Back in July, I mentioned the intention of several of us in the church to sponsor a series of luncheons on the subject of race. I won’t burden you with repeat content. Rather, I’d like to bring you up to date on how this is coming together. We are growing increasingly more excited about what is planned.
First, the dates have been changed. We will sponsor four luncheons on four successive Thursdays. The first will be held on October 25 and the last on November 15. This gives us a wee bit more time to plan, and it backs our last meeting up against Thanksgiving. This is good because Hope Church and St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church have started a tradition of having a joint service on Thanksgiving day. We look forward to inviting all of those who come to the luncheons to attend the Thanksgiving service.
Secondly, we have narrowed the topic and sketched the basic content. Racism is a broad topic. However, we intend to discuss the racial attitudes and prejudices which prevail even among those who consider themselves ‘enlightened’. None of us would believe ourselves to be racially prejudiced. And yet at some level none of us are pure. We are thrilled by the participation of Pastor James Roberts and a young man in his church, Minister Leverna Williams. Not only are we learning from these men, but we are becoming friends as well.
Pastor James will take the first session, seeking to awaken us all to the negative racial bias in our own hearts. The second I will present and will consist of a sketch of the insights the Christian worldview brings to the subject. The third session will be lead by Pastor Geoff and Minister Williams and will deal with practical steps one might take to begin to lessen the degree of racial prejudice in his heart. And the final session will be a series of short testimonies outlining how some people have been enabled by God to deal with their racial attitudes. This session will again be lead by Pastor James.
To all of you who suggested material, thank you so much. It is far more than I can digest in time for this event, but your suggestions will not ‘go to waste’.
Please keep this event in your prayers. We do believe God is in it. We hope to have some promo material ready by the end of next week. However, the promotional material, if past experience is any indicator, is only as good as the personal invitation that accompanies. People who come will be those who are invited. If you are local, prayerfully consider whom you might invite, and then do so!
BTW, although details have yet to be worked out, the cost for the luncheons will be ~$10/participant.