A movement and a message.
Our mission started as a simple message and became a movement with prayer and nuanced practices at the center. Today, we’re here to see reconciliation and restoration through spiritual, cultural, and economic renewal.
Our Story
In September 2014, over 60 Christian ministries in the St. Louis area joined together to engage in prayer, worship, and evangelism amidst the civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri for what became known as the Ferguson Response.
Later, in January 2016, over 100 spiritual leaders gathered in St. Louis from around the country to pray for the emergence of a new breed of leadership to address the historical racial divide in America, and for a multicultural spiritual awakening. This gathering, which culminated on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, catalyzed a new civil rights movement that we called Civil Righteousness.
For the next several years, Pastor Jonathan Tremaine Thomas traveled the country carrying the Civil Righteousness message to churches and conferences. Meanwhile, in Kalamazoo, Michigan; a city-wide unity movement called Jesus Loves Kalamazoo (JLK), began to host annual Civil Righteousness Conferences and embrace the emerging pillars of the movement. As more local Civil Righteousness expressions began to emerge in several cities, Civil Righteousness Inc. was officially formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit in February 2018.
Our
Approach
With a vision as grand as ours, our approach to peacemaking and reconciliation is holistic and comprehensive. We won’t see the kind of unity and healing that we need, coming through shouts and protests alone. Or solely through the swing of a gavel. We’ll see holiness here through prayer-fueled learning and action so pain can be acknowledged, hearts can be mended, and when the once divided in our society, is united.
1
WE PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS
We are re-introducing righteousness or "moral order" as a foundational requirement for effective civic and social engagement. We encourage Christians in the racial equity mission and the ministry of reconciliation through relevant Biblical-worldview training.
2
WE ENGAGE
INJUSTICE
We partner with individuals, churches, ministries, and organizations to establish diverse localized expressions of reconciliation, justice, and mercy. We also develop and train first responders to function as peacemakers, table makers in various contexts, and to lead through prayer fueled Holy Activism.
3
WE BUILD
BRIDGES
We're mending breaches between America's historically black communities and global missions organizations like Youth With a Mission, Iris Global, and NAMB. Additionally, we're creating safe spaces for cross-cultural formation and healing through discussions, learning, and prayer, fostering deep relationships and catalyzing a diverse global missions movement.
4
WE MOBILIZE
MISSIONS
We partner with individuals, churches, ministries, and organizations to establish diverse localized expressions of reconciliation, justice, and mercy. We also develop and train first responders to function as peacemakers, table makers in various contexts, and to lead through prayer fueled Holy Activism.
5
WE RESTORE COMMUNITIES
Through strategic partnerships and generous investments, we are engaging in urban community development to create self-sustainable ecosystems of transformation.
Support the movement
We see giving as a multi-faceted action. Whether it’s a donation of funds, time, resources, or prayer — our work can flourish to mature and grow into better paths of unity. And you can move with us toward that vision.