MarkDeYmaz.com

Something Must Be Done

I have no doubt that people in many, if not most, homogeneous churches would sincerely state that they would not intentionally turn anyone away. If asked, they might say something like, “We welcome anyone to become a part of our church,” or point to the fact that “a few families” of diverse ethnicity do attend their otherwise homogeneous fellowship. In fact, some pastors have specifi cally stated, “We would love to have more diversity in our church and have been praying recently that others would get involved.” In other words, these well-meaning people are not doing anything intentionally to turn diverse others away. However, they are not doing anything intentionally to draw them in either.

What we should realize is that while such statements are sincere, they do not accurately reflect the real sentiment below the surface. To be clear, I am not questioning hearts—just the fact that such statements have not been fully thought through. For when we dig deeper, what I find is that these folks really mean that diverse people are welcome to join “their” churches as long as they embrace the majority culture and do not try to bring another culture (namely, their own) with them, that is, as long as they do not try to change “who we are or the way we do things.” In other words most local church leaders (and members too for that matter) are glad for diverse individuals to get involved “as long as they like our music, our preaching style, and our environment. But they should not expect us to change for them.” Therefore, the message being sent, whether directly or indirectly, is that “you might feel more comfortable in another church down the street.”

In pursuit of the multi-ethnic church, we must keep this truth in mind: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). In other words, such a church is not ours to build in the way we see fit. Rather, we are to build it according to God’s blueprint. It is not about us —what we like and prefer or what we are comfortable with. It’s all about God! Consequently, multi-ethnic church planters and reformers must not only “look out for [their] own interests, but also the interests of
others”—and not only for the interests of those in the ethnic majority but for those in the minority as well. Yes, we will have to align ourselves with God’s agenda and abandon our own if we are to see every nation, tribe, people, and tongue worship God together as one in and through the local church, on earth as it is in heaven . And this will require us to take intentional steps toward that goal, ever mindful of our dependence on God.

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

Mosaix Global Network

The MOSAIX GLOBAL NETWORK (MGN) represents a growing movement of believers and congregations seeking to know God and to make Him known through the establishment of multi-ethnic churches throughout America and beyond. Co-founded by myself and Dr. George Yancey, author of the book, United By Faith (InterVarsity Press, 2003), MGN exists to catalyze this movement and to enlist, equip and establish emerging leaders with a passion to develop diverse communities of faith in the 21st century.

Visit the MGN website to learn more and/or to add your church to the growing list of affiliated churches.

Got Faith?

A healthy multi-ethnic church can be established only where functioning faith is the modus operandi. Given the profound uniqueness of such a church, the inherent challenges related to diversity and, quite often, limited economic resources, there is simply no other means by which it can be built. Like George Müeller, the nineteenth-century pastor in England, who famously trusted God for the needs of orphans in his care, or the legendary Christ-centered musician Keith Green, who was known to distribute his recordings for whatever people could afford, those who would pursue the multi-ethnic church must actively embrace dependence if they expect to see their dreams become reality. Indeed, Müeller said it well:

"God’s plan is that there shall be none of self and all of Christ. The very people who are doing the most for God in saving souls, in mission work, in the care of orphans, are those who are working on short supplies of strength, of money, of talents, of advantages and are kept in a position of living by faith and taking from God, day by day, both physical and spiritual supplies. This is the way God succeeds and gains conquest over His own people, and over the unbelief of those who look on His providences."

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