Bridges of Reconciliation

For centuries Indigenous Nations and people endured a holocaust of
unimaginable proportions, much of the suffering and betrayal coming
from those who claimed to be representing the Christian God. If we desire
reconciliation and friendship with Native people and Nations, how do we build
those bridges? Knowing that historically we have not loved our first neighbors
well, how do we now communicate grace? Can we learn from the tragedies and
failures of the past? Are we willing to pave the way of reconciliation with our
tears? These questions and more we ponder throughout this book.
What we are learning is the gift of many friends representing many tribes and
cultures who have graciously and generously shared their stories and their
hearts with us. Now we pass along some of our gleanings to you. We hope it
will set you to thinking and even unpacking your baggage, to sort it out and
pack again-wherever you might be going in this life. God help us all to travel
light and may we always move to the music of God's extravagant grace.
About the Farrants...
We are simply two very ordinary people given the extraordinary
privilege of spending time with people of other cultures who
have been and are still our teachers. We are not the Indigenous
voice. They have voices of their own. We hope the offering of
this little book will encourage you to listen to those voices.
Currently, Bruce serves as coordinator of Native American/First Nations
Ministries with Mission to North America. We make our home in Maryville,
TN, just west of what the Cherokee call the Shakonohey, Land of the Blue Smoke
(Great Smoky Mountains). God has blessed us with four wonderful children
and eleven grandchildren.
Contact Us: www.onechurchonetribe.com or shakonohey2@aol.com