Race, Reconciliation and Real Life

Some thoughts on race and life from one in recovery -

1. Racial reconciliation involves more than political correctness. Not every relationship, office or church that appears to be reconciled is in fact reconciled. Healing comes one person at a time. It is not a corporate event.
2. Diversity is not the same thing as reconciliation.
3. I’m not sure how I can be held guilty or accountable for the sins of white racist predecessors. That’s not the primary issue. I have my own sins and tendencies to deal with.
4. I am not the one who decides what is racist or not. It doesn’t matter what I think. It is what the other person thinks – the offended party.
5. Some people claim they have never owned a racist thought or action. Even if that is true, they have probably been the beneficiary of racism (especially white folks like me).
6. Racism is not just an issue in the southern part of the United States; nor is it just a black and white conflict. It occurs across the nation and around the world because it is rooted in basic human nature: pride, fear and the depravity of the soul. Any demographic or race that has power can be lured into racism.
7. Intentional participation in transforming process of racial reconciliation is foundational for those seeking to become grace-filled disciples of Jesus Christ. I wish I had started earlier than age 30.
8. Healing requires honesty, courage, intentionality and a long term commitment.
9. Reading and prayer are important in the process, but there is no substitute for face-to-face involvement with people in other cultures and races.
10. Since most racism is heavily influenced by heritage, a commitment to reconciliation calls for careful parenting, including worship, education and recreational decisions.
11. Freedom from this sin, fear and disease – and from the pain caused by it – is found in Christ alone.

What steps can you take to deal with the obvious, latent or smothered reality of racism in your life? What steps can you take to communicate racial equality and an appreciation for the sacrifices of people like Martin Luther King Jr.?

Possible Action Steps

• Visit the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
• Stop at one of the many sites in the South that are marked in memory of those involved in civil rights – Atlanta, Birmingham and elsewhere.
• Read a book on the history of civil rights or racial reconciliation. Or what about a book a year?
• Watch movies about race and civil rights struggles.
• Honestly consider your own family background and heritage – not to create guilt but to be authentic and intentional.
• When making educational choices for your children, consider reconciliation issues as well as the quality of education in various settings.
• Have you ever asked people of a different race to have a meal in your home?
• Seek out a friend of a different race and ask them to mentor you on the topic of race and reconciliation.
• Regardless of how prestigious it might be, why would you be a part of a club or organization that has racist practices or policies (yes, I’m including country clubs)?
• It is one thing to never use humor or language that might be considered racist. It is another thing to smirk or even laugh when someone else resorts to this. Would Jesus really smirk? What might he/we do instead?
• Confess your sins and ask Liberator Jesus to set you free.

Share with the blog-world other things you have done in this area…?

Part 2 of 3

My Pilgrimage Away from Racism

In honor of the life and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr., I am sharing a bit about my pilgrimage as a white boy reared in the religious but mainly racist environment of Mississippi in the 1950s and 60s. God has begun a good work in me, a work that I pray brings joy to the cause and work of MLK, Jr.

• 1953 I was born in Jackson, MS. I am the son the wonderful, church-going, hard-working, loving parents. Both my parents grew up on rural farms in the South, and mirrored the values of the dominant culture on race and most other issues.
• 1963 President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, a leader that confronted the destructive power of racism especially in the South. I am embarrassed and humiliated to admit that I remember rejoicing when I heard this news. At age 10 perhaps I was just glad to get out of school, or perhaps the disease racism was already showing up.
• 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Sadly, I have no memory of this loss although it occurred 200 miles from my home. I was 15 years old.
• 1969 The school system of Jackson, MS was integrated during my junior year in high school. There were big changes including the cancellation of our prom. “What an injustice!” we cried. I was totally ignorant of the true injustice that caused the forced integration.
• 1970 I was converted to Christ as a senior in high school. This was real and authentic, but Christ had (and has) a lot more work to do in my life. God gave me a passion to share his transforming love with others, and I did. But all the “others” in my life were white Americans.
• 1972 I took my first job in youth ministry. Over the following 16 years, I served 6 churches in this capacity. Pretty much all white kids in all white churches. I don’t remember ever teaching on anything related to racial reconciliation.
• 1975 I began four years of education at Asbury Theological Seminary. I have no memory of wrestling with the issue of race during these years.
• 1980 While serving as youth minister of a church in Meridian, Mississippi, I was introduced to John Perkins and Voice of Calvary Ministries (VOC) in Jackson, Mississippi. I was amazed that I had never been told about this great man when I was living in Jackson.
• 1981 I began taking groups of youth and adults to serve as volunteers in VOC in Jackson. I also began to read Perkin’s books, beginning with Let Justice Roll Down. I slowly began to understand the racist history of my state and my own life. Real people, actual events in my lifetime.
• 1983 I started working as youth minister at a Memphis church. Because this city was the site of Dr. King’s assassination and because of the very real racist tension there, Memphis is seen by many as a symbol of racist hate and evil. That became obvious to me after a few months in Memphis, but I still gave no specific attention to the racism in my own life.
• 1986 For some unknown reason, I received an invitation to a consultation in Chicago on racial reconciliation co-sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE, predominantly white) and the National Association of Black Evangelicals (NABE). To this day, I have no idea why I read the “junk” mail invitation or decided to go – other than the grace of God. For the first time in my life, I sat face to face with black men and women and heard their painful stories. I also heard the stories of white racists. I witnessed reconciliation. It was very moving. For the first time, I admitted that I had racist roots and tendencies that had to be redeemed. I knew that I would never be the same again.
• 1987 I began to serve as minister of missions at the same Memphis church. This involved in urban ministry as well as international ministry. During this season, I began to be very intentional about my racial healing. God gave me two great gifts – new black friends, Pastor Freddie Moore and brother Roy “Soup” Campbell. I read a lot on racial reconciliation, but most of my healing came through these relationships and our brutally honest discussions. A breakthrough happened when I realized that in addition to owning my own racist thoughts and actions, I have been on the beneficiary of racism.
• 1990 I convinced the Memphis church to begin a racial reconciliation task force, “Let’s do something practical about racism in our lives and in this city.” The task force eventually became a standing committee in the church, and contributed to several accomplishments related to race and reconciliation.
• 1991 One day I was contemplating the courage it took for white and black men, women and children to nonviolently make public statements about race and equality. Not only had I never participated in any rallies or civil rights events, I was oblivious to the need as I was growing up. From that day on, I began participating in at least one public event related to reconciliation each year. Often this has been a parade and/or rally on MLK day. Some of my best memories are about times our family participated in these events. These events don’t require courage, but I feel that I’m walking on ground made holy by the faith, hope, love and blood of people like MLK.
• Today I am still a work in progress. One example. A few weeks ago, my brother Soup called me to humbly help me see some unintended racism in the choice of a name for a ministry event I was helping organize. Soup was absolutely right. I clarified my intent with the other event planners, and we changed the name. None of my white friends had felt any connection between the name of the event and race. Pray for me.

To my Mississippi and Tennessee friends - No offense is intended, and I am certainly in no place to judge. I love both states, and I’m thankful for the changes that have taken place. But like the life of James Loftin, more change is needed.

To my friends outside Mississippi and Tennessee – Don’t get smug or look down on these two states. Mississippi and Tennessee have more good people than you imagine; and perhaps there is more racism in your state than you imagine. No offense… .

What does your journey look like?

God help us all.

Today I am thankful for several friends that have contributed to my journey in reconciliation and deliverance – Freddy Moore, Soup Campbell, John Perkins, Eloise Mays, James Tucker, Charles Hall and Russell West. Thank you for demonstrating forgiveness, tough love, transparency and reconciliation to me.

PART 1 of a 3-part series.

Cotton and Family

In addition to love, several things tie my family, the Loftins, and Carolyn’s family, the Covington’s, together – Mississippi, the Christian faith, the Mississippi State Bulldogs and King Cotton.

Until recently I have not paid much attention to cotton or the role it has had in my life. I pray that these notes and my photograph (taken near my mother’s hometown of Thomasville, GA) will be threads that better connect our family with our heritage, and bind us closer to each other.

Picking cotton by hand in the South was a very hot, tiring and laborious task. The sack was approximately twelve feet long for an adult male. A good picker could pick 350 pounds a day, four to five sacks full (www.cottonginmuseum.org/Museum). The first attempt to develop a mechanical cotton picker was in 1850. The first horse-drawn cotton picker was used in 1905. Mechanical cotton picking began to be practical in 1943, but the use of the machines did not begin to spread until the 1950s.

When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1794, American farmers began to notice that cotton plants produce far more seeds than fiber. With each 100 pounds of fiber, the cotton plant produces approximately 155 pounds of cottonseed. The first cottonseed mill of any commercial importance was built in 1834 in Natchez, MS. The number of cottonseed mills in the U.S. rose to a peak of about 900 just prior to World War I. Since that time there has been a steady consolidation. At the present time there are less than 30 mills in operation (National Cottonseed Products Association).

Jack L. Loftin and Cotton
Jack Layfette Loftin (1920-2008) grew up on farm in south Mississippi that grew cotton among other crops. This was a farm, not a plantation. There were no slaves, just fourteen children. As one of the youngest, daddy didn’t have to endure as much cotton picking as his elders, but he had vivid memories. He loved to tell me about how big and heavy the cotton sacks were, how hot it was, and how scratched up he would get. I think these tales were meant to inspire me to work hard and never complain.

Today the Loftin family still has a connection to cotton. Collier and Bea Lovelace Tillman still grow cotton on their land around Slaughter, MS. Due to the generous estate planning of H.E. Covington and others, proceeds from the cottonseed business helped Ashley, Jonathan and Memes in countless ways, including education.

John E. Covington and Cotton
John Ellis Covington (1927-2008) spent a major portion of his life in the family business, Mississippi Cottonseed Products Company. Cottonseed crusher G. W. Covington bought the Jackson, Mississippi mill of the American Cotton Oil Company in 1923. Three years later Covington, John Perry, and other Mississippi crushers and bankers formed the Mississippi Cottonseed Products Company (MCPC), which then owned thirteen mills with eighty-three presses. By 1930 MCPC and nine other companies with a total of 178 mills owned about 45% of the cottonseed crushing business in the USA (Cinderella of the New South: A History of the Cottonseed Industry by Lynette Wrenn). With much sadness in the Covington clan, MCPC was sold in 1981. John was directing the mill in Kennett, MO at the time.

John became a banker, but his first love was always cotton. I remember numerous times when he would look at the shirt I was wearing and ask, “Is it 100% cotton?” He abhorred poly-cotton blends.

Longing and Thanksgiving
My daddy grew up farming cotton, and John worked with cottonseed for over three decades. I have wondered what memories flooded their minds as they rode by cotton fields throughout their lives. Today I rarely see a field without remembering my father and my second father. I miss them both. As I drove past a field last fall, I heard myself say aloud, “I’d love to hear another story about cotton.” I allowed myself to cry a bit, but I was smiling. I thanked God for these two men. I thanked God for heaven and reunions. I thanked God for cotton. And I thanked God for what cotton will always represent: hard work, family and cherished memories.

In loving memory of Jack L. Loftin and John E. Covington.
Written for my wife and children as part of our 2010 Christmas celebration.

Happy Birthday… Really

Part of our family tradition on Christmas Day involves singing Happy Birthday to You and blowing out a candle on a birthday cake. We do this first thing in the morning. Before the explosion of presents, noise and food, we add one more reminder of the day’s significance.

At best, our cake and song may help us remember the birth of Jesus. But is that all there is to celebrating this special birthday? What about the life of Jesus? A friend and student of mine at Asbury Seminary wrote these insightful words in 2000:

In celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus, it has made me think about how we celebrate birthdays in general.  At Christmas we always seem to focus on Christ’s birth, and of course there is good reason.  But usually when we celebrate birthdays of those close to us we don’t go back and remember the person’s birth (unless we’re their parent!).  When I think about celebrating someone’s birthday, I usually am celebrating the fact that this person is who they are, that they are alive and that they are in my life.  I may celebrate what has been going on in our shared life since their last birthday.  I may not think about this consciously, but that is what I am doing when I celebrate a birthday with someone.  I think that is probably what most of us do. 

Why not do the same thing with Jesus on his birthday? Why not celebrate what has been going on in our shared life with him since his last birthday? How have I grown this past year because he walked the earth, and now shares his life with me? (Melynne Rust)

Yes, Jesus was born – humbling himself to take on the pain and limitations of being “human” (Phil 2:6-8). On Saturday, you and I celebrated The Birth.

Today would be a good time to contemplate and celebrate your relationship with the Birthday Boy. To use Melynne’s concept -

• Celebrate who Jesus is.
• Celebrate that he is alive and that we are in his eternal family.
• Contemplate how your life has been impacted and transformed by Jesus since his last birthday celebration.

Remember, Jesus didn’t come to just bless and transform you and me. He came to bless and transform the world for the greater glory of God… and he has chosen to involve us in this mission. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday.

How to Give like a Wise Man

Seven Key Guidelines to Giving Wisely

Millions of dollars are wasted this time of year. Generous Christians tend to make gifts in December without thinking carefully. Because you want to be a good steward of God’s resources AND you want your donations to have maximum impact on genuine needs, consider the following guidelines before you write your checks:

1. Focus on the Purpose. You give in order to honor Christ as you help meet the needs of His children. A true gift is selected according to the needs of the “recipient,” not according to how the gift will make the donor feel.
2. Give where non-Christians are not likely to give. Explicitly Christian ministries (including churches) have a smaller pool from which to draw.
3. Give according to Need. Some ministries and organizations have greater financial needs than others.
4. Think Globally. We must take part in God’s work in our own neighborhoods, but it is not biblical to limit ourselves – “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost” (Acts 1:8).
5. Think Strategically. There is joy in knowing that a gift might help someone. There is more joy in knowing your investment will produce “grace ripples” across an entire community, nation or the world.
6. Think Holistically. Of course, we need to show mercy to the poor. But some poverty is well-disguised. No one is “more poor” than the person that does not know the love of Jesus… even if they live in a nice home.
7. Support ministries that are Trustworthy. Not everything that smells like a rose is a rose. Support ministries led by people you know and trust.

There are people on your Christmas list who have no real needs, but you want (or feel the need) to give them something. Make a donation to a worthy Christian ministry in their honor. This is a win-win-win strategy that makes Jesus smile. And it is His Birthday!

If you think FollowOne International fits these guidelines, you can make a donation online or send your check to FollowOne International, 715 Glen Eagle Drive, Winter Springs, FL 32708.