Reflecting on the Tulsa Race Massacre

As a former history teacher, I Recognizing neighborhood of Tulsa and kill an often quote George the estimated 300 people. Santayana’s admonition Centennial It was later determined the event that, “those who cannot remember of the 1921 was fabricated, in other words, “a the past are condemned to repeat Tulsa Race big lie.” Mr. Rowland was later vinit.” But one cannot remember that Massacre dicated, but the damage to the which one does not know.That is Tulsa community and the loss of the case for too many people regarding the life could not be undone. Tulsa Race Massacre. And for good reason. Today, we are experiencing a modern The more interactions I have with folks day “big lie” tearing at in Washington and around the country, the fabric of this counthe more appreciative I am of Ernestine try. Hopefully we Walker, Marybelle Howe, William Howell, have learned lessons Rosa Harris and many other teachers, and from Tulsa that will some of the other students they taught, help maintain the and with whom I studied and debated on greatness of our fragthe campus of that little HBCU— South ile democracy. Carolina State. Greenwood was I was blessed with integral knowledge of Tulsa, Rosewood (Florida), Hamburg known at the time as “Black Wall Street” Con. Jim Clyburn (South Carolina) and many other historic — due to its status as one of the most prosand horrific — events that were “white- perous African American communities in washed” by newspapers and left out of his- the country. The devastation wrought by tory books. I still remember the one-on-one the mob, many of who’d been deputized session I had with Ernestine Walker dis- and armed by local officials, took the lives cussing Tulsa native John Hope Franklin’s and livelihoods of many in the Greenwood outstanding book “From Slavery to community. It caused irreparable damage Freedom” as a blessed experience. And it to hundreds of Black families, who never was a blessing to have had a one-on-one received justice for their losses. with John Hope himself when he chaired Many survivors of the massacre whose the “race committee” for President Bill only proof of their bank accounts were Clinton. burned up with their other possessions, I was also blessed by Tulsa native Alfre never got their money and were never Woodard, who wrote the foreword to my compensated for their losses. memoir, “Blessed Experiences.” This horrific incident was erased from The Tulsa Race Massacre is a prime collective memory when the Tulsa Tribune example of inflaming issues and ignoring destroyed all original copies of the May 31, history. They both significantly lead to the 1921 edition of the newspaper and inability and failure to learn the real les- removed it from any archival copies. sons that true history can teach us. It was Scholars later discovered that police and the inflammatory reporting of the chance state militia archives about the riot were encounter of a young Black man, Dick missing as well. We cannot overcome the Rowland; and a young white elevator oper- issues of race that have troubled our ator, Sarah Page, that ignited one of the nation since its inception by ignoring the deadliest episodes of racial violence in our failings of our past. nation’s history. I often quote Alexis De Tocqueville’s On May 31st, 1921, the Tulsa Tribune notion that America’s greatness lies not in newspaper printed the headline; “Nab being more enlightened than any other Negro for Attacking Girl in Elevator,” and nation, but rather because it has always the same edition included a report of a been able to repair its faults. To repair our white mob’s plan to lynch Rowland. The faults, our country must acknowledge past newspaper account was based on false mistakes and work to ensure we don’t claims that Mr. Rowland sexually assault- repeat them. ed Page, a white woman; and is cited as I believe this anniversary gives us the the spark that incited a mob to burn and opportunity to remember this dark past loot 35 blocks in the Black Greenwood and recommit ourselves to finding ways to Jim Clyburn continued to page 24

Headlines From Africa

As the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre was observed from May 31 to June 1, I spent part of Memorial Day watching the PBS Painful History Lessons from the Tulsa Race Massacre descendants are presently fighting for reparations and justice. One part of the documentary that especially resonated with me was how the Vernon A.M.E. Church was, documentary: "Tulsa: The Fire and the and still is, a solid foundation of Tulsa's Forgotten." African American community. Many fled to Many younger adults who are fans of the building's basement while Greenwood the popular HBO horror drama "Lovecraft was being burned. Country" were introduced to this grim his- The White mob eventually set Vernon tory of the mass A.M.E. on fire, but the basement and the slaughter in Tulsa's Black families in it miraculously survived. Greenwood district They still showed up for service the next while watching the Sunday morning after their town was nothseason one episode ing but rubble. I can only imagine that they "Rewind 1921." had Job-like determination to still worship The fact that young God with a "though you slay me, yet will I people gained knowl- trust you" mentality after losing everyedge about the Tulsa thing. Learning about what they lost is Jessica Johnson killings through pop particularly painful because generational culture reminded me of how I learned wealth was also viciously destroyed. about the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Greenwood was famously dubbed "Black Florida by viewing the film bearing its Wall Street" by W.E.B. DuBois, and businame in 1997. ness was literally booming there. Both the Rosewood and Tulsa Oklahoma Policy Institute records show Greenwood tragedies were instigated by a that Greenwood's business district had two false accusation of a Black man sexually schools named for Paul Laurence Dunbar assaulting a White woman. In the and Booker T. Washington respectively, a Greenwood case, it was a young Black bank, a public library and two newspapers teenager, and the Rosewood claim was a and movie theaters. fabrication. The end was horrifically the Greenwood survivors were maliciously same, with both towns burned as Black denied compensation for the loss of their people were mercilessly slain by White homes and businesses as a grand jury of all mobs. Rosewood and the Greenwood town- White men blamed them for the violence. ship were also prosperous Black settle- The "Fire and the Forgotten" points out ments that thrived economically despite the harsh repercussions of that decision racial oppression and segregation. remain evident today. Many Blacks who I was a young Ohio State graduate stu- live in North Tulsa, –one of the country's dent when I watched "Rosewood," and I most segregated areas–are struggling to had the same question then that many overcome social disparities of poverty, have today learning about the Tulsa car- crime and high unemployment. nage: Why were these events omitted from In reflecting on Greenwood and American history books? Rosewood, it's difficult to fathom how peo Many decades later, investigative repor- ple could let the sin of racism infiltrate and ting would bring the horrific truth of these darken their hearts to commit such muratrocities to the forefront of the nation's derous acts. Yet, I believe those courageous conscience. Writing for the St. Petersburg Vernon A.M.E. souls who went to church Times in the early 1980s, Gary Moore pub- praising God after the massacre would tell lished several articles on Rosewood, and us not to lose faith. The fires destroyed more recently, the work of Washington their property and possessions but not Post reporter DeNeen L. Brown has their spirit. And we must hold on to this revived the buried stories of Tulsa. divine spirit of resiliency to ensure a better Brown is featured in "Tulsa: The Fire future. and the Forgotten," and her passionate sto- Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer at rytelling provides viewers with an intimate Ohio State University. Email her at view of what happened to Black smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: Greenwood residents and how their @JjSmojc A look at current news from the continent of Africa

Burkina Fasa: Internal conflict between armed groups and security forces have triggered displacements with civilians increasingly becoming the targets of violence amidst an increase in food insecurity. Burundi: Entire villages west of the city of Bujumbura were inundated by water, after days of torrential rains caused water bodies to burst their banks and led to the displacement of families—particularly in poor, low-lying neighborhoods of Bujumbura lacking proper drainage systems — abandoning their homes in search of dry ground. Congo: At press, 40 were still missing and more than 20,000 people left homeless in the wake of a volcanic eruption in eastern Congo that killed dozens and sparked strong earthquakes in the nearby city of Goma. The ash cloud triggered by the eruption shut down airports in Goma and Bukavu and is feared to cause respiratory diseases. Eritrea/Ethiopia: Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel is denying reports that Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers were reported to have forcibly detained more than 500 young men and women from camps for displaced people in the northern region of Tigray. Ethiopian officials say Tigrayan rebels have killed 22 officials of the war-hit Tigray region’s interim administration Kenya: Cases of gender-based violence nearly quintupled during the COVID-19 pandemic according to Kenya’s Department of Gender, which note that due to the stigma and fear of recording gender violence, the numbers may actually be a great deal higher. Mali: Mali's interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane resigned two days after being arrested by the military, deepening a political crisis and potentially setting up a standoff with international powers. Mozambique: According to a BBC report, People desperate to flee a town in northern Mozambique following a jihadist attack have had to pay bribes to leave after security forces set up roadblocks, trapping thousands. There are also growing fears of a humanitarian emergency in the area where aid agencies have not been given access. Senegal: The purchase of a new presidential plane is being decried as an unnecessary and irrelevant expense, leading to calls for accountability. Sierra Leone: Amnesty International has warned in a new report that survivors of traumatic experiences and others in need of support in Sierra Leone are being failed by the severe lack of available mental health services years after the country’s brutal civil war and devastating Ebola epidemic. South Africa: Prosecutors allege that former President Jacob Zuma received more than 700 bribes over the decade before he was president including cash payments from a French arms company on the opening day of Zuma’s corruption trial. Tanzania: Two months after the death of former president John Magafuli—who denied the seriousness of

COVID and urged citizens to pray it away before himself succumbing to the deadly virus—Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan has issued strict recommendations to address the pandemic’s toll on the nation. Uganda: After widespread reports of election irregularities and bloody violence, Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his sixth term as president, as police surrounded the home of Bobi Wine, his main opposition rival who decried the inauguration as a “sham”.

Goldman Sachs Launches $10 Billion Initiative to Impact One Million Black Women by 2030 The California Boom Is Now A Bust For Blacks

In partnership with Black-women-led organizations, financial institutions and other partners, Goldman Sachs has committed $10 billion in direct investment capital and $100 million in philanthropic capital over the next decade to address the dual disproportionate gender and racial biases Black women have faced for generations, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

The initiative, One Million Black Women, is named for and guided by the goal of impacting the lives of at least one million Black women by 2030 with a power-packed advisory council of Black leaders including Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer, former President Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Issa Rae and Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League.

“This initiative is transformational,” said Melanie Campbell, Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable and President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, a partner with Goldman Sachs on the program. “What Goldman Sachs is doing has the potential to materially impact the lives of Black women, their families and communities across the country.”

“Our newly published research, Black Womenomics, suggests that no investment could have a bigger impact than unlocking the economic potential of Black women,” said David M. Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “In the face of significant disparities, they’ve shown admirable resilience, especially as they’re starting businesses faster than anyone else in the U.S. Building on our 20-year history of investing in female entrepreneurs and underserved communities we are now proud to partner with Black female-led organizations and an outstanding advisory council to invest in opportunities to unlock their economic and leadership potential.”

Black Womenomics estimates that reducing the earnings gap for Black women has the potential to create 1.2 to 1.7 million U.S. jobs, and increase the annual GDP by $300 to 450 billion in current U.S. dollars. The research has also informed the areas in which the firm’s initial investments will be made: housing, healthcare, access to capital, education, job creation and workforce advancement, digital connectivity and financial health.

“The more we tell the stories, the more we measure the results so that others can learn from it, and to hold up those best practices for everyone to see, I think the possibilities for One Million Black Women are infinite,” said Valerie Jarrett.

Among the first round of eleven grantees was Birth Center Equity (supporting Black women led community birth centers in providing access to new resources); BlocPower WiFi (expanding broadband services across the Bronx and Upper Manhattan with a focus on lowincome neighborhoods); Buy From A Black Woman (website development, social media education content, technical assistance and grants to small Black-women owned businesses) and the Sadie Collective (funding the creation of high school economic clubs for young Black girls to participate in the annual Federal Reserve Challenge).

“As we make these investments and grants, along with that comes agency,” said Condoleezza Rice. “Our partners will have responsibility. None of this will come as a surprise to Black women who have been [sacrificing and working hard] for a couple of centuries now.”

Morehouse School of Medicine President Valerie Montgomery Rice MD, a member of the One Million Black Women Advisory Council spoke about the impact of the grant sharing her plans, “My goal for the Center for Maternal Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine is to create a model that can be used across the nation, and globally to empower others to advocate and work on behalf of women. Currently, maternity mortality rates are unacceptable; women deserve to live through the experience [of childbirth] and hold their baby and go home.”

“In addition to access to capital, we have to provide Black women with a safe space to learn and grow. This is why I am so proud to be a member of the Advisory Council, said Ayesha Curry, author, TV personality and publisher of Sweet July Magazine. Photo Credit: Rebrand Cities from Pexels T he California boom appears to be over as the state–for the first time in history–lost a congressional seat due to the fact that its growth rate has slowed. Credit exorbitant housing costs as the key factor in the decline given that the median price for a home in L.A. County is in the neighborhood of $750,000. Don’t even think about San Francisco, it’s $1.4 million and ranks as the most expensive city (with a population of over 200,000) for housing in the nation.

Four other California cities–San Jose, Fremont, Los Angeles and San Diego made the top ten list. This year, San Diego’s median home price hit $680,000. Up 17 percent, they represent the second fastest home prices in the nation, behind Phoenix. A little closer to home, a median home in Orange County is going for $835,000, and Palm Springs is the latest hotspot for real estate as home sales were up 27 percent with a median price of $450,000 to 502,000. The Inland Empire remains the least expensive option, but even those prices have risen 17.2% in the last year to an average of $475,050. That’s up 12 percent.

The average home in a primarily Black neighborhood nationwide is worth $46,000 less than a comparable home in a primarily white neighborhood, according to research outlined in a new report from Redfin the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Redfin analyzed value estimates for more than 7 million homes that were listed and sold from 2013 through February 2021, accounting for the fundamental factors that contribute to a home's value, such as size, condition, neighborhood amenities and schools. The $46,000 gap exists after accounting for those fundamental factors.

The fact that homes in Black neighborhoods are worth less is one reason for the racial wealth gap in the U.S., as home equity is a major way to build wealth. Just over 44% of Black Americans own the home they live in, versus 74.5% of white Americans. The Black families who do own their homes have less equity than other races, with median home equity of $89,000 in January 2021 v e r s u s $113,000 for white fami. lies..

Biz News Briefs

50 Cent to Set Underperforming Kids on Path to Entrepreneurship

“The kids that won’t listen to nobody, will listen to me. We come out of the same kinda confusion,” “This program is just gonna show them how to win,” said 50 Cent of his GStar program aimed at helping students from three Houston high schools who are struggling academically.

Launched last month, the program will offer paid internships to the students who will have access to a G Unity Business Lab as well as to the successful rap

mogul and business leaders.

The rappers’ G Unity Foundation donated $300,000 to the program that is in partnership with Houston ISD and will also offer MBA-level courses taking the students through the process of creating a concept/product, brand marketing, creating a business plan and running a company. “Over the past 20 years, I’ve been focused on academic enrichment projects and making donations to already exciting organizations that can execute it,” 50 Cent said. “Following COVID, providing the opportunities 9 and tools for people to make their path easier in entrepreneurship, it’s exciting to be a part of that. And a great way to start things in Houston. It’s three schools now, but it’s going to be a lot more.”

USDA To Forgive $4 Billion in Debt to Minority Farmers

As part of the latest COVID-19 relief package, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin handing out $4 billion in payments to an estimated 16,000 Black farmers beginning as early as next June to counter decades of loan discrimination by the USDA. Some say the provision –introduced by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock– would benefit Black farmers in a way no legislation has since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition to debt relief, the funds would provide other forms of assistance in acquiring land including grants, training and education. Due to systemic racism, Black farmers have lost more than 12 million acres of farmland over the past century. Last month, the Farm Service Agency published the first notice of funding availability for loan payments for eligible borrowers who have qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan. “The Plan has made it possible for USDA to deliver historic debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers beginning in June,” Vilsack says. “USDA is recommitting itself to gaining the trust and confidence of America’s farmers and ranchers using a new set of tools provided in the American Rescue Plan.” The Plan authorizes funding and authorization for the FSA to pay up to 120 percent of direct and guaranteed loan with outstanding balances as of January first of 2021. He says the tools are designed to increase opportunity, advance equity, and address systemic discrimination in USDA programs.

Ludacris Signs Global Licensing Pact With Mattel

Actor/rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has signed a multi-year global licensing pact to manufacture a line of toys inspired by the animated series he developed for his daughter, Karma’s World. As part of the new deal, Mattel will develop dolls and doll accessories, styling heads and other items tied to the adventures of Karma Grant, a 10-year-old aspiring musician and rapper initially inspired by Bridges’ oldest daughter. The line will be infused with hip-hop music while featuring streetwear fashion and original choreography. “Karma’s World is an important legacy that I want to leave for my daughters,” says Bridges. “The world needs more positive portrayals of Black girls in pop culture. Mattel has really gotten behind Karma’s messages of empowerment, self-expression, and using your voice to change the world, and I’m so excited for the impressive line they are developing to be available to kids everywhere.” Overall, Karma’s World is described as “a coming of age story about a young Black girl finding her voice and using it to change her world.” Targeting kids ages 6-9 with themes of selfexpression, identity, leadership, creativity, and the importance of community, Karma’s World is set to make its retail debut in the fall of 2022.

Aweek before their May 23 serv- times have up to three services or as many as five service–marking Greater Zion ices on a Sunday–even smaller churches might have Church Family’s first return to two services, now it’s like one service–shortened to 60in-person worship in more than 70 minutes.” a year–Pastor Michael J.T. From shorter and less frequent in person worship Fisher released 150 tickets (rep- services to less live music, more innovative ways of resenting the church’s newly gathering and accelerated social media platforms, configured, socially distanced going to church post pandemic will hardly be business seating plan) on Eventbrite. as usual. Evening services are going to be more scarce, Within an hour, 150 tickets had mid-week services–for the most part– will be online been snapped up and 30 and people will be able to join a church electronically requests for additional tickets without walking down the aisles. were placed in a waiting queue and eventually accom- “A third of our churches are back,” said Rev. E. modated. Wayne Gaddis, senior pastor of the Greater St. “I was good with that,” said Fisher. “But you’re Augustine Missionary Baptist Church and president of talking to someone who normally saw 1200 people on a the 225-church strong California Missionary Baptist

Sunday morning” State Convention, Inc. “The rest will be back between And while 180 was a far cry from the 1000-plus now and our annual session in October. members Greater Zion averaged in the four Sunday “We have a lot of churches with quite a few seniors services he regularly managed before the pandemic, it who are not ready to come back. They want to see if confirmed for Fisher that his members were ready to there is going to be another spike.” get back to church. To that end when Gaddis does open his church in All across the city, county, state and nation, church- July, he will place speakers in the parking lot for those es are gearing up for a return to physical worship serv- seniors who prefer to listen to services from inside ices after being shuttered in March of 2020 by a pan- their parked cars feet away from the sanctuary. demic that killed nearly 600,000 people in the United “I don’t believe it will ever be the same,” Gaddis

States, including a host of both local and well-known continues. “We are going to cut the fat. It’s going to be faith leaders while becoming the third leading cause of a more streamline presentation with our services being death. cut anywhere from 30 -45 minutes every Sunday. Some churches have already re-opened their doors. People will see that a lot that we did before was unnec-

Most are gearing up for a return sometime this sum- essary–the announcements, presentations. Even with mer. Many like megachurch pastor, Bishop T.D. Jakes the offering, you can place it on your way in and on are re-opening in phases, while three of L.A.’s largest your way out. We are going to allow room for the Holy megachurches–West Angeles COGIC, City of Refuge Spirit, but a lot of stuff we are were doing was not led and Faithful Central Bible Church–have set July 4th by the Holy Spirit. for their coordinated re-entrance. “I do not believe that God wants us to go back into It is the culmination of a year that has irrevocably our churches the same, but I do believe in being in changed the way churches operate. The question is just church,” Gaddis continues. “I believe virtual had its how quickly will parishioners feel safe enough to time and place, now I believe it is time to get back to return and what will the church look like post-pan- the unity of fellowship. I was glad when they said unto demic. me let us go into the House of the Lord.” “Those humongous numbers we saw pre-pandemic, A very small number of churches Gaddis’ oversees it’s going to be a long while before we see them again will not be coming back and have permanently shutin one setting and the days of long Pentecostal slain in tered, but such instances, for the most part, have been the spirit services is going to be for a very small few scarce. 10 and forget about in person mid-week services,” Fisher observed. “Before, churches would some Both Pastor K.W. Tulloss, who leads the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship of Southern California and

LISA COLLINS Editor-in-Chief

Those humongous numbers we saw pre-pandemic, it’s going to be a long while before we see them again in one setting and the days of long Pentecostal slain in the spirit services is going to be for a very small few and forget about in person mid-week services. Before, churches would sometimes have up to three services or as many as five services on a Sunday—even smaller churches might have two services, now it’s like one service—shortened to 60-70 minutes.

Pastor Welton Pleasant, who presides over the 300-member strong, California State Baptist Convention, say that none of their churches have been permanently closed. “Many of the small churches,” said Pleasant, “were still able to meet. I was out of the building for 59 Sundays and my church never missed a beat. COVID has made the building virtually obsolete. We always said that the building is not the church, the people are the church and COVID proved it. “Personally, I believe Sunday morning in person worship is the only thing we will be doing in the building,” Pleasant continued. “I don’t see us going back during the week for Bible studies, church meetings and auxiliary boards. All of that now can be done on zoom.” It is one of the first major changes expressed by a majority of churches. “For my congregation, we will always have a zoom Bible study and a virtual option,” said Pastor Eddie Anderson of McCarty Memorial Christian Church. “Being in person on a Tuesday or Wednesday night is not most important as it is just being together in community and that means it more people can join virtually.”

“This is going to be our new normal,” said Tulloss. “People will gradually come into God’s house as they feel safe, because a lot of people still don’t feel safe. At least 50% of my membership–mostly those 40 and up– have been vaccinated, but some of our younger members remain hesitant.” Who is and who isn’t vaccinated is a concern that’s personal for many. “Unless we don’t leave our house at all, that’s the world we’re living in.,” said Pastor Nissan Stewart of the Lynwood-based, Greater Emmanuel Temple Church. “It’s tough but we have to take precautions. I’m an advocate for the vaccine, but a lot of people aren’t. I’ve taken the vaccine. My wife hasn’t, and for me, losing the churches lead deacon at 46, it’s personal, because we don’t want anyone else to die.” Those like Stewart–who has hosted pop up vaccine clinics–are not even sure about asking. “I’m trying to see is it okay to see who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t and I’m following the lead of the county and the state for which way to go.” Antioch of Long Beach pastor Wayne Chaney’s June 27 launch is part grand opening and part re-opening. “This is not a return for us,” Chaney said. “It’s going into a place we’ve never been. COVID hit one month before the grand opening of our facility and we wanted to make sure our celebration was impactful.” Chaney and his staff conducted a survey of their thriving 1,000+ membership–the largest group of which is millennials– to see how parishioners felt about coming back. “We found that 80% are comfortable with coming back to worship. 70% are vaccinated. 15% are in the process of being vaccinated. Still, most of them would like some level of precaution. And while the vaccinated people have not expressed any challenge being around unvaccinated people, we have a section in our balcony that is socially distanced with a separate entrance. “While we know gathering is significant and Biblical,” Chaney adds, “we’re processing through inviting people who’ve been out of church for a year and a half and reframing or revisiting their theology around in-person gathering is going to be important. Broadcast never replaced the in-person worship. It’s intangible. We’re just going to have to put a little more effort into the why.” “Your message,” says Pleasant, “has to be substantive. “People have become more intentional about the time they’re spending in church,” he explained. “They want to leave learning something. The pandemic–especially with all the racial upheaval and the election–made people start thinking and asking questions.” McCarty Memorial Christian Church Pastor Edward Anderson agrees. “Some of what has drawn people to church has been superficial. COVID has taken that away. Church can no longer be a show or about the music. People are no longer coming because they have a legacy in the church. “What brings people in the door has changed. Now, you have to actually have a real sense of not only community, but something they can’t get anywhere else that’s unique to their experience. “That may mean how are you engaging with community in a different way –helping people find recovery–be it healthcare, justice or financial, in light of the fact that people have lost so much during the pandemic. So, part of coming back to church is going to be the church serving as that safety net for folk on a wider scale.” Of course, the biggest change in church ministry is the pivoting of the church to a hybrid model that is both online and in-person Sunday worship.

“The church has always been behind the times,” Pleasant states. “COVID put the church where it needed to be. I have a saying, if your church is not dot com, it’s dot dead. Pre-COVID, many senior pastors were resistant to tech and social media, but they embraced it because they understood that without it, they wouldn’t have a church. “Many of our seniors were not tech literate,” he notes. “We brought in a media person, showed them how to use a smart phone, and in some cases brought them computers. Now, we are reaching more people via social media. We were all challenged getting the millennials and Gen z throughout the week, now they are able to participate.” While it is different for every ministry, most churches have enjoyed a greater reach through their online broadcasts. Said Tulloss, “We’ve invested quite a bit in our online ministry, and it has literally broadened our ministry beyond California. The BMC [Baptist Minister’s Conference] has focused in on pastors being prepared and understanding the guidelines. I was very surprised at how quickly many of our churches pivoted online.” Two terms have come to define an emerging trend in what is this new era of ministry–electronic evangelism and digital discipleship. “Those things are going to be key,” said Stewart. “Every church has the obligation to create and put intention into that online space. It’s just as equivalent as if you have a building, how you must cut the grass and clean the bathrooms. “To me, being a musician and in the entertainment field, it’s an easier transition,” said the pastor who is also a renowned drummer and gospel artist who has served as a musical director to the likes of Jamie Foxx. “It’s getting used to it and learning to be better.” What’s more, most churches that transitioned to online found their parishioners to be financially supportive, which alleviated a critical concern for the viability of churches. “People found that they could experience church by themselves,” adds Fisher, “but there’s nothing like experiencing church with a community. Greater Zion came back with a stronger appreciation for community and worshipping together. “The other thing that has changed is now that people have been used to watching online and having a different schedule on Sundays, they’re not going to want to alter that every Sunday to come to church. Pastors also now get to spend time at home with their families. This new schedule will prevent burnout. “How the church evangelizes moving forward is how they supply the community with resources,” Fisher maintains. “That is what kept a lot of churches alive. The church that during the pandemic fed and clothed people, and provided other social services and or resources. They are the ones that remained relevant. “So, it’s not just Sunday Morning service that’s going to draw people to your church. It’s going to be all the above–are you involved in the culture, social justice, how are you responding to the economic needs of your community. To that end, it’s not just about counting your congregants, it’s about counting your constituents. So your pastoring not only the people who come to church on Sunday but the people you fed all week long even if you never see them. “It’s not so much about the megachurch, it’s about mega reach. How many people can you reach versus how many people can you seat.” Two challenges remain. The challenge for most will be creating opportunities for intimacy and fellowship. “To be sure, there is no substitute for the intimacy of

fellowship and the touching of people,” Pleasant affirms. “Every first Sunday I have fellowship with the pastor online–it’s a social conversation for an hour and a half where we just converse and my members get to ask me whatever they want, and it’s hilarious.” At McCarty Memorial, Anderson is hosting an outside workout class that will double as a worship service for those who can’t come to church on a Sunday or on zoom. “We will always be more cognizant of both audiences,” Anderson reports. “Before it was more focused on taking care of the folks who were in the room. But now, our church services have been rearranged to make sure that folks who are virtual and may never return to church, remain engaged. Or members who have joined from other states–making sure that there is a way for them to connect with the church is going to be a part of how church is done moving forward.” The biggest challenge remains how to disciple those you can now reach and for Faithful Central, that virtual reach has granted them an audience in upwards of 30 countries including South Africa, Canada and parts of Europe. “I’m reaching people in London, in Europe. Those people will never come to 333 W. Florence,” says Senior Pastor, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. “The challenge is how do we continue to do ministry and turn those viewers into disciples. No one knows how to do that digitally, because it hasn’t been done. Especially when our model for 2000 years has been gathering and what we do know is that the old model by definition, cannot work, because the old model focused in on people coming into a building.” As they venture into that unchartered territory, churches are doing the best they can to make the best of both worlds

“We have our online platforms and on Sundays we’re back in church,” states Tulloss. “We’re going to continue in our singing while understanding that we can’t control the shouting. There will however be no high fives to your neighbor and the fellowship might be limited after service as people remain very aware that we are still living in the midst of a pandemic.”

Pastor Eddie Anderson Pastor Wayne Chaney Pastor Michael Fisher Pastor E. Wayne Gaddis Pastor Welton Pleasant Pastor Nisan Stewart Pastor K.W. Tulloss Bishop Kenneth Ulmer