Pastor Chris Ogden stressed the importance of recalling the past. He explained that doing so would make people appreciate what they had today.
Appreciating Significance of Juneteenth
In a report with Biblical Recorder, the Horizon West campus pastor shared that he grew up in a "white evangelical tradition." He recently celebrated Juneteenth with his congregation.
Racial Injustices Are Personal
Ogden said that he grew to appreciate the national holiday because of his life experiences. He read the writings of Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Ralph Abernathy during his internship in youth ministry.
He also became the stepbrother of his adopted stepsiblings, four of whom were African American.
The pastor realized that the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Trayvon Martin hit too close to home.
He explained that he worried over the fates of his siblings should the stereotyping continue. One of his brothers is Micah, a Black man with intellectual disabilities.
The pastor shared that Micah sometimes walks the streets late at night. He said that the deaths of Floyd and the others became personal because of the stereotyping.
Celebrating Juneteenth
Horizon West featured music by African American gospel artists during its Sunday service. The church posted a Juneteenth message on its Facebook page.
The multiethnic church is a campus of First Baptist Church of Orlando. Its campus director is African American.
Ogden told the news outlet that his fellow Southern Baptists should also celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday is important in today's culture.
He found it unfortunate that many in the white evangelical community failed to embrace racial equity work.
Ogden recently attended a Juneteenth seminar sponsored by Wycliffe Bible Translators. The online session was meant for pastors and leaders to learn how to honor the holiday.
The pastor explained that it was important for him not to tokenize the holiday. He added that he did not want to do something insensitive because of his ignorance.
He urged his fellow pastors to do the same and brush up on history. Ogden said that doing so would give them a sense of the reasons why it's important.
Educating Youth
Steve Hall, a senior pastor in Texas, said that churches needed to educate their youth on racial injustice.
He explained that many of the youth had no idea what sufferings their ancestors had to endure. Hall added that the children did not understand what had happened in the past.
The pastor urged elders to help the youth know their roots, especially the significance of the holiday. He explained that doing so would allow them to appreciate what Juneteenth meant for their culture.
He added that the youth would also understand the efforts being placed on the celebration of Juneteenth. Hall said that they would view it as a part of their history and not just another holiday.
What Is Juneteenth?
According to an article with WESH, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
They declared that the American Civil War ended and enslaved people were free. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became official on Jan. 1, 1863.
The 13th Amendment freed enslaved people throughout the United States.
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