Just Like Jesus - A YBA Journey in 2021
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Download the year's programme with resources - updated June 2021 Extra resources - updated June 2021 June challenges:- Seeing a change July challenges:- Seeing a change
What is it the Just Like Jesus Journey all about:-
"What we see and hear are not new conditions of injustice yet God graciously calls us once again to work with all our energy to dismantle those strongholds of evil which are prejudice, systemic racism and inequality. As Baptists we began our history in protesting for freedom and liberty for all. We say again that it is our duty to examine ourselves, to be informed and to engage actively in dismantling racism in both the public and private spheres we each inhabit. This is not something we can achieve with a fleeting concern but rather with commitment to a lifetime journey." We invite you to commit to an intentional journey towards the holy justice of God Since June, we have been praying and sharing with Baptists in our Association and in the Union, and we have particularly sought to work out what this intentional justice journey looks like for the YBA. As we look at ourselves, both individually and as YBA team and Executive, we also want to share the resources, reflections and challenges with YBA churches and encourage you to focus on justice with us. We believe it is important at this time to start with matters of racial justice but we will also look at how inequality and exclusion impact on other groups of people who should all know the welcome of God. We offer you Just like Jesus to start off a lifelong commitment to justice in all its aspects. We believe this is rooted in all that Jesus said and did as the incarnate Son, as God with us. Monthly challenges – Making a Start and Seeing a Change Each month for a year we will suggest some challenges. Some are very simple – one-off exercises to help you make a start. Others are about making and sustaining changes to the way you do things so that our habitual, maybe unconscious, behaviour becomes more just. They can be done individually but we recommend you do them with others. All the challenges are better reflected and prayed upon with others and ideally this is a journey for your church or community to make together. Do one challenge or all the challenges. Like anything worthwhile, the more you keep going with this journey, the more you will benefit. If it takes more than one year – keep going! Journey together – be accountable to one another Let us know your intention so we can pray for you and offer YBA support. Click here to email Regional Minister Mary Taylor. For churches that are committed to this through 2021 we will try to link you up with someone in the YBA who can accompany you and be a good sounding board in matters of justice. This way too, we will be sharing together as Jesus teaches us, sharing our discoveries, our need to change and the inner and outer steps we are taking. There will also be a Just like Jesus group facilitated by Mary . If you’d like to take this journey but have no one else to share it with we’ll hold Zoom meetings and take the challenges together through the year. Ministers focusing on their continuing ministerial development (CMD) could benefit from taking part in a Just Like Jesus group. Each month we will publish the two challenges and we want to hear back from you too. Send us your photos, book reviews, services, reflections. At the same time as you take up these challenges, we think God will be opening up the Bible to you through fresh eyes. Please share with us the words of Jesus, the stories and the teaching, which become powerful for you through the year. Key Questions Whatever steps you take, key Just like Jesus questions are: What do I feel? What have I learned? How is my experience different from others? What does the Bible tell me? What do I/we need to change? Catch up with the challenges:- January Making a Start Then with someone else or in a small group, ask these questions:
Seeing a Change Write, draw, scribble your thoughts, feelings and questions as you take this journey with Jesus and as you follow the suggestions. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you through Scripture and through life. When you read Bible passages that are about justice write them in your journal. Make a note of your own experiences and how they differ from others. Write about your resistance, your prayers and your encounters with others. If you are doing this as a church why not give everyone a journal? February
Seeing a Change Racial Justice Sunday 14th February. March Making a Start Seeing a Change Resource - Church service marks anniversary of George Floyd killing April challenges:- Making a start Seeing a change
May challenges:- Making a start Seeing a change
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Get to know someone who is different from you in race, background, culture, education, religion... or someone you’ve just not spoken to before. Be excited that this is someone uniquely and beautifully formed by God and precious to Jesus. Who they are is going to reveal more of Jesus to you. Practice good listening as you get to know them and try to imagine life from their point of view.
Organise a justice book club using these suggestions:
ON 3rd June 2020 the YBA Regional Ministers wrote this response to the lament and protests at the murder of George Floyd:
Making a Start