EC 30 The Conversation Continues

View the video of this podcast  HERE

Jemar Tisby is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective where he writes about race, religion, politics, and culture. He is also cohost of the Pass the Mic podcast. Listen here

His newest book, How to Fight Racism is a handbook for pursuing racial justice with hands-on suggestions bolstered by real-world examples of change. Tisby offers an array of actionable items to confront racism in our relationships and in everyday life through a simple framework--the A.R.C. Of Racial Justice--that helps readers consistently interrogate their own actions and maintain a consistent posture of anti-racist action. This book is for anyone who believes it is time to stop compromising with racism and courageously confront it.

Be sure to visit www.jemartisby.com and sign up for his newsletter for articles and continued conversation about practical ways to implement action.

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement

Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

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This is our Youtube & Podcast series on Racism and the Gospel. 
The theme for this season is "On Earth as it is in Heaven."

We will have various guest covering topics of social justice, criminal justice, death penalty, being anti-abortion or pro-life, church dynamics, trauma, and more.  Be sure to check out season one as well!

Thank you for joining us on this journey to walk better together for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.

You can also check it out on YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3LSxtVLI0gaTAZH1hORboMUkBs4Pa2N4

View the video of this podcast at https://youtu.be/7NBOzkNkk9E

Trillia Newbell (trillianewbell.com) is the author of  the kids’ book God’s Very Good Idea, a Bible study on Romans 8, If God Is For Us, as well as the books Sacred Endurance: Finding Grace and Strength for a Lasting Faith, Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts (2016),  Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015) and United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity (2014). She currently works with Moody Publishers as an acquisitions editor. 
Her greatest love besides God is her family. She is married to her best friend and love, Thern. They reside with their two children near Nashville, TN.

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement

Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast can be found at https://youtu.be/__H3jGJeJt8

1. How do we seek out our own blind spots in regard to prejudice, biases, or racism? What questions should we be asking?
2. Do you feel the white evangelical church has had an unholy silence and not spoken up enough as they did in the 1960’s? Are they committing the same sin over again?
3. What if the revival that white evangelicals have been praying for was meant to come through the restoration and revitalization of the black community and home? Would white evangelicals still pray and act toward it?
4. How do you dialogue/engage a Christian who is not ready to have conversations about racism in their life and in the life of the church? Is this different from not being ready to have conversations about abuse (caring well), pornography, etc.? 

God moves in difficult times (Israel in exile, Jews being oppressed in the Book of Acts)

EC30 Mission Statement
Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast can be found at https://youtu.be/nKrjkVTlX5A

Reverend Arthur Price, Jr. serves as Pastor of the historical Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL to which he was called in January 2002.  The vision for Sixteenth Street, as implemented by Reverend Price, has been to have a Bible-centric ministry that will Reach, Rebuild and Reproduce through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reverend Arthur Price Jr Notes

“All that I have done is by the grace of God,” he says.  “My relationship with Christ is the reservoir from which all these activities come.” Reverend Price has extensive ministry experience spanning work with children, college students, senior citizens , and the sick and bereaved.”

Reading from Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King

Anger over injustice must move into action and advocacy

We as believers are called to be salt

History tells a story of injustice, oppression, inequality but also God’s faithfulness to his people.


Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement-
Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast can be found at https://youtu.be/RbV9PuPQR6I

Alicia Williamson Garcia is a multi-faceted Bible Teacher, Worship Leader, Award-Winning Music Artist, Bible Instructor and Author in Atlanta, GA.  Learn more about her and ministry at http://www.inworship.org

Discussing Racism and the Gospel today she dove deep into two questions:

How do we seek out our own blind spots in regard to prejudice, biases, or racism? What questions should we be asking? 

How can we embrace and act on the doctrine of the Imago Dei relationship to the sacred worth of all people?

Various Scriptures mentioned-
1 John 3:4-10
Genesis 5:6
Jeremiah 17:9John 2:24

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement

Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast can be found at https://youtu.be/Fu-eMoxOWsE
His ministry information can be found at https://castillefoundation.org

He covers 3 questions:
1. How do I/we best address the issues of racism in the US, while also conveying that the sin of racism is a universal condition of mankind (past, present, and future) where the only atonement and reconciliation are through the blood of Jesus Christ?

2. What blind spots can we look for to better reflect the gospel? What questions do we need to ask ourselves as we search our hearts for prejudices we may not have even known existed as we seek to become anti-racist?

3. Does the church have more of a responsibility to address racism than other communities do?  What steps should the church take to address racism?

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement

Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.His ministry information can be found at https://castillefoundation.org

video of this podcast available on YouTube https://youtu.be/74xXF3qG_qE

Dr. Smith discusses racism as a sin problem and not a skin problem.
We struggle with racism within the church because we resist the command to be incarnational (dwelling among each other)
We must move beyond information to true transformation.
We have been social distancing long before it was a pandemic necessity.

How does it affect you when we quote known slave holders like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield in theology (specifically as it relates to revival and the Great Awakening) knowing they were slaveholders?

Scriptures referenced today
John 1
Revelation 21:1-3
2 Corinthians 5:19

EC30 Mission Statement
Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast available on Youtube https://youtu.be/eGOj7PNnaBw

Keith covers three points in today's episode:
1. Racial reconciliation is a gospel issue
2. Only the church is equipped for by God's grace through Jesus to lead out in racial reconciliation
3. The Church must lead for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ to the world.

He also mentioned a statement from The Church at Brook Hills about Ethnic Conciliation
https://www.brookhills.org/files/uploads/10Statements_RaceGospel-2.pdf

Scriptures mentioned-
Genesis 1:26-27
Acts 17
Colossians 1
Revelation 7
2 Corinthians 5
Ephesians 2
James 2
John 13
Acts 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 13
Mark 5
Micah 6:8

Keith currently serves as the City Ministries Pastor at The Church at Brook Hills. He's been on staff there for 14 years and in this role for 8 years. He's been married to Robin for 43 years and has two children and three grandchildren. His daughter lives in Bogota, Colombia where she and her husband, who is Afro-Colombian do orphan care for Lifeline Children Services.

He has been serving churches in ministry for over 40 years having served in Student Ministry for 15 years and then in Adult Ministries as an Executive Pastor, Discipleship Pastor, and now as City Ministries Pastor.

Seven years ago, he founded a non-profit called WorkFaith Birmingham, to empower adults with employment barriers with the faith and skills they needed to enjoy God's Good Design for their lives in work. Despite the fact that the vast majority of their 1,000 clients have criminal records, they have been about 80% successful in helping them obtain and retain employment. learn more at www.workfaithbhm.org

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement:
Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.

Video of this podcast can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Hlp-f1HrLb4

Rechab Gray serves as the Teaching Pastor at Cottage Grove Church in Des Moines, IA. He also served at Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia for 10 years, eventually being hired on staff as a church planting resident -- serving the church through preaching, block evangelism, and international missions. Learn more about Rechab https://www.cottagegrovedsm.com

How do we seek out our own blind spots in regard to prejudice, biases, or racism? What questions should we be asking? 

What particular story of racial injustice has affected you the most?

How do you dialogue/engage a Christian who is not ready to have conversations about racism in their life and in the life of the church? Is this different from not being ready to have conversations about abuse (caring well), pornography, etc.? 

Ethnic Conciliation Mission Statement

Affirming Imago Dei (every human life bears the image of God) and through biblical community relationships, we strive to confront the sin of racism. Grounded in the truth and hope of God’s Word, we press into hard conversations asking, listening, and learning about experiences beyond our own to gain a deeper understanding from our marginalized brothers and sisters in faith. We commit to learning individually and collectively from Scripture, each other, and other resources that speak directly to racial issues, inequalities, and injustices. We will use our voices in our circles of influence to speak the truth to policies, institutions, and individuals concerning racism. Finally, we recognize our utter dependence on God’s grace and strength for this journey in seeking to walk together more effectively, and that His Glory through His son Jesus is our greatest calling.