On June 1, 2020, Pastor Gregg Matte and our three Campus Pastors hosted an online Night of Prayer for The Nation. The date fell in the middle of a season of unrest and anxiety in our nation following the brutal death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis.

As the nation, the church, and individuals grapple with why and how this and other senseless deaths can happen, Pastor Gregg, Jason, Malcolm, and Lee call upon the Lord for wisdom and healing. Listen to their individual contributions below, or view the entire discussion here. In addition, a curated list of related resources is provided for your reference.

As always, you can share your prayer requests with Houston's First here, by texting PRAYFIRST to 41411, or by calling 713.335.6456.

Pastor Gregg Matte

Jason Swiggart, Cypress Campus Pastor

Malcolm Marshall, Sienna Campus Pastor

Lee Hsia, Downtown Campus Pastor

Night of Prayer for The Nation

Related Resources

The Bible is the definitive source for how we are to relate to one another — and how His followers are to model that for the world around us. This list of resources provides additional thoughts and insights from a variety of other sources. Some sources might open your eyes to another person’s point of view, and some might cause you to reflect on your own. As with anything, examine each one through the lens of what God says in His Word.

Articles / Blogs

• Structural Racism (from Dr. John Piper)
• Unmasking Racism, Starting with Me (from the Gospel Coalition)
• American Racism: We’ve Got So Very Far to Go (from the French Press)

Articles / Blogs Related to Children

• Not Too Young to Talk About Race (Infographic)
• Teaching Kids about Racial Unity (from ERLC)
• Talking to Your Kids about Racism (from Saddleback Church)
• Having honest conversations with children or students about race (from Houston's First – Sienna)

Books

• Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by Dr. John Piper
• Oneness Embraced: Reconciliation, the Kingdom, and How We are Stronger Together by Dr. Tony Evans
• A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
• The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity by Soong-Chan Rah
• The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
• Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards
• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
• Letters to a Birmingham Jail: A Response to the Words and Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Dr. Bryan Loritts
• Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Dr. Tim Keller
• One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race and Love by Dr. John Perkins
• Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility by George Yancey
• How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas Oden
• The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best by Irwyn L. Ince Jr.
• Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe

Books for Children

• ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us by Dorena Williamson (Grade: PreK-2; Age: 4-8)
• God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell (Grade: 1-2; Age: 4-8)
• God Made Me and You by Shai Linne (Grade: 3-7; Age: 8-12)
• The Gospel in Color: For Kids by Curtis Woods and Jarvis Williams (Grade: 5-9; Age: 10+)

Documentaries

• Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football
• Eyes on the Prize
• Freedom Riders
• The 13th
• Emanuel
• The Talk – Race in America

Movies

• Just Mercy
• Selma
• Hidden Figures
• The Banker
• Remember the Titans
• Zootopia

Podcasts

• Signposts with Russell Moore – A Conversation with a Former Klansman Thomas A. Tarrants
• Culture Matters Podcast – Systemic Racism (put out by The Village Church)
• The Phil Vischer Podcast – A History of the Religious Right
• NPR - Talking Race with Young Children
• Where the Gospel Meets Reconcilation

Videos

• A conversation about race: Timothy Ateek, Mikado Henson and Jimmy McNeal
• Ted Talk – The Root of Racial Injustice
• Reconstruction in America (Equal Justice Initiative)
• Now What? (Carlos Whittaker)
• Ted Talk – Racism has a cost for everyone
• Repairing the Racial Divide (Pastor Steve Bezner & Pastor Blake Wilson)
• Is There Racism in the Church? (interview with Dr. Tony Evans)
• Race in America (Phil Vischer)
• A Christian Response to Racial Tension (Focus on the Family Broadcast)

Sermons / Other Resources

• Sermon from Pastor Gregg Matte ("Stormy Seas")
• Sermon from Pastor Robert Morris, Gateway Church (“A Lack of Understanding”)
• Sermon from Pastor Miles McPherson, The Rock Church (“The Third Option”)
• Sermon from Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church (“A Faith That Shows Respect to Everyone”)
• Sermons from the MLK50 Conference
• The Smithsonian – Talking about Race
• Barna Research: How U.S. Christians Feel about Racism
• Barna Research’s Perspective on Race & the Church

Organizational Resources

• (&) Campaign
• Jude 3 Project
• Center for Biblical Unity