MarkDeYmaz.com

Measuring Your Response

Recently, I was asked on Facebook the following question:

"I think Jesus' response to the money changers, et al. could be seen as emotional. So how to we find that balance between that and what you mean in your post? Is there a difference? I am asking because I know there are many things that upset me about the church, many things to be emotional about, especially when lives are at stake. But my heart is that I respond in a way that would call the body to open there eyes, reminding us of our duty to pick up our cross."

In response, I posted this excerpt from my book, Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community (Thomas Nelson, 2017).

"For example, both in private conversations and on social media, far too many of us are quick to speak, slow to listen, and slow to advance peace, in direct violation of James 1:19. Far too many of us want to impose theocratic rule and ways on an otherwise constitutionally limited, representative democratic republic. Beyond that, we are far too easily “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14), at times acting more like those without understanding, “in the futility of their mind,” with ignorance, callousness, or hardness of heart (4:17–19). We are often seen or portrayed as purveyors of fear, not faith. None of this is helpful for winning hearts and minds in what has been described as a post-Christian society.

"The fact is, the apostle Paul expected much more of mature believers. In Ephesians 4:29 he wrote, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Notice Paul did not say we should not speak about or act on what we believe. Rather, we should do so in a way that is winsome and that plays to more than our affective base. But this is not what most people do, particularly on social media. More typically, they speak or write as if to those who already believe as they do. By doing so, their posts will receive many likes, hearts, and shares, but only from those holding similar views, while people who do not agree are only further alienated by a strong statement or opinion.

"We must learn then to speak to those beyond our affective base in language, tone, and tenor so as to be heard and received. We must learn to ask good questions, shape the narrative, and influence conversations that move people toward one another, toward the church, and ultimately toward Christ, not drive them further away. At any given moment, we must be more interested in winning people to the faith than we are in winning an argument."

Remembering Mom: Her Journey. Heart. Tears. Prayers.

Dorothy Owen de Ymaz
November 29, 1923 - April 25, 2016

OBITUARY
Dorothy O. de Ymaz, b. November 29, 1923, passed in peace on April 25, 2016, in Little Rock, AR. She is survived by her beloved son, Mark DeYmaz (Linda); grandchildren Zack (Lori), Emily, Will, and Kate; great grandchildren, Grace and Catherine; and preceded in death by her daughter, Jean Foote.

STORY
On November 29, 1923, Thanksgiving Day, Dorothy Mae Owen was born. She was the fourth of five children.

Dorothy spent her childhood in Hermitage, AR where her father owned the local store and her mother was a beloved member of the community. After her father's death, Dorothy moved to Little Rock, together with her mother and sister, Juanita, where she completed her senior year at Little Rock High School, today known as Central. Following graduation, she spent a year in business school; and at nineteen years of age, moved to Washington, D.C., taking a secretarial job at the United States Department of Agriculture. Thus began a thirty-six year career with the government that included stints in Europe and South America attached to U.S. embassies in London and Buenos Aires. In these roles, she served the Air Force in covert operations via the air attaché.

By 1961, she was living and working for the Department of Health and Human Services in San Francisco, CA. It was there she met and fell in love with Ned Tripoli, who was married. Their relationship led to the birth of her only son, John Mark (Mark). Pregnant and single at a time in the United States when this was stigmatized, she married long-time suitor, Jorge Ymaz, who gave her and her child his name. When Jorge returned to South America in 1962, Dorothy chose to remain in the Untied States. It was at that point, and in line with Spanish culture, that she added the preposition "de" (of) to her name, becoming Dorothy de Ymaz.

Throughout her pregnancy Dorothy prayed that if God would give her a son, she would give the child right back to Him, wholeheartedly dedicating her son to kingdom service. That she did, in a Catholic church, shortly after Mark was born.

Ten years later, in August 1972, Dorothy and Mark moved to Phoenix, AZ, where she took a new position with the Social Security Administration. The move was prompted by her desire to spend less time commuting to and from work each day in order to have more time with Mark, as well as to help him heal from chronic bronchitis due to the damp coastal air. Indeed, from the day of his birth until the day she died, Dorothy's first and foremost priority was Mark's happiness, significance, and wellbeing. In ways too many to enumerate, driven by love, she faithfully dedicated herself and sacrificed much personally to ensure this very thing. Dorothy died knowing her dreams for him had been realized. Indeed, one story from this season of her life bears repeating.

From 1975-1977, Dorothy and Mark shared a single bedroom apartment on Central Ave. in Phoenix, across the street from Brophy College Preparatory where Mark attended high school. In those years, Mark did not know Jesus Christ as Savior and was making poor choices detrimental to his future. It was in these years that Dorothy's childhood faith in Christ was rekindled through involvement in a house church led by a woman called Sister Smith. Through the ministry of Sister Smith, Dorothy discovered the power of prayer and of the Holy Spirit. She began to pray fervently for Mark; for a change of heart, mind, and will; that he would soon come to know the Lord as she did; that He would one day serve him as she had long ago prayed.

One night, at 3:00 A.M., Mark awoke and noticed Dorothy missing from her bed. Hearing what sounded to him like intense screaming, he became concerned and frightened. Finding the courage to further investigate, he left the bedroom, walked quietly past the bathroom, and entered the kitchen area that overlooked the living room. In the darkness, he could see his mother on her knees, at the foot of the couch, agonizing in prayer and crying out to God. As he stood silently watching and listening, he perceived her to be praying for him in a language other than English or Spanish, those in which she was fluent. At the time, Mark had never heard of the spiritual gift of tongues; and never again would he hear Dorothy praying in this way. But that night, the Spirit helped her weakness, interceding with groanings too deep for words, (Romans 8:26). Though it would be several years later before Mark would seek the forgiveness of God through personal faith in Jesus Christ, it was that night, he believes, that set such wheels, and the destiny of his life, in motion: a mother's prayer for her son.

In 1977, Dorothy purchased her first home in Scottsdale, AZ into which she and Mark moved in his junior year of high school. From that home, in 1978, Dorothy began a search and in time located her only daughter, Jean, then living in Aspen, CO. Dorothy had given birth to Jean while living in Washington D.C. in the 1940s where, in light of her youth, inexperience, and lack of resources, she made the courageous decision first to give birth to the child, and later a difficult one to place her daughter for adoption. Loving parents in Palo Alto, CA ultimately raised Jean who would later meet and marry her husband, Bob Foote, an Australian, living in Cairns. Throughout the years following their reunification, and to the day of Jean's death (cancer), both mother and daughter enjoyed a loving relationship. Jean and Bob visited Dorothy several times in AZ, as she did them in Australia.

Following her retirement in the 1980s, she enjoyed a deepening relationship with Christ and Christ-centered friends through involvement at Scottsdale Bible Church. Dorothy spent two years (1990-1992) as a short-term missionary with Greater European Mission (GEM) in Vienna, Austria.

In 1994, while serving as the student ministries pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR, Mark wrote a loving tribute to Dorothy, a poem, that was read as a prayer for graduating seniors during an event he had organized in their honor. He had parents stand behind their seniors, and lay their hands on them as he read the tribute. Dennis and Barbara Rainey, co- founders of FamilyLife were in the room that night with their son, Ben. Subsequently the poem was picked up by FamilyLife, and to this day is promoted through their radio broadcasts each year, as well as by various other parties online. Part of an on-air discussion from the May 15, 2014 broadcast entitled Preparing Your Teen for the Future went like this:

• Bob Lepine (host): Dennis, was there a time that you remember when it clicked in for you that it was here—that time had come (for your first child to graduate high school)?
  
  
• Barbara Rainey: I'll try. [Laughter] It's not real easy to listen to because you can picture doing all of these things that he's written about. So, I will do my best to read this:

With these hands, I gently cradled this child;
Held him close to my heart,
Nursed his wounds and calmed her fears, [Emotion in voice]
Held the books that I would read
And rocked this child fast asleep.

• Dennis Rainey: She's never going to make it. I'll read it.

With these hands, I gently cradled this child;
Held him close to my heart,
Nursed his wounds and calmed her fears,
Held the books that I would read
And rocked this child fast asleep.

With these hands, I made his lunches
And drove the car that carried her to school;
Snapped endless pictures, wrapped countless gifts—
Then did my best to assemble those gifts.
Combed his hair and wiped her tear,
Let her know that I was near
To nurse his wounds and heal her heart
When it would break.

With these hands, I made mistakes.

And with these hands, I prayed, and prayed, and prayed.

These hands are feeble—these hands are worn, [Emotion in voice]
These hands can no longer calm the storms.
These hands have done all they can do.
These hands now release this child—my child—to You.

For Your hands are able, Your hands are strong,
Your hands alone can calm the storms.
Your hands will continue to do
What they are so gifted to do
To shape his life and make her new.

Into Your hands, receive this child.
For my child I now give back to You.

In the strong name of Jesus,
And with all my heart, I pray, Amen.

Returning to the United States and following the death of her only sister, Juanita, in the late 1990s, she sold her home on and purchased another in North Scottsdale. As with her initial move to Phoenix, and strategic purchase of her first home east of Camelback Mountain, this, too, would prove an insightful, forward leaning, financial decision that well positioned her in the most desirable area of the Valley ahead of future growth.

In the mid 2000s, she purchased a second home (rental property) in Little Rock, AR, next door to her son, Mark, and his family. Later that decade, she rented her property in North Scottsdale and moved in to a senior living center in Florida together with her two nieces, Randi and Kathy. There the three of them spent a few good years of life and laughter.

Just after 2010, and in her late 80s, Dorothy returned home to Arkansas, moving in to her house next door to Mark and Linda in order to be near them and her grandchildren. Lovingly cared as her strength slowly deteriorated, she found relational restoration, reconciliation, and redemption in the final years of her life with all she knew and loved. Dorothy lived to see her great grandchild, Catherine, born in January 2015. Through personal visits, pictures, and videos, Catherine gave her much joy, as did each and every friend and family member that visited her at home, during hospital stays, and in the final months of her life in hospice.

On Monday afternoon, April 25, 2016, just hours after her death, Mark would pay tribute to Dorothy on social media.

She was a pioneering single parent raising me alone at a time when only 6% of children were growing up w/o a father in the home. Strong, resilient, and industrious, she worked two jobs to provide; and well she did. She prayed me into the kingdom, dedicated me to God, and sacrificed herself, her own desires and needs that I might serve Him. She taught me how to survive, and to thrive; that no obstacle was too big to overcome; no mountain could not be moved; that I could do anything I set my mind to do via faith, courage, and sacrifice. And then, this morning she passed after 92.5 years of life: my wife Linda in the room, my daughter, her granddaughter, Kate, lying next to her in bed and holding her close. To the end she had her mind; she did not suffer; she was well cared for; she felt loved. Thus, my mother, Dorothy Owen DeYmaz, left this world better than she found it; at peace with God, family, and friends. Rest now, Mama. You done good;-) You made a difference. Your legacy endures. You are home.

7 Tips for Speaking Out as a Multi-ethnic Church Pastor/Leader

On Thursday night, November 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced a decision to take executive action affecting millions of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States. Then just four days later, on Monday night, November 24, 2014, a Grand Jury in Ferguson, MO, released its decision exonerating Officer Darren Wilson of any culpability in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

Not surprisingly, in both instances, social media erupted in a firestorm of polarized opinion, pain and outrage. And into these waters jumped Christians, everywhere: pastors, professors, and parishioners, bloggers, authors, journalists, community organizers and activists, alike. As the pastor of a multi-ethnic and economically diverse congregation of faith I, too, felt compelled to speak; and with my words, to help mitigate extremes, and promote peaceful dialogue.

In one sense pastors of multi-ethnic churches are no different than pastors of homogeneous churches. We experience the same joys and sorrows, the same highs and lows, the same challenges of ministry. On the other hand pastors of multi-ethnic churches must navigate an entirely different, additional, set of obstacles concerning race and class; those that will present themselves in the most troubling of ways, at the most critical of moments, in diverse people attempting to otherwise walk, work, and worship God together as one.

In these days, then, multi-ethnic church pastors are experiencing things similar to me: in acknowledging pain, in providing perspective, in promoting peace from the pulpit or via social media, etc., we are finding ourselves misinterpreted, misrepresented, and misunderstood by some within our churches, by some of our closest friends, even by members of our own families. And unlike bloggers and professors, we are not afforded the luxury of speaking out apart from accountability. Rather, our words are judged up close and personal by the men and women we serve from day to day, the people in our pews.

So, How should multi-ethnic church pastors respond to such issues and situations as they arise?

1.  Offer a fair and balanced perspective, reminding people to “not merely look out for (their) own personal interests, but also the interests of others,” (Philippians 2:4). That said do not feel as if you must speak to every issue or situation that arises.

2.  Take considerable time to measure your words before posting so as to avoid misunderstanding. In other words, do not assume your heart and motives will be perceived by readers. In cases where there is a greater risk or potential for misstep, first run your thoughts by a spouse or trusted colleague before making them public.

3.  Avoid endorsing politicians, political parties or platforms. Similarly avoid endorsing the extreme opinions or positions of others, one way or another. More often than not extreme positions are driven by personality, personal preferences, past pain or experiences that can keep people from a more balanced, productive, discussion.

4.  Lead others to pray for “kings and all those in authority” (as expected of Timothy by Paul; I Timothy 2:2, emphasis mine).

5.  Be a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9). Interestingly this is only beatitude in which the reward is identification with the Son of God; and the only one followed by three verses expecting persecution (Matthew 5:10-12). Stated another way, do all you can to avoid fanning the flames of division.

6.  As in politics, remember that all crisis is local. Keep in mind that while it’s easy to opine form a distance, ultimately the people you lead and others close to you will want to know, What does this mean for me, for us, and for our church?

7.  Ultimately, let your work in building a healthy multi-ethnic and economically diverse church be your primary response and answer to the problem of race in America.

As multi-ethnic church pastors and leaders, let us strive wherever there is injury, to extend pardon; wherever despair, hope; wherever darkness, light; wherever hatred, love ... as did Francis of Assisi; as did Teresa of Calcutta; as do our churches, themselves; as does our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Don't Wait Too Late to Consider Succession

"Every pastor is an interim pastor," says my friend Willam Vanderbloemen, founder and president of The Vanderbloemen Group author of the new book, Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, co-authored with Warren Bird. In this insightful video William explains why the discussion of succession can be a difficult one for pastors to consider, yet a very necessary one if they are to position themselves and the church for a life someday beyond their current work.

 

Ken Hutcherson: Mentor and Model

Earlier today, Dr. Ken Hutcherson, founding pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, WA, passed through the gates of glory after a more than ten year battle with cancer. What you may not know is that Ken played a major role in the formation of the vision, and ultimately the church that Linda and I planted in 2001: the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas.

Here's just part of the story, excerpted from my book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church.

It was the spring of 1993, and I had two options. After ten years of full-time ministry as a youth pastor, two dynamic churches had each invited me to join their staff teams to oversee student ministries.

Antioch Bible Church was a growing and diverse congregation led by former NFL linebacker, Ken Hutcherson. I had heard of Ken’s ministry for years and was honored by his enthusiastic invitation. Located in Seattle, Washington, the ministry was just two hours south of my wife, Linda’s, hometown of Bellingham, and accepting the job would keep us in the western part of the United States. In addition, I had friends on staff and knew there would be great freedom to design a ministry “as the Spirit leads.” Quite simply, there was nothing not to like.

Fellowship Bible Church, on the other hand, was located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas? I’m not kidding—Linda and I had to get out a map just to fi nd the state! Robert Lewis, the pastor of this “equipping oriented” church, was like Ken, an inspiring leader, and the people we met on our fi rst visit epitomized Southern charm and hospitality. Yet visions of Hee Haw danced in my head:

“Won’t ya’ whisper me something sweet, Jimmy Bob?”

“Sho’ will, Effie Mae. Nice tooth!”

I pictured the Hatfields and McCoys “feudin’ in them th’ar hills,” and ticks and chiggers just waiting to embed themselves in my body; I imagined eating grits in the morning and chitlins at the church potluck and cheering for a university whose mascot’s a pig. I don’t know, man. I’m from Phoenix!

Ironically, my mother, Dorothy, was born and raised in Arkansas but had somehow managed, as I once heard someone say, to “survive and make it out of there.” Some fifty years later, was God now leading me back to “her people”?

Now at that time, I was nowhere near where I am today in terms of understanding the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church. Indeed, I was largely unaware of Christ’s vision for unity and diversity within the local church, unity’s intended purpose, the pattern of the New Testament Church, the prescriptions of Paul, or the commitments to oneness that can lead the local church back to a place of prominent influence in the community. The fact is, I had no earthly idea that a diverse church was anything more than flat-out “cool.” I only knew that Antioch was integrated and Fellowship was not; somehow, that bothered me.

During the interview process, I asked Robert if he would ever hire an African American to serve alongside him. He told me that he would be open to doing so but not because of the color of the man’s skin. Rather, he would hire such a man only if the potential candidate was qualified and if, of course, there was a need. In other words, he would do so only if the applicant was, in fact, “the best man for the job.” I remember thinking, Good answer, though honestly, I couldn’t say why.

One day as we neared our decision, Linda was in the next room and I was thinking out loud: “I don’t know, Linda. I like the fact that Antioch is a diverse church in a large city out West. I mean, after all, Little Rock is so much smaller than Seattle, and it’s in the South—a long way from our families. Think about it! It’s a city infamously associated with racism. In 1957, Central High School was forcibly integrated, and the schools are still controlled by the federal courts. Is this really where we want to raise our kids?”

In response, Linda leaned her head around the corner and said, “But who knows, Mark? Maybe God will use you to change things.” “Yeah, right,” I flippantly replied. “I’m not even from the South—an
outsider—and I’m going to change several hundred years of racial prejudice and segregation?”

Well that was it; we never discussed the issue again. Soon after, though, Linda and I did sense a strange but certain call to Arkansas, and in the summer of 1993, I accepted the job at Fellowship. So we moved our young family to Little Rock, home of the Hogs and to (then) President Bill Clinton —a place of terribly humid summers and an exciting new challenge of turning a youth group into a student ministry. It would be many years, however, before either one of us would begin to realize just how profound Linda’s words that day really were.

Eight years later, on May 17, 2001, Linda and I responded in prayer to a very specific call of God on our lives. That day, we committed ourselves and our family to a journey of faith, courage, and sacrifice that would lead to the establishment of a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church in the heart of Central Arkansas—a church founded in response to the prayer of Jesus Christ for unity and patterned after the New Testament church at Antioch (Acts 11:19-25ff.), as well as after Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, WA—a church for others, for all people; a church we called Mosaic.

It is fitting then that I was appointed to serve as Mosaic's first lead pastor and elder through the laying on of hands at Antioch Bible Church in the summer of 2001.

In short, the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas or Mosaix Global Network would not exist today without the influence and impact of Ken Hutcherson in my life. Indeed, his legacy endures; and I'll continue to do my best to pass on that which I first received from him.

Introducing The Multi-ethnic Christian Life Primer

All over the United States, and even beyond, Christ-followers are embracing the vision of local churches that reflect the heart of God for all people on earth as it is in heaven, beyond race and class distinctions. Yet few tools to date have been developed to teach diverse believers how to walk, work and worship God together as one in the local church for the sake of the Gospel. For this reason we have written The Multi-ethnic Christian Life Primer, the first individual daily and small group study on multi-ethnic life and church designed not only for leaders but also, more specifically, for the people in the pews.

Through this eight-week daily experience you will grow in your understanding of the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church, and gain practical insight for doing life together with diverse others beyond the distinctions of this world that so often and otherwise divide. Patterned with permission after the good work of Hugh Halter and Matt Smay’s The Tangible Kingdom Primer, each chapter (week) provides seven daily readings to stimulate personal and missional formation focused on Theology, History, Considerations, Relationships, Communication, Competence, and Biblical Reflection.

As you’ll see, this study is not at all like any other so-called “diversity training” you may have had at
work or school. Rather, it is rooted in God’s Word. As such it is focused on reconciling diverse men and women to God and to one another through faith in Jesus Christ, and on reconciling local churches to the principles and practices of New Testament multi-ethnic churches such as existed at Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome.

Each week’s study of Theology will help you understand that unity is a central aspect of God’s character, an imperative to the local church, and essential for credible Gospel proclamation in an increasingly diverse society. Through each week’s study of History and demographic Considerations we’ll provide context for understanding theological truths in light of church and culture today. By considering cross-cultural Relationships, Communication, and Competence, you’ll learn what it takes to develop trust across cultural divides. And through Biblical Reflection, the Spirit of God will encourage your mind, heart and soul.

Much more than a simple devotional, The Multi-ethnic Christian Life Primer can be used by churches as a small group curriculum. In fact, we recommend that you come together with diverse others each week to discuss the reading and questions that you otherwise consider alone. Pastors, too, can use the primer as the basis for an eight-week sermon series focused on the topic. In so doing, the entire church will exponentially gain from simultaneous interaction with the primer at three levels: as individuals, in small groups, and from the large group setting.

When using the primer in a small group context do not be afraid to share, especially when your thinking runs contrary to what you are hearing from others involved. As others share, you may hear comments or stories that feel very foreign to you. In such moments, take good notes to gain insight into another’s perspective and culture, perhaps one very different than your own. Indeed there is something to learn from everyone, no matter who they are or from where they’ve come.  

Finally, keep in mind that the topics raised in this primer will not always be comfortable for you to consider. Indeed, few things are when dealing with issues of ethnicity, class and culture. Even when this study gets difficult, however, we encourage you to keep going. The rewards of new understanding and relationships will be well worth it.

Excerpt from: Mark DeYmaz & Oneya Fennell Okuwobi. “The Multi-Ethnic Christian Life Primer.” Mosaix Global Network, 2013. iBooks.

 

... because it makes me feel so damn good!

Not long after Mosaic had moved into the old Wal-Mart, a homeless man named Raymond began attending faithfully from week to week. Typical of those on the street, he was disheveled and, in his case, often reeking of alcohol. Each Sunday, he would first head for the bathroom to clean himself up before coming back to get a cup of coffee and sit down for worship.

One morning during the service, I invited the congregation to break up into smaller groups for prayer. As I left the platform, a young high school Latina named Sandra motioned to me. She was concerned for Raymond, who was sitting close to her, and wanted me to pray with him. Sitting down with the man, I began to talk with him and, more important, to listen.

During our brief exchange, Raymond spoke sincerely from his heart. He confessed that drugs and alcohol had consumed his life and had left him isolated from family members living nearby. At Mosaic, he said, the people were friendly and treated him kindly. Coming to Mosaic each week gave him peace and hope. He said, “I feel so good here! I feel the Spirit of God here. I may live like hell Monday through Saturday, but I like to come here on Sunday because it makes me feel so damn good!”

Taking hold of his hands, I prayed for him and, touched by the interaction, concluded the prayer time by asking Raymond to come forward to share his story with the rest of the body. As he spoke, it was evident to all that Raymond truly desired to be cleansed from his addictions and restored to his family. Having shared from his brokenness and despair, Raymond asked the church to come and pray for him. In response, about a dozen Mosaics came forward and embraced him warmly. It was the first physical touch or affection he had received in a very long time. Laying their hands upon him, they led the entire church in praying for Raymond that day. It was a beautiful sight to see—the body of Christ extending the love of God to this man who had come, “just as I am.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

In time, men from Mosaic helped Raymond to enroll in a twenty-eight-day detoxification program. He then entered rehabilitation and, after completing it, came by the church a completely different man. Soon Raymond, again, stood before the church, this time to ask forgiveness for the times he had taken advantage of generosity. More important, he shared that he had recently committed his life to Christ. At last interaction, he continued in sobriety and held a steady job at a local fast-food restaurant.

Along with Raymond, others like him soon found their way to Mosaic; and with them, their needs for basic things such as food, clothing, and medical attention. This led us to begin stocking a small closet at the church in 2004 - first with food and then with clothing. In time, these needs grew beyond mere food and clothing. They needed beds, prescription medicine, treatment for alcohol and substance abuse, and many other things we had no systematic way of providing.

In those days we simply asked the body to donate as we became aware of needs, and most of the time our people came through. In time though, led by Cesar Ortega, Mosaic’s Pastor of Community Engagement we began to store such items in order to be more proactively prepared. As word of mouth spread, the demand on our time and resources grew exponentially requiring of us greater organization, more planning, and the involvement of people beyond our staff and membership. After assisting some two hundred and fifty people in the first twelve months of this ministry we call The Orchard, this past year (FY 2012) we provided free food, clothing, and material goods to 17,564 people (from 2,563 unique households) living in 72204. Amazingly, this number represents 53.44% of the entire population residing in our zip code. Furthermore, since 21.77% of the population living in 72204 is living in poverty (2,707 households), this means that 94.68% of households in poverty were directly served through The Orchard in FY 2012.

When a local church is multi-ethnic and economically diverse for the sake of the Gospel … when it reflects more than the community, but rather the kingdom of heaven on earth … being missional isn't a program to embrace or something you do. It is simply who you are.

Leading the Multi-Ethnic Church Conversation by Lindy Lowry

The following post is taken from a featured interview published online by Exponential on October 28, 2013.

Recently, Exponential sat down to talk with Mosaix Global Network Executive Director Mark DeYmaz to learn about the Second National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference in Long Beach, Calif., including potential takeaways for church planters attending the conference with hopes of launching multi-ethnic congregations. The upcoming gathering (one week away Nov. 5-6) marks the second year for the Multi-Ethnic Church Conference, the first held in November 2010. This year, the speaker lineup includes John Perkins, Choco De Jesus, Soong-Chan Rah, David Anderson, Eugene Cho and many more.

Mark, tell us the basics. How many tracks, workshops, sessions? 

The conference features 15 tracks (including one track which will be translated into Spanish and French on site); 60 total workshops; five plenary sessions plus an additional worship service for the city of Long Beach on Wednesday night following the conference; and 68 speakers (19 plenary, most of who will also lead a workshop).

How many people are you estimating being on site? 

As of today, we have just crossed 800 in registrations. We were hoping for 600, maybe 700 at the outside. The tremendous response with still more than a week to go has us considering what to do if in fact the conference in essence sells out.

It’s been three years since Mosaix hosted the National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference. This upcoming gathering will be the second one. What made you say, “We need to do this again”?

The first conference was an overwhelming success, and looking back is now recognized as marking the midway point in the pioneer stage of  the multi-ethnic church movement. Coming out of it, there was a natural assumption that we would make it an annual event. However, the  movement needed more time to develop. Consequently, Mosaix returned in 2011 and 2012 to grassroots organizing by creating web-based resources, publishing its first eBook, hosting two national retreats in the United States and a national conference in Sydney, Australia. In partnership with Mosaix, Leadership Network launched a two-year learning community focused on the multi-ethnic church involving 12 churches and 30 leaders. With growing interest, receptivity and practitioners engaged, we determined like a ship approaching land to do another sounding in 2013–thus, the second National Multi-ethnic Church Conference.

Looking back at the first conference in 2010, do you find that more leaders are interested in planting and growing multi-ethnic churches today? 

Absolutely. No question about it. Increasingly, local church pastors and planters, network and denominational leaders,  organizations and evangelical conference organizers, alike, are recognizing the biblical mandate of the multi-ethnic local church and are beginning to adjust and engage. Coupled with changing demographics, they are recognizing that they must (at the very least) reflect the communities in which they exist not only to survive but to thrive in an increasingly diverse society. Most importantly, they are recognizing how the systemic segregation of the local church unintentionally undermines the very credibility of our message: God’s love for all people on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, the future of gospel impact and penetration in this country depends upon passionate individuals and churches getting this right.

How will this upcoming conference differ from 2010′s gathering? 

In 2010 we provided eight tracks. This year, we have practically doubled these to include new discussions on Community Engagement, Overcoming the Racial Divide, Engaging Hip-Hop Culture, Multi-ethnic Student Ministry and more.

Is there a topic focus or theme this year? On what specific messages will the conference focus?

This year’s theme is For the Sake of the Gospel. We wanted to remind observers that the multi-ethnic church movement is rooted (as is a healthy multi-ethnic church) in New Testament theology and ecclesiology. Its primary aim is to reconcile individuals to God through faith in Jesus Christ by presenting a credible witness of God’s love for all people in and through the local church, and to reconcile the local church, itself, to the principles and practices of first-century churches in which diverse believers of Jewish and Gentile cultural heritage walked, worked and worshipped God together as one in response to and for the sake of the Gospel.

For church planters attending the Multi-Ethnic Church Conference, what are some potential takeaways you believe will be eye-opening for planters wanting to launch multi-ethnic churches?

1.  I believe this conference will significantly advance the movement by exponentially advancing relational connections among leaders of like minds, leading to synergistic advancement of our collective cause, and increased collaboration across the country.

2.  I think this conference will hasten the soon-coming arrival of the early adopter stage of the movement, which will begin when 20 percent of churches have at least 20 percent of diversity within their attending membership. At present, that percentage is 13.7 percent across the board; 14.4 percent in Protestant evangelical churches. We are on track then to achieve this goal by 2020, or perhaps sooner given what will come out of this conference.

3. The conference will help networks and denominations understand that the oft-asked question of church planters–”Who’s your target audience?”–is biblical only insofar as it addresses evangelism, discipleship and leadership development. In other words, there is no biblical precedent, license, freedom or mandate to target a single demographic for church planting, growth and development. When the Homogeneous Unit Principle is no longer misunderstood, it will no longer be misapplied. The systemic segregation of the local church can be dismantled, resulting in local churches on earth reflecting God’s love for people from every nation, tribe and tongue, not only across the ocean, but across the street.

Mark, why do you believe the Multi-Ethnic Church Conference is needed?

Check this out: We’re the only conference that exists that doesn’t someday want to exist, get it? That is, we are trying to work ourselves, in a sense, out of a job! In other words, when local churches, evangelical conferences, networks and denominations, Christian colleges and seminaries, etc., all reflect in real and tangible ways unity and diversity–the mystery of Christ as detailed by Paul in Ephesians 3–there will not be a need for a conference (I pray) calling special attention to what should otherwise be just who we are, the Body of Christ. Until such a day, I suppose, we’ll have to keep on leading out on the subject. And this we will continue to do until again we convene the 3rd National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference in 2016.

Tell us a little about the Mosaix Network and how leaders can be involved?

Mosaix is a relational network of local church pastors and planters, researchers, educators and ministry leaders alike that exists to catalyze  the growing movement toward multi-ethnic/economically diverse churches throughout North America and beyond.

On Nov. 5 and 6, new membership packages and benefits will be announced. Through such collaboration and partnership, Mosaix generates sustainable income to advance its mission and vision: the collective voice of growing numbers of ministry leaders focused on advancing a credible witness of the gospel in an increasingly diverse and cynical society.

How are you praying for the conference? 

That God will do for His name’s sake, for the sake of the Gospel, exceedingly abundantly beyond whatever else we might imagine possible.

How can the Exponential community pray for you and the conference?

Wow! Thanks for asking. May I request what Paul requested of the multi-ethnic church at Ephesus:

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known this message, the mystery of the  gospel for which I am an ambassador … Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” For the conference, pray for those in attendance, that they will feel encouraged (they/we are not crazy); equipped; and empowered through this gathering.

It's Not Resurgence We Need But Reformation

A recent article by Alex Murashko published in the Christian Post on September 24, 2013, addressed an open letter from my friend, Pastor Mark Driscoll, concerning the state of the church today. The letter was originally published on the 2013 Resurgence Conference website. In the letter, Driscoll states, “The church is dying and no one is noticing…” This thought seems to be the premise for Driscoll’s additional statements as to why the church is dying, what is needed, and his desire for the conference, itself. In part, Driscoll writes the church is dying because “…we're wasting time criticizing rather than evangelizing."

Perhaps.
 

Yet stronger resolve, clearer convictions, and/or young Bible-believing, Jesus-following leaders, as Driscoll suggests is needed to counter church decline, will not in my view bring about the resurgence for which he is looking. In fact, it’s not resurgence the church needs today but reformation, as I’ll explain in a moment.

To be clear I do not believe the church is dying.⁽¹⁾ However, I have no doubt that the local church and its message of God’s love for all people has been severely weakened by more than forty years of misunderstanding and misapplication of what is known as the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP).

The original principle suggests that it’s easier for people to become Christians when they do not have to cross barriers of race, class or language. Yet in 1972, it was co-opted by church leaders in America and ever since promoted as the modus operandi for those who would plant or grow a “successful” church; i.e., as a strategy for church growth. This fed an all-too-American spirit of independence and competition among church leaders who have ever since measured their success by numbers, dollars and buildings. It’s why, still today, the first question most often asked of church planters by network and denominational leaders, alike, is, Who’s your target audience?

You may be surprised to learn, however, that the HUP was never intended by its progenitor, Donald A. McGavran, as a strategy for reaching believers, or to grow a church in the sense of how we think of it today; but rather as “a strategy to reach unbelievers—a missionary principle.”⁽²⁾ Likewise, the term “church growth” was originally applied to a movement seeking to share the gospel cross-culturally and, consequently, to add new believers to the church through evangelistic efforts overseas.

Sadly, then, misunderstanding and misapplication of the HUP through the years has played right into the natural, all-too-human, desire among pastors for their churches to become real big, real fast: and it works. In other words, target a specific people group: give them the music they desire, the facilities they want, in the neighborhoods they like, etc., and they will come. The fact is, churches do grow fastest when they’re homogeneous and soon fill with people of similar ethnic and economic background. But, the question remains, Is this really the biblical way? And more pragmatically, Is this the real reason the church is not thriving today?

According to the latest research, 86.3 percent of all churches (Catholic and Protestant) are racially segregated, failing to have at least 20 percent diversity within their attending bodies.(3) In addition, churches today are ten times more segregated than the neighborhoods in which they reside, and twenty times more segregated than nearby public schools.⁽⁴⁾ This in spite of changing demographics and the latest U.S. Census figures that confirm America's continuing evolution into a multicultural nation where no single race or ethnicity represents a numeric majority.⁽⁵⁾ Surely it breaks the heart of God that so many churches throughout this country remain segregated along ethnic and economic lines and that little has changed in the more than one hundred years since it was first observed that eleven o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week. Brothers and sisters, it should not be so.

As it stands, segmented by race and class, the American Church – the local church – remains a far cry from what Christ envisioned (John 17:20-23), Luke described (Acts 11:19-26; 13:1), and Paul prescribed in the book of Ephesians. To put it bluntly, for far too long institutional racism has been an accepted reality in the church – an unintended consequence of the widespread propagation of a faulty understanding of the HUP.(6)

While the church may not be dying, it is for this reason perhaps more than any other – namely, local church segregation along ethnic and economic lines – that the church is not thriving in our time. For an increasingly diverse and cynical society is no longer finding credible the message of God’s love for all people as it’s proclaimed from segregated pulpits and pews.

To be clear, I’m not at all suggesting that individual people or pastors within the American Church are personally biased or, more pointedly, racists. God forbid! Nor am I suggesting that the desire to grow a church quickly is anything less than a desire to reach as many people for Jesus Christ as possible and, thus, to be used greatly, significantly, for His glory throughout our short time on this earth. I, too, share this desire, and value the effort of every well-meaning church planter and pastor, missionary and movement leader alike who is attempting to reach as many people with the gospel as possible in his or her lifetime. But I believe the primary question we should concern ourselves with is not, How fast can we grow a church? Rather it should be, How biblically can we grow a church?

I have come to understand, then, like Donald McGavran, the principle’s progenitor, that the HUP is a valid, biblical, strategy for the purpose of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development, but a strategy misapplied to church planting, growth and development. 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.

Let me be perfectly clear on this point. I’m not arguing against those who would extend the love of God (the gospel) to people with a similar background. Rather, I am suggesting that nowhere in the New Testament will you find the apostle Paul or anyone else encouraging you to plant, grow or develop a church that is focused on a single people group.

Of course, planting a homogeneous church is something we more readily understand — and something that is much easier to do. Compared with multi-ethnic ministry, it can be a more comfortable experience for everyone involved. But it is not a question of what we want or what makes us comfortable. Christ expects us to align ourselves, and our churches, with his agenda; anything less is unacceptable. In the future, then, I believe we will all need to grow increasingly comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to be more biblical in this regard.

For this reason and more, though I wish Mark Driscoll and the 2013 Resurgence Conference well, I believe the conference to watch on November 5-6 is not the one promoting resurgence, but the one promoting reformation: the 2^nd National Multi-ethnic Church Conference in Long Beach, CA. Indeed, it’s this historic conference more than any other that gives me real hope regarding the future of the American Church. In Long Beach, more than sixty thought-leading multi-ethnic church pioneers will be speaking and conducting workshops; an amazingly broad and deep line-up of men and women of diverse ethnic/economic background (60 percent are non-White) and ministry experience. And there’s still time to register. For more information, visit www.mosaix2013.com.

Again, in my view, it’s not resurgence we need but reformation. Only by returning to the principles and practices of first century churches – in which men and women of diverse ethnic and economic background walked, worked, and worshipped God together as one so that the world would know God’s love and believe – can we hope to reach an increasingly diverse and cynical society with a credible witness of God’s love for all people. Only then can we reasonably expect the church to thrive in the 21^st century.

___________________________________________

 

¹ For more concerning the American Church today, see Ed Stetzer: The State of the Church in America. Hint: It’s Not Dying. This article can be read at http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/october/state-of-american-church.html, accessed October 4, 2013.

 

² Gary McIntosh. The Life and Minsitry of Donald A. McGavran: A Short Overview. This article can be read at http://churchgrowthnetwork.com/free-resources/2010/05/25/the-life-and-ministry-%09of-donald-a-mcgavran, accessed October 4, 2013.

³ See Scott Thumma: Racial Diversity Increasing in U.S. Congregations. This article can be read at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-thumma-phd/racial-diversity-increasing-in-us-congregations_b_2944470.html, accessed October 4,2013.

⁴ Statistics presented by Michael O. Emerson at the 1^st National Multi-ethnic Church Conference in San Diego, CA, November 2-3, 2010.

 

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ I am using the term as colloquially as defined at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutional_racism: “Institutional racism (also called structural or systemic racism) describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations (such as media outlets), and universities (public and private). The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s. The definition given by William Macpherson within the report looking into the death of Stephen Lawrence was ‘the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their color, culture, or ethnic origin,’ (Jones, J. M. (1997). Prejudice and Racism (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill."

Driving Change and the National Conversation

Dear Colleagues and Champions of the Gospel,

As Rick Warren recently wrote, “I know how difficult church planting can be.” This was true thirty-three years ago when he and Kay planted Saddleback, and it was true twelve years ago when my wife, Linda, and I planted the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in Little Rock.

Adding to the degree of difficulty in our case, however, was a calling from God to plant a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church reflective of the community we sought to serve. Interestingly, as of 2010, the demographic population of Little Rock was 48% White, 42% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 3% Asian and others.

Talk about a challenge!

I can assure you: there were not any conferences, networks, or proven resources at the time otherwise able to assist us with the God-sized task of leading diverse people to walk, work, and worship together as one; and that, in a city infamously associated with the Civil Rights Movement. At the time, we needed personal encouragement and ministry development. More often than not, however, we felt alone and isolated in an Evangelical establishment geared toward planting homogeneous churches and asking of its planters, “Who’s your target audience?”

Thankfully, times are changing.

Yes, today pastors and church planters are increasingly aware of changing demographics, and taking steps to build healthy multi-ethnic churches. Denominations, networks, and conferences, too, are showing increased interest. Together we are doing so in order to present a more credible witness of God’s love for all people in the wonderfully diverse communities we serve. And the good news is this: we no longer have to pursue this calling alone, or in the absence of learning from those who’ve gone before.

In just two months, the Mosaix Global Network will gather one of the most ethnically and denominationally diverse, gender-inclusive line-up of authors and speakers ever assembled at an Evangelical conference focused on church planting, growth and development, in the United States. In fact more than 60 thought-leading pioneers will be to meet and interact with you, including:

• Dr. John Perkins (Legendary Founder of Christian Community Developers Association)
• Choco DeJesus (Pastor of New Life Covenant Church in Chicago, IL) • Jim Wallis (President and Founder of Sojourners)
• Efrem Smith (Superintendent (PSWC), Evangelical Covenant Church)
• Heather Larson (Executive Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church)
• Dr. Alejandro Mandes (Dir., Hispanic Ministries, Evangelical Free Church of America)
• Eugene Cho (Founding Pastor of Quest Church, Seattle, WA)
• Dudley Rutherford (Senior Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Church, Los Angeles, CA)
• Dr. Soong-Chan Rah (Professor, North Park Theological Seminary)
• Dr. David Anderson (Founding Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church, Columbia, MD)
• Dr. Paul Louis Metzger (Professor, Multnomah Biblical Seminary/Multnomah University)
• Leonce Crump (Founding Pastor of Renovation Church, Atlanta, GA; Acts 29)
• Josh and Noemi Chavez (Founding Pastors of 7th Street Church, Long Beach, CA)
• Derwin Gray (Founding Pastor of Transformation Church, Ft. Mill, SC)
• Naeem Fazal (Founding Pastor of Mosaic Church, Charlotte, NC)
• Dr. Christena Cleveland (Social Psychologist, St.Catherine's University, St. Paul, MN) 

In assembling this amazing line-up, Mosaix continues to drive the national conversation as we have for nearly ten years. And it remains our mission to cast vision, connect like-minded leaders, conference and coach, all in an effort to encourage and to equip pastors and church planters, just like you, for future ministry in a an increasingly diverse society. I hope you will make plans now to attend.

Given this is only the 2nd National Conference on the Multi-ethnic Church ever to be held in the United States, I can promise you this: you’ll be glad you did!

Dr. Mark DeYmaz
Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas
Mosaix Global Network
Author, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church, and Leading a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church