It’s a Sunday morning at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Pastor Elijah McDavid is preaching to the congregation. The rows are nearly full with several dozen churchgoers. 

Above the pulpit hangs three portraits of a Black Jesus and banners with each letter of the word — Rhythm — hang across the ceiling. They represent the traditions of its primarily African American congregation.

At 30, McDavid may be young for a senior pastor, but he has deep roots in the Black church. Originally from Arlington, Virginia his grandfather was a pastor and civil rights leader in South Carolina for over 50 years — who battled segregation and helped integrate schools. McDavid grew up hearing how his grandfather helped transform his community and it continues to inspire him to this day.