GLUE

The Fermi Project

Last April, I was contacted by Gabe Lyons, co-author of the book, unChristian to address the subject of the multi-ethnic church on a podcast for the Fermi Project. According to their website, "Gabe and Rebekah Lyons founded Fermi Project in 2003, a broad collective of innovators, social entrepreneurs, church and societal leaders working together to make positive contributions to culture." As you may know, the book "reveals exclusive research on pop-culture's negative perception of Christians and convenes 27 of Christianity's most influential voices to address ... the steady erosion of Christianity's reputation in America." Prior to Fermi Project, Gabe co-founded Catalyst, a national gathering of young leaders, while serving as Vice President for John Maxwell's INJOY organization.

Listen to my interview with Gabe.

In addition and by clicking the link above, you can access 23 other podcasts produced by the Fermi Project featuring Shane Claiborne, Brian McClaren, Mark Batterson, Rick McKinley, Jim Wallis and more.

Here's a bit more about the Fermi Project from their website ...

"A Fermi is a metric unit of length equal to one quadrillionth of a meter (10-15 meter). It is named after Enrico Fermi who was an Italian-born American physicist. He won a 1938 Nobel Prize for his work on artificial radioactivity caused by neutron bombardment. In 1942, at the University of Chicago, he produced the first controlled nuclear chain reaction.

In contrast to things that are big, Fermi represents the beginning of a chain reaction. It starts small, but through intentional linking over time creates an exponential effect, a major shift within the church's way of viewing its mission and opportunity within the culture."

Dr. Warren Bird asks, What Have You Learned?

Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of nineteen books on various aspects of church health and innovation. This week, he posted the following article on Learnings@Leadership Network, a blog featuring "first-hand reports of what innovative churches are doing." I discussed the post with him a couple of weeks ago and affirmed my own belief that mergers and campus plants (via multi-siting) are ways in which healthy, but otherwise homogeneous churches can expedite their pursuit of transition. In addition, I believe such a church would do well to consider launching a multi-ethnic venue within their existing weekend worship schedule.

Warren's entire post is repeated here (in bold) for your convenience. And after reading, please let me know what you think by commenting below.

What have you learned about launching an ethnic or multi-cultural site?
By Warren Bird

People like Mark DeYmaz have written about and modeled what he calls "the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church" -- see his book, Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2007).

Yet this is not the case for most churches. According to research conducted by sociologists Michael Emerson, Christian Smith, George Yancey and others, 92.5% of Catholic and Protestant churches throughout the United States can be classified as “mono-racial.” This term describes a church in which 80% or more of the individuals that attend are of the same ethnicity or race. The remaining churches (7.5%) can be described as “multi-racial,” i.e., churches in which there are a non-majority, collective population of at least 20%. By this definition, approximately 12% of Catholic churches, just less than 5% of evangelical churches and about 2.5% of mainline Protestant churches can be described as “multi-racial."

Early research by Dr. George Yancey, published in his book, One Body, One Spirit (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), identified general “principles of successful multi-racial churches.” Mark DeYmaz then adapted and restated them as follows, each a chapter in Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church:

1. Embrace Dependence
2. Take Intentional Steps
3. Empower Diverse Leadership
4. Develop Cross-Cultural Relationships
5. Pursue Cross-Cultural Competence
6. Promote a Spirit of Inclusion
7. Mobilize for Impact

Interestingly, the most multi-racial churches at present are the largest ones. Beyond Megachurch Myths by Scott Thumma and Dave Travis reports on a major 2005 study of very large churches. It asks, "What is the total percentage of attenders in your church that are not of the majority racial/ethnic group?" The average was 19%. Some 36% have 20% minority presence or more. The response to the next survey question was even more telling: "Is your congregation making efforts to become intentionally multi-ethnic?" A surprising 56% said yes.

What about churches that are multi-site? Are they placing much emphasis on launching ethnic or multi-cultural sites? I suspect it's a low priority for many. In Leadership Network's 2007 release named "Survey of 1,000 Multi-Site Churches," we asked for participants' primary motivation for doing multi-site. The overwhelming reply was evangelism" (63%), although 1% did say "cross language or ethnic barriers." we next asked their secondary motivation for doing multi-site. Of the same seven answers, there was a two-way tie for first place: solve overcrowding (27%) and bring our church closer to a target area (also 27%). This time 4% said "cross language or ethnic barriers" -- and those churches were different from the ones who said 1% earlier. So a total of 5% of the churches indicate it's a top motivation. That's 1 out of 20 cases.

Interestingly, another set of questions asked "To what extent are you reaching the same kinds of people on each campus in terms ofrace?" Only 12% said yes. When asked, "To what extent are you reaching the same kinds of people on each campus in terms oflanguage," only 5% said yes.

What's your sense between multi-ethnic churches and multi-ethnic campuses of multi-site churches? Which is more likely to take the lead, and why?

My prediction is that it will happen through mergers. Our multi-site survey also asked, "Have you used your multi-site approach to assist (or take responsibility for) a declining church?" Of 197 churches that replied to this question, 30% said yes, plus 10% more said "no but we plan to in the future." I think those mergers will open the way to more multi-ethnic congregations.

A Visit from Leadership Journal

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).

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.

Outreach Magazine Just Called ...

Seems my book is reviewed in their cuurent issue. Read Tamara Rice's review from the November/December 2007 edition of Outreach Magazine.

The New York Times and More!

The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor featured the mission and message of Mosaic in separate articles this month, largely in connection with the 50th commemoration of the integration of Little Rock's Central High School. The CSM article is particularly interesting in discussing Mosaic, i.e., "There are signs that racial barriers can be overcome."

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."

What Others Are Saying ...

Increasingly, the Mosaic Church of Arkansas is being discussed in published literature. Most recently, the Enrichment Journal (published by the Assemblies of God, Summer 2007) devoted an entire issue to Embracing Diversity and prominently featured the church in an article entitled Multiracial Church Plants Difficult, But Necessary. In addition, the same issue featured an article entitled Mosaix Global Network: Shaping the Multi-ethnic Church Movement. Other magazines such as Christianity Today and Outreach Magazine have also published articles featuring the church. And check out an article by the Reformed Churches of America featuring the church posted in October 2007.

In addition, Ed Gilbreath's book entitled Reconciliation Blues (InterVarsity Press, 2006) mentions the church in the prologue on page 14.

ReligionLink, a web-based resource to help print and broadcast journalists when they encounter religion in stories recently focused on the growing phenomenon of multi-ethnic churches in an article entitled, Multicultural churches multiply - intentionally. You can read specifically about Mosaic in that article by clicking the state of Arkansas on that link.

You can also read about Mark's hand in starting Skate Church in Portland, OR, (1987) in the book, The Relevant Church: A New Vision for Communities of Faith by Mike Howerton (Relevant Media Group, 2004) on page 13 of Chapter 4. Skate Church in Portland is the granddaddy of all skate ministries and as such, birthed the movement.

Bo Boshers of Willow Creek cited Mark on page 73 of his book, Student Ministry for the 21st Century (Zondervan, 1997) and Mark's curriculum for junior and senior high school students on the roles of men and women was featured in Wayne Grudem's Council on Biblical Manhood/Womanhood Journal in an article entitled, Teaching Biblical Manhood and Womanhood to Teens (June, 1996).