“Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour.
Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.
Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.
Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.
Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
Love never stops loving.”
(1 Corinthians13:5-8 TPT)

This year as part of National Reconciliation Week 2020, we have asked just a few of our Hillsong Church family to share their thoughts, wisdom and perspective around the theme of ‘In This Together’ as we celebrate this important week of celebration in Australia. You will read stories over the next 8 days of great love and enduring strength through the generations.

This year marks the 20^th year since ‘Reconciliation Australia’ was established, to provide ongoing national leadership in bringing true reconciliation between our First Nation peoples and all Australians. Some may remember the nation-wide walks 20 years ago, including the historic gathering of 300,000 people who walked across The Sydney Harbour Bridge committed to a better, truly reconciled Australia.

You may not know that 7 years before this event, in 1993 there was a week of prayer for reconciliation in Australia.

As part of the International Year of the World’s indigenous Peoples, a ‘Week of Prayer for Reconciliation’ was held and supported by major faith communities from around Australia. This prayer meeting was a catalyst for great change.

And it makes sense doesn’t it!

Reconciliation is a Bible word. It is at the core of the work and mission of God. There in our Bibles for the last few millennia.

“And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to Himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God.”  (2Cor5:18 TPT) 

The definition of reconciliation in NT Greek is katallasso: to reconcile, reconciling among human beings or between human beings and to God

Reconciliation – to God, and to each other – really, really matters.

May you be absolutely inspired, encouraged and challenged by these testimonies over the next week.

With love

Donna Crouch