Church Swap: Our First Visit

Be the change you want to see in the world.

                                             ~   Gandhi

Perhaps the scariest part of our visit to a new church was driving up to First Baptist Church of Woodway. I was overwhelmed by the size of the building; however, once we got inside, members were friendly and welcoming.

We met the pastor and many other people who welcomed us.  We didn’t get to witness his preaching style this week. He discussed the church's outreach efforts, which include donations to Haiti, Cuba, Japan and Chile. They are contemplating starting a local Hispanic church, which sounds very promising.

My sons, who were against switching churches, loved it. They saw several of their friends from school and really enjoyed the church’s Sunday school class. William even announced that he would love to join the church.

There are several changes worth noting. The choir’s singing style was very different. However, I found it relaxing. Perhaps the biggest difference in congregations is size. FBCW is perhaps 20 times larger than my church home. However, I see many opportunities for small group experiences.

My family and I enjoyed the first chapter of this adventure. We are off to a good start!

Let the Church Swap Begin

The Waco Church Swap officially begins today. I am a little nervous. However, my nervousness stems from going to a different church rather than from going to a church with a predominantly White congregation. I am accustomed to being one of the few black people in many situations. In fact, one of the reasons I chose a predominantly black church was to expose my children to some diversity.

I believe this project is very important because change should begin in the church. For the most part, society is desegregated everywhere else, including schools, jobs and neighborhoods. There is no reason for the 11 a.m. hour to be the most segregated hour there is.

My children were perhaps the most resistant to this church swap. Like me, they love their church family, and they did not want to leave it --even for three months. I stressed to them the importance of being a change agent. And discussed the fear the Little Rock Nine felt integrating schools in the sixties.

To alleviate their fears, I let my oldest daughter choose the church we will be visiting--First Baptist Church of Woodway. It has a very active youth department, and they are very excited about that. My husband is probably the least nervous. He joined my church last year, which was a “church swap” of sorts for him. He has always attended a predominantly white church. He made the adjustment very well, and has taken on an active role at our home church--Antioch Baptist Church Waco.

I will keep you guys posted as we embark on this adventure!

The Civil Right's Fight - Little Rock, Arkansas

Church Swap - Second Orientation

Church Swap - Civil Rights Tour - Tulsa Riots

Waco's Church Swap group went on a Civil Right's Tour this past weekend, which featured visits to Memphis, Tenn.; Little Rock, Ark. and Tulsa, Okla. I joined the group in Oklahoma. We visited The Department of Special Collections and University Archives of the McFarlin Library at The University of Tulsa. It was there that I learned for the first time of the Tulsa Riots.


The event seems almost impossible to believe. During the course of18 hours, more than 1,000 homes in "Black Wall Street" were burned to the ground. Practically overnight, entire neighborhoods were suddenly reduced to ashes. In less than 24 hours, nearly all of Tulsa's African American residential district -- some 40-square- blocks in all -- had been laid to waste, leaving nearly nine-thousand people homeless. The area featured two theatres, several grocery stores, hotels, skating rinks, schools, churches, etc.


The riots began after black men, who were WWI vets, tried to protect a 19-year-old black man accused of "bothering" a white women. This is one account of how the event unfolded: Sometime around or after 4 p.m. Dick Rowland, a black shoeshiner employed at a Main Street shine parlor, entered the elevator at the rear of the nearby Drexel Building at 319 South Main Street en route to the 'colored' washroom on the top floor. Upon entering the elevator, he encountered Sarah Page, the 17-year old white elevator operator who was on duty at the time. A clerk at Renberg's, a clothing store located on the first floor of the Drexel, heard what sounded like a woman's scream and observed a young black man hurriedly leaving the building. Upon rushing to the elevator, the clerk found Page in what he perceived to be a distraught state. The clerk reached the conclusion that the young woman had been assualted and subsequently summoned the authorities. She later admitted he was innocent.


Many of the members of the Church Swap group became emotional as they learned of the lost potential of the thriving black settlement, which was called "Black Wall Street" because of the many successful African-Americans who lived there, including attorneys, teachers and the a top surgeon.


Tulsa African-Americans received a formal apology for the riots a few years ago. They were also promised reparations. However, they have not collected them. The city also funded scholarships and a multi-purpose center in the area.

Michael Emerson

Michael Emerson author of "Divided by Faith" kicked off the Waco Church Swap in a mighty way on Monday, Feb. 28. His talk, held at Baylor's Kaiser Auditorium, was well received with more than 75 students and Church Swap participants in attendance.

Emerson autographed his book, discussed his personal experiences in diverse churches and spotlighted his research. Following the event, he joined Church Swap participants for dinner.

To view video clips from his talk, click this link:
http://churchswap.blogspot.com/2011/03/divided-by-faith-author-michael-o.html

Church Swap participants eat dinner with Michael Emerson, author of Divided by Faith.

Michael Emerson

Ramona Curtis

Divided by Faith Author Michael O. Emerson Kicks Off Church Swap

Divided by Faith author Michael O. Emerson speaks at Baylor Leadership Series