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To achieve this people would need to procreate and multiply in number and this would make it necessary for them to move out and migrate throughout the earth. As this migration took place these nomads would encounter different environmental conditions and as they adapted to their surroundings different cultural lifestyles would start to emerge. So the result of Gods command to fill the earth would be difference. Different stories. Different words. Different myths songs styles of communication food clothing. The develop- ment of different cultures didnt take God by surprise This is what God intended from the beginning because no one culture people or lan- guage can adequately reflect the splendor of God. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost signaled the dramatic entry of a new age in human history. Although not the fullness of the Kingdom it was a sign of the Kingdom and it was the empowering of humanity to sur- render to the design of God. It was the reception of the Holy Spirit that first offered the church hope of a social and spiritual community com- posed of people from every tribe and nation and unified by the centrality of Christ. BREAKING GROUND I began analyzing and explaining the reconcilia- tion process when I was a doctoral student. My goal was to develop a viable model based on my years of experience with racial and gender reconciliation as a consultant to churches. It was crucial to develop a process that was rooted in solid principles of individual and systemic change. In the midst of my studies I came across a theoretical framework known as Contact Theory which suggests that relationships between conflicting groups will improve if they have meaningful contact with one another over an extended period of time. Contact Theory proposes that if diverse groups spend extended time together their intergroup conflict and the negative effects of racism and ethnocentrism will gradually decrease and possibly even disappear altogether. Early on this model was conceptually grounded in social psychology and educational theory and focused on individual learning rather than group or organizational change. But not all people have the same social skills and motivation to cross vast racial and ethnic barriers. I want to teach people how to be reconcilers yes. But I also want to train them to build communities of reconciliation. Our racial and ethnic identity is important to God. Without our cultural and ethnic backgrounds we have a limited and incomplete perspective of who God is. We are each a piece of a complex and difficult puzzle. Were all interconnected and need each other to complete the work God has called us to do. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 21 Reconciliation is an on-going spiritual process involving forgiveness repentance and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect Gods original intention for all creation to flourish. Brenda will be a keynote speaker at AGRMs 2016 Annual Convention June 710 in Jacksonville Florida. She is a dynamic author and trailblazer with more than 25 years of experience in the ministry of reconciliation. She is the author of the recently released book Roadmap to Reconciliation from which this article is adapted. Contact Brenda at mcneilbspu.edu.