Sankofa 2018: An Exhausting, Rewarding Journey
Looking Back at Sankofa 2018
Our second Sankofa journey took 28 Twin Cities multi-ethnic pastors to learn about civil rights and racial reconciliation the first week of May.
It was an exhausting yet rewarding journey together. We traveled through the South, visiting important sites of the Civil Rights era, while learning, discussing and being transformed by the process of leaning in to remember, hear and understand.
This experience has been profoundly impactful… it took me to places beyond what I could ever think or imagine.
“This experience with the invitation from Transform Minnesota has been profoundly impactful and the reality is it’s been an elevator kind of an event, it took me to places beyond what I could ever think or imagine,” said Pastor Joel Johnson, Westwood Community Church. “I’m still processing what does this mean for me in my personal life and my views, as well as for me as a leader.”
As we grappled with past and present realities of racism, each stop forced us to bear witness to our country’s tragic history of racial terrorism.
[pullquote]Understanding history is key to addressing the present.[/pullquote]
Kelly Mortvedt, the Community Life Pastor at Mercy Vineyard Church said, “I was especially impacted by seeing the ties between slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and modern day mass incarceration of black men. Understanding history is key to addressing the present.”
“Being able to meet with and walk this journey with so many people in ministry; to have been able to have this time together to process it in community was incalculable,” said Pastor David Myles, Life Group and Leader Development Pastor at New Hope Church.
[pullquote]…to have this time together to process it in community was incalculable.[/pullquote]
This powerful journey forever changed us, humbled us, grieved us, yet left us grateful and hopeful in the unity of the body of Christ. This group of 28 pastors was challenged and inspired to push against segregation and be open to reconciliation.
In the spirit of the word “Sankofa”: we must face our past in order to move forward.
“For Christ’s love compels us… All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, 18
