Race, Regathering & PPP

UPDATE: Additional resources on race and justice added to this post on June 16

PPP - As expected, there continue to be changes, all favorable to those of you who are recipients of the PPP loan/grant.  This article from CapinCrouse does a great job of summarizing the changes passed last Friday and signed into law yesterday. In short, we have more time to qualify for forgiveness and 60% versus 75% has to be spent on payroll.  More to come as we get toward the end of June.

Regathering - We continue to pray for you as you negotiate these uncharted waters.  We have been encouraged by the many roundtables, webinars, etc. where pastors and others are sharing & learning together.  One business caution in your considerations - be aware that from an insurance liability side, you need to heed state and local regulations.  Any church that chooses to ignore guidelines risks having no liability coverage if there is an incident that arises due to those actions.

Race - Last week I posted some personal thoughts on these past few weeks.  That journey continues and, I hope and pray, will continue until the Lord calls me home. Today I simply want to share a few articles / videos / songs that have helped move me to 1) a deeper appreciation of what my black brothers & sisters have endured and are enduring, 2) a repentance for my apathy and inaction to this point and 3) a commitment to persevere with them to create change, beginning in the church.  

In no particular order:

• An excellent series of 4 blog articles written by Kenny Gibbs, an elder in our church on the Institute for Cross-Cultural Ministry blog.  ICCM also has a rich list of podcasts, sermons, and books. 

• A deaconess in my church, Alicia Akins, has written a reflection on Isaiah 58 and a list of questions for self-reflection.

• A powerful chapter Moving Forward by Russ Whitfield, pastor of Grace Mosaic church in DC from the book Heal Us, Emmanuel

• An article shared by a pastor friend - https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/05/30/what-do-i-want-from-white-people-an-illustration-on-being-black-in-america/

• Emmanuel Acho, former football player & ESPN analyst - “Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man” - really, really well done - https://www.facebook.com/themanacho/videos/272134207491609/

• Wonderful satirical piece that gets to the point - https://www.facebook.com/bil.mooneymccoy/posts/10158853733891282

• Andre Henry, Jamaican musician & worship leader, in a podcast interview - if you do not have time for the full hour, start at minute 24 - https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/andre-henry-on-systemic-racism/

Additional Resources (added June 16)

Upcoming Webinars from the PCA’s Mission to North America:

• Racial Brokenness in America and Our Gospel Response:  A Time to Listen, Resources from the Racial and Ethnic Reconciliation Report

  Thursday, June 18, 2:00 pm EDT – 3:30 pm EDT.

  A discussion with Reverend Kevin Smith and other leaders, who participated on the study and development of the report.

•  CentralTalks: The Gospel, Racial Injustice, and Asian-American

  Thursday, June 18, 7:30 pm EDT – 9:00 pm EDT

  In light of recent events surrounding the unjust murder of George Floyd, and in order to be equipped as Gospel-loving people who also love and pursue justice, we will be holding our first CentralTalk.   The topic is "The Gospel, Racial Injustice, and Asian-Americans". It will be a webinar-panel discussion with special guests Dr. Alexander Jun, Pastor Moses Lee, Rachel Lee, and Soojin Park, and it will be moderated by Pastor Owen.

 Articles:

• George Floyd and Me, by Shai Linne on The Gospel Coalition 

• Justice Too Long Delayed, an article by Timothy Dalrymple in Christianity Today

We would love to hear from you, what you are reading & listening to.  Let’s encourage one another. Share with us at hello@auxilio.partners.