There was a point in the history of the African American local church, in which God moved to use men to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faithful men such as Allen, Grimke, Payne and others, labored for the spread of the Gospel among African Americans. It was a point in history in which African Americans were adjusting to new found freedoms and understanding they like their white counterparts, were all made in the image of God.

God has not changed and neither has His mandate to spread throughout all nations and proclaim His mighty name. In fact, God is zealous that His name and holiness is made known to all and it would be done through salvation (Ezekiel 36:22-38). This is the mission of God. Since this is God's mission who has been revealed in Christ, it only follows that those who profess Christ would joyously partake in their Savior's mission as well.

There is currently a cancer spreading among many local African American churches, in which little or no Gospel preaching is heard, thus the mission of God is being ignored. Churches may have "revivals, evangelist or missionaries on the front row," yet little or none of them are endeavoring to build the Lord's Church. What is the impact of this failure to join in God's mission for the spread of His name and the building of His Church? In recent statistics, of the 118,600 U.S. foreign missionaries, 1% was African American (World Christian Database, 2005). The African American local church is sadly absent from the mission field both local and foreign.

Objections will quickly rise, in that many local African American congregations provide some type of social need to those in the community and abroad. While providing for social needs is admirable and demonstrations of God's graces, the providing of goods and services are not what God uses in the conversion of sinners. Agencies such as the Boy's and Girls Club, the United Way and Girl Scouts, provide the similar services. What makes our mission unique? The Scripture is clear that it is through the clear proclamation of the Gospel sinners come to faith in Christ (Romans 1:16, 10:13-15).

Secondly, the building of the Lord's Church is not examining how to expand the sound department to rival a theater production. The growth of the Church is not tied to endless conferences on financial planning or schools of leadership. The building of the Lord's Church has only been accomplished when faithful men and women are preaching the Gospel and doctrines of Jesus Christ. The mission of God is found in proclamation and demonstration of both His holiness and love to all groups of people everywhere.

The way ahead then is the same plan Paul gave to Timothy. We must preach the Word of God. We must do the work of evangelists, making full proof our ministry. Every African American who professes Christ must participate in the mission of God because it is not for a select few. It is only in the exaltation of Jesus Christ that the Church will be built dear people.

The African American local church must take her place on the mission field and walk in the mandate of God to preach Christ and not temporal pleasures. We must exalt the great Savior and not religious traditions. We must stand publicly, boldly and unashamedly, proclaiming Christ. We must proclaim Him in order that men and women from every kindred, nation, tribe and tongue would gather at His throne and worship Him for all eternity.

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