by Wayne Bridegroom

Last Sunday was quite a day of positive twists and turns. If you follow John’s “BlogTalkRadio” show, you may recall his interview with me in regards to the 10-week class on racism that I had just finished co-facilitating at our church here in Modesto, California. Among other things, I spoke of the incredible reception and glorious time of worship we had (as part of that class) at an African American church in town. Yesterday, we announced that there would be another trip to that church in west Modesto on Sunday next month. A number of people immediately signed up to join me in order to visit Christian Love Baptist Church once again.

We also had a young Black lady preach at our church Sunday, bringing a deep and thoughtful message on building Christian community across a variety of barriers. After worship, the ladies in our congregation provided a root beer float and cookie extravaganza. I had the opportunity to ask the young lady what church she and her husband attended. “True Light,” she said. “Oh,” I replied, “Carl is the pastor. That’s the church my dear friend Charlie Crane planted years ago. We used to do quarterly Sunday evening services with four different congregations back in the ‘80s that included True Light.”

And the conversation went on and on until we got to the big story. Yes, the big story. All of a sudden I was reminded of God’s command to the Hebrews. Tell the story of the Exodus — your deliverance from slavery, and the giving of the Law to your children — tell it over and over again, generation after generation.

That four-church quarterly gathering of worship (no preaching, simply worship together — three white churches and one black) brought us close. We realized we were all on the same team. In August of ’85, the chairman of my deacon board, a plumber, was electrocuted in a freak accident. Far more people showed up for Jack’s memorial service than I expected, including many, many of our dear friends from the other three congregations. My wife, Beth, was in the kitchen, in charge of the meal that followed the celebration of Jack’s life. Oops… food. (Rather, lack thereof.) Somehow, in God’s miraculous grace, a bucket of chicken just kept refilling itself. Beth asked and asked. No one had added any chicken, unseen, to the bucket. It was months later that Beth found out that it was her friend from True Light, Marilyn, who brought that chicken. But she had just brought the full bucket into our church kitchen and set it down. We don’t know what happened. All I can tell you is that everyone was fed. At least seven people heard that story yesterday, and the result was a sense of awe. God be praised! Hallelujah! And now the Catch community is reading the story.

By the way, Beth was the only white lady in a Bible study at Marilyn’s house that ended two months ago.  Charlie and I continue to be friends.  Pastor Carl and I are frequently at events together thoroughly enjoying one another’s company.

Indeed, it’s stories, centered on God’s goodness, that break down barriers and bring believers from differing backgrounds together!