Mending Racial Divides.
Response To Racism:
This has been an overwhelming season for most. Enduring a pandemic, dealing with change almost everyday, trying to make decisions on how to stay mentally and physically healthy, while navigating the abrasive political rhetoric from both sides of our national bipartisan system is exhausting. However, as the world shut down, Americans had much fewer distractions: sports went into hiatus, trails and gyms were shut down, and many people began to use social media as their sole source of connection. With all eyes watching, the traumatic killings of Ahmaud Arbury, Breonna Taylor, and particularly George Floyd, fueled protests across our nation calling for an end to the systemic and systematic racism ingrained into our country.
But what’s next? How do we navigate these challenges? What will it take to bring healing?
On this page, you will find core convictions, and practical steps that we are taking as a organization to create environments of equity while, most importantly, pointing every one in our community to unity.
Core Convictions
JESUS
At the end of the day, what matters most is Jesus and centering our lives and actions around Him. Loving mercy and living justice is important, and only by walking in the footprints of Jesus will we be able to balance these without ignoring sin or becoming the oppressor ourself.
RACISM
Racism is a sin. Simple as that. “But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin.” (James 2:9). Many different types of racism are still prevalent today in our city, state, country and world. All sin requires biblical repentance and every attempt to work towards Godly reconciliation.
LISTEN
The book of James says, “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” This means we will display empathy to those that are hurting and re-experiencing pain and trauma. We will talk through different stances with respect and love, honoring all people. This is a unique time in our country's history. Why? Anger is a quick and widely accepted response from a variety of differing stances. Much of the anger we see is further dividing people. However, this is our time to bear witness. When we take the righteous anger of injustice and apply a Godly response, we can see the people who are hurting, listen, learn, love, and live out the healing reconciling power of Jesus. We are choosing to keep the heart of God at the center as we continue to unite people with God and others.
BLM
We believe that Black lives matter and that those three words are important and must transcend the political affiliation and corporation they have become associated with. As a church, we stand up to advocate and educate around the topic of racial disparity in our nation and empower our community to live fully in who God intends us to be. We commit to affirming the image of God in each person, educating ourselves and others on how to love like Jesus, and creating programs and systems that welcome and love all people while speaking scriptural truth to each person. We see that Jesus spoke boldly for the oppressed; He met people where they were, and we intend to do the same.
ACTION
“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works”- James 2:18
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth”- 1 John 3:18
As we make Jesus the epicenter of our lives, we are transformed. The byproduct of our transformation is that we will live out our faith through our works. We want to see churches and communities acting out the deeds of repentance, grace, truth, and love so thoroughly that the message of Jesus is evident to all.
Actionable Steps
Workshops
Coming late 2020 we will be hosting workshops focused on racial restoration and equity education for our church, and our community. Our hope was to start workshops early this fall. However, the timeline of these workshops are currently fluid due to governmental restrictions of the pandemic and the fact that we typically meet in a public school. We are currently in negotiations for the rental of a private facility. One reason we have worked so hard in getting a facility is because we see it as a tool to educate, equip, and empower our church to create real and lasting change.
Family Unit
We believe that major changes take place within the family unit. Through strategic partnerships, we are committed to having an impact on improving the lives of families in our community and beyond. With many intentionally vetted, talented partners that are already having an impact in our community (Door of Hope, Care Portal & Child Evangelism Fellowship), you can trust that your contributions are having an impact. We are currently vetting additional partners to further this cause.
Businesstry
Coming in October of 2020, we will be launching a ministry for entrepreneurial endeavors. Through this endeavor, we will be launching ministries, non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses. We will aid entrepreneurs from communities that typically do not have equal access to capital investors, and we will help develop those leaders to send them out to have an impact for their family and community.
Pay it Forward. Make a Donation.
Thank you in advance for your generosity. We are better together.
We will work tirelessly towards our goal of ending family homelessness, lending a helping hand, and mending racial divides.