In this issue of The People’s Voice, I want to take a moment to “piggy-back” off of the inspiring piece of work in this week’s “Voice” written by Melvin Brown entitled “Faith” – a simple but powerful concept. Yes, “Faith” is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.
I’m one who often reflects and speaks of my own faith. My bible tells me, “Yea a man (woman) may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: Show me thy faith without thy works; and I’ll show thee my faith, BY my works:” (James 2: 18).
When I read Melvin’s contribution for this week’s People’s Voice, my spirit was led back to our humble beginnings in this organization, and later to our effort to create this weekly publication which we hoped would serve to address the needs and interests of African-American people in this and surrounding communities. And, when I survey the mysterious ways that God works His mighty wonders and manifests Himself, I can only conclude that the whole affair was nothing more than a “Blatant Act Of Faith.”
When I think back over our early conversations about starting this paper, I remember the apprehension that was expressed. Many shuttered to think about what a big job it would be. What an awesome responsibility to take on! A hint of excitement mixed with a flood of reservation and reluctance, made for interesting discussions, because most people can easily foresee the difficulties obstacles, and greater potential for failure, instead of the positive impact and less apparent potential for success. Some thought we couldn’t do it; and even said it. Yet, my spirit remained focused on faith. And remembering the journey of a great African-American people, dating back to 1619 when they first arrived on the American shoreline in Dutch slave ships at Jamestown, Virginia, I could not help but to be encouraged and motivated by other such blatant acts of faith as those shown by our forebears.
My spirit was led back to the days of the great civil rights leaders and warriors, realizing that many wonderful and awesome accomplishments have emerged out of blatant acts of faith by such black historical greats as Frederick Douglas, Mary McLeod Bethune, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandella and so many others.
When Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, filed Brown vs. Board Of Education, 1954 in the United States Supreme Court, that was nothing more than a blatant act of faith…
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus in the 1950’s, that was nothing more than a blatant act of faith…
When Martin Luther King, Jr., made a conscious choice to step up and take the mantle of the Civil Rights Movement, that was nothing more than a blatant act of faith…
When in the midst of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a bereaved Coretta Scott King courageously returned to Memphis, Tennessee to lead the march that her husband was planning to lead; then moved beyond that day, to undertake the establishment of the King Center for Social Justice, it was nothing more than a blatant act of faith…
Dating even further back, to biblical times, when Queen Esther made a conscious choice to act in disregard to the established rules of the day and approach the king on behalf of her people, that was nothing more than a blatant act of faith…
When Jesus bore the cross out on Calvary to bear the sins of the world, it was the ultimate act not only of faith but an act of love …
Then, when I surveyed my own personal life, and how God has openly proven himself over and over….I marvel, “I’d be a fool not to trust Him.”
The inherent lesson in all these truths is that, in spite of doubt and fear, a faithful person is one who has to believe, even though he or she has no earthly reason to believe – that everything will be alright. Then, believing, one must go forth, thus acting on the basis of that belief, faith and trust. “Even so, Faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone.”
So, when all is said and done, at the end of the day, every act that is undertaken must be done in a spirit of obedience to the will of God, and faith in His divine power to see us through. God has repeatedly proven Himself in so many instances in my life, until I have no choice but to be obedient both to His will and word. Thus, it has been under his total anointing and direction that we have undertaken this newspaper.
So, without a shred of doubt, it is through our faith, and by God’s grace, we made history in July of last year by producing and publishing this black weekly news publication, and to date, have been able to maintain that status. And believing God to be true to his word, we have gone forward in faith. God has provided everything that we’ve needed in the form of resources, contributors, and individuals all over the East Alabama/West Georgia area, who’ve offered their support in one way or another. It has not been easy. But, little by little, and day by day, God is going before us, and making easy, our way; opening doors and windows. It is my prayer that as we continue this awesome journey, not only will we continue to make history – but we will be privileged to record history as well…
We can never know the outcome of our actions; when we start out on any journey. We can only move in faith – This is where “works” becomes a crucial part of the equation. I define ‘works” as THE ACT of putting our faith to the test.
It has been my experience that when put to the test, God passes every time…with flying colors. I flee from hurt, harm and danger; He rescues; I pray for safety; He shields and protects; I state my needs; He provides; I sow; He provides the soil; I plant; He fertilizes the ground; I water; He causes a downpour; I pray for a harvest; And He gives the increase.
God has an awesome task that he wants to accomplish throughout East Alabama and West Georgia. He is depending on a few of his faithful “foot soldiers” to do it. Perhaps The People’s Voice is one of the instruments that he will use to liberate His people.
Copyright 2006 by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson
This article was composed and written by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, and appeared in the February 8, 2006 edition of The People’s Voice African American Weekly News (www.peoplesvoiceonline.com). This article may be reprinted with permission from the author:
Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson
email: caclarkfrieson@msn.com
322 Wilkie Clark Drive
Roanoke, Alabama 36274
334-863-4885
334-338-1149
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Silence Still Gives Consent