United and my pastor’s interest in me
I’ve been doing some reflecting as the release of Unitednears. I’ve been thinking about my old church and how United came to be. I never forced my opinion about the racial makeup of my old congregation. I was asked. My pastor sent me an email asking my thoughts about John Piper’s book Bloodlines. He asked me to read and review it. His interest wasn’t merely in the book; rather he wanted to know how he could serve his congregants better. This began a series of email exchanges where I shared more honestly about some of the struggles I experienced and that others may experience as one of the few African Americans at the time.
After that series of conversations, I wrote a blog post sharing the thoughts, convictions, and concerns I shared first with my pastors. That post was picked up by Trevin Wax and the response was incredible. What I realized was that there were other men and women who were also wrestling with being in churches that were homogeneous. Like me, these individuals loved their congregations. But as many shared with me, they were thankful to see someone express similar concerns, fears, and desires for a body that reflected the Last Days (all nations). The diversity of those responding encouraged me—many were not only Black. People from literally all nations were encouraging a conversation about racial diversity in the church.
But it started by my pastor taking an interest in me.
My old pastor didn’t come to me because I had a doctorate in anthropology and religion. He didn’t come to me because I was a Civil Rights leader from the Civil Rights era. He came to be because, at the time, I was a faithful member of his congregation and he wanted to love me well. He wanted to not only be a preacher for the members but a pastor. From his interest birthed a book about the topic of friendship, diversity, and the church.
Dear pastors, think about what an effect you would have on your congregation if you not only preached to them but took an interest in them. I know you are tired and are often pulled in several directions. I wouldn’t dare ask you to sacrifice time and attention from your family! But you never know what the Lord might do if you take a minute to ask your members how they are doing in your church. Even if it is one person: one of your unmarried members, one of your Latino members, one of your college members, one of your young moms. Just one. We know you can’t meet with everyone and no one should expect you too. This could be as simple as standing in the back after church so members can come to you. Making yourself available will be a blessing.
United will release on March 1 because someone took the time to ask me to write out my thoughts to serve a local body. I’m now praying that it would have a broader effect. I pray we would all be captured by God’s vision for diversity in the church and all of life through the story of my friendship with two women of different ethnicities and the study of the theology of race.
A member of your congregation may never write a book but they will surely feel loved as I did, and you may gain a new perspective that leads to greater effectiveness in service.
(Note: My family has since moved to a new city and attends a different church body.)
RELATED CONTENT
