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July 12, 2016
 Intro from Dutch Sheets:
There are very few people as qualified to address the racial issue in America as Will Ford. As an African-American man, he has, of course, experienced the racism we hear so much about. That, however, doesn't qualify one to help us deal with this issue. Many of the black voices seeking to address the problem, do so through their pain, anger, and/or resentments. On the other side of the issue, many white voices demonstrate their denial and ignorance with all too common "get over the past" or "can't we just move on?" type statements. Both approaches stoke the flames. And politicians, well......no comment.
What is needed and what I have been praying for are more voices like Will's to arise - those who have been able to process the pain and injustice of racism through spiritual, as well as natural, eyes. Will Ford is not just healthy, he is a healer. He not only has experience, he has wisdom. And he not only wants the races to "get along," he wants them to walk together, becoming the Biblical expression of agape that Christ intends for us to exhibit, and he is mantled to help produce this.
Obviously, anger and violence won't heal America. Good laws won't be enough to do so, nor will good intentions. If America is to ever move past this wall of separation and the pain of our past, it will be because prophetic and wise voices like Will's are given the microphone, and the rest of us are willing to listen and follow their counsel. Take his words to heart!
Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries
Email: click here
Website: www.dutchsheets.org
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Enjoy!
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
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On Tuesday night, July 5th, I told my wife that I felt very uneasy in my spirit, and that we needed to pray. About what, I wasn't sure. We dropped everything, put our toddler boys to bed, and prayed for about an hour or so. We prayed for our nation, the moral and the racial climate in America, and spent significant time praying for our children.
Feeling stirred to write, Wednesday when I awoke, I turned on my computer and watched the breaking news about Alton Sterling. I was crushed by the tears of his 15-year-old son in the CNN video. Broken over the situation, I went to sleep thinking, "I wrote something else about similar incidents in previous times, but I'll just write something about this in the morning." I woke up at 4 a.m. to write, turned on my computer, and saw another police shooting involving another young African American man.
Philando Castile was reportedly killed by another police officer after being shot four times while being pulled over for a busted tail light. I was reduced to tears as a smart phone captured his girlfriend praying for him to live. Her 4-year-old little girl witnessed this entire scene from the backseat of the car. My heart was broken for these young men and their families who were killed in excruciating and agonizing ways. By Thursday, the roots of bitterness from these tragedies struck my hometown.
Friday, I attended a prayer vigil in my city, Dallas TX, where twelve Dallas police officers were shot and five were killed by a sniper during a peaceful protest Thursday night. This egregious retaliation was deplorable, disgusting and painful as previous events. This attack was the worst affecting police officers since 9/11, and the worst in Dallas history. The gunmen, before he died, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, said he wanted to kill white officers in retaliation for the two black men who were killed in Louisiana and Minnesota.
This was so senseless, especially since these innocent officers had nothing to do with these events. The shooter judged and stereotyped all of the officers as bad cops because of the abusive actions of a few. Ironically, this is in part what the peaceful protesters were marching against: Judgments and stereotypes.
The sad irony is two communities, police officers and African Americans, both feel judged and stereotyped by the actions of a few. An enemy has done this.
Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Related to further healing the race issue, and a new justice movement, God gave me a dream about the dreamer, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the dream, my friend Lou Engle and I were driving in a SUV to the church, but we couldn't get there without picking up Dr. King. As we pulled up to his house, Dr. King came out with a white duffle bag with black handles. He went to the curb and dumped out everything in the duffle bag. Once it was empty, surprisingly, he threw away the bag as well. Dr. King then walked over to our vehicle, and opened the door to ride with us.
 In the dream, I thought his bag would make a nice souvenir, but when I went to retrieve it, Dr. King grabbed me and abruptly turned me around. Staring intently into my eyes with his hands on my shoulders, he said: "No! Do not go back and pick that up!" He then began to tell me what I needed to do to heal the race issue and contend for justice in America. I began weeping in the dream and woke up with tears streaming down my face. (Photo via Will Ford)
While praying for the interpretation, emphasis was placed on the white duffle bag with black handles. Suddenly, I realized the black handles represented my race, African American, and the white duffle bag represented my "white baggage." The dream revealed how God wanted me, an African American, to "handle" any unresolved race issues that have been carried for too long.
This was consistent with anyone who desired involvement with Dr. King's organization in the sixties. No one could be a part of the movement if they had racial hatred or bitterness in their heart.
The Lord was saying to me, "Empty yourself of any souvenir of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment. Get rid of your 'white baggage', and ride in the new movement that will bring revival and justice to everyone in America."
None of us who are crying out for justice in this hour can get where we're going without picking up the justice mantle of Dr. King, and we cannot get breakthrough without riding together!
The question before all of us is this: "What color is my baggage?" If you are carrying racial baggage - get rid of it, so we can all ride together. We need each other! We cannot be thermometers, merely reacting to the temperature of our times. We must be thermostats who change our cultural climate.
Unity of Spirit and the Bond of Peace
While I'm all about us having a dialogue regarding race, etc., I want us to be very careful about not being divisive. The Bible says we are to be "diligent to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace." Also, as horrific as they look, there is much we still don't know regarding these recent police shootings. So yes, grieve, mourn, but don't rush to judgment. Our own bias and empathy can betray the facts of these situations, and there is so much we don't know regarding what happened before the recording began.
In all our getting, we need to get an understanding as each phase is rolled out. Finally, as I've said before, don't take the bait of offense and start name calling, bashing others, finger pointing, etc. (click here to view this previous word). Remember be quick to listen and slow to speak. The truth is we need each other's perspectives to heal our today, so together we can shape a better future for our tomorrow.
Our battle isn't against flesh and blood, and satan is trying to create a narrative of racial division to destroy us. Nevertheless, there is a meta-narrative going on and it's God's storyline of healing and redemption that can turn this nation around. What storyline will you be a part of? The healing or the hurt? This is our shared moment in history.
With that I say, stay hopeful. As I mentioned before, most of this week, I've been waking up to write my thoughts in regard to tragedies, but one day, I believe we'll awake to write stories of triumph. One day we will wake up to write the story of God's redemptive power in Orlando, Chicago, Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, Dallas, and other cities. And we're going to realize that we were the pen, the Holy Spirit was the ink, and that God took us by His hand and wrote His storyline through us. Together, let us let Him use our lives to turn a nation.
If you are in Arizona, join us, as Dutch Sheets, myself and other national leaders cry out and Appeal To Heaven together August 18th-20th (click here for info).
William Ford III, Director, Marketplace Leadership
Christ For The Nations Institute
Will Ford Ministries | Hilkiah Ministries
Email: click here
Websites: www.willfordministries.com | www.thegodofprovidence.com
Will Ford currently serves as Director of the Marketplace Leadership Major at Christ For The Nations Institute, in Dallas, Texas. A Banking and Finance graduate from Morehouse College and Bible student from Emmaus Road Ministry School in Euless, TX, he is the founder of Hilkiah Ministries. Many know him internationally, however, for his family heirloom, and its connection to slavery and prayer for freedom.
Will is the owner of a kettle pot used by slaves in his family for prayer. Forbidden to pray by their slave master, Will's ancestors would pray underneath the kettle late at night to muffle their voices. Turns out that they were not praying for their freedom after all, but the freedom of the next generation. Will uses this prayer bowl as a catalyst for gathering groups together for prayer and teaches on intercession, revival and societal transformation. He believes that it was the prayers of a godly remnant of African American, Native American and White Christian abolitionist that brought revival to America and brought the demise of slavery.
Will has traveled throughout the U. S., speaking in churches, conferences, and conducting prayer journeys. He is a conference speaker and a privileged participant in. Will has been interviewed by CBS, featured on The 700 Club and also in Christian magazines. His recent book is Created For Influence, Updated and Expanded Edition: Transforming Culture From Where You Are. He is also co-author with Dutch Sheets of History Makers: Your Prayers Have Power To Heal The Past and Shape The Future. Will and his wife Dehavilland live in Dallas, Texas.
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