“…The racial problem has been the unresolved dilemma in America. It has gone on since its inception because its roots have not been addressed by the people who are most qualified to address it: The Church!” (Dr. Tony Evans)

When I saw this video I knew I had to share it with the Dream Of Destiny community.  Many of you know who Dr. Tony Evans is.  Several of you may have even seen this video before. It was produced by a very cool para-church ministry called “I Am Second.”

What I found powerful about this short video was Dr. Evans’ first story of being raised in Baltimore during a time of racial strife and tension.  What resonated with me was how “common” his story is among our African American pastors and leaders in our brotherhood.  Many, if not the majority of them over 50 years of age, still love God, but have lost hope in ever seeing change in the association of Independent churches, and Churches of Christ movement.

Many of them carry, not only the everyday burdens and challenges associated with leading small local churches that fight to keep their doors opens from year to year, but also the hollowing effect of their voices not being heard by fellow brothers that make up the NACC. To compound matters even more, if the truth be told, many of them wrestle with the feelings of inadequacy and insecurities that linger like battle scars from past fights and struggles that have never had the chance to properly heal.

In the spirit of illumination, I share this with you not to foster guilt or feelings of remorse by the wrongs of ancestors.  In like kind, I do not bring this to light for others to use as justification for abdicating any responsibility to continue to push forward. I shed light on this issue to provoke and encourage two regular calls to action:

1. To our Caucasian sisters and brothers in leadership; it is critical that you be intentional and proactive in reaching OUT (NOT back and down) to your fellow “minority” sisters and brothers in leadership at the local level. Even if you’ve tried in the past and found little reciprocated response, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.
2. To our sisters and brothers who make up ethnic minorities in our association; it’s critical that you continue to be intentional about getting and staying involved with the convention (even though you feel that your voice has not been heard -remember, the more voices, the louder the message).  At the local level, continue to do what you can, with what you have, right where you are to connect with other pastors of independent Christian churches.  Again I encourage you, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.

Why are these calls to action important for us to ALWAYS be intentional about?  Because they reflect, in how we engage one another, the very message,  we are all called to share with the rest of the world.  It is a message of new beginnings. It is a message of new identities.  It is a message of renewed hope, and freedom that is found in our new identity in Christ.   In the video above (at the 1:23 minute mark) , Dr. Evans talks about a “repositioning” that occurs when Jesus becomes first in our life.  Please go back to it now and listen, again, to what he says.

Going forward, what would our efforts truly look like if each of us truly embraced this idea that “I Am Second?”

Dream of Destiny 5 Star Initiative from Shepherd Youth on Vimeo.

I have been reading a book called Bus Ride to Justice by Fred Gray, a lawyer for Rosa Parks who was arrested on December 1st, 1955 for sitting where she was NOT supposed to sit. As you know, African Americans were supposed to sit in the back of the bus and save the seats in the front for the “white” people. When the courts finally ruled that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional, it was the one case that truly began the civil rights movement in America.

On page 97 of his book, Fred Gray writes, “A pebble cast in the segregated waters of Montgomery, Alabama, created a human rights tidal wave that changed America and eventually washed up on the shores of such far away places as the Bahamas, China, South Africa, and the Soviet Union. And it all started on a bus.”

But there is ONE GLARING problem. That tidal wave never hit the CHURCH in AMERICA.

It was in 1963, which was almost 50 years ago, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said 11:00 a.m. is still the most segregated hour in America.  Here we are some 47 years later and that statement, even is Los Angeles, is still true. An article in the Jan. 11, 2010 issue of Time Magazine states that 93 percent of the churches in America are still primarily segregated. Less that 8 % of churches are diverse. How is this possible?

The 5 Star Initiative is simply to get churches to be more intentional about diversity…getting our churches to ACCEPT the great commission to reach “all nations.” And I know is sounds simplistic, and I am sorry if you do not agree, but if we could just start by diversifying our platform and our stages, we could see immediate change within our churches today. Finding ways to include people of color in our worship teams, in our praise teams and in our choirs—and even in those who make announcements, conduct the baptisms, and lead the congregation in prayer—it would have a HUGE ripple effect on those who are first-time visitors, those who will look to the stage and see that this is a church that accepts people from all walks of life.

I’ve seen the difference in the church I serve, and I think you’d see the difference in your church as well. It is time that the Church of 2k10 reflects the church of Revelation 7:9-10.

Watch the above video. Go to http://www.dreamofdestiny.com/ and sign up to be a part of the 5 star Initiative.

“Diversity In The Church is Not Possible!” As leaders, that is what many of us say with our actions. As we head up, or help lead our churches and ministries often time, without realizing it, we settle into an false idea that ethnic diversity is an important issue, but pragmatically just not possible. We say this emphatically in how we administer our ministries. From who we seek after and higher, in leadership positions, all the way through who and how we welcome people attending our services, the experience we create with our choice actions communicate what we really believe. Actions, not intention, reflects true beliefs!

Is real diversity possible in the local church? Emphatically, yes! Below is a copy of the e-newsletter Bill Hybels, lead pastor of Willow Creek church in Chicago IL, wrote that echos the truth that any ministry can make significant strides in being a church that truly reflects “the nations:”

“…Dear Enews Friends,

Growing up in a Bible believing church I heard many teachings about the passage in Mark 11 that describes how Jesus chased unscrupulous money changers out of the temple. The sermons always ended with Jesus’ words, “My house shall be a house of prayer!” (v.17) The application was that we should pray more both in church and at home.

About a decade ago I was having lunch with an African American pastor friend of mine who mentioned he was getting ready to teach from Mark 11 about the cleansing of the temple. Rather naively, I said, “Oh, you are starting a prayer series.” He said, “No, actually I am starting a series on racial reconciliation.” I scrambled to figure out how he was going to connect that subject matter with that particular text. He said. “You know how that passage ends, don’t you?” I proudly quoted Mark 11:17 from memory “My house shall be a house of prayer!” At that point he just smiled and told me to keep going. I had nothing.

Emphasizing each of the following words he said, “FOR ALL NATIONS.” He went on to explain to me that Jesus was certainly concerned that places of worship should not degenerate into centers of commerce, but He was also being very instructional in this text–worship gatherings should be open and welcoming to people from every nation, tongue and color. I could not believe I had over looked that phrase and missed one of the key teachings in the text. He told me it was not uncommon for white pastors to do that. Ughhhh.

As many of you know our church is totally committed to being a church “for all nations.” Time Magazine did a story about us this week. If you missed it you can click on it here. Despite the references to my paleness (!), I thought they did a fair job of recognizing the progress we have made in the last ten years, and I was very proud of all of you! While we all know that we have a long way to go before we perfectly reflect the heart of God for all people, we are on the journey and the Spirit will keep leading us. We will never turn back.”

Here’s an excerpt from the Times article:

Larry Butler first visited Willow Creek in the 1970s and left fast. “I liked the teaching, but I didn’t see anybody like me,” says Butler, 57, a solidly built, hazel-eyed African-American pharmacist from Oklahoma. “I didn’t have any problem with the people, but I didn’t know if they had a problem with me. So I thought, ‘I’ll go elsewhere.’ ” Other minorities who sampled the church felt similarly uncomfortable. Yet Butler returned to Willow in the early ’80s, later inviting his wife Renetta and, as he says, “hoping things would change.”

And they did, as Hybels and Bibbs re-engineered the church to match its preaching. They built “Bridging the Racial Divide” gatherings into Willow’s massive grid of laity-led “small groups.” The meetings were essential, says Renetta, who ended up running five: they were a ground-level “safe haven” where congregants could express and dispel received stereotypes. At the very first, in 2001, a well-meaning white woman kept using the phrase “you people.” “Do you people want to be called blacks?” she asked. “Or African Americans? I never know what to call you people.” Eventually it became too much, and Larry, along with Renetta and his brother Garnett, explained to the woman and eight other white congregants in the room that “every time you say ‘you people,’ you’re holding us back — it’s like we’re not included,” Renetta said. The woman burst into tears and asked, “Well, what do you like to be called?” Renetta quipped in response, “I personally like to be a brownie with nuts.” She says, “It broke the ice.”

Is real diversity really possible?  Yes.  We just have to implement, every chance we get,  opportunities for diversity to happen.  Please read full the Times article HERE!

Unity Through Diversity!

I have been following (via twitter) pastor Shaun King, of Courageous Church in Atlanta, for a few months now.  I am inspired by his story, his call, and his passion to empower others to live the courageous life.  If anyone thinks a life with Christ is supposed to be calm, tranquil, with no conflict, they have another thing coming.

In fact, I wonder sometimes, if we send the world we are evangelizing to, the wrong message. We tell people, “…oh are you hurting? …life feeling hopeless? Try Jesus, and He’ll make all your pain go away, and you’ll live happily ever after.”  No wonder many new believers feel like they’ve been bamboozled by this bait and switch theology.

Shaun is a pastor of a multi-ethnic church who’s mission is “Love God, Love People, Prove it!”  That statement is what characterizes Courageous Church.  Everyone knows about the devastation in Haiti from the earthquakes.  But it’s one thing to know about devastation; it’s another thing to decide to do what you can, with what you have, right where you are to “be” the difference in devastating circumstances.  Shaun King has taken this to a whole new level.  Leveraging the power of social networks (i.e. twitter) Shaun has done more to mobile his network than anyone I know.  Check out how he used Twitter to help Dr. Sanjay Gupta (medical journalist for CNN) get 5 neurosurgeons into Haiti when political red tape left Haiti with zero neurosurgeons available to help the people of Haiti.  Cool stuff!

Any how, that’s not what this post is about.  What I wanted to highlight here is how Courageous Church is dedicated to not just “being the church” abroad, but is just as dedicated to helping those in need, in a relational way, right where they are.  Take a look at the video above (…like you haven’t already).

What will you come up with next to mobilize your church, and your network to BE the church? Please share your stories here!

Happy New Year!

There is something about the New Year that brings with it a renewed sense of hope and possibility.  I can not put my finger on “why” this is exactly, but I am reminded of a verse in Isaiah (Is 40:31) that reads,” but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  It would not surprise me a bit to  find out one of the reasons God created seasons was to give us physical metaphors and reminders of renewal.  His very ministry to humanity is founded on “renewal!”  If anyone is in Christ, ‘…he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)

With each new year our Lord gives us new opportunity!  That is why I am excited personally, and that is what excites me with what God would allow us to accomplish together through Dream Of Destiny in 2010.  What we want to achieve has not been, to my knowledge, accomplished before in the history of the Stone/ Cambell, Restoration movement.

By the fall of 2011 Dream Of Destiny seeks to help at least 250 students of diverse, ethnic background attend bible college or seminary. Why students of “diversity”? For a few reasons:

Fix cost of college had increased dramatically and continue to increase every year.
The per-student cost is higher at smaller schools since the costs are distributed among fewer students.
In general, college enrollment has historically increased during a recession, until now. The tightening of credit requirement and student loans has made it very difficult for students to secure financial aid.  EVEN LESS AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND LATINO are enrolling in bible college.  As America continues to increase in its diversity, we MUST find a way to prepare the next generation of diverse leaders to minister to meet the needs of America.
As Europe has trended, the US is experiencing a mass secularization of general thought by the younger generations, including Christians in high school.

Relativism is in, absolutes are out.
Students are finding it less and less compelling to choose more expensive, private bible college over it’s larger, less expensive, public competitors.

While cross cultural studies and missions exist at most bible colleges, ethnic and cultural diversity in it’s student body and faculty does not.

Every year the cultural landscape on bible college campuses looses pace with the changing diverse cultural landscape of society, rendering bible college more irrelevant and outdated in the minds of students more than ever before.

Yet it’s more important than ever to help next generation leaders NOW by helping more students of diverse ethnic backgrounds attend bible college and seminary.

That’s why we are asking you to partner with Dream Of Destiny!
Dream of Destiny desires to help make attending bible college viable for more students who represent ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Dream Of Destiny is committed to doing it’s part in reversing these trends, but we need your help.

If just 250 churches within our brotherhood, each, decided to scholarship one student we reach our goal.
If just 500 ministries, out of the 5000 within our association, decided to scholarship half of one students scholarship,
we reach our goal.  While it has never been done before, this goal is very achievable.
We just have to be intentional!

Will you start off the New Year by being a Destiny Leader and help this goal happen?
Over the next 52 weeks will you be a part of making this dream come true for 250 students?
What will you do with your next 52?

Please click the link below and make a pledge to help students to bible college!
http://new.dreamofdestiny.org/donate-or-pledge/

Teamwork is the Only thing that will make this DREAM WORK!

In my quiet time on Saturday I was reading through the book of John. In Chapter 17 a few verses really hit me differently that morning. I’ve read these verses before but for some reason, this time, the words of Jesus’ prayer, found in verses 20, 21 and 23, echoed loudly in my heart. My eyes could not go any further. I read these three verses about 15 times and stopped to ponder Jesus’ prayer.

After praying for his disciples Jesus prayed: “…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that ALL of them MAY BE ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the World MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME.” Verse 23 goes on to read: “…May they be brought to COMPLETE UNITY to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus prayed to our Father for His followers to be in “complete unity.” That was (is) a desire of Jesus’ heart. He was praying this prayer close to the end of His ministry. His heart was heavy. These were some of Jesus’ last prayerful words on earth!

WOW!

Complete Unit for followers of Jesus.

That is Jesus’ prayer. What, then, should be our response?

The Holy Spirit!

Now before you politely yell “cop out,” under your breath, hear me out.  On the day of Pentecost, Diaspora Jews gathered in Jerusalem witnessed the undoing of the curse of the Tower of Babel. The wall of suspicion, prejudice and hostility collapsed as diverse people groups heard the apostles praising God in their own language. As they were amazed, they realized that the new day of God’s redemption had dawned. Not only were individuals brought to the saving grace of God, but ethnic groups were reconciled to each other through the workings of the Holy Spirit.

The good news is, the Holy Spirit has not stopped working.  He is still at work all around us today.  The question then becomes, are we making room for the Holy Spirit to work within our ministry in ways that foster naturally diversity?

In what ways can we be more intentional about reflecting the changing demographic of our communities more accurately within our church bodies? Pastor Rick Rusaw in his book, Externally Focused Church, encourages ministries to embrace and impact their communities by embodying four basic principles.

Principle #1:  The Good News and good deeds go hand in hand. Chuck Olsen says, “common grace and saving grace are two sides to the same coin.”  The Good News give purpose to the good deeds we do.  The good deeds we do in and for our community creates situations where people actually experience the Good News.

Principle #2:  How the people of God live in their communities is “vital” to the health and well being of their communities. The Christian church is the soul of the city. If the city is dead, what is that saying about its soul?  It’s imperative that we encourage our church membership to actively engage the community in ways that demonstrate that our God is real, relevant, and changes lives if we let Him.  When we do that, God has a way of drawing “all” men unto Him.

Principle #3: Ministry and service should be “normal” expressions of the church. Being an important resource to the rest of the community should be “the church’s” modus operendi.  As the foot is built to walk and run, the church is built for ministry and service to its community.

Principle #4: Evangelism becomes a natural product of the “ever presence” of the church in the community. If you think evangelism is just telling people how to get eternal “fire insurance” and that’s it, you are missing the power and freedom that Jesus offers to those who desire to follow after Him.  When we say it’s all about Jesus, it really is!  That statement is so profound.  Jesus gives life and purpose to everything we do, so if we are truly doing things as an act of worship, people will be drawn to the one who brings what we do to life.  At that point, our only job is to not get in the way and allow the Holy Spirit to use our words and our deeds to draw all people unto Him.

Here’s my point: because the landscape of our communities are already becoming diverse, if we just become intentional about being externally focused and truly connecting, in meaningful ways, with the community around us -as Christ uses the lives of His body to draw all “man” unto Him, diversity will just happen!

What do you think?

At some time or another we’ve all heard the old adage, “It’s not always what you know, but who you know!” While this statement is true, in the twenty-first century it’s not just who you know but, more importantly, who knows you! This is a question of your contribution-“ability!”

Are you valuable? A better question is, are you resourceful? What problem(s) are you known for solving? What resources have you become the “go-to” guy/ gal for? Do people know what you have to offer?

In ministry, today, this question has become more important than ever? With the challenges Americans face politically, and financially pastoral and ministry care has seen a significant increase in the practical impact they can have on the community. And because immediate resources may be scarce, extended resource’s have become all the more critical. This is where the power of ones network is paramount. To better solve the problems of today, it is to all of our advantage to leverage the power of new, and diverse networks! We must expand and diversify our networks!

There is no reason now, with the availability of new technology, that we, in the “soul care” business, can not effectively increase our creative resourcefulness through expanding our “valued” networks. We are in the midst of a “perfect storm” where people, of all walks of life, are asking for “just in time” help. And I can think of no better time to be more intentional about expanding the diversity of our networks, to meet the diverse needs of our ever changing American landscape. Now more than ever before, there is power and unity in our diversity!

And here lies a profound opportunity to foster diversity naturally. What’s one of the most effective ways to foster “sustainable” diversity? When people of diverse heritage regularly, and intentionally come together to solve important problems that have little or nothing to do with diversity!

Dream Of Destiny is committed to helping you to naturally leverage the resourcefulness of a diverse social network. And what’s an easy first step in leveraging the power and resources of a new, and diverse network?

JOIN the Dream of Destiny network Today!

While authentic diversity can not be manufactured, there are common practices among organizations that experience a significant amount of diversity on their staff, and within their student body or congregation.  Listed below are 15 “common practices” that you can implement to organically foster more diversity within you organization.   Just like growing an organic garden of different vegetables in your back yard, there is a level of intentionality and commitment that must go into making it happen.  Likewise, diversity happens most naturally in intentional environments that are committed to fostering it.

Here are 15 things you can do, as a leader, to foster more diversity within your organization:

• 1. Hiring people of different ethnic and cultural heritage on Pastoral team
• 2. Hiring staff of different ethnic and cultural heritage
• 3. Presenting diversity on Worship Team from the platform (i.e. music leader)
• 4. Having people of diverse heritage and background on the Board of Elders
• 5. Hiring interns of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• 6. Encouraging a multi-racial church congregation
• 7. Developing cross cultural relationships within the community
• 8. Partnering with a sister church in the urban areas of the city
• 9. Staging a city-wide church swap where 3 or 4 participating churches of different races agree to go through the same series (pastors would collaborate) and each weekend the congregations are encouraged to visit a different church during the series. Promote a spirit of inclusion by integrating diverse cultural forms and expressions of worship into weekend schedule.
• 10. Hosting multi-cultural events
• 11. Creating small groups where the DVD series and teaching included different people of different churches. Participating churches would encourage their small groups to join together with small groups of other churches for the series.
• 12. Inviting other Pastors of different races to speak from your pulpit
• 13. Providing monies and assistance to the ministries that focus in this particular arena of diversity. (Example: Dream of Destiny)
• 14. Providing scholarship monies for Bible Colleges that are recruiting students of differing ethnic backgrounds.
• 15. Providing financial assistance to students that desire to go in to ministry, but attend a church other than your own. Reach out to neighboring churches to locate these young people that need sponsoring.