ROGERS — Years before the new pas tor of First Christian Church on Oak Street in Rogers was born, his grandfather was the pastor there. Growing up, Shawn Wallace heard little about the Rogers congregation because he was so involved in his grandfather's Tulsa, Okla., church. Paul Wallace has been a pastor in Tulsa for 31 years.

"This church," Wallace said in his new Rogers office, "has a tradition and a history of calling and nurturing young pastors." His grandfather was only 28 years old when he headed the Rogers church. Wallace is 30 years old.

When he told his grandfather he might be coming to Rogers, he was pleased, Wallace said. His grandfather agreed that it was a great opportunity. When the elder Wallace was pastor, First Christian was located downtown, but the church was in process of buying the lot on Oak Street.

But First Christian is notShawn Wallace's first job.

After he completed his education, he felt a strong calling to work in a black church. He doesn't really understand that calling, but he found himself in Boston and started looking for a position at an urban church with a black population.

The Charles Street Church is located in Roxbury, an area very different from Wallace's childhood home in Tulsa, but he never felt afraid.

"The people knew I belonged there," he said. They sensed there was a reason for young, southern minister to be in their midst, he explained.

"That church was very spirited," he remembered.

"There's a lot of dialogue during worship. I believe there are a lot of white congregations that are yearning to feel their faith and that's something the African American church does well."

But in the end, they're still the same church, he said.

"We're serving the same God. We're all brothers and sisters," he said.

His goal is to help his new church become more multi-cultural.

"As long as we're segregated on Sunday mornings, we're not sharing our gifts.

I think there's potential here for a church that looks more like the Kingdom of God," he said.

He's also happy to be closer to home and family.

He loves the region and the chance to spend his free time outdoors.

His calling to Rogers was just as strong as his calling to serve in a black church, although he's waiting to find out why.

"God has a reason and we'll see what it is," he said.

In the Spirit, Pages 5 on 09/23/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.