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| Chinese Forgive and Bless Truckee |
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| Chinese Workers |
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Identificational Repentance
"...for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,"
Exodus 20:5b
River Rock Christian Fellowship will be taking the lead in asking God to forgive our town for the sin of racism towards the Chinese in the 19th century. It's true that the town father's who actually persecuted the Chinese have long since passed away. However, we believe that it is only right to apologize for what our town fathers did even though we do not have to. In addition, from a spiritual perspective we can see from Exodus 20 and other passages of Scripture from the Old Testament that God is a just God and punishes the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. It is a basic tenet of faith that sin must be atoned for by repentance and forgiveness. We don't want there to be any reason why Truckee could be under any negative spiritual influence from its past sins.
Thanks to Clint Glenny who brought eight of his Chinese friends in from Taiwan on April 2nd to help us with identificational repentance for our community. On Tuesday April 3rd we joined together with these eight Chinese as well as local pastors Marty Chamberlin, Wayne Hoag, Mike Sampson, Bill Ransome, and youth Pastor Nate to seek God's forgiveness for the way this community treated its Chinese inhabitants. From the first time we prayed there was a powerful sense of the Holy Spirit moving to release our community from the bondage that this violence has put us under. As we moved from one location to another there was a continueing sense that God was cementing this change in place. At each stop different pastors would pray and seek God's forgiveness for our region. We followed the lead of such great men of God as the Prophet Jeremiah.
Let us lie down in our shame,
and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned against the LORD our God,
both we and our fathers;
from our youth till this day
we have not obeyed the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 3:25
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| Chinese View Truckee |
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In an article published by the Sierra Sun on April 2nd, 2007 [click here to view] I pointed out that the United States government and State governments have been taking it upon themselves to pass legislation proclaiming resolutions of apology to those they mistreated in the past. Although, I believe that the most important part of identificational repentance comes from men and women of God expressing profound regret and asking God for forgiveness as modeled for us by the prophets, I feel that it is also valuable for governments to follow the lead of the people. On Thursday April 4th I stood in front of the Truckee Town Council and asked the town to put a "resolution of apology" to the Chinese on the agendal. The council declined my request. However, council woman Barbara Green pointed out that Truckee was part of Nevada County so she suggested that I approach Nevada County with my request for a resolution of apology. I am currently planning to do this. I have had many people contact me wanting to be involved in working with me on this. I plan to call a meeting soon. If you are interested you can contact me or keep on eye on this page for the meeting time and place.
Click her for a link to the April 9th Sierra Sun page
Please feel free to send me your comments, suggestions, and opinions
Pastor Eric Moen
pastoreric@riverrockchristianfellowship.com
(530) 320 4993
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| At Hooligan Rock |
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Hooligan's Rock is located in front of Round Table Pizza and Bank of The West in the Safeway parking lot. It has been alleged that this was the site of regular abuse of the Chinese by the Caucasian League and the 601 who would pour scalding tar on the Chinese. It was reported that there was often heard the sounds of screams for mercy.
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