Local Caucasian Author to Speak on African American Church History
When Crown Point resident Bob Kellemen speaks the night before Martin Luther King Day at Bethel Church in Crown Point on “Heroes of Black Church History,” he’ll start by addressing the proverbial “elephant in the room.” Why is a white guy speaking at a predominantly white church about the legacy of African American Christianity?
In his own words, “I grew up on 11th and Hovey in downtown Gary in the 60s and 70s when Gary was one of the most integrated cities in the country. I attended Calumet High School and always maintained great friendships with Hispanic and African American classmates and teammates. I now teach at Capital Bible Seminary where we have no majority culture. I’ve spent my whole life in a multi-cultural environment. I believe God has called me to a life-long, cross-cultural ministry.”
When Senior Pastor Steve DeWitt and Counseling Pastor Gary Butler learned that Dr. Kellemen was attending Bethel, and that he had written a book on African American Church history, they quickly began exploring ways that they could minister together to equip the church and community for multi-cultural ministry.
Pastor Butler explained how the seminar matches the vision of Bethel Church for authentic, life-changing fellowship “which happens as believers in the church gather to focus on Christ and minister to one another. By loving, serving, encouraging, exhorting, and praying for one another, Bethel strives to be a community hallmarked by Spirit-driven acceptance, concern, friendship, unity, and growth.”
Dr. Kellemen will base his presentation at Bethel Church on his book Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. According to Kellemen, even the writing of the book was a multi-cultural experience. “I didn’t write the book alone; I co-authored it with Karole Edwards who is a wonderful African American friend and a graduate of the seminary where I teach. Karole and I like to say that we didn’t co-author Beyond the Suffering as much as we co-edited it. We wove together first-hand accounts of the amazing narratives concerning how African American Christians found courage and comfort in God and each other to move beyond the suffering of slavery to a place of healing hope.”
Edwards further described the books purpose. “Through Beyond the Suffering, we desire to inspire today’s generation as they hear the voices of past African American believers speaking through its pages. By listening to their personal narratives, readers of all races learn that no matter how difficult our external circumstances, we can move from victims to victors.”
During the presentation, which takes place Sunday, January 18, 2009, from 6:00-7:30 PM, Dr. Kellemen will focus on celebrating this great legacy of African American Christianity. Through an engaging PowerPoint presentation, stirring historical narratives, moving personal applications, and cross-cultural ministry implications, Kellemen plans to demonstrate how the African American heritage can empower people of all races to live more effective lives.
“This event,” Dr. Kellemen elaborated, “is a gift to African Americans and a gift from African Americans. It is a gift to African Americans because it validates their tremendous treasure of healing wisdom that has been buried for far too long. I want to be a voice for the voiceless African American believers of the past and finally tell their empowering story. As a gift from African Americans, the presentation is for all Americans. It equips everyone who attends, regardless of race, ethnicity, or culture, to minister to one another more effectively, especially during times of hurt, loss, and suffering.”
One of the real-life stories that Kellemen will share is called “pulling the rope in unison. “It illustrates the practical nature of the entire seminar,” Kellemen commented. “Venture Smith was born in Guinea about 1729. Kidnapped at age eight, Robertson Mumford purchased him a year later. After living with Mumford for thirteen years, Venture married Meg at age twenty-two. They remained together for over forty-seven years, through many trials and tribulations, until parted by death.”
“Venture’s narrative contains an explanation for their marital faithfulness. On the occasion of their marriage, Venture threw a rope over his cabin and asked his wife to go to the opposite side and pull on the rope hanging there while he remained and pulled on his end. After they both had tugged at it awhile in vain, he called her to his side of the cabin and by their united effort they drew the rope to themselves with ease. He then explained the object lesson to his young bride. ‘If we pull in life against each other we shall fail, but if we pull together we shall succeed.’” According to Kellemen, “we would all do well to heed Venture’s advice, whether as married couples, friends, co-workers, church members, community members, or neighbors.”
The seminar is free and open to the public. For more information, people can contact Pastor Gary Butler of Bethel Church at 219-663-9200. The church is located at 10202 Broadway, Crown Point, Indiana. Those wishing to learn more about Beyond the Suffering can do so at Dr. Kellemen’s website: http://www.rpmministries.org/.
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