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A Church inTwo Charlotte
CommunitiesDiscovering the Truth
About Race and Ministry
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When they had finished eatsaid to Simon Peter, "Simon
do you truly love me mo
these?" "Yes, Lord," he s"you know that I love y Jesus said, "Feed my lam
John 21:15, NIV
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Through the years Charlotte,North Carolina has been blessedto avoid much of the ethnic strifeand separation that has occurredin many other areas of America.
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Comparing Charlotte with thelargest cities in America showsthat there are nowhere near the
clusters of ethnic separation herethat many other cities suffer from.
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Chicago, ILest. population: 2,851,268
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Houston, TXest. population: 2,257,926
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Los Angeles, CAest. population: 3,831,868
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New York, NYest. population: 8,391,881
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Philadelphia, PAest. population: 1,547,297
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Phoenix, AZest. population: 1,593,659
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Comparing Charlotte with similarsized cities in America also shows
that there are fewer clusters of ethnic separation here that many
other cities suffer from.
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Austin, TXest. population: 786,386
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Baltimore, MDest. population: 637,418
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Boston, MAest. population: 645,169
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Columbus, OHEst. population: 769,332
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Fort Worth, TXest. population: 727,577
Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
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Charlotte, NCest. population: 709,441
Memphis, TNest. population: 676,640
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For over 30 years I was part of anamazing and anointed church on
Eastway Dr. in Charlotte, NorthCarolina.
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For many years we gathered onSaturday evenings at 7:14 pm for
a time of prayer based on
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if my people, who are caname,will humblethemselveseek my face and turn from
ways, then will I hear from h forgive their sin and will he2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV
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We prayed for revival that wouldbegin with us, and then be a
lighthouse of ministry to all inour city, very often quoting
scriptures such as
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Ask of me, and I will manations your inheritance, the
earthyour possessionPsalm 2:8, NIV
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All the nations you have willcome and worship before
they will bring glory to yoPsalm 86:, NIV
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Give thanks to the LORD, good; his love endures forredeemed of the LORD say this
he gathered from the landeast and west, from north Psalm 107:1-3, NIV
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So God answered our prayersand many nations came to our
communityalmostto our front door.
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But then some of our leadersbegan to say we cannot minister
to a community that has morethan 60% Hispanic people who
can not speak English.
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But those of us who lived, worked, shopped, and dined in
and near the Eastway Dr. &Central Ave. community knew
better.
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We knew the struggles andchallenges within the
community.
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But it was all worthwhile if wecould make a difference in the
lives of those who needed toknow Christ.
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Ministry is never about our abilityto help others in need.
It is always about what we humblyand obediently allow the Holy
Spirit to do for others through us.
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Again Jesus said,"Simon sodo you truly love me?" He
"Yes, Lord, you know that Jesus said, "Take care of m John 21:16, NIV
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So who really lives in theEastway Dr. & Central Ave.
Community?
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Beyond just states, counties, citiesand towns, the U. S. Census Bureauhas divided the country into areas
such as urban areas,congressional districts, censustracts, census blocks, and more.
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Eastway Dr. &Central Ave.
Communityest. population:
24,949
Here are maps of sixCensus Tractsimmediately
surrounding thischurch and
community.
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 12 - est. population: 5,650
White,46%
Black,19%
Hispanic,26%
Asian,7%
Other, 2%
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 16.05 - est. population: 1,776
White,26%
Black,28%
Hispanic,39%
Asian, 6% Other, 1%
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 16.06 - est. population: 4,295
White,28%
Black,25%
Hispanic,37%
Asian,8%
Other, 2%
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 17.01 - est. population: 3,749
White,28%
Black,35%
Hispanic,23%
Asian,11%
Other, 3%
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. CommunityCensus Tract 17.02 - est. population: 4,881
White,28%
Black,28%
Hispanic,40%
Asian, 2% Other, 2%
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Eastway Dr. & Central Ave.Community
est. population: 24,949
Averaging these six censustracts shows that even with astrong immigrant population,
this community is stilloverwhelmingly English
speaking...and it is reachablefor Christ!
White,32%
Black,27%
Hispanic,32%
Asian,7%
Other, 2%
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So it becomes painfully obviousthat some of our leaders have
mislead us all along!
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But even if they had been correctabout the community having more
than a 60% Hispanic, non-Englishspeaking population
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there was no spiritual justification at all for the
intimidation, scorn, hostility,
rejection, accusations, and even afew physical threats
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...that were directed toward many who understood and welcomed
our responsibility to keep
ministering to the needs of thepeople who live there.
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One Elder/Deacon suggested we were in the way of what God
wanted to do on Eastway Dr.
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Another Elder/Deaconsuggested we only needed to
minister to doctors, lawyers and
bankers so we could use theirtithes and offerings to supportother ministries for the needy.
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An Elder/Deacons wifesuggested we had to leave
because the community did not want or need us there any more.
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A Pastor suggested that he wascalled to be an
Apostle to the city,so he did not have to be
concerned about the needs of one community.
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For a brief three year period thechurch had been divided into
two congregations.
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One congregation left to start achurch in a more prosperouscommunity while the other
remained to carry on vitalministry to the needs there.
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But eventually a decision wasmade by the leaders that the twocongregations would re-join and we would all move and merge
with another church onProvidence Rd.
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But in the process we cast asidedozens, if not a few hundred, lowincome, English speaking, White,
Black, and Hispanic regularattendees
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who for more than three yearshad been denied membershiptraining and opportunity, until a
rushed and insinceremembership offer was made
near the end.
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So when they needed it the most,the people in most need of our
ministry were denied any official
voice or opinion in the directionof the church.
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In more than 30 years that I was apart of that church, we had nevergone more than 6 months-1 year
without accepting newmembersuntil then.
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The third time he said to himof John, do you love me?" P because Jesus asked him th"Do you love me?" He said,
know all things;you know th Jesus said, "Feed my sh
John 21:16, NIV
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For comparison lets see who lives in the
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community?
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Providence Rd. &Pineville-Matthews
Rd. Communityest. population:21,190
Here are maps of six
Census Tractsimmediately
surrounding thischurch and
community
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
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Providence Rd. & Pineville Matthews Rd. CommunityCensus Tract 30.16 - est. population: 4,558
White,75%
Black, 9%
Hispanic,6% Asian,
8%
Other, 2%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
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yCensus Tract 30.18 - est. population: 2,628
White,77%
Black, 5%
Hispanic,6%
Asian,9%
Other, 3%
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Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
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yCensus Tract 58.17 - est. population: 4,001
White,87%
Black,3%
Hispanic,4%
Asian, 4%Other,2%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
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yCensus Tract 58.32 - est. population: 2,810
White,84%
Black, 5%
Hispanic,4% Asian, 5% Other, 2%
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Providence Rd & Pineville
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Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
est. population: 21,190
By averaging these six censustracts, we see that there are far
fewer opportunities to meet,develop relationships, andminister to various ethnic
groups within this community.
White,81%
Black, 6%
Hispanic,5%
Asian, 6% Other, 2%
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So, as we take an honest look atboth communities it becomes
clear that the real issue was
never about which races could orcould not understand English
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but was instead more aboutsome leaders only wanting to
minister to a community that waswhite enough for them.
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As a white person, I am deeplyoffended when charges of racism
are made where it does not exist.
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But more important, as aChristian, my spirit is grieved
when genuine racism begins to
creep into the churchand weare too afraid confront it.
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In all fairness to the people of the church on Providence Rd.,
none of this was their fault.
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They welcomed us all withopen arms and open hearts.
They even have a great variety of
vibrant outreaches andministries available.
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Some of them asked our leaders why it was proper for a church tobe willing to leave a community
with so many needs and so manyopportunities to minister to
people.
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But the same leaders kept saying we could not minister to acommunity that has more than
60% Hispanic people who cannot speak English.
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There was nothing at all wrong with moving and joining with theother church. It was and still is a
good thing to do.
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The problem was in abandoninga vital mission field based onfalse premises, and in the
process changing the EastwayDr. church campus
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into an income stream byleasing the property to, andmaking money off of people
some of our leaders no longer wished to minister to.
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Before moving and merging withthe Providence Rd. church, wehad been coached by our
leaders, and warned ahead of time
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not to make trouble bybringing up any questions ordisagreements we had beenhaving. We were told that we
must all appear to behappy.
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had been sharing aprophecy that the
happy people were coming.
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How can God bless His peoplethe way He wants when ourministries are tarnished by
untruth, intimidation, andmanipulation?
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How can we violate basicspiritual truths to follow a new vision or path in ministry without
asking ourselves Who is really leading us?
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If something violates Gods wordover and over
DO NOT DO IT!
When the Son of Man com
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When the Son of Man com glory, and all the angels wisit on his throne in heavenlynations will be gathered bef
will separate the people one a shepherd separates the sh goats
Matthew 25:31-32, NIV
He will put the sheep on h
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He will put the sheep on h
the goats on his left. Then thsay to those on his right, 'Coare blessed by my Father;
inheritance, the kingdom presince the creation of the wMatthew 25:33-34, NIV
For I was hungry and yo
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For I was hungry and yosomething to eat, I was thir gave me something to dri
stranger and you invited me
clothes and you clothed me, you looked after me, I was you came to visit me.
Matthew 25:35-36, NIV
Then the righteous will a
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Then the righteous will a'Lord, when did we see you
feed you, or thirsty and giveto drink?When did we see y
and invite you in, or needinclothe you?When did we see prison and go to visit yo
Matthew 25:37-39, NIV
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The King will reply,'I tell you the truth, whateveone of the least of these bro
you did for me.Matthew 25:40, NIV
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Then he will say to those'Depart from me, you who athe eternal fire prepared for
his angelsMatthew 25:41, NIV
For I was hungry and yo
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For I was hungry and yo
nothing to eat, I was thirsty me nothing to drink,I was a strange you did not invite me in, I nand you did not clothe me, I prison and you did not look
Matthew 25:42-43, NIV
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...They also will answer, 'Lowe see you hungry or thirstyor needing clothes or sick o
did not help you?Matthew 25:44, NIV
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He will reply, 'I tell you twhatever you did not do for
of these, you did not do foMatthew 25:45, NIV
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Then they will go away t punishment, but the righteo
life.Matthew 25:46, NIV
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Demographic Data: 2010 Census Redistricting Summary, U.S. Census Bureau2005-9 AmericanCommunity Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
American Fact Finder, U.S. Census Bureau 2009 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division Biggest US Cities By Population,http://www.biggestuscities.com
The New York Times, Mapping America: Every City, Every Block,http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer
Photo: Charlotte, North Carolina skyline in January of 2011
Scripture References: THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973,1978, 1984 by Biblica.
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