ORM adds five new
chapter leaders

ORM added five new U.S. chapters led by the following chapter leaders: Richard Parker, Randy Bloom, Sam Butler, David Kaiser and Lynn Hebert.

Below is a bio written by each new leader:

Richard Parker

In 1989 my family and I moved to Hawaii. Hawaii was a vast change for us. I particularly noticed the diversity of races and cultures there. I also noticed that many in Hawaii were trying to make tolerance work for the community. But I also saw that some were locked in prejudices. I also tasted the bitter fruit of prejudice as well as the sweet fruit of acceptance by others much different from me.

In 1993 when my family and I moved to Southern California, much to my surprise I noticed that the same issues of tolerance vs. prejudice were and still are being played out in this area. I realized that I needed to try to make a difference for tolerance and acceptance. My experience in Hawaii set me up for this challenge, and my life here in the Greater Los Angeles area has given me the opportunity to let Jesus live in me to help accomplish his mission to touch all peoples.

Randy Bloom

I have always held a strong belief that forgiveness and reconciliation are central to the gospel of Christ and the work of his church. Since serving as an elder and associate pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, I have been keenly aware of the desperate need for understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation between different ethnic groups. I see the church as an instrument of the Holy Spirit, as the only vehicle for bringing about true harmony between diverse people.

My first opportunity to contribute proactively to reconciliation ministry outside the church environ was while pastoring in Syracuse, New York. For five years I served on a religious task force for the Syracuse Domestic Violence Coalition. I helped develop and teach classes to help pastoral workers and Onondaga County employees to work with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, with a special focus on forgiveness and reconciliation.

However, when I pastored the Memphis, Tennessee, church, the need to focus my efforts on ethnic reconciliation became more apparent. The community where the WCG congregation is located is extremely diverse—and divided along racial lines. When I pastored the Memphis congregation I included racial reconciliation efforts as a part of my vision statement for the church.

This year, as president of the Raleigh Ministerial Association, in the Memphis area, I led the development of a mission statement for the association, which included the goal of bringing racial reconciliation to the community.

I am coordinating the ministerial association’s efforts to conduct a racial reconciliation conference in early 2002, with the help of ORM and representatives of the Memphis City Council Office of Multicultural and Religious Affairs. My goal, as central district superintendent, is to continue promoting reconciliation in the Memphis community as well as to help other pastors and congregations in this district get involved in reconciliation ministries.

Sam Butler

I attended the Promise Keepers pastors conference in Atlanta in 1996. The theme dealt with reconciliation, and it had a profound impact on me.

When our fellowship began reconciliation training in conjunction with the Center for the Healing of Racism, I attended a workshop in Joliet, Illinois. I was never the same. The new awareness compelled me to get involved.

I work with the Racial Justice Institute of Grand Rapids, Michigan, helping them to coordinate reconciliation workshops. Currently I am working in three areas. I have volunteered for the past three years at an inner city elementary school working with the Family Support Team. This team helps families whose children are struggling with reading, attendance and homework.

A year and a half ago several members and I began Mustard Seed Ministry, which helps people take more of an interest in their communities. We have been involved in several projects that have improved the quality of life for people in the community.

The most recent project involves working with a group of pastors and lay leaders with the goal of providing a united front for the preaching of the gospel in our city.

David Kaiser

The Akron-Canton, Ohio, areas are manufacturing hubs and multiracial in population. Since the WCG congregation has always been a good cross section of the metropolitan area, we have a good representation of many cultures in our church. Many of the ministry leaders in our church are African-American.

I have a heart for reconciliation and a dream that the Akron-Canton church could become a magnet for reconciliation ministries for the metropolitan Christian community. Also, because it is now meeting in a predominately white suburban area between Akron and Canton, we hope to have the reputation of accepting and being hospitable to all cultures and races.

We are looking forward to becoming involved in initiating and promoting reconciliation activities in the Akron-Canton metropolitan Christian community, as the Lord opens up opportunities.

Lynn Hebert

As pastor of the Dallas Central congregation, I am active in the ministry of reconciliation.

I labor to seek reconciliation among ethnic groups, denominations and genders.

Copies of Reconciliation: A Move of God, a video produced by the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, have been sent to all U.S. churches and international regional offices.

The one-hour video features highlights from ORM workshops and seminars.

If you haven’t seen the video, check your congregation’s library.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001