tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post2307620042536303659..comments2024-03-22T05:29:18.132-07:00Comments on Shawn James, Black Freelance Writer: The Black Church Needs A RevivalShawn Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712216572467743626noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-32924584819577997672015-02-11T14:11:59.971-08:002015-02-11T14:11:59.971-08:00As relatively young Pastor at the oldest/historic ...As relatively young Pastor at the oldest/historic Black churches in my city, I believe that at times the Church has gotten stuck in a time warp. I believe that the issues, demographics, schedules and leadership styles must be able to meet the needs of the community that surrounds the Church. Too often, I find that the leaders that I inherited are so far out of touch with the current times. They speak in vernacular of 40+ years ago. We have experienced a surge in "new members" and the "old" crowd treats them as outcasts and the new members soon fade away. Although we have made progress in some areas, it is painfully clear that this church has lost its way... and they lost their way 45+ years ago. This church is notorious for "frustrating" pastors so, that they have had nearly 21 pastors in its 175 year history. 30 years of that was relegated to them having only a White pastor because it was pre-Emancipation era. That much turnover slowly destroys a church. But what is worse.. is that the Community only recognizes it as the "silk stocking full of mean hypocrites who treat their pastors horribly". <br />So why did I accept this challenge as a young pastor? Because I believe that the OLD HYMN... A Charge to Keep I Have applies more so today that ever before. A verse in the hymn literally says.. TO SERVE THIS PRESENT AGE MY CALLING TO FULFILL; OH MAY IT ALL MY POWER ENGAGE TO DO MY MASTER'S WILL.<br />And that is why I am serving this OLD church, with a BAD reputation and OUTDATED leadership and DEAD traditions because I believe that the love my wife, daughter and I have shown will begin to help change the atmosphere, win new people to Christ and meet the needs of our surrounding community. I love the Old Church, I appreciate the emerging modern church... but we cannot discriminate against any generation. EVERYONE needs Christ. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-75361277167229187302013-07-30T07:05:03.651-07:002013-07-30T07:05:03.651-07:00Thanks for this article. I usually attend a predom...Thanks for this article. I usually attend a predom white church...but started feeling disconnected. Visted a Black church on Sunday. They had 8:30 posted on their website so I showed up at 8:30 only to be told that service didn't start until 9:30 for summer hours! Problem was I was in the 'hood -- there is no place to sit for an hour! I went downstairs. They were very nice to me. Service was THREE HOURS. I was in church for a total of FOUR HOURS. By the end I was so hungry I was ready to pass out (I'm dieting and working out). The sermon was excellent. Some of the Gospel songs were right on time for what I'm going through -- but why did they have to do a BAPTISM of three men, a baby dedication of two babies, AND Holy Communion in ONE service?! And of course, the acknowledgment of every other person's birthday? Sigh. Oh my gosh. We need contemporary Black churches. We have contemporary white ones--but Black churches haven't kept pace. Thanks again for this article.durbanbreezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411922226616290824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-90493834158611968792013-07-30T07:04:56.742-07:002013-07-30T07:04:56.742-07:00Thanks for this article. I usually attend a predom...Thanks for this article. I usually attend a predom white church...but started feeling disconnected. Visited a Black church on Sunday. They had 8:30 posted on their website so I showed up at 8:30 only to be told that service didn't start until 9:30 for summer hours! Problem was I was in the 'hood -- there is no place to sit for an hour! I went downstairs. They were very nice to me. Service was THREE HOURS. I was in church for a total of FOUR HOURS. By the end I was so hungry I was ready to pass out (I'm dieting and working out). The sermon was excellent. Some of the Gospel songs were right on time for what I'm going through -- but why did they have to do a BAPTISM of three men, a baby dedication of two babies, AND Holy Communion in ONE service?! And of course, the acknowledgment of every other person's birthday? Sigh. Oh my gosh. We need contemporary Black churches. We have contemporary white ones--but Black churches haven't kept pace. Thanks again for this article.durbanbreezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411922226616290824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-91053470762847202272013-03-18T11:29:01.220-07:002013-03-18T11:29:01.220-07:00tried to shoot you an e-mail and it bounced back. ...tried to shoot you an e-mail and it bounced back. What's your manuscript about? Shawn Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11712216572467743626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-16057320900344155242013-03-14T21:12:52.257-07:002013-03-14T21:12:52.257-07:00Shawn,
I won't use Facebook because I have to ...Shawn,<br />I won't use Facebook because I have to join it to send you a message. I think that is a way for Facebook to force people to become members. Maybe it's not to be. It's just that I heard what you are talking about and it so affected me, that I wrote a 130,000page Christian novel about it. If you feel led, let me know through my E-Mail address.<br />Dominic,<br />Dddato1@aol.comDominicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-73736177281052536972013-03-12T19:38:57.301-07:002013-03-12T19:38:57.301-07:00How do you get a messae to Shawn? I want to share ...How do you get a messae to Shawn? I want to share a message I received from the Lord, about the People of African Decent in 1999.<br />Daddato1@aol.comDominicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-60096495390045091572011-02-17T06:10:04.604-08:002011-02-17T06:10:04.604-08:00I really want to see some type of reform to the Bl...I really want to see some type of reform to the Black Church. At one time it was the cornerstone of the Black community, highly regarded and respected. Now everyone avoids it, especially Black Men. <br /><br />If one person in the Black Clergy reads this blog, and uses some of my ideas I'll be happy. The Black Church hasn't done a good job of representing Christ and that discourages others from finding Salvation.Shawn Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11712216572467743626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121130217304877410.post-80572606952922723322011-02-17T05:29:27.090-08:002011-02-17T05:29:27.090-08:00Shawn, I hasten to weigh in on this because it is ...Shawn, I hasten to weigh in on this because it is so on the mark, so perceptive and downright useful and informative. To save my life, I can't imagine why the Black church has strayed so far from christianity to become rude, arrogant and full of cupidity.<br /><br />I encourage you to continue with these excellent blogs. If only a few of us listen, it will be worthwhile, and I feel in time many more will come.<br /><br />There are blogs that enterain, blogs that inform and blogs that change our lives. This blog is a life-changing and affirmative occurrence. I have thought about these things so often and I hope you will go on to elevate your "take" on Black churches to a level that can bring us all back to the positive level we once enjoyed as Black churchgoers.<br /><br />May God be with you and with us all.Francine Crafthttp://www.francinecraft.comnoreply@blogger.com