In Depth:  diversity

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Is the dream of a diverse Western church fading?

Is the dream of a diverse Western church fading?
Layo Obembe
Layo Obembe

I’m particularly struck at how much it feels like a significant season to write my first article for Evangelicals Now.

I am humbled and shaken by recent shifts in the global political landscape, and I hear similar sentiments from friends who look and sound like me: young(ish), Black, African, Christian and resident in multi-cultural cities in the West.

Saved by grace, not by race

Saved by grace, not by race
John-Edward Funnell
John-Edward Funnell

I have just returned home from a missions conference in Constanta on the Black Sea, where I was invited to speak on “Gen Z and the exclusivity of Jesus.” 

Hundreds of people attended from across Europe, Asia, Africa and even South America, yet we met together as one, to worship the same Father in Heaven. We had a beautiful time together.

New resource launched to help churches address racism

New resource launched to help churches address racism
Evangelical Alliance

A new resource aiming to help churches tackle racism has been launched by the One People Commission and South Asian Forum. 

Visions of Justice and Hope explores one of the most contested cultural questions of our time: What does it mean to be human and a Person of Colour?

3 reasons to celebrate Black History Month this October

3 reasons to celebrate Black History Month this October
Ryan Burton King
Ryan Burton King

Black History Month originally sprang out of African American joint celebrations of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s February birthdays. 'Negro History Week' began in February 1926 to recognise African American contributions to society and raise awareness to the prejudices they had and continued to face.

This week for designated learning emphasis was well established by 1976, when the United States celebrated its bicentennial, and the week expanded to a month. To mark the inaugural Black History Month, President Gerald R. Ford said, 'We can seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history. I urge my fellow citizens to join me in tribute to Black History Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all of us.'

Are you only friends with people like you?
bridging cultural divides

Are you only friends with people like you?
Jason Roach
Jason Roach

In my experience, eating fish and chips at the seaside can be a life threatening experience. Not because of the quality of the fish and chips, but because of the flocks of birds trying to eat it at the same time.

On one memorable trip, I was in the process of trying to rescue my daughter's meal from a veracious seagull, when its partner in crime took the opportunity to swipe mine. I think they must have enjoyed it, because a few minutes later they deposited most of what they had digested on my head. In His wisdom, the Lord has ordained that trips to the beach would remind me of that old adage: birds of a feather, flock together.

Crossing cultures as an introvert
bridging cultural divides

Crossing cultures as an introvert
Jason Roach
Jason Roach

A common concern around welcoming people from different cultures into the local church is that it is impossible for introverts. I remember one person saying, 'I find it hard enough to speak to my friends, let alone to strangers!'

It’s part of a bigger fear among Christians that we just don’t have what it takes to reach out to those who are different from us. What do we do when we want to communicate across cultural differences, but the bar just seems too high?

Bridging cultural divides: it takes one small step
bridging cultural divides

Bridging cultural divides: it takes one small step
Jason Roach
Jason Roach

'I gave them my freedom (bus) pass and scribbled down the address of the church on the back of a receipt! Praying that they'd come along today.'

If I could have raised one eyebrow I would have. As it was, I simply smiled. It seemed risky... He had only met Araz, Dilvan and Genc* - the three Kurdish men that he spoke of - the day before. They had been housed in a local hotel while their Asylum claims were processed.

FIEC considers how to be intercultural

FIEC considers how to be intercultural
FIEC

Phil Topham writes: Communities are becoming more culturally diverse as people from around the world make Britain their home. How can we prepare to welcome those from a diverse range of cultures to our churches?

The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) has gathered a group of pastors and ministry workers for a consultation to help launch our first Intercultural Ministry Team. By intercultural we mean churches that are neither mono-cultural nor multi-cultural, but rather communities of believers where different expressions of culture are welcomed, refined, and celebrated in the life of the church.

Highfields Cardiff – welcoming internationals

Highfields Cardiff – welcoming internationals
Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Newcomers from across 10 nations were recently hosted by Highfields Church, Cardiff with a membership dinner for people to get to know each other. 

The church runs a quarterly membership evening at Highfields where, explained lead minister Dave Gobbett, they ‘share the vision and values of Highfields, and why we encourage those who see us as their spiritual home, to formally join as church members’.

Inter-cultural commission marks ten years

Inter-cultural commission marks ten years
Milla Ling-Davies
Milla Ling-Davies

More than 100 delegates have gathered at the London City Mission headquarters to celebrate ten years of the Evangelical Alliance’s ‘One People Commission’ (OPC).

Anchored by Titilola Babarinde, the co-ordinator of the OPC, the celebration began with a time of collective worship.

The challenges of deep multi-cultural integration

The challenges of deep multi-cultural integration
Al Gibbs

One of the joys of living in multi-cultural Britain is that we have people arrive from all over the world, and in recent years the numbers from other countries have only been increasing.

God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 speaks of how he always intended to bless all nations. The church has a special privilege to welcome those from other nations: to help those in need, to share the good news and to disciple believers.

Ten questions: Rejoice in diversity

Ten questions: Rejoice in diversity

Elinor Magowan

1. How did you become a Christian?

Seven ways to spot a ‘BWW’ and why it matters

Seven ways to spot a ‘BWW’ and why it matters
Nay Dawson

I’ll never be one of the ‘Blokes Worth Watching’ (BWW) nor will many of my friends that don’t fit.

I love leadership and evangelism. I want to invest precious years into mission and the future of the church, so I’m wondering how do I become one of the BWWs [as described in this article in last month's EN] ? How do I get mentored? How do I get invested in so that I can make a significant difference? The problem is, I can’t. I’m a woman. I’ll never be a ‘Bloke Worth Watching’ and neither will half of those made in the image of God.

Evangelical crisis? I don’t think so

Evangelical crisis? I don’t think so
Andy Mason
Andy Mason

What is the state of conservative evangelicalism? Glen Scrivener has given us a challenging answer in his article in the July 2022 issue of en, ‘BWWs: the “Blokes Worth Watching” conveyor belt…’

His article is a strong critique, essentially arguing that we evangelicals are in something of a spiritual crisis. The strength of its criticisms invites a rejoinder. As a fellow pastor, I know Glen and have worked with him. He is a wonderful evangelist, a man of integrity and a very gifted preacher. Most importantly, he loves Jesus and cares for the abused. I think, though, there are some real problems with Glen’s take on our churches.

Affinity seeks diversity, welcoming ethnic minority churches

Affinity seeks diversity, welcoming ethnic minority churches
Affinity

It has been an exciting first half of 2022 for Affinity, a network of around 1,200 churches and Christian organisations working in partnership for the sake of the gospel, writes Graham Nicholls.

We were delighted to welcome new members to Affinity – churches from a diverse range of backgrounds including majority Jamaican, Congolese and Chinese churches.

Evangelical Futures: Diversity - a powerful witness to a divided world

Evangelical Futures: Diversity - a powerful witness to a divided world
Graham Miller

As we consider our future as evangelicals, we should return to the commission the Lord Jesus gave before His ascension: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).

Sharing our faith is core to our identity as followers of Jesus Christ, and Christians sharing their faith with others has been used by God to underpin the growth of the global church – despite heresy, persecution and scorn, the gospel prevails!

Disability, diversity, Frodo Baggins and Aslan

Disability, diversity, Frodo Baggins and Aslan
Cassie Martin
Cassie Martin

September is one of my favourite times of year. Keats called it the season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’.

It marks the start of the academic year – new school shoes and lots of enthusiasm from both teachers and students. If we’re lucky, there’s an Indian Summer beautifully balanced by that crispness in the air in the early mornings. Closer to home, it is the month of our wedding anniversary and my youngest son’s birthday; he has the distinction of being born on Hobbit Day. Hobbit Day is the 22nd September, a date chosen because it is Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ joint birthday. In the last few decades, it has become an opportunity for Tolkien fans across the globe to share their appreciation and enjoyment of Tolkien’s work.

Israel to champion ethnic diversity

Israel to champion ethnic diversity
Baptist Times

Israel Oluwole Olofinjana has been announced as the Evangelical Alliance’s new One People Commission (OPC) director.

The OPC seeks to ‘reflect, celebrate and serve the ethnic diversity of the church in the UK by helping to reshape the focus and the feel of the Evangelical Alliance and its membership’.

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