| At Multiply, John and Jenn Johnstone are helping us understand how to move forward. As First Nations Ambassadors, they are inviting us on a journey. In a recent interview, John, who is native to the Leq’a:mel First Nation, had this to say: As I walk with you, I feel like we are on a journey. A journey of righteousness. It’s a difficult journey. Sometimes it feels like we’re getting nowhere. It’s just hard. But the journey is worth it. It’s a journey of reconciliation. No, I don’t even like that word. It means to go back to a relationship and fix it. On this journey, there was no relationship to begin with. Yeah. Maybe this is a journey of “conciliation.” Going forward, not backward. It’s the past that has brought us here, Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Calling us to understand the story. Dig into our real history, and journey—into love, into learning, into lament. I want for us to journey in a good way… Do you hear John’s heart for relationship? I believe this also reflects God’s heart for his Church in North America. As we seek to embrace mission opportunities around the world, we are also called to engage challenging relationships at home. My prayer is that we all open our hearts to God and ask how we can contribute to better relationships between our churches and our Indigenous neighbors. PRAY For John and Jenn Johnstone in their role as First Nations Ambassadors with Multiply (to watch a recent video about their ministry, click here) For opportunities for each one of us to develop personal friendships with Indigenous peoples For our churches to be equipped with wisdom, understanding, and humility to journey toward wholeness in relationships with Indigenous peoples |
