June 2009
Dear Reconciliation Family,
As most of you know, back in April we were called upon to address racial issues in Greensboro, North Carolina due to an incident involving some of our church members. We were moved to discuss the most important need at the time which was healing from the emotional and mental pain inflicted. It was so rewarding to experience the beginning of the healing process. And as is usually the case in these sessions, a number of others experienced healing from past experiences. And as Dr. C. Baxter Kruger says, when we “begin to peel back the onion of our emotions and thoughts we see a lot of pain underneath.” To God be the glory as we follow His guidance in serving those in need. For He only knows our greatest needs! He only can heal them!
Below is a brief article on the seminar that we conducted:
Christian Reconciliation Fellowship Bridges the Gap
by Hillary Irusta
On Saturday, April 4th and Sunday, April 5th, Christian Reconciliation Fellowship in Greensboro, North Carolina welcomed the congregation, friends, family, and members of the local community for a seminar on reconciliation. Curtis May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries of Grace Communion International and Cincinnati, Ohio ORM Chapter Leader George Hart and his daughter Erin traveled to North Carolina to organize and lead the seminar.
On Saturday forty people attended in all and participated in lectures and discussions on different areas of reconciliation issues, including race, generational, ethnic, economic, familial, gender, and religious. The panel discussion included stories ranging from gender prejudices in the workplace, to racism and racial profiling, to denominational prejudices in Christian colleges, offering a varied enlightenment on racial and prejudice issues close to home.
Andre Little, Angelia Little, Adama Vacanti, Hilary Irusta and David McCoy (Curtis May standing)
Curtis May and George Hart defined racism and prejudice, providing examples of the different types of both and the different areas where prejudice can occur. The day ended in the greatest act of reconciliation – sharing communion together. On Sunday, forty-three people attended to hear George Hart lead discipleship class and Curtis May give a sermon on reconciliation.
The response to the seminar was excellent. One visitor was extremely impressed with the diversity of those attending, and another visitor commented that it was the best function they had ever attended. Many people commented that they had learned so much about reconciliation and were surprised to realize that they still needed reconciliation in many of their relationships. The overarching agreement was that reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel and this is what the congregation wanted to be actively promoting in the community.
Christian Reconciliation Fellowship is currently pursuing ideas to continue to promote reconciliation within its community with the guidance of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries. Their hope is to keep entering into and bridging the gap of prejudice and racism and other walls that separate us and in so doing bring one relationship at a time into reconciliation with each other and Jesus Christ.
Thank you all for your prayerful and financial support. You are making a BIG DIFFERENCE!
In His Service,
Curtis May