Torch, Spring/Summer 2012

“Y ou ... have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” The nations worshipping Jesus together in Revelation 5:9 is a fulfillment of Psalm 2:8 and the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19. This is why the vision of the church I serve is “to experience and expand God’s diverse Kingdom in the city and throughout the world.” Situated in a quaint, Civil War town in middle Tennessee, Strong Tower Bible Church has been a representation of an authentic, multiracial church. Since 1995, God has blessed our efforts to intentionally integrate by causing our church to maintain an equal racial balance between blacks and whites. But as our church was thriving primarily in black and white relations, we humbly realized we were falling short in brown relations. With the Latino populace in our city growing larger and larger, my heart became convicted about my lack of relationships and involvement with this group of people. Recognizing that the church Black, White, and Brown Together by Rev. Chris Williamson, M.R.E. A Tennessee pastor embarks on an integrated journey toward immigration reform. 20 TORCH | Spring-Summer 2012 RENÉ MANSI | ISTOCKPHOTO