I have a fair share of conversations about racial reconciliation in the church.
One practical step I always offer to churches, families, individuals, etc. is to visit a church that by God's grace has a ethnically diverse local expression of the body. (Note: I understand sitting in pews together doesn't always mean doing life together.)
 |
| Couldn't find the pictures where I was smiling ... |
While much has been made recently about the racial church
divide – with Sunday at 11 a.m. still being the most segregated hour in America
– some churches are actually making progress on that front.
As a Christian, I want to see that. As a husband and a
father, I want my family to see that.
And so we travel.
From time to time, we’ll take road trips.
The destination is churches on the east coast with a diverse
leadership and congregation.
Here are four churches we have visited this far.
1. CROWN
AND JOY PRESBYTERIAN, RICHMOND, VA.
We started with Crown and Joy for a number of reasons.
Richmond is the closest to my hometown in Staunton, VA, and we are part of the
PCA denomination. We would commend anyone go there.
The congregation is truly
diverse. They preach the Word, and on the two times we visited the congregation
stayed after and ate a meal together. It really helped us to feel welcomed to
be asked to stay and eat afterwards.
2. Anacostia
River Church, Washignton, D.C.
When my family asked me what I
wanted to do for Father’s Day, I told them visit Anacostia River Church,
pastored by Thabiti Anyabwile. His sermon at the 2009 Worship God Conferenceabout the Church of Worship forever changed the way I relate to the local
church.
Not only did we get to see a beautifully
diverse church body, many members of the church were memorizing parts of
Colossians together and Anyabwile preached a powerful expository message the
day we were there. My friend Jeff attended there before being sent out by that
church as part of a plant. He told us around the corner to get some good pizza,
and then we made a day of D.C.
3. Hampton
Roads Fellowship, Hampton VA.
We decided to do our back-to-school
shopping at the new outlet stores in Norfolk, and attend church at HamptonRoads Fellowship. It was great. The worship team and the pastoral team were
diverse.
The Sunday we attended, a young man who they were training for
leadership in the church preached, and he did the best expository unpacking of
Philemon that I had ever heard. I left with my heart full and my gaze on
Christ.
Also, something the pastor said that stuck
with me in regards to evangelism: “Every person I meet could be a new brother
or sister in Christ (paraphrased).”
4. Crossover
Church, Tampa, Florida.
A quick back story is needed here.
Crossover’s pastor, Tommy Kyllonen, had a huge impact me in my early walk as a
believer. I had been wanting to get down for FlavorFest, but when my sister
actually moved to Tampa, I knew I had to check it out.
Also, the week we visited was Easter. I’m
not sure what was the norm and what was special for Resurrection Sunday. Here’s
what I can tell you. Crossover is incredibly diverse. They do a phenomenal job
engaging visitors, and they do an incredible job incorporating arts in a
Christ-glorifying way.
As much as I enjoyed the experience there –
my kids are willing to move to Tampa – my favorite part was hearing them talk
about how they planned to intentionally love their city. That was amazing.
A Final Thought
I have a personal rule that I never try to
miss my home church two weeks in a row, and I don’t let my work or leisure
allow me to miss my own church twice in a month. I want to make sure I have a
healthy commitment level to my brothers and sisters in Christ in my own
congregation.
With that being said, it’s important for me
to experience settings that give us a foretaste of heaven, worshiping beside
people of all nationalities. And I want my family to have a vision for that,
too, especially since my kids are biracial.
I hope it encourages you, too.
Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog here), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book here. His first kids' book, Grits & the Grimels, is out now.
