The Sankofa Journey
Click here to see "Sankofa Journey's" currently scheduled.
What is SANKOFA?
Sankofa is a West African word meaning “looking backward to move forward.” The Sankofa journey, an intentional, cross-racial prayer journey, seeks to assist disciples of Christ on their move towards a righteous response to the social ills related to racism. This interactive experience explores historic sites of importance in the Civil Rights movement, sites of oppression and inequality for people of color, while seeking to move participants toward healing the wounds and racial divide caused by hundreds of years of racial injustice in the USA.
A Sankofa journey increases one’s awareness, understanding and sensitivity for
- the past struggles, victories and continuing racist oppression existing in our country
- how far we have come, and
- how far we have yet to go.
Sankofa allows us the opportunity to consider how together, we might better address racial righteousness in our church, our nation, and our world.
On this 72-hour bus journey, participants will travel to critical sites of past and present racial injustice, such as Birmingham, AL, Albany, GA and Atlanta, GA. They will meet and hear from persons directly involved in ministries of justice in southern Georgia, visit places like the 16th Street Baptist Church, civil rights institutions, the Martin Luther King Center, and more.
A Sankofa journey is not just about information of the past and present, but seeks to be a journey for both personal and corporate change – simply put, a journey of spiritual transformation. Through sites visited, videos watched, and active processing of the journey, relationships of trust are deepened in an environment of grace.
Fill out the Sankofa Survey online here or Download PDF of the Survey.
Hear what others have said about their Sankofa experiences:
- Sankofa was transforming for me. The journey helped to break up some strongholds I've built within me to protect me from prejudice, but which kept me back from relationship with others.
- Every aspect of the Sankofa journey was powerful: the bus ride, the museums, the movies -- each element all confronted me with painful realities past and present, compelling me to examine my attitudes, my actions, my speech, and my conscience.
- To say that my Sankofa journey was a life-changing experience is an understatement. It has increased my sensitivity to events of the past, but also helped me to see with clearer vision the injustices of the present. My challenge is ongoing: to seek racial righteousness through the development of cross-cultural relationships, through the reading of books and viewing of movies that address various issues, through the exploration of new cultural experiences, through the increased sensitivity to issues in my own community—and how I can make a difference. The Sankofa experience jolted me into a journey toward racial righteousness that will hopefully never end.
So why should you go on a Sankofa journey?
- You will find Sankofa is a life-changing experience, opening your eyes to the thoughts and feeling of people who are not in the majority, giving you a reminder or, perhaps, a fresh new look into the difficult history of our nation's civil rights struggle. It will challenge you in many of your thoughts about day to day events and perhaps, give you eyes to see another point of view than you might have seen prior to your trip.
- Are you or your church interested in taking a Sankofa Journey? For more information or to have your name added to the list for the next trip, send an email to linda.mcintosh@covchurch.org
Sankofa Journeys currently scheduled:
- March 9-13, 2006 (North Park Theological Seminary – participants limited to Seminary students, yet a limited number of spaces are offered for ECC church members. Interested ECC church members should contact the department of Christian Formation.)
- August 10-13, 2006. (Christian Formation - open to all; registration & deposit deadline: March 31, 2006; contact the department of Christian Formation) Click here for a pdf of the flyer to view and print.
The Department of Christian Formation
3311 W. Foster Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
1.773-583-0220
See some pictures of Sankofa Trips
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