BHM: The role of the Black church

SALISBURY, Md. – The black church plays an important role in African American history.

The church is a place of refuge for receiving the values of life and a place where people come together to worship God. “The church is the continuity between the home and the school. And what it is to the black community is a haven of rest its also a place of refuge, values of life, they can receive a place where they can love on each other,” said Dr. Mary Furlow, Elder at the Tabernacle of Prayer Salisbury.

47 ABC spoke with the Tabernacle of Prayer in Salisbury who says the church is a symbol of unity. Dr. Mary Furlow says during slavery, slaves would hide in the floorboards of the church for safety. “The church is a spiritual place, because we are not just body but we’re soul and we’re spirit. One can come to receive that spiritual guidance, they can receive what God has placed in us so that we can be able to face the world society,” said Dr. Furlow.

Dr Furlow said it provided hope in a terrible time. “It will change their mindset and it changes them to the fact that they had something to look forward to not just the beatings not just the scorching but they look forward to a God that will help them to freedom from their oppressors,” said Dr. Mary Furlow.

The church became a prominent place, helping the black community to better deal with life’s circumstances.