Sitting in the bible belt, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not impressed with the religious community in Charlotte. Rarely do you see many churches in the city help people. There are far too many headlines about greedy preachers bilking the government and their congregations.
But Sunday, a local church got something right. First Baptist Church headed to Timber Ridge Apartments, a place that has seen it’s share of violence over the last two years, including the recent death of a pregnant woman.
Most of Charlotte remembers the east Charlotte complex as the place where CMPD officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark were gunned down in 2007. After the killings of the officers, First Baptist Church, which is located in Uptown, went to the complex to assist the residents. Churches in that neighborhood didn’t do much of anything. And that’s sad.
Sad because I’m sure some of those residents head to those churches and faithful place money in the collection plate.
According to TV and The Charlotte Observer:
First Baptist, which holds weekly Bible study groups at the complex, held similar services after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were shot to death there in May 2007. “We felt a real burden to reach out to this community,” said Pastor Mark Harris. “If there’s ever a message of anti-violence, it’s the message of Christ and the word of God.”
So is God missing from the majority of churches around the QC? If churches can’t step outside of their walls and help God’s children, how can they expect people to come inside and freely give their money? It had to be comforting for the family of the woman killed in a domestic violence dispute to see that people of God do care and want to comfort them in their pain.
Now, if other churches could do something in the community other than spew hate, the bible belt might be all right.
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 4, 2009.
For once Frank Griffin I was going to agree with you but then you had to go and ruin it with republicans v democrats crap. This has nothing to do with republicans v democrats Griffin (there is a reason why church and state are supposed to be separated). People belonging to both parties go to church and there are plenty of people in both parties that do not.
I do believe that there are plenty of churches that reach out to people and have different ministries that impact the community. Most likely, it is not advertised. The whole purpose of the Christian church is outreach and if a church is not doing some kind of outreach and charity then they might want to read the teachings of Jesus just a little bit closer.
Ms. Hodges’ blog article is seriously mistaken about the number of churches who regularly help others, and shows a serious lack of journalism skills. Charlotte churches are the backbone of relief efforts in Charlotte, offering a variety of programs and more outreach efforts than I would have time to list here. Just a little genuine journalistic digging would have benefited Hodges, and she could have written something other than this off-the-top-of-her-head blast of venom that was based on ignorance of the city she’s supposed to be covering. Surely CL can do better.
TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE
By: Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney
As a Cherokee Native American Activist and a former member of the Richmond California Violence Prevention Movement, I have seen close to 515 homicides in the City of Richmond from 2001 to the present.
The declaration of a ‘war on violence’ by the Richmond city government was not the panacea, instead it failed miserably.
I have often stated in town hall meetings and on television, the best way to win the ‘war on violence’ in Richmond is to ‘TEACH THE VALUES OF PEACE’.
In the killing fields of Richmond, most of the victims of homicides are youth or young adults. Teaching the values of peace begins with our youth and young adults. From a Native perspective, winning the war on violence begins in the home with a strong, spiritual belief and value system.
We believe that Creator made all generations, past, present and those of the future, holy people. This is what our Elders teach us from the time we are born.
Our families and Elders teach our young people that they must tear away the images and stereotypes that mainstream society has placed upon them as Native peoples.
Violence and killing is not traditional in Native culture, it is a learned behavior from mainstream society.
We teach our youths not to attack, punish or beat themselves up for crimes that they have never committed in regards to racism. Our Elders and families teach our young people to have good self-esteem, self-worth and self-value, for as the original holy people this was Creators plan.
Native people know that it is both family and community responsibility to teach the values of peace to our young people.
We teach our young people honesty and accountability concerning violence. It begins with accepting responsibility for self and acknowledging any past use of violence.
Admitting any wrongdoing, communicating openly and truthfully to renounce the use of violence in the future places our youth on the right path. We place a heavy emphasis that all life is sacred.
The final lesson in teaching the values of peace is quite simple. It is helping young people understand their relationship to others and all things in Creation.
Be responsible for your role, act with compassion and respect, and remember ALL LIFE IS SACRED. Native culture is prevention!
Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney