“I grew up in Whitehaven going to school with neighborhood kids who looked liked me, but in 7th grade I transferred to an optional program in east Memphis. There were kids of all different races and cultures in my new school, along with a lot of things I had never seen before, like green hair and piercings. It was a culture shock. It took some time, but the relationships I developed in middle and high school helped me realize that different didn’t mean bad. We all had the same struggles.
“As the pastor of a church now, I still deal with those kinds of issues, but I think my high school experiences helped me learn better how to bridge the gaps. Even in a small congregation where all the members are of the same race, people tend to separate themselves from each other because of perceived differences. It’s not just skin color that causes division; economics is another big factor. But when we communicate, when we have conversations with each other, we realize that we have a lot more in common than we thought. Maybe this person is employed at a big corporation and makes a six figure salary, and another person brings home $25,000 a year working at a south Memphis Mom & Pop. But maybe both have gone through a divorce, they’re both single parents now, they both have to juggle work schedules, they both have to scramble for babysitters. When we sit and talk together, when we make the effort to get to know each other, we find ways we can relate to and help each other. Walls are broken down.
“Maybe you live in Cordova or Collierville. That doesn’t mean you don’t have problems. We all do. People who are more affluent have access to more opportunities, but that’s the only difference. Instead of avoiding each other, let’s help and encourage each other. Let’s give each other hope. We’re all human beings.”
“As the pastor of a church now, I still deal with those kinds of issues, but I think my high school experiences helped me learn better how to bridge the gaps. Even in a small congregation where all the members are of the same race, people tend to separate themselves from each other because of perceived differences. It’s not just skin color that causes division; economics is another big factor. But when we communicate, when we have conversations with each other, we realize that we have a lot more in common than we thought. Maybe this person is employed at a big corporation and makes a six figure salary, and another person brings home $25,000 a year working at a south Memphis Mom & Pop. But maybe both have gone through a divorce, they’re both single parents now, they both have to juggle work schedules, they both have to scramble for babysitters. When we sit and talk together, when we make the effort to get to know each other, we find ways we can relate to and help each other. Walls are broken down.
“Maybe you live in Cordova or Collierville. That doesn’t mean you don’t have problems. We all do. People who are more affluent have access to more opportunities, but that’s the only difference. Instead of avoiding each other, let’s help and encourage each other. Let’s give each other hope. We’re all human beings.”
Johnny Moore, III, also known as "Pastor J" serves Freedom Church at 25 W. Mallory.
Website: http://befreenow.us/
More about Pastor J HERE.
Website: http://befreenow.us/
More about Pastor J HERE.
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