Today, April 20, 2021, the jury will make a decision in  the Derek Chauvin trial in regards to the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. On April 11, 2021, Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer. In the following hours and days, Brooklyn Center became host to rallies and riots protesting the shooting. Minnesota has been host to violence and conflict that have rocked communities, families and individuals.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Minnesota believes that human life is a precious gift from God (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:14). Micah 6:8 tells us “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” As leaders of the Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, we pray for peace and justice in our state. We pray that our local churches will serve as a beacon of hope and salvation in a time of pain, anger and despair. We pray that our local communities will find compassion and care in the arms of Jesus. We pray that our communities will understand and process the pain brought about by the death of Daunte Wright. We pray that a full investigation in this matter, along with the conclusion of the George Floyd case, will bring justice, forgiveness, compassion and strength for our communities to move forward.

The Minnesota Conference exists to help people realize they are accepted in Jesus Christ, and come to know, love, serve, and share Him. We believe that a conversation on the foundational principle of our country, that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” would help our community and our church to move forward in the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ “. . . to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (Revelation 14:6).”

As Jesus said, “The most important [command] is this:…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:29-31).” Recognizing that Jesus will return soon, we call our churches to engage in their communities and to extend the healing ministry of Christ to everyone in need of Him.