Statement Of Christian Beliefs
- God is One God, Spirit, eternally existing in three Persons and of one substance. He does whatever He pleases, without self-contradiction. He is perfect, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and love--not willing that any perish.
- Jesus Christ is One with the Father, God, Lord, was born of a virgin, lived perfectly, and died as a substitutionary sacrifice for all those being saved. He was raised by the Father three days later, ascended to heaven, and will again return to earth as Judge. The Father grants the gifts of repentance, faith in Christ and eternal life. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, plus nothing.
- The Holy Spirit is a Person and active today, convicting of sin, the righteousness of Christ and the coming judgment. Among the ministries of the Spirit are regeneration of the unsaved, indwelling of the saved as Comforter, and giving spiritual gifts.
- God gave us verbal, infallible and adequate revelation of Himself and His will in the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible. It is without mixture of error in the autographs, and is the basis for Christian belief and behavior. Its truth is undiminished by the cultural context when received. The Bible is not one revelation of God among other books held sacred, but is the one trustworthy and Spirit-inspired Word of God, and the only source of infallible truth and consequent moral absolutes. Those disobeying those absolutes commit sin.
- The Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all the regenerate, to glorify God, and build up its members for the service of God.
- The Church does not exist simply for the comfort of its members, but is a pilgrim body in mission to the glory of God, best achieved through acts of worship, witness and love. She seeks new worshippers by sharing the Good News with people of all cultures, near and far. Each Christian should esteem other Christians more highly, regardless of ethnicity.
- The Church is the basis of the enduring work of God.
- Satan is the personal embodiment of Darkness, and a fallen angel for whom hell was created. He exists to destroy the work of God and God's people. Christ came to destroy Satan's work. Those who die who are not in Christ are eternally lost in hell, because of sin. They will be in conscious torment in the Lake of Fire, away from the presence of God and without hope. The redeemed will experience the extreme opposite, enjoying the presence of God and pleasures forevermore.
- A Christian will sin, but has access to the Father for forgiveness by confession. No sin can separate a Christian from God's salvation, once bestowed. Apart from Christ we can do nothing, but through Him we can do everything God wills. Because of the supreme power of God, worship, petition and intercession are prior to fruitfulness in His service.
- By Jim Sutherland
- Category: About
Reconciliation Report Newsletters
2023
- #102 January - April "A Street-based Model of Inner-city Ministry" - View Online
2022
- #101 October - December "Second RMNi S Sudan Trip, 2022" - View Online
- #100a EXTRA May - August update "S Sudan Update" - View Online
- #100 May - August "S. Sudan & Westside Update" - View Online
- #99 January - April "Inequality vs Inequity" - View Online
2021
- #98 September - November "Partnership Principles Pt. 3" - View Online
- #97 May - August "Partnership Principles Pt. 2" - View Online
- #96 January - April "Partnership Principles Pt. 1" - View Online
2020
- #95 May - August "The Westside, Since 2002" - View Online
- #94 January - April "Meet the Newtons!" - View Online
2019
- #93 September - November "20th Anniversary of RMNI" - View Online
- #92 June - August "Juba Dental Mission" - View Online
- #91 January - March "Dental Ministry - Juba" - View Online
2018
- #90 September - November "Send Missionaries at Any Cost?" - View Online
- #89 June - August "Opening Eyes at Malakal" - View Online
- #88 February - April "Malakal Updates" - View Online
2017
- #87 September - November "America, On Debt" - View Online
- #86 June - August "Traumatized S. Sudanese" - View Online
- #85 February - April "New Refugee Work" - View Online
2016
- #84 September - November "Africa Updates" - View Online
- #83 May - August "Stormy S. Sudan" - View Online
- #82 February - April "Black Seminaries & Missions" - View Online
2015
- #81 September - November "Oh No! We Won't Go!" - View Online
- #80 May - August "Pushing Through, S. Sudan" - View Online
- #79 February - April "Victimhood" - View Online
2014
- #77 August-October "Progress in S. Sudan" - View Online
- #76 May-July "Why Africa is Behind, Revisisted" - View Online
- #75 February-April "South Sudan Crisis" - View Online
2013
- #74 November-January "Smokin For Jesus 3" - View Online
- #73 August-October "Honor in the Hood" - View Online or Download PDF
- #72 May-July "Building S. Sudan" View Online or Download PDF
- #71 February-April 2013 "Gangs" - View Online or Download PDF
2012
- #70 December-January "Westside Story" - View Online or Download PDF
- #69 April-September "South Sudan" - View Online or Download PDF
- #68 September-January "Mongolia" - View Online or Download PDF
2011
- #67 June-August "India Ministry 2011" - View Online or Download PDF
- #66 February-May "South Sudan 2011 Update" - View Online or Download PDF
- #65 December/January "New Sudan" - View Online or Download PDF
2010
- #64 October/November "The Black Church / Projects Disconnect" - View Online or Download PDF
- #63 June/July "When Helping Helps!" - View Online or Download PDF
- #62 March/April "S. Sudan & Uganda 2010" - View Online or Download PDF
- #61 January/February "Some Serious Smokin'" - View Online or Download PDF
2009
- #60 November/December "Forbidden City" - View Online or Download PDF
- #59 August/September "Liberating and Maximizing Greenbacks" - View Online or Download PDF
- #58 June/July "Reaping Where We Have Not Sown" - View Online or Download PDF
- #57 April/May "Uganda 2009 Report" - View Online or Download PDF
- #56 January/February "Our Debt Habit: Bailing Out" - View Online or Download PDF
2008
- #55 November/December "Riding the Silk Road" - View Online or Download PDF
- #54 September/October "Going for India" - View Online or Download PDF
- #53 July/August "Sudan 2008 Photo Report" - Download PDF
- #52 May/June "Avoiding Muslims" - View Online or Download PDF
- #51 March/April "Right Now, I Feel Alright" - View Online or Download PDF
- #50 January/Febuary "Reconciliation and Global Missions" - View Online or Download PDF
2007
- Summary 2007 "The Year in Review" - Download PDF
- #49 October/November 2007 "Cross-cultural Witnessing" - View Online or Download PDF
- #48 August/September 2007 "Sudan 2007 Photo Report" (PDF)
- #47 June/July 2007 "James Wilson"; "Mission Trends 2007" (PDF)
- #46 March/April 2007 "Ethnicity and the Church" (PDF)
- #45 January/February 2007 "Annual Report" (PDF)
2006
- #44 November/December 2006 "Why is Africa Behind?"
- #43 September/October 2006 "Financial Alerts"
- #42 July/August 2006 "Sudan '06 Photo Report"
- #41 May/June 2006 "YUBM and Solutions"
- #40 March/April 2006 "Thoughts on Thinking"
- #39 January/February 2006 "Annual Report"
2005
- #38 November/December 2005 "India 2005 Photo Journey"
- #37 September/ October 2005 - "Globalization and Christian Missions"
- #36 July / August 2005 - "Kenya 2005 Photo Report"
- #35 April / May 2005 - "Giving, Missions, and Discernment"
- #34 February / March 2005 - "Director's 2004 Report"
2004
- #33 November/December 2004 - "India 2004 Photo Report"
- #32 August / September 2004 - "Mannishness"
- #31 May / June / July 2004 - "Kenya Report"
- #30 March / April 2004 - "Are the Unevangelized Going to Hell?"
- #29 February / March 2004 - "Annual Report"
2003
- #28 November / December 2003 - "Calibrating Values"
- #27 September / October 2003 - "Uganda! Photo Report"
- #26 July / August 2003 - "$ix Giving Levels"
- #25 May / June 2003 - "Move Over, We've Got a Live One."
- #24 March / April 2003 - "The Now, But Not Yet"
- #23 January 2003 "Effects of Few Missionaries"
2002
- #22 November 2002 - "Oh Uganda! 2002 Photo Report"
- #21 September 2002 - "The Black Church and Missions Education"
- #20 July 2002 - "GFMBC"
- #19 May 2002 - "Lookout!"
- #18 March 2002 - "African Americans and The Great Ommission"
- #17 January 2002 "Problems of Providence"
2001
- #16 December 2001 - "Judy's Christmas Missive"
- #15 November 2001 - "Giving Thanks for 25 Years of No 'Visible' Support"
- #14 October 2001 - "Christian 'Jihad'"
- #13 September 2001 - "'Race' Through the Fish Eye"
- #12 August 2001 - "Meeting Jesus in the 'Hood"
- #11 June 2001 - "Global Mission Trends - Part 2"
- #10 May 2001 - "Fighting for The Kids"
- #9 April 2001 - "Global Mission Trends (Part 1)"
- #8 March 2001 - "The Chalet Story"
- #7 February 2001 "Freedom is Proclaimed to the Captives"
- #6 January 2001 "140 Years! For What?"
2000
- By Walt Robertson
- Category: About
About Us
Vision: Through the Lord Jesus Christ reconciling the races, especially the least-reached globally, to God and each other.
Mission: Equipping and mobilizing ethnic churches, especially the African American and Latino, to reach the least-reached in the city and globally.
Reconciliation Ministries Network exists
- to assist the African American and other ethnic churches in global ministry by resourcing missions mobilizers and by ministry trips
- to assist under-served national churches in teaching, evangelism, medical care and special projects
- to deliver people from financial bondage into giving generously to under-served global mission needs to promote ethnic reconciliation
- to evangelize and disciple inner city residents (particularly Chattanooga’s College Hill Courts--the "Westside" housing project).
We serve the church by stimulating and facilitating her mission to evangelize and serve the least-reached in the city and globally. We ally with Christian churches and ministries to achieve these objectives. Founded in 1999, Reconciliation Ministries Network is a Bible-believing Christian, board-governed, 501 c-3 ministry.
RMNI Board Meeting
- By Jim Sutherland
- Category: About
Philosophy of Ministry
Concise statement:
To glorify God, through the power of the Trinity, by doing what He puts upon my heart, using spiritual weapons together with the most effective tools and networks available.
- God is good (alone) and great, and greatly loving (Matt. 19:17; Mark 10:18;Ps. 145:3; Titus 2:13; Ps. 107:43; 108:4; Eph. 2:4)
- God does whatever He wants (Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Dan. 4:35) and has His own secrets (Dt. 29:29). He will often do the unexpected.
- There IS no other God (Is. 45:5-6,22). I will go to Him for my needs.
- God wants His children to serve Him as ministers (2 Cor. 5:18). He has only sinners with whom to work.
- God is worthy of my whole life, and I exist to love and glorify Him (Matt.22:37-40; 1 Cor. 10:31).
- I can do nothing of value to God apart from Christ (the Vine) (John 15:1)
- I can do everything with Christ (Phil. 4:13)
- I am obligated to maximize every gift God has given me to the fullest--to go as far as possible (1 Cor. 12:6, in proportion to faith; Matt. 25:20-21).
- I can do a limited number of things well, therefore I must network with others who are experts in their fields for the work of the Kingdom. I must reciprocate as occasions arise.
- More glory is brought to God by excellence (Ted Ward; Matt. 5:48;1 Cor. 10:31), than by mediocrity or failure. However, my strength is in Christ, not in myself—which is the center of weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
- Knowledge is power toward excellence (Prov. 10:14), so I will invest in information. The only fully trustworthy "truth", however, is found in the Scriptures.
- Life is short (James 4:14). I need to use the best technology needed to assist me to accomplish the task. [I am on a "wartime" economy (Ralph Winter) spending whatever is needed on essentials for victory.] Try to accomplish at least two things at once (multi-tasking).
- Any competency in ministry comes from God (2 Cor. 3:5-6).
- God has all power, wisdom, resources, and goodness, and I do not (Ps.24:1; 50:12). For Him the nations are a drop in a bucket (Is. 40:15). He gives orders to the morning, and calls out the constellations (Job 38:12,31-32). He both opens and closes doors to ministry.
- Therefore: I will go through doors He opens, if accompanied by faith and peace (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12-13; Acts 16:6-10; 18:9-11; Col. 3:15).
- His provision will be an indication of His guidance. I will not go into debt, which is going beyond the provision for His will. I will pray for God to burden people with my particular needs (2 Cor. 8:5,16). His Grace provides financial support (Act 14:26; 15:40; 2Cor. 8:1-2,7; Ps. 81:10).
- God will condescend to give wisdom (Prov. 2:1-6; James 1:5).
- I must be connected to the Vine and abiding in close fellowship with the Father, using means of grace: prayer, Scripture, fellowship of believers
- Not a little prayer. Ministry flows from interaction with God in prayer. My relationship with God is prior to that with others, and far more essential.
- God gives "favor and honor" (Ps. 75:6-7; 84:11), and gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6; Is. 66:2b), but becomes an adversary to the proud (James 4:6). I do not want God opposing me. He will not share glory (Is. 42:8). I will not try to assess my reputation (search out my "glory" - Prov. 25:27). But I will do what must be done to maintain a good name, which can be lost in a moment (Prov. 22:1)
- God does the work through us (Acts 14:27; Phil. 2:13). He is our adequacy (2 Cor. 3:5). I need to trust Him, not people (Jer. 17:5).
- I can do everything with Christ (Phil. 4:13)
- I am God's bondservant, here to serve Him—He is not here to serve me (Phil. 2:5-7) I am an errand boy. There is nothing too small nor too big for God to ask of me. He is Lord. The issue is God's will, not my preferences.
- I must be led of the Spirit to know the specific errands (Rom. 8:14).
- I am servant of all (Matt. 23:11). When I serve the "least" brother, I am serving God (Matt. 25:40)
- Others are more important than I am (Phil. 2:3), but I am to fear no one (Prov. 29:25; Ps. 27:1).
- The ministry is for the sake of the Name of Christ (3 John 7), not for the advancement of my own name or ministry.
- The heart of ministry is relationships. This is how God connects with us, especially in the person Christ. Those who are saved are those who know (ginosko) God (John 17:3; Matt. 7:23). Relationships are built upon trust, and good will. Trust is built upon a good name and keeping your word. I will sometimes fail at this, and must rely upon God's grace. Good communication is very difficult, especially cross culturally, but important. I will try to reconcile to those who I've offended. I will seek to be kind, since kindness is desired in a relationship (Prov. 19:22), loving and compassionate.
- I still sin (1 John 1:8). Therefore, I need accountability to others, and to listen to correction (2 Cor. 8:21; Prov. 12:1). Accountability includes the stewardship of funds, time and other resources.
- Since we are obligated to do what is right both in the sight of God and men, clear and honest accountability will be provided for the use of funds.
- Due to God's sovereignty and goodness, I can with integrity give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18; Ps. 50: 23).
- God protects me (1 John 5:18; Ps. 91:14-16; 138:7-8; Heb. 11:32-34). But He may choose not to deliver me from death (Heb. 11:35-38).
- The bottom line in ministry is God's grace (1 Cor. 15:10). God's grace provides spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7). The most effective ministry will be in the direction of using those gifts. Only by grace can we serve acceptably. Since I really don't know how I'm doing, I will rely upon His communicated assessments. The goal is to please and glorify God (2 Cor. 5:9).
- By Jim Sutherland
- Category: About