Since the early 1990s, conferences held by prominent pastors and movements such as Promise Keepers have been formed to bring racial reconciliation among Christian men.
Most of those efforts, however, have been tailored for a national audience, and men who participate often go home to communities that don’t always provide opportunities for multiracial fellowship.
That is why Crossing Over was formed nine years ago to provide local events each year for Christian men in the Indianapolis area to bond in faith and manhood.
“Crossing Over is a one-on-one initiative where African-American men and white men actually get to meet in unity on a common Christian ground,” said Gene Deverick, an associate pastor at Grace Church in Mooresville, which is located south of Indianapolis in Morgan County. “We are one-on-one, and that is what I think is missing from the culture.”
Deverick and other Crossing Over organizers provide five sessions in the spring and fall, which are held every Monday at 6 p.m. The current installment of sessions began on March 21, and will end on April 11.
Each session is held at a different church in either Indianapolis or Mooresville, alternating between predominantly Black and predominantly white congregations.
During the sessions, men in attendance enjoy a dinner and fellowship segment, a special message delivered by the host pastor and breakout groups that explore answers to provocative questions in the Christian community.
Sessions conclude with prayer and dynamic, joint praise and worship.
“This is a great way for church leaders from all white or all Black congregations to be with one another,” said Deverick. “We should never stop talking about unity, but we have to put action behind it. These sessions give you an opportunity to sit across the table from another man and hear what is in his heart, while also improving your own heart.”
Currently, the topic being discussed in the sessions is “The Role of Grace in Reconciliation.” Much of the study and subject matter being used is based on the new film “Grace Card,” which was released on Feb. 25.
Staring Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom and Academy Award winning actor Lou Gossett Jr., the film is based on the true story of two Memphis police officers. One, who is African-American, also serves as a pastor, and the other is a white officer who has been embittered by life events and is starting to have doubts about his faith.
“The trial and tribulations of what they go through together form the essence of the movie,” Deverick said. “The message is that sometimes you just look to the grace of God for your reconciliation, because it is so difficult to find it without him.
Clips of “The Grace Card,” which is being shown in various theaters, will be presented as part of the discussion sessions hosted by Crossing Over.
On Monday the first session of the current Crossing Over series was held at the predominantly African American congregation of Zion Hope Baptist Church.
Dozens of men met in unity and friendship during that event, which organizers described as “a glimpse of heaven.”
Don’t miss it
Crossing Over sessions will be held at 6 p.m. at the following locations:
March 28 – Mooresville Church of God, 218 E. Main St., Mooresville.
April 4 – New Community Church, 1500 W. 86th St., Indianapolis.
April 11 – Grace Church, 4172 E. Allison Rd., Mooresville.
April 18 – Martindale Church of Christ, 2402 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave., Indianapolis.
For more information, call (317) 831-0798, ext. 109.
