FERGUSON – Diversity is not just a buzz word here at First Baptist Church. It is an opportunity for ministry.
Senior Pastor Stoney Shaw explained that the church made a strategic decision to reach out into the community.
“We had the blessing of transition,” Shaw said. “I came several years ago as a transitional pastor. During that time, the church evaluated ‘Who we were and where we were going.’ We had a heightened sense of direction.”
At the time, according to Shaw, the demographics of the neighborhood indicated a population of 55 percent black, 44 percent white, and 1 percent Hispanic. Also, he said that two weaknesses emerged in the evaluation—evangelism and discipleship.
“It was obvious to us,” Shaw said, ‘that if we were going to reach this community for Christ that we would need to be more sensitive to the needs around us. We heard stories about African-Americans wondering if it was ‘OK’ to attend the white church.”
Shaw believes that God brought the staff together to lead the congregation in this outreach, including: Ron Beckner, associate pastor; Ike Motley, assistant pastor, who is an African-American; and Gabe Fox, minister to students, who has a Jewish heritage.
“When Ike moved back into the area,” Shaw said, “we prayed together for six months and God melted our hearts together. He is biblically solid and he has a heart to reach people. So, after talking with Ron (Beckner), the church decided to bring him on part-time.”
Motley agrees with Shaw about the direction of the church.
“We need to get outside those four walls and into the community with the people God loves,” he said. “We need to minister and reach the hurting and the lost.”
He has also seen a movement in the congregation.
“People love and accept me now,” he said. “We get comfortable ‘doing’ church. But, unless we reach out and have an impact here, we’ll be dying here.”
The men agree that the impact is being seen in transformed lives.
“One of the young men who accepted Christ,” Motley said, “was a former drug dealer and a member of a gang. People in the community recognize him and the way he is changed and they wonder why he is different. God is able. He can transform the vilest person’s life.”
Fox has seen God moving in the church.
“Making the church black and white is not the issue,” he said. “Paul preached the same Gospel to all. God is drawing people to Him. It is nice to have the church reflect the diversity of the neighborhood, but God’s drawing is not something that meets ethnic needs.”
First Ferguson is taking the Gospel out to others using a variety of methods. Recently the 2nd annual tent crusade was held on the parking lot. By mid-week, 14 people accepted Christ. The following week, the tent went to Meacham Park in Kirkwood where Motley has been leading young people in a weekly Bible study.
“We began meeting in an elementary school,” Motley said, “but, we had to move to the park. This is the same park where young men are selling drugs and others are meeting for other sins. One night, the police came up to find out what we were doing. When I introduced myself, they had heard about us and the positive impact on the park. They offered us help with the tent meeting. They are providing chairs.”
“Friday Night Out with Jesus” is a series of worship services held on Friday evening at Ferguson. Motley said this provides “a date with Jesus” for young people instead of going to clubs and bars.
“These services also give an opportunity for white and black to worship together,” he said. “Color is not important and denomination is not important. We want to come together as Christians to worship and praise.”
Pastor Shaw identified the ultimate bottom line to the outreach.
“God is leading and it is a matter of us being obedient,” he said. “It is good to see salt and pepper worshipping together.”
VICKI STAMPS/contributing writer