Today is the day I choose to walk out my truth. I am a former offender and I was incarcerated. I have been home for three years and during that time I experienced some of the best and worst moments of my life, specifically carrying feelings of shame and guilt.... The stigma of being labeled a felon [...]Read More
CCDA Biblical Justice Committee’s Response to the Killing of Unarmed Black Citizens
As ambassadors of reconciliation and representatives of the Kingdom of God, we fundamentally oppose the epidemic of unarmed black men being killed by police officers. We mourn with the families and communities who have lost loved ones; we weep, grieve, and lament alongside of them. Additionally, [...]Read More
On Advent & A Season of Giving: Hope
Isaiah 9:2 (the Message) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows-- light! sunbursts of light! Advent is a season recognized throughout church traditions to anticipate and await the arrival of Jesus. The Word that had been hoped for [...]Read More
Ferguson and the Call for Peace
While all people of good will call for calm and respect for the rule of law in Ferguson, Missouri, the truth remains that violence begets violence. Truthfully, Michael Brown's violent death at the hand of a police officer, and the violent aftermath, are tragic reflections of America's continuing [...]Read More
Lamentation for Ferguson or Healing in the Aftermath of Ferguson
The hearts of our staff at Mission Year were heavy on our weekly prayer call. It was the morning after the grand jury decision in Ferguson and there was a lot of disappointment, pain, and anger. Many of us were struggling with words to say and prayers to pray. Instead of listing a litany of prayer [...]Read More
Red, White & Blue
The red, white and blue lights flashed in the mirror and the familiar sting of fear crawled through my stomach. “Not today,” I thought. “Please, don’t let it be today.” The lady riding in the passenger seat of my vehicle whispered to me, “Just stay calm.” Her short, curly, gray hair had been [...]Read More
No Indictment is Outrageous, Even if Wilson is Innocent
No Indictment. The announcement broke the suspense, if not the tension. 108 days after Michael Brown was killed by Darren Wilson, St. Louis Prosecutor Bob McCulloch announced that the grand jury had determined that there was no probable cause to indict Officer Wilson in the August 8th death on [...]Read More
What is a Pastor Like Me Doing at a Protest?
Twenty-five years ago, I was in 10th grade and lived in Lakewood, Colorado. As a suburbanite, I rarely ventured downtown. It was considered unsafe and largely to be avoided. The main strip through our city is Colfax Boulevard where the east end garnered the reputation for being the red-light [...]Read More