Banquet and ongoing ‘Let’s Talk’ conversations give participants chance to be heard, brainstorm solutions.
Based on the biblical admonition in Malachi 3:16 that “those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard,” Bishop Derek Grier of Grace Church in northern Virginia is inviting pastors and faith leaders from across the nation to gather for a time of purposeful discourse to seek real and biblical solutions to the ongoing racial tensions plaguing our nation.
“If we can come together and actually speak and converse with one another rather than continuing to shout at one another, I believe the Lord will listen and we will see real change in our nation,” Bishop Grier said. “As such, I’m seeking to create an environment where multi-cultural Christian leaders from across the country can hear and be heard, share their disappointments and triumphs as it relates to race relations in America, and address critical race matters, as well as come up with practical solutions to the crisis.”
The conversations will begin with an initial “kick-off” banquet, DC Talks, to be held Nov. 17, 6-9 p.m., at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Barry Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain, will render the invocation and special guest speakers will include John Jenkins, National Association of Evangelicals Chairman; Don Kroah, Salem Radio Network host; Gordon Robertson, Christian Broadcasting Network CEO; Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) President; Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Macedonia International Bible Fellowship Presiding Bishop; and many more.
Following the initial event, Christian leaders from across the United States will join together for regular monthly Zoom calls starting Tuesday, Dec. 7, to discuss race relations, develop practical solutions for the crisis, and build diverse relationships. These will be hosted by a team of trained facilitators to invite real dialogue, full participation and creative approaches to address the issues.
“Today’s church is in a period of deep racial polarization. It is so easy for people to exist in environments where we only encounter beliefs and opinions that coincide with our own and thus become desensitized to the perspective of others,” Bishop Grier explained. “I am convinced that many of the critical issues facing the church today could be resolved if we would just find the courage to create time to talk to one another directly, honestly, simply, and caringly about issues that matter most.”
For more information, visit www.letstalklive.org.
Bishop Derek Grier currently serves as the founding pastor of Grace Church located just outside of Washington, DC, in Dumfries Va., which began in 1998 with 12 people and has today grown to more than 6,000 members. His passion for serving people led him to establish over 50 life-changing ministries within Grace Church. His radio and television programs can be heard and viewed by billions in the United States and around the globe. In 2011, he founded the now fully accredited Virginia Bible College, a world-class Christian learning institute which he currently serves as Chancellor. His latest release, “When God Stops,” was published by Thomas Nelson Publishing in August of 2019. Derek and his wife, Yeromitou, reside in northern Virginia and have two adult sons, Derek Jr. and David.
