The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church supports a wide variety of mission partners, both local and global, in advancing our common mission to 'make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.' Each month, we will join together in praying for our siblings doing mission and ministry around the world.
April: Racism
During his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. … Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.” Yet even today, more than 50 years after Martin Luther King’s assassination, justice is not a reality. Hatred for those unlike ourselves is very real and present in our society. Racism is not a relic of the past – instead, it continues to transform itself, from slavery to Jim Crow to mass incarceration. Now, the racism many people thought was gone has come to light again in the form of white supremacy. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state, “In many cultures white persons are granted unearned privileges and benefits that are denied to persons of color. We oppose the creation of a racial hierarchy in any culture. … Therefore, we recognize racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons.”
This month, please pray for:
- Week 1: God’s love to overcome the power of hate that permeates our society.
- Week 2: Our ability to see God’s image in all people, especially those who are different from us.
- Week 3: Taking tangible steps as a nation to reckon with the sins of our past and present.
- Week 4: Churches to become places that welcome difference.
Never doubt that your prayers make a difference!