Your Voice Matters

Chelsea Stone is a theology and sociology student at Mid America Nazarene University.

A few days ago MNU's football chaplain and local Nazarene pastor used his pulpit to speak into the current conversation of race issues going on in America right now. Many of the things he shared were untrue and showed a dangerous misunderstanding of the BLM organization and movement. 

Chelsea shared the sermon along with the above concerns. Since then she has been berated by older white folks supporting the chaplain and pastor. 

She has reacted in humility and grace. Her words echo what people of color have been trying to tell us for generations. 

"White Christianity is the most prevalent sphere of Christianity in the United States today, and it is wildly blind to issues of racism, sexism, nationalism, and other issues of power and injustice. "

"The truth is this, there is no place for people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, or women in white-washed Christianity. And I say this because people of color, people who are LGBTQIA+, and women cannot simultaneously read the Gospel and understand that there is a God that loves them when the lens they are taught to read with (White Christianity lens) fails to address them in the fullness and validity of who they are and the injustices they face."

"I know I am bold and that my voice is needed in this conversation"


There is so much more. I am not going to repeat the comments of hate and attack she has received over the last few days, but her posts are public. 

I wanted something that says "we hear you". "We are Nazarenes and we support you." "We value your voice and your words." "Black representation matters." "Black voices in the Nazarene church matter." "We are listening."

Chelsea doesn't have a car. She is looking for something cheap and reliable to have on campus at MNU. 

My hope is that Nazarenes can show her support in a small way by putting some change towards a vehicle for her. 

So instead of buying a card and finding a stamp if you could give a small donation that says "you are not alone at your predominantly white campus" or "we hear what you're saying and we are standing here with you."

A vehicle will help her get off campus and enable her to start volunteer work she is starting next semester.

If you can't donate that is okay too. Share this fundraiser or go comment support on one of her posts (maybe specifically on the one that calls out MNU to find a chaplain for their football team who actually supports black athletes and values their voices?) 

We are super thankful for anything you can give during this time.