Living Reconciled
Living Reconciled, hosted by Mission Mississippi, is a podcast dedicated to exploring reconciliation and the Gospel that enables us to live it out. Mission Mississippi has been leading the way in racial reconciliation in Mississippi for 31 years. Our model is to bring people together to build relationships across racial lines so they can work together to better their communities. Our mission is to encourage and demonstrate grace in the Body of Christ across racial lines so that communities throughout Mississippi can see practical evidence of the gospel message.
Living Reconciled
EP. 63: Reverend Terry Williams and Healing Divides in Leflore
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Reverend Terry Williams takes us on a heartfelt journey through his life and mission in Greenwood, Mississippi, sharing how his faith has fueled his dedication to reconciliation. We uncover his personal experiences growing up in a divided community and the strides made toward unity, from increased representation of black officials to integrated churches and schools. Reverend Williams' sincere reflections illuminate the ongoing challenges while kindling hope for continued progress through collective efforts.
With over two decades of experience, Pastor Williams shares how building relationships fosters empathy and oneness. We delve into the necessity of collaboration and an open mindset to achieve lasting change.
Special thanks to Nissan, St. Dominic's Hospital, Atmos Energy, Regions Foundation, Mississippi College, Anderson United Methodist Church, Grace Temple Church, Mississippi State University, Real Christian Foundation, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Christian Life Church, Ms. Doris Powell, Mr. Robert Ward, and Ms. Ann Winters
This is Living Reconciled, a podcast dedicated to giving our communities practical evidence of the gospel message by helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured for us by living with grace across racial lines. Hey, thanks so much for joining us on this episode of Living Reconciled. My name is Brian Crawford and I serve as the host of this podcast. My friends Nettie Winters, austin Hoyle are not with me today. I am actually on assignment in Greenwood Mississippi, but I got a really, really good friend that I would love to talk more with, terry Williams.
Speaker 1:Terry Williams is a longtime native of Greenwood Mississippi, he is a pastor, he is a community leader and he is the co-chair of Mission Mississippi of Leflore County, and so I'm going to get Terry to tell you all about that here, but first I just want to give a quick shout out to our sponsors folks like St Dominic's Nissan, folks like Ann Winters, robert Ward, people like Anderson United Methodist Church, as well as Brown Missionary Baptist Church. Thank you all so much, because it is what you do that makes everything we do possible, and what we're doing today is talking to Reverend Terry Williams. Brother, how are you doing today?
Speaker 2:Doing good, Brian Good, Good man Doing good.
Speaker 1:Bad C here. Excellent, Excellent man, why don't you tell us a little bit about Terry Williams man? Tell us a little bit about your story of faith, how you ended up in ministry and your family.
Speaker 2:Let's start there for the work of God and I went into the candidacy in 2004 of the United Methodist Church as a candidate for ordained ministry and I became a local pastor in 2007 when I completed my licensed school in Gallman, mississippi, where the licensing were. But I'm just excited about just to be a part of what God is doing and I'm more excited about being a part of Mission Mississippi. We, like I say, we meet monthly here. Prior to COVID, we was having some great meetings and the momentum was really high and we was experiencing some some, some tremendous turnouts and promoting Mission Mississippi and just saw a lot of relationships being made. And so when COVID came, it just kind of everything went on a downer, but the passion was still there. So now, since we've resumed now about maybe six or seven months ago, the beginning of this year in fact, starting up our mission breakfasts again, and so here we are.
Speaker 2:I'm still excited about Mission Mississippi and what we're doing here in the Florida County.
Speaker 2:We're trying to continue to undergird what the state level is doing and I'm thankful for you, brian, coming to share with us and I just want to make myself available that, whatever it is that we can do through training or furthering, you know Mission Mississippi and being an outlet to do more and so.
Speaker 2:But this ministry is much needed here.
Speaker 2:I've lived here for many years and I've saw a lot of division and I've lived through a lot of that, but we have made tremendous progress and reaching out across the racial divides and some of the things that are going on. And I want to just say, man, we really have been experiencing a lot of you know things here in the Floyd County, like you know, shootings and all types of stuff. But we are praying, we're utilizing all of our energy, all of our efforts, and also we have the ministerial lounge here that supports Mission Mississippi and we also have another group called the Christian Pastors Coalition for Change, and so you know, these groups, you know, will come together, peer auditing, share ideas and so. But I'm just more excited about being on board with Mission Mississippi. I have a great desire to see this ministry strive and to really want to position myself as a local chair, to do all I can and to use and use all the effort and the fiber that I have to promote this ministry and help Mission Mississippi in any way that I can.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, you talked about Terry, this growing up in Greenwood.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I grew up here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when you're up here growing up in Greenwood, how would you describe the racial climate growing up versus the climate right now?
Speaker 2:Well, like I say, man, growing up, I saw a lot of racial divide. You know, I saw things that you know because, my dad being a painting contractor, you know we worked for a lot of Caucasians and we worked, you know, for some reason we worked for very few Black people but we did work for some periodically. But I did see things that you know, I've always been here but I saw a lot of one-sided because during that time, when I was a teenager, coming up, uh, in the early 80s, uh, younger, you know, there were no black people living in North Greenwood. It was just predominantly Caucasian people. Uh, you know Greenwood have really, uh, struggled for for quite a while.
Speaker 2:But I do see, compared to now, I do see change. I do see, compared to now, I do see change, I do see a trend of change because you know we have more black elected officials and you know I see some change in some of the political seats and what have you, and you know we've had a black mayor and I do see people reaching across the normal, and so I can see a difference. I can see a difference, but it takes both sides. It takes both sides and one thing that I have noticed is that some of the churches are coming together now. You know, I think when you look at First Prez or Northbury with Baptist, these churches have some black members now, and so when you look at a private school like Kilo Academy, you know they got a lot of black students. So that's a change. But, brian, I want to say that oftentimes I will hear people make the statement that, well, you know, it's the same way. It was back in, uh, 1960 or 19, but it's not the same.
Speaker 1:yeah, it's not the same, it's different yeah, you know, in our, in our frustrations at times, in our frustrations with progress, we can sometimes overspeak or undermine the progress that we've made. Of course there's plenty more progress to go, but we harm the progress that's ahead when we communicate that we haven't made any. We communicate that we haven't made any, but so it's like. So it's like if you, if you, if you have a young man, is, you know, in a track meet, or or he's in, he's, he's practicing for a track meet, and you tell the young man to run, run 10 miles, and he runs two, and you come back and you say, man, you ain't ran nothing. It's like, oh man, why am I even running that, running the rest of the eight? If you didn't see me run the two, then how about running eight? You know, and so and so it's.
Speaker 1:It's helpful for us to strive for progress, but not at the cost of undermining, right, the progress that we've made. So, like you said, we have made progress in our, in our state. There's definitely some things that we're doing now that we did not do 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 50 years ago, 50 years ago, certainly 60 years ago. But the challenge is not to or the or the task is not to undermine that progress.
Speaker 2:The task is to keep going, but I can honestly say not what someone told me, in fact, or what I could possibly heard, but I have seen a change.
Speaker 1:Yeah, here yeah.
Speaker 2:In the city of Greenwood, in LaFleur County.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I have Give me some. Give me some of those changes. When you talk about changes, what do they look like?
Speaker 2:What I have seen. Just like I said, there was a time where you wouldn't have or Caucasians or, in fact, african-american people meeting, yeah, and conversating. They probably did it privately or something like that, but now we have those open conversations, open dialogue, open conversation, open dialogue. Even me, as a, as a local pastor, as a, as a small businessman, I have great relationship with the mayor of this city, you know, carolyn McAdams, and the police chief and the fire chief, marcus Banks, and I talk with these people and share what I'm doing with Mission Mississippi and so. But, like I was sharing with you earlier, there have been a great change because I see more people conversating, I see more people not that you're being nosy, but they're hanging out a little bit I see more people having conversations about, and more people now are more energetic about, our city yeah, our city across the racial divide.
Speaker 1:I tell you I was blown away, if I'm being honest here. I know you mentioned that you guys had incredible momentum pre-COVID. I was blown away by the momentum that you got right now. Oh yeah, ethnic and cultural lives across the color line, yeah, and so you got white, black and brown all in the same room, incredibly energized and wanting to see the Lord do this work of unifying us across these lines, and so that was super encouraging to me today. That's one of the things I've been on cloud nine since I've been here, just really bragging to everybody that I've been talking to about what I'm seeing here, and so I assume that that in and of itself, is a reflection of that change. You've been talking about that that 30 years ago you wouldn't, you wouldn't have seen, you wouldn't have seen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you wouldn't have seen that, and so. But here, but here what I'm saying, although we're there, our presence are there, our energy are there to want to make a difference, want to, you know, hey, live into what we know that will be fruitful. But yet, brian, there are still some things that we struggle with. Sure, there's still some uncertainties, because, face it, let's look at it, we all come from different backgrounds, absolutely, and so we carry this, I wouldn't say baggage, but we carry this luggage around with us and oftentimes, you know, that could possibly paralyze us to go farther, in fact, or to go deeper, but I'm just crazy enough to believe, through the mission and the work of Mission Mississippi, that we are going to cross some of those hurdles.
Speaker 1:I just believe it, brian, and I think we have to, terry. I believe it. You talked about some of the violence in your community.
Speaker 2:Oh man.
Speaker 1:Unpack that a little bit more. What are you guys seeing in Greenwood as it relates to violence?
Speaker 2:We're experiencing gun violence, primarily among young African-Americans. I mean, it ranges from anywhere to 14, 16, 21, 22 years old. You know it had gotten so bad one time, brian, until Dr Green and myself and Dr it was 12 pastors we came, african-american pastors. We came together and said, man, something, something just got. We met at New Zion, reverend Calvin Collins and I thought about the 12 disciples and we met and we cried out and we started a movement called the Pastors Coalition for Change and we went to the courthouse. We got in touch with the mayor. We said, well, hey, this has gone too far. And believe it or not, man, when we came together, we just cried out that's all we knew to do. So, lord, what is this? And we cried out and believe it or not, man, you know it for what reason?
Speaker 2:It dialed down, it dialed down it just and so we're still meeting, we're still trying to come together and pull churches together. But we're experiencing gun violence and oftentimes, you know, people put stuff in the paper where and I don't feel I guess that's just the way it is People put something in the paper, make a statement about something, but you don't see their name, and so is that a way to stir up tension, or I mean. But I'm just saying you know that's something to think about on local mean, but I'm just saying you know that's something to think of on a local paper, but mainly it's just the gun violence.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know it has gotten and sometimes it stopped in a flare back up.
Speaker 1:So you mentioned the Ministers Association Passes for Change.
Speaker 2:The Passes Coalition.
Speaker 1:Passes. Coalition for Change yeah. What other initiatives, what other activities did you see in terms of bringing these different groups together to work on the violence?
Speaker 2:So what we do. We formed the Pastors Coalition for Change and we just went out in the community and it was kind of tough, but many of us, we went to those areas where this stuff was going on. We went there and prayed and we went there to those locations. It was a risk but we went there and prayed Ground zero, that's what the violence was going. We went there and prayed and we got out in the community, began to talk to people and one of my tasks was to connect with those families that lost those loved ones to let them know we're praying for y'all. We got them a card and passed a sign Just trying to let them know that, hey, you know, we're thinking about you, we're thinking about you guys, and it really spoke volumes and we took pictures with them.
Speaker 2:I went back to the coalition and said, well, hey, you know, this is a family I connected with, this is the family and they, you know, we stayed on top of them, connecting with them because of what they had experienced. But we wanted to be more visible in the community. Sitting around this gun violence, sitting around these things that are going on, we can't do everything, but our presence, yeah, it speaks, you know to go and check on these folks, man, but you just never know until you've been there. Yeah.
Speaker 1:You there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And so we also got connected with the schools. We met with the superintendent and we had a day where we invited all the young people. We had like a banquet it was with the city school and we donated their money that they could use towards whatever they wanted to do X number of dollars, whether it were to the band or whether it were to the school uniforms or whatever it was. We allocated a certain amount of funds for that and these pastors were during that time. These pastors spoke a word of encouragement and we encouraged the superintendent of the schools during that time.
Speaker 2:I think it's I forget the guy man, but he's a very nice guy and we planned that day together from the Pastors Coalition. So just trying to be creative and let the community know that. You know we're not here just to be out here for nothing, but we want to try to make a difference and, like, I was sharing with Dr Green and a few more of them, and one thing that I kind of thought about as a pastor's coalition, you know all of us are African-American and so, but I was sharing with them. You know we have to be more diverse. Yeah, we have to invite because more than us live here. Yeah, and you know when all this stuff is going on, it just it could affect any and everybody. I was about to say all of us are impacted.
Speaker 2:All of us are impacted.
Speaker 1:All of us are impacted. So how are we laboring and working to bring all of us to the table?
Speaker 2:Bring everybody to the table. You know, because, like you say, when this stuff go on, anybody can you know be affected? Absolutely, this stuff go on, anybody can you know be affected? Absolutely, you know, and so, but in spite of all of that, I still have motivation. Yeah, you know, I still have. I'm not going to. You know, Galatians teach us don't go weary. Yeah, and we only do it, and I'm enthused.
Speaker 1:In due season, we shall reap what we've paid, not, yeah, in due time.
Speaker 2:I'm excited. So, man, I tell you, it's just a. You know, I think it was for the Nehemiah that had a great desire to rebuild, yeah well, yeah yeah, around the city. Yeah, jerusalem, yes, sir. So you know, but I'm thankful. I kind of gravitate that concept because oftentimes, when you find yourself making progress and doing things, you're going to always be distracted. Oh, you know, come down, but you know he didn't come down.
Speaker 1:Right, did you have a great work to do, brother, because I thought it was worth it.
Speaker 2:No, that's where I am, man, you know. And let me just say for me, Brian, it's really not about and I have people call me man, you're doing a good job, man. Well, man, thank you, you know, I give the praise to God. Yeah, I don't. I don't desire no fame or no publicity, but I just want to try to position myself to be a help, especially with Mission Mississippi, because I have a passion for this.
Speaker 1:Tell me about speaking of Mission Mississippi. Tell me about what's exciting for you right now, what gives you hope, what gives you energy as you think about Mission Mississippi and what's on the horizon. You think about Mission.
Speaker 2:Mississippi and what's on the horizon. What gives me hope and energy about Mission Mississippi is what I have a passion for is to see people come together in the area of authenticity, in the area of just being real, to build healthy relationships for the betterment of our community. Until we, you know, gravitate the mindset that it's not about our skin color, it's not about notoriety or the positions that we hold in Christ's real world and that's what I see in Mission Mississippi too Cross those barriers that have crippled us for so long yeah, for so long that, you know, we can really have a deep conversation and be honest about how we feel and how this have impacted our lives, that we can pass on to our jury. And that's why I'm willing to invest in Mission Mississippi, because God has given me a passion to really get to know people that people would really get to know me.
Speaker 2:And so you know, and I'm thankful for your leadership, brian, I'm thankful for what you, what you brought to the table, that many of them came this morning as you shared your idea, as you shared your plan, with the next phases of what you want to teach us, that we can pass it on to teach others. So that's you know. I just want to be doing something. Yeah, I don't want to become stagnant. Yeah, well.
Speaker 2:And I believe in Mission Mississippi. Yeah, you know, from the first day, when I first met Dolphins, we were in Grenada. Wow, that was 20-plus years ago. Wow, I never thought that, you know, I would be a part of it this way, right, but I always did believe in it. You know, when they would send me little newsletters, I'd read it, put a little donation in there and said it, you know, and so, man, I just believe that the best is yet to come. There are better days ahead, amen. If we could just learn to work together. And, you know, accept the fact that it's, in a sense, it's hard. You know, trying to bring people together, absolutely, in a sense it's hard, you know, trying to bring people together, trying to, you know, I like to use your word pick people's brains, yeah, but it's also hard.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's hard work. Yes, I love when you say that that is not just simply hard work but, it's hard work. I love that.
Speaker 2:I love that. I love that and I've experienced that for myself and I'm thankful, man, that my mindset is open and I try to invite other people that I talk about Mission Mississippi. I share that with people everywhere I go. You know I'm sharing it with my church family and from what you have shared with us today, it has illuminated me even farther, when the plan that you were sharing me about the groups yeah, you know, man, that's been, you know, so I got to develop. I'm not just comfortable with you know, I want to do more.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know I want to manage my time. I guess if I could use that yeah, I want to manage myself to, you know, do more in the area, and so, therefore, that you know we can attain or we can reach more people, Because, like you said you saw it today, brian I'm surrounded with some good people.
Speaker 1:Yes, sir, yes, sir, man, outrageous people, man, you guys are doing incredible, incredible work in LeFleur County and, like I said, I'm leaving so richly encouraged and so grateful to you as the chair of this great local movement, and to all the others that are contributing to the work. I'm leaving incredibly, incredibly encouraged, terry. And so, yes, we're excited about what's happening in LeFleur County. We are grateful for all this happening in LeFleur County and how Mission Mississippi is playing an active role in the healing of not just racial divides, but cultural, cultural, cultural divides, ethnic divides, partisan divides, even, obviously, in a politically charged season like we're in, with people that are voting from all different persuasion, cast their ballots in all these different directions, and being able to sit in that room with that group of Christians and navigate through that and have that conversation in a way that doesn't lead to more harm but leads to healing and leads to understanding and empathy. That's at the heart or, at the end of the day, that's what Mission Mississippi is all about?
Speaker 2:Don't think about it. We share so much in common.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:More in common than we don't.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Well, and my desire is to be the feet, the arms, the eyes, those parts that will continue to position this ministry to breathe freely yeah, not struggling to do it in a way. And, of course, you know we're going to face all type of obstacles. Yes, you know we're going to face things, challenges, just as David faced Goliath. Yes, many giants going to come. Yes, in our way, but I know that, trusting God and really being adamant about the work that needs to be done and one thing that you said so bravely was that I can't do it by myself.
Speaker 1:No, no, this is teamwork. This is teamwork. It's necessary work, but it's teamwork, it's teamwork, it's teamwork.
Speaker 2:But I'm believing, with your leadership, your ideals and the things that God is giving you, along with your coworkers personally helping you facilitate in that area, we're open. Praise God, we're open. Yeah, whatever it is that we can do in the future, things, we're open. Praise God, we're open. Yeah, you know, whatever it is that we can do in the future, things, we're open. And the reason why I say we, because I have a group of people that can trust me, that I built relationship with these, which is important, yes, sir, which is important. Yes, sir, you know, even in my work area, brian, one of my main objectives is and I've been told well, man, you're the best planter there is. But what I tell them, I say well, I put it this way, I said I really believe I'm not the best, but I can do it until he shows up. Yeah, yeah, I said maybe do it until he show up. Yeah, yeah, I said maybe do until he come. In other words, you ain't going to tell me to pack up and leave until he get there.
Speaker 2:So, and that's, you know, I'm adamant. But my main objective is, even in my profession, the first and foremost, I want to build a relationship with the people that I'm working for, because that's important Absolutely. They may call me back. Want to build a relationship with the people that I'm working for, because that's important Absolutely. They may call me back if I build a relationship. And in fact, brian, if the truth be told, I work for people. They don't want no relationship, they want me to get your work do your work get away from you, and I have experienced it.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, you know, I've tried to talk to them.
Speaker 1:They didn't really want to talk, just OK, but relationships, like you said, relationships allow, leave room for greater work, greater work to be done, and that's my intention. Absolutely, absolutely. Relationships leave room for greater work to be done.
Speaker 2:Mary, you just don't know how thankful I am, man, for you just to come in and, man to man, I'm telling you, man, I'm going to get phone calls all day, terry, man, this has been, I'm going to get phone. I'm serious, you don't know, I'm going to get phone. I've been getting texts, I've been getting phone calls. Man, how did you get the president? How did you get the president?
Speaker 1:But, terry, this has been my pleasure, man, let me tell you, and my absolute joy, in fact, the privilege has been all mine to spend this day in LeFleur County with Mississippi. Lefleur County, terry Williams, you are doing a phenomenal job, man, I have to praise you and to God be the glory For those that are listening.
Speaker 1:Feel free at any time to subscribe to our podcast. You can go to any podcast app and search on Living Reconciled where you can subscribe, share and like this episode and any other episodes that you might be listening to. It's been great to be with Terry Williams in the LeFleur County Mission, Mississippi group this week. I am Brian Crawford, with my friend Terry Williams signing off saying God bless. Thanks for joining Living Reconciled. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of the ongoing work of helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured, please visit us online at missionmississippiorg or call us at 601-353-6477. Thanks again for listening.
