Goal of "One Montgomery"- Black and White Churches Functioning as One

"This is a good model! How good and pleasant it is when diverse races (brothers) can dwell together in Unity. God bless this, and let it sweep across America!"~ Glenn Taylor

http://www.breakingchristiannews.com

by Jim Brown, Jenni Parker/Teresa Neumann Reporting : Oct 21, 2005 : Agape Press

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/202005a.asp


"Predominantly black and predominantly white congregations are being challenged to share a meal together and pray with one another on a regular basis."

Montgomery, Alabama, the "cradle of the civil rights movement, is in the news again, but this time it has nothing to do with racial rioting, a la the 1960's. Quite the opposite. Dubbed the "One Montgomery" movement, at least two churches in the area are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bus boycott set off by Rosa Parks' arrest by promoting racial harmony through the Body of Christ.

The citywide movement is being led by Fresh Anointing International Church, a mostly black congregation, notes an Agape Press report, and First Baptist Church, a mostly white congregation. Reportedly, the two churches have already distributed 10,000 black and white wristbands bearing the words "One Montgomery" and also plan to make 10,000 black and white crosses for people to place in their yards as symbols of Christian unity.

"When the world comes to Montgomery, it would be fantastic if the international media -- which will be looking for stories -- will see thousands of black and white crosses all over this region," explains First Baptist Pastor Jay Wolf. "And those crosses will activate what Jesus said in John 12:31 -- 'If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Myself.'"

The goal of the One Montgomery movement, Wolf notes, is to have black and white churches functioning as one and striving for racial reconciliation and harmony. "It's our goal to make a statement about racial reconciliation and pray that it will be catalytic to revival," he says.



As part of that effort, predominantly black and predominantly white congregations are being challenged to share a meal together and pray with one another on a regular basis, notes reporters Jim Brown and Jenny Parker.

As to some isolated criticism that the focus on black-white racial reconciliation is too narrow and not inclusive, Wolf points out, "Of course, the issue in Montgomery is not between Hispanics or Orientals; the demographics [in Montgomery] would be black and white." If black and white churches can function together under the banner of the cross, he asserts, then "the other issues will take care of themselves."

Pastor Kyle Searcy, the black pastor spearheading the effort alongside Wolf, prays that reconciliation will open the door for revival. "I really do believe that God is waiting for His body, His church, to come together a lot more, and a lot of the things that He's going to do in terms of the great harvest and in terms of massive revival in this country are going to be predicated upon us coming together as one."

Says Searcy, "I believe One Montgomery is the foundation of what God wants to do in every city of the United States."