AEC2000
The Diversity Project
Stories and Practical Learnings
about the Origins of Multicultural Urban Churches
Rocky Kidd and
Allan Howe
Appendix: Principles for Growing Multicultural
Churches
1. Build conviction about diversity
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Biblically: people must know why biblically
we should have multicultural churches (see Rev. 7:9-12; Acts 6:1-7;
11:19-26; 13:1-3; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 2:14-22; Gal. 3:26-28). |
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Strategically: the urban reality is multicultural
and the church must not lag behind the world’s diversity but, instead,
demonstrate a healthy model of unity in diversity in Christ to the world. |
2. Affirm diversity as part of the church’s identity and
vision
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Through messages:
the pastor must speak about it frequently in his messages. |
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Through planning:
diversity usually doesn’t just happen; there must be intentionality in our
plans to grow as a diverse church. |
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Through worship,
outreach, and ministries: worship should be enriched by elements from
diverse cultures, and ministries should be developed or refined to be
sensitive to concerns of diverse cultures. |
3. Build a multicultural leadership team and staff
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Pray for God to
direct you to the people of other cultures he has to grow and serve with
you. |
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Pursue those
people, challenging them with your vision and their role in it. |
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Disciple/Train
them to grow and serve with you. |
4. Enjoy progress and anticipate problems
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Celebrate
diversity: it’s a foretaste of heaven that we can relish right here and
now! |
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Evaluate
dynamics: be alert to how people are interacting on deeper levels. |
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Learn to identify
warning signals: factions, undercurrents, and "mysterious
disappearances." |
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Facilitate
communication: an ongoing need to not only solve problems but maximize what
God intends diversity to be. |
5. Keep growing and plant new multicultural churches
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Recognize how the
dynamics of a multicultural church affect the already complex issues of
assimilation, mobilization, and change. |
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Affirm your
vision for multicultural churches by enlisting a multicultural team from
your church to go start another multicultural church. |
Prepared by Rev. Thomas M. Maluga,
Senior Pastor, Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois
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For further information or feedback on this
study, contact Rocky Kidd, 4331 Carey, East Chicago, IN 46312, 219-677-4112 (RockyKidd@usa.net)
or Allan Howe, 723 Seward St., Evanston, IL 60202, 847-475-5041 (AHHowe@aol.com)
The browning
urbanizat
Taken from A
New Humanity: Anabaptist Ministry Among Many Peoples (© 2000 New
Life Ministries). Permission to reproduce for local church use only is
granted. Provided by New Life Ministries, 6404 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN
46807, through its
web site at www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org
This and all presentations from the council meeting, along with a record of the proceedings, are available in booklet
form for $10.00. Use the online
order form (product code AEC00).
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