Sankofa Journeys

RCA Sankofa Journeys are meticulously curated transformative experiences that bring together diverse participants for three- to five-day immersions into specific contexts, emphasizing exploration of historical narratives, racial reconciliation, multicultural community building, and heart transformation that inspires action. These journeys incorporate Equity-Based Hospitality practices to ensure inclusivity and depth. They are facilitated by ministry initiatives within the Revelation 7:9 department of the Center for Church Multiplication and Ministry and in partnership with the denomination’s racial and ethnic councils.

View these slides to learn more about the RCA’s Sankofa Journeys

What is Sankofa?

Sankofa is an Akan word from Ghana that conveys the idea of looking back to move forward. It is a powerful concept that emphasizes the importance of understanding the past and even reclaiming some pieces of it in order to better navigate the future. Sankofa is often symbolized by a bird looking over its shoulder with an egg in its mouth.

What to expect on an RCA Sankofa Journey

Sankofas are three- to five-day journeys where a diverse group of people from across the RCA travels together to learn and grow. Each journey will be unique and centered on a particular group of people to explore their history, culture and customs, spiritual practices, and life experiences. This will include stories of hardship, injustice, and challenges as well as hopeful ones.

Sankofa Journeys are taken within the United States; comfortable lodging, ground transport, most meals, and materials will be included in the registration fee. Sankofas will be led by ministries from the Center for Church Multiplication and Ministry’s Revelation 7:9 department (racial and ethnic councils, women’s transformation and leadership, disability concerns, and dismantling racism) and overseen by the director of equity-based hospitality. All logistics will be carefully planned with the RCA events team and, at times, short-term mission.

  • Pre-work: Pray, plan what to bring, engage in the learning materials provided including Equity-Based Hospitality, and attend three Zoom meetings to build community and begin to engage with the Sankofa process. 
  • For the journey: Come ready to embrace the spiritual, historical, relational, and transformational aspects of the journey.
  • Post-journey: Reflect, consider personal and communal action steps, bring the experience back to your local context, participate in the virtual reunion, and stay connected for ongoing encouragement and support.

Why Sankofa Journeys?

Sankofa Journeys are an important part of the RCA’s work to help its churches and members embrace the Revelation 7:9 vision of a multitude from every nation worshiping the Lamb. The purpose of these Sankofa Journeys is to:

  • Explore historical narratives
  • Foster racial reconciliation
  • Build authentic multicultural, multiethnic community
  • Inspire heart transformation leading to meaningful action

A Sankofa Journey increases one’s awareness, understanding, and sensitivity for past struggles, victories, and continuing racist oppression existing in the United States. The journey explores how far we have come and how far we have yet to go. These experiences allow participants the opportunity to consider how, together, we might better address racial righteousness in our church, our nation, and our world. Lastly, a Sankofa Journey seeks to be an experience of both personal and corporate change. It is a journey of spiritual transformation.

Sankofa Journeys are also in alignment with one of the General Synod Council’s ends policies: “Led by the Holy Spirit, the General Synod Council covenants with the General Synod of the RCA to commit to a multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational future engaging all of God’s people locally and globally in mission and ministry free from the sins of racism, sexism, and ableism” (E-5).

History of Sankofas in the RCA

Throughout the 2010s, the RCA facilitated a dozen multi-day bus trips in the southern United States for participants to visit important Civil Rights sites and explore intersections of race, faith, and personal life journeys. In 2022, the General Synod approved a recommendation from the Commission on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) to provide and fund Sankofa Journeys. Recognizing the significant time and energy required to implement Sankofa Journeys and following other delays in implementation, CORE provided a new timeline, which was approved by the 2025 General Synod. That directive is to “provide up to three Sankofa journeys per year for the next three years … through fiscal year 2028” (Minutes of General Synod 2025, p. 202).

The first iteration of the Sankofa Journeys under the direction of the director of equity-based hospitality took place in Mescalero, New Mexico, in August 2025.

Upcoming opportunities

Asian American experience

May 15-18 in New Jersey and New York

Join the Council for Pacific and Asian American Ministries (CPAAM) for a journey around the greater NYC area to learn the stories and experience the worship, culture, and history of our Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese congregations. The trip starts and ends in Metuchen, New Jersey.

  • Participants will explore the obstacles of each ethnic and language group, hear how different generations respond to education and assimilation, and glean lessons and wisdom the CPAAM churches have to offer the RCA. Together, we will learn how to cultivate acceptance, understanding, affirmation, and validation of each other’s experiences and feelings; how to unite in the pursuit of racial and social justice for all; how to collaborate with other racial and ethnic groups within the RCA; and how to bring newfound learnings back to bless and transform their own communities.
  • Itinerary items: meet and greet, worship, visit New Brunswick Theological Seminary, walking tour, listening to and worshiping with area CPAAM congregations, dinner in Chinatown, bus ride tour and conversations, and a festive dinner with time to share and process experiences.
  • Content expert Fiel Sahir—community resourcing catalyst of the Asian American Christian History Institute (Fuller Seminary), resident of Queens, New York, and published author of a Sankofa-centered book about his family’s history in Indonesia—will join for pre-trip meetings and lead Sankofa conversations and processes during the journey.
  • Cost: $325-400 (double occupancy), plus travel to and from Metuchen, New Jersey. Listed prices account for a generous per-person subsidy provided by the denomination. Partial scholarships are available. 
  • Accommodations: Crown Plaza (Edison, New Jersey)

Register by April 23

Civil Rights Journey

August 7-11 in Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama

Join us for a transformative journey tracing the path of justice, memory, and spiritual renewal through the American South. This Sankofa experience will take us from the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the footsteps of Montgomery’s powerful sites of resistance and hope, including the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The journey starts and ends in Atlanta, Georgia.

Complete this interest form – registration opens in mid-May!

She Is Called Mescalero Sankofa Journey

August 2025

In August 2025, the She Is Called Sankofa Journey took participants to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico, where a diverse group built relationships by exploring Apache culture, history, and circumstances. Activities included touring the area, visiting tribal sites and the first Reformed church, worshiping locally, joining coming-of-age ceremonies, and sharing stories for community transformation.