Ministry Profile: Black Christian Ministries
Julius Gingles
Black Christian Ministries (BCM) is a group of students
seeking fellowship and community in a space valuing both
the Christian faith and the people and cultures of African
descent. Our mission is to deepen our relationship with God
while sharing His love and His message with Brown’s campus.
Though BCM is open to all, we center our discussions
particularly on the ways in which faith intersects with our
identity as people from the African diaspora.
Every Monday, BCM members gather in Harambee Lounge
at 9pm for Bible study. Our Bible study is largely student-led;
the questions, experiences, and thoughts of BCM members
often influence the topic chosen each week. We encourage
every voice to be heard, often discussing the Word in depth
in small groups and sharing our praise reports and prayer
requests with one another. In addition, many BCM members
engage in a weekly fast from Thursday at 8pm to Friday at
8pm.
The topics of our fasts vary widely, but often center around
issues affecting the Black community or students at Brown.
The fast culminates in our weekly Kickback, which is hosted
Fridays at 8pm in Page-Robinson Hall 411. Our kickbacks are
a time for further fellowship and discussion in a casual setting.
We often discuss the issues we have been fasting over, as well
as how to view events in pop culture and the media through
a Christian lens. We also just “kickback” and share stories,
make jokes, play games, and entertain one another in various
ways all while being sensitive to each other’s spiritual identities
and needs. The ability for BCM members to fast and pray
together strengthens our community and commitment to
God, which is the goal of the kickbacks and our organization
as a whole.
No matter what the spiritual level, this is a space simply
created for the fostering and development of the community.
It is also a space where everyone is welcomed to join and
relax, especially after a week here at Brown University. On
Sundays, many BCM members attend Church services at two
historically Black churches in Providence (Congdon Street
Baptist Church and The King’s Cathedral). However, there
are many other churches in the Providence area that BCM
members attend regularly. Aside from these weekly events,
BCM also hosts worship nights throughout the semester and
travels to the annual BCM conference in Massachusetts in the
Spring.
Rooftops, Kathy Luo ‘19
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