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Posted: February 24th, 2011 Ken Garfield

Exchanging pulpits isn’t the half of it.

In a faith community where pastors preaching in a church of another color is considered trailblazing, two very different congregations are pursuing racial reconciliation to a degree rarely seen around these parts. Faith Memorial Baptist is a black church of 700 in the Lakewood community off Rozzelles Ferry Road north of uptown Charlotte. Grace Covenant Church is a white church of 3,500 visible off Interstate 77 at exit 25 in the fast-growing suburb of Cornelius. Yet when they share a service, meal or softball game, the differences dissolve, and they consider themselves one family of faith, devoted to one righteous cause.

To the Rev. Farrell Lemings, who has led Grace Covenant for 15 years, these two congregations are linking arms to change the world: “My passion is to see people’s lives and communities transformed by the power of the gospel. Basically what Jesus would do if he was here.”

Says the Rev. Dennis Williams, who has been at Faith Memorial Baptist for six years: “We’re just two pastors who love the Lord and wanted to get together and do ministry.”

Mission accomplished.

Through Xchange Sermons, the program encouraging white and black pastors to preach in each other’s churches, Williams is scheduled to preach Feb. 27 at Grace Covenant. His topic? “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he says.

Lemings, in turn, is set to preach March 27 at Faith Memorial Baptist.

There’s so much more.  Though separated by 20 miles and enough cultural and racial differences to scare off less determined flocks, the two congregations have been sharing ministry and friendship for several years. Lemings and Williams have swapped pulpits before. The choirs sing in each other’s churches. They put on a three-on-three-basketball tournament that included volunteers repairing kids’ bicycles. Lemings’ congregation helped Faith Memorial Baptist put in a shower and do some remodeling so it could host the homeless through Room in the Inn.

Inspired, in part by Psalm 133 – How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! – there have been prayer walks, and there’s even plans for a softball game so members of two churches can go to know each better. Grace vs. Faith. Not a bad matchup.

While the partnership with Grace Covenant has taught Williams a lot about the power of prayer, and implementing programs consistent with God’s will, he says it’s also opened his eyes to a powerful fact in these difficult economic times. The Lakewood community where his church is located has been hit hard, like so many others. People’s lives, and livelihoods, are fragile. But rather than dwelling on the problems, Williams says he has learned to celebrate the gifts and talents of his church members. Celebrate the grace of God. Celebrate the connection with a church that makes both congregations richer in spirit.

“God loves all of His people,” Williams says. “Love is a language everybody understands.”

Ken Garfield, director of communications at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C., has written extensively on Xchange Sermons. He previously served as religion editor at The Observer. Reach him at ken@mpumc.org.

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