On Feb. 16, a group of diverse congregants from various cultural and social backgrounds will gather together in a unified church service in honor of Black History Month.
The service, led by Pastor Kevin Bausman of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Pastor Michael Drane of The House of Joy, and Pastor Charles Mugisha, a missionary with Sayuni International Ministries, will feature elements of traditional Baptist, Presbyterian, and ethnic African styles of worship.
“The House of Joy recently partnered with Immanuel Presbyterian to nest there as an emerging congregation,” said Pastor Drane “Pastor Bausman has been so gracious and we didn’t want our partnership to be a mere landlord/tenant relationship.” Bausman, who is a white pastor of a Black congregation, and Drane saw Black History Month as a great opportunity to “advance the Kingdom together.”
“It’s a great opportunity to show Christian witness,” said Pastor Bausman. “Our unity in Jesus supersedes denomination, race, theology, the whole nine yards. We’re united in him, we’re one in him.”
In a time where many believe that living in a post-racial society negates the need for such celebrations, the leaders of these congregations thought it appropriate to join together in the name of faith and heritage.
“If it was ever important, then it’s always important.” said Drane. “Carter G. Woodson thought it was important to create Negro History Week. In 1976 President Gerald Ford thought it was important to expand that week into a full month, so I think now in 2014 if anything, we should be doing more than ever. Apart from an awareness of the past we can never appreciate the blessings of the present.”
Pastor Mugisha sees the event as an active example of compassion. “It’s important for us (Africans) and our children to be a part of programs like this to better understand the history here,” said Mugisha. “It’s important for us to understand what has happened in America and for the African-American church to be aware of what’s happening in Africa – the more we know, the more we can have empathy for what has happened.”
What: Black History Month Unity Service
Where: Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3620 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46218
When: Feb. 16, 11:30 a.m.
