Among the black pastors surveyed, the most commonly listed church priority was helping people in crisis. Another dominant role of the church was to bring black people together and connect them around a common purpose. When asked if the primary role of the church was making disciples or helping people in crisis, Ogbonnaya said it is both. Salvation has always been holistic, never one-sided. Neither makes a distinction between a person's crisis and that person's religious salvation.
Crisis is an instrument of discipleship.
A true disciple would say I have to show them God in the context of their crisis. The profile of blacks' attitudes and their faith commitment stands in stark contrast to the profile of the Caucasian population of the United States, said George Barna, president of the research organization. While whites tend to be self-reliant, blacks are more likely to rely on God. According to the study, the prevailing stereotype is that the black population in the United States has retained its sense of community and common purpose. However, the research compiled from responses of black adults, teen-agers and pastors suggests most blacks feel that the community cohesiveness and reliance has been lost.