Focus on the Right Battlefields

Any institution that wants to be engaged in reconciliation must view it as a gospel truth that becomes a part of their organizational DNA, says Alvin Sanders, director of EFCA Samaritan Way, the reconciliation ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Building reconciliation into the policies and practices of a church, a school or a business requires sacrifice. The commitment to serve as part of diverse communities depends on philosophical and theological underpinnings that guide leaders to "pick the battles that Jesus would pick."

Before being named the executive director of reconciliation for the EFCA, Sanders served for many years as an urban minister in Chicago and Cincinnati. He was the founding pastor of River of Life Church in Cincinnati and director of ethnic ministries for Cincinnati Christian University. He is the author of "Reconciliation 101: A Handbook for Ministry Leaders."  While at Duke Divinity School’s Summer Institute, Sanders spoke with Faith & Leadership about the nature of reconciliation and the role of Christian institutions in bringing it about. Read the entire transcript.

More information 

• Join the EFCA Samaritan Way Facebook page. 
• Join the prayer team.
• Find out how to go beyond racial reconciliation.
• Invite Alvin Sanders to speak or teach at an event.