The Forty-Day Journey of Promise
Black History Month: Day of Reflection
Note: Welcome to the final day of The Journey, our forty-day blog series from MLK Day through the end of Black History Month. We’ve learned life lessons from the legacy of African American Christianity. I’ve based our series on material from my book Beyond the Suffering. To learn more about Beyond the Suffering, including downloading a free chapter, click here.
My Reflections: A Gift To and a Gift From
As I promised at the outset, on our 41st day, we pause to reflect. We pause to celebrate the legacy of African American Christianity and to celebrate the heroes and heroines of Black Church history.
In the introduction to Beyond the Suffering, we noted that Black Church history is a gift to African Americans and a gift from African Americans.
As a gift to, it honors the tremendous contributions made by African American believers—contributions frequently neglected by most historians.
As a gift from, it equips and empowers all people of all races as we learn life lessons from female and male heroes of Black Church history.
It is my prayer that the past forty days have served a similar purpose: that my longest-ever blog series has been a gift to and a gift from African Americans.
It never ceases to amaze me that so few people are aware of these amazing Christians and their remarkable life stories. I hope their treasure will now remain unburied.
Biblical Reflections: From the Past Into the Future
We complete our journey with two biblical reflections.
*Reflection # 1: Hebrews 11:1-12:3
The great past cloud of witnesses, though dead, their lives yet speak. I’m thankful that our legacy outlives us.
I’m thankful for the African American legacy. Their legacy encourages and empowers us to live beyond the suffering and to leave a loving legacy for future generations.
*Reflection # 2: Revelation 7:9
When the Apostle John peers into the future, he does not see a homogenized eternity. Instead, he sees a multi-cultural future throng gathered together for ever and ever in joint worship of the King of Kings.
I’m thankful that diversity will outlive the old heaven and the old earth. I’m thankful that in the new heaven and the new earth our differences will be celebrated. I want to live today in light of that future intercultural day.
Your Reflections: Join the Conversation (Post a Comment for a Chance to Receive a Copy of Beyond the Suffering)
*Reflecting on everything you’ve read during these forty days of Black History Month, what topics and themes stand out to you? Why? What will you do with these concepts?
*How can we keep the gift going and growing?
*How can we expand intercultural ministry and multicultural relationships?
One of the things that stood out to me during this journey, and there were many, was the ability of the African Americans to show grace under pressure. The ways in which they praised & prayed despite severe suffering is such a testimony of the sufficiency of Christ.
Life is bad but God is good resonated so clearly and repeatedly.
If legacies truly live on, and I believe they do, they have to mean enough to those who hear the stories to share them with others.
Bob, you’ve done more than your part by unearthing these testimonies which indeed are a treasure. Now it’s our turn. We need to share them…not just during one month each year but as often as possibly in a variety of settings.
Thank you again for all that you’ve brought to light on this series. I’m sad to see it officially end. However the stories I’ve read & will continue to explore in your book will live on as I share them in my sphere of influence.
I can’t wait to get to heaven & see our differences celebrated. In the meantime God bless you for celebrating them on earth!