NATCHEZ — Racial reconciliation begins with you.

That was the message the Rev. Neddie Winters, president of Mission Mississippi, brought to Christian Hope Baptist Church Sunday as the guest speaker for the church’s Black History Month celebration. Mission Mississippi styles itself as “a movement in the body of Christ to reconcile individuals across racial and denominational lines.”

Racism is still a problem in Mississippi, Winters said.

“At the end of the day, when the sun sets and the dust settles, when the news comes on, it’s something about race.”

But if one wants to see racial reconciliation become a reality, they must take the initiative themselves, Winters said, and the other option — inaction — isn’t an option for Christians.

“Non-involvement is a sin,” he said. “The sin of non-involvement is being committed every day.”

“Everybody is willing — some are willing to do it, and some are willing to let you do it.”

But it is necessary to set aside hatred based on race, politics or ideology, Winters said — the Gospel commands Christians to do so.

The Bible tells believers that, “Those who hate you, you ought to love them, those that hurt you, you ought to do good to them,” Winters said.

Mankind is made in the image and likeness of God, meaning that you should extend love, grace and forgiveness to all people without any pre-conditions, he said.

“How I express myself to you ought to be how God has expressed and extended himself to me,” Winters said.

“We must forgive as he as forgiven us.”

“God is looking for some people who will love across the racial divide, love across the political divide, even love across the school divide we have in some of our communities.”

Things have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go. That’s why Winters made a 20-year commitment to Mission Mississippi, he said.

“It is not going to be a sprint, it will be a marathon, to get black and white folks to love across the racial divide.”

The speaker said he did not believe those working for racial reconciliation have the same drive and initiative as those in previous generations who worked for racial justice.

But that can change, he said.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Adams County set the standard for racial reconciliation in the state because you took initiative?” he said.

And the way to do that is to extend people love.

“If the race card was off the table and the grace card was on the table, we would see change,” he said.

Mission Mississippi can be visited online at www.missionmississippi.org.