The walls are breaking down tonight and revival is coming,” announced Rob Jackson as he opened the church service.
Although this was not a revival service, the packed house hummed with excitement as members of Central Baptist Church, Decatur, in Morgan Baptist Association and Emmanuel Church, also in Decatur, met for a special unity service at Central Baptist on a recent Sunday night.
Jackson, pastor of Central Baptist Church, and Karockas Watkins, pastor of the predominately black Emmanuel Church, got acquainted at a Decatur civic club meeting several months ago and quickly became friends.
“We got together and prayed and felt a kindred spirit,” Jackson said. “We began to meet together for meals.”
The two enjoyed each other’s company so much that they decided to get their congregations together so church members could enjoy the same fellowship.
The service, with an estimated crowd of more than 600, was a blend of two different, but compatible, worship styles.
The Judah Praise Team from Emmanuel led the worship service with Central’s praise team assisting.
Members of the two congregations sang, clapped and laughed together through the active service.
Watkins preached the main message, reminding the two congregations that they are more alike than they are different.
“Don’t put me in a box. Don’t judge me because of what you see. I am a new creation in Jesus. There is no such thing as a white church and no such thing as a black church.
“We are all Christians,” he said to the crowd.
Jackson agreed, saying that it would be a good idea “for all churches to join hands with other like-minded evangelical Christians to form a team to reach the world for Jesus.”
Members of both congregations felt the service was a success.
“I would like to see this happen more often,” said Jonathan Mitchell Watkins, a member of Emmanuel’s praise team. “I think the congregations have seen the power of unity — how we can come together as different races, different colors, and as Christians we can see the love of God shown.”
Jackson reported overwhelming enthusiasm among Central’s members. “This is good for our church and our community,” he said. “We want to let everyone know that the differences don’t matter if our ultimate goal is to further the kingdom of God.”
The two pastors are already planning the next joint service to be held at Emmanuel later this year or early next year.
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