RECONCILIATION TRIPS FACE PAIN OF SLAVE HISTORY

ONE OF THE centers of the slave trade is home to a new reconciliation movement intending to reverse history by sending black Americans to Africa to talk about freedom - in Christ.

African Redemptive Operation is a Youth With A Mission ministry in Richmond, Virginia - one of the main ports of entry for slave ships coming to the United States - that wants to see African-American Christians going to their ancestors' homelands as missionaries.

The initiative is headed by Joseph and Yvette Zintseme from Cameroon, West Africa who said: "In the past there have been very few African-American missionaries in Africa in spite of the fact that they can do a better job because of the way they would be welcomed."

By taking groups of black and white Christians from America on prayer and research trips to Africa, the Zintsemes hope to start building a bridge between the two Continents. Teams have traveled to Mali, the Ivory Coast and Senegal - where they visited infamous Goree Island, the prison from which thousands were shipped into slavery.

The short-term trips focus on reconciliation not only between black and white, but also between black Americans and Africans, "because we realize that we cannot hope to mobilize African-Americans as missionaries for Africa and ignore the fact of slave history.

"African-Americans had their identity taken away by African ancestors who played a part in slavery by selling their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters to the slave traders."

Ann Scott from Midlothian, Virginia felt "sort of connections" with Africans following her first trip to Africa with AFRO. "I felt a kinship when I met Africans, and realized that they were part of my family."

Scott, the assistant pastor of a nondenominational church, believed that God wanted her to "take forgiveness to Africa and bring restoration back" through her trip to Senegal. "I realized that there were spirits of loneliness and devastation within me, so it was a very emotionally hard time for me," she said. "It was a very eye-opening trip."

Cyndie Mowrey's journey to Senegal with AFRO was a "life changing experience." Mowrey, a white participant, returned to her home in Tucker, Georgia with "a new appreciation" both for America's "many blessings" and living conditions in Africa.

"My trip to Senegal opened my eyes to what missionaries endure while serving in foreign countries," she said. "I saw that we Americans have so many things we consider necessary, but in reality they have nothing to do with our existence... I take far fewer things for granted since my trip... and I have much more compassion for the lost and the hurting..."

The reconciliation journeys have been appreciated by African churches, as well as the visiting Americans, said Zintseme. Many Africans felt "truly sorry" for their part in slave history "so African-Americans are very welcome. They are regarded as part of the family."

AFRO: PO Box 7736, Richmond, VA 23231- 0236, USA.

(Photo available on request)

- reported by Rose Yoon

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