Women of Repair
By: Sharon Hughes
On a recent visit to Oak Park, IL, my hometown and the first suburb west of Chicago, I decided to stop by the local Historical Society. Over the last year, I’ve been on a pilgrimage of unearthing historical truth that informs my understanding of current racial injustice while at the same time meditating on Isaiah 58:12 which says:
“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundation of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”
It’s easy for me to read that verse and think about “ruins” in places like England or the Middle East - locations where kingdoms and old structures rose and fell hundreds and even thousands of years ago. But what does it mean to examine the ruins, both physically and metaphorically, right where we live? If we are to be women who repair, rooted in the redemptive work of Jesus, it can be helpful to learn about what has been damaged in our own context.
As I walked around the museum I came across an exhibit that revealed a “breach” that had been broken on the suburban streets that I onced “dwelled”. What are now high-rise condos, the Gap and a cute french pastry cafe (where I’ve had numerous meetings over a yummy cappuccino), once stood Mt. Caramel Baptist Church.
At the turn of the century, black Christians migrated north, many new to Oak Park. They were looking to establish a permanent home to worship. After meeting in a temporary space, and facing overt descrimination over an initial lot to build on (the leaders of the town revoked their building permit after neighbors complained), church members regrouped. They raised funds, and on June 18, 1905 were able to break ground on a new location in Oak Park. Mt. Carmel became the first spiritual and social center for black residents in the town for over 20 years. Congregants worshiped together and lived out Christian community - sharing meals, childcare, a shoulder to cry on and a word of encouragement when times were tough.
However, their new church location was at the center of growing business development in Oak Park and on Christmas Day in 1928 a suspicious fire broke out in the church causing extensive damage.
The Pastor at the time, Samuel J. Ford wrote a letter to the local newspaper saying, “...we consider this to be the spirit of grafters within our ranks, and the spirit of grafters around us, who are willing to rob poverty in order to increase their oversurplus. Such grafters might well take cognition of that famous narrative recorded in the Scriptures (2 Samuel. 12, Chap. 1-7) and consider us in the name of justice.”
Later that year the local newspaper reported that the church had been sold and a commercial building would be erected in its place. Members of the church were forced to scatter and attend churches in nearby towns.
Justice was surely breached.
I’ve walked around the streets where Mt. Caramel once stood, hundreds of times. But after learning this history the words of Isaiah seem to groan even louder, both acknowledging the brokenness and pointing towards hope:
“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundation of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”
Oak Park is like many towns across the United States. To varying degrees, injustice, racism and a failure to see God’s goodness and design, or the Imago Dei (image of God), in our fellow human beings, has taken up residence where we live. As women of faith, what does it look like to repair and restore what’s been broken, starting with where our two feet are planted? We can start by considering the following:
Know your local history: It has been incredibly eye-opening to dig into the history of my local context, be it my town or my church. With understanding has come greater compassion and conviction to live out the redemptive work of Jesus. What is available to you? What resources are at your library or local historical society? Is there an older neighbor you could sit with and ask questions? Knowing our history bolsters the way scripture can be lived out in our immediate context.
Prayer and the Leading of God’s Spirit: Brokenness is all around us and we need God’s spirit to show us where and how to creatively work towards repair. We can’t do it on our own. In Ephesians, Paul urges us to live out our call as Christ followers with humility, gentleness and patience under the Unity of God’s spirit. (Ephesians 4:2) We can humbly cry out to God to lead us, trusting that He will show us how to be women of repair, no matter how big or how small the steps.
Remember that Jesus is the embodiment of hope and repair. As we meditate on scripture and read through the full text of Isaiah 58, it is clear that Jesus was and is the restorer of the ultimate breach of sin and death. And that gives us hope! It is because of Christ’s death and resurrection that we can fully live our lives with true redemption in mind.
The work of repair is long and these are starting points, but certainly not practical ending points. If we were to share coffee at the cafe where the church once stood, I would share the ways the Lord is leading me to take small steps of repair. However, the Spirit of God is leading us all to do different things depending on where we live and what season of life we find ourselves in. Digging deeper into your local history, humbly asking the Lord to lead you by His Spirit, and depending on the redemptive work of Jesus that is mapped out in Scripture, will allow you to take hope-filled steps toward rebuilding “ancient ruins” right where you are.
Sources
Suburban Promised Land: The Emerging Black Community in Oak Park, IL 1880-1980
Authors: Stan West, Peggy Tuck Sinko, Frank Lipo, Yves Hughes Jr.
Soweto Press and The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest 2009
