The Reconciliation Ministry of Hope Church takes its focus from the scriptural statements that God intends the church to share in God’s ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18) in which we seek to follow Christ’s example of tearing down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14) separating us from others.
One major way in which the Reconciliation Ministry has sought to highlight this theme has been in the annual “Season of Reconciliation” at the beginning of each new year. Once again this past January and February, our congregation was privileged to hear important experiences of reconciliation from individuals who shared their stories during the 11:00 worship service. During these same Sundays a series of church school classes on the theme of the personal and societal impact of mass incarceration also helped us to understand how we might be agents of reconciliation. We were also blessed by the leadership of guest artist Joel Tanis as he helped us express reconciliation themes through the visual arts. The ministry is currently well underway planning for the “Season of Reconciliation” in early 2017.
Another area sponsored by the Reconciliation Ministry is the work of Restorative Circles. Several members of the ministry are active themselves in this work, and many others have been trained to extend this practice into the community. Other groups and events supported by the Reconciliation Ministry include the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance’s Summit on Race and Inclusion, the Holland Pride Film Festival, the local celebration of Juneteenth, and the prison ministry of “Shakespeare Behind Bars.” The Reconciliation Ministry has begun a supporting relationship with Rode Molle, a recent graduate of Western Theological Seminary from Ethiopia who is now continuing her education in Denver in order to return to Ethiopia to work in a much-needed children’s ministry there.
The members of the Reconciliation Ministry are: Tom Arendshorst, Laurie Baron, Josh Beard, Jane Dickie, John Koch (co-chair), Earl Laman, and Paul Smith (co-chair). We welcome suggestions from the congregation for new areas we might explore to extend God’s reconciling love.
~Paul Smith, Reconciliation Ministry Co-Chair