Illustrated Ministry believes #blacklivesmatter

It’s been an incredibly difficult past week. First the killing of Alton Sterling, then Philando Castile, and then the killing of Dallas police officers during a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest. As I’m sure many of you have experienced, it’s easy to feel paralyzed with fear and a sense of a total loss of control. What is happening to our world?

I’m sure that many children’s moments yesterday were filled with conversations about what was happening in the world. If you addressed #blacklivesmatter or any of the recent shootings, I’d love to hear how you did it and what you said to the kids. If you’re willing, please share with us in the comments below.

As I was reflecting on the violence, shootings, deaths and everything, I knew I wanted to draw something but wasn’t exactly sure what. I kept coming back to their names. To the names of the people whose lives were ended – and to the importance of knowing their names. The Black Lives Matter image below is made of up 25 names of those who have lost their lives in recent years. I have listed the names below the image.

Please feel free to share this image, use it in your worship bulletins, or make it your Facebook profile photo.

Black. Lives. Matter. We need to keep saying that over and over again until it becomes a reality in our country.

When I shared this on our Facebook page, there was a question about whether the Illustrated Ministry Facebook page had become a political page – instead of a “ministry” page. I only have two comments about that.

First, we, as people of faith, are called to engage in our world and I believe part of that means we are called to be a prophetic voice into our culture, our world and into the political sphere. Especially at a time like this in our world – I believe it’s the duty of churches, businesses, non-profits, for-profit corporations…for everyone and anyone to stop being silent and proclaim that Black Lives Matter.

Second, the children who this ministry and business reaches are far ahead of us on this issue. And yet – it’s important for us to continue to teach and proclaim to our young children today that Black Lives Matter, that God loves each and everyone, regardless of skin color, religious beliefs, sexuality, race, gender or anything else.

I’d encourage you to share this image; making it your profile photo or sharing it is such a small thing, but it is one way you can help continue to spread the word that ‪#‎blacklivesmatter‬. And as you do share it, expect the trolls to come out with their battle cry of “ALL LIVES MATTER” as they try to give you a hard time for posting an image like this.

These are the 25 names that are included in the above image:

Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Jordan Davis, Oscar Grant, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, Emmett Till, Amadou Diallo, Kimani Gray, Jonathan Ferrell, Renisha McBride, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Myra Thompson, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Daniel Simmons, Clementa Pinckney, Sharona Coleman-Singleton, Tywanza Sanders, Laquan McDonald, Cameron Tillman and Tanisha Anderson.