“…The racial problem has been the unresolved dilemma in America. It has gone on since its inception because its roots have not been addressed by the people who are most qualified to address it: The Church!” (Dr. Tony Evans)

When I saw this video I knew I had to share it with the Dream Of Destiny community.  Many of you know who Dr. Tony Evans is.  Several of you may have even seen this video before. It was produced by a very cool para-church ministry called “I Am Second.”

What I found powerful about this short video was Dr. Evans’ first story of being raised in Baltimore during a time of racial strife and tension.  What resonated with me was how “common” his story is among our African American pastors and leaders in our brotherhood.  Many, if not the majority of them over 50 years of age, still love God, but have lost hope in ever seeing change in the association of Independent churches, and Churches of Christ movement.

Many of them carry, not only the everyday burdens and challenges associated with leading small local churches that fight to keep their doors opens from year to year, but also the hollowing effect of their voices not being heard by fellow brothers that make up the NACC. To compound matters even more, if the truth be told, many of them wrestle with the feelings of inadequacy and insecurities that linger like battle scars from past fights and struggles that have never had the chance to properly heal.

In the spirit of illumination, I share this with you not to foster guilt or feelings of remorse by the wrongs of ancestors.  In like kind, I do not bring this to light for others to use as justification for abdicating any responsibility to continue to push forward. I shed light on this issue to provoke and encourage two regular calls to action:

1. To our Caucasian sisters and brothers in leadership; it is critical that you be intentional and proactive in reaching OUT (NOT back and down) to your fellow “minority” sisters and brothers in leadership at the local level. Even if you’ve tried in the past and found little reciprocated response, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.
2. To our sisters and brothers who make up ethnic minorities in our association; it’s critical that you continue to be intentional about getting and staying involved with the convention (even though you feel that your voice has not been heard -remember, the more voices, the louder the message).  At the local level, continue to do what you can, with what you have, right where you are to connect with other pastors of independent Christian churches.  Again I encourage you, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.

Why are these calls to action important for us to ALWAYS be intentional about?  Because they reflect, in how we engage one another, the very message,  we are all called to share with the rest of the world.  It is a message of new beginnings. It is a message of new identities.  It is a message of renewed hope, and freedom that is found in our new identity in Christ.   In the video above (at the 1:23 minute mark) , Dr. Evans talks about a “repositioning” that occurs when Jesus becomes first in our life.  Please go back to it now and listen, again, to what he says.

Going forward, what would our efforts truly look like if each of us truly embraced this idea that “I Am Second?”