There Is Deliverance In Brooklyn

"Organized religion will make you forget there is a god."

I've been the recipeint of many blessings in life. One of which is to be born into a family of faith. My mother's father was a staunch Baptist and her mother a Baptist/AME mix, who eventually became a witness for Jehovah. That's probably the only reason I'm nice to them. My frame of reference extends beyond interrupted sleep on a Saturday morning.

My mother became a Baptist by default, but I had the opportunity to explore. I chose the AME church because I liked the history, but eventually landed in the United Church of Christ, where I found acceptance and affirmation. Now I just have to find a UCC that can, at least, match the worship experience I had while in Chicago and DC. I'm still African American and like all the pomp, majesty and tribal beats that comes with our church services.

When I say I've tried out nearly every denomination, I really have. Mostly, because I knew someone who attended every church in the town I grew up in. Cousin Gloria attended the AME Church across the street, Aunt Mattie went to the COGIC down the street, Mother Sue went to the Pentecostal Church around the corner, Uncle George went to the Episcopal Church up the street and Cousin Doretha went to the storefront across town.

Over the years I've discovered the Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, AMEZ, Full Gospel, various Churches of God, you name it... I have probably been there. Until I was grown and realized the sermon actually meant something, all I needed was a hot choir and an occasional hat show, which COGIC gives you in abundance. I've even been to a synogogue, but I've never been to mosque. It's nothing against Islam, I've just never been invited.

I used to say that DC had more churches than Christians, but that was until I moved to Brooklyn. I do not exaggerate when I say that every few steps there is a house of worship. Right next door to my building is a Seventh Day Adventist Church (and I thought Saturday was cleaning day all across Black America). The building looks as if it were converted from something else, which is true of most churches in urban centers. I've worshipped in converted bowling alleys, supermarkets and dance clubs... oh wait. That wasn't a church. They were just playing gospel house music. You gotta get your praise in where you can.

When I was growing up the churches in my town were free-standing edifices, with stained glass and red-carpeted interiors. Even the two store-fronts had something beautiful about them, if only the pastor's car sitting out front. I remember one was called The Soul Saving Station. I'm not sure what the other was called, but it can't rival some of the things I've seen on storefront ministries here in Brooklyn. Some of the names barely fit on signs.

It seems that anyone who can gather some followers can start a church, which is cool because we all want to belong to something. I'm afraid sometimes because it's easy for people to fall prey to the right slick-talker. Jim Jones served his Kool-Aid cocktail to a lot of folks, but his followers placed their trust in him. Big mistake. Still, I love all peoples of all faiths because I believe that, collectively, we have faith in the same energy that sustains us all.