February – Black History month

Today at 4 pm our Pathfinders will be presenting a special vespers at the North London Church (800 Fleet Street) about the Afro-American Heritage and pioneers in the Seventh-day Adventist movement.  Some may wonder: why is it important?  As I reflect on the Sabbath School lesson this week, the Biblical teaching of Acts 17:26, that God made all nations, all people of one and the same flesh and blood, needs to be reminded in view of recent history.  Think how different human relations would have been, and would be if all people recognized this truth.

Here in Canada things were a bit different, but we are still affected by attitudes of our American neighbours.  Consider these few facts that tell a sad story:

1)      From 1890 to 1909, when the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people was founded (NAACP) – nearly 2000 blacks were lynched in USA. 

2)      40 years after the Civil War and emancipation conditions for black Americans had gotten worse, not better.

3)      Voting rights had been taken away by intimidation, and legislative actions requiring would-be voters to pass literacy tests, thus excluding black population, which had no access to quality education.

4)      Life expectancy for black people was 14 years less than white just a century ago.

5)      Interracial marriage was a crime.

In a nation claiming Christian roots and values, human beings created in the Image of God were treated like worse than animals.  Yet, from the inception of our church spiritual leadership was set to change attitudes.  One of our pioneers, Ellen G. White took a bold stand proclaiming in 1891 at the General Conference meeting “I do not mean to live a coward or die a coward.  The black man’s name is written in the book of life beside the white man’s...Birth, station, nationality, or color cannot elevate or degrade men...Those who slight a brother because of his color are slighting Christ.”

The path for racial reconciliation and acceptance was not simple in our church history.  Yet a look at historical facts shows that our church was taking stand for advancing the work among Afro- American population from the beginning, being decades ahead of civic and social developments in the secular world.  In 1895 Oakwood College was established, together with many other colleges that will grow to become Universities. Since 1918 black leaders were serving at the General Conference, sharing leadership responsibilities.  In 1962 Frank L. Peterson was first black elected as the Vice President of the General Conference. In 1979 Charles Bradford was first black elected as the President of the Adventist Church in North America.  When one considers political environment of those years, the courage and boldness of leadership becomes evident.

May we always remember that Christ has purchased us all, from every nation, tribe and people to Himself.  We are brothers by creation and redemption.