Pastor Travis Hurley, lead pastor of First Christian Church at Brockhall Upper Marlboro, MD sent this interesting article he found on CNN.com. It echo’s the urgency
and the reason why “racial and ethnic diversity” must be intentional and deliberate efforts. Because
of our nations’ trend towards “social comfort,” in a market place that capitalizes on fears and insecurities,
we must continue to advocate and pursue racial and ethnic diversity within our church leadership
and within our congregation. Why? Frankly, because it is easier not to. Please read and comment.

Story Highlights:

* Only about 5 percent of the nation’s churches are racially integrated

* Slavery, Jim Crow kept churches segregated during nation’s early history

* Escape from racism is one reason for segregated Sunday services, pastor says

* Interracial congregations could help reduce racial friction in U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/04/segregated.sundays/index.html

Jesus commissioned His people to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus directly gave this charge to His twelve disciples – all Jewish by heritage. In that time, every Gentile or non-Jew was considered unclean. Thus, Jews only associated with fellow Jews. How uncomfortable, and inconvenient do you think this charge made them? In the Great Commission, Jesus is commanding His disciples to take the Gospel to the world, to all nations –To people who looked and sounded different then they did. This commandment requires each disciples to step out of their comfort zones, asking them to quit avoiding people of other races, religions, and lifestyles.
It commands them to associate with, dwell among, and take the Gospel to completely different people.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to live out the Great Commission. Jesus commands us to associate with, dwell among, and take the Gospel to those who are completely different. Jesus expected it then, and He certainly expects it now.

What does the response to the Great Commission look like in your ministry as it relates to stepping outside of your cultural comfort zone?

By Aaron Soto, a young leader in the Dream Of Destiny mentoring program.

On June 21, Next Generation Now met to discuss their present challenge. First, however, the team leaders engaged in a conversation on the significance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Byron challenged the young leaders to think
about what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus in the context of theirs lives today.  They were also challenged to take time out of their day to STOP and REFLECT on God’s goodness and what their response should be to God’s call on their life.

After a powerful conversation, the group then fixed their attention on the present challenge. In order to make an immediate impact in the community, the team opted to provide a day of reminiscence for the senior citizens of the San Fernando Valley. This day will include the food and music of the era in which the senior citizens grew up. In addition, there will be a large group of youth to connect, talk, and share Jesus with the elderly. In preparation for this event, the Next Generation Now group leaders are required to contact  senior citizen homes within the area, inquiring on things such as available attendees, food restrictions, status of transportation, and average age of residents, to name a few. This information will then be utilized by the team leaders to plan the event.

We pray that the senior citizens would experience the love of Jesus through the endeavors of Next Generation Now.

American Christian Churches, and Churches Of Christ across the country, unfortunately, continue to experience “segregated worship services and fellowship.” Even though people of different backgrounds, and ethnicities all serve the same Lord we find ourselves worshiping and fellowshiping in a closed, segregated, homogeneous context that does not reflect the diverse, eclectic landscape of believers worldwide. Why is this occurrence a problem?

In later blog posts we will dive into scripture and establish the biblical reasons why diversity within the local church is vital. The simple objective of this post is to offer a few pragmatic reasons, based on sociological research, why homogeneous church groups must make efforts to become more inclusive of other races within the context of their worship service and church administration if we want to have a greater positive impact within our communities.

In his book, Divided by Faith, Micheal Emerson discusses why local churches contribute to the socio-economic problems of our society when it chooses to maintain a homogeneous fellowship environment.

Here are three fundamental reasons why it is vital to orient our ministries toward a multi-racial context:

a. Racially homogeneous groups promote bias, reinforces negative stereotypes and foster division.

Sociologist Blau and Schartz demonstrate in their study that close association of social dimensions inhibit relationships between             groups. Because race is the dimension most closely associated with differential income, education, residential location, occupation etc.     and because religion typical is one dimension that divides along racial lines, if left unattended racial biases and division become more     defined. These divides and bias then play out on a larger macro socio-economic scale.

b. Racially homogeneous social groups result in categorization.

Cognitive and social psychologist help us understand the implications of categorization.

Categories have a tendency in our minds to get ranked and labeled as important or not important.

c. Racially homogeneous groups separate networks and promote inequality.

Most community and socially significant things are accomplished through social networks. Resources are shared through a dynamic         established network. Networks inform, protect, resource, provide opportunity, educate. Prominent and important positions are filled     via networks.

If a network is closed to a group of people, so are the opportunities that are only available through those networks. If Churches are         divided along racial lines than what naturally results over time is racial inequality.

Bottom Line: “The Church” must lead the charge in reconciliation (both socially and spiritually). Jesus came to save the world, and has chosen to use regular people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to point “the world” back towards the cross.

This past month we launched Next Generation Now here at Shepherd Of The Hills Church. We had 22 young people of different racial backgrounds ages 14 to 24 come together to embark on a journey the will stir up their passion for Christ likeness, their passion for “the church,” and their passion for the great commission. Pastor Dudley extended a challenge that motivated them to be the hands and feet of God, and commit their life to impacting this world for Christ. over the next year they will assemble teams that will go out and impact their communities in ways that will point this world to the cross. For more information on Next Generation Now, or how to start this kind of multiracial youth leadership/ mentoring program at your church please check out the NGN tab on this site. Or click here NOW!