GLUE

Fall Speaking Dates and Info

August 14, 2007 / Forum on Faith sponsored by the Nehemiah Group and Little Rock's Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, Little Rock, AR
September 20, 2007 / Town Hall Meeting – A Discussion of Race and Education sponsored by Central High's 50th Anniversary Commission, Little Rock, AR;
October 6 / Salvation Army Multi-cultural Ministries Seminar, Schaumburg, IL;
October 20-21, Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA

Endorsements

The following endorsements for Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church have been received to date ...

“Following Brown v. Board of Education, the integration of Little Rock’s Central High endures as a major milestone of the civil rights movement, and it is fitting that this book, written by my friend Mark DeYmaz, is being released in the fall of 2007, the very season in which the nation will mark the fiftieth anniversary of that historic event. His church, the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, is influencing a systemic rethinking of things and setting an example that few churches to date have been willing to address.”
From the prologue by U.S. Senator Mark Pryor

“We cannot ignore the topic of multi-ethnic churches as we live in a multi-ethnic world. Mark DeYmaz writes extremely practical insight, not from theory but from leading an extremely strategic multi-ethnic church that is paving the way for so many others.”
Dan Kimball, senior pastor, Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz, CA, author of the book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church

“Mark DeYmaz has provided the body of Christ with the answer to one of its most embarrassing dilemmas: Sunday segregation. Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church is a very simple and biblical plan for church leaders committed to building a church that looks like the world in which they minister.”
Miles McPherson, senior pastor, The Rock Church, San Diego, CA

"Drawing from years of invaluable experience as a multi-ethnic church pastor, Mark DeYmaz writes with keen practical insight and foresight. For those committed to building multi-ethnic churches for Christ in an increasingly diverse culture, this is a must read."
Dr. Paul Louis Metzger, Professor of Christian Theology and Theology of Culture, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland, OR, author of Consuming Jesus

“This book unpacks theological and practical principles for local churches interested in truly serving their neighboring communities in an increasing diverse America. It paves the way for the future of the local church and the next generations of its leaders.”
DJ Chuang, Director of Asian American Church Research at Leadership Network and Executive Director at L2 Foundation

“Here’s the book many of us have been looking for—a book that lays a solid biblical foundation for the multi-ethnic church and includes the building plans! Whether seeking to plant a multi-ethnic church or transform a homogenous congregation, this book will inspire and show the way.”
Jonathan Seda, senior pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Dover, DE

“In Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church, Mark paints a picture, with his own story and the story of God, that will inspire and equip people to join with God in fulfilling the vision of a faith of all colors.”
Doug Pagitt, senior pastor, Solomon’s Porch, Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN, author of An Emergent Manifesto of Hope

“This captivating book describes the fascinating story, including the biblical basis, behind Mark’s passionate quest to develop a church which is truly multi-cultural and multi-ethnic. It fosters hope that the future can be different.”
Dr. Warren Bird, Research Director for Leadership Network

“I am so excited to see the concept of cross-cultural local church ministry so thoroughly articulated by Mark DeYmaz. I encourage every pastor, parishioner and even non-Christians, as well, to read it in order to see where the local church is heading in the 21st century, and why.”
Dr. Ken Hutcherson, senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church, Kirkland, WA, author of the book, Enough Faith

“The North American Church is hemorrhaging through the ethnic and economic segregation of her people. Jesus Christ is using men like Mark DeYmaz to bring healing to His bride and to build authentic communities of faith that reflect the love of God for all people. This is an excellent book."
Dr. Greg Kappas, D.Min., Director, Grace Global Network

“The fact that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in the land is challenged biblically and experientially with this book. Mark DeYmaz offers hope for the local church to become a picture of heaven on earth, a place where all races can worship the same God in the same church at the same time.”
Rodney Woo, senior pastor, Wilcrest Baptist Church, Houston, TX

The 21st century will be increasingly characterized by local churches that reflect the ethnic and economic diversity of the Body of Christ, just as they did in the 1st century. Mark’s book makes a profound contribution toward the development of these churches, the kind of churches Christ most surely desires on earth as it is in heaven.”
Ali Velasquez, Hispanic Task Force, North American Mission Board

Mosaic Featured in Arkansas Business

Mosaic was prominently featured as the cover story for the week of August 6, 2007. Here's an excerpt from the article entitled, Churches Bring New Life to Shopping Centers, Retail Sites.

For Mark DeYmaz, spending tens of millions of dollars to construct a fancy mega-church at a high-profile location simply doesn't make a whole lot of sense, even if the money is readily available.

And though there are plenty of highly visible examples of enormous church buildings stretching skywards along dramatic hilltops and beside heavily traveled interstates, there are ministries taking the opposite approach by quietly taking over and revitalizing ghostly commercial structures and former retail spaces.

DeYmaz, teaching pastor and founder of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, and his membership currently occupy a former 80,000-SF Wal-Mart store on Col. Glenn Road and recently locked into a deal to purchase the abandoned Kmart complex at the corner of University and Asher avenues for a permanent home. DeYmaz says his congregation is just practicing what it preaches.

"We preach the resurrection of Christ, and we want to live that and demonstrate and represent that in everything we do," he said. "One way to physically represent that is to find these abandoned properties in somewhat neglected parts of the city and turn the lights on and provide a church where we can meet and celebrate. It's a physical manifestation of the resurrection, and is largely symbolic of what we preach."

Whites: Privileged or Advantaged?

I received a group email recently from one of our African American members. It invited a visit to an MSNBC news article and read ...

"Hello Everyone,

"I'm glad there is research that will support what is well known by African Americans. When I speak of anything concerning race in America, I always communitcate what the research will substantiate. I do not speak solely from experience because I know my experiences are null and void to the dominate culture. In 2007 African American experiences are being written off as not true or compared to the classism experienced by whites. When the dominate culture is honest about their privilege, maybe our experiences will become apparent and valid."

I thought Glue Sticks (group identity for all who read my blog:-) might be interested in reading my response. Here's what I wrote ...

Hey (name withheld),

Thanks for forwarding the interesting article. I wanted you to know that while I agree that most whites are unaware of their "privileged" past and still current status in American society, I think it is more accurate to speak in broad strokes (such as you are) of White "advantage" vs. "privilege." I'll use my own personal experience to share with you why.

It is true that I am a White Male who at one time did not recognize, but has now come to understand how "advantaged" he was (is) - yet, it is equally true that I was in no way "privileged" growing up. For instance, I was one of only 6% of children in 1961 being raised in a single parent home; I was a latch-key kid before the term was even invented and had a mother who worked two jobs to support us. I was helping her to sell Avon (going door-to- door throughout the ten-block neighborhood in the evenings and then, packing the orders, etc.) by the age of 8 and began holding steady jobs in the 6th grade (age 11) to help support her efforts on our behalf. Even as late as my junior year in high school, I was sharing a one-bedroom apartment with my mother and while we slept on separate twin beds, they were in the same room. Talk about embarrassing!

In the end, then, and as as you know, I believe it will take much more than honest dialogue among human beings to promote sincere understanding, genuine healing and authentic community. Racism is, ultimately, a spiritual problem that in no way can be overcome apart from Jesus Christ and, more specifically, believers committed to pursuing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven in and through the local church.

Toward that end, I am so grateful that you and David are helping to build a healthy multi-ethnic church in Little Rock and to model real solutions for others, i.e, an intended outcome free of distinctions via Mosaic!

One in Christ with you, M-