On Saturday, February 16, 2025, United Methodists from across EPA & GNJ gathered at Franklin-St. John’s UMC for a powerful Black History Month service. The Rev. Dr. William D. Carter III, Zachary Holder, and Rev. Elijah Brown were the visionaries behind the event, which served as a celebration of Black resiliency sustained by the sufficiency of Christ.
Rev. Dr. Carter was the maestro of the event. He composed it and led the people through their paces—never missing a beat. His leadership began with the welcome and a powerful Call to Worship, that concluded
“Despite how the year has begun, we still believe the word God has spoken concerning our destiny, that eye hath not seen and ears have not heard what God will release in the days, weeks, and months to come.”
After the people raised their voices and sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the reading of Scripture, and affirmation of faith, Zachary Holder shared the origin story of this service, pointing people toward the purpose of the event: “May we find purpose, find rest, find where God is trusting us to be, and move forward in faith, knowing that there is hope in Christ.”
Rev. Elijah Brown echoed that theme of trust in Christ as he led the assembly in prayer: “The God who was with us through the Middle Passage, with us through Jim Crow, you have never left us or forsaken us. The same liberating spirit with the Emancipation Proclamation, with the Civil Rights Act of 1965, be with us now. May your spirit bring more freedom here. No weapon formed against us, no supremacy, no administration that is formed against us, would prosper.”
The Sanctuary Choir of Franklin-St. John’s UMC blessed everything with a powerful musical selection, and then Althea Myles came forward to read a poem by an unknown author.
**“We were forged in fire—yet we did not burn.
We echo the rhythm of freedom’s heartbeat.
Red lines can’t hold us—nor prisons contain.
We are the dream Dr. King tried to translate.
…
We stand in the fire, but we don’t expire.
Because no matter who writes the laws down below,
The King of kings is still running the show.”**
Then the preachers took to the pulpit, each one preaching on a portion of Isaiah 58:6-7:
1st Word—Injustice by Rev. Audrey Blackwell-Washington, of Sayers Memorial UMC
Rev. Blackwell-Washington rose to preach on Isaiah 58:6a, “Is this not the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke?” She spoke the word of truth into the present crisis: “In America today, systemic inequality and entrenched structural racism continue to obstruct democracy. What do you do when lawmakers stop protecting discrimination policies? These laws apply to employment, housing, transportation, and other areas. They help the poor, the marginalized, and the stigmatized.
It’s our place to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. This is placing an unbearable yoke on the shoulders of people of color. But God has a better idea. He wants to loose the bonds of wickedness and break the bonds of oppression. There are some sacrifices that have to be made in order to experience spiritual renewal in the lives of the oppressed—a God-anointed fast. The fast involves actively working for justice through tangible acts of compassion and social change. We have come to a season where we have to be doers of the Word, everyday community workers.”
2nd Word—Betrayal by Pastor Rodney Weaver, Jr.
Pastor Rodney Weaver, Jr. rose to preach on Isaiah 58:6b, “to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke.” He reminded those gathered that Peter denied Jesus, not one time, not two times, but three times. Betrayal is a touchstone throughout the Bible, but when we find ourselves in a place of betrayal, it does not mean the hand of God is far from us. “Sometimes God will put us in a situation of betrayal to wake us up—and ask us if we can smell what God is cooking.”
We are called to open our eyes, to be reminded of the truth that Dr. King proclaimed: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It’s time to loosen up the bounds that have been closing our mouths and the chains that have been holding us down.
Pastor Weaver called the congregation to:
- Open up our eyes—both our actual eyes and the eyes of our hearts (Eph. 1:17)—to see what is really going on in our community.
- Open up our ears—to listen to the marginalized voices and allow the voices of those who have been oppressed to reign.
- Open our mouths—to declare God’s praises, but also to advocate for justice by using our voices and actions.
He invited those present to put on the full armor of God and be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power (Eph. 6:10) as they go about the work of dismantling injustice.
Freedom Songs frame the story
Jared McClain, Psalmist for the occasion, came to the pulpit—to sing but also to preach—through music and song: “Freedom songs
were the anthems of the marches. Lyrics simple and masterfully written. When we fight for justice and what is right, and we do it together, we can accomplish much.”
He told the story of the freedom songs that sustained the marches, and also the boycott. The bus boycott, he said, was “380 days of consistent refusal to mistreatment.” The past is prologue, and the call is clear: Are we able to do the same, to sacrifice again, to pressure the system to refuse mistreatment?
3rd Word—Compassion by Pastor Rutendo Felistas Mahachi
Pastor Mahachi rose to preach on Isaiah 58:7, “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house?” She brought with her a winnowing basket, similar to the one her grandmother would use to separate corn from chaff. “In my grandmother’s hands, it wasn’t just a symbol of separation, but a symbol of compassion.” She told the story of how her grandmother would bake bread, spread it with margarine and jam, and then invite anyone who happened to pass through their compound to come in and eat. “There was always room at my grandmother’s. There was always warm water for tea.”
Around this basket were conversations. People would sit down, listen to stories, share laughs, and share tears around this basket. Compassion, she proclaimed, “isn’t just about giving to those who need, but sharing our lives. True worship involves caring for the most vulnerable.”
She explained that in Africa, they have a word: Ubuntu—“I am because you are,” explaining, “Compassion is not optional; therefore, it is essential.” She concluded with a challenge: “I challenge you today—find your own basket. Go back home. Sit down and think about it. What is my basket? How best can I use my basket? What’s in it?”
4th Word—Unity by the Rev. Dr. Dennis Blackwell
Rev. Blackwell rose to offer the final word. He preached on unity from the perspective of Isaiah 58:7, “turn not away from your own flesh and your own blood.” He referenced Joy DeGruy Leary’s profound work, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, and described the condition of post-traumatic slave syndrome as a condition that exists when a population has experienced multigenerational trauma. He described how the dominant culture teaches people to value whiteness, and how that system “vacates our esteem… We have internalized our oppression, internalized our age, our despair. This leads us to be captive to a system of belief that leads us to be blind to our own beauty… We have been marginalized and imprisoned in our own minds.”
He continued, “That’s why the text that was read in your hearing is important. We are called to self-denial that calls us from
something to something. We are called from independence to radical obedience and dependence on a just God.”
“We should never forget about our people, our neighborhoods, our sisters and our brothers. Let us not conform to the patterns of our culture, but let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Tell our story of how God has provided for us. As we tell our story, let us not be conformed by the culture. Let’s understand our past so we can have a bigger and brighter future. Let us learn to love ourselves so we will not be victimized by others. Because winning is only good when we do it together.”
The Rev. Dr. William D. Carter III rose to give the benediction, and folks streamed out of the sanctuary to their own places with a renewed sense of power and purpose.
As the congregation departed, the words and music lingered in their hearts, a reminder that Black history is not just a moment in time, but an ongoing journey of faith, resilience, and transformation. The service was a powerful call to action—challenging each person to examine their own role in dismantling injustice, embodying compassion, and striving for unity in the face of adversity.
United in purpose and spirit, they left with renewed strength, empowered by the hope that, through Christ, freedom and justice can and will prevail. May this Black History Month, and beyond, serve as a reminder that the work is not done, but our faith and commitment will continue to guide us forward in the fight for justice and equality for all.