[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591816573051{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]There are actions all of us can take to fight against racism, hate, and prejudice in our daily lives. The battle for racial justice will continue long after this week or this month, and these things have to take root in our families, neighborhoods, and cities in order to see larger, systemic changes in our country and our world.
We invite you to take a few minutes to pause and reflect with us on how we can best serve our community right now:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591815492095{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
1. Pray
Prayer alone is not enough, but prayer postures our hearts. It prepares us to listen to God speaking and creates space to process and meditate on our response. We are in a time of global crisis, and we desperately need guidance from the Spirit.
Prayer is not passive, it’s powerful. If you’re feeling angry, pray for the righteous anger of God that moves towards justice. If you find yourself skipping over the pain to talk about peace and unity, sit in the discomfort a little longer. Pray for those who are hurting and grieving. Pray for God to expand your world and your relationships, especially if you mainly interact with people who look, think, talk, or vote just like you. Pray for patience and wisdom with people who disagree with you. Pray for forgiveness from people we’ve wronged, and for those who have wronged us.
Pray that we as a church family step boldly and courageously into what God is speaking to us, to lament our blind spots and our ignorance, to faithfully stand in the gap and be a bridge of true reconciliation and peace in our community. Pray for guidance and courage to step boldly into what your role in that might be.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591485570234{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
2. Listen & Learn
Read through this list (we’ll continue to update it):[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_button corner_style=”rounded” size=”medium” url=”https://www.makerschurch.org/racial-reconciliation-resources/” target=”_blank” bg_color=”#000000″]RACIAL RECONCILIATION RESOURCES[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591815579282{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Commit to being a disciple of Jesus – a humble, lifelong learner. If you are not black, listen to the personal experiences of black brothers & sisters, and don’t just listen to respond. Listen to learn.
Learn by reading through lists of resources, and decide TODAY – to purchase a book, watch a webinar, listen to a sermon, or a podcast that specifically talks about our collective responsibility as believers to fight racism. Lament the ways in which the Church and we as individuals have participated in perpetuating injustice and inequality. Stay curious and engage in these critical conversations with your friends & family.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591489323572{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
3. Respond with Intention
Love is a verb. Love is intentional. Think about your strengths, your gifts, your circle of influence. How can you leverage your skills and passion for good? How can you amplify different voices, particularly black voices, with your platform? Ask God: what would you have me do?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Ways To Serve:” h4=”Choose one or more to do this week:”]
- Donate to Equal Justice Initiative, Be the Bridge or another nonprofit fighting for racial justice.
- Organize a book club from the recommended reading lists
- Join a local protest, prayer vigil, or paddle out
- Sign petitions on behalf of the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and more: https://www.change.org/petitions
- Call and email our elected officials, especially here in San Diego, to demand our public servants and laws reflect our values for a more equitable justice system for every human being. www.sandiegansforjustice.com
- Create something with a message: make music, write poetry, design a graphic, film a video, paint, write…find a creative way to speak truth to power.
[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1591815687910{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]We have a long way to go on the road of racial reconciliation and we will make mistakes, but we won’t give up. We will do better. We will keep leaning into our relationships, following where Jesus leads and partnering together with our communities to make on earth as it is in heaven.
If you are interested in helping lead more conversations around racial reconciliation in our Makers community, please email info@makerschurch.org and let us know.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]