I counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation. Psalm 130:5-7

The slave trade in the late 1700s involved thousands of Africans, hundreds of ships, and millions ...

Topics:	Confrontation, Discernment, Enthusiasm, Motivation, Policies, Race & ethnicity, Vision
Filters:	Christian education, Mentoring, Missions, Pastor, Social justice, Spiritual director, Sunday school, Sunday school, Youth ministry
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	Psalm 130:5-7
Date Added:	March 01, 2003

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. …

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

The body is a ...

Topics:	Community, Diversity, Fellowship, Leadership, Race & ethnicity, Spiritual gifts, Unity
Filters:	Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Management, Pastor, Pastoral care, Preaching
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Corinthians 12:11-14
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus mailing peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. …

Consequently, ...

Topics:	Community, Fellowship, Race & ethnicity, Unity
Filters:	Church board, Deacon, Elder, Pastor, Preaching, Social justice, Urban ministry
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Ephesians 2:14-16, Ephesians 2:19-21
Date Added:	July 30, 2007

In their study of race and American Christianity, Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson and Christian Smith observed that 90 percent of American churches are 90 percent composed of people of the same race. Brenda Salter McNeil helps churches beat the odds. With her colleagues at Salter McNeil & Associates, she works intensively with congregations and institutions that want to make a successful transition ...

Topics:	Cross-cultural outreach, Demographics, Diversity, Race & ethnicity, Reconciliation, Unity
Filters:	Church board, Outreach, Pastor, Social justice
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Colossians 3:11
Date Added:	November 28, 2007

In the spring of 2006, I received a call from the local NBC affiliate wanting to feature our church in a segment on people and institutions of faith making a difference in the lives of Arkansans. They wanted to describe the diversity of our church—a story of interest, in part, because we are located only three miles from Little Rock's Central High School where, in 1957, nine black students (the ...

Topics:	Church staff, Community, Diversity, Fellowship, Leadership, Race & ethnicity, Reconciliation, Teams
Filters:	Church staff, Pastor, Pastoral care
Purpose:	Fellowship
References:	Acts 11:19-25, Acts 13:1, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Date Added:	August 05, 2008

When I attended seminary, one day I decided to debate a professor in class. As a much more seasoned intellectual, he destroyed my argument! Afterward, he showed me some mercy by offering this bit of advice: Always define the terms you use when making a point.

So let me define racial reconciliation from my perspective. To begin, the Duke Center for Reconciliation defines reconciliation as God's initiative, ...