By Sean Patton
Band and Orchestra Director at the Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art in Detroit, Michigan, and Member of Grace Community Church
As a Christian who is Black and American, I look back on my personal heritage, at my ancestors who hoped and trusted in Christ. As a father, I seek to encourage my children to look to God as their hope and salvation. As a music teacher, I use music as a focal point during Black History Month to help students understand and appreciate its meaning and relevance. My students learn about famous Black musicians and their contributions to our history through music. I encourage my students to see the healing and encouraging power of music because music is – and has been – an essential element in the narrative and culture of Black Americans. In times of struggle and triumph, much of what comforts, encourages, and edifies is housed in music created by Black people and informed by their lived experiences in America. From spirituals to the blues, from “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” to “Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac,” music has always been at the center, providing hope, providing encouragement, and helping to tell the story of how an oppressed people overcame through perseverance and, very often, trust in God. Music offers a way to understand how God has been a very needed refuge and strength for many Black Americans over the years.
In James Weldon Johnson’s poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” we are invited not only to lift our voices, but also to sing, informed by faith in God. The line “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us / sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,” calls to mind Paul’s words to the Romans: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 ESV). The stories written in Scripture teach how God’s people in the past hoped in God and overcame. They provide encouragement and comfort; they give hope. In the same way, I also learn from the stories of my ancestors past – oftentimes the “dark past” – and how they hoped and believed in God for a change to come. So when I look at the present and all the goodness that has come despite our “dark past,” I am full of hope, and I thank God.
The Scriptures were the backdrop of James Weldon Johnson’s song because they were very often the foundation that carried Black Americans through dark times. . . .
Are you curious about the future of the Church? Are you struggling to understand this next generation and how to disciple and equip them to participate in the mission of your local church? Do you wonder how God might be calling and equipping Gen Z in this unique season? These are the kinds of questions we need to wrestle with and discuss as the NAB community. Gen Z is the future of the NAB, and yet at the same time, they are also the church now – so how might we as a conference of churches empower and equip these young leaders today?
In this webinar, hosted by the NAB Emerging Leaders, Paul and Tanya Gericke will guide us about who Gen Z is as a people group and culture, provide clarity on their strengths and challenges, and help us consider discipleship implications for this generation. We seek growth and development to help us come alongside and equip these young people. Whether you’re a ministry leader, parent, youth worker, or member of Gen Z yourself, you’re invited to join us for a pertinent discussion about each of our callings to participate in how God is stirring up this next generation for his Church.
This webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific). Register today to secure you spot and save it in your calendar.
NAB White Cross is a compassionate care ministry that serves hospitals, health centers, and guest/rest houses in Cameroon. Through White Cross, NAB churches across the United States and Canada have helped fill a critical gap in tangible medical needs since WWI.
As the needs of our partners in Cameroon change, it occasionally becomes necessary to update the White Cross Handbook detailing the various ways to get involved and the various supplies they are looking for. You can find the link to the updated 2025 handbook below, as well as a link to the list of changes to highlight what is new with this most recent handbook.
You can also find a link to the January White Cross Canada newsletter, which includes the update as well as stories, prayer requests, and plans for the new year.
Read the Most Recent White Cross Canada Update
The most recent issue of TouchPoint is out now. This newsletter from the NAB Women’s Connection Team includes a ton of great resources and stories, including:
- Reflections from FOUR different women serving in various capacities across the NAB.
- A profile of Sara-May Cardy, pastor of Groups and Missional Life at Greenfield Community Church in Edmonton, Alberta.
- A praise-worthy update on the Saker Baptist College Water Project!
- And suggestions for winter book studies for your local women’s ministry.
Click on the link below to read the newest copy. You can also sign up to receive a copy directly in your inbox.