DAY 31: McKinley Can Come to My Church by Paul Bouchillon

DAY THIRTY-ONE: McKinley Can Come To My Church by Paul Bouchillon

As a young boy growing up in the 1960's, I witnessed quite a bit of change. Many events rocked our society and our nation. Churches were in the forefront of these sweeping changes. Some churches were used as tools for change. Meanwhile other churches stood as barriers to change. One incident that sticks in my mind to this day took place when I was 4 or 5 years old.

An older black man named McKinley Walker used to trim our hedges and do general odd jobs around the house. He was one of the finest people God ever put on the face of this earth. He was gentle and always had time for me. I would always look to see when McKinley was taking a break so I could join him. On this occasion, I invited McKinley to go to church with me. He did not answer me the first few times I asked him. But I persisted to the point where he could tell that my feelings were hurt. In his gentle manner, he placed his hand on my shoulder and told me, "Son, that's nice of you - but I can't go to your church. I have to go to mine." It dawned on me then that even though we were taught that God loves us all, "man" had decided otherwise. From that point forward, I saw the inconsistencies in the church and felt largely that people belonged to the church often times for social or business reasons. The church as I saw it was not the one that Christ established. He turned society and its rules upside down, then paid the price we could not pay by dying on the cross.

Church became an "obligation" as I became a family man - kind of like part of a job description. I began hearing about God planting a hunger in the hearts of a few families in the community to begin a new church. Many of these people I knew. I also knew of their convictions and their passions. But, their preacher was only 28 years old! I did not verbalize this but thought it to myself: "Here's a new guy - a kid - who is full of passion about changing the world but really has no idea about the 'real world' ".

I had the pleasure of going to lunch with Kevin Wood. It did not take long to disspell my prejudice. He was level-headed but passionate. Immediately I felt a bond of trust as we shared who we were. In November 2006 we went to visit and have not looked back. My life and those of my family have never been the same. In fact, during the last year or more, my family and I have gone through some difficult times. Not once did our faith family at Trace Crossing waiver in their genuine love and support. We have never seen such an outpouring of love - that agape love that can only come from our Master. But more importantly, as I see the vision of our church come to fruition, I am witnessing those old, man-made barriers being destroyed. It is a vision that has resonated with me since I was a young boy asking a simple question to an old friend. I thank God that now McKinley can come to my church.

My Prayer for Trace Crossing
Heavenly Father, thank you for inspiring the vision of Trace Crossing, stirring our hearts to live as Christ did, tearing down the barriers, seeking the broken for your Kingdom. Father, may we never lose that original passion you placed in our hearts. For it is in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.