Project Objective: Imagine you are building a church in an inner city that is racially divided, violent, poverty stricken, and has a slew of social and economic problems. You are the pastoral leaders and you need to build a biblical foundation amongst yourselves and in your church in order to provide space for unity to be realized and God’s justice to be understood and sought. How would your church approach ministering justice and unity in your new church and community? Use one or more of the below questions in the outline as a springboard to address the topic of race in America, the function and place of race in the heart of God, and how identity, justice, and unity is provided in the Gospel. Your oral presentation should delve into all three topics outlined below but must be original: build a biblical framework of understanding race, build a biblical paradigm of justice, address a current racial issue in America, and develop a praxis for ministry.

1. Biblical Framework of race and nationality: In order to build a framework to understanding race in America, we must first determine what the Bible has to say about race.
   
   1. In Ephesians 2, we see that the Gentiles were grafted into the people of God and the promises and redemptive work of God by the work of Christ and through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, by means of the redemptive work of Jesus, brings Jews and Gentiles together into one new body, the eschatological community that is the Church.
      1. Consider how the Gospel produces a breaking, indeed, of all racial divides. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing unity between the the Jews and Gentiles? 
      2. Consider the work of Christ in bringing unity among people by forming them into “one new man.” The people of God are defined by those in Christ through faith, and not by race. Is unity only able to be found in the Church? If not, how does the Church affect or influence the unity of those outside of itself?
         
   2. In Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 11:11-15, and Isaiah 2:1-4 we see the role of the Gentiles in God’s redemptive acts.
      1. What is the relationship of the Gentiles in the Abrahamic Covenant?
      2. What is Israel’s destiny in regards to God’s leadership?
      3. What is the role of the Gentiles in God’s salvation plan and towards Israel before the return of Christ?
         
   3. In Galatians 3:28 and Acts 2:17-18, the giving of the Spirit brings together and unifies the people of God regardless of race (“all flesh”), gender (“sons and your daughters”), class or privilege (“servants”), and age (“young men” and “old men”). Nonetheless from Isaiah 2:1-4 and Revelation 7:9-10 we know that distinctions, roles, vocations for races and the nations remains and are vital to God’s plans.
      1. What is Israel’s unique role, being God makes a clear distinction between Jews and all other nations?
      2. In Revelation 7:9-10 we see a distinction in nationality, ethnicity, and language. In Psalm 86:9-10 we see that the Lord was deliberate in forming nations and therefore diversity. How do we see God cherish and glory in these distinctions and diversities through the Scriptures?
      3. If our role as Gentiles is to serve the calling of Israel, how would we apply this principal to all other races and nations?
         
   4. In Numbers 12 and Obadiah we see how the Lord’s heart feels about racism, antisemitism, and national oppression.
      1. Consider God’s response to Miriam in Numbers 12. How does God feel about racism and prejudice? How does God feel about those who are against the Gentiles being grafted into Israel? 
      2. What should the role of a nation be in the midst of another nation’s distress? What does God require of us in our response to our neighbor? 
      3. What does it mean to partner with Israel even when God is allowing her to be punished? 

1. Biblical Frame work of Justice: Now that we have worked through a biblical framework about race, now let us turn to the issue of justice.
   
   1. In his book, False Justice: Unveiling the Truth about Social Justice, Stuart Greaves, Vice President of the Global Prayer Division at the International House of Prayer – Kansas City, shifts our paradigms and contrasts our sense of need for justice with the Gospel. The Gospel itself, he shows, is a message that is centered on justice. It turns out much of what we believe, when it is fueled by our dark hearts, drifts away from Gospel realities and becomes what he calls, “false justice.” A biblical foundation is necessary in order to approach social justice rightly. 
      1. How does the Bible define justice in relation to Jesus and his work on the cross?
      2. What does justice look like, according the God’s eternal plan? 
      3. How did Jesus work to bring justice in the earth?
         1. And in our eschatological, now but not yet reality before he returns to establish justice at his Second Coming? What is the role of intercession?
      4. Through this paradigm shift of justice centered on the Gospel and promises of God, can we discover, recover, and nourish the prophetic destinies of racial groups in our midst and in the nations?
         
2. Addressing issues of race in America out of a biblical framework of race and justice, and developing a praxis: Let us now probe into understanding issues of race in America with a focus on racism experienced by the African American community. Students may choose any other racial conflict for focus.
   
   1. Current events of racial violence, especially against African Americans, are more spoken about in our generation than ever before. In recent news we saw Black Lives Matter, Charleston, Charlottesville, Ferguson, Orlando, and Standing Rock at the front lines of this issue. Police violence can be observed in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner where the grand jury did not indict the white police officers. 
      1. Does this stems from our recent American past of slavery, segregation, and a time where police enjoyed immunity for murdering blacks? 
      2. Is there a huge racial disparity in how the American government handles African Americans and other people groups?  If so, how can the Church engage in intercession and politics in order to bring change? 
      3. In what ways can the Church cherish and build up oppressed people groups? How can we practically work to acknowledge their callings and the gift these are to the body of Christ? 
      4. How can the Church address root issues in order to restore dignity and strength to the marginalized, traumatized, and oppressed?
         
   2. The Whitney Plantation is America’s first slavery museum, built in December 2014. Similarly, only in recent times is the story of Tulsa’s Greenwood district (Black Wall Street) being re-told. Separately, in “Color of Reality” featuring Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, artist Alexa Mede creates a space where one could connect with the personal trauma individuals go through in experiencing racial violence.
      1. What is the role in the Church and in humanity of acknowledging and validating historical events such as these? 
      2. Consider why it has taken so long for America to make their first slavery museum, and why Black Wall Street is only in recent years being discussed after about 100 years? How can the Church work to minister healing to the nation through validating the reality of atrocities and yet keeping a steady call towards the Gospel that demands forgiveness and long-suffering in our present broken realities? 
      3. Although these realities are painful and difficult to look into, how can the Church use their gifting and diversity in order to be a catalyst of healing to the suffering at a heart level?
         
   3. The African American Forerunner Alliance is a ministry based in the International House of Prayer, Kansas City, that contends, serves, and ministers to the black community in the Church at large through resources and conferences. A big focus is on their Malachi Project which aims to preserve the stories of heroes of the faith within the African American community of America throughout history. They also have developed creative ways in which to reach out as a beacon of hope for the black community through resources, symposiums, dramas and plays, and other artistic and ministry outlets.
      1. What is the importance of ministries in the body of Christ to address current issues and crises today in a way that brings healing, strength, and alignment to the Gospel?
      2. What are ways in which the body of Christ can develop and continue engaging the black community even as issues remain, arise, and fall? 
      3. What is the importance of acknowledging and bringing into focus heroes of the faith of a particular community or group? What is at stake if this is not done?