“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Martin Luther King Jr.- Letter from the Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963).
This summer, during the height of the pandemic and in the wake of George Floyd’s death, young adults from across America expressed their shock and anger in collective protest. Debates raged within our community as to the Christian response and the role of the church in combating racial injustice in America. Quest Young Adults lent their voices to this important dialogue happening all over our nation about race, faith, and justice. In a two-part discussion and question and answer session titled “At a Crossroads: Conversations on Race & Faith” featuring local pastors, young adult leaders, and vibrant community voices, Quest Young Adults set out to answer the hard questions and provide a space for their community to lament the harsh reality of racism.
Due to social distancing constraints these deep and transformative sessions, on June 11th, July 2nd, and July 16th, were held exclusively online. These virtual gatherings, with a broad reach of collectively over 2,350 views, covered a wide range of topics with the goal of facilitating an honest dialogue. Featured on Zoom, Facebook Live, and Instagram, the discussion touched on the raw emotions being felt in communities across America, the reaction of the church at-large and how it can be a beacon in this season, as well as, the challenging interactions with law enforcement that Black men and women face. “Honestly, it was so refreshing and powerful to hear such transparency in the church about issues that are so real,” one young adult said of the event. “This shows the church can be a big part of a conversation beyond the four walls,” said another. Special thanks to Elvis Gyan, Marcus Raman, Guerlain Ulysse, Tanisha McKinnon, Quest Young Adult Director Justina Rivera and Christ Church Student Ministries Pastor Ryan Faison.