Reconciliation12
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise
your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
Romans 14:10
"For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Romans 5:12
Our Mission
We are men who believe in the idea of racial reconciliation, and not division. 6 black and 6 white, coming together at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama to pray for reconciliation and healing in our state, in our country and around the world. No politics, no speeches, just fellowship and prayer, breaking bread and setting an example for others to bridge the divide; to show that although we may be different, we can bridge those differences with the love of Jesus Christ.
Our Tenants of Belief
1
R12 believes in the inherent self worth of all individuals regardless of skin color and that we were all created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.”
2
R12 believes that while there are still pockets and bubbles of racism in society, reconciliation has occurred and continues to occur and we are far more reconciled to one another than what news media, politicians, naysayers and haters would have one to believe.
2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
3
R12 believes that the use of divisiveness and/or promotion of racism are products of the devil himself and promoters of either are driven by a hate filled ideology. We denounce and reject that ideology and call on politicians, news media, and bigots of all skin color to cease and desist in further dividing our world.
Matthew 16:23 “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
4
R12 believes that the narrative of love, unity and reconciliation can only be overcome in a one on one personal interaction, through prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread, one with another, and that very simple “one on one” can literally manifest itself into a worldwide movement through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
5
R12 believes that men of God are called to set the example. As MLK and others during the civil rights era stood up for what was right, all men today are called to end divisiveness and to promote unity.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
6
R12 desires that black men and white men of God join hands, pray, fellowship, break bread and be the example for all the world, and let it start at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
Why 12?
Twelve is a good number.
In the Bible, twelve often symbolizes God’s power and authority. It is often symbolic of perfection or completion. Twelve is also the number of Christ’s first core group of disciples.
From those initial twelve men, as they spread the love of Christ and the good news that sinners can be reconciled to God, the Church grew so much they were accused of turning the world upside down!
R12 wants to have that same impact on a world far from God and call men who have experienced hurt and hatred because of racism out of that bondage and into freedom, brotherly love and unity in Christ.
Our goal is for men far from God and each other to be fully reconciled to God and each other as we pray, share a meal and love one another with the perfect love of Christ.
From small beginnings, God can do great things.
Twelve is a good number.
Our Vision
12 men, the beginning of Reconciliation 12, leaders in the community, influencers, men of God, coming together in prayer before our Lord and at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge who believe in reconciliation and not division. Six black and six white men, coming together to pray for continued reconciliation and healing, but also to show the community, the state, the country, and the world the progress that has actually already taken place. Following prayer at the foot of the bridge, the 12 then break bread at a local restaurant, sitting black, white, black, white, black and white around a table as a show of reconciliation and brotherly love.
The next prayer meeting at the foot of the bridge, each those original 12 will have invited 12 more of the opposite race, the “one on one” invite. Now, there are 24 - 12 black and 12 white. Prayer, fellowship, breaking bread locally, and showing the community love and reconciliation.
This process repeats itself, and by meeting 5, there are over 300 black and white men praying, fellowshipping and breaking bread in Selma, being the hands and feet of Christ and His love for all.
By the 14th meeting, there could be over 90,000 black and white men stretching from the foot of the bridge - black, white, black, white, black, white - stretching all the way to the steps of the capital in Montgomery. Imagine the message this would send to racial naysayers, purveyors of racism, the haters, both white and black, as well as the political and financial profiteers of racism who continue to fuel these divisions. More importantly, imagine the message that would send to people across Alabama, across the country and around the world who have embraced reconciliation and are seeing the fruits of their efforts. Reconciliation and unity through the love of Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther King, Jr stated in his dream speech in 1965:
“I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; that one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as
sisters and brothers."
Join us to continue the realization of this dream.
Remembering George Sallie
The Men of R12 are so grateful to have had the tremendous blessing and honor to have met, prayed with and learned from this remarkable man of God on several of our quarterly trips to Selma, Alabama. Mr. George Sallie was a true foot soldier of the cross of Christ and of the fight for racial reconciliation through repentance and forgiveness. This humble, soft-spoken man remains a testament to the power of a life reconciled and surrendered to Christ. He was intentional to share the message that love and peace with God and men was available to us all despite our hurts and shortcomings.
Even as we are saddened by his passing we rejoice that he has surely received his reward and entered into his rest!
