It has been said that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. I’m proud to say that for me and my church; that is not true. I attend a predominately African-American church, by choice. My church was started in 1952 and has struggled in the past few decades with losing members and we had dwindled down to a “very faithful few” for the past couple of years. Most of the men who did maintenance and yard care had passed away, so our buildings and grounds were suffering. It was heartbreaking to see a lovely facility and grounds begin to fall into disrepair. Our average Sunday attendance was 8 to 12 members. Then, in a way that only God can work, a small African-American congregation was looking for a place to meet and we offered our gymnasium to them. After a short period of time, they moved into our Fellowship Hall and were having Bible Study downstairs during our Worship Service upstairs in the Sanctuary.

  Over a period of time, we began to fellowship together and to have joint services. God continued to bless both congregations with new friends and a growing fellowship. Finally, God spoke to both congregations last summer and we knew His Will was for us to combine as one congregation and become one presence in our community. Working together as one, our mission efforts can be much more effective in our area and even around our state and country. We, as one congregation, provide clothes, blankets, and fast-food gift cards to the homeless of downtown Atlanta, provide school supplies for children in Appalachia, give baby supplies to young girls in the Appalachian region who have no ability to provide for their newborn babies, we give money to local and foreign missionaries, sponsor a missionary to Africa and send Bibles on a regular basis for his ministry, we have a partnership with local schools to provide supplies for the teachers, and are always reaching out to anyone in need. The main thing is that we are doing it together, as one church, black and white, in God’s Name. Our ministries are all-inclusive and the community knows that our church is welcoming and accepting. To all.

  What bothers me so much is that so many churches would be not willing to do this. They may have a couple people from other ethnic populations and consider themselves a multi-cultural, diverse church. But, would they consider having different racial background in their ministerial staff? Our church has two African-American ministers and one Anglo minister. And. It. Works! Our services are blended between the two cultures and my favorite part is the “Meet and greet” time when we all hug and greet each other … black and white … just as God intended it.

  We’re told in the book of Revelation that one day the Apostle John “looked, and beheld, a great multitude … of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

  Every nation … every tribe … every language. God’s message has always been and will always be for all people. He wants everyone to worship Him and that is done only by embracing and celebrating our differences – a tall order for those churches held captive by tradition.

  I’ve seen far too many churches around Henry County and Atlanta that have been abandoned. Windows broken out, fences erected around the property, graffiti on the walls, and trash littering the yards where once the people of God gathered to worship. It breaks my heart to see the houses of God bare and devoid of His people. These properties belong to God, not us, and we cannot just cast His presence aside because we are too tired to do the work, so we allow the land and buildings fall into ruin.

  This is a subject dear to my heart. I love my church and our people. I love what God is doing through and in us. No committee ever planned this merge, but God knew it and lay the foundation years ago. So, don’t limit yourselves. Seek out and welcome the diversity in your neighborhood. Your life and church will be far more enriched than you can imagine when you have every tribe and every nation surrounding you on Sunday morning.

  And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.