Houston churches swap members to ease racial tensions

SPRING, Texas – In light of recent officer-involved shootings in Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas, a Tomball and Spring church had an idea: swap members in an effort to bring people together.

Sandra and Lamont Norris are members of the predominantly black Above & Beyond Fellowship in Spring, but Sunday they went to The Brook Church in Tomball, which is predominately white.

“Sunday is the most segregated day of the week unfortunately,” Lamont Norris said.

The church swap idea hatched from the brain of The Brook Church pastor Mike Ayers.

“The people in the world, they don’t know God’s love. But we do, so we need to show them how to do it,” Sandra Norris said.

ABF pastor William Lindsey said he has never been an activist, but the recent tragedies have forced him to lead the discussion on racial division.

“If we are going to bring racial healing in our country, it starts with the church and the leaders in the community,” Lindsey said.

The Brook Church member Suzanne Boase said the swap is to show everyone we are all the same.

"We're all people and to show God's love honestly and try and start to heal after all the tragedy of this last week," Boase said.

Church members hope this isn’t just a one-time occurrence and that they can keep this going beyond Sunday.