Thursday, December 08, 2005
Church
My church home in Blacksburg is St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic African-American congregation with local roots going back to the late 1850s. Many people (including myself) have wondered how I decided to join St. Paul. Here's the short version of the story....As an InterVarsity student I began learning about God's desire for racial and ethnic reconciliation as part of his love for people from every nation and culture. I studied abroad and developed many international friendships, but I had few relationships with American students from racial backgrounds other than my own, even though I had come to believe that ethnic and cultural diversity was a good thing. The people I lived with, hung out with, and worshiped with almost all looked like me. I desired reconciliation, but wasn't willing to sacrifice much to make it happen. Those from other cultures and backgrounds were welcome to come and fit in to my church and campus fellowship (which required, of course, a degree of submission to the majority culture).
One year ago I began reading a book, Being White, through which I heard God's challenge to take a step of displacement out of my own culture and into another. If reconciliation is to be a reality, I learned, then those in the cultural majority must be willing to submit to and learn from those in the minority. As I prayed about what to do, I sensed the call to seek out a predominantly Black church. The idea brought excitement as well as apprehension. How would I be received? What would my friends and family think? About seven months later, on my first Sunday in Blacksburg, I visited St. Paul AME. I was warmly welcomed by the pastor, Rev. Glenn Orr, and the small congregation. I sensed that day that I didn't need to look any further for a new church - God had led me to the right place. The following month I joined the church, and in October I had the chance to preach one Sunday and share this story with the congregation.
Even though I love my new church family, being a part of St. Paul is not always easy. Things often aren't done the way I'm used to or the way that makes the most sense to me. However, I knew going into the cross-cultural experience that such frustration would be part of the deal. The Lord is using St. Paul to teach me far more than just about race and culture, reconciliation and justice - he's teaching me in new ways what it means to be a part of his body, the church. The sacrifices of comfort and familiarity are far outweighed by the love I've received from the congregation and the hope of being a small part of seeing God's people reconciled and united.
