Black and White: Ministering to students of other races

I have a confession to make. I am the whitest guy you will ever meet. Jesus spoke about the town where I grew up when He said lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. I went to a predominantly white Bible College and I spent about six years as the youth pastor in a predominantly white church. Over five years ago God changed all that and in the process, changed my life forever. I am now the student ministry pastor in a church in one of the larger minority communities in Pennsylvania.

When I started here, “what did I get myself into” was a thought that came to mind more than once. I had been around African-Americans, Asians and Latinos before, but up to that point I never really had a meaningful conversation with anyone who didn’t look like me. So, here I was, trying to bring Jesus to students who came from a world that was completely foreign to me. I always thought I was a pretty good youth pastor – that God had given me the right personality and gifts to reach teens – but now I wasn’t so sure.

The first few months here I was unsure of myself. For the first time in nearly a decade, I wasn’t sure how to be a youth pastor any longer. The funny thing is, I was right where God wanted me – uncomfortable. I have learned a lot over the last three years. God has taught me many valuable lessons that I believe have made me a better pastor, to ALL of His people, not just the ones who looked like me.

First, I have learned to be myself. The world is full of fakes and insincere people and churches have their share of them as well. Students have an uncanny ability to spot them a mile away. I don’t have to be ghetto, wear a skull cap or pimp out my car in order to minister to urban teens. I don’t have to learn how to dance or rap. I can admit that I like Country Music.

One of my best memories is driving with a few students in the city. They were making fun of something I said or did, so I decided to put on some Alan Jackson. I cranked up the volume and rolled down the windows. There is nothing quite like watching five students trying to hide their faces in a little Honda Civic! I can admit that I don’t know what bangin’ means or that I didn’t know if something was sick, it was actually good. The funny thing is, the more I allow those things to come out, the more the teens respond to me.

I realized that God has given me a specific set of gifts and abilities to use for His glory. He has formed (and is forming) me into who I am today and attempting to be someone I am not is not only disingenuous, but sinful as well. If I try to be someone I’m not, then I’m not being who the Lord intended me to be and my ministry will suffer. My effectiveness will be diminished. So, I happily celebrate my confusion when it comes to urban culture. I make attempts to understand it and even embrace it to some extent, but I do not pretend to be anything I am not.

Second, love is a universal language. I asked an African-American brother from our church out to lunch a while back because I wanted his help. I asked him to help me figure out how to minister to the black students in my ministry here. He responded in a way that should not have been surprising, but caught me off guard nonetheless. “Love them,” he said.

The need for love and community in us all is the same regardless of the color of the packaging. The “God-shaped” whole in each of our hearts is just as large no matter where a person grew up or what kind of music they like.

Third and finally, I have learned that this is truly God’s design. I do not mean to demean or denigrate anyone who is ministering in a homogeneous ministry, but I have learned more about the Body of Christ in the last three years than I ever thought possible. In Revelation 7:9-10, John sees a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” What were they doing? Worshipping. With one voice, they were giving honor and glory to the One who created them Jew and Gentile, Black and White.

I believe that our student ministry is loving, reaching and building students up in Christ. But, even greater still, I believe they are reflecting a heavenly reality. They are getting just a small taste of what is to come. So am I.