Dear Friend,

Greetings in the matchless name of Jesus!

The Bible tells us that when one member of the Body of Christ suffers, all the members suffer with them and when one is honored, all the members rejoice with them (1 Corinthians 12:26). I want to honor and enlighten others about a remarkedly gifted and resilient people, my own ethnic heritage: Black Americans.

As we enter February, Black History Month, we take this time to celebrate and educate not only our nation, but the Body of Christ about the innumerable contributions that Black Americans have made to the United States and the world - contributions made in spite of the horrors of over 246 years of slavery and oppression. (Unfortunately, racism still exists, not only in the world, but also in the Body of Christ, which should not be so).

It is also a time to memorialize the millions of beautiful Black men, women, and children who were kidnapped, raped, beaten, and sold into slavery from 1619 through 1865. Many of whom died prematurely in their enslaved state due to malnutrition, violence, disease, being overworked and enduring inhumane living conditions. Let us also not forget the unthinkable psychological trauma endured by those torn from their families, cultures, and homelands. It is estimated that during the transatlantic slave trade, approximately 2.4 million Africans perished in the Middle Passage chained, starved, and tortured on the ships in addition to the 50 million plus lost throughout all of slavery.

While slavery has existed in various forms since the fall of man (Genesis Chapter 3), the radicalized slavery practiced during this period was unique, in that the color of one's skin became the sole determinant of bondage, with the enslavement extending beyond Africans to include Indigenous Americans, Islanders and other people of color.

LOVE GIFT

And yet, in spite of it all, the contributions of Black Americans have profoundly shaped our nation. From music, art, poetry, literature to dance, sports, medicine, politics, science, math, ministering the Gospel, and countless innovations, Black Americans have immeasurably enriched American culture. Many of these contributions remain unsung but are foundational to modern life as we know it.

You might ask, "Pastor Price, what does this have to do with the Bible?" The answer is, Everything! Even our Savior, Jesus Christ, hails from the Middle East, a region of the African continent. During antiquity, the skin color of that region was predominantly of darker, black, and brown skin tones - darker than what's been portrayed in most ancient and mainstream depictions of Jesus.

The Bible tells us that we are made up of one blood, and that there should be no schisms in the Body of Christ (Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 12:25-27). Jesus prayed that we would be in unity, so that we, as one Body, would proclaim His praises throughout the earth, and that the world would mark and identify us by our love for one another (John 17:23: Revelation 7:9).

On the subject of us coming from one blood and our shared origins, did you know that Black Americans brought from regions of Africa to this country have Israeli ancestry? In spite of our beginnings in the United States of America, because of our "ancestral" link to God's chosen people, many of us are from the lineage of the 12 tribes of Jacob! For more detail, please refer to my teaching entitled, "We are Israel."

As we reflect on the significance of Black History Month, let us remember that we cannot thrive without one another. May the love of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, compel us to embrace unity, empathy and continue the work of liberty for all who have been oppressed. Ever Increasing Faith Ministries honors the legacy of Black Americans who have gone before us. Let us repair the hatred and division and continue to build a future where all God's people and all God's creation are celebrated.

I want to take a moment to honor and dedicate this letter to one of the greatest Black men I have ever known - my father, the late Apostle Frederick K. C. Price, founder of Crenshaw Christian Center and author of the acclaimed Race, Religion and Racism book series. The best from this series, as well as the best from my teaching on Race, Division and Racism, are yours with a love gift of any amount. God's richest will be yours as you seek Him first.

In the Service of the King,

Dr. Frederick K. Price

PS: As we celebrate the greatness of a great people, please do not forget to sow a gift of love into Ever Increasing Faith Ministries, so that we may continue to spread the Good News of God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ to a world in need of the God kind of love.