The Church & Black Lives Matter

Today we are going beyond the headlines and taking a personal look at the Black Lives Matter movement with Evangelist Tabatha McCree Strother. She is Ariane McCree's cousin. Ariane was shot and killed by police officers at a Walmart in Chester, SC in November 2019. The officers haven't been charged. 

Evangelist Tabatha McCree Strother is a licensed ordained minister with a master’s degree in biblical studies. She serves as an Associate Minister at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Chester, SC where Pastor Jerome Boyd is Senior Pastor. Evangelist Strother is the creator and host of the “Talking with Tabatha” podcast. She serves as the secretary of the Sandy River Baptist Association Women’s Convention, is on the board of directors for Ecclesia Ministries, and is the past Chaplin for Batter But Not Broken Ministry. Evangelist Strother is very well known and involved in her community as an activist. She is anointed to preach, teach, and pray for such a time as this.

With all that God has given her, Evangelist Strother claims her greatest gift is her family. She is the wife of Deacon Melvin A. Strother, Sr, and the mother of 3 beautiful children. Her favorite scripture is 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” NIV

Interview Highlights 

*Tabatha shares Ariane’s story and its impact on her family. Timestamp 3:00

*“I’m Black every day, all day, 24/7, 365, and I will not rest until my family receives justice. I will not rest.” – Evangelist Tabatha Strother

*Tabatha shares the analogy of a bank being robbed 7 times and the measures needed to protect Black lives. Timestamp 6:50

*“I get tired of people saying, ‘Go back to Africa’. I was never there…. My ancestors may have come from there. Well, yours did too. Read your Bible….If I go back, you need to get on that ship too.” – Evangelist Tabatha Strother

*“See us for who we are. Every bit of us, each shade of Blackness that we are. See us for who we are because we’re not going anywhere. And our movement matters. We matter. Our lives matter.” – Evangelist Tabatha Strother

*Tabatha explains why #alllivesmatter is not an appropriate response to the concerns of Black Americans. Timestamp 15:50

*Tabatha shares more about Ariane’s story. Timestamp 20:50

*“If all lives matter, let’s make the laws fair for everyone. And then let’s make the punishment fair to everyone.” – Evangelist Tabatha Strother

*Tabatha explains the church’s role in race relations and how it can help Black Lives Matter. Timestamp 25:28

*Tabatha shares how Christians should respond to conversations about Black Lives Matter. Timestamp 30:23

*“Preach a good sermon every day. Not by the words that you use, but by the life that you live.” – Evangelist Tabatha Strother

Relevant Links 

*Follow Evangelist Strother at Talking With Tabatha on Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube. 

* Follow We Are The Church with Sherry Jones on Instagram & Twitter. 

*Email [email protected] to share your thoughts, topic suggestions, and receive email notifications about new episodes. 

Take care, be blessed, be safe, and remember, the church is not a building. We are the church!