GLUE

MLK Day ... An Afterthought

This past Sunday - well, now that I think about, this past weekend was an extremely busy one for me. My daughter, Emily, who plays on the Varsity basketball team at her school, had an away game Friday night - one that was nearly three hours away - and consequently, I was involved from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. On Saturday morning, my son, Will, had two basketball games, one at 8 a.m. and another at 10 a.m. And then later that afternoon, my youngest daughter, Kate, played in two games herself at 2 p.m and 4 p.m - and I'm her coach! Needless to say, by the time Sunday morning rolled around, I was thrilled to go to church just to get some rest.

So somehow, with all the activity of the weekend and an already packed Sunday morning agenda, I failed even to mention or otherwise publicly recognize the Martin Luther King holiday this year. In fact, it wasn't until Monday evening that I was reminded of this as I watched the news and reviews of remarks made earlier in the day by presidential candidates anxious to recognize (before a viewing public) the truly significant impact of MLK upon North American society.

Now, throughout the years, we have often recognized such holidays and the otherwise special months or occasions that are important to varying people groups at Mosaic. In so doing, it's not necessarily that we feel obliged, it's more just something we just like to do in pursuit of cross-cultural competence. So when I realized that I had missed the moment this time, it's not so much that I worried about reaction or that I felt any measure of politically correct guilt, etc.; it's just that I would have mentioned it had I been more proactive than reactive throughout the weekend.

With this in mind, I was having lunch with a member of our church today. And while reflecting on the growing interest in the multi-ethnic church throughout North America, he reminded me that such statements of personal endorsement or holiday recognition are too often made by those attempting only to show respect from a distance, that is, those who are not otherwise influenced or invested in the very persons and/or causes they seem to celebrate.

He then said, "On the other hand, we live the dream every day at Mosaic, Mark. And who we are speaks louder than words. Who we are is our statement!"

Wow, I thought, what a good word.

So in the future, we'll continue to recognize the contributions of MLK and to recognize the holidays and otherwise special months or occasions that are important to the people of Mosaic. Yet, in those times where less is said, for whatever reason, those of us engaged in multi-ethnic churches will do well to remember that who we are and still striving to become, indeed, says it all.

Synergy Subscribers Redirect Here!

I am trying to work through a bug currently preventing you from connecting directly to Synergy, Mosaic's internal and direct communication blog now produced each week by Harry and me. In the meantime, click here to be redirected to Synergy.

Clarifying the Need and Potential for Partnership

As the Multi-ethnic Church Movement gains momentum throughout the world, established ministry leaders who have pursued the development of mono-ethnic churches focused on first generation inter/nationals - whether here in North America or beyond - are concerned with the implications. Does the multi-ethnic vision dimension the importance of their work? Should their efforts continue? Are the two models for church planting, development and ministry mutually exclusive?

Along this line, I was recently asked to respond on behalf of the Mosaix Global Network to the head of an organization with whom MGN has partnered in the past through conferencing. In brief, the response clarifies our position and casts a vision for partnership in the years to come. Here's what I wrote ...

"Dear Dr. __________,

"It has come to my attention that some confusion exists within (your organization) as to the passion of the Mosaix Global Network for the multi-ethnic church. To be clear, our message is in no way intended to denigrate or in any way dismiss other models of ministry; and most specifically, those churches/ministries targeting first generation inter/nationals here in North America or beyond. The fact is, we believe the need for such churches/ministries, as well as the need for multi-ethnic churches is not an either/or but a both/and proposition: for clearly, extending the love of Christ to first generation people groups through their own language, customs and culture has proven effective as a method both for evangelism and church planting here in the US and around the world.

"Yet, it is equally true (as research has shown) that second and third generation believers produced in and through these otherwise homogeneous environments do not as readily identify with them over time. Consequently, second and third generation believers often leave these churches for other churches or worse yet, leave the Church altogether. Beyond this, one partner in a cross-cultural marriage is often (though unintentionally) disenfranchised by churches solely focused on a specific people group and rather than ministering to the whole family, such a church is positioned only to minister to a part of it.

"Looking ahead, then, one God-honoring solution would be to promote the development of intentional partnerships between churches/ministries specifically focused on first generation people groups and multi-ethnic churches who, while respecting the integrity of and the need for first generation fellowships, can work with them to serve the needs of the second and third generation and/or the rest of the family. Indeed, this type of partnership is something we have already established here at Mosaic with a Latino congregation and hope to do soon with a local Korean congregation, as well. And it is precisely with such partnership in mind that MGN can serve (your organization) well.

"All in all, I want to assure you that MGN remains sensitive to such issues and in no way believes or intends to suggest that there is only one way of doing things. And with greater sensitivity to the issue you have raised, we will approach any and all future opportunities to cast a vision for the multi-ethnic church.

"Thank you for raising this concern with Jim Spoonts recently and for this opportunity to address it with you. On behalf of MGN, we look forward to our continued partnership with (your organization) in the future."

One in Christ with you,

Dr. Mark DeYmaz
Pastor, Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas
Board Chairman, Mosaix Global Network

I'm Off to the Land Down Under!

For sometime, my sister, Jean Foote, of Cairns, Australia, has been battling cancer. In recent months, she has digressed to the point that chemotherapy has ceased and she is not expected to recover. With this in mind, my mother, Dorothy, recently asked me to travel on behalf of the family to Australia and to spend sometime with Jean. However, an extended stay is not in Jean's best interest given her condition. In other words, while she does want me to come, she does not want me to stay more than a day or two. So what was I to do?

Around this same time, I began to receive emails from pastors and ministry leaders in Australia and also in New Zealand in response to my book. Further correspondence led to opportunities for ministry among them and, therefore, after much discussion and prayer, I will be making a trip to both Australia and New Zealand at the end of this month. Again, this trip was first proposed by my mother and in the end, has been made possible by her heart for my sister and for the Lord's work, the expansion of the multi-ethnic church throughout the world to the glory of God.

With this in mind, I ask for your prayers in the coming weeks on behalf of my sister, Jean, her husband, Bob, and for our coming time together; time I hope will be a source of strength and encouragement to both of them.

In addition, I ask for your prayers for my wife, Linda, and for my family while I am away. With four kids at home, she will be shouldering much on my behalf in support of this trip. Pray specifically for her strength and stamina.

Finally, I ask you to pray for and through the following itinerary, for all that God might do in and through me on this trip, and for the expansion of contacts on behalf of the Mosaix Global Network.

Here's my itinerary and if you have any thoughts or suggestions, contacts I should know about or connections I should make while I'm overseas, etc., just let me know.

1. Thursday, January 31 - Leave Little Rock for Sydney, Australia via LAX;
2. Saturday, February 2 - Arrive in Sydney and connect with David Boyd of NewLife International and meet with ministry leaders;
3. Sunday morning, February 3 - Connect with Mathew Kuruvilla and speak at Parkside Church
4. Sunday evening, February 3, connect again with David Boyd and speak at Jesus Family Centre;
5. Monday, February 4, fly from Sydney to Cairns to visit my sister, Jean, and her husband, Bob;
6. Wednesday, February 6, fly from Cairns to Brisbane to connect with David and Jeannie Mok of the International City Church and speak at a prayer meeting that night, their Bible College the next day, etc.;
7. Friday, February 8, fly from Brisbane to Christchurch, New Zealand to connect with Max Palmer and Andrew Wilson, et al. for the weekend;
8. Saturday, February 9, late morning/early afternoon - Conduct a Mosaix Global Network seminar for churches in Christchurch hosted by the Bible College of New Zealand which is a multi-denominational Bible College; dinner with ministry leaders that evening;
9. Sunday morning, February 10, speak at the Chinese Church at the Mandarin congregation (the service is English w/ Mandarin translation);
10. Sunday evening, February 10, preach at Andrew's new congregation, the Mosaic Christian Community, 5:00 p.m.
11. Monday, February 11, leave for the US from Christchurch and arrive in Little Rock at 8 p.m. that same night!

Start Strong!

Welcome to the New Year and to a new season of faith, hope and love! Like many of you, Linda and I, together with our children, were out of town for the Christmas holidays. In fact for the first time in five years, we literally traveled “over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house” in Washington state where more than 18’ of snow made for a very white Christmas – one in which we were at times without power and ate too much food; but most importantly, enjoyed time with extended family, including Linda’s grandfather who is now 99 years old! And while it was great to be there, we have both returned to Little Rock and to Mosaic with renewed enthusiasm and great expectations for the coming year in Christ.

Along this line, did you know that increasing numbers of North Americans who identify themselves as Christians attend church only once or twice a month? Yet, the strongest and most vibrant churches in North America are those in which members see faithful, consistent involvement each week not only as a privilege, but a personal responsibility before God, others and their families. Of course, mere attendance on Sunday mornings does not guarantee a vibrant walk with God; but it does tend to validate it. And the vast majority of devoted Christ-followers understand the personal importance of the weekly large group gathering, as well as its biblical significance - the church, a visible witness of the love and body of Christ, appealing in His name to a lost and dying world.

To be clear, it is the goal and promise of everyone involved in Sunday morning planning to do all we can to ensure a wonderful experience each week for you and your family, as well as for others you invite to come. With this in mind, I want to encourage everyone of you to start the year strong with a renewed commitment to faithful Sunday morning involvement - both in worship and service - wherever you attend.

A Mention in the Orlando Sentinel

Mark Pinsky, writing in the Orlando Sentinel, published an article on December 24, 2007, entitled, "Orlando Churches Work to Accommodate Multinational Cultures at Christmastime." I am briefly quoted in the article discussing the distinction between assimilation and accommodation; click here to check it out.