While it is generally accepted that man is by nature religious, it is also true that for black Americans, religion is like a second parent to them.
Since the majority of their families (70%) are single mother based, the role played by the pastor and church elders may be the only male role models a young black boy will remember in later life.
Recent estimates say that the black church has lost about 30% of its pre-Covid-19 congregations and worse, the college educated do not necessarily see the black church as their home.
The month of August is reserved for revivals.
When I arrived in the US, I was told by my mentor that until I witnessed such an event, I cannot say that I have experienced the depth and width of black life.
The revivalist is usually an illustrious and showy person, who once he (or she) takes the pulpit, and the Holy Spirit seizes him, all hell breaks loose.
The audience participates, correct the preacher, adds a few words to the sermon, and shout AMEN (which means -SO BE IT) loudly. In summary, everybody enjoys a good time-there is no substitute to the experience.
Yesterday, when I saw a woman dressed in a colourful attire, decorated with accolades and insignias (nyembe) — I knew that she was the one.
- Young entrepreneur dreams big
- Chibuku NeShamwari holds onto ethos of culture
- Health talk: Be wary of measles, its a deadly disease
- Macheso, Dhewa inspired me: Chinembiri
Keep Reading
The golden cross and the robe of many colours separated her from the rest of them.
She had indicated that her sermon was about, Leah, Jacob’s wife, who suffered a loveless marriage because Jacob’s eyes were directed towards the younger and more beautiful Rachel.
How the Reverend Sister Dr. C. C. Calleton of the African Methodist Episcopal Church connected this story to African American lives, in a land to which they were forcible brought, a hierarchy of rulers who tolerate and suffer them because the law forces them to.
It was a masterpiece.
“I am not done yet,” she shouted. And at once time I thought she was talking about president Donald Trump. “It does not matter what you may think of me, and you may not love me, but in my heart, I know I am made in God’s image.”
To illustrate her pride, she shook her head backwards, strutted backwards on the pulpit in a prideful step.
The audience rowed in laughter.
She did not have to say the words. She was proud because she was God’s own child. The audience knew, and I knew, Trump can go to hell, I don’t care.
Now the audience was on their feet, in uproarious laughter.
Their history books say clearly that Negroes survived slavery because of their faith.
And the great irony of it all, there are many examples where slave masters failed to understand the optimistic attitude and spiritual serenity that surpasses all understanding.
Troubling signs.
The African American church, like their white counterparts, are struggling to stabilise shrinking congregations.
The devil, who goes by many names, one of which is Lucifer, prince of the stars, is attacking the church from all sides.
On January 29, 2001, then president George W Bush set up an Interfaith Council to advise him in the struggle against social maladies.
Drug use, hunger, purpose less lifestyles, needs created by floods and hurricanes; after all, people of faith invented charitable organisations.
Churches were invited to apply for grants. Sometime in the summer, my church was invited to send an 18-wheeler to collect food on behalf of the hungry.
Trump, being a master narcist, had included a letter of good wishes to every beneficiary.
Thus, the church was becoming a tool of the political manipulators. Worse, we were forbidden to pray, or to testify the love of Christ to those who benefited from the food programme.
Thus, we become a social welfare organisation instead of a church.
While churches were ordered closed by government during the pandemic (2019-2020, beer drinking holes and Walmart Stores were open.
We have not recovered the pre-pandemic congregations.
During that inter-regnum, the devil introduced the divisive reality of gay life, pornography and women ordination into the church.
When we resumed normal church life, the churches were torn in half. Though it appeared that the Roman Catholic Church had narrowly escaped, a Catholic Report (August 19) shows that they are not immune.
The devil uses clever words like sexual ambivalence, enlightened theology and failure to meet present day challenges.
There is nothing ambivalent about the church’s position that women are different from men and that same sex marriage is against natural law.
This is what the “progressive writer” says, hoping that we do not catch what the true meaning of his words are.
Pope Leo XIV “can, once and for all, align (the) teaching with scripture and enlightened theology, as opposed to the church’s deeply ambivalent views of sexuality from the first century…(and) transform church doctrine about birth control, same sex marriage and women’s ordination.”
The black church has not addressed this matter but is engaged in workshops about declining numbers.
Surprisingly, though attendance has declined, and churches which once accommodated 500 worshippers barely serve 100 members each Sunday, the giving has more than doubled through remote Visa and Pay-Pal remote money transfers.
This is interesting. It means that those absentees, feel some guilt and obligation to the faith of their fathers and are willing to send money.
The lavish lifestyles of the mega church pastors, shown on television and YouTube on a daily basis has further alienated the younger generation from the faith.
The story line, though, for the African American, losing touch with the church, the only organisation the white man was unable to contaminate, is basically losing one’s soul and heritage.
*Ken Mufuka is a Zimbabwean patriot. He writes from the US.
