A Church of All Cultures
A T W E L V E - W E E K P R A Y E R G U I D E
Thank you for joining us in prayer over the next 12 weeks. Believe it or not, we’re doing more than joining with each other. We are praying with Jesus.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23 NIV)
Our vision to be a church of all cultures was birthed by Jesus’ own fervent longing, which he prayed the night of his arrest. We, too, long for the full realization of our unity with every brother and sister in Christ.
After a season of common, focused prayer, we hope the Holy Spirit will do the necessary work in us so that we can take our next steps into unity. And if we discover any obstacles along the way:
- We ask him to make us humble.
- We ask him to make us courageous.
- We ask him to make us kind.
How to Use This Prayer Guide
Read each devotional, then pray the prayer as your own. Return to it again throughout the week. Allow your mind to marinate in each emphasis. As you make your way through this process, you may experience a desire to talk about racial reconciliation with others. We encourage you to do that. And yet, we understand that it’s not always clear how to start. We’ve included guides for conversations with peers, as well as guides for parents of teenagers and younger children.
We recommend these resources:
- One Race Movement (https://oneracemovement.com/)
- Transform Minnesota (https://transformmn.org/transform-topics/)
- National Association of Evangelicals (https://www.nae.org/topics/racial-justice-reconciliation/)
Contributors
Harold Burden
Rondell Graham
Otis Hall
Rick Henderson
Svea Merry
John Scales
Mary Scales
RESOURCES
Racial Reconciliation Conversation Guide
We are image bearers individually, yes; but we are image bearers collectively too. We cannot robustly image God as he intended with the diversity present amongst cultures and nations and people.
–Jemar Tisby
If Dr. Tisby’s quote is accurate, then to achieve this, we must be open and willing to engage in conversations about our stories in this world. Some of these conversations will be uncomfortable and challenging. As we work toward our vision to become a church of all cultures where skeptical, curious, and hurting people love to attend, we need to have resources to help us navigate these spaces. One of the most difficult aspects in our current climate is around the topic of racial reconciliation, whether it's between peers, parents and children, or teenagers.
This conversation guide is to help navigate the conversations we, as a church, are moving toward with each other, our families, and the global community.
Josh Clemmons, Executive Director of the OneRace Movement (https://oneracemovement.com/), suggests that we start with a simple code of conduct for participants in conversations about this difficult topic.
(1) Be Engaged
Being present in sharing, conversing, and praying is paramount. Giving your undivided attention demonstrates your unspoken value for what’s taking place. We ask all participants to turn their devices off and restrict use to critical issues. We also ask for full engagement and participation in all segments.
(2) Be Kind
Kindness is a language all can understand and interpret. In the face of disagreement, kindness acts as the great diffuser. We ask that you engage in conversation kindly.
(3) Be Humble
You don’t have all the answers. No one does. We need to learn more. Let’s take this journey together
(4) Be Vulnerable
Honesty can lend itself to vulnerability, and the only way we can have meaningful and healing conversations is if all parties are honest about the matter. Please be honest about what you feel and think. Your perspective will benefit everyone and/or invoke meaningful conversation.
(5) Be Christlike
In dealing with racial issues, we must commit to Christlikeness in both belief and practice, employing the whole of scripture as our ethos. In moments of difficulty or impasse, ask yourself, “What does Christ think or feel about this matter?”
(6) Be a Safe Place
What happens in the group stays in the group! Please be respectful and responsible in stewarding everyone’s vulnerability with the utmost discretion.
Resources for Adults
- One Race Movement (https://oneracemovement.com/)
- Transform Minnesota (https://transformmn.org/transform-topics/)
- National Association of Evangelicals (https://www.nae.org/topics/racial-justice-reconciliation/)
One of our most important roles as parents is to prepare our children for the world they will inherit. This includes helping them understand and navigate complex social issues such as race and racism. But how do we start this conversation with our teens?
- Ask your children how much they know about racial discrimination. You may be surprised at what they have learned from their peer groups.
- Have open and free conversations about injustices.
- Discuss stereotypes, what they mean, and how they can hurt others.
- Many books, videos, and television programs discuss racial discrimination and injustice. Use these to initiate conversations.
- Point out instances of racism or social injustices when you see them. Doing so demonstrates that it is not taboo to discuss and call out.
How To Talk About Racism with Your Teen (source: Axis (https://axis.org/resource/racism-conversation-kit/))
- Instead of saying, “I totally understand you—I’ve been there,” try “Tell me more about what I might not know about your experience.”
- Instead of saying, “Oh, you don’t look like [ethnic group or racial label],” try “Would you be open to telling me more about your family’s cultural heritage?”
- Instead of saying, “Your language is too hard for me. I am totally going to mess this word up,” try “Could you please help me practice saying this correctly? I’d like to learn.”
Resources for Parents of Teenagers
- Axis (https://axis.org/resource/racism-conversation-kit/)
Initiating conversations about racism with young children requires a sensitive and thoughtful approach. Start by acknowledging the beautiful spectrum of human diversity and explaining how everyone, regardless of their skin color, is unique and precious in the eyes of God. It is essential to use age-appropriate language when defining racism for kids, keeping explanations simple yet meaningful. As we begin these important conversations with our children, we should start with a simple, comprehensible racism definition for kids: ‘Racism means treating people unfairly or unkindly because of their skin color or where they’re from.’
Once they understand the basic concept, encourage them to embrace and appreciate these differences rather than fear or disregard them. Remind them of the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This guiding principle can act as a compass for children, helping them navigate interactions with others and fostering respect for diversity. By promoting these values, we lay the foundation for the next generation to be proactive in combating racism and promoting equality.
Resources for Kids
- Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race (https://a.co/d/bvxWerg)
- A Kids Book About Systemic Racism (https://a.co/d/3tfDjWe)
- Jackson and the Not-So-Colorful Day (https://a.co/d/hpdBCUw)
