Last week I mourned with the nation the horrific murder and loss of George Floyd. I couldn’t watch the video in it’s entirety because it made my stomach sick and knowing his family would watch the same video broke my heart. We had a family discussion in our home and I went to the Lord on how to lead the people around us. No, we didn’t get louder on social media. We quietly made phone calls and reached out to those close to us. We also had an open discussion at church with our volunteers.
Being a white male pastor in America brings a tremendous opportunity for corporate repentance and authenticity. Writing today as a father and encouraging the fathers and mothers around me is my goal. Our impact raising the next generation to honor and respect the black community has tremendous room to grow and here are ways we commit in our home to grow stronger.
- Racism begins in the home and if people are not welcome and invited in our home that look different in color and think different in their beliefs, then every word we tell our kids, as parents, are just words and not actions to them.
- Serving as a family with our children by our side (no, I’m not talking once a year to serve the homeless). I’m speaking of intentionally and frequently serving people that look and think differently than our children.
- Have face to face conversations about racism with our children. Ask them if they see us loving people of different color. Ask them if there are ways to grow in our family. They may not see us going to work to work with people of different color skin than ours. They will often tell you the truth whether you want to hear it or not.
Proverbs 22:6
Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Equipping Disciples of Jesus to Receive, Give and Serve In Grace,
Brandon Pollard
brandonpollard 