Dylann Roof murdered Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lance, Rev. Daniel Simmons, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor and Susie Jackson while they were gathered for a Wednesday night prayer meeting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Most people no longer gather for midweek prayer meetings. Life is busy and many have given up on the idea of setting aside a day of the week dedicated to prayer. But some churches have resisted that trend and continue the practice of gathering on a weekly basis to pray.
Last Wednesday, At Emanuel A.M.E. Church, faithful followers of Jesus gathered to earnestly seek the face of God. They gathered to thank God for his goodness, to give him adoration and praise. They gathered to bring the needs of their community before God. Like countless Wednesdays before, they prayed for God to bless those entrusted to their care, they prayed for the hand of God to intervene in the problems of the world, they prayed for people to be healed, delivered, set free and transformed by the gospel. They prayed whatever God placed on their hearts. While the world continued on with the daily challenges of the week, these faithful followers of Christ took time to give God their full attention through prayer.
Moments later, these 9 prayer warriors were dead; their last hour spent praising God, thanking God, interceding for their community, lifting up the needs of the world to their savior. While they prayed, a young man sat in their midst and plotted their death. Unwilling to enter into their prayers, he chose to view those in the room as enemies. Fueled by racial hatred, he tried to destroy what he despised. With an instrument of death in his hand and the fruit of wickedness in his heart, he killed 9 people who would have done everything in their power to genuinely help and love him. Instead of choosing life, he chose death and the meaningless fruit of death. Ultimately, he will pay the appropriate consequence for such a wicked choice.
As I think about these things and these 9 prayer warriors who were murdered, I am reminded of how little I know and how little I understand. I am reminded that although I am a pastor, I have no real authority to speak meaning to this issue. As a white man, I will simply never understand how this experience affects my black brothers and sisters. Although as a pastor I am aware of the importance of the church, I really don’t have the ability to comprehend the effect this violence has on the ministers, leaders and congregations of predominantly black churches.
Places like Emanuel A.M.E. Church have been more than houses of worship; they have been beacons of light in a depraved nation. They have been temples of truth in the midst of lies and sanctuaries of hope in the midst of despair. The historic black churches of our nation have facilitated mighty efforts to tear down the walls of oppression; they have mobilized mighty leaders who have tenaciously contended for truth, love and genuine justice. Whenever you look into the history of an historic black church, you find people with a vision that is bigger than their own individual needs. You find leaders willing to stand against injustice at the cost of their own well being. You find grace, love, truth, forgiveness and the power of God.
I don’t know what to do….I have opinions, but they are just opinions. I do not know what it is like to live as a black person in America. I would be a fool to do anything but to carefully listen and try my best to partner with any solutions that come from genuine partnerships with the black community. Regardless, I want others to know that today I am mourning with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is my goal to honor these prayer warriors who were murdered by a racially motivated act of terror. I will honor them by praying and worshiping God with a sincerity worthy of their faith. I will honor them by listening to their families and community as they try to find a way forward. I will honor them by valuing the leadership of our historic black churches.
To every pastor who leads a predominately black congregation or an historic black church, I want to thank you for your willingness to serve God and contend for truth in the midst of so much societal wickedness and oppression. Thank you for your willingness to follow the calling of ministry. Your faith and leadership inspires me and challenges me to be a better pastor. Much love and genuine prayers, Pastor Doug Bursch.
Doug blogs at www.fairlyspiritual.org
Doug tweets @fairlyspiritual
Douglas Bursch is the author of Posting Peace: Why Social Media Divides Us and What We Can Do About It. He also hosts The Fairly Spiritual Show podcast.