THE MISSION To encourage and demonstrate unity in the Body of Christ across racial and denominational lines so that communities throughout Mississippi can better understand the Gospel message

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THE MISSIONTo encourage and demonstrate unity in
the Body of Christ across racial and
denominational lines so that communities
throughout Mississippi can better understand the
Gospel message
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THE VISIONTo be the leading resource and
catalyst for Christian reconciliation and racial
healing for Mississippi and the world.To work
with over two million Mississippians who are
members of a Catholic or Protestant church.
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THE ACTIONMission Mississippi sponsors and
coordinates meeting opportunities for people of
different races and denominations to get to know
each other and serve the Lord together.
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ACTIVITIES

• Tuesday and Thursday Prayer Breakfasts
• Monthly Businessmens Breakfast
• Pastors Prayer Fellowship Meetings
• Monthly Ladies Prayer Luncheon
• Mayors Leadership Prayer Breakfast
• Grace is Greater Than Race Tour
• Governors Prayer Luncheon
• Statewide Unity Conference on Racial
  Reconciliation
• Church Partnership Picnic
• Clergy Spouse Appreciation Banquet
• Pastors Retreats
• Chapter Affiliate Development
• Working with 25 different communities
  denominations

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Statewide StrategyTo develop a chapter or work
with an affiliate of Mission Mississippi in every
county or municipality in the state.
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ChapterA group that has the Mission Mississippi
name and holds to our mission and vision. It is
a direct extension of Mission Mississippi.
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AffiliateAn organization that is already
established and is doing similar work as Mission
Mississippi. Mission Mississippi networks and
partners with these groups. We serve as a
support for one another.
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Principles For A Reconciliation Ministry

• GOING DEEPER
• Dr. Dolphus Weary
• Mr. Jon Elder

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Create a Safe Atmosphere

• Styles, personal preferences and denominational
  nonessential differences should be blended for
  sake of unity.
• Avoid heavy issues discussion - especially early
  on.
• Adjust length of meetings/activities.
• Accept people like they are now.
• Team building is essential to be Gods army and
  to build Gods Kingdom.
• Practice flexibility and be willing to give up
  our rights.
• A lot of patience and forgiveness is necessary.
• Leave your personal agendas at the door.

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Marathon Vs Sprint

• Relationship building is a process.
• Relationships take time.
• God must change hearts, habits and minds and it
  takes time.
• We must stay at the table through tough times and
  good times.
• People look for a reason to leave the table.

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Trusting Relationships Are Essential

• Relationships are the glue that helps us deal
  with adversity.
• Relationships with people different than us help
  us change, grow in character, and expand our
  understanding of Gods Kingdom.
• A forgiving attitude is necessary.
• Must get past surface for real relationship to
  develop
• Smaller groups provide best opportunity for
  deeper relationships.
• We must be willing to be transparent and give of
  ourselves if we want deeper relationships.

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Relationship Driven Vs Activity/Event-Driven

• Its not about numbers.
• If the activities/events dont draw you to deepen
  trust relationships, they dont serve the purpose
  of Kingdom building.
• Success is based on relationships that bring
  about unity and unity builds Gods Kingdom.
• Have less activities/events early on focus on
  fellowship, prayer, casual atmosphere and smaller
  groups.

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Intentionality

• Must choose to come together or wont happen in
  most of our everyday activities
• Prayer and relationship building should be the
  focus early on.
• Relationships are worth the effort.
• Must be regular and consistent
• Once or twice per year is not regular.
• At least once per month or more to be regular
• Unity of the Body is at stake so we must be
  intentional in our actions.

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Accountability Structure of Diverse and Equal
Leadership

• Have folks from different denominations and races
  in leadership roles.
• Everyone must be accepted as equals.
• Must reflect many elements of Gods Body
• Must have structure of checks and balances for
  decision making
• Members must develop relationship of deep trust
  to make tough decision and deal with issues.
• Guidelines must be worked out and written down.
• Leaders must meet together regularly.

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Prayer and Fellowship
are Essential

• Activity without prayer will not last and be
  effective.
• Our ideas of how to pray are very different.
• Must blend prayer styles to get folks to return
• Fellowship time must be included.
• It is worth the time to come together just for
  prayer and fellowship.
• God can direct you to other activities when you
  pray and fellowship together.
• A structure that enhances unity of the Body and
  Body life is the best long term.
• Consideration of others is very necessary, i.e.,
  time, length of prayer, style of prayer.

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Listen to Understand Not
Sell, Change or Convince

• Main objective in a relationship, especially
  early on, is to understand the other person,
  i.e., feelings, position, hurts, etc. - not to
  correct, change or convince.
• Listening must be learned it is not natural. It
  is essential for relational development.
• We must learn how to talk to each other.
• The more we understand, the better we can
  communicate.
• Leave your soapbox and agendas at the door, i.e.,
  projects, hot buttons, issues that drive you. It
  is all about relationships.
• In time God will lead to actions together.
• To understand does not mean agreement.

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Kingdom Building Requires Kingdom Thinking

• Its all about building His Kingdom.
• Must think about Gods Kingdom not ours.
• Unity builds the Kingdom.
• Belief system must change for habits to change.
• Must see things from Gods perspective.
• Focus on areas of agreement.

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Churches in Long-Term Relationships

• Partner churches give opportunity for breaking
  down walls and relationship building.
• Must come together as equals no mission field
• Identify areas that are already active and find
  ways to bring them together.
• Must be regular and consistent
• Regular is more than once per year.
• The churches need to have some commonality.
• The pastors must build close relationships of
  trust.

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Celebrate Small Victories!

• Look for things to celebrate, i.e., new person
  attends, relationship grows, new church involved,
  etc.
• Dont focus on those who wont get involved or
  who leave the table.
• Dont focus on negatives.
• Dont focus on big events/activities for success.
• Celebrate victories with others so they are
  blessed.

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Open Churches

• Free for all believers to attend for fellowship
  and worship
• Free for own members to visit other fellowships
  without guilt and condemnation
• Free to celebrate together with Gods Body, the
  extended family occasionally for the good of
  Gods Kingdom
• Free to give up personal style preferences, i.e.,
  worship, etc. occasionally for the good of the
  Body
• Willing to join others in mutual service -
  doesnt have to be our thing
• Willing to celebrate other churches victories to
  build Kingdom

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Christ In Us -The Unifying Factor

• Christ, as our Lord and Master, is the one single
  common denominator for all believers regardless
  of denomination, race, worship style, culture,
  political party, etc. He makes us family.
• Grace is Greater Than Race.
• Christ trumps all else even politics.
• It is His Kingdom we are to build Not Ours.
• One Faith, One Baptism, One Church, One Body, One
  Christ in and through all WE ARE ONE FAMILY.

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Round Table Discussion Questions    1.            
    Discuss the area of racism in the church. As
you see the church, is racism in the Body of
Christ a reality, just a perceived reality or not
a problem at all? How does the church in general
perceive the problem and how is it moving to find
a solution.      2.   What is being done to
address the issue of racial reconciliation in the
Body of Christ in your church community.    3.   F
rom what you just heard, discuss some of the
principles and methods Mission Mississippi is
using to deal with the issue of racial
reconciliation in the church. What would you add
to it or change for your community?   4.   Jesus
taught a lot about the Kingdom of God and taught
that we are to seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness. How does racial reconciliation
and unity of the Body of Christ relate to
building the Kingdom of God?