When Jerry Light moved to Selma to become pastor of First Baptist Church, Selma, several years ago, he was surprised to learn that though the town’s population was 78 percent African-American, only two African-American churches were affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
“It bothered me because Baptists are always missions-minded — both locally and abroad,” Light said. “I know Selma has a racial stigma hanging over it but that was a long time ago and we need to move beyond it.”
And so Light and his church began making a concerted effort to reduce some of the divides that exist in Selma by doing things like hosting a joint Vacation Bible School with an African-American church in town. Light also met Juanda Maxwell, a member of Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Selma.
One Selma
Together, Light and Maxwell spearheaded an organization called “One Selma: Coming Home United in Faith,” a group that began meeting in Fall 2014 with the aim to lessen the racial divide by starting with the faith community in Selma.
“In a conversation [Juanda and I had] one day over the phone, we hatched the idea of having a unity march,” Light said.
The Unity Walk, which took place in March, attracted about 2,000 participants and commemorated the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” an incident in which 600 peaceful protestors marched from Selma to Montgomery and were deterred by Alabama State Troopers and a mounted group that used violent methods such as billy clubs, cattle prods and tear gas. Light and Maxwell advocated for the march to take place toward — rather than away from — Selma to “show that as a community we’re together and headed home,” Light said.
He said the march opened his and Maxwell’s eyes to the potential in the town, and the appetite for change in Selma. From there they worked with Sony Pictures to bring a showing of the movie “War Room” to Selma, which also was an extremely successful event.
They then started planning for their next outreach, Return to Worship Week, which took place Sept. 13–19. The event was a community-wide and denominationally inclusive outreach to encourage people to go to church — any church — in Selma that week, whether it meant re-engaging in or experiencing church for the first time. The event was called Return to Worship Week, Light said, because not all churches worship on Sundays, and he wanted it to be a highly inclusive event. Church members were encouraged to invite friends and family and the event was publicized.
Maxwell said, “We’re trying to find ways to get people in Selma to truly know one another. The only way we think you can effectively do this is through the faith community. Our faith and our service in Christ — that’s the only way to change it, the only way we can actually do something that will last.”
Local churches joined together, put up yard signs and distributed door hangers to publicize the event. A banner also was hung on City Hall to announce the event.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Selma, was one of the participating churches and rector Jack Alvey said his parish really embraced the idea. The church hosted a special “Sundae Sunday” event, offering an ice cream sundae bar after the church service Sept. 13. The event brought some people who had been absent from the congregation for some time and saw a handful of visitors as well.
‘Good for Selma’
Maxwell was encouraged by the outcome of the event.
“It just was amazingly wonderful and good for Selma. All of these [events] are steps toward a goal, which we feel is inspired by our Lord. And we’re working together, that’s the best part of it — working together black and white,” Maxwell said.
Light said, “Our next tangible project is having a minister’s conference for all the ministers in Selma. … We want everyone to be a part of this event.”
The faith community certainly seems to be embracing the efforts toward intentional change and improved race relations.
Alvey said, “I believe there is a hunger for improved race relations in Selma, and I think some of that hunger comes from the fact that for 50 years Selma has been painted in a very negative light in that department.
“I have also perceived the Spirit working in Selma to show the world how the good news of Jesus Christ can reconcile people of all races and colors. I feel that Selma, led by the church communities, is starting to live in that reality and God has certainly provided rich possibilities for reconciliation.”
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