Exploring the Journey of Black Evangelicals: Faith, Identity, and Community
Growing up in a traditional Black Baptist church, I was immersed in a rich tapestry of faith from an early age. My spiritual journey began when I accepted Christ at the tender age of 11. Fast forward to my college years in the 1980s, I found myself yearning for deeper biblical engagement and community. It was during a campus ministry fair that I stumbled upon a group called "The Navigators," which would open my eyes to the broader evangelical movement.
Initially, I had no clue I was stepping into a world that would shape my understanding of Christianity and community. There were no flashy banners proclaiming, “Welcome to Evangelicalism!” Instead, I was introduced to a vibrant network of believers committed to studying the Bible and living out its teachings. I learned about influential figures like Charles Stanley and Chuck Swindoll, and organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as Cru. This fellowship nurtured my faith and provided a foundation for my spiritual growth.
One of the most impactful experiences of my life was attending a Navigators summer program in Memphis. The diversity of the group was refreshing and eye-opening, broadening my understanding of faith in a multicultural context. It was here that I began to grapple with the intersection of race and faith, a theme that would continue to emerge throughout my journey.
After college, I moved to Memphis to work alongside a Navigator staff member. During this time, I was exposed to various Christian radio programs that discussed not only biblical teachings but also the pressing issues of our time, including politics and culture. However, I found myself increasingly frustrated by the lack of discourse surrounding race within the evangelical community. Why were discussions about racism often limited to individual acts of prejudice, while systemic issues remained largely unaddressed?
This question lingered in my mind as I pursued graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I quickly noticed the absence of Black students and began to wonder about the broader implications of this lack of representation. My inquiries led me to engage with various Black evangelical leaders, and I soon realized that my experiences were not unique; many others had navigated similar paths filled with both hope and frustration.
In 1993, while attending a conference on Black evangelicals at Geneva College, I encountered leaders who had been part of this movement long before my time. Their stories revealed a history of struggle and resilience, but also a deep-seated cynicism about the evangelical establishment. This experience prompted me to reflect on my own hopes and the reality of what I had witnessed within the evangelical community regarding race.
As I began my teaching career at Wheaton College, I grappled with my identity as a Black theologian in a predominantly white institution. Initially, I sought to avoid discussions of race, fearing it would define my work in a narrow way. However, I soon recognized the importance of addressing these issues in my scholarship and teaching. I realized that my students, many of whom had never encountered a nonwhite theology professor, needed to engage with the realities of race and faith.
Over the years, I have observed both progress and setbacks within the evangelical movement. On one hand, more white evangelicals are becoming aware of and willing to engage with issues of race and justice. On the other hand, there seems to be a growing resistance to discussing these matters, with some advocating for a colorblind approach to unity.
Today, many in the evangelical community grapple with the perception that it has become more of a sociopolitical movement than a biblically grounded one. This has led some individuals to distance themselves from the label of evangelicalism, feeling it no longer represents a commitment to the teachings of Christ.
In light of these challenges, I recently collaborated on a documentary titled Black + Evangelical alongside Ed Gilbreath and Christianity Today’s Big Tent Initiative. This project aims to highlight the experiences of Black evangelicals, showcasing that our stories are not isolated but part of a larger narrative of faithfulness and resilience. By sharing these narratives, we can learn from those who have walked this path before us and find encouragement in our own journeys.
While it is easy to focus on the challenges we face, it is equally important to celebrate the faithfulness of those who have come before us. Their stories remind us that being a part of the evangelical community can indeed mean being Good News people, committed to living out the teachings of Christ in a diverse and complex world. As we continue to engage with these issues, may we strive for a more inclusive and compassionate evangelical movement that reflects the heart of the Gospel.