By Tommy Farrell
Messiah
Baptist Church has been a leader in African-American spiritual prayer since
1897, and is now working to be a leader in the community through its social
programs.
“We want to become more inclusive
across the board,” said Reverend Michael Walker. “We want to address the issues
of justice and issues of mercy. People think that public policy issues don’t
happen where we are. I think that public policy takes place in our church. We
want to hear more people and address their issues. God is concerned about
people and humanity.”
This summer will mark the 118th
year that the Messiah Baptist Church will be holding services and meetings. The
church recently celebrated their sixth anniversary for jazz based worship
services. These services are held every Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Bible
Study is held on Thursday evenings as well.
Walker encourages people of all
races, sexual orientation, and financial background to join the parish during
their jazz worship services.
“Our jazz worship service is
intentionally diversified with no judgments or stereotypes,” said Walker.
However, the Messiah Baptist Church
doesn’t just want to be known as a church. It wants to be known throughout the
community.
Paulette, Walker’s wife, said the
church tries to touch peoples’ lives in a wide range of ways.
“The church is not only supposed to
be a place for spiritual development, but we want it to be a place for your
daily needs,” Mrs. Walker said. “We want the doors to be open for everyone and
anyone who needs help. You are encouraged to grow spiritually and socially here.”
“We have a tutorial program that we
run in conjunction with Stonehill College,” Walker said. “It serves our community because the 30 or so
students are not members of the church. We have piano lessons for children all
the way up to retired senior citizens, as well. We have a lot of varied
programs here. We want to meet needs for where they are.”
Jason Wheeler, 57 of Brockton, remembers his
childhood experiences with faith.
“My mother took me to a variety of
different churches while I was growing up,” said Wheeler. “I really liked the
singing in Baptist churches though. It’s a lot more interactive and welcoming. I
don’t think church is supposed to be designed to send people on a guilt trip.
Instead, more people should be encouraged instead of punished. That’s what I
like about the Baptist Church the most.”
The core values of the Messiah
Baptist Church specifically are inclusivity, integrity, abundance, gratitude,
and harmony.
“We’re a church community. We want
to do whatever we can to help people,” Mrs. Walker said.
Willie Wilson, Jr., a member of the
Brockton Assembly of God, a Pentecostal church, said he supports what the
Messiah Baptist Church is doing.
“These churches in Brockton really
know how to connect to the community, which is why the Messiah Baptist Church
doesn’t stop serving,” Wilson said.
The Messiah Baptist Church holds a
wide range of programs including a food pantry, a senior citizens social group,
a men’s fellowship group, and a women’s ministry. There are also academic
advancement programs and tutoring for children.
The “Within Reach” tutoring program provides one-on-one tutoring for up
to 31 students in grades 4-12. The program started 20 years ago by Rita Smith.
Susan Zandrow, an adjunct professor at Stonehill College, is now at the helm.
The Brockton
Interfaith Community also works with the Messiah Baptist Church. Members of the
Messiah Baptist Church met at Brockton High School to discuss the demerit
system in the high school. BIC’s goal is to hold one-on-one listening sessions
with different congregations in the city that can help can help attack issues
in the community.
“Concerned students, parents,
public officials, and members of the community came together to re-evaluate and
change the demerit system at the high school,” Lucas Bradley, communications coordinator
for Brockton Interfaith Community, said. “The current design of the demerit
system is negatively affecting the youth, families, the community, and our
future.”
Veronica Truell, the youth
minister at the Messiah Baptist Church, organized a public seminar at the
church, transatlantic diasporic development provided information on West
Africa’s state of affairs, as well as Hope
for Africa. Hope for Africa is a
non-governmental organization that continues to work on creating a positive
image for Africa’s future.
“Remember that our young people
need to hear this information as well,” Truell said. “What we learned may also
be impactful for the future of our youth in understanding the affairs of West
Africa. It is always my thought to teach our young people now, to train them
now, and to empower our youth now; and if possible bring them with you.”
“Rather than just building the church, we really want
to build people,” Walker said.
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