I have been discussing the importance of cultural awareness for a while, but I want to shift and reflect on the specific things we need as a church to reach people from every tribe, tongue, and nation around us. However, as I mentioned in my last post, not all churches will be multicultural and multiethnic. Many will reflect only one ethnic group for diverse reasons (geographical, demographical, or cultural.), which is okay. I am not trying to put an artificial demand on all churches to become diverse. Nevertheless, the reality is that we see fewer and fewer cities and places comprising only one ethnic group in this country. Therefore, if our churches are in a multiethnic community, our congregation must develop a multiethnic ministry by going to our communities and inviting all people to come to encounter Jesus (Luke 14:23).
In this post, I would like to discuss something crucial regarding multiethnic ministry: intentionality. Intentionality can be defined as "an attitude of purposefulness, with a commitment to deliberate action." Purposefulness and deliberate action are what we see in Jesus' ministry. After Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:9-11), Jesus begins his ministry by reaching out not only to Jews but also people from all nations. He deliberately entered their world, culture, and religion with the gospel's good news. For instance, Jesus intentionally passed by Samaria to meet the woman at the well (John 4:5-30). He also deliberately attended a Canaanite woman (Matt 15:22-28) and a Roman centurion who demonstrated faith in him (Matt 8:5-13). In addition, and beyond his example through his ministry, we know that Jesus commissioned the church to go to all the nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
We often disobey Jesus' intentional ministry to minorities, not because we do not understand what Jesus did or what he asks us, but because (beyond our sin) we are not "intentional" about this specific mission. In other words, we see Jesus' ministry, understand Jesus' commission, and still wait for things to happen themselves! Yes, we must pray and trust in the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:17). Yet, we must be intentional! We must try to reach and welcome minority groups in our communities because a multiethnic church does not happen by chance. Jews would never have naturally related with Samaritans, Canaanites, or Romans if someone (Jesus) had not done something intentionally different. Through the gospel, Jesus went to them and destroyed the walls of distrust and hostility between people, cultures, and races.
Furthermore, although the apostles and followers of Jesus saw and experienced this reality after Jesus' ascension, we immediately see their need for more intentionality. The Apostles knew they had to go to the nations, but they were in Jerusalem expecting things to happen by themselves. However, in God's providence, the persecution came, and they were forced to leave their comfort zone (Acts 8). Even so, the church's mission to reach people from every tribe, tongue, and nation was complicated. After the diaspora, many followers of Jesus (even Peter), knowing what they had to do, still struggled to mix and share their lives and ministry with those who were not like them (Gal 2:11-21).
Today, we do not live in the different world that Jesus and the first church faced regarding the division between people. We also live in a culture that, instead of seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity, seeks to divide us (politically, racially, and socially). Moreover, we also struggle to share our lives and ministries with people different from us. Therefore, if we as a church are not intentional in what we must do, we will also be unable to build the bridge that Jesus is asking us to build (through the gospel) between the church and the people from every tribe, tongue, and nation around our communities.
In the following months, I will discuss how to be intentional in specific areas of multiethnic ministry and how to become a welcoming church to all people. Nevertheless, in the meantime, I would like to leave some questions for you to consider in your church and ministry: If you do not have people from other ethnicities (and your church is in a multiethnic community), are you intentionally discussing with your family and church about the necessity of reaching different people in your community? Have you thought about what you can start to do to invite them? Have you intentionally thought about how they can feel welcome? Have you intentionally thought about what you can change?
If you already have people from other ethnicities in your church, have you thought about how to help them share with others beyond the Sunday service? Have you considered how they can feel "part of the church" and not just spectators of what others do? Are you intentionally discipling and equipping them?
May the Lord bless your life and ministry,
The Rev. Sergio Sapunar.