How does the topic of reconciliation relate to our mission as Christians, particularly at a time when racial tension is so prevelant in our cities, campuses and churches?
For 4 days this past March, InterVarsity staff gathered around this topic and engaged in discussion, worship, lament, confession and, of course, tweeting.
- Jerrica Profit tweeted, "Reconciliation is choosing to forgive when I know I'll face hurt, pain, persecution, injustice, ignorance & marginalization again."
- Will Krischke tweeted, "Reconciliation is a journey you must begin without knowing the end. We walk this road because Jesus is on it."
- Chris Nichols, one of our keynote speakers, boldly declared, "Racial reconciliation is at the heart of Jesus' mission and our mission on campus."
And that's just the start. For more great tweets from MESC15, scroll through the list below. Then visit our Storify, "MESC15 in Tweets" for a more extensive list.
"We don't take songs from other genres, we enter into that community's story & stand with them." @ErnaSings #MESC15 pic.twitter.com/rLCHqZ7HFk
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 4, 2015
This is the first time in InterVarsity that we have no majority of students." -Alec Hill #mesc15 pic.twitter.com/7Zqa399OMG
— Charlene Brown (@RevLadyCharChar) March 4, 2015
" The journey of multiethnicity is never to be done by one person, but by a team of people." - Sam Barkat #mesc15 #mesc15Virtual
— Michelle Herrera (@smilingchelly) March 4, 2015
"Do we believe that the ministry & message of reconciliation is good news?" -Rev. Paula Fuller @INTERVARSITYmem #MESC15
— Ashley June Moore (@AshleyJuneMoore) March 4, 2015
Multiethnicity is not: 1) multicolored attendance 2) people of color only 3) a side value to mission #MESC15 - S.Shin pic.twitter.com/sbGwM4QoIV
— missioeric (@missioeric) March 4, 2015
"Only at the foot of the cross can those who have privileged from an unjust system and those damaged by it rise as one new people." #MESC15
— missioeric (@missioeric) March 4, 2015
If you don't believe God already made us 1/reconciled, then you can't dare to do that work! #MESC15eph2 #mesc15 #ReconciliationInMission
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 4, 2015
Reconciliation isn't something we achieve, it's something we receive. #ReconciliationInMission #Mesc15eph2 #mesc15
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 4, 2015
Reconciliation is choosing to forgive when I know I'll face hurt, pain, persecution, injustice, ignorance & marginalization again #mesc15
— Jerrica J. Profit (@Jerrica_Profit) March 4, 2015
"Don't forget us... Native Americans are like the old grandmother in big house." #mesc15 #tears
— Thurston (@bennsintheroad) March 4, 2015
"Do we only care about getting people the gospel or do we also care about students graduating?" #MESC15 #blacklivesmatter
— missioeric (@missioeric) March 4, 2015
"Jesus loves the native community!" We will not forget about those who own this land & have gracefully allowed us to dwell here. #MESC15
— Dora Yiu (@yiu_can_tweet) March 4, 2015
The acts of injustice against people is treason, rebellion against the King and his Kingdom @abnerramos139 preach. #mesc15 #imagodei
— Anna Lee-Winans (@AnnaLeeWinans) March 5, 2015
"There is a fine line between lament/ seeking justice and giving into hopelessness & bitterness" Abner Ramos #mesc15
— Noemi Vega (@VidadeNoemi) March 5, 2015
Navajo & native song ushering us into a place of lament. #mesc15, let us not miss what a holy moment &gift this is. pic.twitter.com/FB2Xc8Sr2h
— Dora Yiu (@yiu_can_tweet) March 5, 2015
Practical skills for working with diverse student leadership teams #MESC15 @via Sarah Shin pic.twitter.com/tqvPJFrx3Z
— missioeric (@missioeric) March 5, 2015
Multiethnicity is incomplete without ethnic specific - Sam Barkat #MESC15
— Stephania Everett (@fafan26) March 5, 2015
Talking about an issue doesn't always mean caring about it. How would you be a part of God's incredible mission for #Reconciliation? #mesc15
— Charis (@graceingreek) March 5, 2015
We need united, not uniform, witness. #mesc15
— Sean Watkins (@seanisfearless) March 5, 2015
For only at the cross can victim and perpetrator die to themselves and rise as one. Sarah Shin #mesc15
— Ryan Rowlette (@RyanRowlette) March 5, 2015
An inclusive community asks: "Who's new?" That's not enough. A reconciliation community asks: "Who's missing?" @yiu_can_tweet #mesc15
— andy kim (@andrewsunkim) March 5, 2015
"Acts 11 is not just about Saul teaching the church at Antioch, but about God using them to transform the leader he was becoming." #MESC15
— missioeric (@missioeric) March 5, 2015
Bringing the gospel isn't only meant to transform those to whom we bring it, it is also meant to transform those who bring it. #mesc15
— Victoria (@mejiav_iv) March 5, 2015
Reconciliation is not comparing our oppressions but fighting each others' fight for justice #mesc15 #YourBattleIsMyBattle #intervarsity
— Jerrica J. Profit (@Jerrica_Profit) March 5, 2015
"Racial reconciliation is at the CENTER of our ministry; not a distraction from it!" - Chris Nichols #MESC15 pic.twitter.com/Vh2bivZQNI
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 6, 2015
"Jesus said, go and make disciples of all nations... Does any of that sound optional?" -Chris Nichols @INTERVARSITYusa #preachingit #MESC15
— Tom Lin (@TomLinNow) March 6, 2015
We need MORE ethnic specific ministry to help people learn his love & shed the lies of the world! - Chris Nichols #MESC15 #ethnicspecific
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 6, 2015
Colorblind colornessness is a lie of the culture and from the devil #mesc15
— Tony J. Gatewood (@Tgatewoo) March 6, 2015
In Jesus's kingdom, we don't assimilate. We become more and more of who and what we're supposed to be. -Chris Nichols #mesc15
— Charlene Brown (@RevLadyCharChar) March 6, 2015
Racial reconciliation is not an optional seminar we do at fall conference. It is day to day calling. - Chris Nichols #MESC15
— Greg Hsu (@SuperHsu) March 6, 2015
We have to break free from cultural and racial stereotypes so that we can push the mission of the kingdom forward. -Chris Nichols #mesc15
— Charlene Brown (@RevLadyCharChar) March 6, 2015
We cannot do the mission without those who are represented in the world. - Chris Nichols #mesc15 @INTERVARSITYmem
— Sean Watkins (@seanisfearless) March 6, 2015
Students of color are tired of being used as brochure poster kids for diversity. #mesc15
— Bethany Bohlen (@vousetesmavie) March 6, 2015
Too many students are recruited to be brochure models rather than intrinsically valued by our universities-C.Nichols #mesc15
— Karl A. Gurney (@KAndresGurney) March 6, 2015
"valuing diversity is good at the beginning but it gets patronizing over time." We are not brochure models, we are imago dei. #mesc15
— tamice hasty (@its_a_real_city) March 6, 2015
Multiethnicity and racial reconciliation are not biblical sideshows we engage in only if we have time.--Chris Nichols #mesc15
— Helen Lee (@HelenLeeAuthor) March 6, 2015
Too many students are recruited to be in brochures not b/c the university really believes they're essential. #ChrisNichols #mesc15
— Wendy Hu-Au (@wendyhuau) March 6, 2015
Unless we learn to break free from racial stereotypes we will not develop people in their true gifting but keep them in a box #mesc15
— Rene Aguirre (@AguirreReneM) March 6, 2015
Fiesta is the Latino way of laughing @ the face of adversity and saying, haha, you have no power, our God is greater! @orlandofresco #mesc15
— Noemi Vega (@VidadeNoemi) March 6, 2015
Fiesta is part of the lament process for Latinos … Laughing in the face of adversity - Orlando Crespo @orlandofresco #mesc15
— InterVarsityLaFe (@LaFeTweets) March 6, 2015
We are so grateful for the wisdom and rich cultural blessings from our Native American brothers and sisters. #mesc15 pic.twitter.com/MmY9xN4VeB
— INTERVARSITYmem (@INTERVARSITYmem) March 6, 2015
"Interpersonal is important but it cannot stop there...we must deal with the systems!" @PhilBowlingDyer #challengethesystems #mesc15
— Dora Yiu (@yiu_can_tweet) March 6, 2015
We would be fools to think if we just thought we just got along better interpersonally that it would be enough. @PhilBowlingDyer #mesc15
— Wendy Hu-Au (@wendyhuau) March 6, 2015
When God gives us a challenging task, He gives challenging questions to help accomplish it. - Phil Bowling-Dyer #mesc15
— Sean Watkins (@seanisfearless) March 6, 2015
