Equity Kingdom and our Equity/Antiracist Worlds workshops are dedicated to experiencing vision guided by God’s Kingdom and to expressing our heart and soul’s passion to build justice and defeat racism.

The workshops are designed to support participants in the creation of equity community spirit. In them, we use imagination to envision how we can change our world, transforming it into a place of love, respect, justice, and abundance for all people–like the kingdom of God Jesus taught us about. Using art, we can make it a world of peace, equity, empathy, and cooperation, rather than one of struggle, pain, violence, racism, war, injustice. We can draw, paint, write songs and stories, improvise… Let’s create an Equity World we can work for in which all people have support, opportunity, health, education, safety, and community. When we can imagine it, we can begin to build it!

Workshop participants color or paint paper/cardboard figures of different skin colors and races. They arrange the figures on paper, canvas, or cardboard backdrops, creating a setting (world) for their Equity/Antiracist Worlds. (For example, it could be a cityscape, garden, earth-from-space view, community event, parade, school event, view of the solar system or galaxy, church service etc.). They could also use the figures to act out Micah 6:8 and other Bible passages describing the kingdom of God, or create their own original stories/situations too. Here are some examples from participants and from my studio of Equity/Antiracist Worlds made in our workshops or with this vision….

Here is a depiction of a CIty of Equity, where people of all races work and play together in love and respect.

This drawing is of a multiracial, cooperative, supportive community full of the spirit of God. (The drawing was in process when this image was taken.)

This painting on cloth captures a vision of a future with hope, a vision of God’s kingdom.

This painting shows the animal kingdom interacting with the Antiracist Kingdom. See how peacefully they get along!!

Every Equity/Antiracist World we hope to create will need to have equal access for all as a cornerstone.

This work imagines the Antiracist World as a garden, where people bloom as their true selves, healthy and free, like a garden nurtured and tended with care.

This Equity World illustrates a Community Justice Store, where people can take what they need and bring something to contribute if they can. Give your imagination free rein, and see what kind of Antiracist World images you come up with. We’d love to see your creations; send us links or image files at equitykingdomofgod@gmail.com.

Basing work for equity and racial justice on a spiritual foundation and on artistic expression might be considered an unusual approach, but it’s one very dear to my heart and very powerful. Though I consider myself to be a lifelong antiracist, I began to focus on racism in a much more intentional and committed way about 15 years ago through attending the Damascus Road Antiracism Analysis training (a program by the Mennonite Church in the U.S.) The training course used Biblical passages as foundational texts, not only to point out individual acts of racism, but more important, to analyze the deeply entrenched racism of institutions and social systems. The many deep, honest discussions among participants of various races and cultural backgrounds were really eye-opening to me, and starting/joining similar talking circles has been very important in my life ever since.

Later I attended a second Damascus Road training for white allies and antiracists, and since then have participated in many, many antiracism workshops and trainings by various organizations. Several programs and circles by Antiracist Study Dialogue Circles (ASDIC) have also been significant in my own learning and development as an antiracist.

Unfortunately, while it seems very clear that our country needs to acknowledge, change, and repair its history of systemic racism and racial bias, our current president and his administration have recently chosen to ban antiracism trainings, in what can only be seen as a direct attack on the struggle for racial justice. May God help us reverse this racist ruling!

My own personal mission is participating in, teaching about, and making more visible God’s kingdom or God’s realm of justice and equality for all. In this way of living, racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination do not exist because all people are God’s children, equally beloved by God, loved by one another, respected, and provided for. This is the world I long for and work toward. But our nation, our states and cities, and most of the institutions we love and serve are far from this ideal, especially in the area of race. Everywhere in the U.S. and much of the rest of the world too, the gap is huge between this kingdom vision of equal access and opportunity for all people, and the actual everyday racism of the world.

This is the reason I founded Equity Kingdom: it has a racial analysis that is spiritually based, socially conscious, and addresses people’s felt experiences. In addition, it tries to focus on local issues and manifestations of what is a global problem of great significance. As an artist, I also want to support and bring into the struggle the arts, visioning, play, drama, protest, and other forms of inspired expression–all coming from the heart and soul with an open and creative spirit–to strengthen and build up our communities. These are among the best tools and activities I’ve come across for opening up people’s hearts and souls (deep feelings) to discussions of race, supporting one another in antiracist work (even in the face of obstacles and challenges), and for following through collectively in areas like events, forums, protests, and education, where we can make a difference.

I have come to think of people engaged in this work to grow equity and justice as my “equity family.” Like a family of related people, we are related too–through our longings, our hopes and dreams, and our work to end racism and bring peace and blessings to all people. We are united in recognizing how all people are beloved by God and in working to manifest that love of God for all people in our country and our world today.

As in other families, it is important for my equity family to take pictures and make note of our activities, events, the lessons we learn, and our progress.

It’s also vital that we support and encourage one another, celebrate one another’s important milestones, and rejoice in God and God’s love for us all without exception.

Together as sisters and brothers united in love, we can expand our worlds and expand the influence of equity, antiracism, and justice for all.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish . . . “ (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). Equity Kingdom and our Equity Worlds workshops are dedicated to experiencing vision guided by God’s Kingdom and to expressing our heart and soul’s passion to build justice and defeat racism. It is important to have a family of people from all races, places, and walks of life to do this work of growing equity.

The pictures that follow are some of my attempts to capture visions and ideas related to building worlds of equity all around us, wherever we go, and with whomever we meet.

My belief is it is essential to be merciful to ourselves and others and to follow a path like Jesus’ way, as we try in every way we can to do justice.

There are equity leaders we can find, work with, and support/encourage. They can be found among our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family.

It is important to always seek God’s will and guidance as we pray for more equity in our world.

All around us, there are wonderful possible partners in this work. We will find them if we keep our eyes open.

As equity grows, we will all feel safer, more peaceful, more protected and welcomed.

It’s good to remember how powerful real justice is. May we get there soon! Thank you, God, for your call to justice and our visions of justice!

Here I imagine an equity celebration with people of many different races, colors, faiths, and cultures rejoicing together. We can get there! Yes, we can.

I try myself and firmly believe we need to search everywhere for guidance and wisdom, ideas and vision, answers to prayers and people to work with.

Scripture tells us to “Seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11). Likewise, we must seek equity–which, when it’s realized, will bring us peace–and pursue it. On this depends our future as people, as a nation, and as the world.

In one of my all-time favorite Bible stories, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) He elaborates: “Everyone who drinks of this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” Then the woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:13-15)

This living water Jesus gives is a hope and a vision, a kingdom to live in that sustains us always–even when everything is parched and dry all around, with no physical water or other necessities in sight. It’s a Way of Living that will guide us throughout our lives, if we pay attention and follow its guidance.

After this conversation with Jesus, the woman returns to her city, and “many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony,” (John 4:39) When we ask to receive Jesus’ living water, that’s when we start to follow him and begin to be able to count ourselves among his disciples.

In the story of the Transfiguration, as Peter, James, and John looked on, the voice of God proclaimed about Jesus: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Matthew 17: 1-8)

Peter, a dedicated follower of Jesus, had listened to Jesus so well that he was able to walk on water as Jesus did when Jesus said to him, “Come.”

Peter, with his eyes on Jesus, was walking on the water just fine until he noticed the strong wind blowing all around them and he became afraid. And the moment he took his focus off Jesus, he began to sink.

But back to the Samaritan woman…

As she listened to Jesus and told others about him, she soon became a follower too–one of the first besides the original twelve.

When Jesus’ disciples returned from buying food in the city, “they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you speaking with her?’” (John 4: 27)

Jesus had told the woman, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) Then he told her that he was God’s Messiah. Then and there she begins to follow Jesus, in spirit and in truth.

And on her own, she went back to her town and began to “fish” for more people to bring to the living water.

When we are walking with Jesus in spirit and truth, and finding others to join his Kingdom Way; when we walk toward goals that sometimes seem impossible, like ending war or dismantling racism, increasing justice and equity, let’s keep in mind the woman at the well and also the disciple Peter. They received Jesus’ living water and were able to walk on water so long as they fixed their attention on him. My prayer is that we too will receive this living water, concentrate on Jesus, and as Peter did (but without losing focus), walk on water with the Lord.

More thoughts today on what sharing means, its importance and challenges… Also, here are a few more images to reflect on, some that could be printed out and colored (if you choose to do that, PLEASE, please send us a copy at equitykingdomofgod@gmail.com). We always like to see your engagement with art, and especially any original artwork you care to share!

I think particularly of these words from Paul the Apostle: “So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8) So yes, dear ones, share food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities, but also especially your faith and hope in God, and YOUR VERY OWN SELF.

This is what Jesus’ early followers did. The book of Acts recounts: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number…” (Acts 2:44-47)

It was The Way of Jesus’ teachings.

The Bible also describes the life of the early followers this way: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and … everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.” (Acts 4:32-34)

When we are generous with what we offer, God multiplies it many times.

We need to share ourselves, our joys and sorrows, as well as our prayers. And give comfort to those who long to hear a good word or need uplifting in any way.

Our generosity could reach around the world!

We each have gifts we can bring…

and blessings we can pass along.

Of course, this means sharing in the struggle for justice and the work of growing equity too.

Jesus taught us: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” (Luke 3:11) Yet sometimes it seems really hard to share. We fear we and our families don’t have enough to spare–or maybe we won’t soon. But Jesus trusted God to provide.

He didn’t hold back anything–not food or drink, or his wisdom or faith in God, that the Lord would always provide what was needed.

He encouraged people to bring what they had, and when they did, thousands were fed.

Jesus gave everything–his love, his peace, even his body and blood. He gave his life. So that people–we–would come to know the kingdom of God. If we follow him, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same?

We can share with those in prison, every kind of prison.

WIth those who are hungry–for food and in every way.

As we follow him, let’s dare to share as he did. Giving everything: body, blood, sweat, tears…

Let’s try to comfort and heal those who are ill–with any kind of sickness.

As Jesus teaches in Matthew 22:37-38, let’s share ourselves with our communities–bringing all our heart, soul, mind, and spirit. In this way, I pray, may we succeed in loving our neighbors as ourselves. And truly follow Jesus the Messiah.

Most of us know this promise Jesus makes in his Sermon on the Mount: “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7) We are told if we but knock on God’s door, it will be opened. And we will be given what we need, find what we’re looking for, and be welcomed into God’s world, His kingdom.

We also recognize the line “Knock, knock!” as the start of a joke or riddle, whose next line is “Who’s there?” The answer that Jesus and his teachings give is “Jesus.” He is here–for you and me and all people. God and the Holy Spirit are here; everything is awaiting you.

Today I’m suggesting we knock at the door and ask for God’s help, for Jesus and the Spirit to help us. With what? I pray for help ending injustice, dismantling racism, and creating a new world of equity, peace, and justice. We want to belong to a kingdom where all are welcome and all work together for the good of all. Are you there? Are you with us?

Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain also speaks of this future: “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10) I say, Let’s all of us go ahead and knock! And, yes, let’s answer when somebody knocks.

Jesus also taught us the Golden Rule: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) Always in everything treat other people as you would like them to treat you. Clearly racism and injustice break this rule. Clearly Black lives matter; and we need true equity!

Jesus also said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Let’s try to really follow him, love as he loved, and stand up and speak out as he did.

What places of love do you know about? What places of justice can you point to? Who’s there? Are there others to work with and/or bring with us?

In our communities, in our countries, where does the path to justice lead? Where does defeating racism lead? Where do we see Jesus’ love unfolding? Who’s there? Let’s go there and bring others with us!

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)

And the life of light is a life full of love, embracing all sisters, all brothers, and all people. As scripture teaches, “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:9) Walk into God’s light, into God’s equity kingdom!

If we live in the light, we’ll find Jesus there too. If we let him in our lives, we will blessed beyond any measure and be an enormous blessing to others! “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking;” he tells us, “if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20) He promises to abide with us If we just let him in!

Celebrate God’s kingdom and its “new commandment that is true in [Jesus] and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” (1 John 2:8) Let’s grab hold of this light and fight for what’s right! Let’s never give up the fight for justice and the fight against racism till we win victory!

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” (1 John: 4:9) Let’s be always aware of that life-giving power that comes from Jesus. Let’s pray without ceasing for all we are fighting for, not losing sight of the kingdom we envision “…for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

And “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation,” a new being inhabiting the world. If we keep on fighting, keep up the struggle, one day we’ll be able to say: “Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) As people knock on the door of this new kingdom world, and hear the question asked, “Who’s there?” Let’s pray people hear, “We’re here! Jesus is here! God’s kingdom is here! Come, join us; enter!”

Logos, handles, websites… oh my! Soon after envisioning and founding Equity Kingdom, I began putting together the various building blocks any new enterprise needs: logo, website, social media handles, banners, stationery, and so on. And these tools are pretty necessary today for getting the word out and connecting with people who might want or need to know about what we’re doing. Plus, as an artist/illustrator, of course I enjoy expressing ideas and messages visually. Whether it’s drawing, painting, collaging, or coloring, I’m in my element with these things!

So in today’s post I present to you just a few of the most basic elements of Equity Kingdom’s visual tool set. The small painting above depicts the Holy Spirit filling people with hope, inspiration, and empowerment, which we need front and center in this adventure, which I also want at the center of my life (more on this presently).

Here is our Equity Kingdom letterhead with a sample introductory letter. At the top of the page is a would-be logo, depicting Jesus with some followers, fellow travelers on his kingdom way. Is it the Equity Kingdom logo for all time? Let’s just say it’s the first one we’re using, now for awhile… until it’s revised. It illustrates our purpose pretty well.

But as a letterhead, and combined with the letter, it also demonstrates a spirit of self-promotion. Perhaps also an entrepreneurial or competitive spirit: “Check us out and what we’re doing! Check out our very important work!”

And our work of doing justice and dismantling racism is important work. Very worth checking out and joining in with. So is our work of following Jesus and serving God’s kingdom. Indeed, it’s Jesus and God’s beautiful kingdom that help me envision antiracism and empower me to try to be an antiracist, holding fast even in adversity. But let’s not forget these words of Paul either: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18) Likewise, let’s never cease to remember the Holy Spirit, the one who unites us with God and with each other in love.

In this moment of considering our brand and how it appeals to the world, rather than fretting about who’s going to like what, it’s way more important to be branding our selves as belonging to God’s family, God’s kingdom. And in these times where many try to amass thousands, even millions of followers, don’t forget to ask, Who am I following? Jesus the Christ. Who’s following me and our site? I hope antiracists, justice seekers, truth seekers, fellow travelers, as well as believers in Jesus and his disciples.

These next three visuals present what I am calling “banners”–so far, just black & white ink drawings, but images evocative of our mission and our purpose. The one above depicts the risen Jesus appearing to and comforting his beloved followers. The next two (below) are Kingdom images, showing people eating, serving, and fellowshipping together; making music; painting; and demonstrating for peace.

Just as they are, they could be banners across online pages or physical pages (like the letterhead stationery). Or they might be projected bigger, colored with paint or other art media. They could become actual banners or murals–of cloth or vinyl or who knows what?–and fly as a flag, be painted on a building, or hang on a church wall or in your home. Or you might want to print them out, color them, and send them to us. I’d love to see the colors you use and any of your own pics these might inspire! We always want to see your art and hear what you’re up to!!

And in all our work, let’s not forget more words from Paul: “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace … You are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Romans 8:6, 9) Peace and blessings, everyone. Till next time…

The Biblical story of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) may have a good word to reflect on for our times. In the story, God directs the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones in the valley so they can come alive and live. After he does, Ezekiel sees that the bones then have sinews, flesh, and skin covering them, “but there was no breath in them.” (Ezekiel 37:8)

God then tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, so it would come breathe upon the “slain,” that they might live.

Ezekiel prophesied again, and breath did come into the people, and “they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.” (Ezekiel 37: 10) This word not only brought hope to the people of Ezekiel’s day but can also remind us in our times of the need to, in the words of the well-known children’s song (Dem Bones), “Hear the word of the Lord.”

The words “I can’t breathe” are a cry for help heard far too often by BIPOC victims of police brutality and murder in the U.S. today. And for decades and decades these words have been ignored as BIPOC people have been brutally murdered by those entrusted with keeping the country safe. Now the same words have become a rallying cry by protesters in the streets, online, and around the world, challenging racism and injustice. Of course, hearing God’s word and hoping in God’s word as presented in the story doesn’t bring any easy answers or quick fixes.

The story doesn’t promise the many we have lost to police and other racist violence will miraculously be restored. What God says to the people is that “the bones are the whole house of Israel.” And the whole house of the U.S. We know, though, that because of systemic racism and white supremacy, some individuals in the “whole house” breathe easier than others; some (white people in particular) get to breathe unobstructed most of their lives.

Yet God says the bones of the nation and the world are crying out, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” (Ezekiel 37:11) And God gives Ezekiel this message to tell the people: “You shall know that I am the Lord … I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live … then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act.” (Ezekiel 37:13-14)

I believe the story asks us to keep listening for and hear God’s promise of life for all and God’s call to justice. It asks us to trust God and become God’s love and God’s kingdom. Let’s resolve to keep in mind the refrain of the children’s song (and, most important, do what it says): “Oh, hear the word of the Lord!”

Most of us are familiar with the dairy industry ads that ask the question (and promote their product), “Got milk?” And certainly milk is an excellent beverage for those who can and like to drink it. But the meanings of “bread” go bigger and broader. It’s not just the baked loaves from various grains, but also can mean food/nutrition in general, or even money to buy life’s necessities. So “Got bread?” or “Got food?” are important questions to ask, a way to find out if folks have what they need.

Sometimes people around us might be hungry. And we might not know it unless we ask.

For some people, food scarcity is a constant. For others, their lack might come and go. For our response, we can look to Jesus. The Lord, when he fed the 5,000 people, said to his disciples concerned for the large crowd, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16) And a way was found to feed the thousands by everyone offering up what they had. The story says “All ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, 12 baskets full.” (Matthew 14:20)

So bring what you have (pack some food for the journey), and share it freely with those in need.

And, of course, there’s another teaching of Jesus: “One does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) All of us have other needs besides food, needs of a spiritual, divine nature. We need to be fed with words from God and with the love of God. So let’s include God’s word and attest to God’s love in each and every meal we serve up.

Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs,” and He meant food to eat as well as God food.

He said, “Tend my sheep,” and He meant care both for people’s physical and their spiritual needs.

He wants us to do what we can to feed people–in any way they might need to be fed.

“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said yet again. Some things can’t be repeated too often!

And when we ask Him to help, Jesus gives us what we need.

If we break bread together, we’ll learn what each one needs. We’ll help feed one another with food for the body, as well as much needed food for the soul.

When we’re open to one another and to sharing, the Holy Spirit will move to create a miracle, where we’re all fed till we’re full and there’s extra besides. Leftover food and a superabundance of God’s blessed love. Hallelujah!