Special SERVICE that YOU need to attend!

Special Service 6PM Sunday Evening at Powhatan County High School

I met with a group of pastors of various churches in the county today to discuss the latest events that have driven further wedges between people of different races and nationalities. Specifically, the news coverage of the verdicts in the Taliaferro murder trial has portrayed Powhatan and our surrounding communities as a predominately racist people.

Regardless of how you may feel about the justice or lack of justice with the verdict itself, the truth is that most people in our community are not racists.

To make matters worse, I am looking right now at a copy of a publication that the local KuKluxKlan has been handing out over the past few days. It is basically a recruitment document, with a picture of a policeman in uniform on the front page, wearing the traditional white Klansman’s hood.

I am ashamed that anyone would spew such hatred in the name of being a good American or a faithful Christian. Racism is neither American nor Christian. The Bible is clear about this:

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

As pastors, we came together to talk about ways that we can express our unity as one people. While each of our churches is different, we are all passionate about the fact that there is no room for racism in the leadership of Christ’s church today. As the song says, “We all are equal in the light of the Cross”.

In light of all of these events, we want to make the strongest statement possible. We are issuing a press release and are inviting everyone in our community and in our churches to come to a special service this Sunday evening at 6PM at the High School. PCC is the host church for this event, and our band and music team will play a large role in shaping the service. I will speak, as will other pastors in our county. This service will only last about an hour, but the statement it makes will last much longer. 

This is our chance to take a strong stance in our community – a chance to speak with our feet and take a stand on this issue. It is not about the trial or the verdict – it’s about how we believe God sees skin color.

Together in that hour, we’ll have the chance to say that everyone is welcome in our community, and that, as Christ Followers, we will not judge people by the color of their skin. We will have the chance to stand together – as black folks, white folks and every color in between – and declare our unity in Jesus Christ.

I urge every person in our church to make this event a priority. Further, I’m asking every church leader to cancel any event or meeting you have this Sunday evening so that you and your folks can come. I believe that it’s going to be a Holy moment. I believe that God will move in an unusually powerful way and we will experience His presence in our midst.

Spread the word and I’m looking forward to seeing you there!