Ministry in Georgia Uses House Church Method to Reach Black Families With Jesus

“Church for Black Men and Families,” although focused on recruiting Black men to get back to the word of God, seeks for families of all kinds to open their homes for small worship services as opposed to worrying about joining a church and tithing. (Courtesy Photo)

Imagine a church with no pulpit. Imagine a church with no choir. Try to wrap your head around a church with no VIP parking and no chance of NOT getting good seating, because the service could be in your own home.

That is the church that Jomo Johnson wants us to believe is possible. And he is working to make that vision possible.

No, Johnson is not talking about streaming the sermon on your television or laptop. It’s still live. The Church for Black Men and Families participated in the house church method.

“‘Church for Black Men and Families’ is born out of that mission to be able to create vibrant families of Jesus for Black men and their families in the Black community,” Johnson said.

Johnson started down a traditional path, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Beacon University and then a Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary. He veered toward the Presbyterian denomination and was working to build a church in Savannah, Georgia, when he said he was told that the plan did not include certain types of Black folks.

“They wanted a middle class African American church that could help financially support their ministry and cause,” Johnson said. “And they were bypassing people who were hurting, struggling or just people were were dealing with things they (the church Johnson was formally associated with) didn’t want to deal with.”

Johnson resigned from that church and went through a process of soul searching. He came out of that experience with a vision of a different type of church and a very strong opinion about churches that place a heavy interest on fiscal obligations for church members.

“Because the New Testament does not command financial tithing for New Testament Believers, Black Christians should leave any Churches that continue to teach this mistruth despite the good that these organizations may appear to do,” Johnson said. “This form of legalism, which actually robs the poor, is one of the key factors that Black men are leaving the traditional church.”

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Source: AFRO