As the new senior pastor of the Anchorage Baptist Temple, I believe now more than ever, we have the opportunity to come together as a community to care for one another and address the divisiveness that has damaged our society.
I want to state outright that ABT condemns all acts of racism. The Scriptures are clear that there is one race, the human race, and every human is made in the image of God. Everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Acts 10:34 further demonstrates this by saying, "Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality."
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been listening, learning and ultimately reflecting. At ABT, our response is one of compassion, understanding and a heart for restoration. We know the truth found in Jesus is the answer, and like Him, we are committed to being a part of the solution. As leaders of this community and state, we know it is our responsibility to lead both in voice and by example. As Christians, we must continue to shine a light on this topic because we are all created in God’s image. In short, there is much work to be done. We are committed to serving the people of our community and promoting awareness that leads to life change. We desire productive and meaningful conversations that bring restoration.
As Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-18, "Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Ron Hoffman
Senior pastor, Anchorage Baptist Temple
Anchorage
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