In the wake of the recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery — and others less well-known or covered by the media — the world is waking up to the realization that we have no time to waste in listening and learning from the voices of the oppressed in order to do better. While it is crucial that we hear from our Black brothers and sisters as individuals, it is also important for us to do the same at an organizational level.
Companies, churches, nonprofits and ministries have a unique opportunity to set an example of what it means to listen and to learn by honoring and becoming educated about the lived experiences of others with a different reality than ours, and how we can do better moving forward. Choosing to hear from the Black community as an organization not only sets an example but is a precursor step to enacting meaningful relational change that seeks to fully accept and include your Black leadership, employees and audiences.
In solidarity with the need for many today to listen and learn — and we include our Agency and leadership in that group — we want to recognize and recommend several individuals and organizations whom we have had the privilege of representing to highlight voices of Black leaders who are humbly and respectfully engaged in providing spiritual insights and perspective to the national conversation about race in America, which has quickly become a defining issue.
Dr. Tony Evans is the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. He is also the renowned author of several books, including “Kingdom Man,” “The Power of Jesus’ Names” and “Praying Through the Names of God,” to name a few. Recently, he has utilized his platform to speak boldly against racism, especially within the Church. His Facebook video, “A Message From the Heart,” specifically addresses what we can do to face and erase prejudice as individuals, families, churches, communities and the government.
Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer is the senior pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California, and is the author of several works, including his most recent release, “Walls Can Fall: Race, Reconciliation & Righteousness in a Divided World,” which candidly shares his experiences as a recipient of racial profiling to highlight the reality of racism as a spiritual issue.
OneRace is a multi-racially led movement based in Atlanta, Georgia, seeking to displace the spirit of racism in that city and across the nation through fasting, praying, building relationships, collaborating and teaching people to love regardless of color, class or culture. Over the past two years, the movement has brought together faith leaders and individuals to repent of past sins of racism, affirm the Church’s leadership role in overcoming our nation’s divisive past and commit to model new unity as believers. The organization will host a March on Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park on June 19, also the historic Juneteenth, to stand united against racial violence, to lament and to petition God and legislators for change.
Bishop Harry Jackson has been actively engaged for many years in leading conversations and working with faith leaders to heal racial divides through The Reconciled Church movement. On June 5, he hosted Vice President Mike Pence and Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Scott Turner at his church, Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, for a listening session with a select group of Black and minority leaders representing churches, businesses, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Bishop Jackson will also release “A Manifesto: Christian America’s Contract with Minorities” on August 18, 2020.
American Awakening is creating conversation concerning this issue and others that often divide us as Americans. The movement is about unity, focusing on the fact we are all made for purpose, meaning and significance and are meant to live in community – as friends, not enemies. American Awakening offers a number of resources including a daily podcast, daily e-newsletter and forthcoming book, releasing July 28.
Please join us in listening and learning from different voices throughout the Black Community as we lament, pray and seek to advance racial reconciliation in hearts, churches and communities across our land.
