Bridges of Reconciliation

For centuries Indigenous Nations and people endured a holocaust of unimaginable proportions, much of the suffering and betrayal coming from those who claimed to be representing the Christian God. If we desire reconciliation and friendship with Native people and Nations, how do we build those bridges? Knowing that historically we have not loved our first neighbors well, how do we now communicate grace? Can we learn from the tragedies and failures of the past? Are we willing to pave the way of reconciliation with our tears? These questions and more we ponder throughout this book. What we are learning is the gift of many friends representing many tribes and cultures who have graciously and generously shared their stories and their hearts with us. Now we pass along some of our gleanings to you. We hope it will set you to thinking and even unpacking your baggage, to sort it out and pack again-wherever you might be going in this life. God help us all to travel light and may we always move to the music of God's extravagant grace. About the Farrants... We are simply two very ordinary people given the extraordinary privilege of spending time with people of other cultures who have been and are still our teachers. We are not the Indigenous voice. They have voices of their own. We hope the offering of this little book will encourage you to listen to those voices. Currently, Bruce serves as coordinator of Native American/First Nations Ministries with Mission to North America. We make our home in Maryville, TN, just west of what the Cherokee call the Shakonohey, Land of the Blue Smoke (Great Smoky Mountains). God has blessed us with four wonderful children and eleven grandchildren. Contact Us: www.onechurchonetribe.com or shakonohey2@aol.com