"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.

Bille Moore and Annie Vestal sing in the praise choir.

Robert Ross

“However, as the church leaders and planning team began to interact more with one another, they decided that it would be more reflective of the kingdom of God to become one united, inclusive church,” shared Appalachian District Superintendent Dr. Carl Arrington. “Thus, New Beginnings UMC was born.”

Rev. Jeanette Hayes has led the churches through the merger and through the ups and downs of being in relationship together. “Look around at the rainbow God has created. No one feels out of place here,” she preached in one of her sermons. “Diversity is our strength but unity is our goal.”

Paulette Gregory had always been a member at Wesley Chapel. “I thought about joining my daughter’s church in Winston-Salem when we started talking about merging. But something in me kept saying to give this a try. God is here, yes, He is.” But it hasn't been without challenges. On her way to church this morning, Gregory drove past the “for sale” sign at Wesley Chapel. Closing two black churches has been hard. The new congregation at New Beginnings has hosted some “Truth Cafés,” honest conversations on race relations led by a facilitator. All three congregations have lost some original members during this change.

For the majority who stayed though, it has been worth it. In the midst of adding three churches together and subtracting a few members, evidence of God’s mysterious multiplication is showing up. “Just seeing those first two or three rows of kids brings me hope. For so long, I didn’t hear babies crying, it was a dying church. Each of us had dying churches,” said Richy Lomax, who serves on the transition team. “Last Sunday for Youth Sunday, we stopped counting at 125. ”

The children lead the congregation in prayer.

Robert Rose

Annie Vestal, from First Jonesville, is part of the combined praise choir. “We’ve learned new songs and a whole new style of worship,” she said. Her son Vance has also gotten involved by sharing art with scripture written on it. “It’s really brought him out of his shell.”

The impact doesn’t stop with people in the pews. New Beginnings is having a dynamic impact on the community as well. Terri Williams teaches at Jonesville Elementary, where people from New Beginnings made up 98% of the volunteer proctors for the school’s end-of-year exams. The church also provided much of the food donations at the holidays, feeding 70 families. Of the 330 students at the Title 1 school, 280 receive free or reduced lunch. “We are so grateful for the heart of the people at New Beginnings and the abundance given from this church,” Williams said on behalf of the school.

There’s a feeling that the Holy Spirit is moving in this place, among these people. “God is blessing us. I never thought I would live in my lifetime to see this,” said Billie Moore, originally from Piney Grove. “It happened for a reason. God wants people to be together. I don’t care what color, from all different walks of life. Nobody in here is the same, and I love it.”

Rev. Jeanette Hayes preaches at New Beginnings UMC.

Robert Ross