Fla. Church That Once Banned Blacks Now Has First-Ever African-American Pastor

A Florida congregation that once refused to allow African Americans to attend worship services recently appointed its first African-American pastor.

The Rev. Juana Jordan is now serving as pastor of First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine, a congregation with about 500 members.

Jordan officially began her appointment at the church on July 1 and will continue until the following July 1, when the UMC regional conference may decide to send her to another church.

In an interview with The Christian Post on Monday, Jordan explained that while she “feels good to be the pastor of any church appointment,” this particular appointment is “an awesome privilege.”

“I’m humbled by it because I’m always thinking about how God makes decisions and works within the minds and with the hands of people in order to put us exactly where we need to be,” said Jordan.

“God will orchestrate and say ‘this is where you’re supposed to be.’ You may not know exactly why you’re there and what all this entails in you being there, but there is something in that placement that is going to allow for your growth as well as going to allow for the greater glory of God to be seen.”

Expand |…