This blog is the latest in an ongoing series to continue learning how we as the Church can play a role in uniting together toward racial reconciliation and improving our understanding and embracing of the full diversity of God’s kingdom.
For this installment in the series we interviewed Brenda, a Compassion Clinic volunteer who has formed a deep connection with Derek and Regina Thompson. Derek and Regina founded the ministry Hands of Favor and they have partnered with us to provide haircuts and smiles at Compassion Clinics for many years. Brenda agreed to share some of her story as she has wrestled with topics of racial justice, learned from leaders like Derek and Regina, and formed thoughts for the Church going forward.
Brenda: I was the leader of the Prayer Connection Team one year at the Compassion Vancouver Heights clinic. We were the last stop in someone’s day where they could pick up a bag abundantly full to meet their basic supply needs and we offered to pray with them. We had several people want to tell their stories of how they became homeless and accept the invitation for prayer. There were some beautiful connecting moments that day, and I both hope and believe God heard those prayers.
Brenda (right) praying with a guest at the Compassion Vancouver Heights Clinic (pre-COVID)
“What Is Really Going on Here?”
I am guessing it was about 1974 or 75 or so at the age of 13 or 14, a bi-racial couple moved into our neighborhood in Laurelhurst. I distinctly remember my mom mentioning that the neighbors were upset because one of the partners was Black but that since he was married to a white woman, they were adjusting to the idea of them staying. I remember questioning to myself that come to think of it, why have I never seen any black people in my neighborhood or my school? Picking up bits and pieces of the social context as I aged, I just somehow always questioned “what is really going on here?”
“I do believe with my whole heart that this is an important issue for the church to address. The voice I am most trying to hear is Jesus Himself.”
That question was answered most recently when I attended Warner Pacific University to get my Masters in Human Services. A professor of one of my classes was very emboldened and passionate about racism and how it manifests itself. In my cohort were also three black women who were patient and kind to me with all of my questions. Having done some research on my own over the past several years about issues that affect the black community, such as Redlining and Gentrification, I now came face to face with people who had experienced all of these injustices firsthand. This was my real education.
A Relationship That Made All the Difference
I first heard of Hands of Favor from the Compassion Clinic. It stood out to me that someone would take the time to provide free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness. Being closely associated in Vancouver’s social service network, I would see Derek and Regina at many events so I “liked” his Facebook page. Derek posted many inspirational scriptures reminding us to stay in the Word, and I felt instantly connected to his heart.
Related Blog: Faith, Race, and Revival– Part 1 Conversation with Derek and Regina
I was captivated by Derek and Regina’s personal testimony of racial disparity presented in a series of three videos produced for him by a local church. What really caught my attention is that he himself had experienced harassment by police–one time as he was just out bicycling. And unfortunately, he had also suffered discrimination at his place of work, which shattered his reliance on a particular career path that could have provided the “American Dream” for his family. I could see in those video interviews that the issue affected Derek deeply and I took on his heartbreak and hoped he would allow me to engage in further conversation.
Derek’s approach is highly personal and relational, person by person, through the network of people he has known through his years of peaceful, faithful service to the community. Derek manifests the heart of Jesus to bring true reconciliation and understanding through a different method of face to face and one on one, personal conversations with people open to dialogue. He is patiently and unfailingly dedicated to the lead of the Holy Spirit in every encounter.
Always the slower, more painstaking route, it resonates with me because the heart of God is always for humility. I would not want to discount the carefully measured anger and sadness that Derek has experienced, but He is constantly giving those emotions over to God to allow Him to take the lead for His purposes with reconciliation and healing. That is remarkable to me because trying to keep this very real, needed conversation out of the realm and rhetoric of politics is next to impossible, but if anyone can do it, Derek (to God be the glory!) can.
Derek (middle) with several of the Hands of Favor team at a Compassion Clinic in Tualatin (pre-COVID)
Regina volunteering at a Compassion Clinic with Hands of Favor
Discerning God’s Heart for the Church in These Times
My heart is incredibly and indelibly stirred. I think it is God because it is difficult to think about anything else. I am taking as many small steps forward as possible based on the opportunities that are afforded to me–which are largely educational and involve listening to as many black voices as possible. There is no shortage of opportunities because of the virtual nature of the educational landscape right now. Whatever next steps present themselves, I want to be prepared to lend support and also have some foundational knowledge of possible solutions and their implications.
I do believe with my whole heart that this is an important issue for the church to address. The voice I am most trying to hear is Jesus Himself. Knowledge and education are one thing, but how does Jesus want me to participate is quite another level of consideration. I have been seeking out as many pastors as possible to hear their sermons on the subject.
All of the messages were helpful to my understanding that while some churches will be silent because the political overtones are challenging, this is really something the church ought to be addressing. My pastor gets an email from me almost every day of some new video I watched or something I read to share with him. Presently, I am watching a five part series called Faith and Prejudice which is providing needed historical context for the Church’s response to historical events and how Churches can participate now. I have reached out to meet with the elders of my church and am hoping they will want to meet Derek for a conversation at some point.
It is so hard, so hard, one more time, so hard, to keep this out of the political talking points. Most of us surely by now have recognized that for everything one side could say to underscore its take on racism, the other can come back with an equal and opposite example. I have not been entirely successful navigating the political fray. Unfortunately, many conversations get steered that way. Say something disarming like “there are good policies enacted by both sides at different times–and it is safe to say there is also opportunism on both sides.”
But here is the thing. If you are watching and listening to as many Black voices as possible – from a variety of communities and a variety of economic and leadership groups, there is a real and present theme that most agree about … Racism exists. It exists historically, it exists systemically, and it exists in the hearts of men individually. You will listen in and you will feel like you don’t belong–because many people are hurt. Try not to get your feathers ruffled.
Related Blog: Faith, Race, and Revival– Part 2 Conversation with Derek and Regina
Now that I am past adolescence, it is time for me to see that my parents weren’t perfect and to give full consideration how to navigate the very real and still present implications of those imperfections. I need to enter in, engage fully, and both acknowledge the injustices and connect compassionately to make the wrong things right. I can do this best by listening, learning, and looking for opportunities to engage with people of color. You can do this virtually or with people who are open to dialogue – people like Derek and Regina Thompson.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and for what your organization does in the community to fulfill one of my favorite verses: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Editor’s Note: Derek and Regina have recently pivoted their activities with Hands of Favor to focus on building bridges that bring law enforcement and the community into a healthy and lasting relationship. Their group is now aptly called The Peacemakers. Find out more about their peacemaking work here.
