Now, the

cemetery for white folks has been kept up all along. Yet,

the one for the slaves didn't rate much upkeep. Under the

leadership of Dr. Elton Johnson, pastor of Antioch

Baptist Church, church members, aided by the Singles from

New Hope Baptist Church, removed trees, chopped bush, cut

back briars and weeds to unclutter a Black cemetery long

forgotten.

This past

Sunday, Dr. Johnson led his church in reevaluating the

status of the Black Christians buried in the cemetery. As

he called out a name, members said, "We honor you as

a sister/brother in the Lord." Afterwards, members

were invited to take a cross, kneel at an unmarked grave,

pray that the curse of slavery be lifted off, and then

drive the cross as a grave marker. Extraordinary stuff!

The Antioch

affirmation of its African-American members is a part of

generational repentance: repenting for the sins of our

fathers and forefathers. This kind of thing could be the

source of genuine racial reconciliation in the United

States.

Only four

or five years ago, as the giant Southern Baptist

Convention met in Atlanta, did it corporately repent of

defending slavery, thus resulting in its break-away from

northern Baptists and forming the southern group of

Baptist churches.

Could it be

that in order to deal with racism, many of us churches

should repent for the behavior and attitudes of our

forefathers? Could it be what's keeping church after

church from receiving God's blessings our refusal to deal

honestly and repentatively with our past? How many

cemeteries where African-Americans have been buried have

been long forgotten? Maybe Antioch's example will prompt

other churches to examine how we have treated our

ancestors of all colors.

Speaking

for some of my pastor friends whom I know would let me

speak for them, hurray for Antioch Baptist Church and

Pastor Johnson. We salute you! We respect you for your

courageous action! We seek to emulate you!

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