(SOFT PIANO MUSIC) - [SINGER] WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN A CHORUS OF THANKSGIVING?

(SOFT BEAT MUSIC) - THE BLACK CHURCH IS, NOT JUST A CHURCH FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

(LAUGHS) - IT IS THE EPICENTER, OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF EVERYTHING OF BLACK CULTURE.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - IT'S LIKE RAP MUSIC IS RAP MUSIC, COUNTRY MUSIC IS COUNTRY MUSIC, HIP HOP IS HIP HOP, R&B IS R&B.

THEY MAY BE PRODUCED BY A PREDOMINANT GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT IT TRANSCENDS GENERATIONS.

IT TRANSCENDS CULTURES.

- IT IS THAT EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE AND FAITH IN CHRIST, THAT IS ROOTED AND INFORMED BY THE BLACK EXPERIENCE.

(UPBEAT BEAT) - SOME OF YOU NEED HEALING TONIGHT.

SOME OF YOU NEED TO BE DELIVERED FROM DEPRESSION.

I JUST THINK HE WILL KEEP ME IN PERFECT PEACE.

AS I KEEP MY MIND STAYED ON HIM.

I FEEL... LIKE PREACHING IN THIS PLACE.

WHEN I SPEAK IT IN MY LIFE.

SOMETHING'S, GOT TO HAPPEN... - WE'RE PART OF THE FABRIC, OF AMERICA.

- WE DON'T EARN GRACE.

BUT GOD GIVES IT TO US ANYWAY.

- ALRIGHT, AMEN.

- AND NOW BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE WORLD.

- WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT- - WHEN I THINK OF THE GOODNESS OF JESUS- - OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILIES THAT HAVE JOINED US TODAY.

♪ BELIEVE, MY FRIEND OHH... ♪ ♪ BELIEVE, MY FRIEND... OHH... ♪ - WE ARE NO LONGER, MONOLITHIC.

WE'RE DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE CATHOLIC, WE'RE METHODISTS, WE'RE BAPTIST.

- THE BLACK CHURCH IS, IS LIKE BLACK PEOPLE.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE VARIED.

AND SO, THE BLACK CHURCH IS GOING TO BE VARIED.

♪ LORD... ♪ ♪ LET ME SING ONE MORE TIME ♪ ♪ THANK YOU LORD... ♪ - THERE MAY BE A SUBSTRATUM OF SHARED EXPERIENCE, BORN OUT OF THE SUFFERING OF SLAVERY, AND THE REALIZATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION, BUT WITH THOSE SHARED EXPERIENCES, THERE IS UNLIMITED VARIETY AMONG BLACK PEOPLE.

♪ LORD, I JUST WANT TO PRAISE YOU LORD... ♪ - WHITE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HAD MUCH CONTACT WITH A BLACK PERSON, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON, AH, MAY HAVE A CERTAIN KIND OF STEREOTYPE OR VIEW IN THEIR MIND, AND EVEN THOSE WHO MAY FEEL THAT THEY ARE MORE LIBERAL IN THEIR THINKING, THERE'S STILL THAT, IDEA OF WHAT A BLACK PERSON SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEY SHOULD SOUND LIKE, (LAUGHS) HOW THEY SHOULD MOVE, AND HOW THEY SHOULD DANCE.

THEY ONLY NEED TO SEE ME, TO KNOW THAT ALL BLACK PEOPLE CAN'T DANCE, YOU KNOW.

NOW I'LL TRY TO SING, BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH ON A DANCE FLOOR.

(GENTLE MUSIC) - IN A REAL WAY, SANCTUARY FOR OUR COMMUNITY HAS BECOME, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE BRIGHT SIDE SOMEWHERE OUR ANCESTORS USED TO SING ABOUT, THERE'S A BRIGHT SIDE, DON'T YOU REST UNTIL YOU FIND IT.

THERE'S THE BRIGHT SIDE.

AND SO IN MANY WAYS, SANCTUARY BECOMES OUR CONNECTEDNESS, WITH THE ETERNAL, THE GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS, THE GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS.

IT REPRESENTS WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF WORK OUT THAT RELATIONSHIP IN VERY PRAGMATIC AND PRACTICAL WAYS, WITH THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND OUR JOURNEY, AND HOPE FOR THAT BETTER TOMORROW.

IT'S KIND OF THE GATHERING PLACE, THE EPICENTER.

♪ SHALL WE CALL HIM JESUS ♪ - DON'T MISINTERPRET THE PAIN.

DON'T LET THE DISCOMFORT CONFUSE YOU.

DON'T LET WHAT YOU SEE, DICTATE WHAT YOU DO, OR HOW YOU BEHAVE, OR HOW YOU REACT.

BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING, IS NOT WHAT GOD IS BIRTHING.

- I THINK THAT THE MISCONCEPTION OF THE BLACK CHURCHES IS, IS JUST IGNORANT.

♪ MY LORD ♪ ♪ HE BE BEHIND YA, LET'S GO ♪ - SOMEBODY WITH A FAN, SOMEBODY FALLING OUT, THE CHOIR SINGING, "AMAZING GRACE."

(PASTOR VINCENT LAUGHS) - GO TO THE BLACK CHURCH, AND IT'S NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, THE MOVIES DEPICT THE BLACK CHURCH IN SUCH A WAY, THAT IT'S ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

- THAT IT'S JUST SHOUTING, AND FALLING OUT.

BUT IT IS A LOT OF THOUGHT.

- IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, AN ACROBATIC SHOW, IT'S A VERBAL, PHYSICAL, VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF JOY, THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

- THANK YOU FOR EVERY DROP OF BLOOD YOU SHED ON OUR BEHALF.

AND WE RECEIVE THE GREAT EXCHANGE OF YOUR MERCY FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

LET'S TAKE A DRINK TOGETHER IN JESUS NAME.

- IT IS A LOT OF CONVICTION.

IT IS A LOT OF DEEP ROOTED THEOLOGY.

BASED OFF OF WHAT PATH YOU'RE IN.

SO IF YOU'RE APOSTOLIC, YOU GOTTA BE SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

BAPTIST, WHERE WERE YOU BAPTIZED?

A.M.E., YOU GOTTA HAVE A METHODOLOGY.

AND SO I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE SEE THE CHURCH, AS A CARICATURE OF WHAT YOU SEE FROM A SIT-COM.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT FACETS TO THE BLACK CHURCH.

THERE'S SO MANY HERE IN ATLANTA, ECLIPSING 3,000.

AND THE REASON WHY THEY ARE SO MANY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TASTES.

- TELL YA WHAT I DID, I CAME TO JESUS.

I FOUND IN HIM HERE, IN MY RESTING PLACE, AND LIFE!!!

- AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BLACK CHURCH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE STAPLES, WITHIN THE BLACK CHURCH.

THAT I'VE SEEN, MY WHITE BROTHERS AND SISTERS EMBRACE.

I'VE SEEN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY EMBRACE.

I'VE SEEN THE YOUNG AND THE OLD, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL CHURCH, GOSPEL VERSUS CONTEMPORARY, VERSUS CHRISTIAN, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, ARE HOUSED WITHIN, WHAT WE CALL THE BLACK CHURCH.

AND IT'S AN EXPERIENCE, THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ANYWHERE ELSE.

- THE REALITY IS 86% OF MUSIC THAT IS LISTENED TO AROUND THE WORLD, COMES FROM BLACK INSPIRATION, OR BLACK VOICES, AND BLACK ARTISTS.

AND THE SAME THING FOR THE BLACK CHURCH.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE, WHO LISTEN IN TO THE BLACK CHURCH, GET THEIR IDEAS, THEIR FLAVOR, THEIR SEASONING, FROM THE BLACK CHURCH.

- IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A BLACK CHURCH, I WOULD TELL YOU TO TRY IT.

YOU NEED TO GO, YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE IT.

FIND A LOCAL BLACK CHURCH IN YOUR AREA, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE JUST GO.

YOU'LL FIND SOME OF THE MOST LOVING, GENUINE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BY YOURSELF FIND YOU A FRIEND, THAT, THAT BLACK FRIEND, THAT YOU TAKE WITH YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT BLACK, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO, YOU CAN BE BLACK, NEVER BEEN TO THE BLACK CHURCH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO DO.

YOU'LL BE INSPIRED.

YOU'LL BE ENLIGHTENED.

YOU'LL BE EMPOWERED.

YOU'LL LEAVE FEELING GREATER THAN WHEN YOU WENT IN.

♪ PRAISE THE LORD ♪ ♪ ALL YE NATIONS ♪ ♪ PRAISE THE LORD PRAISE THE LORD ♪ - WHEN YOU WALK INTO A BLACK CHURCH.

IT IS A FULL THROTTLE EXPERIENCE.

IT IS A MOMENT, THAT WILL TURN INTO A MEMORY.

♪ FOR HIS MERCIFUL KINDNESS IS GREAT TOWARD US ♪ ♪ AND THE TRUTH OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER ♪ ♪ WE WERE MADE TO PRAISE THE LORD ♪ ♪ WE WERE MADE TO PRAISE THE LORD ♪ ♪ WE WILL PRAISE THE LORD ♪ ♪ PRAISE THE LORD PRAISE THE LORD ♪ - THE BLACK CHURCH IS WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS LEARNED HOW TO HOLD A FORK AND KNIFE.

WHERE'S THE ONLY PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHERE BLACK PEOPLE COULD HAVE A POSITION, BE AN OFFICER, THAT THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN CHARGE OF SOMETHING.

- AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, DOMESTICS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR OUTFITS AND, THEY COMMUNICATED SOMETHING TO THE WORLD AROUND US, BUT ON SUNDAY MORNING, WE WERE SOMEBODY.

- IT'S WHERE WE LEARNED HOW TO SPEAK OUT LOUD, WHERE WE LEARNED ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, (LAUGHS) WHERE WE LEARNED HOW TO RUN MEETINGS, BEFORE THERE WAS ANY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, OR THE DIVINE NINE, THERE WAS THE BLACK CHURCH.

AND AS A PEOPLE, WE HAVE KIND OF EMERGED OUT OF THIS IDEA, THAT, ON SUNDAY, WE BRING OUR BEST SELF, TO THE LORD AND TO WORSHIP.

AND SO, EVEN WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, YOU HAD THREE WARDROBES.

YOU HAD ONE FOR SCHOOL, YOU HAD ONE FOR PLAY, RECREATION, AND YOU HAD ONE FOR CHURCH, YOU'D HAVE ONE FOR SUNDAY.

OUR GO TO MEETING OUTFIT.

(LAUGHS) (SOFT PIANO MUSIC) - FOR ME, THE BLACK CHURCH WAS, IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR ENTIRE BEING, HOW ARE YOU GONNA BE PROFESSIONALLY, AND PERSONALLY, THEY WERE OUR COUNSELORS, BEFORE WE REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING TO COUNSELING, AND HAVING YOUR OWN THERAPIST.

THEY WERE OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, AS WELL.

EVERYTHING THAT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON.

THE BLACK CHURCH IS A FORM OF LIBERATION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAD TO START OUR OWN WAY.

WE HAD TO DEVELOP OUR OWN SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL PLACES, A SAFE SANCTUARY, FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT TODAY.

(SOFT PIANO MUSIC) - SO I LOOK AT THE BLACK CHURCH AS A WHOLE, THAT'S ONE THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS AFFIRMATION.

AFFIRMATION, OF FAITH, BUT AFFIRMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

- I THINK ONE OF THE BRILLIANT ASPECTS OF THE BLACK CHURCH HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN, IT'S KIND OF FORE SIGHTEDNESS, AND IT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO MENTOR AND PREPARE INDIVIDUALS.

WE NEED TO BE DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WE POSITION INDIVIDUALS.

- THE BETTER, WE ARE PREPARED FOR LEADERSHIP, IT ALLOWS US TO NOW HAVE A BETTER SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY.

THE CHALLENGE THAT HAPPENS WITHIN OUR WORLD IS BASED ON THE LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT THE HELM.

AND WHEN WE CAN RAISE UP PEOPLE TO THINK LIKE LEADERS, TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, TO UNDERSTAND THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT WHO'S WATCHING, IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN THE DARK AREAS OF YOUR LIFE THAT ARE UNSUPERVISED.

IF YOU CAN LEAD YOURSELF WELL, YOU CAN LEAD OTHER PEOPLE WELL.

- THIS IS A HOLY GROUND FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

KNOWING THAT GEORGIA IS THE SACRED SOIL, OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THAT THIS IS THE TERRAIN OF REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, OF JOSEPH LOWERY, OF RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY.

ALL OF THAT IS HEWN RIGHT OUT OF THIS.

AND SO IT'S COMING TO JERUSALEM, KNOWING THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VOICES IN AMERICAN HISTORY WERE PASTORS IN THIS CITY.

- IT'S PAST TIME, FOR SOME OF THESE MINISTERS TOO, WHO HAVE STOOD ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE MINISTERS BEFORE THEM TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

AND TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

WE'VE BEEN AT IT SO LONG.

SOMETIMES YOU WONDER HOW LONG, LORD, HOW LONG?

- OVERCOMING MENTALITY DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES.

IT MEANS THERE IS AN OBSTACLE, BUT I'M COMING OVER IT.

- I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BELIEVING IN ME AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER, TO COME AND GIVE THEM HOPE, TO COME AND TEACH THEM FAITH, TO COME AND LEAD THEM THROUGH JUST AS, I DON'T THINK, ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER GREAT LEADER.

HARRIET TUBMAN COULDN'T BE MOVED BY WHAT SHE SAW, SHE HAD TO BE MOVED BY WHAT SHE BELIEVED.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, MALCOLM X, THEY COULD NOT BE MOVED BY WHAT THEY SAW.

THEY SAW INJUSTICE, THEY SAW THE DOGS, THEY SAW THE WATERHOLES, THEY HEARD THINGS ON THE NEWS.

THEY HEARD, IF YOU DO THIS, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO STAND FIRM AND STAND STRONG, AND LEAD THROUGH WITH CONVICTION, AND TEACH THE UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH THAT, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.

AND HEY, TOUGH TIMES DON'T LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE DO.

♪ THE LORD, IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE ♪ ♪ THE LORD, IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE ♪ ♪ LET ALL THE EARTH THE KEEP SILENCE ♪ ♪ LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE ♪ ♪ BEFORE HIM ♪ - SOMETHING ABOUT GOSPEL MUSIC, THAT LITERALLY HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE PEOPLE, POWER TO REALLY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER, I MEAN, LITERALLY YOU COULD COME INTO A CHURCH SERVICE FEELING ONE WAY, AND THEN YOU LEAVE OUT FEELING TOTALLY DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE MINISTRY HAS HAPPENED.

- TOGETHER.

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT, SAY IT!

♪ THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND SALVATION ♪ - FREE THE CHURCH.

♪ WHOM SHALL I FEAR ♪ - WHOM SHALL BE AFRAID.

♪ WHOM SHALL BE AFRAID ♪ - LET'S SING IT TOGETHER, FAMILY.

- YOU KNOW, GOSPEL MUSIC IS, GOD IS LIFE GIVING.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT STIRS YOUR SOUL.

IT CAN TURN YOUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE UPSIDE DOWN.

IT MOVES THE SOUL OF THE ENTIRE CHURCH.

ONE NOTE, CAN BRING THE ENTIRE BODY, TO THEIR FEET.

♪ AND YOU ARE GOOD, GOOD... OH, OHHH ♪ ♪ YOU ARE GOOD, GOOD, ♪ - CAN WE HAVE A TESTIMONY SERVICE THIS MORNING.

COME ON.

- GOSPEL MUSIC IS ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU ARE ON A ROLLER COASTER.

AND THE ADRENALINE IS MOVING THROUGH YOUR BODY.

YOU CAN FEEL IT.

YOU ARE SO EXCITED AND IT'S SUCH AN EXPERIENCE LIKE YOU NEVER, EVER HAD BEFORE.

- IF GOSPEL MUSIC DOES NOT CHANGE SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE, IT HASN'T DONE ITS JOB.

EITHER IT HASN'T DONE ITS JOB, OR YOU HAVEN'T ENGAGED WITH IT IN THE WAY THAT IT'S MEANT TO BE ENGAGED WITH.

♪ KING OF GLORY ♪ ♪ FILL THIS PLACE ♪ ♪ JUST WANNA BE WITH YOU ♪ ♪ JUST WANNA BE WITH YOU ♪ - THE SOUND THAT ATLANTA CONTRIBUTES TO GOSPEL MUSIC, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY, WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE?

BUT I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

IT FEELS LIKE, UM, THAT WHICH FEEDS, AND THAT WHICH CULTIVATES, AND THAT WHICH IN FACT, CHARTS THE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

♪ WE SHALL, WE SHALL,, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, ♪ - JUST ONE MORE TIME.

I BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL, ♪ WE SHALL, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, WE SHALL, ♪ ♪ WE SHALL, OVERCOME...

SOME... DAY!

♪ (CONGREGATION CHEERS) - ANTHROPOLOGY SUGGESTS, IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE MIND FRAME OF A PEOPLE, LISTEN TO THE MUSIC THEY LISTEN TO.

(CROWD CHANTING) - SO THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WAS "WE SHALL OVERCOME."

SOUNDTRACK FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER, "WE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT."

THE ANTHEMS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SING, THEY WERE THE ELEMENTS IN OUR WORSHIP.

IN ADDITION TO THE SERMONIC PRESENTATIONS, THAT I THINK REALLY GAVE US THE FAITH, AND THE FORTITUDE, AND THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE ON.

♪ SING ♪ - SO TOGETHER LET'S SING GLORY ♪ GLORY ♪ - TO THE LAMB ♪ TO THE LAMB ♪ - FATHER, WE SING TONIGHT, GLORY.

- WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT THE BLACK CHURCH, IS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INCUBATOR FOR THE ARTS.

AND OF COURSE THE ARTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MUSIC.

IT'S NOT LIMITED TO SINGING.

OF COURSE, THAT HAS BEEN A PRIMARY EXPERIENCE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LITURGICAL DANCE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POETRY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVEN THEATER.

THIS HAS BEEN A SPACE AND A PLACE, WHERE PEOPLE COULD GET THAT TRAINING.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE IN THE BLACK CHURCH FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, WHATEVER THAT EXPRESSION HAS BEEN.

NOW, I ALSO REMEMBER BACK IN MY HOME CHURCH, HOLINESS CHURCH, HOLINESS TO THE BONE.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAVING PRAISE DANCERS, SOME OF THE MOTHERS OF THE CHURCH WALKED OUT.

BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SHOWING TOO MUCH STUFF, THIS DIDN'T BELONG IN CHURCH, BUT THEN YOU JUST TAKE THOSE CHURCH MOTHERS BACK TO THE SCRIPTURE, WHERE MOTHER, THE WORD SAYS, "LET THEM PRAISE HIS NAME WITH THE DANCE."

(LAUGHS) ♪ SWEETLY... ♪ ♪ THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE THAT I'LL RATHER BE ♪ ♪ NO PLACE I ♪ ♪ EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED ♪ - SO NOW YOU HAVE THE CHILDREN THAT ARE ACTING PRIMARILY IN EASTER AND CHRISTMAS.

YOU CAN HAVE THE SENIOR CHOIR WHERE YOU CAN STILL SEE GRANDMA AND AUNTIE SINGING SONGS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT THEY TEACH YOU, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BRIDGE THAT BROUGHT YOU OVER.

PEOPLE ARE DOING STEPPING AND MIME AND ALL TYPE OF THINGS.

AND NOW SPOKEN WORD IS AMAZING.

- I HAVE A DREAM.

AND THIS DREAM SUPERSEDES YOU AND ME AND REACHES FAR INTO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, OUR PURPOSE AND OUR DESTINY.

I HAVE A DREAM.

- IT'S JUST THIS RAINBOW OF COLORS THAT YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE.

IT'S JUST THIS, NO THE BLACK CHURCH, IS THIS, IS THAT, IT'S THIS, IT'S THAT, IT'S WHATEVER YOU NEED.

IT'S WITHIN THE CHURCH.

AND THE GREAT THING IS, EVERYBODY'S GRACED AND TALENTED, IN SUCH DIFFERENT WAYS, OPENING IT UP, GIVES YOU A FULL EXPERIENCE OF, JUST THE TALENT, THE GRACE, THE ANOINTING, THE FLAVOR.

♪ OOOH ♪ ♪ TELL ME... OH, OHHH ♪ ♪ OOH...YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪ BUT TIME WILL COME ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH, WE BELIEVE ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BE IT ♪ ♪ BUT TIME WILL COME AND THE MORNING LIGHT ♪ ♪ LIFT IT UP... OHHH... ♪ ♪ LORD... ALL COMES FROM HEAVEN ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH ♪ - IF THE CHURCH'S DOORS CLOSE, AND THE COMMUNITY IS NOT IMPACTED, BY THAT CHURCH, NOT BEING THERE, THE CHURCH HAD CHURCH, THEY DIDN'T DO MINISTRY.

SPEAKING TO THE BLACK CHURCH, WE'VE EVOLVED THE CHURCH TO NOT ONLY WITH INSIDE THE FOUR WALLS, BUT TO EXIT THE FACILITY, AND BEGIN TO MAKE IMPACT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

- 92% OF WHAT JESUS DID WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.

IT IS A REALLY AMAZING OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WHAT COVID DID, IS REALLY PROOF TEXT, IS THE CHURCH LEGITIMATE?

CAN YOU DO CHURCH OR, ARE YOU JUST HAVING SERVICE?

- WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT, THE CHURCH IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT JUST BEING A LIGHT IN TERMS OF A BUILDING, BUT REALLY ENGAGING AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP.

AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERY SINGLE BLACK CHURCH, THAT'S HERE IN THE AREA, AND ACROSS THE NATION.

TO HELP TO BRING SOMEBODY'S LIFE, TO A GREATER LIGHT, AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD NEEDS THEM.

- IT IS THAT RICH HISTORY THAT, THAT OF COURSE PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL THAT WE DO, IN TERMS OF KIND OF MINISTRY AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE ENGAGE IT.

AND THERE IS THIS AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE TO BRING THAT FORWARD.

- RIGHT NOW, WE NEED, THE BLACK CHURCH.

AND IT NEEDS, TO STILL INFUSE OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE LARGER CHURCH, WITH THIS SPECIAL MINISTRY.

THE BLACK CHURCH, I MIGHT SAY, JUST AS THE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COLLEGE STILL HAS A ROLE.

AND THAT ROLE IS TO PROVIDE A WITNESS TO ALL PEOPLE, OF THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL, AS WELL AS THE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN A WAY, THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE, MAKE THINGS BETTER.

FOR ALL PEOPLE.

- BRING A FRESH PRODUCE GIVEAWAY AT HILLSIDE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH, ANYBODY WHO DROVE UP, GOT A FREE BOX OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FRESH FROM LOCAL FARMS.

- THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NARRATIVES, ABOUT WHAT THE CHURCH, AND SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK CHURCH IS, BECAUSE OF ALL THAT THEY SEE IN THE MEDIA THAT'S WRONG.

BUT THE BLACK CHURCH THAT I KNOW IS THE ONE WHERE PASTORS LIKE MY PARENTS WILL LITERALLY LEAVE THEIR HOUSE AT 2:30 A.M. TO GO SERVE A MEMBER WHO'S IN CRISIS.

THE BLACK CHURCH THAT I KNOW OF ARE THE ONES WHO ARE LITERALLY FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE NAKED, PROVIDING SHELTER TO THE HOMELESS.

THE BLACK CHURCH THAT I KNOW, IS THE ONE THAT FOUNDED THE FIRST HBCU'S, AND GAVE US REALLY THE FIRST BLACK MAJOR INSTITUTIONS.

AND SO THE BLACK CHURCH TO ME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FOUNDATION FOR OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.

- SO THE CHURCH IS STILL NEEDED.

WE HAVE A VOICE THAT'S HUGE.

IT'S POWERFUL.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

- I THINK THAT THE BLACK CHURCH IS IN PUBERTY.

OUR VOICE IS CHANGING, OUR SKIN GOT ACNE.

AND THE WORDS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER, YOU STARTING TO SMELL YOURSELF, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CHURCH WILL LOOK LIKE POST-PANDEMIC.

WILL PEOPLE COME BACK TO CHURCH, OR WILL IT PRIMARILY BE ONLINE?

- MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND.

WE HAVE OUR WORK TO DO.

TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE LIBERATION, AND EMPOWER.

♪♪ ♪♪