Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Thirty-Five
Building Relationships of Trust in the West End of Louisville
The BYU-Idaho Symphony Band’s Spring Tour came to Louisville on April 19, 2013, and was sponsored by the three local stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In an outreach to the African-American community arrangements were made to hold the concert at St. Stephen Church, the most prominent church in the West End of Louisville. Its Sanctuary seats about one thousand people. St. Stephan Church’s Senior Pastor is Reverend Kevin Cosby who is a very good and capable man.
Reverend Cosby has worked hard in the community, and has made a significant contribution to the West End of Louisville. He is a great advocate for the people and families who live there. Before the concert our Church recognized him for his work in the community, especially in support of the family.
When Reverend Cosby accepted the recognition he began with humor. He said his people wondered if this concert was a “Caucasian Invasion”, but he assured them it was only the Mormons. He then made two very profound points:
“Even if we don’t always see eye to eye we can always go hand in hand.” Reverend Cosby was recognizing that while differences in theology exist this should not prevent us from working together and support good public policy, such as strengthening the family. This is exactly what we should do.
Furthermore, this approach will be even more important in the future. Many people are adopting the philosophies of the world. Fortunately, there are people like Dr. Cosby and the members of St. Stephen Church who believe as we do about the importance of family and marriage. We can be more effective working together on these critical issues.
This trust can be built at all levels. Our Church leaders are actively developing working relationships with many other churches and organizations. Local wards and stakes are doing the same. Individual members do this with friends and in neighborhoods. We should look for opportunities to build relationships of trust by truly loving and caring for others who may have a different background. Our experience with Reverend Cosby is an example of this.
“There are two types of people; there are good people, and people with the potential to be good.” Reverend Cosby was applying this to the West End of Louisville, but this truth applies everywhere.
Reverend Cosby observed that the press usually reports only negative things about the West End of Louisville, and the many positive things are ignored. He goes about reinforcing the good he sees in people in the West End. We should all do the same with all people wherever they are.
Testimony – The Lord will open the way – I began to look for opportunities to strengthen my relationship with Dr. Cosby. I told him about California Square which is a residential high rise for elderly and disabled people that our company manages. It is less than a block from St. Stephen Church. A short time later I got a call from Dr. Cosby. He explained about his sister who was 60 years old and disabled and needed a place to live. The next day I met with Dr Cosby and Mrs. Cosby and his sister at the California Square apartments. They were delighted with California Square and Dr. Cosby’s sister soon moved in.
A few weeks later Dr Cosby invited Sue and me to accompany his family to the St. Stephen Church annual Jubilee Outdoor Concert. There were about 2,000 people in attendance. Dr. Cosby invited me on stage where he introduced me. He told about his experience at California Square, and explained that we were partners in building up the West End of Louisville. We were warmly welcomed by all, including the Mayor of Louisville.
As we reach out and build relationships of trust the Lord will move His work forward in ways best known to Him, and He will cause many good things to happen.