The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: R. Lloyd, J. Nyamutera, A. Sabamun
Date: 10.09.2010
Category: Reconciliation
Editor’s Note: This Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper has been written by Rhiannon Lloyd, Joseph Nyamutera and Anastase Sabamungu as an overview of the topic to be discussed at the Multiplex session on “Peace to the Nations: Ethnicity in the Mission of God.” Responses to this paper through the Lausanne Global Conversation will be fed back to the authors and others to help shape their final presentations at the Congress.
In 1994, generations of unresolved ethnic division and injustice erupted as a genocide in Rwanda. Within weeks of the end of the genocide, Rhiannon (from Wales) began a ministry to church leaders of healing the wounds of ethnic conflict, depending on the Holy Spirit to show the principles which would lead to healing the wounds and enabling the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa to begin to look at each other through new eyes. A workshop took shape which began to produce results that far exceeded all expectations, and with Anastase (Tutsi) this workshop was conducted in all the major towns of Rwanda, initially under the covering of African Enterprise. Joseph (Hutu) joined the team in 1997 after returning from exile in a refugee camp in Congo. The work continues to this day and we are still seeing amazing fruit as people encounter God’s truth and healing love. Hundreds of thousands have been through the workshop or have heard the teachings in rallies or on radio. As a result many thousands have experienced healing which has enabled them to forgive, be forgiven and be reconciled.
The ministry was then invited to South Africa in 1997, and to the north east of D.R.Congo in 2004. The results in Congo in particular have been astounding. Hundreds of demobilized militia have had life-changing encounters with God and are now ambassadors for peace. By now teams have also been established in Burundi, Kenya and Zimbabwe, and the ministry is beginning in Uganda and Sudan. As well as seeing reconciliation between ethnic groups within one country, we have also begun to see reconciliation take place between countries.
We would like to outline the principles which we are using:
See Figure 1.
Finding the right sequence for the workshop
We liken the workshop to building a house. No house will stand for long without a solid foundation. We believe that having a fresh revelation of God’s heart is the foundation of all healing. It is only when we are reassured of God’s intentions and feelings towards us that we can risk coming to Him with our pain. From there, we move on to find healing through the Cross for our inner wounds. By reading Isaiah 61 at the start of His ministry, Jesus made it clear that this was a priority for Him. It is very difficult to forgive while the heart is full of pain. But once we begin to experience healing, our hearts are free to forgive and repent. Where there is forgiveness and repentance, reconciliation begins to happen. To talk about forgiveness and reconciliation before experiencing healing is like trying to put a roof on a house before building the walls.
Discovering God’s original intention for human relationships.
We begin with exploring the quality of relationship between the Trinity and discover that this is the perfect example of unity in diversity. There is perfect love with no-one feeling threatened or undervalued, and there is no competition amongst them. Each complements the other. This then is the model for all relationships. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,” the Godhead was opening up the circle, inviting human beings to share the same quality of relationships that They had experienced throughout eternity. This gives us the goal of reconciliation – to return to God’s original intention.
Different ethnic groups – a blessing or a curse?
The God who loves infinite variety has made His Divine nature clearly visible in creation (Rom 1:20). From one man He made all the different nations (Acts 17:26) for His pleasure and for the display of His glory. He delights in mankind (Prov 8:30-31)! He desires all the ethnic groups to bring their own glory and splendour into the New Jerusalem (Ps 86:9; Rev 7:9; 21:26). God’s intention was that we would enrich and bless one another through the variety of our cultural expressions. His glory is so vast that no one people group could adequately express His image. Rather we all help to form a multifaceted beautiful diamond.
The above is a new revelation for most participants, having experienced ethnicity only as a curse. Many testify afterwards that their perspectives were radically changed at this point. (Note: We need to explain here the unique situation in Rwanda and Burundi, where the ‘tribal groupings’ all share the same language, culture and geographical areas and therefore are not true ethnic groups. Because such divisions in these countries have only ever been used to oppress one or more of the groups, the governments have now eradicated the tribal names from the identity cards, stating that they are all Rwandans or Burundians. There is nothing of value to preserve, to distinguish any group from another. Because of this, we do not include this particular teaching in these countries.)
What went wrong – the awful power of prejudice
We then explore God’s pain as His plan from the beginning was destroyed, for ethnicity became a reason for wounding, rejection, injustice, pride and even massacres to take place. One of the main roots of all this is prejudice, and we express our prejudices and their consequences in our relationships.
Discovering a healed identity in God’s Holy Nation
Wherever there is ethnic conflict, our identity is wounded. We need to discover a healed identity as fellow citizens of God’s Holy Nation (1 Pet 2:9). This is life changing for many – to hear God’s call to every child of Abraham: “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” It is thrilling to see light dawn as people begin to understand God’s call to be clothed with a higher identity than their ethnic identity. They can then take their place as members of His Holy nation – the new nation He is forming out of believers from every tribe and tongue, where there is equality, mutual respect for each other’s cultures and joy in one another. Here their natural identity is redeemed and comes into the fullness of what God intended from the beginning.
Recognising the church as God’s agent of healing and reconciliation
Although God created us in His image to experience unity in diversity, few have understood His intentions for us to honour and complement one another, even in the church. There are many mono-ethnic churches where people of other ethnic groups are not made to feel welcome. Even in churches where different ethnic groups co-exist, leaders and other office-bearers are often selected according to their ethnic group and not according to their gifting. Inter-marriage between different ethnic groups is often frowned upon, or even openly opposed. In times of ethnic conflict within the country, the church is often part of the problem instead of being part of the solution, with the same divisions and hatred existing within the church as in the community. And most people don’t see anything wrong in this!
But in every situation, God is the God of hope (Rom 15:13) and He places His hope in His people (Eph 3:10). In every nation, His strategy is to use the Church – that is, those who truly love Him and are committed to Him, whatever their denomination. The hope of glory for any country is Christ within His people in that country (Col 1:27). Jesus said we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14-16; Philippians 2:14-16). We are to shine like lights in the darkness because we are different, and what makes us different is that we think differently. Our lives have been transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5; Eph 4:22-24). We are not conformed to the surrounding society.
Satan seeks to extinguish the light, and so attacks the church. Sadly, the church does not know how to handle ethnicity. In Rwanda, the church failed to speak out and oppose the terrible injustices, and so became part of the problem. But God still believes in His church! After the resurrection, Jesus returned to a defeated group of disciples who were full of fear and had lost their vision. Yet Jesus believed in them! When He appeared behind the locked doors, He said, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, so send I you.” God wants to speak new hope into His church so that they can become His agents of healing. But first they need to be healed themselves.
Finding a just, loving God in the midst of suffering and injustice
When we experience suffering and injustice, our hearts can easily begin to doubt God’s love and accuse Him of not caring for us and our ethnic groups. We try to grapple honestly with the problem of human suffering, looking at the devastating consequences of the fall, the will of God and humanity’s freedom of choice. We conclude that God is not the author of any injustice because he hates it. (Pr 6:16-19; Zech 8:16-17). He also grieves over injustice (Gen 6:6) and suffers with us (Is 63:9).
Discovering Jesus as Redeemer
Another key is to discover Jesus as the Redeemer of all our lives’ tragedies as well as our sins. Instead of working against us, God can even make the worst tragedies work for us, so that we can continue living having been enriched within. The Bible is full of examples of God redeeming suffering. Holding on to the bigger picture of God being able to redeem everything gives us hope to face the future.
Knowing God as a loving father
We also need to discover God as our loving Father, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Co 1:3). Because of bad experiences with earthly fathers, many find it difficult to approach God as Father, so we include a ministry time where we ask the Holy Spirit to come and minister the Father’s love to us. This has become a crucial and precious part of the workshop. Many participants realise that those who grow up without fraternal love are much more likely to pick up a weapon against their neighbour. Healing the country has to begin with healing the family.
The thief – robbing us of God’s intentions
John 10:10 describes a thief who is seeking to rob humanity of all that God intended. The thief is Satan and his many servants who rob us as continents, countries, ethnic groups and families as well as personally. In our workshops we take time to identify the losses of each ethnic group, looking at them especially from God’s perspective. We also identify the false beliefs we have developed in the midst of the conflict: about God, ourselves and others. This not only helps us to own our losses, but also to begin to understand the losses of others. It is helpful to see that the Thief has been at work in all sections of the community, robbing everyone of the true character of God. There are no winners in this situation. We all need to rebuild the foundation by having a revelation of God’s heart.
Understanding the wounded spirit
As a result of the thief’s activities we are all wounded people. In every country where we have worked, we have identified unhealed wounds and unresolved conflict, often going back several generations. This is serious because unhealed wounds fester, eventually poisoning the whole body. God takes our wounds as seriously as our sin and promises to restore health to us (Jer 30:17).
We look at various behaviour patterns demonstrated by people who have a wounded spirit, and then spend some time looking at the fruits of passing judgements. We note, sombrely, that the oppressed often become the oppressors, unless the grace of God intervenes.
Discovering Jesus as both Sin and Pain Bearer
Jesus is not only our Sin Bearer. Isaiah 53:4 tells us that He bore our griefs and sorrows. Not only our sins are on the Cross, but also all the consequences of sin. (The Hebrew word ‘avon’ for wickedness includes all the consequences of sin.) The whole tragic human condition is there. The Cross deals with our woundedness as well as our sinfulness. In addition to taking the responsibility for all the sin of the world on the Cross, Jesus offers to do the hurting instead of us.
The central part of this workshop is practically taking this pain to the cross. We record our pain on pieces of paper and share our experiences in small ethnically-mixed groups, seeking to listen to each other with compassion. We then pour our pain into the heart of God. Symbolically we take our papers and nail them to a cross, following this with a burning ceremony. Flowers are placed in the ashes to express our faith that God is able to redeem our suffering.
Identifying the good things that result from the suffering, and the Light that shines in the darkness, is always a cause for much rejoicing. John 1:5 tells us, “The light shines in the darkness but the darkness could not comprehend it.” A better translation says, “The darkness could not overpower it,” and it never will! Jesus always has the last word!
Understanding real forgiveness
Forgiveness may well be the most misunderstood concept both within the church and outside. For this reason, we can easily feel that it is unfair of God to ask us to forgive, even cruel. So it is important to realise that forgiveness is not condoning, is not denying our pain and anger, is not forgetting, etc. Rather it is giving an undeserved gift to the offender, laying down our right to take revenge and choosing mercy instead of judgement.
We look at the seriousness of unforgiveness, how it blocks us from being able to receive God’s free gift of forgiveness for our own sins and also blocks us from receiving our healing and living in freedom. It also gives Satan a foothold in our lives. Far from working against us, forgiveness works for us, enabling us to move forward in our lives.
So how do we find the grace to forgive? One of the great discoveries we have made in this ministry is that facing and owning our pain and pouring it into God’s heart frees our hearts to forgive. The Cross is central to forgiveness, both God’s ability to forgive us and our ability to forgive one another. We give the crucified Jesus the responsibility for all the sins committed against us, and trust Him for our healing. Realising how much we ourselves need God’s forgiveness is crucial.
But what if there is no evidence of repentance on the part of the offender? Can there be forgiveness then? The key is found in 1 Peter 2:23. Jesus could forgive the unrepentant by committing his case into the hands of a Just Judge. There will be a day of judgement, and the unrepentant will be judged, but those who repent will find mercy. We can safely entrust our case into the hands of this Judge, and refuse to be the judge ourselves.
Understanding the transforming power of repentance
True repentance is a change of mind leading to changed behaviour and is God’s gracious gift. It is taking full responsibility, facing the consequences and making restitution where possible. Repentance is beneficial to the offender, the offended and the whole community, but lack of repentance is a slow death. There can be no reconciliation without repentance. Forgiveness may be one-sided but reconciliation always has to include repentance.
Understanding our role as part of the Royal Priesthood (1 Pet 2:9)
a) Standing in the gap with Identificational Confession
Biblical repentance is both personal and corporate, something which Western culture finds hard to understand. The Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our sins….” Leviticus 26:40 speaks of confessing our sins and the sins of our forefathers. Ezra, Daniel and Nehemiah were well aware of this.
For wounded people to hear someone apologise is very healing, but most ethnic crimes are committed by governments, institutions, ethnic groups, etc., and no-one is willing to take responsibility. Also what if the offender is dead or has no intention of repenting? Ezekiel speaks of the need for someone to stand in the gap (Ezek 22:30). As part of the royal priesthood we can choose, like Jesus, to be ‘numbered with the transgressors’ (Is 53:12) and confess the sins of whichever group we represent. Like it or not, we all represent someone.
Standing in the gap has become one of our most effective tools to disarm even the hardest heart. Thousands owe their healing to some who were willing to make themselves vulnerable and, with a broken heart, confess the sins of their group, asking for forgiveness. It cannot absolve the guilt of the past, but it can release grace in the present for the offended to be able to forgive.
b) Pronouncing blessings (Deut 10:8)
Rediscovering each other at the King’s Table
The workshop ends with a celebration of unity in diversity in the Holy Nation. After reminding ourselves of the story of Mephibosheth (“So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons” 2 Sam 9:11), and Matthew 8:11 (“I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven”), everyone is invited to eat at the King’s Table. Each is asked to take a golden (card) crown and place it on the head of someone from a different ethnic group, saying, “Welcome to the King’s table, fellow-citizen of God’s Holy Nation!” After serving one another and praying for each other, we invite each ethnic group in turn into the centre. The rest then affirm them, saying what is particularly appreciated about that ethnic group. As members of the royal priesthood, we then pronounce blessings on them, and invite them to demonstrate worship in their distinctive cultural way. Often the other ethnic groups are very happy to join them in the singing and dancing. Each ‘feast’ is an amazing time of healing, reconciliation and celebration! Participants keep saying, “I’m so happy! I’ll never forget this day!” (For the same reasons as mentioned above, it was not possible to do this in Rwanda and Burundi).
The testimonies we are now receiving state that people really are leaving the workshop healed and looking at the other ethnic groups with new eyes. “I’ve been transformed deep inside - life can never be the same again!”
© The Lausanne Movement/ Mercy Ministries International 2010
Keywords: Ethnic, ethnicity, conflict, prejudice, genocide, reconciliation, healing, healed, forgiveness, Trinity, identity, wounded, injustice, Redeemer, cross, repentance, blessing
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Conversation Post Comment
United States
When we bring to the surface those things that caused the hurt, pain, and division, we are able to deal with them in a realistic way. We are able to take ownership of the part that we’ve played and we put ourselves in position to move forward with the healing process. Then when forgiveness takes place, the reconciliation can begin. And where there is reconciliation there is restoration of a solid foundation on which to build again.
04.07.2012
United States
So where does the healing begin? It begins with a forgiving heart. To forgive does not mean we get over the hurt. It does not mean that we forget the offense. It just means that we choose to give up our right to take revenge and make a conscience decision to move forward. When we refuse to forgive it hinders us from the grace of God’s forgiveness and gives Satan room to work his plan of continued division and hurt. But when we allow ourselves to forgive it opens the door to healing.
04.07.2012
United States
The author of this paper said that “we are to shine like lights in the darkness because we are different, and what makes us different is that we think differently. Our lives have been transformed by the renewing of our mind.” And because of this renewed mind we are able to be a light in a dark world that’s full of pain and hurt. We have to be that light to someone in need of hope and healing and we have to be prepared to receive them.
04.07.2012
United States
Before healing can take place we have to be able to get back to the foundation of what God desires for us and that’s unity, love and mutual respect.
04.07.2012
United States
Before healing can take place, I believe that one of the first areas we have to look at would be to identify the conflict. We have to have an understanding of what went wrong and why. Where there is conflict there is division and where there is division there is brokenness. Therefore we have to get to root of the issue before there can be a resolve.
04.07.2012
United States
Healing has to take place before there is any forgiveness, repentance or reconciliation. So how does this process begin? The author suggests the tool of teaching through workshops and these workshops would be the foundation needed for the healing process to begin. Healing doesn’t take place over night. Therefore, there would be a need for teaching and providing workshops of this nature would be a great start to the process.
04.07.2012
United States
The church needs healing so that all who come will have a solid foundation on which to begin their healing process. When we read Isaiah 61 and Luke 4, Jesus makes it very clear that that was a priority for Him. He said in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” So even from the days of Jesus Christ, there has always been a need for hearling and restoration within the Body of Christ and it is up to those of us within the body to have the heart of Jesus and initiate the process.
04.07.2012
United States
Unfortunately we are living in a time when we have churches full of hurting people for various reasons. And the same time, the church is the place where people are supposed to be able to go to receive healing. But what happens when there is so much hurt that the church (the ekklesia) is hurting? What happens when the church needs restoration? What happens when the church needs reconciliation? What happens when the foundation has been weakened?
04.07.2012
United States
There are diversities of groups that have had to learn over time how to co-exist with each other, but the journey has not always been an easy journey. Over the centuries, because of this diversity, there has been cause for hurt and pain due to ethnic differences, prejudice, and racism. And no matter how advanced we become, these barriers still exist within society and it spills over into the church because you will have people who will come to the church looking for solace and comfort. But they can’t get what they need if we’re not equipped to handle their needs.
04.07.2012
United States
Although we do not live in a country torn by ethnic conflict such as Rwanda, there are still various barriers that exist between different sectors of people within our country and our communities. Therefore, we have to care enough and have to be trained and equipped to help bridge the gap. Unfortunately there is a lack of caring as well as a lack of training.
04.07.2012
United States
In the area in which I live, I feel there would be more wounds by simple racism than by ethnic conflict. I think the principles for healing would be much the same. It is like me helping children to realize they have a loving Father in God. This concept is hard for them to grasp because of the lack of loving fathers in their lives. We have to help them see how we as humans don’t measure up.
I like how the writer of this paper gives us an outline to use in taking people frome where they are to where they need to be. I think these tools can be used to help counsel people involved in any type of conflict. I also think it tells the church to step up an act when people are being mistreated.
12.12.2011
United Kingdom
Can I respond by quoting from our latest teaching manual:
3) Pronouncing blessing on those from other ethnic groups
How healing it will be if we, as members of God’s Holy Nation, can pronounce blessing on those from other ethnic groups! We can take time to affirm each other, speaking out what we see of value in one another’s cultures. We can pray the blessing of God on each other, and speak out prophetic words of destiny over one another, as the Holy Spirit inspires. Moreover, we can commit ourselves to help to bring about that destiny.
We are called to honour and respect one another. ‘Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves’ is what we are told in Romans 12:10. In the Bible, ‘to honour’ means to esteem highly, to prize, to value. Philippians 2:3, commands us ‘…in humility consider others better than yourselves.’ 1 Peter 2:17, also tells us to ‘Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers’. This is irrespective of ethnicity.
4) How to do this in practice
28.09.2011
United States
@ HeisaredeemingGod:
Thank you for this advice. We do have the opportunity to bless others often! I like the idea of blessing with words rather than allowing words to divide people.
04.11.2011
United States
@ HeisaredeemingGod:
Thanks for your comments. Yes we can tell others about the other ethnicities but I feel even more should be modeled. There are different pieces of furniture in every home. Different themes are often in each room, yet we claim the whole of the house. while there are individual rooms they are never seen as distinct from the house. We too must be intentional in including all in the house of God as an extension of what my home looks like
19.11.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
I like your analogy of different rooms, yet all being in the same house. As a former interior designer this allows me to see God’s Kingodom house as being very eclectic rather than one style!
21.11.2011
United States
@ HeisaredeemingGod:
Thank you soo much for what you shared! I am multi-ethnic (Cuban, Spanish, Jewish, Cherokee, German & Irish), and I often find it interesting as to who does & does not notice these features in me. Many people think that I must look as the typical Mexican immigrant that they run across in the street; they do so naiively when unaware that those they are trying to compare me with are mostly the indigenous Mexicans (not always, but very often). Also, they assume we all speak the same Spanish; thus also unaware tese indigenous groups speak similar dialect/language to that as the Cherokee, and so-forth here in the US. It doesn’t take much effort at all to learn a little about our differences. And in that effort we end up finding out that we also have soo much in common; often moreso than different. GOD is awesome like that! Just trying to appreciate each other’s differeneces and finding out our similarities can bring about forgiviness and peace much easier and quicker than most believe; and it’s easier than many believe. Thanks to all of you on here that agree. I guess we are really ’preaching to the choir.’ :>) Blessings & Peace
04.12.2011
United States
One of the things the article confronts is the fact that reconcilation facilitates a change in heart and attitude. THe attitude is described by Jesus is described by Jesus and Paul. Jesus says, "If you love me you will keep my disciples" while Paul says. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation." How can you be change and keep old attitudes alive. It is a contradiction to say the least and a tragedy in its fullness which should never be with a child of God. Ethnicity should never be harm by Christianity. He included all.
22.11.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
Revelation 7:9-10 says: "After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from all nations and provinces and languages, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God upon the throne, and from the Lamb." What a sight to behold, all ethnicities before the throne!
22.11.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
I like to imagine all Christians being that new creation in Christ! But I am pondering your words about the changed or new attitude. It sounds as if the new attitude would be an automatic transformation for the believer. I wonder if it is our prideful nature that makes the new creation so difficult for Christians?
27.11.2011
United States
Again I am grateful for your response. If God dealt with all of us by one defining method as one size fits all we would be so boring, nonetheless, it is wonder to know he specializes in diversity. That is why he made trees black, grey, green with leaves that are green with the ability to turn red, yellow, bronze gold, and brown. Yet they are all in the same family. I am glad to know he deals with us not by method, but as individuals
21.11.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
Me too! It also makes me realize at what lengths He uses His creativity in order to create each of us in a unique and special way!
21.11.2011
United States
One of the deep features in this article is that of "forgiveness." With all of the divide that we see in ethnicity, it appears to be incumbent upon the true Christian to exhibit forgiveness to bring healiing. Only then can we separate the religious from the righteous from religion.
20.11.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
The authors made a comment about forgiveness that is beautiful. "...it is giving an undeserved gift to the offender, laying down our right to take revenge and choosing mercy instead of judgement." A picture of Jesus.
21.11.2011
United States
I am amazed by the question raised by Cain to God "Am I my brothers keeper?" I find it interesting that even though Cain had a dislike for his brother, he was not let off the hook of responsibility. Today we are well known for placing limitations on the prospect of other when it comes to caring beyond our comfort zone. The mandate of GOd instructs us to reach to his created humanity as a worthy person created in and for Him. We must step beyond the tradition comfortable places.
27.09.2011
United States
@ Billy_Houze:
I agree with your comment about the "dislike" of another in no way lets us off the hook for our responsibility to love one another.
13.11.2011
United States
I agree with your comment regarding "caring beyond our comfort zone". The Advance Paper is speaking of a country or countries becoming reconciled. This is exciting and encouraging! Although, you and I do not live in a country torn by such ethnic conflict as in Rwanda, there may still be barriors between people. My question to you is how do we. you and I, reach out of our comfort zone to celebrate unity within diversity? How can we welcome each other to the King’s table?
28.09.2011
United States
@ sbowling:
THe question you pose is a good one. My response is that the in order for us to be able to give assistance to anyone, we must first understand the value of our own existence "through the eyes of God" as he has so designed us. To misunderstands one’s own purpose is to become torn and stench in some elses. The value in understanding ethnicity can best be seen when we understand the valued beauty of a rainbow. The rainbow posses its beauty not by the divisiveness of the colors but moreso by the distinctiveness of each color. THe radiance is highlight by the colors each add. A blue, red, green, or yellow only expression would cease to be a rainbow. The beauty of the rainbow is a symbol to the rested beauty of God’s design for His world (Genesis9:12-17). We are call on to affirm and not divide.
29.09.2011
United States
I really appreciated this paper and the concept behind the workshop. This workshop would be beneficial for dealing with ethnic conflict that have hindered the church from growing among certain ethnic groups. I would love to know how the participants dealt with "the thief robbing us of God’s intentions," particularly when the thieves presents themselves as carriers of God’s gospel?
01.04.2011
United Kingdom
@ PAHayes:
We agree! Repentance on behalf of church leaders/missionaries is a regular part of our workshop, as we have so often failed to present the true gospel in all its fullness. This is usually well-received.
20.09.2011
United States
This is such a beautiful paper! The illustration of the workshop being like building a house is very powerful. Thank you also for emphasizing how rich diversity makes all of us. I would love to witness the blessing feast when healing and reconciliation takes the time for celebration at the table.
19.09.2011
United Kingdom
@ sbowling:
Thank you for your encouragement. Can I take this opportunity to say that you could attend such a feast! We are running a 6-week School of Reconciliation in Rwanda aimed at the International Community, starting nthe end of next January. The details can be seen on our website www.lerucher.org The purpose is to share with others who would like to learn more about being agents of reconciliation from the lessons we have learnt over the years. Welcome!
20.09.2011
United States
Healing the Wounds of Ethnic Conflict have been a good article for me to read. Often times I think about the damaged done in times pass and ask the question, " How can individuals who have claimed to know and understand the gospel message conduct themselves in a way that brought shame to the message and not the messenger"? I am reminded that there are times in all of our lives when we have been blind and foolislh, and have done things which were not pleasing in the sight of God. Even Jesus experience such blindness and foolishness. He said Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. As followers of Christ, we must find in our hearts to forgive one another. God is concern about a body of people called "humans" and not what color we are. So we pray for all people and hope that we all will open up our hearts and let the Master show the the God-driven way.
Reggie
10.07.2011
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