Disciples of Christ leader helps mark church's anniversary
A predominantly black church with strong ties to its surrounding neighborhood marked its recent 100th anniversary with praise and a president.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his congregation at East Sixth Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ushered in the church's centennial with special guests, including local Christian Church ministers and church members; the Rev. Pamela Holt, Oklahoma Christian Church regional director; and Nancy Pittman, president of Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa.
The highlight of the recent anniversary worship service was the message preached by the Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, guest minister for the occasion. Owens serves as general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. An Indiana native, she became the first black person to lead the denomination and the second woman when she was elected to the post in 2017.
Owens preached from Philippians 1:6, which she said is her personal Scripture: “... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
The minister congratulated East Sixth Street members for carrying forward the legacy of the church's forefathers, who likely dreamed of the day that the church members of the future would celebrate 100 years of Christian ministry.
Owens said those forefathers put their faith in the Lord, not people, to see the work survive and thrive.
“For 100 years your confidence can't be in people. People will fail you every time. All human organizations have drama. My confidence is in Him,” she said.
Owens shared her own journey to the ministry as an example for the congregation to consider. She said she had a passion for the Christian arts and had hesitated to fulfill her divine call to preach. Eventually, she heeded the call and began her pastoral ministry career as pastor of a small white congregation in suburban Chicago, where she “saw what God can do when you simply preach the Word and love the people.” She said there was no “blueprint,” but she trusted God with her future.
She encouraged church members to do the same.
“I am confident God is not
finished,” Owens said.
The minister also said she was grateful for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination for its commitment to social justice and caring for all people.
“Our whole movement was built on the concept that all are welcome, and no one gets to decide who's in or out,” she said. “We cannot lose confidence in the work that we've been given.”
East Sixth Street member Nedella Foster, 86, said she felt blessed to be able to see the church reach its centennial.
“I'm thinking about all the things that God has done and the people that helped us get here. I think, boy, if they were here, they would be overjoyed,” she said.