July 13, 2025
Bethel AME Church has been serving its com
munity since its founding
in the 1860s, the first Black congregation in Champaign County. Sixty or
more worshipers gathered there this July morning despite the fact that their
air conditioner is currently out of order. Pastor Terrance Thomas assured us
the service would not be overly long; everyone could read the announcements for
themselves. An usher supplied bottles of cold water and there were hand fans along with hymnals in the pew racks.
This congregation has a contagious spirit evidenced by
joyful music led by an enthusiastic director and accompanied by pianist, organist, percussionist,
and choir. They began with song and moved into responsive scripture reading.
The full service, easily followed, is printed in a bulletin. We sang the classic
hymn Blessed Assurance, and one of the men in the choir led in a prayer of
thanks, adding requests for multiple needs. Next was a time when people could
walk around and greet each other. Many came to welcome me.
Several ways to give to Bethel church were noted and the
choir offered an upbeat offertory. A
pastoral prayer was followed by a time of individual prayers. “Talk to God. The
altar is open or you can do it from your seat, but don’t leave here without
your divine encounter. The altar is open.”
After the music leader’s powerful rendition of
Open Our
Eyes, Pastor Terrance brought his message. He used the Bill Withers’ song, “Who
Is He and Who Is He to You?” to illustrate three aspects of our identity formation
as Christians, this morning's topic. Who are you? Who do others think you are? Who does God think you
are? In Matthew 16:13-17 we see Peter given the revelation of Jesus’ identity.
Jesus was not a Pharisee, a Sadducee, or a military leader. He accepted who he
was. He didn’t try to wear armor that wasn’t intended for him but corrected these
misconceptions of his purpose. "We can’t invite people to follow somebody we
barely know and we can’t invite people to follow us if we barely know ourselves." How people see us determines how they interact with us. We must thoughtfully
consider who we are and what we believe in order to make disciples and not just
converts. Besides knowledge of ourselves, Rev Thomas talked about understanding the identity
of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, its contribution to culture and its
mission to care for the social and spiritual needs of the community. He spoke
of the changing national identity. Here’s the good news, he concluded. “When you seek God’s
presence and instruction, God will reveal who you are, who Christ is, and how we’re
seen. And from there we can move accordingly and effectively to bring about the
Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.”
From the foundation of our own knowledge of Jesus, knowledge of ourselves, and
understanding how we’re seen, we are free to effectively invite others to the same transformative
journey.
Two
people came to the front to join the church during the altar call after this dynamic message. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. Amen.
