LifePoint Church | Resources for Growth

GROWING IN RACIAL JUSTICE AND
INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

As a multicultural "spiritual family" that seeks to be defined by all that Jesus is and does, we at LifePoint Church desire for our hearts to align with Jesus' heart. Because of this, we are perpetually seeking to grow as Christ-followers in our understanding and practice of a variety of societal issues including racial justice and intercultural competency. This truly is lifelong work and always starts with our own hearts and minds.

For anyone in our community seeking to follow Jesus alongside us, we encourage you to pray about your next step in your own commitment to these issues.

To help you discern next steps in these areas, below are potential action steps and links to various resources.

Action steps

Pray: repent and lament
Listen: Intentionally listen to people whose stories and experiences differ from your own. Believe people and listen when they share about experiencing injustice. Commit to stay in the conversation even when the hype about recent incidents has passed and when it’s not as common to do so.
Give: Eastside Food Shelf or The Sheridan Story
Learn: Read books; watch documentaries; listen to sermons and podcasts. Educate yourself on racial reconciliation, white privilege, the Kingdom of God, etc. We've provided various resources for you in the links below.

Resources

These resources express a wide variety of perspectives. Some will might make you uncomfortable and force you to wrestle with your own perspectives and experiences. You likely won't agree with some of the observations and conclusions of these resources. Nevertheless, we encourage you to approach with curiosity and humility, truly making it your goal to grow as a follower of Jesus, and not simply to find the "right answer."

(Please note that LifePoint does not necessarily endorse all the views expressed in these resources.)

"Insider Outsider - My Journey as a Stranger in White Evangelicalism and My Hope for Us All" by Bryan Loritts

Maybe race shouldn't be a divisive issue in the Church, but pastor Bryan Loritts makes the reality clear that what should be and what is are two different things, as he describes his journey as a black man in evangelicalism. (Amazon)
"Starting the Conversation" Interview from Eaglebrook Church

Jason Strand sits down with teaching team member Ryan Leak. With everything happening in our communities and the conversations that are taking place, Ryan offers a perspective that we need to hear. (YouTube)
"Oneness Embraced" Video series by Tony Evans on RightNowMedia.com

In this legacy message, Tony Evans seeks to promote a biblical understanding of the kingdom foundation of "oneness" by detailing why we don't have it, what we need to do to get it, and what it will look like when we live it. (RightNowMedia)
"Will the Church Ever Be Free from White Supremacy?" from the H.U.E. Podcast

This is the introduction episode to the series: "Will the Church Ever be Free of White Supremacy?" As your hosts (Ebony and Alyssa), in this episode we introduce ourselves, tell the story and purpose behind the series, and share quotes that bring us hope when we are weary or discouraged. (EbonyRamquist.com)
"Jesus and Justice - Why We Must Love Our Neighbor in Word and Deed" Panel Discussion from the Gospel Coalition

Though the broader secular culture often talks about justice in terms of politics and social policy, Jesus talks about addressing the hurts of victims and the marginalized as an expression of love. In this conversation we explored the biblical and gospel roots of how loving our culturally, economically, and ethnically marginalized neighbors is basic to what it means to love like Jesus. (YouTube)