Diversity = Gospel Apologetic

As a Pastor in phoenix, I am amazed to see our city so diverse. There are hundreds of young professionals from India working with American Express, living right here in my own community, there are said to be 100-200K Eastern Europeans in the North Valley.  What is God doing? Why are so many people from around the world here?

I believe God is at work, bringing the nations to our cities. The people of the world have taken refuge in our city, so why have so few found refuge in our churches? 

I look up to leaders of vision such as Martin Luther King Jr. who saw beyond the skin tones, and eye colors of men. A man who saw a day coming when our cities and churches would no be longer segregated. He believed in our constitution that every man was born with sovereign rights, for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

At Imago Dei, we  are pursuing cross cultural competence, because the peoples of the earth are loved by God and created in His image (Gen 1:26). In fact, they live in our community! 
I believe one of the greatest apologetics (defenses) for the gospel, is diversity in the church.It was this way from the beginning, when the church was first born, ( Acts 2). Ethnic groups found common ground, people of different races shared life with one another in the church and community of believers. My prayer is, that our white Pastoral Leadership Team would help lead our people in the days to come to develop a congregation that is cross culturally competent.

Here are a few suggestions for growing in cross cultural competence.

1) Take Intentional Steps – What intentional steps do you think church leadership should take to move towards embracing the nations among them?

2) Empower Diverse Leadership – How have you gone about empowering diverse leadership and what has been the outcome?
3) Develop Cross-Cultural Relationships – What and how should ministry leaders develop cross-cultural relationships?
4) Pursue Cross-Cultural Competence – How would you ensure that all those leading and serving within your organization are cross-culturally competent?

The great commandments (Mt 22:36-40) and commission (Mt 28:19) ought to call us out, to love people who are not like us! People of every tribe and nation. To love like God loved.  I am convinced that the church can only gain a stronger gospel witness when it reflects and reaches the community in which she resides.

Resources: If you would like to grow more in your understanding of cross cultural ministry, I encourage you to look to the expert Mark DeyMaz and his church planting, coaching network mosaix.

Additional Resources about People Migrations as a Movement of God, and Globalization, see Dr. Pococks work, on The Changing Face of World Missions.

the Story: Gospel

Please take a few minutes to read and look through this compelling and colorful online book about the gospel. We use this tool along with others for our leaders at imago dei. Most people don't understand the gospel nor it's centrality in the scripture. This tool helps us understand what the gospel is all about and how to share it with others.


Web page
www.spreadtruth.com

The Gospel by John Piper: 6 minutes

Simplified Missional Living by Jon Dodson

Eat with Non-Christians
We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians?

Go to lunch with a co-worker
not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations. Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

Walk, Don’t Drive
If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox or convenience store, walk to get mail or groceries. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog, carrying along a 6-pack to share, bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Last night I spent an hour outside gardening with my family. We had good conversations with about four of our neighbors. Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.

Be a Regular
Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places at the same times. Get to know the staff. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffee shops all over the city. My friends at Starbucks donate a ton of leftover pastries to our church 2-3 times a week. We use them for church gatherings and occasionally give them to the homeless. Build relationships. Be a regular.

Hobby with Non-Christians
Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try city league sports or local rowing and cycling teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons, such as sewing, piano, knitting, or tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.

Talk to Your Co-workers.
How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form moms’ groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

Volunteer with Non-Profits.
Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take a Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!

Participate in City Events
Instead of playing XBox, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, cleanups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

Serve Your Neighbors.
Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, or fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local Police and Fire Stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Just serve!

share your story: my gospel testimony

This video was recorded years ago. It's a personal testimony of my life and how Jesus pursued me in the midst of my rebellion. I share it #1 to give glory to God and #2 to encourage our people to share their testimony as a means to communicate the gospel. Testimonies are often the most powerful and personal ways to share the gospel.

Often times I share my story in 2-3 minutes with strangers I meet. I never find someone who doesn't want to hear a good story! Last time I checked, the gospel is a great story about a good guy kicking some evil butt and raising up and army of people to join in the battle with a promise that we all will one day will win!

I believe stories are a universal common connection. The important things to hit in sharing your story isn't dramatic points (such as my story) rather real life pain and recognition of sin and rebellion against God and how he pursued you and redeems and restores you. Don't give people religion self help stories. They can get that at Barnes and Noble. They need to know Jesus is the Savior who died and rose again!

You might need to re-learn the gospel or learn it for the first time. For those of you that don't have the dramatic testimony, there had to come a point in your life when your faith became real and you better understood the need for the gospel in your life and your deep need for Jesus. Remember we all have sinned (Rom 3:23).

I encourage you to explore your story with God and learn to communicate it with the people you meet. Let your story share the Good news about Jesus. Don't ignore sin, Jesus payment for sin and salvation through faith! People respond to people's story and experiences, your testimony should reflect the gospel. Go for it! Share your story!

good news/bad news gospel

In the south, the old Romans Road is the main message for the gospel proclamation. I used it for years. Today I find that the gospel narrative approach has much more big picture of the gospel than these bullet pointed facts!

Regardless of the way we share or understand the gospel, it's important that we get the fundamental's of the gospel down. Sin. Substitutionary Atonement (Christ dying in our place for our sins) and salvation by faith!