Multi-cultural ministry is here. It is time for churches to step up to the challenge.
Reacting to the cultural changes in our country in a positive and spiritual manner is critical to bringing in what is probably the greatest harvest of souls this country will ever see in this generation.
It is most noticeable on the weekends in my local Wal-Mart, but at most any given time that I might go, there they are, people from all over the world. Where have they come from? Africa, Asia, Russia, the Middle East, South and Central America, etc. It is truly a phenomenon to many who are living in small-town America because many of these new cultures are represented there as well. When an East Texas town has its own mosque you know that things are rapidly changing everywhere.
Reach out? or Run? We can't run forever. It's time to turn around and reach out with the love of God and show our new neighbors who Jesus is. I am proud to say that more and more of God's people are witnessing to the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs that they come in contact with.
It is time for our churches to begin looking more like Wal-Mart. And it is possible to bring them to Christ and to your church. You will be surprised how open your new immigrant neighbors are to friendship.
If you need resources to help reach the new people in your town please contact us and we will be glad to help you.
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4 comments:
Good word. How many times can you say "amen" without it becoming redundant?
I like using http://www.PeopleGroups.info/ for a quick demographic search for ethnic groups. I'm sure you've seen it before, but I'm posting it for others' use.
-dave
http://www.theGoodQuestion.com/dave
http://www.theGoodQuestion.com/
Amen 100's of times brother. We are not only faced with having to meet the needs of the Multi-Cultural groups. We need to become more active in reaching out to those of a different skin tone as well. Those that have been here since birth for generations. If we don't start tearing down these walls people going under pretense of being something they are not will keep on fortifying their (racial) ethnic division to create their income market. I will just say that neither of the two are a reverend more like biggots.
Thanx for this post! I appreciate your world-view. It took God a long time to open my eyes beyond my own prejudices. God has been preparing me for our ministry in the Memphis metro area. This is definitely a cross-cultural ministry area!
Thanx!
Wow!! Pastor Smith yoou have been a leader in this area for as long as I have known you. I remember the long talks that were given to us in the Mississauga church as we brought the first black people to camp in Ohio. You warned us that there would be problems and even now 24 years later I am learning that there were problems that other Pastors in their love for us and respect for you kept from us kids. Thanks to you all. I remember going to seminary in Florida and being told as I entered ABA churches to sing and represent the school that if the people knew my heritage ( I am froom Barbados and am of mixed, black and white, color) they would not even let me in the door. What a stark contrast to the "we stand for the truth and we are the only true churches". I am so pleased with the progress that we ahve made thus far, but the fact remains that the ethnic populations of the US in the New Yorks, Chicagos and as you come to Canada the Torontos of the world still scare some men and so we have a great need for the good churches of the ABA to maybe put a stop to sending any more missionaries to already over populated states were not only we but the SBC and others are doing good jobs. I understand the leadership of the Holy Spirit, but the authority to exercise the business of the church was given to the local church and that church has the right to decide the focus and the direction of its investment, as a body we can decide to stop spending anymore missionary salary funds on over evangelised areas and choose to support missionaries in these areas,just like any other expansion based business. Most, if not all expansion based businesses invest in the large markets of New York, Chicago, Toronto and others, maybe we should expand out ethnicity more and invest more in the markets.
Sean Gooding
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