launching and multiplying multiethnic churches
Meeting with a pastor today who is entering a new season of ministry to plant a next gen multiethnic church in the Westminster aka Little Saigon area of Orange County. (Aside: there’s 3 other comparable ones in proximity of that: Converge Family Church, ReGeneration Church, Redemption Point [blog]; and there’s so many to reach there, so it’s encouraging to see these startups).
I’m recommending and gifting these books to him as valuable resources, even more so than our little meetup and conversation today:
- Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church: Mandate, Commitments and Practices of a Diverse Congregation and Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church by Mark DeYmaz. And, it’s so critical to be there for the National Multi-ethnic Church Conference, November 2-3, 2010, in San Diego, preceding the National Outreach Convention. Church planting is challenging enough, and to think longer-term by adding factors like multi-ethnic diversity and multiplying reproduction, it’ll drive you to desperate prayer for sure. It’s been said that the church is a major institution perpetuating racism; I’d add that suburban uniformity is another perpetuator.
- Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement by Dave and Jon Ferguson. I love this book because it tells the story of Community Christian Church from its very beginning up ’til now, and it’s chock full of personal stories, naming people by name, that have been a part of its reproducing movement. The clarity of the processes used to develop reproducing leaders makes this book gold! It doesn’t get more personal and practical, both at the same time. And, from another convo, my aha with this book was that this is THE book for leadership development! Excellent grid and step-by-step for effective leadership development!!
- The Multiplying Church: The New Math for Starting New Churches by Bob Roberts.
What would you add?
being of asian heritage, i have given thought to the differences in western world view vs. that of the far east. one major difference is in how western perspective is very individualistic, while asian/eastern cultures are much more community oriented. and i find myself (raised in the midwest with immigrant parents) and my decision making processes influenced by both views at any given moment – and there is often conflict. has anyone incorporated this into how they attempt to address integrating people from western and eastern cultures?