Enlarge Photo by Ayofemi Kirby

Posted: February 22nd, 2010 Ayofemi Kirby

A couple weeks ago, I was awakened by a man’s voice. I opened one eye and then the other, and was pleased to see that the voice I heard was coming from the television – and not from anywhere else.

The voice was that of a young man being interviewed about leading a congregation of "non believers” on his college campus. This young man said that he and other atheists should hold regular Sunday service and weekly gatherings like “believers“ do. But that the difference between his message and the messages of “believers” was that one did not need God to be good and that his word would always encourage others to be compassionate.


I believe in God, and as far back as I can remember, I always have. But, what troubled me from what I heard that night was not the increase of young atheists at colleges around the country, but that their perceptions of God did not include the compassion and goodness they seek.



It broke my heart to think that this young man felt like people gathering in houses of worship didn’t do so to serve a God of compassion or that God was as interested in a peaceful afterlife for his followers as he was in sharing a little piece of heaven right here on earth.

But, I could understand why he felt that way.

Through history people have done some horrific things in the name of God - in fact, they still do. And my experience with “believers” has sometimes led me to question God and the people who follow him. So, I could see the motivation behind starting a movement for those who believed in their power to change the world for the better sans the need or talk of a higher power.

On Valentine’s Day, I wish I could have invited this young man to join me for the Xchange Sermons service at Unity of Charlotte. I think he would have enjoyed being greeted with a smile he could see and feel. I think he would have appreciated reciting the church’s mission statement to “inspire and empower spiritual living in a world awakening to the power of love.” I believe he would have joined everyone in applause when a man named Fred responded to a call for celebrations with “I got a job!”  I think he would have enjoyed reciting the morning’s prayer of oneness: “I forgive you. Forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”

I also think he would have agreed with Pastor Nancy Kraft of Holy Lutheran Church, when she said that our human relationships should tell us about our relationship with God. 

Pastor Kraft, who had exchanged pulpits with Unity’s Rev. Nancy Ennis, said that God is love, and that God wants us to love him with everything we’ve got by loving other people. I wish the young man who woke me up that night would have heard her say that. 

I experienced love from the moment I walked through the doors of Unity of Charlotte. I felt the church’s mission is not at all to convert or to condemn, but to connect and to restore the human spirit. I also felt their belief in the power of words to help reach their goal was apparent in their actions.

On Valentine’s Day, my hope and vision for a place where all people could come together and could express their beliefs through the same behavior was made real.  Honestly, I didn’t think it existed. I have the good people at Unity of Charlotte and Pastor Kraft to thank for that.

From my experience, the congregation at Unity of Charlotte would have welcomed the young man on TV and his followers into their service with open hearts and open minds. I also believe that with that type exchange, both God and the young man on TV would be very well pleased.

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