Hello Prayer Partners and Supporters,

Jannice and I would like to thank you for your prayerful support of her Ministers Wives’ Conference in Lexington last weekend and my trip to London for the March of the Abolitionists. Both went very well! We attribute it to God’s intervention on our behalf in answer to our prayers.

I will be writing about my trip but wanted to give you an advanced brief overview of it

As many of you know ORM is working in partnership with several ministries which includes Lifeline Expedition.

Lifeline Expedition is a unique series of reconciliation journeys along the Atlantic Slave Trade. The first journey began in 2000 in England. Since that time they have marched in France, Spain, Portugal, USA, The Caribbean, South America and Africa. The Teams always consist of Africans, Africans of the Diaspora and White Europeans and Americans journeying together, which in itself is a sign of reconciliation. This marks their 7th year.

Neil Earle and I joined the March in Richmond, VA in 2004 at the request of Lifeline’s Founder David Pott, an Englishman.

This most recent March began on March 1 in Hull England, home of William Wilberforce and ended on March 24 in Westminster. This 200 mile trek commemorated the 200 years following the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807. We were greeted by the Archbishops of Canterbury, York, West Indies and West Africa on the steps of Whitehall Place. They made brief statements, then led our march down Parliament Blvd to Lambeth Bridge where a wreath was dropped into the Thames River remembering the 2704 ships that left London to trade slaves, and those who suffered. Thousands of people joined the march from many churches and organizations.

We ended up in Kennington Park for a 3 and a half hour worship service! It was a powerful service which included choirs (children included), solosists, drama, readings and responses by the archbishops and others. It was quite cold and wendy with temperatures around 40 degrees. But our hearts were warm.

On Sunday evening, March 25, the Anniversary Day, we attended services at the Methodist Central Hall across from Westminster Abby.

Our team was highlighted and some shared on why they have walked these 7 years.

In our church bulletin was the last letter that John Wesley wrote to William Wilberforce prior to his death encouraging him to stay the course in his quest to end the Slave Trade in England. He wrote “If God be fore you who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.”

David Pott was asked why he decided to start this ministry. His reply was “I didn’t decide. I believe that God started it.”

Then he shared his testimony of how God showed him a pole during what appeared to be a “quasi-dream.” The pole then turned into a serpent.

God revealed to him that the pole represented the Greenwich Meridian. And the serpent represented the slave trail. He said God put it on his heart to organize a Reverse Prayer Walk of the Atlantic Slave Trail (which he has led teams to do over the last 7 years.)

His mind was directed to the Book of Numbers and the serpent on a pole. As he studied the meaning of it, he realized that the (refined) bronze serpent on the pole was a symbol of healing and for those Israelites who had been bitten by venomous serpents. He also related that Jesus was lifted up on a pole and He is our Healer.

He mentioned that even the medical profession uses this symbol. So the March is led by a person carrying a pole with a serpent (rubber) on it. Following him/her are Whites walking in yokes and chains. FILM PRODUCER MICHAEL LINEAU IS MAKING A MOVIE CALLED “YOKES AND CHAINS” WHICH SHOULD BE IN THEATRES LATER THIS YEAR

Evelyne Burkhard and I joined the Team on Friday at the Maryland school in Stratford. We were well-received by the teachers and students. We had lunch with them and fielded questions. On Friday evening the Greenwich Council held a reception for us which included a program, and dinner. Parliament Member John Austin spoke. He spoke very highly of the mission of our Team.

On Saturday we walked from Greenwich to Westminster. We walked about 15 miles each day including under the Thames River and over it!

WOW! I THOUGHT I WAS MR ATHLETE! MY LEGS ACHED “LIKE THE DICKENS!” I’VE GOT TO GET BACK ON THE RACQUETBALL COURT OF SOFTBALL DIAMOND QUICK!

Thanks for reading, didn’t intend to be so long-winded.

God bless,

Curtis