Rest and Resilience in Christ

In the U.S., Black History Month is celebrated in February. It is fitting to recognize this by highlighting the ongoing work of our National Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and its leaders.

My experience of the NAE Spiritual Retreat with BIPOC Leaders

GCI’s membership in the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) gave me a wonderful opportunity to engage with and grow in the ministry and message of reconciliation. In November, Toni Kim (Director of Spiritual Care) and Mekdes Haddis (Project Director for Racial Justice & Reconciliation Collaborative) hosted a spiritual retreat for the NAE at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville, N.C. (see full article, Living United: How the NAE is Working to Build Bridges of Reconciliation).

Mekdes Haddis, Jeff Broadnax, Toni & Walter Kim

I joined three dozen Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) ministry leaders from around the country to seek Jesus’ face and discern the Spirit’s wisdom in area of racial healing, reconciliation, and resilience within the body of Christ. Large group sessions were facilitated by author and counselor, Sheila Wise Rowe. She offered a Christ-centered approach to the following topics:

- Racial Trauma within the Body of Christ
- Trauma Informed Ministry
- Compassionate Soul Care and Healing
- The Art of Peace, Joy, Rest, and Resilience

Small group breakout sessions beautifully created an environment for this diverse group to experience trust, vulnerability, and bonding in Christ. Included was time for personal and interactive reflection, prayer, biblical discussion, and chances for networking and building relationships.

I shared God’s move within GCI to develop a National Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) for the U.S. Superintendent. I described the work we have done as a denomination to intentionally invite men and women from a diversity of generations, ethnicities, cultures, and perspectives to bring their journey with Jesus to the table and help us become fitly framed together for 21^st century ministry in a diverse world.

It was validating to know GCI is part of a larger move in the body of Christ to fulfill Jesus’ mandate to equalize and value the uniqueness of every voice and experience (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:14-16). It was inspiring to see fresh insights for embracing the opportunities created by the Holy Spirit for GCI leaders and members to become Jesus’ witnesses in our “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

It has started within our midst already. We continue to grow in wisdom both through the transparent sharing of generational pains and brokenness—which is healed by the Father—and by having a passion for biblical justice. In both cases, the truth of God is spoken in love; repentance and lament are humbly entered into; and forgiveness and grace are freely given. With every conversation and ministry engagement, the impact of Satan’s dividing walls of hostility between races, sexes, generations, and cultures come tumbling down, and we are better equipped live as God’s masterpiece of oneness in Jesus (Ephesians 2:10, 14-16).

While I was convicted by the experiences, lessons, and challenges of Native American, Hispanic, Asian, African American, and multi-racial leaders within the Evangelical movement in the U.S., I was also inspired to see brothers and sisters looking to live out Jesus’ prayer that we “may be one” (John 17:21).

Later this spring, I will again join NAE leaders at the National Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. Then at our U.S. GCI Regional Gatherings, I will go deeper with Christ-centered discussions of our oneness through the Third Option Training.

Through all of this, we pray to live equipped and “sent” to join Jesus in his message and purpose to “reconcile [all broken relationships] to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:16). This will grant us and the world rest and resilience in Christ.

By Jeff Broadnax, East Regional Director

2 thoughts on “Rest and Resilience in Christ”

Tom Ecker says:

February 21, 2024 at 11:14 pm

Jeff, delighted to read your important essential update, thank you. Being married to Alberta for 25 years, who was an enrolled Native American, she shared volumes of pain regarding growing up in a Native American Catholic Boarding School. Sad she is not here to see this this vital positive commitment via BIPOC. Love, prayers and blessings
William Miller says:

March 17, 2024 at 10:50 am

Thanks Jeff for the update, we are truly ONE in Jesus, who died for Everyone so that God may be All in All and we may live by Him, sharing in His Life of Patience, Love and Faith! Life is an Eternal Gift, Thank God He Wills to Share His Life with us Thru Jesus by His Spirit.

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Rest and Resilience in Christ

2 thoughts on “Rest and Resilience in Christ”

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