The CARE (Christians Advocating Racial Equality) Team was formed at Knox Presbyterian Church to promote ideas of racial equality through better Christian living with all people.
Advocates enhancing Christ like behavior of loving our fellow human beings.
The members of Knox Church who came together to form CARE all had some type of experience in their lives that were acts of discrimination. Each member of the initial team was ready to witness that discrimination is still happening in the USA.
Over the last fifty years various approaches have been taken to remove discriminatory actions from USA society, some of the approaches are enforcement action by the government. These all appear to have short term effects. The “mind-set” of discrimination goes to covert rather than overt, and the heart and soul of the person may not be affected. If you have been in corporate employment, you have been exposed to sensitivity training, EEOC regulations, anti-harassment training, and many other programs. These are all enforcement programs that have had little deep seated impact, and many have caused some backlash.
The CARE Team wants to approach discrimination from a new prospective. The Bible has several sections about discrimination. Jesus never met a stranger or denied help to anyone. The CARE Team wants to provide the information, motivation, and desire for Christians to have a change in the hearts for all people. The CARE Team is well aware that people do not change another’s heart only God changes hearts. But, CARE is dedicated to providing an atmosphere for all to learn and grow in their Christian faith.
All the CARE Team work is Bible based. Biblical base: Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:1-14; James 2:1-7; Ephesians 2:19-22. Neither laws nor regulation, but based on the Bible messages related to good human relations.
If you want to be with people who are dedicated to improving human relationships by changing hearts, then you want to join in the CARE efforts.
Kay Schmidt 913 339 6771 or kay1jim@swbell.net
Team Training: Rev. Eric Garbison and two Knox members went to 20 hours of Damascus Road Seminar training in Indiana in 2004. Seven more members of Knox Church went to 20 hours of the Damascus Road seminar training in Overland Park, Kansas in 2005.
Finding the way: One year of discussions within the CARE members, seeking guidance to have a Mission and Vision for the team was held on a weekly basis. Clearly, Biblical based training is essential in removing discrimination from our lives.
Special Presentations: Guest speaker Rev. Bill Johnson
Witnessing: Tom Jones to the Knox Keenagers, Dick Blaisdell to Knox Sunday Night Teens, Dick Blaisdell to Leawood Lions Club.
Small group meeting: CARE Team presentations made to ten of the sixteen small groups in the Knox Church.
Sunday School Class: Two presentations of a formal six weeks class about the biblical principles for non discrimination behavior.
The CARE Team believes it is our Christian responsibility to be concerned about the plight of our neighbors and work for racial equality in our community and in the world. We do not believe God intends us to sit idle while people suffer from prejudice, discrimination, and racism.
