Black faith-based institutions are known for their various ministries and auxiliaries—groups of people within the congregation dedicated to a specific area, interest and/or need.
In these faith circles, youth ministries, new member ministries, couples ministries, etc., are commonplace. Why? Because these ministries meet the specific needs of members and/or the communities they serve.
That said, there are additional needs for which we may want to consider founding new ministries: needs and issues so great that divine guidance and assistance are critical.
Here are five ministries your spiritual fellowship may want to consider adding to your ministry roster.
CIVICS MINISTRY
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Several congregations have some form of social action or community service ministry. Very few have ministries dedicated to teaching and preaching civic engagement.
But, as we can see with the results of Election 2024, this is much needed.
The difference in this past election regarding the outcome was the fact that whites voted like their lives depended on it, while Black people debated whether voting mattered or not.
One of the reasons white voter turnout was through the roof, and has been growing steadily for years is because white evangelical churches began preaching a message that “politics is sacred.” This began in the 1980s, expanded in the 1990s with the GOP’s “Contract With America” and has exploded with the rise of Trump.
The story behind this involves the purposeful investment by the GOP to wake up a group they considered a sleeping giant—white evangelicals who were less concerned about “worldly” things than they were about getting to heaven after death.
Now, they’re all about building a white heaven on earth and view Donald Trump as God’s ordained instrument to make that happen. Hence, they saw voting for Trump as their “Christian obligation.”
Even though very few Black congregations preach that “politics is sacred,” we have a long tradition of expressing that belief via our actions with numerous churches being politically active. But with congregations getting older, and fewer young folk attending, that message isn’t being preached or heard or passed down.
And we saw the results this past election, with the higher percentages of Blacks who didn’t vote—which is just one aspect of civic engagement. If 60-70% of us voted during past elections, we would have won them all. But with anti-Black Christians voting in record numbers, we need all hands on deck. And a Civics Ministry that teaches the importance of civic engagement (voting, organizing, holding elected officials accountable, issues education, etc.) is critical.
We need it if we’re going to prepare a new generation of politically astute young people.
ARTS MINISTRY
Involvement in the arts has been scientifically shown to improve brain functions and students’ grades in multiple academic subjects, especially math. The arts also open people to being humane and to having more compassion for other people and all of God’s creation. And right now, with today’s social/political climate, the ability to see others as human and as creations of God is sorely missing and sorely needed. Plus, the arts (music, drawing, painting, poetry, dance, etc.) are fun.
OUTDOOR MINISTRY
Outdoor Afro Houston participants. Credit: Screenshot.
Being outdoors is healing. Multiple studies show that getting outside in nature reduces stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension and heart rates – all risk factors for cardiovascular disease – and improves our mood, ability to focus and relaxation levels. Also, doctors say there’s an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. Getting out in the sun can help get those levels up. And getting outside in fellowship with others is even more healing. That’s probably why Black churches back in the day had church picnics and other outdoor fellowships baked into their annual calendars. But we’re so tied to being indoors, that we probably need a ministry dedicated to pushing our people to go outside now and then.
READING MINISTRY
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Individuals who rise to power and overthrow democracies, turning them into dictatorships, historically thrive on ignorance and stupidity. That’s why the first institutions they attacked and destroyed were schools, the arts, and the media; those entities that gave us information and challenged us to think and grow intellectually.
Tyrants who want to lord over people and do what they want without guardrails or repercussions also have a thing about books. They hate them and the scholars and artists who write them. So much so, in every dictatorial movement, this planet has ever seen, the people on the wrong side of history have been the book burners. They’re afraid knowledge will show their idiotic, racist, sexist beliefs to be stupid and dangerous.
If God’s people care about God’s people, they can’t stand for this. A reading ministry might not solve all issues related to attacks on democracy, but it will open folk up to learning and to discovering new ideas and different worldviews.
SELF-DEFENSE MINISTRY
Vee AJ Jitsu participants. Credit: Screenshot.
Self-love demands self-defense: defense of family, loved ones, community and self. “Turning the other cheek” does not mean allowing folk to destroy your peace, disrespect your community and beat you or your family down with physical violence. If our bodies are our temples (holy places), they deserve and demand protection. And with people being emboldened to be as racist and evil as they want to be, attacks will be on the uptick. Thus, so too must our faith institutions’ commitment to keeping their members safe and secure.
