RACIAL RECONCILIATION RESOURCES
AT THE WELL, NOT ONLY DO WE FIGHT FOR COMMUNITY, BUT WE STRIVE FOR THAT COMMUNITY TO BE DIVERSE; FIGHTING FOR UNITY WITHIN DIVERSITY. THIS DIVERSITY FORESHADOWS OUR TRUE HOME, THEREFORE WE'RE MODELING THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN UNTIL IT COMES.
(REV. 7:9)
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We are a diverse church and we are proud of that, we are intentional with that, and we are Kingdom-minded with that. This is who we are because this is who our God is. Every man, woman, and child is created in the image of God and should be treated with the God-given dignity they deserve. Not only this, but it is only when we're truly diverse that we get a full picture of God; for each culture reveals aspects of who our God is. Therefore, in fighting for diversity, we're not just fighting to love our neighbor as ourselves, we're also fighting to see more of God, and who He is.
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Racial reconciliation is a gospel issue (Eph. 2:11-22, Gal. 2:14), therefore we value you, we want to learn from you, we want to honor and see God through you. For the minority, your fight is our fight. This is our issue and we want to respond to it together, being of the same mind, same love, and of one accord.
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WHAT CAN I DO?
Fighting for community, unity, and diversity begins with individuals, but it doesn't stop there. Racism is a complex and systematic issue that permeates every aspect of our society. It is manifested in many different ways whether that is hate, access, ignorance, privilege, apathy, and so on. While racism seems so powerful that it is insurmountable, we have hope in Jesus Christ and will cling to the One who is more powerful and has already given us victory over sin and death.
​Additionally, as Christians, we don’t stop by ending the problem! We continue to move towards full redemption. Around race and culture, this means valuing, honoring, and fighting for each person’s dignity in Christ, unifying as one underneath His blood, but maintaining our distinctness by which each individual person and culture highlights the beauty of Christ. Therefore, we fight for diversity, unity, and the flourishing of all.
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One practical next step to take is to educate yourself on historic racism, systematic oppression, privilege, and the role you and your community play in upholding these systems and, ultimately, ending them. Below, we have a list of resources to get you started on this life-long journey of fighting for racial unity. Join us in taking steps forward to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
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Please note, while we may not 100% agree with each and every statement included in the resources below, listening, learning, and be humble before others is how we grow. So while there may be sentences, paragraphs, or even action steps that we would change as a church, the overall goal here is to learn.
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SERMONS
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TOP RECOMMENDATIONS:
​THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS:
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Tearing Down the Dividing Wall: How the Gospel Shapes Racial Reconciliation - HB Charles
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Overcoming Our Prejudices Through Christ - Pastor Matt Chandler
JUSTICE:
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HISTORY & CULTURE:
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Racial Progress in the American Church Playlist - Gospel Coalition
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The History of the African-American Church - Dr. Rick Rigsby
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Hispanos: Reluctantly Welcomed or an Unprecedented Opportunity - Pastor Carlos Zazueta
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A Discussion on Racial Reconciliation - Dr. Eddie Lane and Dr. Willie Peterson
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BOOKS
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS:
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THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS:
JUSTICE:
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The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
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With Justice for All: A Strategy For Community Development by John M. Perkins
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NEXT STEPS:
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VIDEOS
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JUSTICE:
HISTORY & CULTURE:
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Slavery in the Bible, Christian History, and the White Man's Religion - Thrive in the City
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The Atlantic Slave Trade: What Too Few Textbooks Told You - Anthony Hazard
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The Disturbing History of the Suburbs - Adam Ruins Everything
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Race – The Power of an Illusion: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Created - California Newsreel
CURRENT ISSUES:
NEXT STEPS:
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Gospel Diversity for the Next Generation - Jackie Hill Perry
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Practical Ways to Pursue Racial Reconciliation - Bryan Loritts
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Sho Baraka: How Should Christians Respond to Systemic Issues? - Legacy Disciple
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How Churches Can Address Hidden Feelings of Prejudice and Racism - Jackie Hill Perr
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PODCASTS
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Code Switch - NPR
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America's Reckoning With Racial Injustice - NPR
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Seeing White - Scene on Radio
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Racial injustice and the Fierce Urgency of Now - Jemar Tisby | The Daily Article
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About Race
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Intersectionality Matters!
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Leaving Hate Behind - DTS
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Diverse Views on Multicultural Conversations - DTS
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Learning from Difficult Conversations on Diversity - DTS
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Ministry Amidst Racial Injustice in South Africa - DTS
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An African-American Story - DTS
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Diversity and Reconciliation in the Early Church - DTS
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The Church’s Role in Racial Reconciliation - DTS
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A Biblical View of Racial Unity - DTS
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Biblical Racial Reconciliation - DTS
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BLOGS/ARTICLES
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS​:
JUSTICE:
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Who Gets to Be Afraid in America? - Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | The Atlantic
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We Need to Be Uncomfortable - Phillip Holmes | The Gospel Coalition
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HISTORY & CULTURE:
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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail
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A Forgotten History: White Advantage - California Newsreel
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The Absolute Absurdity of a Supreme Race - DTS
CURRENT ISSUES:
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My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant - Jose Antonio Vargas | New York Times
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The American Nightmare - Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | The Atlantic
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My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege. I Decided to Be Honest. - Yes Magazine
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White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack - Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
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NEXT STEPS:​
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MOVIES/TV SHOWS
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Just Mercy
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Segregated by Design
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Under the Same Moon
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12 Years a Slave
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When They See Us - Netflix
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13th - Netflix
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American Son - Netflix
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Dear White People - Netflix
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If Beale Street Could Talk - Hulu
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King In The Wilderness - HBO
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See You Yesterday - Netflix
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The Hate U Give - Hulu with Cinemax
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Amistad
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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
BOOKS:
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Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: Mulitple Books for Children and Young Adults
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God Made Me Unique: Helping Children See Value in Every Person by Joni and Friends
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Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
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All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color
PODCASTS:
ARTICLES:
The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon
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ORGANIZATIONS & WEBSITES TO HELP YOU TAKE ACTION
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