Reconciliation From Across the Street

In the wake of the recent racial divide in America, we asked each other, “How can we work together to bring healing to America’s ethnic division while also bringing glory to God?” To answer that question, my friend Don Allsman and I of Reconciliation Fellowship, created a path of concrete steps that lead to unity using the acrostic “SENT.” The word “sent” is important for several reasons. The Father sent Jesus “so that:” the world would know the love of the Father (John 17:21-23); the world would be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18); we could be sent to represent Him as ministers of reconciliation (Jn. 20:21). Ethnic reconciliation then is a means toward an end, “So that” His work can be accomplished. Therefore, it must be approached as Biblical Reconciliation. Here is a four-step roadmap toward a “So-that”end.

The first part of SENT is Start Foundationally. We don’t start with our current historical context or what we hear in the news, but with the foundation of God’s Story, His Kingdom purpose. We recognize that the work of reconciliation is spiritual warfare because we are joining Jesus in His work, the epic conflict between two Kingdoms cited in 1 Jn. 3:8: “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” He is defeating the enemy by assembling a family from every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Rev. 7:9). We are being built into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22). This is the foundation from which we start.

Next, we need to be equipped to know the historical context of our ethnic division, to be educated about our 400 years of conflict. Therefore, we need to be equipped to skillfully talk with those having a different point of view. By doing so, we equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body to maturity (Eph. 4:12-13) not to divided up. As we become equipped in our ability to listen to one another, we can break the cycle.

The next step is to develop relationships with people of another ethnicity. Just as Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us (incarnated), we need to enter into relationship by doing things together. We need to press into a friendship, to navigate incarnationally.

The last step of SENT is to Team Collaboratively. When the other steps are followed, it can lead to collaborative works of righteousness to the glory of God. As we do, reconciliation and unity become a byproduct of working together. The Church plays an important role in reconciliation. Examples include joint worship services or retreats, forming a volunteer team to go into a public school or doing prison ministry together. The most common way to be ministers of reconciliation is to make friends “From Across the Street”.

Pastor Rickie Bradshaw has served as Pastor of First Southwest Baptist Church for 35 years and is also presently serving at 89.3FM KSBJ Radio as Prayer Initiatives Director. Pastor Rickie is also known as an international speaker on Transforming Revival, City Transformation and Criminal Justice Reform. He also served 25 years as a Church Consultant for Union Baptist Association in Houston, Texas. He has also been active in the Criminal Justice Ministry at various levels serving as Area Director for Prison Fellowship Houston as well as After-Care Program Director for Inner Change Freedom Initiative, Prison Fellowship USA He received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016.

Rickie Bradshaw is married to Dreka for 39 years. They have seven children and fourteen grandchildren. If he has any time to spare, he loves working in his garden.