A letter on the importance of racial unity and justice from Pastor James Grogan

One of the things I appreciate and value the most about our church is our diversity. As I’ve said many times before, when we gather as a church we get a little glimpse of heaven every week. People from so many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds come together again and again in love and unity to worship Jesus.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” ~ Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)

The final picture in the Bible is that the universal church from all time will be distinct yet unified because of Jesus. Every nation and every tongue will all be together worshiping Jesus! I believe one of the most powerful testimonies of the Gospel we can give our world right now is a diverse multicultural church that is UNITED with God and with one another.

We must all give our love and support to our black and brown brothers and sisters during this pivotal time in our history.

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ~ John 13:35 (TLB)

I pray our world sees a unified church that recognizes all racism, prejudice, and bigotry as sin. May we be people who are committed to love, learn, grow, repent and forgive.

In these critical moments, let’s all seek God’s path of justice, which Dr. King and so many others have demonstrated for us, fighting evil not with evil, but with love. Racism is real, injustice is real, and we can be a Jesus-community that walks together toward healing and solutions rooted in God’s Kingdom ways as we love and listen to one another.

I want you to know we are working with a diverse group of church and community leaders in the cities we serve to be part of the solution and bring lasting change.

I want this resource page to be a practical place where we can all take steps of progress. Through watching a sermon, participating in prayers, or taking a book recommendation we can all take steps forward towards reconciliation, healing, peace and unity.

Together in Christ,

James Grogan
Senior Pastor, Community Church Movement