Friends, I look forward to meeting you!
Earlier this year, a Hollywood movie about baseball was released, titled "42." Baseball has always been Americans' favorite hobby, but from 1876 to 1945, the American Baseball League was divided into two leagues, black and white, based on race, and each played the game.
In 1945, Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York, recruited Jackie Robins, a black player who was an outstanding graduate of the University of California (UCLA) in the Negro Leagues at the time, to join the all-white team. of the Dodgers. This move caused an uproar across the country, with all kinds of attacks, threats, and insults directed at Rogeric pouring in. Even the Dodgers players jointly boycotted and threatened to resign or refuse to play, except for one white player nicknamed "Pee Wee" Reese (original name Harold Peter Henry).
As the first black player to join a white league, Rogeric experienced unspeakable embarrassment. In 1947, during a game between the Dodgers and the Reds, a local team, at Cincinnati Stadium, Rogerich made several mistakes and was caught and humiliated by the crowd that rejected him. Just when the whole stadium was booing and the game could hardly go on, Dodgers captain Marble Lees suddenly ran up to Rogeric, put a hand on Rogeric's shoulder, and stood in the middle of the field chatting with him. Everyone was shocked by this sudden scene and suddenly became quiet...
The British Times once held a prize-winning contest on the definition of the word "friend". The best definition of a winner is: “The one who comes to you when everyone else leaves you.”
Today, the bronze statue of Little Marble Lee standing side by side with one hand on Rogeric still stands on the Brooklyn court as a permanent memorial.
The 15th Pennsylvania China Cultural Practice Camp has just concluded. It’s almost unbelievable that every year, this group of us stands by each other’s side, serving together, learning together, and facing challenges together. Every year I witness the wonderful transformation of life happening before my eyes, and even my own life grows and matures as a result! Just like in this issue's "KRC and You" unit, students witnessed the ugly duckling's swan dream through hardships. In the cultural camp, almost every speaker is both a teacher and a student. Many people come back year after year, not only for the rich content of the camp, but also to support every participant. Although the number of people this year is not as expected, seeing my beloved co-workers and friends coming from Taiwan and China, who have paid a lot of money to come here, I am so moved that I cannot describe it in words! The Kingdom of God Camp is not only a camp, but more like a home. Family members come back every year to visit and learn from each other, working hard to continue working for God.
The camp in Taiwan will be held from September 27th to 29th at the Sun Lilian Memorial Camp in Wanli, New Taipei City, I hope you, or encourage your relatives and friends, can join this big family of the Kingdom of God and experience together all the prosperity that God the Father will restore in your life (for the theme of this year’s camp, please see pages 7 to 10 for details).
Of course, "Kingdom of God" magazine is also our quarterly "paper camp" where we "meet friends through literature." I hope that through this issue, from the Forbidden City in Beijing in the 18th century to the mountains and towns of Taiwan in the 21st century, with articles on drama theology, sexual intimacy between husband and wife, and other masterpieces spanning ancient and modern times, China and foreign countries, heaven and earth, I hope to communicate with you in your hearts, thoughts, and visions. , is what we are most happy and thankful for! Welcome to email: Lily@e-krc.org
Author profile Gao Lili is the founder and CEO of Kingdom of God Christian Association. He has served as a senior executive in large American companies for many years and is currently in full-time ministry. He often lectures and leads camps throughout North America and Asia, and is extremely responsible for training leadership and management models that are in line with God’s will.