July 22, 2002
African-American event sets record
___By Brandon Kirk
___Staff Writer
___LUBBOCK--About 600 participants found unity in the Spirit of God at the 10th annual African- American Fellowship Conference in Lubbock July 10-12.
___"We are united in the Spirit," Roosevelt Broach declared in his sermon at the opening service. Broach is a church consultant with Dallas Baptist Association.
___Leadership from African-American Baptist churches around the state and beyond attended the conference to enjoy sermons, music, workshops, classes and other special events.
___Michael Evans, director of African-American ministries at the Baptist General Convention of Texas, led the convention, which drew the largest crowd ever.
___The conference had five initiatives, he said: youth development, missions, pastoral development, women's ministry and senior adult ministry. The conference was centered on both worship and education, which Evans described as "the two pillars of the African-American church."
___Conference events were held at the Civic Center and were led by a diverse group of pastors and other laity, BGCT staff and guests from across the nation. Booths in the main atrium represented BGCT ministries, the Southern Baptist Convention Annuity Board, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, National Baptists and many others. "We like to call ourselves the inclusive family," Evans said. "We believe this is how the body of Christ should be."
___Beyond the array of displays for organizations and services, the classrooms bustled with the energy of church leaders seeking new insight and methods for ministry.
___In a session on black church history, Andre Punch of the BGCT explained the history of three National Baptist Conventions. He also focused on the role of African-American churches in Texas during the struggle for civil rights.
___"Texas was more of an accommodationist state," he said, contrasting it with states where ministers often served as social activists. Those in Texas took the point of view commonly associated with Booker T. Washington, who promoted vocational training as a means to gain acceptance among whites.
___"I would say they both had a point," Punch said, noting the history lesson remains relevant. "The debate on how blacks should progress is still on the table."
___Glenn Edward Burleigh oversaw an array of musical performances as music director for the convention. He also led a workshop for choir directors and directed a choral praise group and an ensemble for the evening services. Burleigh has been writing gospel, choral and spiritual music for more than 25 years and is well-known among African-American churches for his popular songs.
___During rehearsal, though, his newly formed choir of music directors and other church leaders started from scratch with songs he recently had written. "They're going to learn them fresh today," he said before they started. In 10 minutes, though, a deep, vibrant chorus echoed through the room: "Is there a word from the Lord? Send your word, send your word!" Within an hour and a half, the choir learned and later performed the entire program for the evening service.
___At the Elder Statesmen luncheon July 11, L.C. Rhea was introduced to preach by his son, David Rhea, who is the only African-American Baptist church consultant in Georgia. The elder Rhea is pastor of Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Odessa.
___Both father and son are active ministers and talk every-other day about the things they are doing. "It's very inspiring," David Rhea said, "He's a father who does not give up."
___During his sermon, L.C. Rhea spoke of how God's family must not be split by politics and denominational divisions. "Christian unity must be diligently preserved and promoted," he said. "When the world sees us in unity as one, it is a sign that God is at work."
___Almost singing, Rhea concluded his sermon with words of a common hope, "What a time it's gonna be, when all of God's children get together."
___Overall, the African-American Fellowship Conference was successful in bringing people together, participants said. Next year's convention will be held at Brentwood Baptist Church in Houston, and an even greater turnout is anticipated.
___"We'll probably double in size next year," Evans predicted.
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