Nowadays, the value of an appropriate leadership for the various communities is crucial, as this is basis for successful development of society and culture. When encountering the race and social problems, it is always difficult find an ultimate solution and to enhance the cooperation between community groups. In this respect, the art of ministry lies in a successful application of the leadership law while handling the church community. In his book, Samuel Freedman evaluates the difficult situation at St Paul Community Baptist Church and the lives of its pastors in the slums of East Brooklyn. The author also pays a significant attention to the positive changes that the church underwent due to advent of a new church leader, Johnny Ray Youngblood who proved the important of love and respect because “he owned, he loved it” (Freedman 50). Youngblood strong believe was only with the help of love and cooperation, a person could help the community.
The importance of a well-organized structure is very important, particularly in the field ministry for people and preachers to feel support. Referring to St Paul’s black church is the bright example of what consequence could be in handling the community without a diligent leader. It reveals the adversities and challenges existed in the black society. The city problems were revealed in the social and cultural characteristics. As the most part of children were born to single woman belonging to a poor black working class, the main function of the ministry, thus, is to call for people suffering from poverty to unite their efforts in overcoming the problems. In is obvious, then, that the church intervention into the black society contributes to improvement of the situation in the city and a better organization of the church where Youngblood philosophy was of great value.
St Paul’s church leader, Ray Youngblood experienced the same difficulties in his life. Being a small boy, he was separated from his father who was under the pressure of white people. The father and boy could not meet halfway for a long time and therefore they could not to establish normal relations. This fact greatly influenced the relations of Youngblood and his son, who he fathered log after his birth, as he could not acknowledge him. Over the years, the church leader tried to smooth the relations with his father as well as with his son. The minister realized then that he should overcome his pride and grief in order to resume family values and to become a good example for the church members to follow. In addition, Youngblood was aware of the daily life of humble people and especially children raised in single families. When becoming a pastor, he want to fill this gap thus establishing the patriarchal relationships in the church and to suppress the feminist tendencies:“Overall consciousness of the Universe, Father to all mankind, Father to all children, All wise, Almighty, and Everlasting, Thou art God” (Freedman 24)
It should be stressed that Ray Youngblood and his contribution to the development of the prosperous congregation within the church community. Witnessing the problem at Paul, the pastor realized that people lack the awareness of national identity of the black people so that the ministry required congregation and cooperation; it was in a deep necessity of a leader. Due to Youngblood’s efforts, the church and its members recognized that the primary mission to show that it cares the problems of citizens. Youngblood managed to engage the church into the daily problems of the black families thus interfering with the legal issues as well. The deeds of the leader managed to inspire other church leaders to reconstruct the goals of the church and to recognize the problems of poverty and racism (Smith 268).
Considering the inner organization of the church, the pastor succeeded in reconstruction of the philosophy of the church thus appealing to the ministry that became gradual realizing its mistakes. He also encouraged them to believe in the potential of the black people despite the existed problems, as the pastors and the priest themselves had the same problems with the family relations; they loved and hated and marries and separated. This new outlook made people to become closer to the church and to consolidate the effort in overcoming the pressure from the white society. In other words, the religious congregation led to the cultural and national unity. To promote his leadership policy Youngblood engaged the children to participate in singing and dancing in order to revive the spirit of the young generation (Smith 270). Finally, Youngblood managed to organize a powerful and framed community under the authority of St. Paul Black Church with religion that was available to each black citizen.
In conclusion, the above example showed that Public Leadership within the church community is the core principle of a successful society, as it greatly fosters the understanding and self-awareness of each person of the importance to be a part of the community. The effective church leader must prove to the parishioner that the power of the ministry is strong enough to eliminate all the social hardships. In addition, church leadership could enhance the image of the ministry so that the church member recall their faith in power of religion.
Reference List
Freedman, Samuel, 1994, Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black Church. Harper Perennial, US.
Smith, Caroline. 2007, “Youngblood 1948-” Contemporary Black biography: profile from the international Black community. Michigan University, US.