This past weekend, 7 men from Antioch Baptist Church joined the 24 from Western Hills for the ManUp Conference. I haven’t laughed so hard or been that tired in a long time. I can’t tell all the stories here, but I’ll make you a deal. You hit me up for a coffee, and I promise you some juicy stories on Pastor TD, Raymond, Marlon, or André. (I’m looking at you, Antioch family!)

Here are my observations from the weekend…

I am encouraged by our leadership. KNCSB hosted the weekend, and Parker Dane, our Discipleship Pastor, is on the conference leadership team. For them to bring in an African-American speaker for the main sessions is a huge step in the right direction.

They designed a weekend for men that is not just sitting around tables talking about our feelings. We got to learn how to survive in the wilderness, share our faith in hostile contexts, and smoke chickens and various other meats. Yes, each hands-on experience had spiritual applications, but it’s so important to have hands-on experiences.

One Jesus-following man can have an enormous impact. This is cross-cultural as evidenced by the time Western Hills and Antioch had around tables with each other. Listening to these men get real about their faith and struggles of following Jesus was the absolute best part of the weekend. Moments of incredible tenderness and vulnerability worked to inspire and challenge each other.

One guy talking about how working 3rd shift was so hard in terms of creating time alone with Jesus provoked another man who also worked 3rd shift to get real about that same struggle. Together they started trying to figure out how in the world they both could overcome this. Here’s the CRAZY part. One of these guys is a blue-collar African-American; the other is a different kind of blue-collar: a white policeman. There is no universe in which that new friendship starts except in the Church. That’s not the only story that happened here.

We had a few young teenagers on hand, and to see them flock alongside other godly men… speechless. A boy needs a dad AND another godly man’s voice in his life. He needs both. When he gets both, the difference is staggering. Watching these teens drink in what men other than their fathers are saying about Jesus is making a difference you can see with your eyes. Mentorship and Discipleship IS THE KEY!

There’s a long road in front of us. While I’m really excited about this relationship with Antioch and where it may be heading, the harsh reality of the situation is this: of the 356 men that attended ManUp, there were perhaps 12 that weren’t white. Seven of those men were from Antioch.

I’ve been asked why racism has become such a focus for me lately. The question was asked innocently with no hint of anger or frustration. Having said that, the fact that the question was even asked reveals a deeper issue, doesn’t it?

Think of it a different way. If I were a black, middle-aged male with 3 kids, when has racism NOT been a reality for me?

I have listened to the stories of countless brothers and sisters in Christ who have dealt with racism all their lives in various forms. From the annoying (being followed in a mall by security) to the outright offensive (wrongfully accused and arrested in a coffee shop). While it may be too much to ask from our world for something better, I don’t think it’s too much to ask from the Bride of Christ.

The apostle Paul tackled this issue in every single one of his letters. No, he did not use the term racism. He used the word UNITY. Paul constantly taught and addressed the issues that pulled at the unity of the local church. In one instance, it was specifically the issue of racism: The Corinth Church.

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Paul, 1 Corinthians 1

Don’t miss the blatant slap that Paul is giving the Corinth church. He is calling them out for dividing themselves based on their culture and preferences: Apollos, Greek gentile; Cephas (Peter), the Jew. Not an accident. Human nature that is left unchecked and untransformed will seek the easiest, lowest ground to hold.

Christ calls us to something better, something higher. And that is the bigger point to be made here. If you honestly think the American church experience is exactly as Christ desires it: monochromatic and inward focused (generally speaking), then I really think you’ve missed the entire story of the New Testament.

When the world sees the church, the world should see something different. Something more beautiful, more bold, more loving than anything else on earth. The world should see a place where every tribe is unified in their love for Jesus and His love leaking out of us towards humanity. It should see a group of people who stand for the ones who can’t and protect the ones who are vulnerable. They should see something different than any other organization on the planet.

And right now… it’s hard to see something different in the church when it comes to the issue of racism. And that needs to change.