Other resources:
Download a conversation about Reconciliation with Milissa Ewing (6gb) from season 1 of the Christianity + Culture series from Peace Portal Alliance Church
Description
On Episode 5, Milissa Ewing of Namgis First Nation and Lead Pastor of Redwood Park Church, will lead us through a conversation about reconciliation in Canada. This episode responds to the 94 Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in which the church was asked to continue educating their people about Canada's history of colonization and residential schools. Reconciliation is a central aspect of the gospel and on this episode we will consider how we are invited into it in our particular place and time.
Credits- Special Thanks to Milissa Ewing, Namgis First Nation, Lead Pastor of Redwood Park Alliance Church
- Co-Hosts: Anne Miranda and Justin Lenny
- Graphic Design: Mateo Allen + Autumn Goertz
- Produced by: Reevolve Creative and Peace Portal Church
Take action:
Give to the Indigenous Partnerships Fund
Transcript
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on September 30th. It was established in Canada in response to the 80th call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They called on the federal government, in partnership with indigenous people, to create a statutory holiday recognizing survivors, their families and communities while ensuring the history and legacy of residential schools are publicly remembered.
This day is important for Canadians and for us as Christians for a few reasons. First. Much of the harm done through residential schools was through church institutions operating in the name of Jesus. Jesus reputation was damaged. But Jesus came to reconcile all things, every nation, tribe, and tongue. The residential school system was intentionally going in the opposite direction, under the guise of Christian mission, and the legacy of that is still ongoing.
Second, reconciliation is our call as Christians. So engaging in TRC day isn't just about righting wrongs from the past. It's also about becoming who God made us to be and doing what he calls us to do. And so the Ministry of Reconciliation isn't a political government thing. It's a follower of Jesus thing. We are a new creation, reconciled to God through Christ Jesus and empowered by His Spirit to join his ongoing reconciliation work in the world.
As a pastor and The Alliance Canada coordinator of Indigenous Partnerships. I look across the landscape and I see signs that God is working in profound ways in indigenous people and communities.
And we don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past. God is doing a new thing, and so we want to join him in new ways. In our little corner of the country. We are seeing God healing and raising up indigenous people for the sake of the entire nation. Here on Thunder Bay, we've had the incredible opportunity to partner with First Nations communities in profound and beautiful ways.
From providing wildfire evacuee relief to sending a new venture worker and partnering in de camps for kids in Mishkeegogamang. But it's not just in Thunder Bay. We've heard that this is happening in other pockets across Canada to in Manitoba. Howard Jolly continues his online ministry and is partnering with Prairie Alliance Church and Indigenous People in Thompson and Kamloops.
The Indigenous Connections team at Kamloops Alliance Churches prayerfully dreaming about strengthening their local relationships and asking God for their next steps. So this National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an invitation to start our journey together towards a hope filled future. And so let me encourage you this September 30th to do for things. First, engage locally, participate in a TRC event in your community, and go with a posture of humility and curiosity.
Allow God to open your eyes and show you something new. Secondly, learn broadly. There are so many resources available to learn about Canada's history. The ongoing legacy of the harms done and who indigenous people are today. Third, give generously. An Indigenous Partnerships Fund is set up to support our work. We're able to move at the speed of our generosity.
And so doors are opening, and we want to be able to step in when we're invited. Fourth, pray. Humbly pray for your church. Pray for the indigenous people in your region. Pray for yourself and what God might be asking of you, and let your eyes be fixed on Jesus, our reconciler, our healer, our coming King, our bringer of hope.