Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church

February 4-7, 2008 with Mark DeYmaz

Through personal stories, proven experience and a thorough analysis of the biblical text, Dr. Mark DeYmaz, will host a web-based seminar around the topic of his latest book entitled, Building a Healthy Multi‐Ethnic Church:  Mandate, Commitments and Practices of a Diverse Congregation. Based on his experience in planting, growing, and encouraging more ethnically diverse, Christ-centered communities of faith, DeYmaz will discuss why he believes the most effective way to advance the Gospel in the 21st century will be through strong multi-ethnic churches. This seminar will challenge pastors and lay-people alike, who believe the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, to create local churches on earth that will not be either.

 The following is an excerpt from the book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0787995517/glueOf-20) by Mark DeYmaz (Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2007, pp. 183, 184), pastor of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas (www.mosaicchurch.net).  It is worth considering in light of U.S. Senator Barak Obama's recent speech on race and the subsequent conversation it has generated.  Please forward this to others you know who may be interested.

 "Although government and educational programs, together with the efforts of countless individuals, groups, and agencies, have long sought to eliminate prejudice and the disparaging consequences of institutional racism still deeply embedded within society, it is time to recognize that such a dream cannot be realized apart from the establishment of multi-ethnic churches that intentionally and joyfully reflect the passion  of Christ for all  people of the world. For it is not the institutions of government or of education that have been ordained by God to this task; rather, it is the local church, the bride of Christ—we who are his people (John 17:1–3, 20–23; Acts 11:19–26, 13:1, 16ff.; Galatians 3:26–28; 

Ephesians 4:1–6; Revelation 5:9–10). 

 Concerning the movement of American Christianity toward racial reconciliation in the 1990s, author Chris Rice wrote the following profound words in his book, More-Than-Equals (http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Equals-Racial-Healing/dp/0830822569):

 'Yes, deep reconciliation will produce justice, and new relationships between the races. Yes this will lead Christians to become a bright light in the public square. But I have become convinced that God is not very interested in the church healing the race problem. I believe it is more true that God is using race to heal the church.'

 Through the biblical transformation of our minds and wills, we will be able to emotionally engage the concept of a multi-ethnic and  economically diverse local church. Indeed, we will not only come to understand the passion of Christ for local church unity, as I have described throughout this book, but we will desire to pursue it for the sake of the Gospel. Yes, it is Christ’s will that we become one with believers different from  ourselves so that the world would know God’s love and believe. As a by-product, society will be affected, 'racial-reconciliation' will occur, and the church will be restored to a place of prominence in the minds and hearts of those outside its walls. 

 Indeed, this is the power of unity. 

 This is the Gospel of Christ."