August 2007 Subscriber Letter

August 23rd, 2007

Dear Reconciler Family

I hope your summer is going well because it’s almost gone! My family and I had a chance to get a little R & R in Atlanta, Georgia, for a family reunion. We managed to assemble around 90 members of our family for our annual get-together. Our family has a strong bond rooted in the Christian faith. So we all feel renewed and rejuvenated when the reunion is over. We also feel exhausted from all the late nights.

As you notice in the greeting of this letter, I consider you as part of one big family—God’s family. I pray for you and I know many of you pray for me and the reconciliation work that we’re all doing together. And through your prayers and moral support I feel renewed and rejuvenated. I think it can help us appreciate how God is pleased and excited when His family throughout the whole earth comes together in harmony, love and peace. Indeed that is His wish! His great desire! His goal (John 17:20-22)! It strengthens the gospel message.

While in Atlanta I had the opportunity to speak in a congregation that was holding an “International Day.” I shared with them the “Amazing Grace” trip to England through a PowerPoint presentation. The response was great and the food was wonderful! Also, my wife, her sister and I were invited by Dr. Alveda King (niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) to lunch for a time of sharing ideas on our ministries. She expressed strong interest in the work of ORM. We will see what may develop from it. Her focus is also on unity and family.

At a recent conference in Palm Springs one guest speaker, Dr. Ruth Tucker, mentioned that she uses our flagship video, Reconciliation—A Move of God, in her classes and presentations.

She said she uses it for discussion sessions. We were very pleased to hear how our work is witnessing to others.Well, this is long enough. Please stand with us in prayer as Malcolm Graham and I travel to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa next week for an African Enterprise International Partnership Board Conference. Please continue to remember us financially as we seek to advance the gospel.

Love and blessings,

Curtis May

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San Jose Workshop Questionnaire Responses

August 22nd, 2007
What did you like most about the workshop?
  • I think everyone should see it.
  • Videos were very revealing and educational.
  • I liked the education of how we have been brainwashed to hate—and the help to see we can forgive and ask for forgiveness. Thank you.
  • It touched on a topic that we all like to know and all must know.
  • Mr. Dawson’s apology to women. I was raped as a child and never heard a man say that. I liked it all!
  • A greater awareness of the pain of blacks
  • I was not aware of the history behind some of the stereotypes.
  • What I like most of the workshop of ORM is the word “reconciliation” because people don’t know that this is the continuation of God’s work through Jesus Christ, to reconcile all people to him—by Jesus Christ. The image of God (Gen. 1:27). Note: I have much to explain about this work of God, but there is not much space to write. John 14:10-11 = believe the work of the Father through Jesus Christ his image. Verse 24—Jesus sayings are the Word of God – because Jesus Christ is the word of God.
  • I liked its completeness and that each of us has an equal responsibility and opportunity to be a part of this movement.
  • Content presentation
  • This was excellent…the videos were very revealing. I was raised (since age 3) in WCG and none of these things in the 1st video were allowed. None of the books or songs were ever seen or heard until today.
  • I like the complete presentation. Jesus came to reconcile us together and it is good to see his work being accomplished.
  • –Very informative, educational and open door to reconciliation and understanding. –Gave a perspective to history and why stereotypes exist. –Rosa Parks video left a feeling of pride of overcoming in African-American history.
  • Great history lessons. Rosa Parks didn’t know she wasn’t sitting in her correct seat. The presentation has tremendous insight on all levels. Very bold, straight forward, plenty of wisdom and edifying.
  • To know or learn that there are different kinds of reconciliation that are needed—work, personal and etc. I’m glad to have been a part of it. It will cause me to look and work at getting it out of my life.
  • Your printed handouts. Video, “Masters of Invention,” would be great to get out to schools/libraries especially during Black History celebrations.
  • This workshop brought up issues that needed to be said, so we all could move to where God wants us to be as reconcilers.
  • The video “Ethnic Notions” was very educational. There were so many things I was unaware of. Thank you. I also very much enjoyed the “Mighty Times” video. I appreciate Rosa Parks and I’ve never seen much about Martin Luther King. Again, thank you.
  • Curtis was a fine speaker, not “hard-handed,” clear and articulate.
  • I most appreciated the elements of American history I’d never understood before and I was most saddened by it, but thankful that we are reconciled in Christ and in this workshop.
  • Honesty and to the point
  • The things I learned about the contribution that blacks made in history. Things that make us who we are is understanding our history of where we all come from.

Other comments

  • May God be with you and help you with the great work you have started.
  • The presentation was great. Thank you for coming. And we pray you continue this great work God is sending you to. God Bless!
  • Speaker and videos were excellent.
  • Thank you and praise God for your work. Keep the torch lit and pass it on again.
  • Thank you. The ministry can be of future value to many.
  • God’s relationship with his human creation was destroyed by Satan when Adam and Eve were deceived. John 5:36
  • I really want this work to continue and to be successful. In Jesus name, Amen.
  • Thanks
  • A great work of God and I am glad I came.
  • The sincerity of Mr. May and Mr. Dahlgren is appreciated and needed in this congregation/church as many incidents in the past do still impact many people today. I hope many others who no longer attend could hear this message. Thank you Mr. May for bringing this learning to each of us. May God bless you and your family.
  • I believe it is a good work. Many do not know why we all are the way we are. It is a must and keep up this very noble work.
  • May God continue to bless you in this valuable ministry.
  • I now know why God put me into the WCG my home, to discover my gifts He has given me to be a reconciler.
  • Thank you. I didn’t think I needed this workshop but I see now that I did. Sandy Garside
  • Needs more focus on other racial groups—We have many Filipinos here in San Jose.
  • Thank you for all your work in this matter you presented today. May God bless you and the work God has called you to do in the ministry of reconciliation.

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Report on visit to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

August 20th, 2007

Hi prayers partners,

I am writing to say a BIG THANK YOU for your effectual prayers during my trip to Africa. In all the things I was asked to do I felt the presence of your prayers. I simply woke up each day not knowing all I would be asked to do and presented myself to God and claimed your prayers. Wow! Was it encouraging!

I represented the chairman of the U. S. Board of Directors for African Enterprise Ministry. I gave a report on our activities over the last year and participated in discussions about future missions activities.

The reports given by ministry leaders throughout the continent of Africa brought both tears of joy and tears of sorrow as they shared on campaigns that brought hundreds to Christ, church planting, service to AIDS patients, teaching about AIDS in the school systems and reconciliation in such places as Rwanda and the Kinshasha Republic (formerly the Belgian Congo). These brought the tears of joy.

Tears of sorrow came as reports were given on such places as Zimbabwe where conditions are worsening. Please pray for God’s will to be done and that great blessings would descend upon that land. Reports are that food is very scarce and many stores have empty shelves. Whites fear being persecuted more than ever, since a number of them own property. Many have left the country.

An AE representative and I had the opportunity to visit an AE supported school in Pietermaritzburg. The name of the school is Bonginkosi which means “Praise the Lord” in Zulu. It’s a Christian school in a very poor area.

I also had the opportunity to speak on the topic of reconciliation at Newton Special Education School in Pietermaritzburg. I had had a discussion with an instructor connected with AE, Robert Page. After hearing about what we do he asked me to speak and share whatever I wanted to. He said ORM has the missing piece to the puzzle that they need to help their students. So I spoke to teachers and staff. There were about 50 in attendance. I discussed the need to show love and concern as the foundation for effective motivation and encouragement to the students. I also gave 4 steps toward real healing and reconciliation. The response was very positive. Robert is working on his doctorate in emotional intelligence and requested ORM’s input.

I met fellow reconcilers who are working at high levels of government and among military factions in different parts of Africa. We will be sharing experiences and resources.

Finally, I spoke in the WCG church in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, August 12, and in God’s Family Life Center on Sunday, August 19. This service helped to give me a RHYTHM TUNE—UP as we sang in English and Zulu. There were dancing moves involved. The altar call was given by retired All Souls Church pastor and author, Rev. Richard Bewes from London, whose grandfather was brought to Christ by D.L. Moody.

Three people came up to confess and accept Christ. By the way, the WCG congregation has a number of teens and young adults from a local shelter attending. Last week 2 teens were late and missed their pickup. THEY TOOK A TAXI AND PAID TO BE AT SERVICES! Uhmmm, they must like what they hear and see. Go pastor Rachel!

All and all, it was a great learning and expanding experience.

Thanks again,

Curtis

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