a church in two charlotte communities: discovering the truth about race and ministry

8/7/2019 A Church in Two Charlotte Communities: Discovering the Truth About Race and Ministry

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A Church inTwo Charlotte

CommunitiesDiscovering the Truth

About Race and Ministry


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When they had finished eatsaid to Simon Peter, "Simon

do you truly love me mo

these?" "Yes, Lord," he s"you know that I love y Jesus said, "Feed my lam

John 21:15, NIV


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Through the years Charlotte,North Carolina has been blessedto avoid much of the ethnic strifeand separation that has occurredin many other areas of America.


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Comparing Charlotte with thelargest cities in America showsthat there are nowhere near the

clusters of ethnic separation herethat many other cities suffer from.


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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441

Chicago, ILest. population: 2,851,268


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Houston, TXest. population: 2,257,926



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Los Angeles, CAest. population: 3,831,868


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New York, NYest. population: 8,391,881



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Philadelphia, PAest. population: 1,547,297


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Phoenix, AZest. population: 1,593,659



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Comparing Charlotte with similarsized cities in America also shows

that there are fewer clusters of ethnic separation here that many

other cities suffer from.


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Austin, TXest. population: 786,386



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Baltimore, MDest. population: 637,418


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Boston, MAest. population: 645,169



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Columbus, OHEst. population: 769,332


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Fort Worth, TXest. population: 727,577



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Memphis, TNest. population: 676,640


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For over 30 years I was part of anamazing and anointed church on

Eastway Dr. in Charlotte, NorthCarolina.


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For many years we gathered onSaturday evenings at 7:14 pm for

a time of prayer based on


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if my people, who are caname,will humblethemselveseek my face and turn from

ways, then will I hear from h forgive their sin and will he2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV


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We prayed for revival that wouldbegin with us, and then be a

lighthouse of ministry to all inour city, very often quoting

scriptures such as


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Ask of me, and I will manations your inheritance, the

earthyour possessionPsalm 2:8, NIV


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All the nations you have willcome and worship before

they will bring glory to yoPsalm 86:, NIV


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Give thanks to the LORD, good; his love endures forredeemed of the LORD say this

he gathered from the landeast and west, from north Psalm 107:1-3, NIV


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So God answered our prayersand many nations came to our

communityalmostto our front door.


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But then some of our leadersbegan to say we cannot minister

to a community that has morethan 60% Hispanic people who

can not speak English.


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But those of us who lived, worked, shopped, and dined in

and near the Eastway Dr. &Central Ave. community knew

better.


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We knew the struggles andchallenges within the

community.


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But it was all worthwhile if wecould make a difference in the

lives of those who needed toknow Christ.


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Ministry is never about our abilityto help others in need.

It is always about what we humblyand obediently allow the Holy

Spirit to do for others through us.


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Again Jesus said,"Simon sodo you truly love me?" He

"Yes, Lord, you know that Jesus said, "Take care of m John 21:16, NIV


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So who really lives in theEastway Dr. & Central Ave.

Community?


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Beyond just states, counties, citiesand towns, the U. S. Census Bureauhas divided the country into areas

such as urban areas,congressional districts, censustracts, census blocks, and more.


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Eastway Dr. &Central Ave.

Communityest. population:

24,949

Here are maps of sixCensus Tractsimmediately

surrounding thischurch and

community.


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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 12 - est. population: 5,650

White,46%

Black,19%

Hispanic,26%

Asian,7%

Other, 2%


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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 16.05 - est. population: 1,776

White,26%

Black,28%

Hispanic,39%

Asian, 6% Other, 1%


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White,28%

Black,25%

Hispanic,37%

Asian,8%

Other, 2%


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White,28%

Black,35%

Hispanic,23%

Asian,11%

Other, 3%


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White,28%

Black,28%

Hispanic,40%

Asian, 2% Other, 2%


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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave.Community

est. population: 24,949

Averaging these six censustracts shows that even with astrong immigrant population,

this community is stilloverwhelmingly English

speaking...and it is reachablefor Christ!

White,32%

Black,27%

Hispanic,32%

Asian,7%

Other, 2%


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So it becomes painfully obviousthat some of our leaders have

mislead us all along!


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But even if they had been correctabout the community having more

than a 60% Hispanic, non-Englishspeaking population


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there was no spiritual justification at all for the

intimidation, scorn, hostility,

rejection, accusations, and even afew physical threats


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...that were directed toward many who understood and welcomed

our responsibility to keep

ministering to the needs of thepeople who live there.


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One Elder/Deacon suggested we were in the way of what God

wanted to do on Eastway Dr.


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Another Elder/Deaconsuggested we only needed to

minister to doctors, lawyers and

bankers so we could use theirtithes and offerings to supportother ministries for the needy.


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An Elder/Deacons wifesuggested we had to leave

because the community did not want or need us there any more.


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A Pastor suggested that he wascalled to be an

Apostle to the city,so he did not have to be

concerned about the needs of one community.


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For a brief three year period thechurch had been divided into

two congregations.


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One congregation left to start achurch in a more prosperouscommunity while the other

remained to carry on vitalministry to the needs there.


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But eventually a decision wasmade by the leaders that the twocongregations would re-join and we would all move and merge

with another church onProvidence Rd.


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But in the process we cast asidedozens, if not a few hundred, lowincome, English speaking, White,

Black, and Hispanic regularattendees


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who for more than three yearshad been denied membershiptraining and opportunity, until a

rushed and insinceremembership offer was made

near the end.


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So when they needed it the most,the people in most need of our

ministry were denied any official

voice or opinion in the directionof the church.


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In more than 30 years that I was apart of that church, we had nevergone more than 6 months-1 year

without accepting newmembersuntil then.


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The third time he said to himof John, do you love me?" P because Jesus asked him th"Do you love me?" He said,

know all things;you know th Jesus said, "Feed my sh

John 21:16, NIV


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For comparison lets see who lives in the

Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community?


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Providence Rd. &Pineville-Matthews

Rd. Communityest. population:21,190

Here are maps of six

Census Tractsimmediately

surrounding thischurch and

community

Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community


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Providence Rd. & Pineville Matthews Rd. CommunityCensus Tract 30.16 - est. population: 4,558

White,75%

Black, 9%

Hispanic,6% Asian,

8%

Other, 2%



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yCensus Tract 30.18 - est. population: 2,628

White,77%

Black, 5%

Hispanic,6%

Asian,9%

Other, 3%


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White,87%

Black,3%

Hispanic,4%

Asian, 4%Other,2%



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White,84%

Black, 5%

Hispanic,4% Asian, 5% Other, 2%


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Providence Rd & Pineville


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est. population: 21,190

By averaging these six censustracts, we see that there are far

fewer opportunities to meet,develop relationships, andminister to various ethnic

groups within this community.

White,81%

Black, 6%

Hispanic,5%

Asian, 6% Other, 2%


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So, as we take an honest look atboth communities it becomes

clear that the real issue was

never about which races could orcould not understand English


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but was instead more aboutsome leaders only wanting to

minister to a community that waswhite enough for them.


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As a white person, I am deeplyoffended when charges of racism

are made where it does not exist.


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But more important, as aChristian, my spirit is grieved

when genuine racism begins to

creep into the churchand weare too afraid confront it.


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In all fairness to the people of the church on Providence Rd.,

none of this was their fault.


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They welcomed us all withopen arms and open hearts.

They even have a great variety of

vibrant outreaches andministries available.


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Some of them asked our leaders why it was proper for a church tobe willing to leave a community

with so many needs and so manyopportunities to minister to

people.


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But the same leaders kept saying we could not minister to acommunity that has more than

60% Hispanic people who cannot speak English.


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There was nothing at all wrong with moving and joining with theother church. It was and still is a

good thing to do.


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The problem was in abandoninga vital mission field based onfalse premises, and in the

process changing the EastwayDr. church campus


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into an income stream byleasing the property to, andmaking money off of people

some of our leaders no longer wished to minister to.


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Before moving and merging withthe Providence Rd. church, wehad been coached by our

leaders, and warned ahead of time


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not to make trouble bybringing up any questions ordisagreements we had beenhaving. We were told that we

must all appear to behappy.


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had been sharing aprophecy that the

happy people were coming.


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How can God bless His peoplethe way He wants when ourministries are tarnished by

untruth, intimidation, andmanipulation?


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How can we violate basicspiritual truths to follow a new vision or path in ministry without

asking ourselves Who is really leading us?


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If something violates Gods wordover and over

DO NOT DO IT!

When the Son of Man com


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When the Son of Man com glory, and all the angels wisit on his throne in heavenlynations will be gathered bef

will separate the people one a shepherd separates the sh goats

Matthew 25:31-32, NIV

He will put the sheep on h


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He will put the sheep on h

the goats on his left. Then thsay to those on his right, 'Coare blessed by my Father;

inheritance, the kingdom presince the creation of the wMatthew 25:33-34, NIV

For I was hungry and yo


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For I was hungry and yosomething to eat, I was thir gave me something to dri

stranger and you invited me

clothes and you clothed me, you looked after me, I was you came to visit me.


Then the righteous will a


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Then the righteous will a'Lord, when did we see you

feed you, or thirsty and giveto drink?When did we see y

and invite you in, or needinclothe you?When did we see prison and go to visit yo



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The King will reply,'I tell you the truth, whateveone of the least of these bro

you did for me.Matthew 25:40, NIV


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Then he will say to those'Depart from me, you who athe eternal fire prepared for

his angelsMatthew 25:41, NIV



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nothing to eat, I was thirsty me nothing to drink,I was a strange you did not invite me in, I nand you did not clothe me, I prison and you did not look



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...They also will answer, 'Lowe see you hungry or thirstyor needing clothes or sick o

did not help you?Matthew 25:44, NIV


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He will reply, 'I tell you twhatever you did not do for

of these, you did not do foMatthew 25:45, NIV


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Then they will go away t punishment, but the righteo

life.Matthew 25:46, NIV


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Demographic Data: 2010 Census Redistricting Summary, U.S. Census Bureau2005-9 AmericanCommunity Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

American Fact Finder, U.S. Census Bureau 2009 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division Biggest US Cities By Population,http://www.biggestuscities.com

The New York Times, Mapping America: Every City, Every Block,http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer

Photo: Charlotte, North Carolina skyline in January of 2011

Scripture References: THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973,1978, 1984 by Biblica.

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