Manna Town Hall Racial Reconciliation

    Tonight our church had a "Town hall on Racial Reconciliation." Pastor Michael Fletcher and Bishop Larry Jackson told their story of playing a part in reconciliation by following God. They said God began their friendship in heaven and then they met in person in1995. 
    They each told part of their story and then answered some questions. MPF said he asked God "if you were here, would you do what I'm doing?" He was crushed that God told him no. But God led him to ask the Mayor what Manna could do to help. He went to Campbell Terrace with the one member of Manna who was black; they began prayer walking for six months. Manna prayed and worked to meet physical needs- a playground, peep holes in doors, a block party. When two black men were murdered two blocks from that playground, Michael Fletcher recognized that as spiritual warfare. He yelled "racism- you will not pass!" 
    In the days that followed, Pastor Fletcher, Bishop Jackson, and other pastors met to pray together. They had a burden for the city of Fayetteville and worked to break down walls. "God did the work to unite us 2000 years ago; it's time we act like it. "
    How can we move to reconciliation?
1- Learn to speak kingdom- reconciliation only possible through the cross
2- God is God of justice and mercy. We must repent to move from justice to mercy. We need to break generational curses by confessing and repenting of sins of fathers. 
3- We need to repent as a church. Daniel repented. 
4- We need to pray. Why did the angel go to George in "It's a Wonderful Life?" Because people prayed. 
    Ecclesiastes 4:1 tears of oppressed. 
We must die to self and repent. If we struggle with that message, we haven't died to self. 
2 CO 5:18-19 We have a ministry and message of reconciliation. 

What can we do personally?
1- pray for people of different ethnicities in personal circle (relationship)
2- go to friend in humility. suggestion for POC: look to God for support and have attitude where you don't expect people to owe you something. suggestion for white people: repent of past wrongs.
3- Look to the cross- (Fix Sundays, Fix Parenting) be church without walls.
4. All- give space for mistakes

Th murders were inspired by rulers of darkness as retaliation because powers were fighting for control of city. "What the devil meant for evil, God turned to good. The light of darkness had dispelled the darkness of hate and a new passion for racial reconciliation had ignited in the hearts of the people." 

p 15 Practice empathy. Empathy is feeling as someone" vs sympathy feeling for someone. ***

Phil 2:1-11 reread and think of as cultural
2 CO 5:15-21
p 23 redemptive purpose





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