiritual advisors providing biblical guidance, character assessment, and crisis support for Dr. Alexander's expanding influence and business operations.
Key Insights for Dr. Alexander's Journey
Understanding Rejection and Elevation
The teaching positioned Dr. Alexander's past challenges and current elevation within biblical framework of divine orchestration for greater purpose.
Character Filter for Partnerships
Strong emphasis on spiritual discernment to evaluate potential partners and relationships based on motives and character rather than just capability or financial benefit.
Purpose-Driven Leadership
Clear articulation that elevated position and influence must serve the purpose of "saving lives" rather than personal advancement or ego gratification.
Gary's Observational Role
Gary participated primarily as observer, witnessing the spiritual infrastructure and biblical foundation supporting Dr. Alexander's operations. This provided insight into:
- Values Integration: How spiritual principles guide practical business decisions
- Support Structure: The network of spiritual advisors providing guidance and accountability
- Character Standards: The biblical foundation for evaluating relationships and partnerships
- Long-term Perspective: Understanding current challenges within larger divine purpose framework
Strategic Implications
Spiritual Foundation for Business Growth
The conversation demonstrated how Dr. Alexander's expanding business influence operates within comprehensive spiritual framework that prioritizes:
- Character over capability in partner selection
- Divine purpose ("saving lives") over profit maximization
- Spiritual discernment in strategic decision-making
- Biblical principles guiding operational choices
Crisis Management Through Faith
Pastor Kearney's personal care approach during Dr. Alexander's recent challenges provides model for faith-based crisis management that focuses on person and purpose rather than circumstances and public perception.
Long-term Vision Clarity
The Joseph paradigm provides theological framework for understanding current position and future trajectory within divine orchestration for global impact and transformation.
Conclusion
The conversation revealed sophisticated spiritual infrastructure supporting Dr. Alexander's expanding influence, with Pastor Kearney providing biblical framework and character discernment while Joseph Lasante demonstrates operational loyalty grounded in spiritual commitment. The emphasis on "saving lives" as ultimate purpose creates powerful filter for evaluating all opportunities and relationships within Kingdom-focused business operations.