Arlington Heights, Chicago churches swap pastors
The Rev. James Ford Jr. of the Christ Bible Church of Chicago asked his congregation to repeat after him, "Praise the Lord."
When they did, he said, "You sound like white folks."
It was a bit of good-natured ribbing from the pastor, who was preaching at Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights on Sunday as part of a swap that saw Orchard's pastor, Colin Smith, take the pulpit on the South Side.
The swap is part of an effort by 200 Evangelical churches throughout the Chicago area show unity in anticipation of the Chicago Harvest, to be held Sept. 24-26 at the Allstate Arena.
"Obviously the churches around the Chicagoland area are very different, but here are 200 churches saying that what unites us is far bigger than everything that makes us distinct," Smith said.
Of his appearance on the South Side of Chicago, Smith said, "I had a blast. Of course the great tradition of these churches is that the folks are so responsive, that they really encourage the preacher as he speaks. So that was a joy for me. These folks were wonderfully warm."
Ford gave a magnetic performance at Orchard, located at 1330 N. Douglas Ave. in Arlington Heights. Making frequent television references to Ed McMahon and the Beverly Hillbillies, he delivered his message with humor.
Ford was pleased with the reception.
"This is great. We get an idea of the diversity of the kingdom. ... Sometimes we're so isolated ... usually by where we live. To be able to do this, it just gives people a picture of the fullness of the kingdom."
The event at the Allstate Arena is one in a series of Harvest Crusades - large-scale public evangelistic events - featuring Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif.
On Aug. 14 and 21 at 10 a.m., Orchard will host an impact rally designed to prepare for the Chicago Harvest.
Matthew Zaubi, the Saturday evening campus pastor at Orchard, said that the idea in swaping pastors is unity. "We're showing that we're basically on the same page as far as the gospel's concerned."
Clearly the idea was welcomed by Orchard's parishioners.
"It's a great idea for a Sunday, to get a perspective from different churches," said Debbie Wardle of Palatine.