by Baptist Beacon staff
PLYMOUTH, MI – Three African-American pastors share insights into the recent protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The conversation is part of the most recent episodes on the Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s (BSCM) new podcast, “Punching Holes in the Darkness.” Host Tim Patterson talks with Pastors Larry Johnson at Middlebelt Baptist Church in Inkster, Ken Nether at Crossover Church in Southfield and Cornelius Roberson at Heart and Soul Community Church in Detroit.
The conversation is a two-part episode of the newly launched podcast. The three pastors share personal stories of racism they have faced, as well as, the challenges to being pastors in predominately African-American communities. Ken Nether says he believes these kinds of conversations are important as we take steps to move forward. Cornelius Roberson adds, “We have to look at how we got here before we can figure out how to get out of this situation.” And Larry Johnson says the white majority churches don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s why it is important that we spend time together.
The BSCM has launched this new podcast called “Punching Holes in the Darkness.” for conversations like these. The online audio program is hosted by BSCM Executive Director and Treasurer, Tim Patterson. The podcast is a collection of interviews and stories about the ministry of pastors and churches in Michigan.
Patterson says his purpose for this podcast is that he wants Michigan pastors to have a voice on current issues, and to allow them to hear from key national Christian leaders. He adds, “I really want pastors to be able to see and hear each other whether they are ministering in the Upper Peninsula or in our urban center of Detroit.”
The first episodes of “Punching Holes in the Darkness”, include conversations about the COVID-19 crisis. Patterson along with BSCM staff, Dr. Tony L Lynn and Mike Durbin, share examples of churches across the state, and how they continue to minister during the coronavirus lockdown. The program also heard directly from pastors at Mile City Church in Plymouth, Heart and Soul Community Church in Detroit, Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville, and Redemption Church in Grand Rapids.
Patterson says, “We are doing this thing together so together we can punch more holes in the darkness.”
“Punching Holes in the Darkness” can be found on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, or at bscm.org/podcast.