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Congregation Opens Doors & Hearts

By Uiyeon Kim
M.Div. 2006

June 9, 2005

Driving down to Mississippi reminded me of what I felt when I first immigrated to America in 1991 as a fourth-grader at Brown Elementary School. I still vividly remember my days in Lubbock, Texas being unable to communicate in words or in expression. Kids openly stared at me and scorned me for my differences as the first Asian kid to ever attend that particular school.

There are so many negative preconceived notions of the state of Mississippi in regards to racial tension. I felt somewhat uncertain and fearful of my status as a minority – would I encounter the same pain I once experienced as a child? Despite my concerns, the congregation of Epworth UMC has accepted and welcomed me as their student pastor. We continue our journey to develop a meaningful relationship together.

Epworth United Methodist Church hosted the 69th Annual Commencement of the Bethlehem Center of downtown Jackson on May 21, 2005.
The average congregant at Epworth United Methodist Church is well over 70 years old. Consequently, Pastor Jim Biedenharn and I spend a lot of time visiting shut-ins and folks at hospitals and hospices. In late May I helped baptize Lois Felts, a 94-year-old great-grandmother, at a nursing home with her three daughters present as witnesses. With the motto “we may not be able to change anyone but we can sure love everyone,” Pastor Jim and I engage in what I call a “blue collar” ministry. We understand that the congregants of Epworth want to know that their pastors care and love them. Therefore, we seek to show them that we care by spending valuable time developing real, meaningful relationships within and outside of the church. Our preaching takes place on weekdays, during our visitations, even more so than at Sunday services.

On May 21, Epworth hosted the 69th Annual Commencement of the Bethlehem Center of downtown Jackson. The Bethlehem Center is a non-profit agency serving low-income families by providing affordable childcare, a free income tax assistance program and community development projects in the Farish Street Historic District of Jackson. Through the event, the mostly white church opened its doors to the students, faculty and family members of the Bethlehem Center, who are mostly black.

To Pastor Jim’s recollection, Epworth UMC has never hosted an event like this. The Bethlehem Center was pleased with the event, which the church agreed to host again next year. Pastor Jim and I believe that this small step of racial interaction is a big leap for the church as we seek to open our doors and hearts to those outside of Epworth.

Some may criticize the slow process of racial reconciliation here, but I view Jackson as a place of wonderful opportunities and beautiful possibilities. Here I have found as much unity and willingness to collaborate within the United Methodist Church as in any other conference I’ve worked with. Racism is still a relevant and prevalent issue in Jackson, but I feel an element of honesty and sincerity in the church’s racial reconciliation process that I have not found elsewhere.

Working here, I am convinced that we, as Christians, cannot facilitate significant racial reconciliation without addressing the social and economic inequalities. Epworth UMC continues to struggle with both problems as much as any of the other churches that I’ve served. However, I find myself with much excitement and hope knowing that the people of Jackson are not in denial. Rather, most folks are willing to work together in community to find ways of co-existing as God’s people in peace.

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