Sending out his message through humor and stories, a South Bendpastor and Ball State alumnus told his audience that allethnicities and denominations should unite to spread the word ofChrist.
Mark Beeson, pastor of South Bend's Granger Community Churchspoke to more than 1,100 Muncie community members and Ball Statestudents and faculty gathered at Emens Auditorium as a part of theCity-wide Worship Service Sunday evening.
"Isn't it great that unity is not the same as uniformity?"Beeson said.
The program, entitled "One in Jesus," focused on joining membersof all Christian denominations throughout the city in worship.Beeson recounted childhood experiences as part of his keynotespeech to the audience.
"You've got to make sure you look down and make sure you'rehitting the home keys," Beeson said after describing a schooltyping contest in which despite his fervent efforts, his fingers,set on the wrong letters, caused him to make more mistakes than anyother student ever had. Beeson used the anecdote to remindaudiences that no matter how passionate their beliefs, some basiclessons will help devotees spread the word of Christ.
"Exuberance is a great thing," Beeson said, describing the joyof a person newly introduced to celebrating Christianity and urgingthe audience to form their passions into something productive. "Godhelp us that we never lose that passion of a new believer."
Beeson also recalled the fright he felt when spending the nightin the downstairs of his grandmother's home as she and hisgrandfather slept upstairs where he knew he could not go.
"You can't ever come upstairs unless I take you," Beeson'sgrandmother had told him. The story was an analogy to the abilityof only God to take his people to heaven.
"The one who came down is the one who can take you up," hesaid.
The City-wide Choir performed throughout the program singingupbeat modern Christian songs as well as the hymns "Amazing Grace"and "How Great Thou Art." Between musical performances, localpastors read scripture in both English and in the languages ofcertain pastors' home countries, including Kiswahili, MandarinChinese and Korean. The Muncie Women of Worship, clothed in whitegowns, also performed a dance.
Bishop Michael Millben and the Rev. Denise Millben led the groupin a prayer with Muncie Mayor Dan Canan. Asking God to giveguidance and encouragement to the official, Denise Millben alsocalled for a revival in the community.
Rachel Brown, a Ball State senior who attends services at MuncieAlliance Church, said she felt the event was successful in unifyingthe community's churches.
"I was excited to know there was a service for all differentdenominations and not just one," she said. "I didn't feel anycriticism. Everybody seems to be on the same page."
Tosha Wilson, a junior, had similar feelings.
"It's nice to know we can get together without havingdifferences," she said. A member of Christian Campus House, Wilsonalso mentioned that she could relate to the stories Beeson usedthroughout his speech.
"He put it in a dialect everyone could understand."
George Saunders, a pastor and Ball State instructor ofsociology, served as master of ceremonies.
"I thought we had a great evening," he said. He mentioned thattwo city-wide services took place about four years ago at WorthenArena, and Saunders said he looks forward to another event in thefuture.
"It's something I think we'd like to do again next year," hesaid.
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