Made By History: The Role Of The Church In The African-American Community

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- There’s always been a faith based bond throughout the African-American community and big reason for that is due to the church.

It’s place where many find peace and empowerment.

From small rural bodies of believers to mega congregations, for African-Americans, church continues to be rock of the community.

However it’s emergence didn’t happen overnight.

In fact it goes back in time, way back to when black men and women were slaves.

“The slave owners did allow them to go to church,” said Dr. James Boyd, pastor of Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church. “We had the kind of songs that the whites didn’t understand which delivered us. Songs like ‘Over my head I hear music in the air there must be a God somewhere.’ They didn’t know those were songs of delivery.”

“We were not allowed in worship spaces by other people of other races, and so look at what God did for us,” said Pastor Tony Montgomery, the pastor of the oldest organized church in Columbus, Missionary Union Baptist Church. “God allowed us to create our own worship spaces, our own style of worship.”

The church house is a place where many people come to strengthen their faith and also learn about the teachings of the Bible.

“Hope. Hope is here,” Pastor Montgomery expressed.

“People go through so much frustration,” said Dr. Boyd. “Take for instance the frustration that the shut down caused. People flooded the church to get encouragement. How am I going to make it? How am I going to make it through the struggle? They can’t make it on their own and so the church gives them encouragement, it builds their faith, and it creates a sense of importance.”

Dr. Boyd has been preaching in the church for more than 50 years, and said he’s seen first hand the role the church has played when it comes to uplifting and bringing the African-American community together.

“Nobody knows the black community like the black pastor,” said Boyd. “It’s a relationship.”

“If a movement is going to start, it has been in the church,” said Pastor Montgomery. “The church has been the power base for our community. If there needs to be something done, no matter whether that’s educational, because most of our churches were also our schools back in the day.”

The black church was also instrumental during the civil rights movement.

It was at the church where a number of activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jessie Jackson would deliver speeches addressing the issues going on throughout the community, and discuss ways to prevail and overcome those circumstances.

“The church begins for us to gather as a people,” said Pastor Montgomery. “Wounded, and enslaved, but becomes a place where we start to organize and work towards our freedom.”

Over the years the church has and will continue to evolve.

However, through it all, Pastor Boyd and Montgomery both believe the church will always remain staple and a safe haven for African-Americans.

“I just think that it’s still the best thing going,” said Pastor Montgomery.

” The church is built up on the Bible,” Dr. Boyd explained. “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not demolish the church, and that’s what we believe in, and that’s what we are built on. I don’t think the church will ever go out of existence.”

We’ll be celebrating black history month all throughout February.

Next week, we’ll highlight the highs and lows of serving as an African-American in the military.