Awareness begins with two primary aspects. The first is an awareness that ethnic and racial prejudice and injustice are real, active problems in America.  The second is an awareness that very few people in all cultures have an adequate level of understanding of the issues and sensitivity to the impact of the issues.  Without a greater awareness of these realities, progress is unachievable and hearts are not softened.

Relationship is where the foundation for long-term change must be built.  Most people live and work in homogenous communities as opposed to diverse communities, and far too often our closest relationships are limited by this reality.  It is only through increasingly living in vibrant relationships with those of other ethnicities that true reconciliation can happen.  A particularly important aspect of this is doing ministry together. It is in the intentional pursuit of people of all ethnicities and races where sincere relationships are formed.

Education is another component of this issue in which significant improvement can and must be made.  Too little effort has gone into gaining an accurate understanding of the complicated factors that created the current environment and contributed to it throughout the history of our country. We cannot assume that what we learned, or thought we knew, always painted the correct picture of history. We must pursue truth as a life discipline that must be the mark of any follower of Jesus Christ, and that extends throughout and beyond God’s Word and into the fullness of His creation.

Action is the fourth component, and it must not be viewed as the “end state” but as a necessity  and getting educated prior to part of an ongoing strategy of progress.  Also, it is advisable to spend time increasing awareness committing to a series of actions; doing so helps to ensure that as individuals and a church, we create and sustain momentum toward ethnic and racial reconciliation in our land.