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We need to follow the lead of Jesus, who immersed himself in the world he came to change.

learning from the

Baltimore Experience By Christina Perkins

Left: Local members of the community formed a prayer circle outside Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore

(Courtesy of somdnews.com)

a family in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, tried to lay a son, brother, and nephew to rest.

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Much of the Baltimore community met peacefully at his funeral to show solidarity, asking for justice and equality in our city. This nonviolent demonstration turned violent. By 4:00 p.m. the national news picked up the story and I began

getting phone calls and texts from family and friends. “Are you close to the riots?” and “Is your church okay?” That evening, my husband and I prayed, but could not watch the news. It was too painful. By 10:00 p.m., countless people were praying for our city. As evening turned to night, church members began posting updates, like one young man who watched flames lap at the structure next door. The next morning, I drove to my office at the church. Yes,

I intentionally avoided my usual route, which passes through a neighborhood that had been struck by violence just hours before. The church’s neighborhood, usually busy, had little traffic, either by car or foot. By then the text messages and Facebook messages were asking one important question: Was your church affected? If you stand outside and consider our majestic building, the

answer would be, “No, the church wasn’t affected by the riots.” But still, I wanted to shout, “Of course we were affected.” No, the building is not changed, but our members, employees, and community are forever changed. Some of our people were too scared to go to work, especially if the National Guard was blocking the route. Schools were closed and dismissed early due to demonstrations and fear of additional rioting. We were affected. Even though the riots and peaceful demonstrations were just inconveniences for many of us, they still opened up lines of communication. People began listening and asking good questions. People of all faiths, backgrounds, and cultures began

participating in civil disobedience. Peaceful marches, peaceful prayer circles, peaceful cleanups filled our city. As the sun set and the curfew kicked in, we dared hope. Religious and civil leaders started asking questions, most of which centered on what we might do to make things better. I confess to mixed feelings, as I sat in rooms filled only with white people. “What can we do?” we asked ourselves. We discussed white privilege. We discussed partnering with a school in one of the “affected communities” or taking hygiene and medical supplies to a church in the “affected neighborhood.” We talked about establishing a pulpit switch with clergy. We were sincere. We wanted to meet immediate needs and become long term advocates for changes. So, as the light of the world and the city on a hill, what can we do?

The more we walk in our neighborhoods and live – actually live with our neighbors – the more we will be like them.

We can be like Jesus. Yes, the school we partner with will still

need socks, underwear, and gloves. We can keep providing those, but hopefully, we will become more. Yes, it would be fantastic to join with another congregation to participate in pulpit swaps, joint worship, and maybe even picnic. But, hopefully, we will become more. Yes, we can become advocates for justice and speaking to governments, and taking the call for justice throughout the city. (Continued on next page)

I confess to mixed feelings, as I sat in rooms filled only with white people. “What can we do?” we asked ourselves. JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015 27

n Monday, April 27, 2015,