Have Diverse Churches Solved Racism with Kevin Holland

Have multicultural churches made racism in modern churches a thing of the past? Are movements that pride themselves on being racially diverse effective in addressing racial injustice in the church? Should multicultural churches address racial injustice from the pulpit? In this episode, Kevin Holland who serves as the Lead Evangelist for the Turning Point congregation in LA joins the conversation to discuss his approach to addressing racism in the modern church.
Kevin serves as the Senior Pastor of Turning Point Church Los Angeles and an Evangelist and Elder with the Los Angeles International Church of Christ. He has a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree from the Harding School of Theology, is a coach in the Racial Justice and Unity Center network, is a member of the Christians Seeking Justice (CSJ) national justice ministry, and mentors church leaders around the United States. He and his wife Tracena have two daughters, Tory and Kennidy, a son-in-law, Tory's husband, Derrick Hinton, and a perfect granddaughter, Mia Love Hinton.
Tell us about your conversion and why you went into the ministry?
What has it been like to be minister and advocate for social justice and openly talk about racism? It has almost been taboo for ministers to talk about it. Why have you decided to take a stand?
There are many folks in the church who feel like racial conversations have created more division than anything else. What would you say to those folks?
What are some ways that churches can begin to engage racism in a biblical manner?
What impact is the churches’ conflict over racism impacting the next generation?

[@marciaredd5538]

Thank you for reminding us and speaking up so honestly. I don't want to forget what I learned in the last 3 years especially. I want to keep learning, seeing, hearing and growing and loving. I want to speak up and not be afraid as a white 61-year-old child of the king. My heart is crushed when I hear the pain of so many especially in Christian churches who felt shut down or were shut down because they were black or brown or something other than white. God continue to help us.

[@yesih-mac1304]

What a great conversation. I have to admit that throughout it I kept thinking I wish someone would defend or fight this hard for immigrant, refugee, farm worker, DACA kids -and boom Kevin touched on it at the end. Thank you!!! Lots to still grow.

[@abbyventura18]

Thank you for talking about the issues on immigration. Thank you its such an important topic and not talked about enough.

[@abbyventura18]

I loved this conversation but would love a video about the struggles that Latino Christians go through in the church. We are a community who loves God but also have been dealing with anti immigration laws, daca, trump. These past years the latino community have been afraid because there are so many anti immigrant laws and so much anti latino talk. Can you please talk about this in a video.

[@davidvartanian]

Great point: we’ll send missionaries around the world but not across town! I see that in our Special Mission budget. I wonder if the underlying attitude is that poverty in developing countries is considered a societal problem that we can have compassion on, but poverty in the US is considered a personal moral failure. So it doesn’t deserve our charity.

[@michelewalcoff4955]

Agree. That seems to me to be how American Christians think about the poor & serving them as God’s Image Bearers. In my opinion, quite a colonial, patronizing mindset. We are not imitating Jesus’ heart as he asks, “Who is your neighbor?”

[@christinpopculture]

If God and Jesus were for justice, Christians should be too. I think in our compassion for those hurt and fighting for various justice causes, when we meet them on their turf (protests, marches, other public meetings, etc), I think it creates an opportunity for us to share the love of God with them (if we go in there with the goal to love and not convert them). Side note, Kevin is a great brother-in-the-faith and I got immense respect for him 🙏

[@larandaeakin6649]

What a practical and important conversation! I am analogous to Kyle's in-laws (White, with Black granddaughters), so I FEEL invested in Anti-racism, yet finding practical ways to "move the needle" to make a better world for them has been difficult. This discussion has given me ideas and encouragement and hope!

[@larandaeakin6649]

Also, I look forward to reading the book you're writing with M. Burns, Kyle!

[@gretajohnson6503]

Dominant culture made me say, "Humm, which translates, yeah, that is a real issue

[@tamaraclark8292]

I think to your question, Kyle, about playing in the sandbox and not having an issue then, for me, speaks to the belief that I actually thought white brothers and sisters saw me as equal and saw my humanity. The reaction to the Trump area and racial injustice clearly exposed they did not see me.

[@tedmaster82]

I was converted at the University Church of Christ in Tallahassee in 1986!

[@gretajohnson6503]

This was awesome ❤

[@Mr.DReed10]

My guy! 💪🏾

[@tedmaster82]

What are some of the books you recommend on this impotent subject?

[@Riley24513]

❤❤❤❤🙏🤗