Day Three:
Extending a Vision for Action
Theme for Wednesday — Hope
By day three of the Justice Journey, God is doing something
in each of the hearts of the team. The focus today is hope.
After an emotionally difficult day yesterday, they are focusing
on the fact that God is the one who gives hope in all circumstances.
Day Three means Montgomery, Alabama – a key city in
the Civil Rights movement. Montgomery was where Rosa Parks,
an African American woman, courageously refused to leave her
seat on the bus because of forced segregation. Her dignity
and noble pride set off a tidal wave of action in the African
American community – and throughout the nation. The
Montgomery bus boycott soon followed. The group visited the
Alabama Judicial Building where Judge Frank M. Johnson ruled
against segregated city buses.
At the judicial building, Drayton Nabors,
Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, shared his heart
for Justice and Jesus with the Justice Journey team. When
asked if his faith consciously impacts his court decisions,
he answered,
“I pray for the mind of Christ every single morning.”
Having grown up in Montgomery, the Chief Justice shared his
deep respect and admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Justice Nabors read a quote from Dr. King
about the inner battle he experienced the first time a bomb
exploded on Dr. King’s front porch. The Chief Justice
said,
“I can barely share this without tearing up.”
Late that night, Dr. King went to God in deep humility. By
the end of his prayer time, Dr. King felt God’s powerful
presence and the assurance that God “promised to never
leave me alone.” After that time with God, Dr. King
said he never again felt fear. The Chief Justice used this
to illustrate the “courage God can give us to do what
is right.”
Standing in a circle and holding hands, the group (including
Chief Justice Nabors) prayed for the Chief Justice and he
prayed for Salem and Willow Creek. The moment will last as
a treasured memory.
Another once-in-a-lifetime moment came in meeting Dr. Martin
Luther King’s driver Sam G. Cook. When asked what he
learned from Dr. King, Mr. Cook says, “I learned how
to be passionate and humble.”
It is in the faith and strength of the people that hope is
seen: hope in their actions for justice and social responsibility.
Reflections of hope from Justice Journey team members:
Kathy Buscaglia, Willow Creek:
“Being intentional is hopeful to me. The fact that Salem
wanted to go on this trip with us gives me hope. It is overwhelming
when you learn about the realities of the separation between
our races. To have an African American church raise its hands
and say, ‘We’ll come along side you on this journey’
says a lot to me.”
Marty Oddo, Salem Baptist:
“The group gives us the atmosphere and inspires us to
be available for God to use us in relationships with one another
regardless of race.”
Michael Davis, Salem Baptist:
“This trip is beyond us. It is setting the tone for
us to go out and promote racial reconciliation. It’s
giving us direction.”
Matt Sundstedt, Willow Creek:
“On this trip, I’m seeing the deep roots of why
racial issues exist. I’m also seeing hope for Kingdom
work advancing strategic partnerships and projects. This is
laying great seed and potential for working together in the
future. The deep division of racism can be uprooted.”
Mike Gold, Willow Creek:
“We do have hope. Hope that through Christ, we can build
pure friendships. . hope that in Christ, we can live in a
new community. . . I’m convinced that racial reconciliation
is about relationships.”
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