Dear Reconciler Family,

The much-anticipated ORM Reconciliation Conference took place on Saturday and Sunday, August 7-8 in Dallas, Texas after about fifteen months of planning.  Our special thanks go to Pastors/Chapter Leaders Tom Pickett, Arnold Clauson and Bob Persky – the coordinators.  We are blessed to have those guys as part of our team!

Photo by Ryan Dute

Each day of the conference began with a plenary session of two speakers followed by lunch and afternoon workshops.  Following are the presenters and topics:

John Connors, Businessman and Senior Executive – Reconciliation in the Work Place/Reconciliation: The Barriers We Face

Police Chief Steve Myers – Community Conflicts

Linda Fredrikson, L.P.C. – Preserving Families through Reconciliation

Cherry Steinwender, Co-Executive Director of the Center for the Healing of Racism –   Racism in Our Society

Pastor Sultan Cole – Church, Community and Education

Pastors Cliff Parks and Tony Pierce – The Church and Racial Segregation

Evelyne O’Callaghan Burkhard, Professional Counselor – Choices with a Positive Outcome and Healing

ORM Director Curtis May – What Is Jesus’ Dream? and The Woman at the Well

It was a great experience with excellent participation, transformation and fun!  Following is a sampling of the feedback we received:

“All the speakers were excellent – lots of material for us to digest and apply to our relationships.  Thank you all for the work you went to in order for us to have this opportunity.”

“I benefited from every session attended.”

“Great speakers and great organization!  Fantastic!”

“I appreciated Curtis May’s description of his upbringing and the way God helped him   come out of the hatred that he experienced.”

Photo by Ryan Dute

On Sunday we ended the morning session with commissioning Pastor Bob Persky of Dallas as a new ORM Chapter Leader.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.  Lives are being transformed through it.

Curtis May

ORM Director

Dear Reconciler Family,

As I mentioned in my last letter, a Grace Communion International Conference was held July 21-25 in Orlando, Florida.  The theme was Renewed in Christ.  It was well-attended with an estimated 1200 brethren from around the world.  Many of our Regional Directors shared highlights of God’s work and blessings in their part of the world.

Along with our own speakers we had several world-class Trinitarian Theologians share insights on God’s great love for each of us and his adoption and inclusiveness of us in His great plan of salvation.  It was a spiritual gourmet banquet.

There were a number of workshops, including such topics as:  Generations Ministries, Women in Leadership, Comeback Churches, Bible Study, Pastoral Counsel, and Reconciliation.  I covered Jesus’ Dream and Africa and the Bible.

We had an ORM table with our products and received a lot of visitors who gave us positive feedback, both on the presentations and our on-going work.  I received several requests for visits and presentations from both U.S. and international church leaders and lay members.

I’m personally amazed at how God continues to spread the message of reconciliation through us, and the number of people who say they are benefiting from it!  Praise God for His mighty miracles!

And as part of my family reunion in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to speak in Light of the World Church in Atlanta, pastored by my first cousin, Bishop Ruth Holmes.  There were about 900 in attendance.  I shared the gospel of reconciliation taken from II Corinthians 5:16-21.  There was much enthusiansm about the topic

Thank you for being part of what God is doing through His Ministry of Reconciliation.  Please remember to pray about the Dallas Reconciliation Conference coming up on August 7-8.

With deep gratitude,

Curtis May

Dear Reconciler Family,

Thank you so much for your quick response to our request for help on the upcoming Reconciliation Conference in Dallas, Texas, which is scheduled for Saturday August 7, and Sunday August 8.

Your loyalty and love for the gospel work of Jesus Christ is inspiring!  And I want you to realize that you are helping to change lives in a broken and divided world.

Plans for the conference are shaping up as we receive commitments from those planning to attend.  Attendance at the conference will provide continuing education credit for pastors and also credit for students, if approved by their college.

We are also focusing on summer activities.  My wife, Jannice, and I plan to attend my family reunion in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 16-18, where I will also be speaking in my first cousin’s church.  I will have the opportunity of sharing the gospel of love, peace and oneness.

Then on July 21-25 we will be participating in the Grace Communion International Conference in Orlando, Florida.  I’m scheduled to conduct two workshops: “Jesus’ Dream” and “Africa and the Bible.”  I will also make a short plenary session presentation.  Your prayers for God’s inspiration would be much appreciated.

Jaden Elizabeth May

Finally, while visiting our son Brad and his wife Jeanine recently in Pasadena, we got to spend some time with our beautiful granddaughter Jaden.  What a joy to be around!

Curtis May with John Perez

I also had the opportunity to meet with Pasadena Police Commander John Perez and discuss our past reconciliation work together and also some ideas for future possibilities to help improve police-community relations.  As one would imagine, it’s always fluid.

May God continue to bless and keep you. Thank you as always for your prayers and support.

In His service,

Curtis May

Dear Reconciler Family,

The month of May was a busy and, I feel, productive one.  We continued to work on our next issue of Reconcile newsletter.  It should be a strong and supportive issue for the upcoming conference in Dallas, Texas, on August 7-8, 2010.  One article in particular is a “how to” article on resolving conflict.

On that note, I would like to share a couple of things with you that took place in May.  The first was a pre-conference promotional trip to Dallas on May 4-6.  Here’s what was written to my prayer partners about it:

ORM Director Curtis May expressed his appreciation for the prayers about the May 5 promotion in Dallas of the upcoming August 7-8 Reconciliation Outreach Conference there. His interview with talk show host Hank Hoaldridge, which was arranged by GCI Pastor Tom Pickett, went very well, and Curtis was guest speaker at the local Ministerial Alliance luncheon, which included pastors, police chiefs and other guests. Several expressed renewed support for the conference and the need to bring churches and communities together.

Curtis May with conference organizers Tom Pickett, Arnold Clauson and Robert Persky

Then on May 20-23, I conducted a seminar on reconciliation and conflict resolution with the assistance of ORM Chapter Leaders and Pastors Willard High and Sam Butler:

Thanks for your prayers about the Chicago Ministerial Development Training Seminar. It went very well! The most important aspect of the well-organized event was the healing that took place. Willard High and Sam Butler did a great job leading the last session on Ally Building and Overcoming Internalized Racism. And the Pentecost worship services put the icing on the cake. The congregation’s band and choir were superb. The event was a tribute to the local church and its leadership.

James Newby, Curtis May, Sam Butler, Willard High & Harry Kall

Thank you for standing with us through prayer and financial support.  One thing I might pass on to you that our organizing team for the upcoming Dallas conference shared with me is that they had a potential sponsor back out.  It has left a “financial void.”  So if you would be able to help with this situation we would deeply appreciate it, and if you are already a donor and are able to send a bit extra, any small amount would be helpful.

God bless you all.

In His service,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

Dear Reconciler Family,

As we move closer to the middle of 2010 it seems that the pace has quickened as the Lord continues to open new doors of opportunity.  As we pray for His guidance toward needs that we can fill He has been answering.  Some upcoming opportunities are:

• May 5 – I am scheduled for a radio interview on 1460 AM in Burleson, Texas, on a program called Big Country, by interviewer Hank Hoaldridge.  It will be aired on Sunday, May 9.  The purpose is to share what we at ORM are doing and to promote our upcoming conference in Dallas on August 7-8.

Host Hank said he will make copies of the interview CD and offer them free to anyone who would like one.  He is also planning to put an ad in the newspaper at no cost to us.  He said he appreciated our work.  Pastor and Chapter Leader Tom Pickett and Hank have become good friends as they have worked together to promote the conference.

• May 19-23 – I will be conducting a Ministry Development Session in Chicago, Illinois.  Pastor and Chapter Leader Willard High is organizing and hosting it.  The focus is conflict resolution and reconciliation.  We will also touch upon cross-cultural evangelism and some of the challenges involved.
  

  Curtis May with Presenter Dave Kimball at A City Without Walls conference

A couple of weeks ago Jannice and I attended a conference put on by Ethnic America Network in Boston, Massachusetts.  The main focus was cross-cultural evangelism, church planting and reconciliation.  The conference was called A City Without Walls (Zech. 2:4-5).  It included other related topics.  Some will be shared at the Chicago conference.

Finally, as many of you know, I serve on the African Enterprise Board of Directors.  Some of you were praying that God would bless us with a new Executive Director.  Now He has!  Thank God and thank you.  His name is Christopher Doyle from South Carolina.

Thank you also for your prayers and financial support to help make sharing the gospel possible.

In His love,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

Dear Reconcilers,

Thank you so much for your good work in the Lord.  It will never be forgotten.  In the midst of all the bickering and the divisiveness in our country you continue to “stay the course in Jesus.”

As I look out over the political landscape in our country I’m reminded of the famous poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling which appeared in his collection, Rewards and Fairies, in 1909.  Here is a portion of it:

• If you can keep your head when all about you
• Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
• If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
• But make allowance for their doubting too:
• If you can wait but not be tired by waiting,
• Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
• Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
• And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
• …Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it,
• And – which is more – you’ll be a man, my son!

It’s so great to know that during this wonderful time of Easter we can commemorate the awesome Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has all the answers to our issues and disagreements. For He is the Word, the Final Word!

Jannice and I traveled to the southeastern part of the country where I toured the MLK Civil Rights Center in Atlanta.

John Halford, Dr. John Mattox, and Curtis May

Jannice conducted a Connecting and Bonding conference for ministers’ wives in Lexington, Kentucky, and I toured the Underground Railroad in Flushing, Ohio, along with a friend, John Halford, editor of Christian Odyssey magazine.  The founder and curator, Dr. John Mattox, was kind enough to take us on a personal tour of this very authentic three-story museum.  It contains thousands of artifacts, documents and pictures, and Dr. Mattox allows tourists to touch and handle these materials for impact.  If you ever have the opportunity it would be more than worth your time.

After passing some ORM literature to Dr. Mattox he wrote the following:  “After meeting Curtis May from the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, he has given me and others around the world knowledge and appreciation that will help different cultures better understand the principles which faith-based counseling considers.  Curtis’ life story gives him the will and wisdom to lead in Christian counseling.”  He added, “I would like to use these teachings in my prison ministry.”

Of course I approved.  Our aim is the spread of the ministry and gospel of reconciliation.  You play a major role in the process.  Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support.

Until next time, God loves you and so do I.

Curtis May

Dear Reconciler Family,

It’s always a thrill to get feedback on changed or changing lives. We at the ORM headquarters feel we’re on target in fulfilling our mission when we receive such good news.  One such example that came to us recently was from James and Joyce Scales.  Here’s what they wrote:

“Joyce and I really appreciate ORM.  Growing up in the South, we remember thinking we weren’t prejudiced against any other races.  Now we know better.  So now we are working with God and ministries like ORM to root out those wrong thoughts against other races.  Thanks again for what you and others are doing.  We are pleased to make a small donation.”

James Scales

James is a co-pastor in his 80’s.  He’s still leading and teaching others to change and become more Christ-like.  And he’s still changing, even in his 80’s.  What a marvelous example!  Thank you, James and Joyce, for stirring others toward good works.

And I realize that there are many examples of changed lives out there and we applaud each one.  Because that’s what it’s all about!  Thank you for your fine examples of living out the Ministry of Reconciliation.

Many opportunities are opening up as we are well into the first quarter of the year 2010.

Your prayers and loyal support are deeply appreciated.

In His service,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

PS:  The interview of me by Jan Markowitz of Moody Radio aired on Monday, February 8^th.  You can listen to it online by going to www.Moodyradiocleveland.fm .  Click on “God at Work,” go to “past programs,” click on the date Feb. 8.  Then click on “part 1” or “part 2.”  It will be posted for 1 year.

Dear Reconciler Family,

Seems like we just began our new year and we’re already into the second month!  I have had such a frenzy of activities so far that my January calendar looks like a cross-word puzzle.  I’m sure many of you “share my pain.”

Among my activities was an interview by Moody Radio Cleveland on “What God Is Doing” in my life and in reconciliation.  It’s scheduled to be aired this month – Black History Month.

Part of my outreach to neighbors and others includes two memorial services, another way to share the love of Jesus and promote diversity.

Here are some upcoming events and opportunities for 2010 so far.  Others are yet to be confirmed:

• Continue to lead a search committee for an Executive Director for African Enterprise Ministry.  It’s a great ministry.  You may want to take a look at its website (AfricanEnterprise.org).  I’m U.S. Board Vice-Chair.

• Feb. 13, Glendora, CA:  Black History Month presentation.  (Already gave a presentation in Beaumont, CA on January 23.)

• March 14, Cincinnati, OH:  Presentation on reconciliation

• April 15-17, Boston, MA:  Attend 10^th Annual Ethnic Ministries Summit, presented in conjunction with the Billy Graham Center.

• May 4-6, Dallas, TX:  Meeting with the Ministerial Association and possible radio interviews to promote the community outreach conference on reconciliation in August.

• July 11, Atlanta, GA:  Presentation on reconciliation at Light of the World Christian Ministries.

• August 7-8, Dallas, TX:  Community outreach conference, “A Time to Reconcile: Building Bridges Together.”  It will involve a number of churches, pastors, city leaders, police, businesses and others.

• October 8-10, Miami, FL:  Ministry Development Conference on reconciliation and conflict resolution.

I’m sure more will be added as we proceed through the coming months.

Thank you so much for being part of this vibrant ministry.  Lives are being changed.  Your prayers and donations help to make it happen.

In His service,

Curtis May

Director, ORM

Dear Reconciler Family,

Wow!  It’s 2010!  And as we launch into our 15^th year of serving God in Reconciliation Ministry, I would like to congratulate you and thank you for answering the call to help.  You have been and continue to be a vital part of it, and I thank God for you and want you to know that you are making a difference in the lives of others.

Listen to the responses of some whose lives have been touched and changed by your support:

“Thank you for the newsletter update.  It ministered to my spirit.  Recently I, being a black man, recognized my prejudice, and     having my own business had to ask forgiveness for my racism.  Your ministry has given me hope, eased my anger and has identified racism and prejudice on a spiritual level.  God bless you and your family and your ministry.”

Michael Bradford

“We received the fall issues of Reconcile, and the article that I submitted from our Common Ground Group presentation was well received, exciting and encouraging to all who have read it so far.  My focus with our group training was ‘The Power of Intentionality,’ and Bernadette (our group presenter) says that she sees God in it!”

Leigh Sniffen

“I want to commend you on the fine work you have done since the inception of this ministry.  You have continued to allow God to direct you and inspire you and the fruits are evident.  ORM continues to expand its positive influence around the globe.

Enclosed is our Missions gift of… for 2009.  It isn’t much but hopefully placed with other gifts it will help make a difference.  May God richly bless you and your small staff.”

Willard High

Recently my wife, Jannice, and I attended the wedding of a friend.  The officiating pastor took a somewhat different approach and began to tell the story of a man who wrote a letter to his son saying how he felt about him.  He complimented him on his good qualities, his value as a person and things that he loved and liked about him.  He mentioned the obvious impact that it had on him.

I did the same for our two children which they deeply appreciated.  And I wanted all of you to know how much you mean to the Ministry of Reconciliation and most of all to God who gave it to us.

God bless you as we take on the challenges and costs of another year of life-changing and exciting ministry!

In His service,

Curtis May

Director, ORM