Australian Evangelical in Rocky Mount

One of the Center’s focal issues deals with faith and the South. The Center’s website states,

Rethinking faith and the South: The Center is probing whether new progressive ideas to build a stronger South can come from the region's faith community.

The Independent Weekly out of Durham has published piece on an Australian evangelical Ken Ham who has brought his message on the “Biblical Answer to Racism” to Rocky Mount.

Ham pushes his audience (culturally conservative and about 90 percent white) one step further. "If you disagree with what I'm going to say, please do not give me your opinion, because I'm not interested," he begins. "I want to know what the Bible says." He implores his fellow Christians to let go of their objections to interracial marriage--because, according to the Scriptures, "there's no such thing as biological interracial marriage." As long as both parties are Christian and agree that "the husband is to be the spiritual head of the home," it doesn't matter how much pigmentation each one has. There's a quiet sprinkling of applause and amens before Ham continues: "The next time someone comes into your church and they have a different skin shade from you, look past the external minor differences and see the person. 'How can I help you? Do you need my love?'"

While Ham could hardly be considered Progressive, he is preaching a different message. Whether you agree with Ham or find him completely off-base, one has to recognize that he is addressing, historically, the South’s most glaring problem. While his stance is “interesting” to say the least, he is preaching a positive message that has attracted many fellow Southerners.