How did we get here? 

How we overcame!

Pastor Denis takes the opportunity this Black History Month to encourage us to draw inspiration from the legacy of faith of some Black historical leaders

As we celebrate Black History month this year and look forward to the year ahead, I think it is also fitting that we look back over our history and ask two important questions:

How did we get here?
How did we overcome?

When I look at some aspects of our history and some prominent black leaders, particularly from within the diaspora, there is one thought that keeps coming back to me. Despite the many obstacles, the many setbacks and failures that they had to navigate, it was their enduring faith in God and His power to deliver them that has got them through time and time again.

If you are from a black heritage, I don’t need to remind you of the many challenges that we’ve had to overcome.

Whether we have achieved in science, business, politics, education, the arts, sports or entertainment, many would testify that it was our faith that has often been at the centre of our hopes, inspiration and successes.

As I reflect on our historical journey, the numerous characters, testimonials and biographies, I’m convinced that our enduring faith has helped many of us overcome the ravages of slavery and the many limitations imposed on us through colonialism, racism and prejudice.

In fact, I am convinced that without the faith in God displayed by the likes of Sojourner Truth or Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, for example, we’d be looking at a very different Black history. Yes, I believe it’s been our faith that has kept us, our faith that has inspired us, our faith that has encouraged us, and our faith that has preserved us!

So, as we plan, learn, work, and press our way forwards to a greater future, with all its great possibilities, let us not forget the importance of our faith in God and our historical reliance on prayer. If it has served us so well for so many decades before now; it can surely continue to be a source of hope and Inspiration for many years and decades to come.

It is my earnest prayer that we all find the faith we need in good times and in troubled times, and that can help us stay the course of our good and noble convictions.

Happy Black History Month to you all.

Visit our resource page, Race, justice and God's agenda for more resources from Micah and others.

Remember: you are loved, you are valued, you are important.