By Lisa Collins
On Pentecost Sunday, May 28, a group of Black pastors are coming together to launch an apology tour in an effort to restore the union between the local church and the local community—healing strained relationships and reintroducing their churches to neighborhood residents.
At 12:00 pm, each participating ministry will walk out of the building and into the community for 1-4 hours, offering varying services or giveaways reflective of that community’s need assessment and priorities. The Apology Tour is the brainchild of Pastor Shep Crawford of the Experience Christian Ministries, who believes that the interconnectedness between the church and community is so vital to the sustainability of both that we must restore the relationship. “The union between the two entities (the church and the community) is in crisis, especially following the global pandemic”, Crawford said. “The apology is the approach, because we haven’t been there for residents in the way it’s needed. I’m very engaged in the community and they are very angry with the church. They feel like we’re in it for the money. Sure, we’ve done well with food giveaways, but they need us for far more than that. So, we’re trying to train pastors to engage the community within a one mile radius of their church.
If we do that, L.A. will be covered.” The collective of 100 faith-based organizations moving together in the united effort includes Baptist Minister’s Fellowship President, K.W. Tulloss, Center of Hope Pastor Geremy Fisher, Greater Zion Church Family Pastor Michael Fisher and Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard, who pastors the Word of Encouragement Community Church. The move is intended to tear down any walls of division, misunderstanding and tension between the church and the community. “The goal,” says Crawford, “is for all participating ministries to meet with, talk with, and love the community surrounding their specific local churches. We hope to establish the church’s facilities as a safe and healthy space for community healing, resources, meetings, and peace advocate support.
“What we know is that in every community, there are several local houses of worship. We also know that with the shift in demographics, and the residual impact of the pandemic, there is a greater possibility of disconnect in the relationship between the community and the local ministry, house of worship, and vice versa. Our objective is simple, to revive and restore that the relationship and have both become stronger together.” The engagement period for the effort is slated to last from June 2023 through May 2024. That the tour is set to launch on Pentecost Sunday is no accident. “The united effort symbolizes The Day of Pentecost,” Crawford said. “This spirit-filled movement started in a building and eventually made its way to the streets, changing the community through the Spirit of God’s love. This approach to communal unity is not intended to be just a special moment but a lasting movement.”