Dear members of the TYFC community,

We remember that at this time many of our youth and leaders are hurting. We are faced with discrimination and xenophobia against Asians, and the collective trauma from the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many more. Our hearts break for their families and our communities.

For members of the Asian, Black, and Brown communities, we see you, and we acknowledge the deep pain, anguish,and extra trauma you are carrying right now. Please know that we are here to stand with you, support you, and uplift you during these challenging times. 

This is not your work, it is our work. For the ways we have wronged you – intentionally and unintentionally – we ask for your forgiveness. Racism is sin, and this sin destroys the beautiful diversity of God’s Kingdom as well as his desire for us to be reconciled to him and to our fellow image-bearers. We are all created in God’s image!

We have no tactical answers in this message, but we are taking some next steps. We are bringing in trusted voices to help us identify our blind spots, to look deeper at our organizational systems and culture, and to challenge us to grow in areas where we might not even realize we need growth. In all of this, we hold on to the shared hope that Christ can bind and strengthen our hearts to stand with you in the pain of the moment as we ourselves search for answers, justice, and the wisdom to act.

In Christ,

Tacoma Area YFC