Who am I ? – My name is Mario Manuel Catalino Melendez. Nope, I’m not Latino! I am Filipino, Cajun French, Spaniard, English, plus i grew up around the Deaf community thanks to my mother and I married a Scotch Irish girl!
If my
personal diversity and numerous church involvements have taught me anything, I
have learned that the church is the most segregated section of the American
culture still in existence. My heart has been ripped out of my chest by
prejudice church members, and my heart has been nurtured with love by Gospel
oriented church members. The reality is that we have a long way to go in
learning to live out the Gospel. Like it or not, neighborhoods change, cities
change, people intermarry, and Christ called us to minister and live among
other peoples. Multi-ethnic reflects
most accurately the biblical concept of “the peoples." There are
approx. 17,000 ethnicities in the world.
Here's a little more on why i write on Multi-Ethnicity.
Here's a little more on why i write on Multi-Ethnicity.
It is not required for every church to
diversify, it is required for us to faithfully reach our neighbors.
To diversify a church, the staff must
represent the people being ministered to.
After staffing decisions have been
discussed we must begin the process of understanding differences of definitions
and praxis.
To run a church of multi Ethnic peoples
there must be a great amount of education. Discipleship, and theological
education.
Research has shown that the fastest way
to diversify a church is to diversify the music. This musical diversification
will take practice and proper staffing to successfully change musical habbits.
The thing not to ever discuss in church.
POLITICS !
Through our differences in politics,
music and place of meeting, non-church goers have no trust or desire to be a
part of the church. As James said, we must share our faith by showing our faith
through works.
Who is right and how do we go about
doing this?
