It’s no secret that Dr. Wm Dwight McKissic is a friend to this blog and to several of us personally here at SBCVoices. The reason for that, I believe, is that we have seen his consistent heart and passion for unity among the people of God and we share that heart. I appreciate my brother more than he knows and thank God for him. Many motives have been ascribed to Dr. McKissic as he has pushed southern Baptists to consider issues surrounding racial unity and reconciliation. The overriding motive I’ve seen from him is a desire for true fellowship and unity in the body of Christ – a desire for us live as the people of God, loving each other and serving together. Dwight does what he does because he loves the Lord and he loves God’s people and desires us to be one.
That desire was the impetus behind a quickly organized worship service and panel discussion this Sunday night: A Kingdom Conversation on Race and the Alt-Right. The service will take place this at 6:30 pm this Sunday, August 20, 2017, at Cornerstone Church in Arlington with “the hope of bringing healing and unity to our communities, churches, and conventions.” If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and can attend in person, you are invited to do so – others can watch the live stream (see details below).
I got a chance to sit down with Dr. McKissic in his office yesterday where he shared with me his heart on the matter. “We’re a family,” he told me, “and we need to be one.” He shared with me his biblical conviction that our oneness in Christ was both commanded by God and needed, particularly in this moment, so the world might see and know Christ.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21
“As I watched things unfold in Charlottesville last weekend, my heart grew heavy,” he told me. As he sought the Lord about what he could do, the idea for joint worship service and discussion about race with leaders from around the Dallas area and the Southern Baptist Convention. Invitations went out to area pastors and leaders to gather for this moment. I know an earnest effort was made to have a diversity of political views participating in the worship service and panel including invitations to key pastors in the Dallas area. With very short notice, a variety of leaders agreed to come – to worship together and to have this needed discussion on race and the Alt-Right.
The worship service will feature choirs from Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas and Cornerstone Church. Dr. Steve Gaines will deliver a message “A Baptist View on Race” followed by messages from Pastor Ken Jones, “Who is the Alt-Right” and Pastor McKissic, “A Biblical View of Race.”
During the second hour, the service will feature a panel discussion on Race and the Alt-Right. Panelists include
- Dr. Steve Gaines, SBC president and pastor of Bellevue Church, Memphis, TN
- Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson
- Rev. Kenneth Jones, Jr., pastor of First Como Missionary Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
- Dr. Joseph W. Caldwell, President of the Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies
- Rev. Jason Paredes, lead pastor of Fielder Church, Arlington, TX
- Dr. Ronnie Goines, Pastor of Koinonia Christian Church, Arlington, TX
- Min. Oza Jones, Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Cornerstone Church
- Dr. William Dwight McKissic, Sr., pastor of Cornerstone Church, Arlington, TX.
If you live in the area, you are invited to attend the service at 6:30pm at Cornerstone Church in Arlington, Texas. The church is located at 5414 Matlock Rd. The Service is free and open to the public.
Others are invited to join the live-stream at 6:30pm Central Time via the following link: http://www.lifestream.tv/cbca/. You can also view the service via the Cornerstone website at http://www.cbcarlington.org and click the live stream icon or facebook live at https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneTX