Former KKK Leader Ordained in Black Pentecostal Denomination

[Siddhartha]

I would have thought that a former imperial wizard of the KKK would have joined the Black Baptists, but I guess times they are a’changin’.

A former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan is now an ordained minister in one of the nation’s largest African-American denominations.

Johnny Lee Clary was ordained a minister in the 6 million-member Church of God in Christ (COGIC) on Saturday during a service led by Bishop George McKinney, pastor of St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ in San Diego and a member of COGIC’s 12-member general board.

Clary, who is based in Oklahoma, will serve as an evangelist under McKinney’s oversight, and his ministry will emphasize racial reconciliation.

“Bishop McKinney and I both felt like racial reconciliation was needed now more than ever,” said Clary, who befriended McKinney in the early 1990s when the two spoke during a Promise Keepers event. “We feel like it makes a huge statement that the former national imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan would join the Church of God in Christ and reach out with the Church of God in Christ to bring racial reconciliation to America.”

“We want to take this back to where it was when William Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival was happening, when blacks and whites were together,” added Clary, who preached at St. Stephen’s on Sunday. “This is what’s needed for this nation now to overcome racism.”

 

[jpk1313]

The power of Jesus to change lives is happening every day!!! It is just so awsome that this mans life has been blessed with the grace of God to give up his hateful ways!!! The Spirit is truly moving in this world and this event shows there really is hope for this sad sad world!!! Praise Jesus another sinner has been saved!!! Now all he needs to do is Join the Catholic Church.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

Pretty cool!

 

[Nine_Two]

With all the depressing news around, it’s good to hear this kind of story.

 

[Auriel]

I remember as a kid seeing him on a talk show when he was still in the KKK. I think he was a pro-wrestler too when younger.

I lived in the deep south for a while and saw plenty of Klan activity. Laws on racism have changed but people, they don’t always change with them. It’s much harder to change the heart.

The only way something like this could happen would indeed be because of God. Hatred grows deep roots. I saw some ugly things from all sides as a child.

I googled his name again since seeing this post. Here we are, about to enter the year 2010, and some are the comments under articles and videos are: “He should be killed.” “race traitor”, etc…

Only God can fix a heart.