About Andy Hatfield
Reconciliation 2026 began as a quiet burden during prayer, carried by one ordinary follower of Jesus who loves Augusta and believes God desires healing for this city.
Who Is Andy?
My name is Andy Hatfield. I live in Augusta, Georgia, where I serve as a middle school principal and teacher. I've spent much of my life in education, local church life, and community ministry, working with young people and families in this city.
I am a Christian and a Catholic, and I've been part of an ecumenical charismatic community in Augusta for many years. A big part of my journey has been walking in friendship with believers from different churches and traditions, learning what it means to live as one Body even when we don't agree on everything.
Why Reconciliation?
In early 2025, during a time of prayer with other Christian leaders, I began to sense a strong burden for reconciliation between Black and White Christians in Augusta and for healing in our wider community. At the same time, I was learning more about the events of 1526 and the first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans on this coastline.
The more I learned, the more I felt that the approaching 500-year mark in October 2026 was not just a date on a calendar, but a kind of invitation—a chance for our city to remember honestly, to repent where needed, to forgive where possible, and to bless the generations who will come after us.
I do not see myself as the "leader" of a movement, but as one person trying to name something I believe God is stirring. Any real work of reconciliation must be shared and carried together by many voices and many communities.
Why "drusha.net"?
The website address, drusha.net, comes from a nickname I picked up while on a mission trip to Russia. My given name is Andrew, which in Russian becomes Andrei or Andryusha. Over time, friends shortened it affectionately to something like "Drusha."
The name is a small reminder to me that God's heart and family are bigger than one culture or language. Even though the word itself doesn't have a deep meaning in English, it carries a story of friendship across borders. That felt fitting for a site dedicated to reconciliation and shared history.
A Personal Note
If you are reading this as a pastor, civic leader, educator, historian, or simply as a neighbor who cares about Augusta, I want you to know that this project is meant to be open-handed. You do not need to share all of my beliefs to be part of the conversation or to pray for the good of our city.
My hope is that people of faith—and all who care about truth, justice, and mercy—will find space here to listen, to learn, and to seek the flourishing of Augusta together.
If something here resonates with you, I would be glad to hear from you. You can find contact information on the Resources & Contact page.