April 2007

Greetings Reconciler Family,

I just returned from London, England after a very exciting and educational series of events celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in England. The British Parliament voted to abolish the slave trade on February 24, 1807, and the act became law at noon on March 25, 1807.

One of the highlights was a 200-plus mile prayer walk from the home of William Wilberforce to Westminster. William Wilberforce was a Christian member of the British Parliament who believed that through faith in God and committed efforts he could make a difference in a dark world.
The purpose of the prayer walk was to try and HEAL THE PAST AND TRANSFORM THE FUTURE. We shared at schools, city councils and churches.

The Prayer Walk that has covered thousands of miles in the U.S., South America, the Caribbean, West Africa and the U.K. over the last 7 years was founded by David Pott. He calls it Lifeline Expedition. I joined them on March 23-25 and walked 15 miles per day on the first 2 days. An official apology over the slave trade was affirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He apologized last year.

In spite of the fact that William Wilberforce was going “against the tide” in challenging most parliament members (who disagreed with him) and upsetting the main British economy—the slave trade—he believed that God had called him to make a difference. He said he believed that God put him on earth for 2 reasons: to end the slave trade and to teach the British manners. Thank God for men like him and his allies! Where would we be today were it not for them?

Thank God for all of you! Where would this world be today were it not for the light of God shining on it through you, me and others He’s using as we yield to Him.

At the final worship service that we (the walking team) attended at Methodist Central Hall in London, we all received a letter written by John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Fellowship) to William Wilberforce. He wrote, “Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be fore you, who can be against you!”

Amen, Brother Wesley! Our task today is just as difficult as we tackle strong walls and seek to call attention to the 27,000,000 people enslaved today!

                                                                                                            In His Love,