Emily Cash, left, one of the pastors at Valley Springs Fellowship, oversaw the question and answer period with Janice Gaines, seated on the right. Gaines is shown checking some of the questions sent to her via a QR code provided for that evening.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.”

Janice Gaines opened an inspirational evening with the age old popular hymn in a way only a Steller Award and GMA Dove Award-nominated gospel singer could. Her rendition wasn’t to the tune in church hymnals, but a tune backed with meaning behind each word.

Gaines was at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center, Warsaw, Saturday evening to bring a Christ-centered talk about race and its effects in society and where to go from today. She spoke on racial reconciliation from a faith perspective teaching that each person has a distance to travel in a diverse society.

“I’m going to talk about race, justice, unity. That’s hard stuff … in days like these, what is the big deal about this conversation? Is this an important conversation for now?”

Janice Gaines spoke to a crowd of close to 200 on a Christ-centered talk about race and its real effects in society.

Gaines is a gospel singer, public speaker, teacher. She also conducts an occasional online course titled “Braving the Deep” that addresses racial issues from a biblical perspective.

Gaines addressed those questions with the reading of Acts 6, where the Greek and Jewish widows complained they were not being treated the same. A committee was formed to address the problems. She also told a story of traveling with her father, who was a minister, to the bush country of Liberia when she was a college student. “I was very conscious about what happens where I’m going,” she stated. She packed a first aid kit and among other items toilet paper. To her that toilet paper was important.

In each example the problems were addressed. “In the midst of all that was happening, that was still important. There are spoils to be won on the other side of the conversation.”

She also referenced Rev. 5:9 and 7:9 relating why unity, race and justice was important to God. The scripture gives a glimpse of the end. That picture talks of all people, every tribe, nation and language being together.

Gaines noted society has created categories and each category is treated accordingly. “That’s a human issue,” she said.

She talked about identity in Christ. Using her height, gender and skin tone. My job is to remind myself, encourage myself, my identity is in him.” He planned it from the beginning. “The value God gives to us is by his sacrifice. Everybody is equal and unified. There is no hierarchy but we create hierarchy.”

Her presentation touched on privilege, principals of the kingdom of God, the dullness of just having primary colors for everything and the responsibility of God’s followers to multiply the kingdom.

She referred to Micah 6:8 where we are required by God to do justice, love, kindness and walking humbly with your God. “Justice is correcting what is wrong. Unity …. I’ve got to care about somebody else. … nobody gets out of this without a job.”

During the question and answer time, questions included elaborating more on doing the work, which she indicated using the gifts God has given you and what the stations in life are; representation of race in which she referenced Band Aid designing strips to blend with your skin. “not my skin,” she said noting the lack of representation matters a great deal.

Other questions dealt with bringing balance within churches, schools and bringing diversity into conversations. Gaines stated there are tangible ways to this, referring to breaking down the man-made barriers. She also noted social media is a great way to lend support. Additionally, she said to bring everyone into the conversation, breaking bread together, building genuine relationships can spur communication. Also meeting the needs of diverse students in schools can come in the hiring practices of staff.

The event was jointly sponsored by Valley Springs Fellowship and Branches Vineyard Church. Close to 200 people attended the 90-minute event.