June 2016 Monthly Letter
Dear Reconciler Family,
Curtis May leads discussion at NCCU Solutions Committee meeting with police and pastors.
My wife, Jannice and I were invited by Pastor Karl Reinagel, Office of Reconciliation Ministries Chapter Leader in the St. Louis, Missouri area, where we attended meetings on Tuesday, May 10, and Wednesday, May 11. First, we met with the Ferguson Ministerial Alliance to discuss some of their recent activities in the local community. The next day, we met with the NCCU (North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice) Solutions and Discussions Committee, participating in sessions on police and community relations in the Ferguson area.
We met Delrish Moss, Ferguson’s new Chief of Police, at the Alliance meeting. He gave a very positive message and told us about his background. He has a warm personality and said he’s excited about his new job (it was his first day). He’s the first African American Chief of the Ferguson Police Department. He took the oath of office in front of a crowd of about 150 people. He said, “It’s our task to bring nobility back to this work and to make sure that we honor our badges, and we serve our communities with respect.”
Ferguson’s New Chief Delrich Moss (right) with Curtis May
Chief Moss stated the reason he became a Police officer was the Police had abused him. He grew up in Florida. He said that someday he wanted to fire the Police officer who abused him.
I had the privilege of meeting with Police chiefs and community leaders. During the meetings they shared what they are doing to improve their relationship with the communities they serve, and how to better serve them. I was impressed by how much they have done to heal relationships with the community since the crisis in Ferguson.
We had some good discussions on race relations, not only in Ferguson, but around the country and the world. I shared some of the principles we use in dealing with the topic of race relations. I also shared some key guidelines I use in discussing race: that we’re all of one blood. We are mandated by Jesus to love one another. We show love by doing; it’s an action word.
Florissant Police Officers with Curtis May & Karl Reinagel
We also had some great discussions about how we could continue to reach out to the communities around Ferguson. One main group that was dissed was the youth. The two most important questions were, “How do we tap into them? And how do we ‘remove them’ from their phones and other gadgets for a brief period of discussion?” We concluded that it’s something we need to pray about. All felt that some of these young people are being reached in their churches, but not nearly enough.
The solution to all of this division is the Word and Love of God. Jesus set the example. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The bottom line is we need to allow Jesus to live in us and be our guide in all aspects of life. He is the answer to every problem that we have! And he has the tools to fix each one. Another important fact is he is ready and more than willing to do so, because he is aware that turning the other cheek is not an easy task. He did it and so can we! That’s why we know that Ferguson is capable of becoming a great model for the nation or the world, through Jesus, the Police, and the community.
Blessings to all,
