Stories of Faith
16
"DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH" BY MELISSA MCGILL
PHOTOS BY ROBERT ROSS
IN 1963, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FAMOUSLY SAID THAT 11:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY IS THE MOST SEGREGATED HOUR IN AMERICA. OFTEN, THOSE WORDS STILL RING TRUE IN 2019. BUT NOT IN JONESVILLE AT NEW BEGINNINGS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHERE A DIVERSE CONGREGATION IS TRYING, AS THEIR NAME SUGGESTS, SOMETHING NEW — WORSHIPPING TOGETHER. Three dwindling churches — the historically black Wesley Chapel and Piney Grove and the white First Jonesville — merged in July 2018. At the time, each averaged around 25 in worship. Several options were floated, including combining the black churches for a contemporary worship service before First Jonesville’s more traditional service.
