In Genesis 50, Joseph recognized that often people or the devil intend things for evil, but God intends to bring good from those same things. In no way does the good God brings from evil, nullify the pain of evil. It just means that God is good, and we are Romans 8:28 people of that good God. Such was the case many times in 2020 and many years prior; there was significant pain, that our good God used to bring good from.

One such good God brought out of 2020 pain was the HCC Racial Reconciliation and Reform Team (R3 Team). This team was assembled during the height of racial tension during that year. This team has been working diligently to step into the racial gap--with GAAP, Grace, Awareness, Advocacy, and Prayer. R3 Team’s provides on-going work to step into this racial gap by offering special events, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more.

This team was formed because we were tired of empty racial rhetoric, casting blame all around with no coherent positive direction. This team is developing a coherent positive direction for HCC regarding discrimination issues.

One particular product of the R3 Team that we are very proud of is the HCC Resolution against the discrimination of racial and ethnic groups. Read that below.

Please take some time to peruse the following content. This is just one iteration of an evolving initiative that will mature in time. Be proud. Be positive. Be Romans 8:28 people.

RESOLUTION AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATION OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS

HCC believes that:

  • discrimination against others based on race or ethnicity is a sin (1 Timothy 5:21).

  • God has created all humans from the same blood and intentionally brought each into existence when and where he planned (Acts 17:26).

  • discrimination creates division and separates people (Romans 10:10-13).

  • discrimination causes unnecessary hurt and suffering. It prevents progress from happening (Galatians 3:26-29).

  • all humans were created in the image of God and from the same human origins (Genesis 1:26-27).

  • everyone needs a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23 & 2 Peter 3:9).

Therefore,

  • HCC firmly opposes any form of discrimination against racial and ethnic groups (Galatians 3:26-29).

  • We recognize that all humans have implicit bias concerning an unlimited range of topics. This implicit bias can result in conscious and unconscious hurt. Therefore, in the spirit of Christian confessional prayer, we ask for forgiveness from God and others for past, present, conscious or unconscious discriminatory thoughts or actions towards any race or ethnicity (Psalm 139:23-24, 1 John 1:9).

  • We value all individuals from all racial and ethnic groups and pray for those who have not surrendered to God (John 1:12).

  • We rejoice in the diversity of earth, and intentionally commit to connect, understand, and enjoy all racial and ethnic groups by enfranchising diverse leadership and inclusive programing (Colossians 3:11 & Ephesians 2:14-18).

*All Bible references are from the New Living Translation.

The Racial Reconciliation and Reform (R3) Team focuses on reducing oppression and racial prejudice.  

Mission

The R3 Team will identify and reduce bias within the Heritage Community Church soul family and the community to bring about reconciliation and combat systematic racial oppression to bring about reform. 

Method

R3 methods to combat racial prejudice and oppression include, but are not limited to: Grace, Awareness, Advocacy, and Prayer (GAAP).

  • GRACE: We share the saving Grace of God’s love for all people as revealed through Jesus Christ to set the captives free and deliver them from bondage of oppression and prejudice; and we show God’s saving Grace through acts of service to restore dignity to the broken.

  • AWARENESS: We raise Awareness by informing people about the truth of racial prejudice in our area and appropriate ways to respond to this evil. 

  • ADVOCACY: We take part in Advocacy by being proactive in taking action to end and racial prejudice in our area by promoting restoration, reconciliation and reform. 

  • PRAYER: We engage in Prayer to humble ourselves before God, repent of our sin, and seek to understand God’s heart and direction for how this ministry will minister healing and restoration of those broken by the trauma of oppression and prejudice.

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