I am sure that, like me, you have been watching the developments of the last week with a mixture of pain, helplessness, outrage, grief, righteous indignation, bewilderment, hope, and probably too many other emotions to name. As you are no doubt aware, different organizations have issued statements in the last week regarding the recent events. Our own Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, posted a powerful and emotional video calling for change. I encourage you to watch it here:
The most powerful statement I have read, however, comes from the Young Life organization. If you aren't familiar with Young Life, it is an evangelical organization dedicated to introducing young people to Christ and nourishing them in their discipleship. Young Life is quite active in the Knoxville area, but they are engaged in ministry all over the world. I have several close friends who work for the organization. One of them shared their statement with me. It is one of the most well-written, thoughtful, prayerful, and Biblically-based that I have seen. It is lengthy but well worth your time and I commend it to your reading. I have pasted it below but you can also read it on their website here:
Grace and peace,
PT
June 3, 2020
To Young Life Friends Everywhere:
We write with heavy hearts that are burdened with the trials of this ministry season and how
they have impacted the work we do to reach and teach kids about Jesus. We ask that you
pray with us as we cry aloud to the Lord for His wisdom and His justice.
Tragedies like the death of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives due to racial
hostility — Latino children imprisoned in cages on the Mexican border, Asian Americans
targeted and bullied due to the coronavirus, and an increasing number of mass shootings in
public spaces have shown a spotlight on cultural/social divisions that persist within U.S.
society. Globally, terrorism, the challenges of refugees escaping war-torn communities,
genocides, the crisis of human trafficking and more intersect with and infringe upon the
work of Young Life in countless countries.
As individuals, as leaders, as an organization, we cry out against suffering that comes
because of injustice and sin. We cry out against problems in our society that persist and
seem impossible to solve. We cry out in solidarity with those in pain. We cry out, "How long,
oh Lord," (Psalm 13) trusting and believing by faith that our God hears us, is moved and will
continue the healing, redemptive and restorative work that began at the cross.
Indeed, the past few weeks have been hard. While we all carried the burden of enduring
and leading through a global pandemic, circumstances have regrettably asked some in our
community to hold the added trauma of loss, grief, exhaustion and pain that others have
had the privilege to escape.
Let us be clear. To our African American and African Diaspora brothers and sisters ... We
see you. We care for you. And we stand with you.
We also lament that the hate at the root of these sins extends far beyond race/ethnicity and
perpetuates suffering in every space of our society. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
written while imprisoned in a Birmingham jail cell, ring true today:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
As Christians, God calls us to lean into these moments, to be the hands and feet of Jesus
that help a broken world to experience the ongoing, not-yet-finished, reconciling work that
Christ made possible through His death and resurrection on the cross. And yet, the loudest
voice is the silence of many — especially the hush heard in parts of the Christian
community. But that is not us. Not now. We will not be silent.
We will be the peacemakers in the lives of kids and for each other.
Moving forward, you can expect several things. First and foremost, we will remain true to
who we are as Young Life — keeping our focus on introducing kids to Jesus and helping
them grow in their faith. However, in pursuing this mission, we must both acknowledge and
work to equip our teams to overcome systemic barriers (e.g., racism, sexism, ableism, etc.)
that prevent us from helping EVERY kid experience Christ’s love.
Secondly, we will confront hatred in all its forms as it impacts our community. As a body of
believers, we will engage in intentional, constructive and healing discipleship and fellowship.
More precisely, as a first step, we are working in the near-term to create a forum (e.g.,
virtual town hall, solemn assembly, etc.) where our staff can process the persistent evils our
community faces TOGETHER in healthy and constructive ways.
As Young Life’s senior leadership team, we will model what this looks like while
simultaneously working to provide staff with the tools to lead in the communities we serve
compassionately.
This step will not be the last thing we do, and we will continue to engage where members of
our community suffer. Because this is what God calls us to do as Christians:
“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.” (Micah 6:8, The Message)
In closing, please join us in praying Psalm 139.
Lord, truly, we invite you to search us and know our hearts. Help us to see and appreciate
the marvelous ways in which You created each of us. Burden us to move toward those who
are vulnerable and often go unseen around us. And, Jesus, give us the courage we will
need in the days ahead to be the salt and light our world needs. In your name, we pray.
Amen.
In Christ,
The Young Life Mission Lead Team
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