Today, we face not only a new year but a new decade. The media reminded us of this fact with reviews (looking back) and previews (anticipating forward movement). The concept of looking back and moving forward is not new. As a Christian missionary, the practice reminds me of the Sankofa—a symbol from the Akan culture in Ghana and the Ivory Coast of West Africa. The word SANKOFA is derived from the words SAN (return), KO (go), FA (look, seek and take)—or “go back and retrieve!”

The symbol is based on a mythical bird that flies forwards with its head turned backwards reflecting the Akan belief that the past serves as a guide for planning the future, or the wisdom in learning from the past in building the future. As we face a New Year and another decade, I believe that the lessons from the Sankofa are deeper.

Look carefully at the cover of the January 2010 Trumpeteer Magazine featuring the Sankofa. I believe that the bird looks back to celebrate past victories and remember those who are no longer part of their ranks because they have perished along the way. I believe the bird is surveying the progress already made and gathering strength from the knowledge that "we have come this far by faith" and affirming the fact that God promised to never leave or forsake us. I believe that the bird understands that there truly is “nothing new under the sun” and as result, seeks to use past experiences to address present and future challenges. In looking back, I believe the bird was seeking to recall the choices, actions, attitudes and incidents that contributed to its current situation. I believe that in looking back, the bird was drawing strength and courage needed to go forward. I believe the Sankofa bird to be an appropriate symbol for our position—individually and collectively today.

We have come a long way since the founding of the WHOM Society. Partnerships with organizations like the National Council of Negro Women, Bread for the World, Children’s Defense Fund and the United Nations Millenium Goals allows us to speak up for those who have no voice and are invisible in our society. Despite these and other examples of our progress, we (like the Sankofa bird) mourn every missionary who exchanged time for eternity last year. We mourn the loss of every missionary who, because of age or illness is no longer able to work on the mission field. Candidly, we mourn the decline in presence and participation of our Buds of Promise, Youth Missionary Society and Young Adult Missionary Society. If we are to have a bright future as a society, we must move forward. We can use the best of what we were, what we had and even what we used to do—but we must also innovate, change and grow.

This society has blazed many trails but our better days are yet to come. Like the Sankofa bird, let us thank God for what He has already done. Let us gather the best of what our past has to teach us while moving forward to do the work assigned to our hands with haste. Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of can be reclaimed and revived! As we begin anew, let us plant our hearts, hands and feet firmly towards the future. Let us take courage and walk in the Light of Christ that we might receive every promise that God has made. Today represents the start of our transformation into even better servants of God. Have a Joyous, Blessed and Mission-filled New Year!