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8 BOCNEWS.COMJULY 2015 Shooting Shows America Needs PrayerEnlightenment for Pastor Leonard I have learned over the last week how badly America needs prayer. Im reminded of the Scripture that says If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from our wicked ways I will hear from heaven then I will forgive their sin and heal their land so I am just reminded of how America is today and even the sin of racism that we see around our nation. The Church of Jesus Christ is the most seg- regated time of the week. Even Christians today tend to be prej- udice and they dont even real- ize it but its just simply not right that someone is judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character. Jesus is the Answer These were the words from long-time Pastor Dennis Leonard of Heritage Christian Center located in Aurora Colorado as told to the BOCN. He went on to explain that Im a white-skinned pastor so when I say this I know from reality that white America has no idea of the racism in America. The racial profiling of our Black folks or people of color is an astounding thing. One thing we do at Heritage Christian Center is that we have a saying Its not a black thing its not a white thing it its a Jesus thing. What we real- ly mean by that is that when we make Jesus the cen- ter of everything somehow the color issue seems to go away. But I do know that when a white cop pulls a gun on some teenage girls at a pool party theres something drastically wrong in our nation. When a person of color says You dont go to that white mans church do you its racism in itself. This problem is in our nation and we need to learn to deal with it. I do know that we have a spiritual enemy that Jesus called the devil and his plan is to divide and conquer. I believe the enemys plan is to divide the church. When we see a white racist young man walk into a predominantly black church in South Carolina when we see that it reminds me that we have a spiritual enemy that wants to steal kill and destroy and he will try to conquer us through that division. But we must stand together black and red and white and brown and yellow together and rally around the cross of Jesus Christ. Our actions determine our outcome Now pertaining to the murderer at Pastor Pinckneys Church it is no wonder to me that a young white boy grows up to be a racist murderer when the state of South Carolina flies a Confederate flag over its capital This young boy somehow was trained to be a racist and he grew up in a culture of racism and this needs to change in our nation. I know that Scripture tells us that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I just discov- ered that the governor of South Carolina has pro- posed that they take the Confederate flag down in his state and I believe that something good will comes from this horrible event that has taken place. Pastor Pinckney a great man of God I never met Pastor Pinckney but I know he must have been a great man and he must have been a great pastor. The reason I can say that is because there was a hearing for this racist murderer and at that hearing the relative and friends at that hearing every one of them said I forgive you. There is only one way first of all that you can forgive some- body in that kind of a situation and that is if Jesus Christ is in the middle of it. Another thing I know is that Pastor Pinckney must have been a fantastic man and a fantastic pastor because even after he was gone his people said We forgive you. I forgive you. I think we must learn to forgive people when situations like this take place. In order for there to be healing I do know that we have to forgive. And I know that this young shooter does not deserve for- giveness but one thing I know is that God forgave each of us and we didnt deserve it and there are times that we have to forgive others as well. Refuse this unfairness called racism I do know this that if God is on my side Ive got enough to make it. If God be for me than who can be against me I applaud the people of South Carolina they have pulled together black and white in the last few days. Dr. King had a strategy to help people of color. He said We negotiate we demon- strate and we resist unfairness to raise conscious- ness. So when these kinds of situations take place we negotiate and we demonstrate but we also resist the unfairness to raise consciousness in our nation. What took place was so unfair so ungodly. But what God is doing though He is going to take this situation He is so good and He is going to take this situation in Charleston South Carolina and begin to pull the people together and begin to put a spotlight on this horrible situation and you watch how theres going to be a change in some of these southern states that have been so prejudice over the years. God has put a spotlight on it today and its time for real change in America but the change has to begin with the Church of Jesus Christ. America MUST change Pastor Leonard acknowledges that there have been some changes in America but believes this is not enough. When I was 16 years old it was illegal for blacks and whites to marry in our country especially in the state of Virginia it was on the books you could not marry. Black folks could not vote in the south. Weve come a long way and God is putting a spotlight on all the unfair issues today that facing. I believe God is saying Lets deal with this racism lets deal with these unfair issues. When was the last time you put your arms around someone that was a different color than you or gave someone a hug that was different from you Change has to begin with us. God is putting a spotlight on it today and saying Deal with your mess Deal with your issues Pastor Leonard reminded the community one more time If we will humble ourselves and pray I believe that God will help us. I believe that God will help our people of color. God says that its time for change in our nation and change begins today. God is With Us Iwent to God in prayer and asked what He thinks is the problem in America and God related that we are His people and are not praying and spiritually discerning those who are amongst us and starting not to believe the Scriptures and the power that we possess. We possess the power to stem racism because the Bible says greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world. We are the people of God and the devil has to obey the Word of God All we have to do is speak His Word and know that God is with us. God allows things to happen to bring us together. He is bringing us back to His covenants. We are not to fear what man can do to us. Perfect love casts out fear. Our Hope is not in this Place The Lord laid on my heart that as unfortunate as the Church shooting in South Carolina and all the other ones have been and historically what has happened to Black people our hope ultimately is still not in this place There is a lot of injustice that has happened but ultimately we are all leaving this place. Our preparation for being with The Father is what we really need to focus on as well as the natural aspects of racism and injustice. The Lord laid it on my heart relationship with Him and relationship in the community. We Need to Step Up Iknow a lot of us look at this shooting in several ways and yes there was some natural prejudice that was happening but when we look at the overall picture it went far beyond that. Were fighting a spiritual warfare and anytime the enemy can get that bold and come inside of our Church and kill - that should tell the Church that we need to step up God is not looking for all the excuses He is looking for us to become the oneness of Who He is. We as the people of God need to get back to the basics of praying we need to get back to witnessing and we need to get back to God. This is the only hope weve got We Have to be Ready It is a tragic thing that happened in our country in our nation but the thing that sticks in my mind is that we have to be ready to go whenever God calls us to go. These people that lost their lives were in the House of God no better place could they have been than in the House of the Lord. Our prayers and thoughts go out to that part of the country and to those families and to that pastor who gave up his life. One thing about it I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. So I say to their families they have gone to meet their Maker God bless you and heaven smile upon you. This is my prayer for the families. Bishop Clyde Nichols Pastor Redeeming Love Fellowship Church CHURCH SHOOTING Apostle Ralph Beechum Sr. Pastor House of Joy Miracle Deliverance Church Pastor Kimball New Birth Baptist Church Pastor Terrence Hughes New Covenant Christian Church