Jackson Free Press

Some say that the most segregated hour in America is on Sunday at 11 a.m. Because of a history of racial division, most of today's churches are predominately white, predominately black, etc. Is this the way God intended for us to worship?

At The Church Triumphant, we believe that God always intended for the church to be a blend of all people, races and nationalities. Each year during the month of November, we come together as one people to offer praise and Thanksgiving to God.

This Sunday, November 30, at 10 a.m., please join us for our annual International Harvest Sunday service. We invite everyone to come and praise and worship together as one people. Let's step outside of our comfort zones for one day and have church the way God truly intended us to have it.

The Church Triumphant is located at 731 S. Pear Orchard Road, Suite 43, in Ridgeland, MS, in the Odyssey North Shopping Center near McAlister's Deli. For more information, please call the church office at 601-977-0007.

*** If there is anyone who would like to formally commit to attending International Harvest Sunday, please {encode="[email protected]" title="email me"} with you name, address and phone number no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25.***

Hope to see you there!

Previous Comments

ID

140956

Comment

How can we do this LW when we can't even agree what color God is? Color does matter in this country and universe, you know. Also, the style of delivery is so important to feeding the souls, according to what some poeple have told me. Some people need a singing, dancing, prancing or marching preacher to feel like the preacher is really getting down. On the other hand, some people think the preacher is showboating, minstreling and disgacing the Bible and the Lawd's work by all the drama and histrionics; and therefore, they need a boring, stoic or plank-like preacher to stand behind the podium and talk. Arguably, according to what I've been told, people of different races have different wants, needs and expectations from church or the worshipping hour. Going to the wrong church vitiates or precludes those needs being met. Similarly, LW, different people of different races stress different parts of the Bible. Some people believe the old testament still have validity while others don't. Add this to the friction between Muslims, Christains, COGICs, Baptists, Catholics, Protestants, et al, and you got a fight ready to break out at any minute over philosopy. Nontheless, I can go to any church that is not a cult with anyone because I neither follow the minister, deacons, sisters or any particular religious group or persons. I follow the Lawd and whatever is good and divine, so far as I know. LW, do y'all feed at your church? Having something to eat immediately afterward is always a drawing card. Pray for me, alright.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-24T12:28:17-06:00

ID

140958

Comment

The gods of the organized religions are green, Walt, like the color of money and jealousy. Religion has always divided people and given one group righteous ideas of superiority over another.

Author

WMartin

Date

2008-11-24T14:36:12-06:00

ID

140961

Comment

My god is the color of pasta and meat sauce.

Author

kaust

Date

2008-11-24T15:23:44-06:00

ID

140962

Comment

Knol, I'll be praying the awesome being lets you keep on ticking after that.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-24T15:30:51-06:00

ID

140963

Comment

I like your god better Kaust. Maybe cuz I'm hungry.

Author

WMartin

Date

2008-11-24T16:41:18-06:00

ID

140964

Comment

god was white. Everybody knows that from all the paintings of him. god was an old white man with long white hair and a white beard, like Santa but more Italian. jesus was black though. No doubt about it. There's paintings of him i've seen in the catholic church in Castries, St. Lucia. jesus was very swarthy and also had long hair. White father, black son? The virgin Maria did that trick. Clever lady. Don't get me started on Joseph. Some other mule kickin' in your stall buddy.

Author

HardTravelin

Date

2008-11-24T16:51:22-06:00

ID

140966

Comment

Walt, I'm not on the planning committee, so I don't know if they'll be serving any vittles afterwards. :P I knew that I would be putting myself out on a limb with this blog entry, but the point behind it was to unite, not divide, and it was done in love. Although I am a Christian, I am not the Bible-thumpin' type that hits people over the head with the Gospel and sends everyone to hell. (Thought you all knew that by now.) Anyway, I respect other people's beliefs and don't expect everyone to think like me. Therefore, I think we all can respectfully disagree and still be kind to each other. Having said that, my offer still stands. If you are interested, I look forward to seeing you. If not, that's cool, too.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-24T19:03:10-06:00

ID

140967

Comment

Latasha, I attend St. Mattress-by-the-Springs these days but I've heard really good things about the Church Triumphant. Three years ago the JFP ran a panel and screening for a documentary film called "The Most Segregated Hour," which studied two congregations in Oxford--St. Peter's (Episcopal, white) and Second Baptist (Missionary Baptist, black)--and their racial reconciliation efforts, which according to the documentary started off promising but kind of fell apart in some very familiar ways (the white church basically dropped the ball--the priest who was committed to the program became bishop and was replaced by someone who was less committed, some whites wanted a separate group where they could discuss race among themselves, etc). The documentary was depressing but the panel and event definitely weren't!

Author

Tom Head

Date

2008-11-24T20:43:01-06:00

ID

140970

Comment

Thanks, Tom. The title of this blog was based on the name of that documentary, which I missed but hope to see one day. I would love to see racial reconciliation efforts improve in all facets of life here in the U.S., especially somewhere as intimate as a house of worship where you're not afraid to cry in public. Lord knows I've done my share. LOL

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-24T23:47:50-06:00

ID

140972

Comment

the good lord hisself couldn't make this one happen.

Author

lulms

Date

2008-11-25T06:00:15-06:00

ID

140973

Comment

lulms, I would replace the word "couldn't" with "won't" because He gave us free will. It is up to us.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-25T07:16:55-06:00

ID

140975

Comment

i've been a member of two churches in mississippi, two denominations: Presbyterian (prior to its ugly split between ultraconservatives and just-plain conservatives), and Episcopal (which is now undergoing an ugly split between...well, you get the idea). the only thing i can remember either of my all-white churches undertaking that could even remotely be described as an "outreach" was collecting used stamps in sunday school so they could be sent to children in "africa'. (apparently a country). how pathetic, ironic and ugly, this attempt. give to those on the other side of the world, not neighbors one might actually face someday. so, yes, it is our free will. but we are human and live in a place weighted with a bad history, and maybe, but i think no time soon, will we make this one happen. or perhaps allow it to happen, or wish it to happen, or just cannot stand for it to happen.

Author

lulms

Date

2008-11-25T08:52:36-06:00

ID

140977

Comment

Big girls don't cry, LW. That is,unless they need to. Don't worry LW the Lawd is and ever will be, no matter the cynics, unbelievers and so on. I doubt I will make it as I will likely be visiting friends and family around the Thanksgiving holiday, and I have to go to a conference held in hell on earth - Oxford, MS.. I prefer to find one church where the Lord's will is being attempted or undertaken and stay there. Too much moving around only breeds confusion and further disappointments in people. Good luck. Thanks for the invite. My apology for responding to your invitation with humor. Once a nut starts something, other nuts soon jump in. Lord have mercy on us nuts for we know not that we're nuts and nor have sense enough to be quiet.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-25T09:08:10-06:00

ID

140979

Comment

lulms, that's why I'm at a non-denominational church. I hate dogma drama. I guess I'm just one of those starry-eyed loons who is optimistic beyond what is reasonably acceptable by many. Some folks call it "crazy faith." Sorry, can't help myself. :) Walt, no need to apologize. You're just being, well, you. I know you didn't mean anything by it. Have a safe trip. By the way, shedding tears is good for removing impurities from the body. Gentler than Ex-Lax. :P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-25T09:39:07-06:00

ID

140980

Comment

I cannot recall witnessing a white person in a church pew while I was in attendance until I left Mississippi at 17 and went to Chicago and visited a Catholic Church in the *Uptown* community of north Chicago. I *visited* an all white church once in Austin, Texas. It was a short visit. I walked in and everyone looked at me. It was weird --- to me. Maybe it was me. I didn't feel comfortable so I left after a short while. The church that I attend now, Middlebrook United Methodist, has a couple of white members. We have attended services at an all white United Methodist Church nearby and felt welcome and they have returned the favor. I think there is progress in Mississippi, but it is slower than in other parts of the country. I suspect that I may not live long enough to see Mississippi catch up to other parts of the country, but then I never thought I'd see an African American president --- certainly not one named Barack Obama. Maybe I'll have to vote with my feet and go somewhere where people are less constrained by the past. There is segregation all over, but I do believe that it is worse in the deep south. Since we are all created in God's image, I imagine a God who is a mixture of all ethnicities on Earth. How else could we all have come out of one Source if we were not all intertwined together at some point? If so, then by the one drop rule prevalent in this country, He/She would be of African descent.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-11-25T09:56:38-06:00

ID

140981

Comment

LW, i have no idea what you or the previous poster were trying to say. ex-lax? oxford is hell on earth? starry loons? bodily impurities? nuts? nuts? nuts? i don't think i mentioned any of the above topics. happy thanksgiving!

Author

lulms

Date

2008-11-25T09:59:09-06:00

ID

140983

Comment

Church is definitely one place where cultural differences play out. Is that necessarily wrong?

Author

QB

Date

2008-11-25T10:50:36-06:00

ID

140984

Comment

Well, it sure seemed to be when white America was going after Jeremiah Wright. If by what you mean is that two (or more) cultures are segregated into different cultural worlds in their churches and that's OK, I would disagree. If we're going to solve the country's and the world's problems, we're going to have to mix up enough to understand each other. And sadly, many prejudices in every direction are hidden and pushed in churches of all sorts, and they can become echo chambers for people to push hatred of "the other." That's not true in all, of course, but it seems obvious that when races worship only with people of their own race that it isn't going to be part of the solution when it comes to race distrust. I saw that with respect for what the black church has done for African Americans during very difficult years.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-11-25T11:02:48-06:00

ID

140985

Comment

What would Jesus say about having one sunday in the year to do his will? Would he be more pleased if the invitation was to sinners; those who do not know him? Would he be more pleased if the outreach were to the poor, the homeless or the down-trotten? As long as we have segregated communities and schools, the church will be a reflection of those thought processes. Why would I move away from you in the community, register my kids in an academy if I were interested in serving with you in your church. Just asking.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-11-25T11:08:48-06:00

ID

140986

Comment

Good post, Whitley. Trying to integrate a church is not something I feel comfortable attempting. I know several good brothers who got their hearts broken severely venturing the said task. I figure you would find your most avowed racists at church in people who think racism is divine. I don't want any woman who doesn't want me. The same is the case with church members, friends, co-workers, et al, although we can't always choose. I like peace of mind and rather have it even if alone. I get invitations to attend integrated churches often because of where I live. Sometimes I wonder if they know I'm a soul brother. I don't want to be at any church mad so I go where I feel welcomed and comfortable. It would seem to me that cultural, racial, sexual or gender differences would go away or not attend church. I forget all differences for a peiod of time while at church or having bible studies. For a brief while there is no race or sex in the church setting for me. We even have women attend our praying men group. We call them praying men too.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-25T11:09:18-06:00

ID

140987

Comment

Good questions, Jess. I confess that I don't do much reaching out to help others overcome their problems of prejudice and racism toward me, those like me or others. All I do is not practice those diseases myself and hope my little light will help encourage someone else. I confess I don't like racist and prejudice people, and what I generally carry in my heart for them is not love or even good will. I fight off my great antipathy for them and practically pray they don't mess with me, for I'm likely too eager to give them a dose of their own style of medicine. I adore Dolphus Weary and people like him who are seriously dedicated to helping others who choose to practice racism and prejudice in church and elsewhere. My problem with Weary's appraoch is that it's been tried for generations and centuries yet the racists and prejudice individuals keep on coming. With my personality, I'm tempted to fight fire with fire and see if that will get a quicker transformation or rid us of some problems that just can't seem to go away. My method isn't found in the New Testament and most Christians proclaim me crazy or anti-christian when it comes to matters of curtailing misbehavior.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-25T11:23:11-06:00

ID

140988

Comment

Also, Jess, I think your commentary about larger society (communities ans schools) tells the whole story. Why fake togetherness or a reaching-out for a couple of hours at church when you can set up polls at church and watch most southern whites vote the ole time southern way, with the preacher oftentimes leading the way.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-25T12:13:18-06:00

ID

140992

Comment

Re integrating churches: The warmest church experience I ever had was Spanish Rite II at St. Andrew's, where I wasn't the only non-Latino in attendance but was certainly among the minority. I don't know what it's like for black folks integrating white institutions--in my limited experience, nowhere near as easy--but almost every time I've attended a scheduled event that was otherwise all-black, I had a better time than I would have if it were otherwise all-white. Maybe black culture is just friendlier, on average, than white culture. Dunno. I do think it's important, no matter what church you attend, to be fair to yourself. If the church you feel at home in is one where everybody looks like you, try to expand outreach and make it a more welcoming place but don't beat yourself up about it. If your best friends all happen to be the same color you are, try attending some more diverse events but don't beat yourself up about it. It's not your fault. You didn't make segregation; you were born into it. This doesn't mean that segregation is acceptable. This does mean that you shouldn't punish yourself for inheriting it. Segregation is one of those institutions that rewards people if they comply and punishes people if they don't. Don't compound that by beating yourself up when you're one of the few people who is consciously doing something to get rid of it. That said... I got so angry at James R. Adams, former director of the Center for Progressive Christianity, whose book So You Think You're Not Religious? (a widely-read introduction to liberal congregations targeted at the unchurched) out-and-out recommended...well, here's what he wrote (p. 190): Because religion is both a personal and a tribal affair, people find as a rule that worship is most satisfactory when they are worshiping with people much like themselves ... Churches with a racial or cultural mix exist, but by examining them closely the visitor will likely find them to be congregations in transition from one kind of people to another. Most skeptics would be better off in a more stable community with a clear sense of its own identity. George Wallace and Ross Barnett would have enthusiastically agreed with this paragraph, but the book was published in 1989 and is still widely read and recommended by white social progressives looking for a church. So clearly we've got some work to do.

Author

Tom Head

Date

2008-11-25T13:14:08-06:00

ID

140993

Comment

Well said Tom. I'll add now that we had 2 white members of our praying men group, a man and a woman. The white man was the most non-racial person I think I have ever met in my life. He grew up in Michigan. He had once been married to a black woman. He would cry in a second when something offended him or hurt him. I don't know how he escaped letting racism infect him. I regret I never asked him how he got this way and I will someday when I think of it. He and the black wife got a divorce and he married a white woman who after a while admitted to us she was raised to be racist and reared her children to some extent to be the same. Once she met him and us she slowly got to know us and changed her perspective on race. She and the husband hosted all of us repeatedly into their home, and all of us did the same in return. Unfortunately, she got sick one night and died in her sleep, a shocking and very hurtful thing to all of us. Our whole group attended her funeral although her boys who were grown men didn't appreciate it. They allowed 2 of us to give talks about her at the funeral and thanked us for doing it. One of our members took it upon himself to try and convert her boys beyond their racism. He gave up after a few months because they were comfortable and satisfied with their racist teachings/views and did not wish to change. I told him conctantly he was crazy and was going to get a cap busted in his behind. I did silently wish him success though. He was an old army vetereran and black militants once upon a time who once hated white folks too after obtaining so much learning about racism on the way to obtaining a Ph.D.. He figured if he could change anyone could. The white man continues to hang around us, and a year later after losing his wife, he married another black female. They are still together and they seem quite happy together. He made me one of those big Moses like staff. A funny story about them occurred a couple of weeks after they got married. It seems his wife kind of like the flashy kind of dress. He doesn't care too much about what he wears. One Sunday morning we were sitting in Sunday School and here comes our white friend in a green suit with one of those long zoot-like coats. I looked and started biting my lips to keep from laughting. The same guy with the Ph.D looked up and saw him and couldn't stop laughing. It seems he laughed for 15 minutes non stop. Before long he started crying while laughing. I'm trying to pretend I can't see by now. Upon recovery, we said that's love there because we know he wouldn't be caught with that suit on ordinarily.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-11-25T14:38:56-06:00

ID

140994

Comment

What would Jesus say about having one sunday in the year to do his will? Would he be more pleased if the invitation was to sinners; those who do not know him? Would he be more pleased if the outreach were to the poor, the homeless or the down-trotten? Hey, Jess! :) The designated day is a jumping off point toward integrated worship. Year round, there is an invitation for everyone to come through the outreach ministry, television, etc. I hope I didn't imply that certain people can only visit once a year!!! Church is definitely one place where cultural differences play out. Is that necessarily wrong? Fat Harry, I don't, as long as those differences are celebrated and not snubbed. happy thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving to you too, lulms. :)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-25T15:22:18-06:00

ID

140995

Comment

Re integrating churches: The warmest church experience I ever had was Spanish Rite II at St. Andrew's, where I wasn't the only non-Latino in attendance but was certainly among the minority. Tom, that's really cool! That reminds me of when I went to Megafest in Atlanta a few years ago. Thousands of people of different races were there singing, praising and worshipping together. They even had Spanish and ASL interpreters there to translate the sermons.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-25T15:30:01-06:00

ID

141001

Comment

Great post LW. I have been enlightened and humored by the responses.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-11-25T17:40:25-06:00

ID

141004

Comment

Thanks, Whitley. I also found the responses interesting. :)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-11-25T20:50:20-06:00

ID

141011

Comment

Thanks L.W. for your post of enlightenment. I have seen your minister and his wife on TV inviting people to attend the church. I do hope that your day of Spiritual Harvest is a memorable one and that your goal is attained. Happy Thanksgiving!

Author

justjess

Date

2008-11-26T11:38:44-06:00

ID

141014

Comment

L.W., thanks for this. I wish we had something similar going up this way. I do a little lone-woman thing now and then, but I'm not at all sure I'm accomplishing anything (Walt, I get a lot of looks, too). I think a lot of the looks are just surprise, Walt, like anyone would do with something or someone different than they are expecting. It's always hard to tell which are those and which are dislike or suspicion. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the looks I get are suspicion, our history being what it is in Mississippi (as in, what IS that white woman doing here?). I can also tell that it disconcerts and discomforts folks, sort of a surprise they aren't sure how to handle, so again, I wonder what I'm doing when I do it. Every now and then, though, God tweaks my conscience enough (and I hear Rev. Lowry's words in my head again, about whites doing the Sunday integrating for a change) that I do it in spite of wondering if I'm just making folks uncomfortable. People had gotten to know me where I was, but I'm in a new little town and really don't know much of anyone, so I'm starting all over. And I haven't found a church home yet; I'm somehow finding myself resistant to joining a monotone church. We didn't have much mixing when I was in Oxford, but a little. At any rate, L.W., I hope this works out well, I'm praying for your efforts.

Author

C.W.

Date

2008-11-27T09:01:37-06:00