September 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

We have all seen our country and the world grow more and more divided in the last decade or so. And from time to time people have asked for my opinion on how we should think about what’s going on.  I have often responded with “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), or “Let’s all pray for our leaders” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

I think ORM Chapter Leader Richard Parker also points us to the Scriptures with a very mature approach. In the Office of Reconciliation we don’t take sides.  We look to Christ for guidance.  I’d like to share Richard’s recent post on his blog called Thoughts 871 – Which Political Party Does God Like Best?

Greetings to you all!

Humanly, we like to take sides.  We have our favorite sports team, our favorite city or state, our favorite political party, and the list goes on.  We invest these favorites with our favor and even feel that God just might support our favorites as well.  For instance, we pray for our favorite team to win, and/or thank God for His favor on that team when it does win.  But does God have a favorite team, city, party, etc.?  Well, no. 

You see, God is not into taking sides as humans do.  As Paul says in his confronting of both Jews and Gentiles with this issue: “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11, NIV).

In fact, the judgment from God is the same on all: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).

The fact is that we humans flop around in great darkness on so many levels.  As we do, we embrace parts of our darkness and give them special favor—not realizing that those parts will one day fail just like all darkness fails.

However, God is in a position to grant special favor to all humans, and this favor is His mercy through Jesus Christ.  As Paul further says to the Romans: “For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:32).

The point to remember is that God stands above human favoritism.  One day, all will be shown this reality, and hopefully, most, if not all, will accept the God of all people through belief in the name of Jesus Christ.

Until next time, may you always see Jesus living in you!  Richard
My blog site: http://justmorereligiousthoughts.blogspot.com/

May God continue to bless and keep you all as we go through political, economic and other struggles.  Keep the faith, stay focused and stay the course.  Jesus said he will be with us always, even to the end of the age.

Thank you so much for your faithful support, prayerfully and financially.

Love always,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

August 2009

Dear Reconcilers,

In order to keep you updated on our ORM activities I am including a report on our workshop in Jacksonville, Florida.  This will also give you insight into one aspect of how your support is helping to further the work of ORM:

Jacksonville, FL Church Hosts Reconciliation Weekend

Jennie & Calvin Mitchell with Curtis & Jannice May

Church members, families and guests from Florida and Georgia gathered in Jacksonville, Florida, for a two-day Reconciliation Workshop, June 27-28.  The seminar was presented by ORM Director Curtis May, accompanied by his wife Jannice.  Over 70 church brothers and sisters from a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds gathered at the Jacksonville Christian Family Fellowship and Grace Communion International church building for the presentations and discussions.  Topics presented included Jesus’ Dream and His Ministry of Reconciliation, ORM promotional videos, Inventions and Contributions of African-Americans, Different Types of Conflict and Broken Relationships, and Solutions and Ways to be an Ally for Healing.

A variety of helpful resources were available, such as videos, booklets, the book Mending Broken Relationships, newsletters and handouts.  Host, Pastor Marty Davey of Jacksonville, commented how the workshop addressed reconciliation in three key ways:  Recognition and Repentance of our individual and national faults, Inspiration and Encouragement in moving forward, and Information and Resources for recognizing the need for and accomplishing reconciliation.

Workshop attendees: Michelle & Amanda Davey

Additionally, several other neighboring GCI pastors were able to attend as part of their continuing education goals, and for their personal instruction and inspiration.

Once again I would like to thank you all for helping to make these sessions and other parts of the ministry possible.  Thank you for your prayers and faithful financial support as we get through this economically challenging year.

God bless you,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

July 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

Curtis May with Rosilyn & Jesse Vereen

As we march rapidly through 2009 we seem as busy as ever.  God is opening doors of opportunity in a number of places, and as we walk through them, often on faith, He continues to bless our efforts.  One recent door was a mentoring and training session on Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution in Newark, New Jersey.  We established a chapter there in September 2008 with Jesse Vereen as the new chapter leader.  He has strong local church support from not only the pastor but the lay members as well.  Their heavy involvement in the local community, which is quite diverse, opens unique possibilities of service for the Ministry of Reconciliation.

Sgt. Thuilliez, Police Chief Coe, Curtis May & Roger Lippross

Reconcile newsletter Consulting Editor Roger Lippross and I were treated to a breakfast meeting by Beaumont, CA Police Chief Frank Coe and Sgt. Sean Thuilliez to get better acquainted and discuss the possibility of partnering in future events.  We shared in their 9^th Annual Faith and Justice Summit on May 19 where I was a keynote speaker and workshop presenter.

Some other great news that we’re excited about is our 10^th anniversary issue of Reconcile newsletter.  It’s read around the world.  If you’re not a regular subscriber be sure to request your free subscription and read all about some of our major events and achievements.

A special thanks to Editor Neil Earle, Art Director Mike Riley, Consulting Editor Roger Lippross, secretary Susan Earle and proofreader Michael Morrison.  And thanks to all of you who helped make it possible.  Thank you for your continuing prayerful support.

God bless you all,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

May 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

I thought I would share with you a meaningful experience that reminds us why we’re a part of this Ministry of Reconciliation. I recently interviewed a retired African-American high school principal, Mrs. Georgia Harrison, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother, father and late husband were teachers also.

Mrs. Harrison was born in Belton, South Carolina, in the 1940s. It was a time of segregation and Jim Crow laws and of inequality in the school systems with a great disparity of resources between white and black schools. When integration came about, black schools that were named after prominent blacks were renamed once white students were admitted. She expressed that this had a negative impact on black students.

In answer to the question of what advice she would give young people today on how to be successful, here’s what she offered: “I would tell them, ‘You are somebody’.” Then she proceeded to talk about tools and strategies she used as principal of an inner-city high school in Brooklyn, New York.

Here’s a summary of them:

· Mrs. Harrison and other teachers brought in good male role models to speak, especially during Black History Month.

· Took the students on trips to give them greater exposure to the world around them.

· Established programs to honor their achievements; self-esteem was emphasized.

· Took them to culturally-enhancing plays, museums, etc.

· At times it was necessary to lend support in helping them to dress for the occasion.

· It was also necessary to find out what problems they may have faced prior to coming to school.

· In a nutshell it was holistic in nature.

· They even named classrooms after prominent, exemplary African Americans to enhance self-esteem.

The net results, she said, were amazingly positive and confidence building! Her encouragement to students and teachers alike is to build on the foundation and values our parents taught us as we were growing up.

Mrs. Harrison said a lot more, but I need to close this letter. Thank you for your support in helping to advance constructive, life-enhancing ideas such as this. Hopefully other good teachers and parents will be inspired by it or even given new ideas.

Thank you so much, Mrs. Harrison. You’re one of the best! Examples like yours don’t get enough publicity. And they are so needed!

Until next time, God bless you all.                     

Curtis May

Director, ORM

February 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

I would like to begin by thanking you for your prayers and support of the ORM workshop conducted at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama on January 24. 

Here’s some feedback given by ORM Chapter Leader Annette Winston:

            Words cannot express the move of the Spirit in that room this past Saturday.  This workshop was like healing balm over the whole audience.  My boss attended and I saw her today and she was talking about how much she enjoyed the workshop.  I went to our City Council meeting this afternoon and the Police Chief and council woman who attended gave a report to the Mayor and the Council about the workshop. They gave an excellent summary of the conference and said that we needed a workshop like this in the Valley area.

            I have some wonderful comments from members in our congregation who would like to share with others their view on the workshop.  I will be sending them out soon.

            PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!!

Since the conference was held in conjunction with Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, I focused part of my presentation on his life and times.

The purpose of the workshop was to bring community leaders together in a safe environment to address the causes of conflict and broken relationships, and through dialogue and panel discussion show how to begin the healing process.  I also chose the theme “Fulfilling the Dream through Service,” because a vision or dream without follow-through of service is to no avail.  Martin Luther King gave his life for the Dream of a peaceful society with justice and equality as its center piece.  The least we can do is help live out this Dream through love, respect and service of one another.

The target audience for this first event of its kind was top community leadership.  Thus through invitation, leaders representing the following agencies, organizations and institutions attended: education, law enforcement, faith, business, healthcare, etc.  Dr. Paulette Dilworth said there will be follow-up sessions.

At the end of the workshop audience participants stood up and shared what they learned.  For many the conference was transforming.  They vowed to go back home and practice and share what they learned.  Some would like a workshop in their area.

Thanks again for helping make these Christ-driven sessions possible.

God bless you,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

January 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

            I wish you all a very blessed, peaceful and joyful year 2009.  May our living and loving God direct our steps each and every day.

            There’s an old gospel song that has a line, “If we ever needed the Lord before, we sure do need Him now.”  That, I believe, is very apropos as we enter this new year.

            We enter this year with a new President.  And being the first African American President shows that we have come a mighty long way in this country racially.  Yet paradoxically we are struck by the rhetoric from hate groups and other quarters in our society.  Reports show a number of threats on President-elect Barack Obama’s life.  They express that they are simply not ready for an African American President.

            I would encourage us all to follow scriptural injunction and pray for him and his family

(1 Timothy 2:1-4).  They will certainly need it.  And even if he’s not our particular choice for President we recognize what Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-2, that there’s no power but what God allows or sets up.  And that those in power are ministers of God (Romans 13:4).  Jesus even acknowledged and respected Caesar in Rome.

            It’s astonishing to see all the challenges facing our newly elected President and his cabinet.  Not the least of which is the growing economic disaster which some forecasters are saying could last for years to come. And it has been acknowledged that we’re in a recession.

            Our prayers and financial support are needed more than ever as we strive to continue to get the gospel message of reconciliation out to as many as possible.  And please remember to pray about our Diversity Outreach Workshop at Auburn University on January 24, 2009.  Until next time.

Love and blessings,

Curtis May

Director, ORM