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Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church (Leadership Network Innovation Series)

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My how we could have used this book ten years ago when our church (Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL) first decided to cross the racial divide in hopes of becoming multi-ethnic! Our results were recently described in a January, 2010 Time Magazine article that shows both how far Willow has come, and how far it still has to go.

It's interesting that both these authors and our pastor (Bill Hybels) were inspired by Michael Emerson's depressing book "Divided by Faith." For those who haven't read it yet, it describes lasting multi-ethnic churches as sociologically impossible. Yet, as I once responded to Dr. Emerson in a meeting, it HAS to be possible for Christians, because the Bible commands it. This book is the story of HOW it has been possible with God's help, not only for Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, but also for several other cited examples to become truly multi-ethnic (defined as no more than 80% from any one ethnicity.)

A key insight of this book is: however well the homogeneous unit principle of church growth worked in the twentieth century, only multi-ethnic churches can achieve lasting growth in the twenty-first. One reason is that the U.S. is becoming more diverse. Twenty-five percent of the people living near Willow's suburban campuses no longer look like the people who founded Willow. Any church that today only appeals to only one ethnicity, thereby shrinks its market, especially as the U.S. moves toward becoming majority-minority by 2042. Second, and more importantly, people who are considering the message of the church today can't avoid wondering why it can't be at least as diverse as their workplace. As this book put it "For in an increasingly diverse and cynical society, people will no longer find credible the message of God's love for all people when it's preached by segregated churches."

Another key insight: "it is the [multi-ethnic] church at Antioch, and not the [homogeneous] church in Jerusalem, that is the most influential church of the entire New Testament." and "it wasn't until the church at Jerusalem was persecuted that individuals were forced to carry the message of Christ to other lands and people."

The book lists seven core commitments of a multi-ethnic church: embrace dependence, intentional steps, diverse leaders, cross-cultural relationships and competence, inclusion and mobilizing for impact.

Thankfully, this book then gets into actual cases, such as tongues, women in ministry, politics, the undocumented, worship music, wine versus grape juice, choosing leaders, and resolving conflicts. It also presents various models of how multi-ethnic churches function, listing strengths and weaknesses of each approach. For instance, Willow now has a popular weekly service in Spanish, good for attracting Hispanics. However, the resulting challenge is how to ensure Willow remains united, not two congregations sharing a building.

I found the transitions between the two authors a bit hard to track, and still wonder about the ethnicity of Deymaz. Those primarily concerned about bridging the specific divide between black and white may want an additional book, such as the book "Letters Across the Divide" that helped Willow start its "Justice Journey."

Overall, for churches interested in actually becoming multi-ethnic, this is your "how to" guide.

Stained glass, with all of its multiple brilliant colors, provides a unique style of rainbow for church families, allowing nature's light to shine through a prism of various shades of peace and comfort. Mark Deymaz and Harry Li attempt to introduce the stained glass concept into the church body with their new book, "Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church". As Deymaz and Li explore the possibilities associated with bringing different ethnicities together under one Godly roof, it's impossible to ignore the analogy of the stained glass, the elegant, beautiful art work that stands as a testament to the value of strength derived from the sum of disparate parts.

Deymaz and Li don't deny the fact that there are obstacles to creating such a spiritual utopia; in fact, they recognize this sad fact in every chapter. However, not ones to be dissuaded, they acknowledge the difficulties, and in the same breath they offer solutions for eradicating these barriers. Multiple races worshiping together requires overcoming challenges that range from the personal to the practical. Ironically, there is a chapter devoted to debunking the myths created by theological sources, making one want to throw up her hands and give up. Yet, the authors do such an amazing job of convincing the reader it is possible, racial harmony in God's House is within our grasp, it renews hope and faith that the promise of knowing we are "Christians by our love, by our love" will be a song that literally comes to fruition.

Excellent read for anyone interested in justice, spirituality, or the how the two might blend.

Churches struggling with issues of diversity and ethnic representation will welcome Mark Deymaz and Harry Li's ETHNIC BLENDS: MIXING DIVERSITY INTO YOUR LOCAL CHURCH. It covers common obstacles churches face in trying to blend in different ethnicities, and provides paths for a church to become a healthy, multi-ethnic representation of faith. The authors are multi-ethnic church pioneers with a track record in addressing and successfully handling barriers to church growth, making this an authoritative church reference.

Demographers estimate that America will become a majority-minority nation by 2042. At the moment, whites account for a majority of Americans; by 2042, no one race or ethnic group will hold that distinction. This demographic shift will change and complexify American ethnic relationships in ways that are difficult to predict.

Martin Luther King Jr. often lamented that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning was the most segregated hour of the American week. In their 2000 study, Divided by Faith, sociologists Christian Smith and Michael Emerson documented the depth of that segregation, especially among evangelical churches. The picture they painted was not pretty. For a variety of reasons, evangelical churches tended to be more segregated than other churches.

For Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li, ethnic segregation within evangelical churches is a repudiation of the gospel. In his 2007 book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church, DeYmaz outlined the theological framework for planting intentionally multi-ethnic churches. He focused on three New Testament passages: Jesus' prayer for the church's unity (John 17:20-23), the multi-ethnic mission of the Antioch church (Acts 11:19-26, 13:1), and the social implications of the gospel explicated by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Additionally, he outlined "seven core commitments" of a contemporary multi-ethnic church: embracing dependence, taking intentional steps, empowering diverse leaders, developing cross-cultural relationships, pursuing cross-cultural competence, promoting a spirit of inclusion, and mobilizing for impact.

Chapter 1 of Ethnic Blends summarizes DeYmaz's earlier book. Chapters 2-8 outline seven practical obstacles pastors and parishioners will face when they set out to plant a multi-ethnic church or transform a homogeneous one. These obstacles are personal, theological, philosophical, practical, cross-cultural, relational, and spiritual in nature. DeYmaz and Li address these obstacles as practitioners rather than as theoreticians. They are lead pastor and campus pastor, respectively, of Mosaic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas -- a city with an infamous history of segregation.

The book is practical. It is also irenic. DeYmaz and Li do not prophetically denounce homogeneous churches, even though they directly challenge the theology and practice of the homogenous unit principle, the key insight of the Church Growth Movement, which teaches that people like to come to Christ without crossing demographic boundaries. Instead, they patiently explain and defend the theological foundations of intentionally multi-ethnic churches, as well as realistically assess the difficulties of implementing this vision in contemporary America. Their book is heartfelt, and their stories are alternately heart-wrenching and hopeful.

Speaking for the nascent multi-ethnic church movement, DeYmaz and Li state a key goal of that movement: that 20% of American churches will be 20% ethnic minority by 2020 and that 50% of American churches will be 50% ethnic minority by 2050. Churches that strive to do so will demonstrate the unity of the church that Christ prayed for, the mission of the church that Antioch exemplified, and the social implications of the gospel that Paul taught in Ephesians.

Planting a multi-ethnic church, or transforming a homogeneous one, is not easy work. Majority bigotry is obviously a problem. But substantial differences of style and substance between ethnic minorities is also a major problem. Whether or not one ultimately agrees that multi-ethnic churches best exemplify the gospel, DeYmaz and Li make many insightful observations about how to relate to people who are different from you, whether they are Christian or not. In our increasingly multi-ethnic cultural context, I think these insights are timely and suggestive.

I highly recommend this book for anyone involved in planting and leading churches or training those who plant and lead (including denominational officials and seminary professors). As with any book, you will disagree with parts of Ethnic Blends. But I hope this book will also challenge thinking about church growth and help us align our church growth principles more closely with the gospel.

One of the better books on the multi-ethnic church conversation I have read. Great mix of theology and practice, invitation and challenge. Plenty of stories, illustrations, and examples along the way make this book easy to read and encouraging regardless of where your church might find itself on the multi-ethnic journey. Along with Divided by Faith (Emerson, Smith), I will recommend this book to anyone interested in thinking about race/ethnicity/culture in a church setting.

In his groundbreaking book `Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church", Mark DeyMaz sets for the idea that it is not so much racial blending that we seek when approaching the question of multicultural and multiethnic churches. It is, rather, a celebration of all cultures and ethnicities that makes for a truly rewarding spiritual experience. His church, the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, has lived out the ideals of a truly Christ-centered ministry through hard work, perseverance, problem solving and good old-fashioned trial and error. Taking a Bible-based approach, DeyMaz makes it clear that what is necessary to bring the gospel to the 21st century world is not racial reconciliation, but rather the reconciliation of human beings with God through Christ. He indicates how it is possible to bring into fruition a church whose members are able to push toward the healing of earthly rifts caused by racial and social tension. Writes DeyMaz, "...the church is a sleeping giant in the effort to dismantle institutional racism in the United States." `Ethnic Blends' is the wakeup call.

One of the problems that faces any multi-ethnic community is the logistical one of how to properly integrate many diverse cultures without forcing its members to conform to the dominant paradigm or water down their heritage. DeyMaz presents through the course of his book seven barriers that religious leaders must overcome when they start a multi-ethnic church or begin to incorporate other cultures into a preexisting congregation. These obstacles are personal, theological, philosophical, practical, cross-cultural, relational, and spiritual. Perhaps the biggest challenge to be overcome is that of doctrine. A poignant phrase in the book reads, "...much of what passes for religious doctrine or practical theology in our churches today is personal, preferential, or culturally bound. ...The ability to accommodate various forms of evangelical faith and worship without compromising doctrinal beliefs is an essential characteristic of those who would successfully brew ethnic blends."

To hang on to the spirit of the church without letting it go, yet allowing somehow the many voices and many styles of the cultures represented in the congregation to shine forth in all their bright splendor takes very well-honed leadership. DeyMaz teaches his readers step by step how to exhibit that leadership. He offers practical points, case studies, examples form his own life and from his own church. He admits mistakes he's made so that the reader may learn from them with him. He tells of triumphs and describes every bump in the road and every challenge successfully overcome on the road to building one of the most dynamic and inspirational churches in the world. The multi-ethnic, multi-cultural church model that Mosaic displays so well is something that can be emulated. "Ethnic Blends" is indeed a vibrant blueprint for building a diverse and vibrant church that shines just as brightly with a thousand various colors all radiating the same blinding light of God.

The authors provide practical advice based on experience. The need to lay the theological foundation for the shift to a multi-ethnic approach has helped me tremendously.

The multi-ethnic church, like a good cup of coffee, produces an aroma that is refreshingly attractive - especially to those without Christ in an increasingly diverse and cynical society, according to Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li in this book. The book is written to inspire, guide and encourage ministry leaders who want to see local churches reflect the unity and diversity of the kingdom of God.

The book combines the authors' personal stories with biblical insights and numerous short contributions from other multi-ethnic church leaders. There are plenty of obstacles in the way of achieving a true biblical unity in diversity, and seven of the eight chapters in the book relate to overcoming obstacles: personal obstacles, theological obstacles, philosophical obstacles, practical obstacles, cross-cultural obstacles, relational obstacles, and spiritual obstacles.

That may seem like an over-emphasis on the obstacles, but anyone who has had experience in leadership of a multiethnic church will confirm that misunderstandings inevitably occur, and you need to be broader minded and more accepting and forgiving than might be the case in a mono-cultural church. Nonetheless, the multiethnic church journey is one filled with amazing blessings.

For any church leaders seeking to join the journey towards ethnic diversity, this book provides a very handy summary of the types of pitfalls that might be encountered along the way. For those who are already some way along the path, there are plenty of new insights to gain.

Mark Deymaz and Harry Li are pastors of a church called Mosaic in Central Arkansas. In their diverse setting they have committed to building a community of diversity and have seen unity grow among ethnically and economically diverse Christ followers. They are honest, straight forward, and give not only the blessings of this adventure but also the struggles they have encountered in bring together diverse people and cultures.

Their Biblical basis comes out of Paul's commitment to "the mystery of Christ" as he opened the doors to the gentiles in his Jewish culture. The gospel is for all people, thus the church is for all people. The authors are passionate about a multi-ethnic blend being the best way for God to be glorified and for the gospel to move forward. The "new command" Jesus gives his disciples to love one another, in their minds, clearly puts forth the importance of a display of unity among all people in the life of the church.

I found this book to be thought provoking, inspiring, and very relevant to where the church in America finds itself today. As many of our communities are growing in diversity, we have the opportunity to lead the way of love and unity in this complex cultural clashing. Deymaz and Li are great at pointing out the flexibility and openness to diverse expression of faith that is needed. Their call to keep the main thing the main thing is very important in the church today.

While the book brings to light many important issues, I think it perhaps misses the mark in what diversity means in the American church. The issues they raise go far beyond ethnicity, and even beyond economic diversity. There are many churches that are simply not in a very ethnically diverse community. But every church has differences to bridge. The gap between the generations is bigger than it has ever been. The political polarization we are experiencing is also a widening divide. There are so many issues in our world of "subcultures" that divide that are not central to the faith. What does a church look like that stands for truth and grace, and keeps Christ at the center as the main thing?

The best question the book asks is "what does it mean to love?" To love God, your neighbor as yourself, and one another so that the world might know the grace of God in Christ. If each church can answer that question, I think the local church might come alive with the Spirit of God, and be less of a clanging cymbal.

Read this book with an open mind asking what God would have you do to love those right where you live. You will definitely be challenged.

I currently attend a church that is not very ethnically diverse (although we do a lot of outreach). I am drawn to books that explain how to reach out to people of other nationalities. The latest book on my reading list in that category is `Ethnic Blend: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church' by Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Experience the 21st Century's New Reformation. Increasingly, church leaders are recognizing the intrinsic power and beauty of the multi-ethnic church. More than a good idea, it's a biblical, first-century standard with far-reaching evangelical potential.

How can your church overcome the obstacles in order to become a healthy, fruitful multi-ethnic church of faith? And why should you even try?

In Ethnic Blends, multi-ethnic church pioneers Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li provide an up-close and personal look at seven common challenges to mixing diversity into your local church. Through real-life stories and practical illustrations, DeYmaz and Li show how to overcome the obstacles in order to build a healthy multi-ethnic church. They also include the insights of other effective, multi-ethnic church pastors from the United States and Australia.

Here are the biographies of these authors:

Dr. Mark DeYmaz is the founding pastor of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church where significant percentages of Black and White Americans, together with men and women from more than 30 nations, walk, work and worship God together as one. A recognized leader in the emerging Multi-ethnic Church Movement, Mark's book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church (Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2007), provides the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church and outlines seven core commitments required to bring it about. He posts weekly on his blog, Glue, at www.markdeymaz.com. Mark is currently a contributing editor for Leadership Journal and a former member of Little Rock's Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission. He is a graduate of Liberty University, Western Seminary in Portland, OR, and has a DMin from Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, he is a co-founder of the Mosaix Global Network (www.mosaix.info) based in Denton, Texas, an organization dedicated to inspiring unity and in the local church throughout North America and beyond. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, Linda, and their four children.

Harry Li is the Campus Pastor of Mosaic and came on staff in 2002, when the church was six months old. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Idaho where he taught for 10 years. Harry and his wife, Melanie, reside in Little Rock and have three daughters, Anna, Katie and Meredith.

In the Foreword, Michael O. Emerson, PhD, a sociology professor at Rice University, explains why this book is needed:

We need guidance on what challenges to expect, how to address them, how to worship and walk together, how to form community, and how to work for justice. Ethnic Blends brings us a giant leap forward on these questions. It provides firsthand accounts and draws on the best of a variety of experiences. The authors discuss a range of obstacles that those engaged in multi-ethnic ministry will inevitably face. Each chapter directly takes on real issues and provides honest, biblically and experientially informed responses. A treasure chest. (p. 16)

In the Introduction, entitled `Acquiring the Taste,' Pastor DeYmaz opens this way, using a coffee analogy, which is a running theme throughout the book:

Together with my colleague of eight years, Harry Li, I have led our congregation in pursuit of what we sometimes refer to as ethnic blends - the intentional mixing of diversity into the local church. With a desire to inspire, guide, and encourage ministry leaders who long to see local churches reflect the unity and diversity of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, we are writing this book to promote the further development of multi-ethnic churches throughout North America and beyond. For we have seen that the multi-ethnic church, like a good cup of coffee, produces an aroma that is refreshingly attractive - especially to those without Christ in an increasingly diverse and cynical society (pp. 19-20)

Pastor Li describes their church and how he and Pastor DeYmaz want to reach many people:

Our church is truly a mosaic of broken individuals, yet united together, we form one beautiful picture in Christ. I'm so thankful that God has blessed our work in ways no person could even take credit for. Thankfully, his supernatural provisions and awesome displays of power remain as evident today as they were in the beginning, when I first arrived in Little Rock to help blaze a trail. Both Mark and I hope that after reading this book, you too will join us on this road less traveled. And we hope your own efforts, and contributions to the multi-ethnic church movement, will someday make the road even wider for the masses soon heading our way. (pp. 31-32)

Due to the increasing racial diversity of the United States, it is important that churches reflect that diversity as well:

Failure on our part to recognize the changing landscape or to adapt in accordance with Scripture may soon render our work, or worse yet our message, irrelevant. For in an increasingly diverse and cynical society, people will no longer find credible the message of God's love for all people when it's proclaimed from segregated churches. In these changing times, those without Christ will respond not to platitudes but rather to practice, not to words but only to an authentic witness of God's love for all people that is daily displayed in life and action. And I believe that this witness is best matured and manifested through healthy multi-ethnic churches. (pp. 36-37)

Following Christ's example will help us to love and reach those different from us:

When men and women of diverse backgrounds walk together as one in Christ in and through the local church, they reflect the Father's love for all people. More than that, a oneness of mind, love, spirit, and purpose proclaims the gospel in a most powerful, tangible and compelling way. For as his own union with the Father uniquely empowered Christ to proclaim God's love for the world, our union with him, and, he says, with fellow believers uniquely empowers us to do the same. Yes, in pursuing the "perfection of unity," we will see the world come to know him as we do! (p. 41)

The gentlemen proclaim that there are seven core commitments of a multi-ethnic church (pp. 44-50):

1. Embrace Dependence

2. Take Intentional Steps

3. Empower Diverse Leaders

4. Develop Cross-cultural Relationships

5. Pursue Cross-cultural Competence

6. Promote a Spirit of Inclusion

7. Mobilize for Impact

There are many obstacles to having a multi-ethnic church, including personal differences among the difference cultures. However, they are worth the effort:

Given these personal challenges, why would anyone chase the multi-ethnic dream? There is really only one reason: if the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, the church on earth should not be either! That's why, in these days of increasing diversity and opportunity, we believe that local church pastors, planters, and reformers must embrace the New Testament vision of the multi-ethnic church for the sake of the gospel. Without a solid grasp of God's vision for the church, it will be difficult to face the personal challenges and opposition to your ministry. (pp. 67-68)

It is important to understand the group to whom you're ministering to:

Pastors and church planters must make it a priority to pursue cross-cultural competence if they hope to discover the nuances of each culture and their effect on the overall body of Christ. Ultimately, your effectiveness in ministering to a broad range of people within the church will hinge on your ability not only to understand but also to respect and rightly interpret for others various cultural perspectives related to Christ, the church, and the gospel. (p. 149)

The gentlemen point out that the apostle Paul often faced opposition, as described in the New Testament. Paul provides a role model for how to get along with others:

In circumstances like these, our natural tendency is to grow hard-hearted toward those who push back at us. Or we go to the opposite extreme and become a people pleaser to avoid conflict and win approval. Neither extreme is appropriate or Christlike. We must learn to remain tenderhearted and gracious, even when sharing hard truths with others. Paul modeled this sort of persistence and patience as he ministered in Athens, looking for others who were hungry to learn and responsive to the message (Acts 17:34) (p. 172)

In one of the section written by other pastors, David Anderson, Senior Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, explains that the enemy of our souls seeks to bring forth discord in our churches:

Satan, the great deceiver and divider, works overtime to separate Christians, catch them while they are weak, worn, conflicted, confused, and, most of all, asleep. Just as Jesus' friends dozed off when they were supposed to stay awake and pray for him while he was facing the most difficult spiritual and emotional battle of his life in the garden of Gethsemane, we as believers have been lulled to sleep while the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to watch each other's backs at all times, but especially in prayer. When we are careful to cover each other and stay unified against our common enemy, we find less time to argue and divide over our differences regarding race, ethnicity, denominational preferences, and the like. (p. 201)

When difficulties come, the pastors offer this advice/wisdom:

Instead of allowing yourself to get discouraged, stay focused on God and allow his Spirit to fire you up time and time again. Remember that those who pursue the path of the peacemaker, investing their lives in multi-ethnic ministry, are following in the very footsteps of Christ and the apostle Paul, Take to heart the words of Paul as he reflected on his own work of planting and developing multi-ethnic churches. He wrote to Timothy, "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim, 3:10-12). (pp. 209-210)

Our church is spearheading a movement called E.A.C.H. - Everyone A Chance to Hear (you can learn more about the initiative here - [...]). The idea is to give everyone in the Metro Detroit area - and beyond! - the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Being that Metro Detroit is ethnically diverse, we all need to learn more about how to uniquely reach all people groups.

Although I am a lay Christian, I enjoy reading books which are written specifically to `professional Christians.' Many people are under the mistaken impression that the pastorate and people employed by churches and parachurch ministries are the one who are supposed to do all the work. But Jesus told all of us to preach the gospel. It is exciting to learn more about how to be more effective in that endeavor. I thank Pastors DeYmaz and Li for bringing forth this information to help everyone be effective in reaching out to all people!

This book was provided by Zondervan Publishers for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...].