November 2009 Subscriber Letter

November 2009

Dear Reconciler Family,

Thank you so much for being such a close knit and supportive group.  Since my last letter I attended a conference in Chicago on evangelism with an emphasis on youth and conducted a reconciliation workshop in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, assisted by John Connors.  We received positive feedback from the group.  Some requested a follow-up session.

Since we flew into Charleston, South Carolina, we spent a couple of days touring some of the amazing history there.  Much of it has to do with the transatlantic slave trade.  We toured some of the mansions, slave quarters and cabins that have been well preserved.  The tour guide gave fascinating narration on this remarkable history.

One very interesting bit of history is that of the Gullah/Geechee people brought there as slaves from West Central Africa around the Sierra Leone/Gambia coastline.  They have their own language, culture and queen – Queen Quet.  She is Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation according to their official website.  They brought rice planting and harvesting to America which gave the economy a huge boost in South Carolina and Georgia.  As a result, rice is now also grown in Arkansas and central California, according to local historians.

I met the queen of the Gullah/Geechee people in London, England at their 200^th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade.  They live mostly along the coastline of South Carolina and Georgia.

Another interesting bit of their history is African American blacksmith Philip Simmons who was honored as a living treasure by the Smithsonian Institution.  He died last June at the age of 97.  His ironworks can be found in the Smithsonian Museum, the Charleston Airport and all over town.  President Reagan even invited him to the White House.  Mr. Simmons supported many charities during his lifetime.

In closing, we have begun to set up reconciliation events for the year 2010.  Our aim is to use all our knowledge of history and the present and resources to help build bridges of unity among people of broken relationships, to the glory of God.

Also I wanted to share with our reconciliation family our budget projections for 2010.  The costs for professional fees, part-time secretary, postage, transportation, meals, contracted services and supplies came to $49,720.91 in 2008.  It will be about the same by the end of 2009, and we project about the same or a bit more in 2010.  I wanted to take the time and space to keep you abreast of how we’re doing.

I can’t thank you enough for your faithfulness in standing with us in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In His service,

Curtis May

Director, ORM