This month is Black History Month. And now we have the Obama phenomenon and Charisma magazine this month is devoted to the New Black Church. For years, I've wondered why inner city Black Churches, ESPECIALLY the Pentecostal/Charismatic ones, have put up with the gang/crime/drugs in their neighborhoods. I don't want to hear anymore about the poverty, racism and what the government won't do. It's a new day when every race and ethnic group here in America has a chance. Maybe not everyone in those groups, but a huge number now, than let's say 60 years ago. It's obvious that the mainly-white-man local/state/federal government isn't going to solve the problem. So, it will be up to the folks themselves. Some black churches ARE taking the challenge of the social crisis part. But what about spiritual warfare? Without this, the situation will really not improve. Below is one of the best quotes I've read about this:

We have a generation of young people who are drowning in their own blood. Young people are more fatalistic in 2008 than they were in 1908, and there is more violence in our cities now than there was during slavery. … The only way to reduce crime is for the faith community to step up and I’m not talking about one or two preachers showboating. You’ve all got to do it. You have to be the shepherd. You have to be the father figure. If you’ve got the Holy Ghost power, go out and put that power on the thugs. … God has given you an opportunity to resurrect faith and hope for a generation of youth.

__Eugene Rivers, pastor of Azusa Christian Community Church in Boston, speaking to a group of Jacksonville pastors about their role in reducing inner-city violence

Source: jaxdailyrecord.com, 2/4/08