Ethnic People Can Give the Gospel and Plant Churches

Key Point 13
American’s are not the only ones who can give the gospel and plant churches. “Do we pray, plan and encourage cross culturally empowering others to carry the message where we can’t?”

Many American’s have a subconscious response that questions the ability of people from another culture to properly give out the Gospel. I know we quickly affirm that others can be effective within their culture BUT the question is, “Do we pray, plan and empower others to carry the message where we can’t?” It is so common to us that the Bible is in English and some may doubt the ability of one in another language to teach the truth to others. Be patient with me on this.

My proposition for E-tem is that we should seek to win the people from other nations, especially the immigrants, and disciple them so they can give the gospel in areas where America’s are rejected or disliked.

I believe, “You can reach the nations without leaving home.”

AN EXAMPLE: A friend told me about his work with Mexican immigrants, mostly illegal. Churches in Mexico give him names of those who move to his area. He then has led several to accept Christ as Savior. Some of these have returned home by choice or by deportation and have helped to strengthen the church in Mexico.

AN OPINION, OBSERVATION:

Americans commonly have more education, money and organization. It is easy to look at the people of another nation and assume that we know best how to teach the Bible and organize church planting efforts. After all, how could they understand our methods since they are not as educated in this culture which is superior? (This is sarcasm to emphasize point.)

On the other hand many people from other nations tend to think of themselves as less qualified because they don’t know our ways. This may true if they are new believers. Even so it does not make them inferior.

Here is the problem! American’s tend to think the ethnic person is not ready and the ethnic person tends to think he is unqualified. Too often we may try to maintain control and he may not accept responsibility.

The result is that we sometimes limit effectiveness. An ethnic person is more readily accepted by his culture because he knows the language, the culture, and the false religion. Let’s ask ourselves if we truly trust God’s promise, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit.” If so, we will give more effort to assisting, encouraging and maybe pushing the convert to take leadership up to his level of learning. In my camp leadership days I often said, “Help a camper learn/discover a new thing and he will have a desire to learn more.”

Let’s, disciple U S ethnic people to evangelize the ethnic people groups worldwide.

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Eldon Brock, Eldon26@gmail.com.

Can a church experience NEW passion to become multi ethnic?

Planting strong, vital multi-ethnic churches is the most effective way to advance the Gospel in our increasingly urban, ethnically diverse world. This is the growing conviction shared by many North American church planters and is confirmed by a growing body of research. Ken Davis, Director of Project Jerusalem. Go to the following link to see the complete article. (http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=veu75xvidpnq&shva=1#inbox/11dabc5df7b67f9a).
“Project Jerusalem’s innovative strategy partners BBS’ M.Div. students with independent churches, state associations, and mission agencies to intentionally train church planters by planting healthy churches in the Northeastern United States.” http://www.bbc.edu/seminary/pjoverview.asp

Multi Ethnic ministry is not simple but Ken refers to the easier, and maybe the quicker way, which is to start a new church with an intentional purpose to be multi ethnic. There are many exciting reports on ministries that are planned and programmed this way from the beginning.

Even though is hard to change established traditions in a church, is it not true that we should be open and yielded to whatever is needed to make the greatest spiritual impact in our changing nation that is increasingly urban, ethnically diverse world. I want to encourage the planting of new churches but let’s also challenge established churches to adjust to welcome the diverse community next door. Maybe the church should not move away; could it be they can be revived as they welcome other cultures into one fellowship.

Perhaps this means churches will have to notice the nations represented in their local area and pray for them instead of thinking that missions is all overseas. Maybe we need to get real about the one faith, one Lord regardless of the cultural background. It excites me to think of ONE ETERNAL CULTURE in heaven made of many nations. We should prayerfully make effort to experience some of that fellowship here so it will not be such a shock to us when we get there.

Read more of what Ken Davis said.

The multicultural church matches an urgent need in a fractured North American society which often seeks unity in superficial solutions. In a day of rising immigration (both legal and illegal), we live in a world often characterized by fear, suspicion and mistrust. Sometimes outright racism raises its ugly head, even in church.

The multi-ethnic church which models well the reconciling power of the Gospel and the oneness Christ followers have in Him will be attractive to many of the younger generation who are fed up with the racial discord and division in our land.
North American evangelicals face two demographic challenges: continuing urbanization and rapid ethnic diversification.

Watch my post next week post but I would like your comment on this. I hope you will become a Follower by clicking on the words Follow this Bog in the upper left corner of this page, http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com.

Veteran’s Day Reminds Me of Freedom For All Nations

Millions of international ethnic people seek freedom in our country but most remain in bondage to personal sin like millions of people born in USA.

I attended the local Veteran’s Day memorial ceremony on November 11 and our attention was drawn to the sacrifices that paid for our national freedom. Freedom has come at a great cost but just a few people attended this ceremony to acknowledge this fact. I guess most people feel that this freedom is our right and they fail to give tribute to those who fought for us so we can live free of oppression.

Let’s ask:
FREEDOM from what?
FREEDOM to do what?
In our country we have freedom from bondage to foreign powers. We also have freedom to make independent choices about family, business and worship.

Jesus said a lot about FREEDOM in John 8.32 – 36.
The problem is that most who say they have freedom do not have it. They don’t realize that all are sinners and “Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” (v34) This is bondage not freedom. Jesus said, “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

This freedom is 1. Freedom from eternal terror of judgment and also 2. Freedom to live a righteous life acceptable to God. It was paid for by one who was without sin. Our national freedom has required payment by millions in the military and law enforcement and this is only a determent of violence. And praise God it does provide the freedom to proclaim this message.

Most who read this have two freedoms. We enjoy this national freedom of speech and also the religious freedom to give our “members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13)

Both of these freedoms, the salvation from “slavery to sin” and the freedom to serve a Holy God are available to all people of “all Nations” especially those who live in our neigborhood.

We American Christians have a responsibility to present this message of Christ’s deliverance from bondage to the Nations. God has made this easier in that He has moved so many of them to America. The churches and believers who have experienced this salvation generally have not learned to give it without boundaries or prejudice. Our churches tend to depend on paid missionaries instead of each one reaching out cross culturally and building multi ethnic church fellowships.

Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. purposes to, “Assist churches to disciple U S ethnic people to evangelized unreached ethnic people groups worldwide.”

Eldon Brock, Please interact with me here on this Blog, http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com, or by email, mailto:eldon26@gmial.com. Check out the web site http://www.ethnictoethnic.org/.

The Diverse Ethnic America Has Voted.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Yesterday America voted. We have a new president. The many segments of Diverse Ethnic Americans have exercised their rights and made us more aware of their presence. Some people seem to think that things are the way they have been; that Anglo Americans, with a predominantly Judeo-Christian background, are still the majority. This is not so.

The variety of voting blocks in this election forcibly reminds us that God has moved the Nations to our land.

This should awaken us to the opportunities we have to help them learn of Christ and His salvation from sin with an eternal hope. Think what the results would be if we could help them learn that the Government is not the answer to their social, economic and security needs. The One True Creator God is the one on the Throne in Heaven and He alone can meet our needs for now and the future.

Our churches should welcome people of other cultures so they can see the Welcoming Savior. If so we could see people of “every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” begin to worship Christ and then they would want to share this joy with their ethnic homeland.

As commanded we should to pray for President Obama. (I Tim. 2:1-3) Let’s pray that God will be honored and that there will be increased freedom to share the Scriptures with all men of all ethnic backgrounds.

The Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries purpose is “to assist churches to disciple U S ethnic people to evangelize unreached ethnic people groups worldwide.”
Contact me at eldon26@gmail.com. Eldon Brock