Rusty Benson
AFA Journal associate editor
April 2014 – To some people, Wil and Meeke Addison are an enigma – a young, black, married couple working in a largely white Christian ministry in Mississippi, addressing moral, social and political issues in ways that are largely discredited by the black mainstream. In fact, detractors have called the Addisons “Uncle Toms,” a reproach that Wil interprets as an indication of the effectiveness of Urban Family Communications, AFA’s outreach into the African-American community.
But to supporters, the Addisons are a welcome voice of biblical Christianity in a community that in many ways has lost its spiritual underpinnings.
In a recent interview with AFA Journal, the Addisons, who manage UFC and co-host the radio show Airing the Addisons, offered their perspective on race relations in America, the church in the black community and hope for revival.
AFA Journal: How would you characterize race relations in America?
Wil Addison: Race relations are strained. We see a heightened awareness of that because we have a black president. Racial tension in America has deep roots and it’s hard to overcome.
AFAJ: Are black people more sensitive to that than white people are?
WA: I think so. And while there is a victim mentality in that, there are also some valid feelings of being oppressed.
Meeke Addison: Only Jesus can bring true racial reconciliation. Only Jesus. To understand reconciliation, you have to understand what God did by reconciling us to Himself through Jesus. Black people are prone to say the sentence should be heavy against white people. But then we have to think, “God says to us, ‘This is what you did, but I forgave you.’”
AFAJ: But do the wounds of the past still hurt?
WA: Sure they hurt and they are real. I think that’s the thing that’s hard for white people to understand. They are thinking, “Get over it. That is in the past.” But you have to understand that you define my identity by the color of my skin.
AFAJ: How do those ideas influence how you address social, moral and political issues?
WA: We want to let our listeners know that we hear them and their point is valid. But we also want to base what we are saying on the Word of God. So when we’re doing our show, we sometimes have comments from listeners who don’t like that we kind of slice out of the middle.
MA: An example of that is a recent caller who said there is no way black people can be racist because we don’t have the power. So, I said, “I have to respectfully disagree with you because I believe that racism is an attitude of the heart. It’s a sin issue.”
AFAJ: What is the most significant misconception non-black Americans have about black Americans?
MA: We want white people to know we are not unaware of cultural and social issues. For example, sometimes white people say something, then restate it because they think we didn’t get it the first time.
Another example occurs on radio or television news programs. When it’s a racial issue, we’ve come to expect a black person at the news desk. I’m saying don’t ask me only for the black perspective. Ask about the human perspective. I’m not just the color of my skin.
Certainly, there are issues unique to the black community. However, on our show, Airing the Addisons, we’re going to talk about foreign policy, immigration and other issues. Then we may talk about how that affects the black community.
AFAJ: What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the black church in America?
WA: We are religious and the church is often our social hub. That has been a strength and a weakness. For example, the church was the center of the Civil Rights Movement. But that may be just a cultural religion that doesn’t impact our lives in godly ways.
Another thing that is both a strength and weakness is that while the pastor is highly respected – and that’s good – the office is often perverted. Sometimes a black church is ruled like a kingdom.
And there is a huge weakness in how the black church addresses social issues such as abortion and homosexual marriage. We are generally not strong in preaching of the Word.
AFAJ: How can those things be corrected?
WA: For the black church to really get back on track, it should be almost mandatory that we preach expository sermons. I believe – maybe in the church in general but especially in the black church – we must dig into the Word, going through tough Scriptures and not skipping over things.
MA: Our churches have really missed the mark on some very basic things, like caring for the poor, the widows and the orphans. The government has stepped in and the church allowed for that infiltration. The result has been that instead of looking to God as our provider, we say the government is sufficient.
WA: But even with its negatives, we recognize that the black community is very influential in wider culture. If revival comes to America, we could see the black community leading the way and having a powerful influence for Christ. I firmly believe that.
MA: Absolutely.
WA: I believe that because of the way God has made black people – with our unique flavor – I think that He will use this community. If revival were to take place in the black community, I believe it would lead in helping turn this country around.
AFAJ: How do you think UFC is perceived by your supporters and your detractors?
WA: We are received by supporters as people who are willing to speak out on issues that a lot of people don’t want to address. And they are encouraged by that.
As for our detractors, I think they think we are “Uncle Toms.” They think we hate ourselves. We’ve been called names and all that kind of stuff.
AFAJ: Are you sensitive to such criticism?
WA: No. I’m not. At this point I believe many people say those things because we are being effective.
AFAJ: Blacks have had a hard road for hundreds of years; how does that affect that community?
MA: It makes us stronger. Sure, we have people who say, “Who are you to talk about us – you who have turned your back on the people? You stand on the shoulders of slaves.”
We believe the slaves upon whose shoulders we stand would have wanted us to be God-dependent and self-sufficient people. Look back at the people who were trying to escape the plantation, and you also have people who by dark of night were saying, “Come go with me. You don’t have to be enslaved here. You are human; you are a person.” Look at the people who called themselves conductors, who were leading people along the Underground Railroad.
We see ourselves as conductors, as those same types of people who said, “Let me help you get out of slavery.” We say, “Let us help you get out of the trap of our culture’s secular worldview.” 
Wil and Meeke Addison grew up in Christian homes in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both came to Christ in their teens. After graduating with degrees in communications, they served as university missionaries with the Assemblies of God. The Addisons have three children and are expecting their fourth. Wil is director of UFC and Meeke serves as director of communications.
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Urban Family Communications is a multi-media communications network and outreach ministry of AFA. UFC is committed to the spiritual revitalization of urban communities.
Listen to UFC radio at urbanfamilytalk.com
