What Could Be Possible for RVA

 A City of Reconciliation? 

Richmond VA (affectionately known as RVA) has quite a reputation. One of the things Richmond is most famous for is being the Capital of the Confederacy. There were a couple others, but RVA is the most well-known location. 

As an RVA area resident for most of my life, this one was a surprise to me. A few years ago, I heard Richmond maintained its reputation as Sin City. I had never heard that reference before. Then last Christmas, I heard that RVA was known as Sin City in the early 1800s. 

I do love RVA. I am not a city girl, but the parks of Richmond are incredible. Having the river with amazing rapids running through it. The views…. The history… the architecture. All I know is I keep getting drawn back here to live. 

But I have always had a deep feeling RVA could be so much more. There have been failed projects (most famously 6th St Marketplace that people still reminisce about) and other projects that get a lot of false starts (like the baseball stadium) and others that seem neglected such as the recently demolished Coliseum. Honestly, I don’t know what the status is of the Coliseum other than the fact that there are plans. If you are from the area, you know how emotional these topics are for locals. 

We do host the Redskins for training camp. We had a big bike race here and we have been on the map for x-game events because of the unique terrain of the city. 

City under the radar. 

RVA tends to stay under the radar most of the time, even with all the upheaval the last couple years with rising violent crime, being a center of demonstrations in the BLM movement, being a prominent city for human trafficking because of its location…. Remember Jared from Subway? Where did he get caught for soliciting minors? You got it! It was RVA. 

Let the children be first. 

So where did the thought come from about RVA becoming the city of reconciliation? 

This past February, a century old school named William Fox Elementary burn downed after a series of unusual events. I praised God so much that it happened on a weekend night when no students or teachers were anywhere around in the vicinity when it caught fire. One of the reasons it burned down is the security system had not been updated to included the area code of the alarm company. This was a big deal because the telephone company made it mandatory last October that the area code was required for all calls. None of the school security systems were updated. 

I don’t know if that detail was accidentally overlooked (I prefer to hope this is the case) or intentionally dismissed to be done at a more convenient time. But either way, there was neglect of children’s safety that played a big role in the fire raging out of control on school property. Of course, that was that much more upheaval for the kids after covid shutdowns and restrictions. 

With all the oddities of circumstances around the fire however, I could not help but think it was a sign. 

The children must come first. It is time to teach to teach them about loving others as themselves. 

Starting in Luke 10:25 is the story of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate the love we are to have for others. It ends with:

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

There was a neighbor to the school. Someone walked by the school as the first whisps of smoke escaped through the windows. This person didn’t ignore it. They called 911. 

In simplifying the story, the fire department arrived. Looked around for the fire. Didn’t see any and left. Less than 30 minutes later, the school was engulfed in flames. 

What if the signals of trouble that exist in the city continue to be ignored? What if the school is a symbol of what happens when an warning is ignored? 

Let the forgiveness begin!

There are a lot of emotional wounds in RVA that have never healed or been resolved. 

I have no question that God loves our city and wants to see it thrive. He wants to see its citizens and communities thrive. 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:24-25 

We all have times we struggle to do the right thing. We have all made mistakes. But guess what, the power of those mistakes over our lives can be wiped away. 

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…. Acts 3:19

 Typically, there are still consequences for our actions we still must face, but what changes is we are free and no longer defined by those mistakes and are instead defined by how things are made right. 

Church leaders, city leaders and teachers, the community of Richmond, there have been walls that have kept popping up in RVA that keep the community from moving forward. God desires healing for the city. He wants the city to have a new designation. 

The Lord wants Richmond to become the City of Reconciliation, not just for the state, but for the nation. 

It is time to for all of us to take time to repent and forgive. No one is excluded. No one needs to do it more than anyone else. He wants RVA in the spotlight with a brand new identity with church leaders leading the way. Will you respond? Children of the city will be the ones who will benefit most from their leaders taking a step in faith, to trust God the father of Christ, repent of their transgressions and to forgive so that we can show the nation what it means to treat one another like neighbors, like a community, having each other’s backs. This will save RVA before it gets destroyed beyond repair. 

Am I telling you what to do? No. I do humbly ask you to pray and ask if what I say is true. I do love each of you because you are my neighbors and I want to see great things for you.