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Recently, Brandon O’Brien, a staff writer from Leadership Journal, was in Arkansas speaking at his Alma Mater, Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. One hour from Little Rock, he arranged to stay through the Easter weekend and to worship with us at Mosaic. Check out his reflections on the visit (dated April 4, 2008).
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Mark DeYmaz: Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church: Mandate, Commitments and Practices of a Diverse Congregation (J-B Leadership Network Series)
Through personal stories and a thorough analysis of the biblical text, Mark DeYmaz provides the theological mandate for the multi-ethnic church and outlines seven core commitments required to bring it about. Writing from his experience in planting,
growing, and encouraging more ethnically diverse faith communities, DeYmaz shows why the most effective way to advance the Gospel in the 21st century will be through strong multi-ethnic churches. He challenges pastors and laypeople, who believe the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, to create local churches on earth that will not be either.
Linda DeYmaz: Mommy, Please Don't Cry: There Are No Tears in Heaven
A 2004 Retailers' Choice nominee, this book is widely recognized as the #1 resource for moms and dads grieving the loss of a child.
David T. Olson: The American Church in Crisis: Groundbreaking Research Based on a National Database of over 200,000 Churches
Amon other things, documents the coming shift from a mono-ethnic to a multi-ethnic society whereby "the multi-ethnic church is becoming the normal and natural picture of the new face of Christianity."
Michael O. Emerson: Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America
Paul Louis Metzger: Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church
Here's my endorsement of the book: Consuming Jesus sounds the death knell for a paradigm of church growth driven by the homogeneous unit principle and measured in success by numbers, dollars and buildings. Dr. Metzger's thorough scholarship and engaging analysis of history, culture and theology provides a wealth of insight for practitioners addressing the question, If the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, why on earth is the church?
Michael O. Emerson: People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States
George A. Yancey: One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches
Dan Kimball: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations
Hello Mark,
I just bought your book on starting a multicultural church. My Pastor has Just approved me and my wife to start my own church. Coming from an all Black church, I want to make sure that I break that label. The Majority of my life as a young black man I have grown up in very diverse areas. Its in my heart to see all nationalities worshiping God under one roof. I live on the lower East Side of Manhattan, What do you see as one of the Biggest Obsticles of starting a Ministry like yours?
Jason Stewart, NYC
Posted by: Jason Stewart | April 25, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Hey Jason,
First, let me say how sorry I am to only now be responding to your comment. My computer crashed almost three weeks ago and I am only now back in action (on my new MacBook Pro:-)
Yours is a good question and one to which I am increasingly asked to respond. Of course there are both personal and professional obstacles, but one of the biggest obstacles is spiritual in nature. Indeed, peacemakers shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9); but the next three verses speak of persecution! Notice, too, that Paul's placement of the armor of God follows an entire letter devoted to the unity of the church!
Spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places have been aligned against the unity of the church - and those who would promote/pursue the vision for centuries; and they have done a remarkable job of keeping us apart. Now, there are those of us saying, "Not on our watch!" These forces will not go down without a fight.
The best defense in this regard is a good offense; one that would have you a) certain of your calling, b) prayerful, persistent and patient in your passion to see the dream realized and, finally as Barnabus, c) full of faith and the Holy Spirit. The multi-ethnic church can be established by no other means or methods.
Posted by: Mark DeYmaz | May 12, 2008 at 09:42 PM