December 2014 Monthly Letter

Dear Reconciler Family,

Last month I had the opportunity to go to Houston, Texas for a few days, to visit the Center for the Healing of Racism and join them in some of their training sessions on racism. Co-Executive Director Cherry Steinwender and her husband, Seigfried (along with their lovely dog Toeko), welcomed me and hosted me in their home. Toeko means friend.

We began the day with a trip to Kingwood College where Cherry led some students in lessons on how to discover their level of diversity, in other words, how much they mingle with people outside of their ethnic group. She conducted the session by having the students take different colored beads and string them on a necklace. The bead colors represented their level of diversity. Most confessed that they needed to increase their interaction with other people of different ethnic backgrounds in order to understand them better, and vise versa.

It was great to be back there and sit in the classroom, to listen and participate once again in the place that helped launch the Ministry of Reconciliation some 18 years ago! It brought back many memories as we were in the midst of our transformation as a fellowship from legalism to grace. British-Israelism was a teaching at that time which lead to racial discrimination and other issues. We invited Cherry and her Co-Director, Barbara Hacker to come to Pasadena and conduct a 2-day session on racial healing. It was “what the doctor ordered!” Sandy Boyd, who was also a facilitator, was present.

Following that session a number of our pastors began to request that they come to their church area and conduct sessions for groups of surrounding churches. It was quite an eye-opener for many of us, and quite healing indeed. The name “The Center for the Healing of Racism” is quite apropos, as testimonies have proven over the years that hurts have been healed. And some are still being healed.

Eventually, word spread to international areas and some of their leaders began to request reconciliation sessions in the cities where we had churches. So we conducted sessions or gave presentations in Canada, Northern and Southern Ireland, Scotland, England, and parts of Africa. And we established chapters in some of those areas.

Back at the Center that evening, we had the honor of listening to a live presentation given by the great, great, great granddaughter of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Kate Lange. He fought for freedom of all slaves. He was very poor and had 10 children, but others helped to provide for his family. He worked side by side with abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Her presentation was gripping, to say the least!

The struggle for real reconciliation, love and peace among people of different ethnic groups continues, not only in America, but around the world. Thank God that we have allies like you and The Center for the Healing of Racism. May God continue to bless and guide you as we seek to help change lives for the better! Thanks always for your kind and loyal support throughout the year. We would appreciate any year-end donations to help fund our end of the year obligations.

Jannice and I wish you a peaceful and healthy holiday season as we focus on the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Love to all,