GLUE

Global Faith Forum: An Essential Conversation

 

Check out the Global Faith Forum November 11-13, 2010. It's not too late to register!

I am excited to join the conversation this week at the Global Faith Forum in Dallas, Texas. Hosted by Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., and the people of NorthWood Church, this unique gathering has been designed to build bridges of understanding and respect among spiritual leaders from a variety of faith traditions. Through the conference, then, we who are best positioned to impact the hearts of men and women will be better equipped to shape attitudes, stereotypes and behaviors adversely affecting the global village today … and, hopefully, inspire others to follow in our steps to promote a path peace, beyond the differences, within their own spheres of influence.

I hope to see you there!

 

The Old K-Mart: How Do You Know?

After nearly nine official years as a church, we (at Mosaic) have embarked on a journey to raise a minimum of $1,000,000 in cash and/or three-year pledges by the end of December 2010 in order to purchase a permanent home in Little Rock's University District: the old K-Mart on the corner of University and Asher/Colonel Glenn Rd. Amazingly, we will purchase the 100,000 sq. ft. facility that sits on 10-acres of paved lot for only $1.7 million in cash - that's $17 a sq. ft not including the land!

Recently, I was asked, "How has God clearly revealed that this is His will for our church?

Well, I've actually written about this before. Here's the story ...

Not long after Linda had rekindled my faith with her words, I learned that a 100,000-square-foot facility just a few blocks east of us had been sold. Situated on a 10-acre piece of property, the building rests on one of the busiest corners in the state of Arkansas. More important, it’s located directly across the street from UALR and is in the heart of the University District, the most diverse area of the city. In addition, it borders an area with the highest instance of violent crime in Little Rock and, according to the 2000 census, 21.5% of people living in the area live at or below the poverty line. In other words, it is right where we want to be!

So when I received a call alerting me to its sale, I was sick! For more than a year, two men had tried to acquire this property, in part, to provide long-term space for the church. Unfortunately, they had not been successful, and this facility (which once housed a Kmart) was sold to a local businessman, the owner of Office Furniture Supply (OFS), Inc.

With discouragement swirling within me, I called Linda to share the news. And when I did, she said, “This doesn’t make sense! You know that for more than three years I’ve told you, every time I drive by that building I see the fl ags of Mosaic flying over it. I just know God’s going to give it to us, Mark; I’m sure of it! The story’s already been written and God has the perfect place for us. It’s already done! We just need to pray right now that he’ll show us where it is and soon, whether that’s the old Kmart building or somewhere else.” So together, we then prayed and concluded our call. Linda had encouraged me, but still I was concerned.

Next I called Harry. After I had filled him in, he told me that he had once purchased a house on a desirable piece of property just outside Moscow, Idaho. On the very day that he did, however, another man approached him wanting to buy it. The man made an offer, and Harry accepted it - flipping the home he had just purchased for a profit. “Perhaps,” Harry said, “the new owner of the facility would do the same for us.”

“Say no more,” I said, and springing into action, I quickly placed a call—cold turkey—to OFS, Inc. Fortunately, the owner, Mike Montgomery was in, and I introduced myself over the phone. Indeed, he had secured the property and was in the process of closing the deal.

Trying not to sound desperate, I nevertheless found myself saying, “What if we were to give you $500,000 more than you are paying for the property? Would you be willing to sell?”

By that time, we had talked for about ten minutes, and Mike suggested we continue our discussion in person. Filled with optimism, I rushed over to see him. And within ten minutes of my arrival, Mike made it clear: “Someday, Mark, your church is going to own this property. And I can assure you, it has nothing to do with money!”

“You see,” Mike said, “eleven years ago, I was a homeless drunk sleeping behind ‘your’ Wal-Mart. I was eating food out of the dumpster at McDonald’s, and my only light came from the candles I would occasionally purchase for $1 right here in the Kmart. One day, though, someone came by and left a tract—I don’t even know who it was—but after reading it, I began attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

In time, I sobered up and soon gave my life to Jesus Christ. And for four years now, I have watched your church grow and minister to ‘my people’ here in the community. It would thrill me, Mark, to see Mosaic permanently located here!”

Quite frankly, I was blown away! As we talked, tears began to flow from his eyes and mine. Somehow we both sensed that this was a holy moment, a divine appointment in which we had been led together into take intentional steps the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And in that moment, Mike became our “Esther,” a man positioned for such a time as this.

When I returned to the church, I again called Linda to share with her all that had happened in a very brief time, and we began to cry tears of joy. She told me that after we had talked earlier, she had spent more time in prayer and had been led in God’s word to 2 Chronicles 7, where Solomon, together with the people of Israel, dedicate the Temple. Reading from the passage, she shared the very words that our hearts were bursting to express: “When all the people of Israel saw the fi re coming down, and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the temple, they fell down on the ground and worshipped and praised the Lord, saying, ‘ He is so good! The faithful love of the Lord endures forever!’” (2 Chronicles 7:3).

With these words, Israel had finally received and dedicated the Temple and we now realized that Mosaic, too, would one day receive and dedicate a building of its own in which to worship God—the old Kmart, after all! It was a fitting end to the roller coaster of emotions we had ridden that day, April 20, 2006.

To make a long story short, we then had Mike and his wife, Monica, together with their children, come and share his testimony at Mosaic on November 19, 2006. And a few weeks later, he was back again, this time to sign a contract with us in front of the body. At that time, we agreed to buy the property within the next three years for $2,000,000—only $20 a square foot—for which we will receive the 10-acre site, the 100,000-square-foot facility, and 500 parking spaces to call our own. What a thrill it was to give him the $100,000 we had saved as a down payment! But wait, there’s more.

The following week, we received another anonymous check in the mail—you guessed it, in the amount of $100,000—as well as a $250,000 matching gift pledge. Amazingly, the phone call informing me of these gifts came one year to the day that we had dismissed our Sunday service early to conduct a prayer walk on the old Kmart grounds. And as part of the contract, Mike agreed to deduct $300,000 off the purchase price at the time of closing. Therefore, we will need a total of only $1,700,000 to make the purchase; as I write, we are nearly half-way there! God is, indeed, answering our prayers, not only for a facility but also for the miraculous provision of it so that, in the end, we will all be able to say, Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit it has been done.

Admittedly, throughout more than twenty years of full-time ministry, I have not often viewed praying or waiting as intentional steps. Of course, I know I am “supposed” to pray, but I struggle with a temperament compelled to action. Through my experience at Mosaic, however, I am learning to embrace the tension and more fully abandon myself to this principle:  Sometimes intentionally, I must wait upon the Lord. To wait patiently on God to reveal his will, his way, and his time runs contrary to my very personality and to all that the world says will lead me to success. But in and through this ministry, and more so than in any other place I have been, I have seen God work in ways that cannot be otherwise attributed to the ingenuity of man. At such times, I feel his power and his pleasure. At such times, I know that God is really the One building a healthy multi-ethnic church!

Adapted from the book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church by Mark DeYmaz (Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2007)

What We Really Need ...

Recently Tom Steers, founder and co-director of Asian American Ministries for The Navigators, wrote a guest opinion column which was published online (only) by Christianity Today (July 7, 2010). The column is entitled, Needed: More Monocultural Ministires.

In the opinion piece ("not necessarily representing the opinion of the publication," as CT makes clear in the footer), Steers argues that a multicultural society demands more monocultural ministries. In so doing, however, he does not clearly state what he means by use of the term, “ministry.” Consequently, I believe he a) confuses evangelism with local church development, b) wrongly exegetes Scripture in attempting to support his claim, and otherwise c) speaks from assumption in stating what advocates of the multi-ethnic church truly believe.

With this in mind, the following blog entry respectfully, but critically, challenges Steers' thinking. Paragraphs from the original article are cited at the start of each new thought (i.e., P2, P3, etc.) to provide clarity as to just which part of Steers' article I am referencing at any given moment.

P2 – Steers writes, “Some argue that since we are an increasingly multicultural society, our churches should become more multicultural. There is a certain logic to that. As long as there are people who want to be culturally and socially multicultural, or multiethnic, there also must be structures for them. Such ministries are crucial for healing America's racial and ethnic wounds. They potentially model the unbiased oneness that Jesus prayed for in John 17.”

Theologically informed “advocates” of the multi-ethnic church however (at least, none that I know) are not suggesting, as the author states, “since we are an increasingly multicultural society, (that) our churches should become more multicultural.” Nor are Bible-centered proponents of the multi-ethnic church interested in the “logic” of  “providing structures” for “people who want to be culturally and socially multicultural, or multiethnic,” as if guided by sociology, political correctness, or changing demographics. Furthermore, while we certainly celebrate any gains that are made through “such ministries” in “healing America's racial and ethnic wounds,” informed advocates of the multi-ethnic church understand that so-called racial-reconciliation is only a by-product of two a priori works of reconciliation, namely a) reconciling men and women to God through faith in Jesus Christ, and b) reconciling local congregations to the principles and practices of first century churches such as existed at Antioch and Ephesus, for example. Yes in these churches, men and women of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds proclaimed God’s love for all people by practicing love for one another beyond the distinctions of this world that so often and otherwise divide.

P3 - The author continues: “But despite what some advocates imply, multicultural ministry is not more biblical, let alone always most effective. I think our multicultural situation demands that we also employ what I call a monocultural approach.”

One question that is important at this point to ask is “monocultural approach” to what? I assume the author means “ministries,” as he alludes in the title of his submission. But this is too broad a term for an otherwise precise, necessary, discussion and exegesis of scripture. Again, no one I know that is advocating the multi-ethnic church today is saying “multicultural ministry” is “more biblical than a “monocultural approach.” What we are saying is that nowhere in the New Testament will you find the apostle Paul or anyone else encouraging us to plant or develop churches focused on specific people groups! To suggest that the New Testament teaches otherwise is to eisegete, not exegete, the text.

For example, Steers later writes (P10): “In Scripture we have examples of both monocultural ministry (Jesus) and multicultural ministry (some churches founded by Paul)."

But let us be clear: in Scripture we do not have examples of Jesus planting/developing homogeneous churches, only of Him doing monocultural evangelism and initial discipleship. And likewise not just some, but all of the churches founded by Paul were multicultural (multi-ethnic). On this point, I invite readers to carefully examine Paul’s travels in Acts, as well as his letters to the churches contained in the New Testament. In so doing, you will find that in every case Paul is concerned with both Jews and Gentiles not only coming to know Christ, but coming together as one in Him via the local church.

For too long, unchecked statements that assume there were Jewish churches and there were Gentile churches (as Steers eludes) have served to justify the church growth movement and more specifically, the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP) as it applies to church planting, growth and development.* But, the New Testament does not support this argument. As I have already stated, Jesus’ “ministry” was not focused on church planting, growth or development; indeed, the Church is something He only foresees (Matthew 16:18), and something not established until Acts 2.  

What Jesus was focused on in preparation for the Church was a) pre-evangelism (via acts of healing, the feeding of the 5,000, etc.), b) evangelism, and c) the initial discipleship of a single people group (namely, Jewish disciples). Yet in the end, having completed their training, He commands His disciples to go beyond the Jewish nation, as every student of Scripture knows (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8). Interestingly, they do not; and it is only after persecution of the (homogeneous) church they established in Jerusalem that the Gospel and local churches thereafter transcend ethnocentrism. It is then that the multi-ethnic, mega, missional, church at Antioch arises to become the model and standard for local church planting, growth and development for the rest of the New Testament. Technically speaking, then, Jesus did not plant a church; only the seeds (evangelism and discipleship) from which the Church (and local churches, too) would one day spring forth.

Paul, too, promotes targeted evangelism (1 Corinthians 9:20-23). But as I have tried to make clear, a ministry of pre-evangelism/evangelism/discipleship, and a ministry of local church planting/growth/development are two different ministries altogether.

P4 - In arguing for more monocultural ministries, the author reveals the all-too-common misunderstanding of generations past committed to the HUP as a pragmatic tool for local church planting, growth and development. It is long-past time to recognize, however, that there is a significant difference between the need for evangelism focused on specific ethnic groups (more is needed, I agree) and the New Testament’s expectation that following salvation believers are to walk, work and worship God together as one - in and through the local church - for the sake of the gospel.

Monocultural evangelism then? Absolutely; and again I agree, more is needed. However, more monocultural churches? I say, absolutely not. What we really need is more multiethnic churches that understand and practice the HUP in their own context of providing for evangelism and basic discipleship of first generation internationals for precisely the reason the author suggests.

P5 - In such a way, churches avoid the problem of expecting (unrealistically) that “each of these groups assimilate to one another or to multiethnic congregations—at the same time they are trying to assimilate into U.S. culture.” This problem, by the way, is not always rooted in one’s ethnicity; personality is also a factor that plays a role in how soon or slowly 1.0s desire to engage the greater body. In fact I address this very thing in my latest book, Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity Into Your Local Church. In promoting a model I call, “Graduated Inclusion,” multi-ethnic churches can and will apply the HUP strictly for the purpose of evangelism and initial discipleship while simultaneously providing for the needs of 1.5s, 2.0s and beyond, all from within one local church.

By the way, in all my writings I make clear that accommodation, not assimilation, is a key component to Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church. 

“And it's not just new immigrants who have unique and particular needs that the gospel can address in culturally specific ways," Steers writes, as well, in P5. "Most often the 1.5, second, or third generation offspring desire high ethnic identity ministries.” 

Really? 

Again, the author here confuses evangelism with church development. For when it comes to the latter, it has been my experience in discussing this very thing with ethnic pastors that virtually all agree (despite what they and their congregants might otherwise desire): 1.0s will have “two feet in” the ethnic-specific church; 2.0s will likely have “one foot in and one foot out;” and third generation offspring will in most cases have “two feet out.”

Of course, planting a homogeneous church is something we more readily understand — and something that is much easier to do. But let us not confuse that which is easier or seemingly more “effective” by human standards or measurements (i.e., “How big is your church?”). Christ expects us to align ourselves, and our churches, with his agenda; anything less is unacceptable.

P7/P8- Here, Steers writes, “I believe our approach to ministry has to be in and through a given culture.” This incarnational approach to ministry, he suggests, is a “pragmatic model of ministry” with “biblical precedent.” Such a strategy allows the Good News to “take root properly,” allowing it to flow naturally to family and friends within that culture.” And, indeed, I agree it does when the “ministry” we are talking about is evangelism/discipleship. But not when it comes to establishing a local church. In fact, it was from the diverse environment of Antioch, as those being saved quite naturally became concerned for family and friends, that the first missionaries were sent forth intentionally (Acts 13:1ff.). This is something that did not happen in Jerusalem. So as Paul, Barnabus, and later others, were sent from the diverse congregation at Antioch, they not only went forth to evangelize Jews and Gentiles living in other places (including, quite likely, the family and friends of those who had been saved at Antioch), but to establish Antioch-like churches in other cities and towns as a result; churches that were in fact multi-ethnic and, thus, truly fuflill the Great Commission and expectation of Jesus, so that the world would know God's love and believe.

P10 – In conclusion, the author writes. “Every person and every group has dignity and validity no matter their ethnic, social, political, or economic roots—and whether they gather mono or multi.” On this point, I wholeheartedly agree, as I do with his final statement, “And, in the end, every people group will be represented in heaven (Rev. 5:9–10).”

However, it is important that we consider just one more thing.

Jesus taught is to pray, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10). But if the kingdom of heaven (then and now) is not segregated along ethnic or economic lines, we must ask ourselves the question, Why on earth is the church?

__________________________________

*The HUP is a valid strategy for evangelism, but a strategy misapplied to the local church. If the goal is to evangelize, then by all means target a people group and provide them with the Word of God in their own language. Sing to them in a musical genre they understand, and become incarnate in their culture so that the gospel is expressed through customs, mores, and traditions they readily embrace. But things change once you commit yourself to establishing a local church. You are no longer at liberty to create a congregation of exclusive worshipers — that’s just not a biblical option. According to Paul, the mystery of Christ is “that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). Make no mistake: the context in which Paul is writing makes it clear the “one body” he is talking about is a local church.

Part One of My Interview w/ Out of Ur

My friend and fellow multi-ethnic church pioneer, David Swanson, recently interviewed me for Out of Ur, the online blog published by Leadership Journal. The interview focused specifically on my recently released book, Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity Into Your Local Church that addresses some of the unique challenges faced by multi-ethnic churches and their leaders. 

I have reproduced the interview here for your convenience and with appreciation and credit to David Swanson.

In the book you argue that the New Testament paradigm for the local church is one that exhibits ethnic and socio-economic diversity. In your years pastoring a multi-ethnic church, what has been the theology that most compels people to embrace this ideal for the local church?

While God's heart for the nations is evident from Genesis through Revelation, such a broad understanding is not enough to inform pastors concerning their approach to ministry. A closer examination of the New Testament, however, reveals a very precise theology upon which the multi-ethnic/economically diverse local church should be built, a biblical mandate that cannot be ignored. Namely,

Christ envisions the multi-ethnic church on the night before he dies (John 17:20-23), so that the world will know God's love and believe.

Luke describes the model at Antioch (Acts 11:19-26; 13:1ff.), the first mega, missional and multi-ethnic community of faith and the most influential church in the New Testament.

Paul prescribes unity and diversity for the local church in his letter to the Ephesians, where his theme is "the unity of the church for the sake of the Gospel."

You make it clear that while all pastors and church planters face significant challenges in ministry, those who pastor multi-ethnic churches can expect these challenges at another level. Why is this?

Two examples illustrate the unique challenges any time race and class are part of the equation: When an Executive Pastor admonishes a Youth Pastor to step up his game, both being white in an otherwise all-white church, the young man or woman may walk away challenged, discouraged, or even frustrated, but he or she will not wonder if race had something to do with it. In a multi-ethnic church, when an upwardly mobile African American member of your staff informs working class Hispanic members that they cannot set up tables in a specific area of the church for a Quinceañera celebration, you will not only have to navigate the natural human frustrations but subtle racial or social ones as well.

One of the specific challenges you write about are the differing theological perspectives that often exist within a multi-ethnic church. Are there times when you feel the tension between your theological convictions and the unity of the church?

Church leadership should not compromise theological conviction for the sake of increasing ethnic or economic diversity within their church. At Mosaic there have been points at which we were tempted to do so in pursuit of diversity. In the early days of our church plant we were so thankful to have anyone show up that the last thing we wanted to do was alienate anyone over a theological technicality!

Over the years we’ve been forced to consider whether or not to serve communion to a Muslim seeker, to rethink our position on the assurance of salvation for those claiming to be believers, to address if/when/where it is appropriate for a believer to pray in tongues and the role of women in ministry. Such issues are raised in every church; seeking to bring diverse people together in one church for the sake of the gospel only magnifies such concerns and consequences.

As a student of the multi-ethnic church in America you have noted different stages in the movement’s development. At this point you see the multi-ethnic church movement in the “Pioneer Stage.” By 2020 you envision 20% of churches being at least 20% diverse and by 2050, you hope that 50% of churches will be at least 50% diverse. As you talk with pastors and visit churches, what are you seeing that gives you hope that these next stages will become the new reality for the American Church?

First, let me be clear that such percentages provide just one measurement to help determine where a particular church is along a perceived continuum in pursuit of New Testament unity for the sake of the gospel. Additional factors that should be taken into account include diverse composition of vocational and volunteer leaders, acceptance of various styles of worship and cross-cultural transferability of forms and practices of ministry within the congregation. All of these further define the reality and credibility of a church that describes itself as integrated. Pastors should be careful not to rely upon numbers alone in declaring their churches to be multi-ethnic.

Having said this, I do promote a measurable goal of 20% diversity in 20% of churches throughout the U.S. by 2020, knowing that this goal represents a tipping point that will largely inform local church ministry for the rest of the century. The latest statistics show that Protestant churches were three times more likely to have 20% diversity in 2007 than they were in 1998, and evangelical Protestant churches of 1,000 or more were five times more likely to exhibit this diversity. There are also more books being published on the subject, and multi-ethnic churches (and their leaders) are increasingly the subject of magazine and newspaper articles. A growing number of churches are now describing themselves as “multi-ethnic,” “multiracial,” or “multicultural” on their websites, and conferences are including sessions devoted to multi-ethnic ministry.

Look for part two of David Swanson's interview later this summer at Out of Ur.

Favorable Reviews

Check out the latest reviews of my newest book, Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity Into Your Local Church, co-authored with my long-term colleague, Dr. Harry Li. We also appreciate the review of Dr. Warren Bird posted recently on Leadership Network's Website and Book Blog.

In addition, Zondervan is looking for a total of 20 reviewers to post up at Amazon on behalf of the book. Currently 8 reviews exist; so 12 more are needed. Won't you be one of them?

Simply click here to review the book today! 

As incentive, Mosaix is offering a three month's free membership, or a discounted ticket of only $99 to the Multi-ethnic Church Conference coming to San Diego, CA, November 2-3, 2010. Once you have completed your review, contact me by leaving a comment under this post to take advantage of this offer.

Idea Camp Explores the Multi-ethnic Church

Ideacamp Session at Exponential 2010 with Efrem Smith, Janet McMahon and Mark DeYmaz from The Idea Camp on Vimeo.

Here at Exponential (by Mike Clowers)

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland," Isaiah 43:18-19.

When I stop to think that 60% of the population of America will not participate in the current forms of church in America, I'm glad God is doing a new thing among those He's called to start and plant new churches!  

Here at the Exponential conference, you sense it everywhere and it is such an honor that Mosaic is positioned to be so influential here.  I'm thankful that Pastor Mark has opened wide the door of the platform God has given him to the rest of us here.  You would be so proud of the way your staff is engaging with those here.  There is an insatiable hunger among the crowd to build a church like ours - missional, authentic, and multi-ethnic.  My heart swells with joy at how the crowd of 3,500 church planters have received the Mosaic Praise Team. Everything is going very well! 

Pray for us as we begin the journey back Thursday afternoon.  

I'm Lovin' It! (by guest Irina Smith)

I've spent the last almost 24 hours with such a great variety of people, traveling across several states, through many different neighborhoods and communities. Just between three vehicles, we have Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, an Asian, a Russian and a blind guy! Only Mosaic Church could represent such diversity, even in small numbers. 

The hours on the vans have been spent talking, sleeping, laughing, sharing testimonies and snacks, even a worship session in three different languages - with Larry playing the guitar (he's pretty fly for a blind guy, LOL:-) I've enjoyed this part of the trip so much that even if there wasn't an amazing conference to go to, I would be more that satisfied. My love for this church continues to grow more and more as I get to know these people on a much deeper level. I am blessed and honored to call them my church family:-) 

We are all different but coming together as one: for one purpose, one calling, one God. Exactly like a body with different parts ... An arm isn't gonna look and act like a leg, but you need both to be complete. And in these days, more than ever, I feel complete as a part of this wonderfully diverse family, with all the spiritual parts of the body in place. 

Yes, I am part of something much bigger than myself ... and I'm lovin' it!

Live from Orlando!

Good morning everyone, and a special welcome to members of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas who are stopping by for live blog reports all this week from our team of 30 or so folks here in Orlando attending the Exponential Conference. The fact is, we are not here simply as attendees but also as worship leaders who have been asked to provide worship for the approximately 3,500 or so people expected at this year's conference! It's a huge honor, and we are excited to bring a diverse pallet of sound and song to the table this year at (what is billed as) "the largest gathering of church planters on earth." 

So who's involved? Well the band includes James Wafford III and Randall Hood on keys, Charles Horton (drums), Jeremy Wilkerson (bass), Brian Mesko (electric lead), Cass Harris (electric rhythym), Merlon Divine (sax) and I'll be playing (acoustic rythym and piano). James and I will also be singing, along with Joseph Utter, Lametria Wafford, Irina Smith, Michelle Clark and Rae Leigh Narissi.

Others in our "entourage" include members of our staff: Tyfnae Currenton, Steven Weathers, Allen Arnn, Osmani Silva, Larry Tarpley, Eric Gilmore, Harry Li, Geoffrey Lessel and Mike Clowers. And rounding out the group is Molly Head, Tinisha Hood, Melissa Mesko, Mr. and Mrs. James Wafford, Jr., and Calvin Mosley.

If you are new to my blog, you can subscribe for email updates of new posts by adding your email in the FeedBlitz window on the upper right of this page and clicking the button "Subscribe me." Otherwise, keep checking back here for live posts throughout the day from members of our team.

We appreciate your prayers!

The "M" Word(s) ...

Before you read the following article ... and in honor of Exponential next week, tickets to the Multi-ethnic Church Conference can be purchased by April 30 for the amazingly low price of only $89! Register here and use the special code EXPO10 to save $50 over regular ticket pricing today! 

Want to attend both the Multi-ethnic Chruch Conference and the National Outreach Convention? Register here and use the special code EXPO20 to save even more! 

Now, the "M" Word(s) article ...

Mega. Missional. Movement. Common concepts, all beginning with the letter "m," that are guiding local church growth and development today. But there is one significant concept - an "m" word - lying just below the radar of conventional wisdom, yet fast coming into its own and, increasingly, into the collective conscience of evangelicals in the US and beyond.

Multi-ethnic.

Want proof?

In just the past few months, this "m" word - the new kid on the block - has emerged from the shadows onto the main stage of evangelical conversation and even into mainstream American media. Consider ...

1.  In January, Willow Creek's pursuit of diversity was featured in an article in Time Magazine. This is the same month in which Outreach Magazine began publishing my new column entitled, Ethnic Blends, to help promote the multi-ethnic vision among its readership; 

2.  In February, Jossey-Bass released Neil Cole's new book, Church 3.0, in which he (rightly) identifies the New Testament Church at Antioch as "missional and multi-ethnic," the first time in print (to my knowledge) that these two concepts have been linked. - In fact, if you want a model for church in the 21st century, you need look no further than the church at Antioch: it was mega (Acts 11:21, 24, 26), missional (Acts 11:27-30), and movement minded (Acts 13:1ff.) ... but before any of these, it was multi-ethnic (Acts 11:19, 20). Indeed, when a church practices a love for all people beyond mere words, you can expect large numbers to respond and to mobilize for the sake of the gospel;

3. In the March 28 edition of the Washington Post, the journey of one church moving away from homogeneity in pursuit of the multi-ethnic vision was featured in an article entitled, Churches Struggle to Meld Cultures in an Era of Diversity;

4. In an April issue of Newsmax magazine, and in an article otherwise discussing faith with Joel Osteen, a very prominent sidebar entitled, Megachurhces Bridge the Racial Divide, featured the multi-ethnic nature of Osteen's church in Houston;

All of this should provide for you incentive to attend a historic conference now planned for November 2-3, 2010 in San Diego - the Multi-ethnic Church Conference! The unique conference format will provide you with opportunity for personal interaction with thought-leading authors, researchers and practitioners to help you grow in your understanding of the theology, principles and best practices of multi-ethnic, local church development! Check out the incredible line-up of speakers already committed to attending. I hope to see you there!