"Lack of unity can destroy all we seek to accomplish for God," the Rev. Jimmy Hanf, pastor of St. George Baptist Church, told those attending Sunday's Racial Reconciliation Service at Stevenson Auditorium in Orangeburg.

The event was sponsored by the Orangeburg-Calhoun Association of Clergy.

The highlighted scripture for the program came from Colossians 2:2, New International Version: "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."

Hanf spoke on the difference between theologies and why many Christian ministries fail.

"It isn't persecution. It isn't political turmoil. It isn't environmental hardship or lack of funds. But it's the failure to get along with other believers," Hanf said.

He said he thinks that's the number one reason people leave the church.

"If we can't get along inside of church, how are we going to tell the world out there to get along?" Hanf said.

People need to be brave with one another, avoid gossip and appreciate each other's diversity, he said. He recalled an interview with the Rev. Billy Graham in which Graham was asked to pinpoint the world's greatest problem. Hanf said Graham replied, "The greatest social problem without question is racism."

"We're called the Universal Church -- a fellowship of believers that rises above denominational and racial labels," Hanf said.

He referenced St. John 17:11-19 and 20-26, saying he believes Jesus prays for mankind to have unity. Hanf told a story of Linus and Lucy from the "Peanuts" comics, where Lucy demands that Linus change the TV channel, threatening him with her fist if he doesn't.

"Linus says, 'What makes you think that you can walk right in here and take over?' Lucy says, 'These five fingers. Individually they're nothing, but when I begin to curl them together like this in a single unit, they begin to form a weapon that is terrible to behold,'" Hanf said. "Linus says, 'Which channel you want.' Linus then looks away and says to his hand, 'Why can't you guys get organized like that?'"

Hanf said he thinks God is looking down at the human race like that and asking, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

"Now we don't need the fist. We saw that 40 years ago; we don't need that," Hanf said. "We need love; we need togetherness."

Speakers at the program also included the Rev. John Powell, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene; the Rev. Nate McMillan, pastor of Petra Ministries, and Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller.

Musical selections from the North Orangeburg United Methodist Church Choir filled the auditorium with the sounds of "Lord It's in Your Hands" and "I Will Bless the Lord." Also participating in the program was Ronda Smith, worship minister at St. Andrews United Methodist Church.

The Claflin University Choir was also among the musical guests.

T&D Correspondent Randolph Middleton can be reached via e-mail at randolph.middleton@gmail.com. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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