Last Tuesday I was invited to attend a Mission Mississippi meeting held at the bright and early time of 6:15 a.m. at Alma Jean’s in Senatobia.
I’d never heard of Mission Mississippi until I moved to Senatobia. Intrigued, I looked the group up, and to say I was heartened by their philosophies and approach would be putting it lightly.
On their website, I found the following vision statement:
“To engage, to equip and to empower the next generation to build relationships across racial lines, to work together with better understanding, to build greater respect for one another and to trust each other while making a better Mississippi together.”
Wow! Y’all I can think of no better time than the present to look at the world around us and approach our social issues than with this mindset.
Mission Mississippi goes on to explain their mission is to lead the way in racial reconciliation in Mississippi. Their model is to bring people together to build relationships across racial lines so they can work together to better their communities.
But the way they do it truly remarkable. In today’s world, where it seems declaring oneself a Christian can be so politically charged, Mission Mississippi openly embraces using faith as a way to break down barriers.
Their model goes further to encourage and demonstrate grace in the Body of Christ across racial lines so that communities throughout Mississippi can see practical evidence of the gospel message. And it seems to me, we might all need a little more Jesus in us.
And that’s just what was echoed in the meeting at Alma Jean’s. Despite being half-awake, Mrs. Alma Jean’s breakfast tempted my tummy and alerted my senses as I listened to the diverse group in attendance. And that diversity was the entire point. No. We didn’t all look the same. No. We didn’t all come from the same backgrounds. No. We didn’t have the same experiences through or with life.
But. That’s what made the meeting worth it, at least for me.
In order to fix issues at their roots, or cause, we have to be prepared to have the hard talks. The uncomfortable questions must be asked, but they don’t have to be approached with hostility.
These discussions can happen in an openly respectful and (dare I say) loving environment. We must learn the differences that set us apart so that we may better understand a route to a lasting solution.
Everyone in attendance at that meeting, had at least one thing in common. We were all believers in Jesus Christ. But with that simple truth and understanding a door was instantly open for conversations. Through a loving commonality, we found ourselves discussing everything from children’s school choices, to bow fishing Asian Carp, to COVID-19 vaccinations, to the problems that arise with children being raised in homes without the love of Christ modeled for them.
To say it was a fulfilling meeting would be an understatement, but through one meeting setting the example, I am convinced the world isn’t lost.
It’s just time to have the hard talks with a little more compassion and understanding. And who better to set the example for us to model our behavior after than the Good Lord, himself?
