As I wrote on September 3, a new chapter began in the life of Mosaic when (that month) we formally enfolded a seven year-old, homogeneous (Latino) congregation of nearly 100 people and two paid pastors - formerly, the Iglesia Nazareno del Samaritano - into our body.
How's it going so far? In a word, great!
Here, then, is a brief, initial evaluation based on some of the seven core commitments of a healthy multi-ethnic church as outlined in my book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church (Jossey-bass/Leadership Network, 2007).
Empower Diverse Leadership
Both Pastor Osmani Silva and Pastor Jorge Bazan are now fully integrated into our staff team, not only attending but increasingly involved in providing valuable contribution to our weekly meetings. Along this line, we're now constructing offices for them this week in our administration area. And as one of four teaching pastors now serving Mosaic, Pastor Silva attends weekly planning meetings focused on the Sunday services. In pursuit of cross-cultural competency (core commitment #5), Pastor Silva is now teaching a basic course for our staff, a basic introduction to Spanish, on Monday afternoons at 3:00 pm!
Take Intentional Steps, Core Commitment #2
This coming Sunday at 6:00 pm, we will - for the first time - align the teaching that night with that of our 9:00 am and 10:45 am services. In so doing, it is our intention to establish a true, 3rd service option for all people at Mosaic, albeit where - at that hour - English speakers will be the ones wearing headsets through which translation is provided (i.e., in reverse of the 10:45 am format). So while on most occasions, one of three Latino pastors will be speaking at the 6:00 pm service, the message will feature the same passage and principles as will have been preached at the 9:00 am and 10:45 am servce earlier in the day, yet in their own words, style, language and outline.
One concern we are closely watching, however, is the potential for movement of all Latinos from the 10:45 am service to the 12:30 pm venue and/or 6:00 pm 3rd service. In other words, will the Latinos that were already attedning Mosaic prior to the merger soon shift to the all Latino venue or 6:00 pm service? To avoid this, we believe continued communication of our vision and mission of Mosaic, as well as the purposes for the 12:30 pm venue and 6:00 pm service will be critical. Indeed, there are already good signs that what we hope will transpire, is happening.
For instance, via the merger we have added musicians to the church - several Latinos who are now playing (serving) in the 9:00 am and 10:45 am services, and then attending the 12:30 pm venue for worship, themselves. In another instance, a Latino family that for years has regularly attended the 10:45 am service, is now serving in the 12:30 pm venue. So, again, such people model an intended outcome for others and (we hope) will help shape the future of our church.
Promote a Spirit of Inclusion, Core Commitment #6
At Mosaic, all members have pre-printed nametags awaiting their arrival each Sunday. After several weeks of gathering basic information, all those enfolded through the merger now have nametags, as well.
And finally ...
Years ago, I heard a pastor say, "Numbers say something, they don't say everything." To this day, I think his words provide those who might otherwise lean one way or the other, a great deal of balance and perspective on the matter. With this in mind, then, and for those interested, the 12:30 pm venue - a time primarily focused on evangelism and enfolding of first generation (1.0) Latinos - has grown through the weeks from an initial 60 or so attenders to 119 this past Sunday. And this past week, the 6:00 pm service had slightly more than 100 folks in attendance, with a good mix of English speakers, too.
That said, and with the help of the merger, I am encouraged to report that Mosaic broke 600 in attendance for the first time in its history this past Sunday.
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