20 Feb 2026, 09:39Dr Kirk ThomasWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Living the Gospel of Inclusion and Oneness
Pastoral Letter 20-Feb-26
Christian greetings. Seeing differences in Christian traditions during Black History Month matters because people can truly live out their beliefs, noticing how varied communities shape the faith. What stands behind this moment are scriptural messages that highlight belonging together, acceptance, and the worth every person carries - no matter their origin or skin tone. Looking into what such diversity means deeply inside Christianity opens paths to honour Black followers across time while following Jesus’ own example: honouring worth in every person simply because they are human.
Right from the start, what happened in Christianity ties closely to how people dealt with fairness and helping others rise. Its earliest writings show a clear message: everyone belongs together, regardless of background. That idea challenges the separation seen in cultures at the time. In Galatians 3:28, the Apostle Paul writes bluntly - being Jewish or not, being a slave or free, even being a man or woman - none of it matters now. Unity comes through belonging to something far larger than identity: oneness in Christ Jesus. These statements tear down walls built on race and gender, yet they call the first community to build life together through real listening. It sits at the heart of what many believers carry today - especially now, when reflections on Black lives rise annually - showing how belief honours differences instead of ignoring them.
From the earliest stories of faith, a call to oneness runs deep. Take Matthew's list of ancestors - Ruth from Moab makes the cut, just like Rahab born into Canaanite life; both are woven into Christ’s lineage without apology. It’s more than names on paper - it points to purpose. Every person drawn in shapes how we see love, inclusion, and purpose beyond one voice. What seems trivial carries weight behind the scenes. Seeing how Black Christians shaped faith have deepens our connection to Scripture’s core message - that grace belongs to everyone.
Looking back at Black History Month means noticing how Black Christian communities endured hardship while building success over time. Even when shut out by society or rejected by religious institutions, they held on through belief. Their journeys carry deep sorrow yet show remarkable courage. This reality keeps alive the need for fairness and inclusion today, within faith settings and beyond. From the roots of survival came many church traditions, soulful songs, and new ideas in theology - proof that hope grows strongest where pressure is greatest. What these figures left behind pushes today’s Christian communities to rethink their role in encountering difference among their own and nearby groups.
Seeing difference isn’t just honouring varied cultures - it’s speaking up when unfair structures still operate now. Called to mirror God’s reign, the church finds a model in Revelation 7:9, where people from all nations, tribes, tongues gather in common praise. That future picture pulls believers forward, shaping present days so Black experiences rise in worth and presence.
What stands out is how telling personal stories during Black History Month can shift a church's awareness. Instead of remaining silent, these accounts open space for honest reflection on where things went wrong. For generations, racial injustice found footing within religious communities - this reality cannot be ignored. By listening deeply to voices often overlooked, institutions begin seeing their own flaws reflected in them. Change does not come through grand gestures alone but also from small acts of honesty day after day. Standing against inequality becomes more than rhetoric when rooted in real-life experience. Belonging among followers grows when everyone has room to exist fully. God's vision for unity cannot be claimed without walking toward equity in practice. What happens here goes beyond what society must do. It ties into scripture, where mending broken ties stands at the heart of the message Jesus brought. That call to repair divides isn't optional. It's part of how faith defines connection.
What happens when voices come together? A conversation opens, showing how different beliefs shine in unique ways. Culture upon culture shapes how we see who God is - each story bringing depth, each journey revealing how God moves among us. Take African American spirituals, born amid hardship, yet holding strong themes: freedom rising, strength surviving, trust remaining. This heritage echoes the story told in Exodus - proof that God pledges freedom to those who are held down. Where Black spirituality meets biblical thought, understanding grows about how God acts across varied settings.
What stands out is how recognising diversity within Christianity deepens the experience of belief for each person. This awareness invites us to hear alternate perspectives, gain insight from unique journeys, while honouring the varied layers of God’s unfolding reality. Through such practice, followers echo the care shown by Christ toward human life, shaping spaces where belonging isn’t rare - it simply happens. So, the church must put effort into building real ties across different cultures - something that lines up with what Scripture teaches while also showing how God's three-in-one nature can fit together.
Truth sits quietly when we admit how much Black presence shapes Christianity during February. Scripture repeatedly pulls toward belonging, not just belief. Seeing Black believers across time reveals their role in shaping what faith looks like today. Following their path means turning theory into practice without grand announcements. What begins as awareness can grow into a real connection if nurtured with patience. Unity isn’t an idea - it’s a lived experience passed down through generations who refused to stay on the edges. When the church lifts people left out before, it shows what the whole message of Jesus really means - opening doors wide to everyone bathed in divine favour. Out of that place rises a light that shines bright, pointing ahead to days when belonging isn’t denied because someone was once overlooked. Go!SEC!Be Inpired for Mission!
Christian greetings. Seeing differences in Christian traditions during Black History Month matters because people can truly live out their beliefs, noticing how varied communities shape the faith. What stands behind this moment are scriptural messages that highlight belonging together, acceptance, and the worth every person carries - no matter their origin or skin tone. Looking into what such diversity means deeply inside Christianity opens paths to honour Black followers across time while following Jesus’ own example: honouring worth in every person simply because they are human.
Right from the start, what happened in Christianity ties closely to how people dealt with fairness and helping others rise. Its earliest writings show a clear message: everyone belongs together, regardless of background. That idea challenges the separation seen in cultures at the time. In Galatians 3:28, the Apostle Paul writes bluntly - being Jewish or not, being a slave or free, even being a man or woman - none of it matters now. Unity comes through belonging to something far larger than identity: oneness in Christ Jesus. These statements tear down walls built on race and gender, yet they call the first community to build life together through real listening. It sits at the heart of what many believers carry today - especially now, when reflections on Black lives rise annually - showing how belief honours differences instead of ignoring them.
From the earliest stories of faith, a call to oneness runs deep. Take Matthew's list of ancestors - Ruth from Moab makes the cut, just like Rahab born into Canaanite life; both are woven into Christ’s lineage without apology. It’s more than names on paper - it points to purpose. Every person drawn in shapes how we see love, inclusion, and purpose beyond one voice. What seems trivial carries weight behind the scenes. Seeing how Black Christians shaped faith have deepens our connection to Scripture’s core message - that grace belongs to everyone.
Looking back at Black History Month means noticing how Black Christian communities endured hardship while building success over time. Even when shut out by society or rejected by religious institutions, they held on through belief. Their journeys carry deep sorrow yet show remarkable courage. This reality keeps alive the need for fairness and inclusion today, within faith settings and beyond. From the roots of survival came many church traditions, soulful songs, and new ideas in theology - proof that hope grows strongest where pressure is greatest. What these figures left behind pushes today’s Christian communities to rethink their role in encountering difference among their own and nearby groups.
Seeing difference isn’t just honouring varied cultures - it’s speaking up when unfair structures still operate now. Called to mirror God’s reign, the church finds a model in Revelation 7:9, where people from all nations, tribes, tongues gather in common praise. That future picture pulls believers forward, shaping present days so Black experiences rise in worth and presence.
What stands out is how telling personal stories during Black History Month can shift a church's awareness. Instead of remaining silent, these accounts open space for honest reflection on where things went wrong. For generations, racial injustice found footing within religious communities - this reality cannot be ignored. By listening deeply to voices often overlooked, institutions begin seeing their own flaws reflected in them. Change does not come through grand gestures alone but also from small acts of honesty day after day. Standing against inequality becomes more than rhetoric when rooted in real-life experience. Belonging among followers grows when everyone has room to exist fully. God's vision for unity cannot be claimed without walking toward equity in practice. What happens here goes beyond what society must do. It ties into scripture, where mending broken ties stands at the heart of the message Jesus brought. That call to repair divides isn't optional. It's part of how faith defines connection.
What happens when voices come together? A conversation opens, showing how different beliefs shine in unique ways. Culture upon culture shapes how we see who God is - each story bringing depth, each journey revealing how God moves among us. Take African American spirituals, born amid hardship, yet holding strong themes: freedom rising, strength surviving, trust remaining. This heritage echoes the story told in Exodus - proof that God pledges freedom to those who are held down. Where Black spirituality meets biblical thought, understanding grows about how God acts across varied settings.
What stands out is how recognising diversity within Christianity deepens the experience of belief for each person. This awareness invites us to hear alternate perspectives, gain insight from unique journeys, while honouring the varied layers of God’s unfolding reality. Through such practice, followers echo the care shown by Christ toward human life, shaping spaces where belonging isn’t rare - it simply happens. So, the church must put effort into building real ties across different cultures - something that lines up with what Scripture teaches while also showing how God's three-in-one nature can fit together.
Truth sits quietly when we admit how much Black presence shapes Christianity during February. Scripture repeatedly pulls toward belonging, not just belief. Seeing Black believers across time reveals their role in shaping what faith looks like today. Following their path means turning theory into practice without grand announcements. What begins as awareness can grow into a real connection if nurtured with patience. Unity isn’t an idea - it’s a lived experience passed down through generations who refused to stay on the edges. When the church lifts people left out before, it shows what the whole message of Jesus really means - opening doors wide to everyone bathed in divine favour. Out of that place rises a light that shines bright, pointing ahead to days when belonging isn’t denied because someone was once overlooked. Go!SEC!Be Inpired for Mission!
