One month after the Charleston shooting at an all-Black church, a black congregation moved into the church building where I serve. Their first Sunday was July 12, 2015.
A fellow Black pastor, who loved me and wanted to protect me as a young pastor, warned against this move. This wise mentor understood the sad historic divisions between White Churches and Black churches, and said sharing space would only end in problems.
Abundant Life Community Church, a large historically Black church, quickly needed a place to stay until they could build their own building.
I pastored a historically white church.
Grace Tabernacle (formerly Wedgwood Church of the Nazarene, started in 1964), had once been a thriving neighborhood church. But the neighborhood began changing faster than the church could keep pace. Repair bills mounted. Attendance dwindled.
By the time I arrived, leadership had twice discussed closure and/or merger with another church.
Eventually, we did announce Grace Tabernacle’s closure. A few of us stuck around to restart the very unique church known as Renovation Community.
Through that restart process Abundant Life was in the building, paying much-needed rent, repairing broken a/c units and parking lamps, and cleaning the facility. And, they raised the rent *on themselves* TWICE. Who does that??
For 4.5 years, we shared space in a beautiful relationship. They had their inaugural service in their new building today. The Pastor asked me to attend and speak a little.
I cried through almost the entire service, and cried the entire time I spoke.
God used Abundant Life to pay the bills on a building our church couldn’t afford.
God used our relationship to break old racial barriers.
God used the way we shared space as an example to others who thought it couldn’t be done well.
In a way, that wise Black pastor was right…this relationship did end in heartache. But it’s only the pure heartache you feel when dear friends move away.
I’m sad for the move, but I rejoice with them on the completion of their new building.
Today, I’m thankful for Pastor Larry Atkins and Abundant Life Community Church.