Cross Cultural Evangelism is a necessity in this great melting pot! People from all of the nations on earth are right at our doorstep. What an amazing evangelism opportunity that we have as the Church right now!
Based on this lesson, discuss some of your experiences with various ethnic groups in your field of harvest.
How can you reach out to different ethnic groups within your community?
What resources and people could you gather together to better reach the different groups in your community?
We presently have 9 different ethnic languages in our church,We are still a very small group,but were building a base to work from.Our Church has had 2 out-reaches on a native reservation and 1 native man received the Holy Ghost.We have had cultured dinners which were very successful.Presently we are endeavouring to reach our cultured families and friends.
ReplyDeleteWe almost alway's have fellowship downstairs after every baptism.Of course the person or people that were baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost are the centre of attraction for visiting friends, and family.One night a 92 year old visiting jewish lady got exicted and wanted to know more about Jesus,after a short Bible study,we baptized her and 2 friends over 80 years old in Jesus name and 2 of the three received the Holy Ghost.Praise God!
ReplyDeleteWe currently have 3 ethnic backgrounds in our church, we have many more in our city to reach. We are doing outreach to to these groups and want to have them be a part of our church. I have visited homes spoke with many people about coming and have tried to break down cultural walls that are in this area. The walls are coming down, but not as fast as I would like them to.
ReplyDeleteIn the Coachella Vally we have many cultures present and it will take a change in our mindset to reach these groups. We do have a large Filipino representation sorrounding the English speaking church. I frequent the local Filipino stores to see what is going on in the community. This has proven effective as I get to understand their culture and what they core beliefs are. I know that I must get more involved in their culture in order to reach this rich culture.
ReplyDeleteIn our Spanish speaking church location there is large number of African American presence and this is an area I know I can improve on evangelizing. We do have a contact that can help us break thru this barrier. I know it is going to take a large effort on felllowship groups to reach this diverse group.
After reviewing the video I did have to examine myself and ask if I am really doing everything I possibly can do to reach these two diverse groups.
I do know that these two cultural groups I discussed have their own support groups, committees, non-profit organizations that reach out to their own culture. I have approach these organizations to connect with their culture as an additional resource to help with youth programs, marriage counseling, and financial workshops that are free to their communities. They are proving successful after consistently showing up and offering our free services to them.
ReplyDeleteSomething I've not really consdiered before until Bro. Hanscom brought it out in this lesson ... so many locations in North America have been called a "melting pot." The example of a "salad bowl" is definitely more accurate today. They don't melt into our culture but they mix in with their individual identity. This reality does present challenges but also more opportunity for the church! Since I've served in Foreign Missions in the past and have lived in other countries, I can definitely relate to how they feel. I've been on the other side of "sterotypes" and people in other countries assumed that because I was a North American, I was arrogant and felt superior to them. Until relationships can be developed there will continue to be walls of misunderstanding. We can't influence people for the cause of Christ until the walls can come down.
ReplyDeleteQuestion to ppdap .... You mentioned having a Spanish speaking church location. I have been a missionary in South America and was just getting comfortable with the Spanish language when we unexpectedly had to return to the states due to my wife's health. That was about 10 years ago and where we relocated, there were not many Hispanics. So I've not used the language much in the past several years. However, I still have a deep love for the Latin people. In our current city there is a larger representation of Hispanics. Are you fluent in Spansih yourself or do you have someone working with you that takes care of the Spanish location? I am wondering about trying to implement a Spanish strategy ... while trying to "refresh" my own ability in the language. Perhaps you can comment and offer your thoughts on this.
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ReplyDeletedon't know about you guys but I am bored with the idea of trying to establish a new church with people who have a traditional, Bible belt religious mentality! The content of this lesson was very exciting to me! I realize that the diversity in culture will present a set of challenges that I may not have experience with, but I can't help but feel confident that God will provide the wisdom and the abilities necessary as long as it is "HIS" will that we are pursuing!
ReplyDeleteBeing from the South I have learned, avoiding political discussions can be of help when working with people of diifferent cultures. Many people were raised to think from a total diiferent view point. And it is very important to not offend when we first meet.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 80's I was working in a church with the position of discipling new converts. We had a 2 week revival and gained several new souls. I was so excited. However, these new folks were black and our Pastor took them all over to the Apostolic Church, where a majority black congregation was, He gave them away because they were of a different culture. Saying he didn't know how to pastor them. He told me if I wanted him to help he would find me a building and I could start reaching out to that community. I never got over that feeling. If God gives us babies we need to love them and help them grow in God , no matter the race. I'm open to anyone of any culture, We have a deaf lady that comes to our services some. I am very limited on sign language, but she can read lips so when I speak I look right in her direction alot. And try to speak where she can read my lips. I also make an extra copy of sermon notes so she can sort of follow along. And I had never done that for anyone. But it shows her we care.
ReplyDeleteW. Joyce, Lord bless in your effort to win those of any culture. If we are led of the Spirit God will use us!!
ReplyDeleteResponding to brother John R.you mentioned your from the south,well I am from the north.We have found a universal connection with people from every nation 1stCorinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith,hope,charity, these three;but the greatest of these is charity.The love of Jesus will tear down any cultural barrier we face.Invite them for a coffee,take them fishing, show them we care and love them.This past Sunday a new Fhilipino couple returned to church for the second time they both are new pharmacists in Elliot Lake.I asked him after the alter call if he has ever fished in northern Ontario,Joel responded his face all lit up he would love to go.Praise God.We just need to show them we care.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is imperative that we become interested in the concept of multi-cultural revival. I personally desire to see at the very least, a micro-chasm of our community's demographics represented in our local church. In order to see it happen we must be, as Bro. Hanscomb said, intentional. It's not going to happen by accident. We still have to "go".
ReplyDeleteThe city we are planting in is a very "white" area traditionally. An agricultural, farming area. Although you often see many hispanics in such a setting, we do not have many here. I would be interested in hearing from others who are in similar places, and what you have done/are doing to reach the various ethnic groups in your city.
ReplyDeleteBro Gann - I definitely agree with you on identifying with Bro. Hanscomb's analogy of America as a salad bowl. I think this is especially true in the religious community. It is without doubt, the most segregated element of our North American society. I pray that our church actually does become a melting pot for various ethnicities, and not merely a salad bowl.
ReplyDeleteWe are in process of establishing a diverse group of individuals in our church congregation. Primarily, it may be due to where we are planting a church (north Austin) as well as our own personal background. Demonstrating a welcoming attitude with our first time guests as well as simply being open to people in our city as provided a means to share the gospel effectively to different ethnic groups. We have folks from at least 5 different cultural ethnic groups represented at our church, and this really is due to being open to people. We are blessed and excited about the possibilities of making in-roads to the city and surrounding area that we are called to serve.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the conversation about being a culturally diverse congregation. Being intentional about reaching and establishing dialog to different cultures is truly at the heart of the mission of Christ. This lesson reaffirms the need to have our churches reach people, regardless of their ethnic background. While sometime this may take additional creativity and sensitivity, this embodies the full essence of the Great Commission. Having information (bible studies) written in the person’s native language may go a long way to truly convey the message on a practical level. I’ll be sure to take advantage of some of the assistance that is made possible through this lesson.
ReplyDeleteR.Harwood: Thanks for sharing the idea of having times of fellowship after baptism. This may be another way to get new folks connected to some of our more established folks upon making this commitment in their faith and taking this step. Because we know that people simply desire to feel like they are cared about and can be accepted for who they are, this may be a way to facility deeper unity in the body of the congregation. Thanks again!
ReplyDelete@ Reg Harwood -- That is exciting about 9 ethnic diversities in your church. We are thinking about doing a multicultural day/dinner. Could you share with me how you set yours up and how you made it effective?
ReplyDeleteI'm challenged to train up people that speak different languages and to focus attention on those ethnic diversities already present in our church.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the freedemographics.com was a great website reference. I built a 2010 census report in my area within minutes, and had 1, 3, 5 mile radiuses with an interactive map to strategize our area of accountability to reach the gospel with. Prayer now will be addressed to pray for the right ethnic leaders, and to meet them and build relationships, teach bible studies and win them to Christ!!
ReplyDeleteThis is directed to Brother pdxpastor.It was very easy to arrange a multicultural dinner,we would announce to the church, were having a "friend day" and everyone will invite your family and friends.Now of course we want you to make your FAVORITE cultural dish!Believe me they all get into action to make their dish of food the best.Its very exciting to watch everything naturally unfold,you might also consider buying a nice gift for the person who brought the most guests.We are able to meet brand new people and to suggest a bible study and invite them to a service,when it comes down to who made the best dish,I can never decide for they were all GREAT.
ReplyDeleteI definitely like the analogy of a salad bowl. We are seeing that now. We have some people that are going keep their shape and flavor no matter what.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, We are in the same boat. We have large population of Marshallese and Spanish, it's taking time breaking down the walls however.
ReplyDeleteWe have a few different ethnic backgrounds in our community. Surprising to me was the oriental population we have here. I didn't realize how large it was until we started renting the facility we use for services. Just down from us is an oriental store which is always full of oriental customers. This discovery caused me to look into it a little more. I soon found that there are several decent size churches in the community specifically for them. My wife and I have befriended the owners of the store and hope to be affective with them. My prayer is that we can break into that community.
ReplyDeleteWe are currently trying to learn more about the differences in cultures so we can better relate and even communicate with people in our region. I find this requires being around them more than just in services. We eat with them and attend other functions that their friends and family come to.
ReplyDeleteWe have found a shift from when we launched our church to our current demographic. When we started our congregation was made up of those in their 20's, white, and students. Almost 2 years later our church is mainly made up of African - Americans. it has been a challenge to get used to the cultural differences, but has been a lot of fun at the same time.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we have wanted to do is to reach out to the large Hispanic group in our area. We are looking at holding a service where the entire service is is in Spanish and there is a fellowship dinner afterwards. Another group we want to reach, while not a different ethnicity is reaching men. I believe that if we can reach men - women and children will follow.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Reg Harwood: I think it is great to hear of the cultural diversity represented in the church congregation. I am sure it can be a challenge to not get in the rut of thinking with one mindset but allowing yourself to be all things to all men.
ReplyDeleteWe started out as a Spanish daughter church but as we've grown and become an autonomous church (and as our church becomes older) we have had to become more and more bilingual. Since Norfolk is 45% White and 43% African American. My answers are probably going to be the opposite of others in this blog because I am a predominantly Hispanic church who is having to adapt to reach in the White, African American and Filipino community
ReplyDeleteHow can you reach out to different ethnic groups within your community?
We are reaching out to different ethnic groups by purposefully doing outreach to all communities where different ethnic groups live. We have bilingual services, and "All Nation" type services or events to reflect our community.
For instance our Christmas banquet is an "International Christmas Banquet with food from around the world.
What resources and people could you gather together to better reach the different groups in your community?
The websites listed that give demographics are a good help. Based on our city's demographics we are going to try to make sure our leadership reflects our community's diversity and attend different cultural events and training.