Posts Tagged ‘multiethnic’
Portland multiethnic church conference
This in from Jim Spoonts, Executive Director of Mosaix Global Network::
To those who are committed to the vision of the multi-ethnic church – To those who want to plant, transform, or revitalize your church toward cultural diversity (but may not know how):
- Do you want to be a resource to others seeking to change?
- Are you tired of doing it alone?
- Do you, your staff, and/or key leaders need to be re-filled with the vision for the multi-ethnic church?
- Do you want to connect with other like-minded leaders?
- Do you need some practical equipping?
Whether you are from the northwest or other part of the country, consider joining us for the Mosaix Portland Conference on Friday November 7 & 8.
READ MORE …
too many books to read
I’ve got more books than I have time or energy to read. Some of them arrive as review copies (read: comp’d), some as gifts, some as impulse buys. Now it is totally unfair to judge a book by its cover, and yet that’s how most people buy books, I’ve been told. I am not much for first impressions, but here are a few personal reactions in having taken a cursory glance or skim through these books.
Here’s one of my book stacks with my annotated impressions:
- Deliver Us from Me-Ville by David A. Zimmerman
I’ve met David on several occasions, fascinatingly creative guy, and the colorful book cover shows that he can draw both comic books and tell a story - Six Prayers God Always Answers by Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann
Took me reading through 75% of the book before I got it; this is a book about the kind of prayers that people pray, and how God does answer those prayers. Perhaps not the way we want them answered, but God does answer them in many unexpected ways. While there are many books that talk about prayer, as in how to pray (like prayer were some kind of incantation or wish power), and what prayer has accomplished, or what God expects in a prayer that He would hear or answer, this book’s got a more people-based perspective, and I find that to connect with me as a reader in a way that other prayer books haven’t. No, I haven’t read Prayer of Jabez.
- Crossing the Ethnic Divide: The Multiethnic Church on a Mission by Kathleen Garces-Foley
An insider behind-the-scenes look at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, an 80+ year old church that’s successfully adjusted with the times from being an intergenerational Japanese church to a pan-Asian church and now to being an intentionally multiethnic church
- Make the Impossible Possible: One Man’s Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary by Bill Strickland
This was a gift book that I surprisingly got from an anonymous friend in the mail, with a hand-written note. Looks like another book with a powerful inspirational story. The hand-written note really touched my heart more. - Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian by Gary A. Haugen
Gary is more than an incredible visionary, but also a most courageous warrior. Fighting the darkness of injustice, here’s a guy that’s mobilizing our generation like no other on this front. I don’t know if this is a sequel to his first book, Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World, which also has the word “courage” in the title. I wonder if the book would do better if it were a one-word title, COURAGE, instead. - The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time by Tom Sine and Shane Claiborne
- I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp
- True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In by James Choung
James’ Gospel presentation sure kicks it up another notch, by giving us a fuller dimension to the Gospel, and how it is so much more than just crossing the line to have eternal security. James blogs occasionally at jameschoung.net. See the YouTube video of The Story, even in a Southern Style. Here’s James drawing in the sand, kinda like Jesus maybe.
- Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
I’ve heard that Francis is quite a gifted communicator, and that kind of delivery comes through the pages. I started to read this on the beach a couple weeks ago. Was distracted by people watching, so I didn’t get very far. Loved how this book had links to the book’s website, and referred to it for the multimedia portion as an integral part of the book. - Holy Fools: Following Jesus with Reckless Abandon by Mathew Woodley
- Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping Our World by Vinoth Ramachandra
This one looks really heady and academic. In the global village and multi-national world we live in, we need more books like this to give us a real world perspective that’s not so driven by media sound bites or vide appeals. - The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher: A Novel by Rob Stennett
Hmmm, how a novel snuck into my stack I don’t know. I’m much more of a non-fiction guy, if you haven’t figured out by now.
I have several other stacks of books, and I’ll get around to mentioning those too; no promise on when I’ll get them online.
Does a multiethnic church have to be intentional?
Question>> I’m about to launch an intentionally diverse church, and sometimes I get asked whether we should be intentionally diverse or just start and see whom God brings. Well, I have an answer as to why we want to seek being diverse and exemplify diversity on our leadership team. However, there are many churches that start off as Asian-American churches and seek to be diverse, yet only attract Asian-Americans. So, I was curious if you had any insight you’d like to share on this question to help me with a different perspective?
djchuang’s reply ::
As for becoming a multi-ethnic church, there are a couple of books that most clearly lays out the ingredients for such a church: David Anderson’s book Multicultural Ministry and Mark DeYmaz’ Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church. And my web page at djchuang.com/multi has a lot of resources and articles and books that inform my thoughts about developing an intentionally diverse church.
So, in short, my answer is “yes” — it does take intentionality to become ethnically and racially diverse. It doesn’t happen by accident. If it just “naturally” happens (i.e. without intentionality), we’d see a lot more diversified church, wouldn’t we.
According to one study, more than 92% of all churches in the U.S. are segregated, with more than 80% of their membership representing a single race or ethnic group. I think that 92% is including Catholic and Protestant churches; less than 5% of evangelical churches are diverse, less than 2.5% of mainline Protestants. And, it’d be too overly simplistic to say that prayer and Bible study will diversify a church — most evangelical churches do that, and most are not diversified.
Now, what that intentionality looks like may be different from church to church, and depends on the cultural context of where the church is located.
Those are my top-of-mind thoughts. What would you add?
[update] also see (somewhat) related comment thread “Why are Asian American church leaders so obsessed with multi-ethnic church?” [@ randplaty.com] and “Is diversity a taboo subject within the church?” [@ daveingland.com]
Ask anything about transitioning to a multi-ethnic church
I got this email from Art Lucero, and with his permission, I’m sharing it with you.
So, you (and your friends) can ask your burning questions about how to transition from a church that’s mostly homogenous into one that’s diversified and has all kinds of people worshipping together.
Dear Friends:
My senior pastor, Dr. Jay Pankratz of Sunrise Church in Rialto, CA would like to help churches deal with some of the questions, issues, and or problems they may be facing as they prepare for, or are in the midst of transitioning from a mono-cultural to a multi-cultural ministry.
Please send me a list of any questions, issues, or problems that you would like to receive some input from a leader who successfully transitioned a traditional white Baptist church of just under 400 (98% White) to a progressive, multi-ethnic and multicultural congregation of 4,000 (30% White, 30% African-American, 30% Hispanic, 4% Asian).
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Your servant
Art Lucero
* add a comment here or email Art directly at alucero@sunrisechurch.org *
talk ethnicity and church this Sunday 9/2 night
I know it’s Labor Day weekend. I’m scrambling for something fun for the family to close out the summer, even tho’ the weather here in the OC won’t actually change at all. Maybe a Saturday Fun Roll or Greek Festival or the Orange Intl Street Fair, who knows, but no road trips away.
For 60 minutes, join NextGenerAsianChurch.com as we talk over Skype about this burning question: “What role could / should / does ethnicity play in the Asian American church?” This isn’t like Cramer’s Lightning Round or Rush’s Open Line Friday or Hannity’s Insanity to Trash the Lines. We’ll have a moderated conversation where everyone participates, and who knows, it may just get a bit lively and exciting.
[update 9/04] Skypecast didn’t work, so we improvised and used a free conference call service and brought 4 of us together (David Park, Josh Deng, Joshua Settles, and myself) for an hour discussion. Listen to it below or download the MP3 (27 MB) — it took me a bit of rambling to get the conversation rolling, and it gets good towards the 2nd half.
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Use the free software Skype to join the skypecast on Sun 9/2 at 9:00pm Eastern / 6:00pm Pacific. [update] Skypecast isn’t working; we’re using a free conference call — dial-in to 218-486-1300, conference bridge # is 890537 (long distance charges may apply, or use SkypeOut, or better, use your free weekend minutes on your cell phone).
Here’s 4 sound-bite kindlings to get your mind revved up::