Staying Sane at Easter | 3 Churches Fall Victim to Racially Motivated Arson

Staying Sane at Easter | 3 Churches Fall Victim to Racially Motivated Arson | [View online]( [Give Now]( Advertisement [Local Church Outreach]( [CT Pastors]( [Subscribe]( [More on Outreach]( Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Staying Sane at Easter I remember the first year we decided to do an Easter breakfast at my small church in the Chicago area. We had never done this before, so it was a big deal. The church was financially strapped, but I thought this event could get some folks in the community to visit. Thankfully a member stepped up and offered to pay for the whole thing. I remember getting to the church early on Sunday morning, nervously checking for the caterer. Thankfully, not only did the food arrive on time, we had our largest attendance up to that point. And it became the start of a new season of fruitfulness and growth. [Staying in Tune with God During Easter Prep]( No doubt you are sweating some details about this coming weekend as you read this. Whether you pastor a megachurch or a small congregation, Easter is a big day. So how can a pastor stay in tune with God amidst all of the preparation? Pete Scazzero has a wonderful [piece]( helping us remember why we celebrate this Sunday. If Jesus indeed rose again, this is a day worth celebrating. I encourage you to pause and reflect for a moment. What might change in your context if you were to define success this Easter season not by the numbers but as radically doing God’s will? What external markers might become less important? What internal markers might become more important? Let’s remember why we do this. Let’s remember that because there is an empty grave in the Middle East, sin and death have been defeated, and we can have new life. [Bittersweet Easter]( Meanwhile, three congregations in Louisiana will not have buildings in which to celebrate Easter this Sunday. These three historically black churches were victims of racially motivated arson: St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas, and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. Thankfully, former New Orleans tight end, Ben Watson and others have [stepped up]( to help raise money for them to rebuild: Watson recently shared a social media post, showing that a GoFundMe account has been set up by the Seventh District Baptist Association. Their initial goal was to raise $1.8 million, so far they have raised just over $53,000. If would like to help with their recovery, you can access the page by clicking [here](. Imagine if Christians around the country joined together to help these brothers and sisters rebuild their churches and their lives. [The Relentless Tradition of Arson in the US]( Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. In [this]( written in 2016 after several predominantly black churches were set ablaze, Dawn Araujo-Hawkins discusses the trauma these congregations feel and the difficulty of pastoring people in this context. A church arson can be particularly trying for pastors of attacked churches because, in addition to whatever personal trauma they may be experiencing, they must also meet their congregations’ dramatically increased need for leadership during the building reconstruction process. ... The rebuilding process often creates division among the church body’s members, which pastors then have to mediate. Let’s remember these three Louisiana congregations as we gather with our families this Sunday. And let’s keep in mind, in the midst of the hectic planning and logistics, why we gather: Jesus, the perfect God-man, the fulfillment of God’s promise to save his people and renew and restore the world, rose again and is alive. This is why we gather. This is why we worship. This is why we live. [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling](mailto:krohane@christianitytoday.com) Advertisement More from CT Pastors [Can God Really Speak Through Committees?]( [Can God Really Speak Through Committees?]( These meetings are dry, contentious, and sometimes crucial for discerning God’s will. Jeremy Steele [Read More]( [Celebrating Easter When You’re Living Good Friday]( [Celebrating Easter When You’re Living Good Friday]( In the darkness, would God's presence break through? David Coffin [Read More]( [What Difference Does Easter Make?]( [What Difference Does Easter Make?]( The Resurrection's effects on life and death. Rick Warren [Read More]( Related Newsletters [CT Pastors Newsletter]( Each weekly CT Pastors issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [Small Groups Newsletter]( Regular access to innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. 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