Reflections from My Time in “The Third Most Miserable City in America”
The town is Rockford, Illinois and Bob Bixby, pastor of Morning Star Church located in the heart of the city, introduced it to me as “the third most miserable city in America.” This weekend I had the honor to speak with women from the Chicagoland area and beyond at The Grace and Truth Conference in the reportedly depressed town. The pastors and their wives were gracious and hospitable. I had been praying that the Lord would bless this weekend, and as He always does, His grace and kindness far surpassed what I could have imagined.
Rockford, Illinois is apparently a city that is marked by racial division and pride. The community has experienced much racism and though I assume it would be from either side, what was emphasized to me was that some in the white community were opposed to those different than them. I remember at one point during lunch looking at pastor Bob as he shared stories about the town and asking, “Am I safe?” Along with the hate and division that plagues the city is a crime rate that matches that of larger cities. After receiving this news I began preparing myself to speak to a predominantly white audience about diversity! My heart began to pound as I realized what I was about to do.
I walked in and immediately realized the thoughtfulness involved in planning the conference. The room was decorated with beautiful flowers, there were delicious treats, musicians prepared for worship, and folders with the speaker information. Not one detail was overlooked. We sang three songs which I was most grateful for. God prepared my heart to speak, knowing that I was tempted to be fearful. He quieted my heart and allowed me to trust Him for the words to say. I got up and spoke from the heart, stumbling over a few words, but convinced that what I was sharing about God’s word was true and good.
After the talk women gathered around me, not solely to express thankfulness, but to also share that they’d never thought about what I was sharing before. My first talk, “A Vision for Diversity,” set out to cast a vision for God’s creation, the equality of all people created as His image bearers, equality of redemption for those who believe, and how we can apply this vision practically. If we believe this to be true about creation and redemption then it should have an effect on the way we relate to those around us. The encouragement I received confirmed that what I am doing, what my friends at The Reformed African American Network are doing, what Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition is doing by bringing these topics to light, is good. I have a new appreciation for my publisher, Moody Publishers, and their faith to publish my book, United, about these topics. For once I saw a tangible need for it.
God was faithful and His Spirit was present. The women weren’t only receptive; they were humble to my challenges and encouragement. They weren’t only eagerly listening, they were eager to hear more. They were hungry to know more about what God’s word has to say about ethnicity and it was my joy to share a second time about adoption into God’s family and our sisterhood. Whatever is going on in Rockford doesn’t seem to be affecting the women at the conference. God is working in that community.
I was reminded once again that the gospel is powerful and breaks barriers. The Good News unites people from all walks of life and backgrounds and makes us family! The women at the Grace and Truth Conference will forever hold a special place in my heart. They are my sisters. Thankfully I’ll be back next year for our family reunion!
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