With so many people around the world, NLCC wants to express its grief and dismay over the murder of George Floyd. The difficult conversations around violence and systemic racism towards Black people, as well as the protests it has prompted, bring to mind the stories of other peoples in Canada who have been victims of prejudice and injustice - First Nations people, Asian people (in wartime and more recently due to the pandemic), and many other People of Colour.

We are apprentices of Jesus, who is teaching us how to be a true humanity. We believe that every person is created in the image of God and that the gospel brings all peoples together in reconciliation with God and one another.

Racism, violence, and hatred wound their victims and do damage to the personality of the instigator, and are demonic at their core. We grieve that racism, injustice, and evil remain in our world.

We confess that Christians, contrary to the teachings of Scripture, have often aided and abetted racist policies and attitudes, bringing scandal to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We pray, long and lament for God’s kingdom of peace, justice, and reconciliation to come on earth as it is in heaven.

We pray for all who have been victims of racial or ethnic injustice, both personally and collectively.

We pray that the unrest, rage, and violence that has erupted across our countries can be replaced by dialogue, understanding, and true change.

We pray for lawmakers, those who serve in law enforcement, and those in the justice system, that they would have the courage to do true justice and righteousness in all their responsibilities.

We pray for eyes to see every person as Jesus sees - with compassion, dignity, and love.

We ask for patience and wisdom as each one seeks to learn best how to live the vision of God’s kingdom in all our relationships.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146:5-10 (ESV)

The Lead Team