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A Church in

Two Charlotte
Communities
Discovering the Truth
About Race and Ministry
When they had finished eating, Jesus
said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John,
do you truly love me more than
these?" "Yes, Lord," he said,
"you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. "
John 21:15, NIV
Through the years Charlotte,
North Carolina has been blessed
to avoid much of the ethnic strife
and separation that has occurred
in many other areas of America.
Comparing Charlotte with the
largest cities in America shows
that there are nowhere near the
clusters of ethnic separation here
that many other cities suffer from.
Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL
est. population: 709,441 est. population: 2,851,268
Houston, TX Charlotte, NC
est. population: 2,257,926 est. population: 709,441
Charlotte, NC Los Angeles, CA
est. population: 709,441 est. population: 3,831,868
New York, NY Charlotte, NC
est. population: 8,391,881 est. population: 709,441
Charlotte, NC Philadelphia, PA
est. population: 709,441 est. population: 1,547,297
Phoenix, AZ Charlotte, NC
est. population: 1,593,659 est. population: 709,441
Comparing Charlotte with similar
sized cities in America also shows
that there are fewer clusters of
ethnic separation here that many
other cities suffer from.
Austin, TX Charlotte, NC
est. population: 786,386 est. population: 709,441
Charlotte, NC Baltimore, MD
est. population: 709,441 est. population: 637,418
Boston, MA Charlotte, NC
est. population: 645,169 est. population: 709,441
Charlotte, NC Columbus, OH
est. population: 709,441 Est. population: 769,332
Fort Worth, TX Charlotte, NC
est. population: 727,577 est. population: 709,441
Charlotte, NC Memphis, TN
est. population: 709,441 est. population: 676,640
For over 30 years I was part of an
amazing and anointed church on
Eastway Dr. in Charlotte, North
Carolina.
For many years we gathered on
Saturday evenings at 7:14 pm for
a time of prayer based on…
…if my people, who are called by my
name, will humble themselves and pray and
seek my face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV
We prayed for revival that would
begin with us, and then be a
lighthouse of ministry to all in
our city, very often quoting
scriptures such as…
Ask of me, and I will make the
nations your inheritance, the ends of the
earth your possession.
Psalm 2:8, NIV
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
Psalm 86:, NIV
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good; his love endures forever. Let the
redeemed of the LORD say this…those
he gathered from the lands, from
east and west, from north and south.
Psalm 107:1-3, NIV
So God answered our prayers
and many nations came to our
community…almost
to our front door.
But then some of our leaders
began to say we cannot minister
to a community that has more
than 60% Hispanic people who
can not speak English.
But those of us who lived,
worked, shopped, and dined in
and near the Eastway Dr. &
Central Ave. community knew
better.
We knew the struggles and
challenges within the
community.
But it was all worthwhile if we
could make a difference in the
lives of those who needed to
know Christ.
Ministry is never about our ability
to help others in need.
It is always about what we humbly
and obediently allow the Holy
Spirit to do for others through us.
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John,
do you truly love me?" He answered,
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
John 21:16, NIV
So who really lives in the
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave.
Community?
Beyond just states, counties, cities
and towns, the U. S. Census Bureau
has divided the country into areas
such as urban areas,
congressional districts, census
tracts, census blocks, and more.
Eastway Dr. &
Central Ave.
Community
est. population:
24,949

Here are maps of six


Census Tracts
immediately
surrounding this
church and
community.
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 12 - est. population: 5,650
Other, 2%

Asian,
7%

White,
Hispanic,
46%
26%

Black,
19%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 16.03 - est. population: 4,598

Asian, 2% Other, 2%

Hispanic, White,
27% 39%

Black,
30%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 16.05 - est. population: 1,776

Asian, 6% Other, 1%

White,
26%

Hispanic,
39%

Black,
28%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 16.06 - est. population: 4,295

Other, 2%

Asian,
8%
White,
28%

Hispanic,
37%

Black,
25%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 17.01 - est. population: 3,749

Other, 3%

Asian,
11%
White,
28%

Hispanic,
23%

Black,
35%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave. Community
Census Tract 17.02 - est. population: 4,881

Asian, 2% Other, 2%

White,
28%

Hispanic,
40%

Black,
28%
Eastway Dr. & Central Ave.
Community Other, 2%

est. population: 24,949 Asian,


7%

White,
32%
Hispanic,
Averaging these six census 32%

tracts shows that even with a


strong immigrant population, Black,
27%
this community is still
overwhelmingly English
speaking...and it is reachable
for Christ!
So it becomes painfully obvious
that some of our leaders have
mislead us all along!

But even if they had been correct
about the community having more
than a 60% Hispanic, non-English
speaking population…
…there was no spiritual
justification at all for the
intimidation, scorn, hostility,
rejection, accusations, and even a
few physical threats…
...that were directed toward many
who understood and welcomed
our responsibility to keep
ministering to the needs of the
people who live there.
One Elder/Deacon suggested we
were in the way of what God
wanted to do on Eastway Dr.
Another Elder/Deacon
suggested we only needed to
minister to doctors, lawyers and
bankers so we could use their
tithes and offerings to support
other ministries for the needy.
An Elder/Deacon’s wife
suggested we had to leave
because the community did not
want or need us there any more.
A Pastor suggested that he was
called to be an
“Apostle to the city”,
so he did not have to be
concerned about the needs of
one community.
For a brief three year period the
church had been divided into
two congregations.
One congregation left to start a
church in a more prosperous
community while the other
remained to carry on vital
ministry to the needs there.
But eventually a decision was
made by the leaders that the two
congregations would re-join and
we would all move and merge
with another church on
Providence Rd.
But in the process we cast aside
dozens, if not a few hundred, low
income, English speaking, White,
Black, and Hispanic regular
attendees…
…who for more than three years
had been denied membership
training and opportunity, until a
rushed and insincere
membership offer was made
near the end.
So when they needed it the most,
the people in most need of our
ministry were denied any official
voice or opinion in the direction
of the church.
In more than 30 years that I was a
part of that church, we had never
gone more than 6 months-1 year
without accepting new
members…until then.
The third time he said to him, "Simon son
of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt
because Jesus asked him the third time,
"Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you
know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. "
John 21:16, NIV
For comparison let’s see
who lives in the
Providence Rd. & Pineville-
Matthews Rd. Community?
Providence Rd. &
Pineville-Matthews
Rd. Community
est. population:
21,190

Here are maps of six


Census Tracts
immediately
surrounding this
church and
community
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 30.16 - est. population: 4,558

Other, 2%
Hispanic,
6%
Asian,
8%

Black, 9%

White,
75%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 30.18 - est. population: 2,628

Other, 3%
Hispanic,
6%
Asian,
Black, 5% 9%

White,
77%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 58.15 - est. population: 3,210
Asian,
Other,
Hispanic, 3%
2%
6%
Black,
7%

White,
82%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 58.17 - est. population: 4,001
Asian, 4% Other,
Hispanic,
2%
4%

Black,
3%

White,
87%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 58.32 - est. population: 2,810

Hispanic, Asian, 5% Other, 2%


4%

Black, 5%

White,
84%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-Matthews Rd. Community
Census Tract 58.47 - est. population: 3,983

Asian, 5%
Hispanic, Other,
4% 2%

Black,
5%

White,
84%
Providence Rd. & Pineville-
Hispanic,
Asian, 6%
Other, 2% Matthews Rd. Community
est. population: 21,190
5%

Black, 6%

By averaging these six census


White,
81%
tracts, we see that there are far
fewer opportunities to meet,
develop relationships, and
minister to various ethnic
groups within this community.
So, as we take an honest look at
both communities it becomes
clear that the real issue was
never about which races could or
could not understand English…
…but was instead more about
some leaders only wanting to
minister to a community that was
“white” enough for them.
As a “white” person, I am deeply
offended when charges of racism
are made where it does not exist.
But more important, as a
Christian, my spirit is grieved
when genuine racism begins to
creep into the church…and we
are too afraid confront it.
In all fairness to the people of
the church on Providence Rd.,
none of this was their fault.
They welcomed us all with
open arms and open hearts.
They even have a great variety of
vibrant outreaches and
ministries available.
Some of them asked our leaders
why it was proper for a church to
be willing to leave a community
with so many needs and so many
opportunities to minister to
people.
But the same leaders kept saying
we could not minister to a
community that has more than
60% Hispanic people who can
not speak English.
There was nothing at all wrong
with moving and joining with the
other church. It was and still is a
good thing to do.
The problem was in abandoning
a vital mission field based on
false premises, and in the
process changing the Eastway
Dr. church campus…
…into an income stream by
leasing the property to, and
making money off of people
some of our leaders no longer
wished to minister to.
Before moving and merging with
the Providence Rd. church, we
had been coached by our
leaders, and warned ahead of
time…
…not to make trouble by
bringing up any questions or
disagreements we had been
having. We were told that we
must all appear to be
“happy”.
During our first meeting with the
Providence Rd. church, we
learned that a gentleman there…
…had been sharing a
“prophecy” that the…
“happy people”
were coming.
How can God bless His people
the way He wants when our
ministries are tarnished by
untruth, intimidation, and
manipulation?
How can we violate basic
spiritual truths to follow a new
vision or path in ministry without
asking ourselves…
“Who is really leading us?”
If something violates Gods word
over and over…

DO NOT DO IT!
When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him, he will
sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the
nations will be gathered before him, and he
will separate the people one from another as
a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats…
Matthew 25:31-32, NIV
…He will put the sheep on his right and
the goats on his left. Then the King will
say to those on his right, 'Come, you who
are blessed by my Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world…
Matthew 25:33-34, NIV
…For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, I needed
clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and
you looked after me, I was in prison and
you came to visit me.‘…
Matthew 25:35-36, NIV
…Then the righteous will answer him,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something
to drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to visit you?‘…
Matthew 25:37-39, NIV
…The King will reply,
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did for me.‘…
Matthew 25:40, NIV
…Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into
the eternal fire prepared for the devil and
his angels…
Matthew 25:41, NIV
…For I was hungry and you gave me
nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me nothing to drink,. I was a stranger and
you did not invite me in, I needed clothes
and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in
prison and you did not look after me.‘…
Matthew 25:42-43, NIV
...They also will answer, 'Lord, when did
we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger
or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and
did not help you?‘…
Matthew 25:44, NIV
…He will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did not do for one of the least
of these, you did not do for me.' …
Matthew 25:45, NIV
Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life.
Matthew 25:46, NIV
Father God,
In the name of your blessed son
Jesus Christ, and by the
anointing power of your Holy
Spirit…
…please forgive us all,
Amen!
Demographic Data:
•2010 Census Redistricting Summary, U.S. Census Bureau2005-9 American
Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
•American Fact Finder, U.S. Census Bureau
•2009 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
•Biggest US Cities By Population,
http://www.biggestuscities.com
•The New York Times, Mapping America: Every City, Every Block,
http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer

Photo:
•Charlotte, North Carolina skyline in January of 2011

Scripture References:
•THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 by Biblica.

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