THE MINISTERS COALITION OF SPOTSYLVANIA & SURROUNDING COUNTIES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
REPENTANCE, RECONCILLIATION, RESTORATION
MEET THE MINISTERS....Reverend Rippert Roberts, Jr.
Reverend Rippert Roberts, Jr.
Grace-Point Fellowship, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Bio and Statement
Bio:
Reverend Rippert Roberts, Jr is the Pastor of Grace-Point Fellowship, a multicultural Church serving the communities of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County.
Reverend Roberts’ MCSC Statement.
In Matthew 10:16 Jesus said “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” Jesus’ words remind me that I must be tough-minded and tender-hearted.
When I was asked to help form a coalition of culturally diverse ministers to respond to the tragic trauma inflicted upon our community, as a result of police brutality, systemic racism and racial injustice, that would serve as a catalyst for hope and healing, it was my love for Christ and love for my neighbors that compelled me.
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I am morally and spiritually obligated to share in the legitimate non-violent struggle for which so many have sacrificed, suffered, and yes, even died in the effort to move us all toward becoming what Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King referred to as “the beloved community”.
Our Country, our Community, and yes, sadly, even our Churches have been, for far too long, stricken by the sin and spiritual sickness of racism. It is far past time for this to change. Sin and spiritual sickness require spiritual solutions as well as social reforms. These are not mutually exclusive.
We must be tough-minded and tender-hearted.
This will require a sustained effort to change and heal hearts, minds, and souls by the applications of the God ordained spiritual tools at our disposal to promote repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
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It will also require a sustained civil engagement including non-violent protest, dialogue with law enforcement agencies and our elected officials to demand accountability, transparency, and institutional reform, wherever needed, while insisting on the development of legislation, policies and practices to identify and eliminate institutional racism. Yes, we must be tough-minded and tender-hearted.