Is it really possible to build and sustain a multi-ethnic church in the suburbs? That was one of the questions I tried to answer in a talk I gave recently at a church in the suburbs of Columbus — click here to watch. In this post I am featuring resources related to some of my points from the talk. I hope you find these resources as helpful as I did!

Chad Brennan

Article: Harder than Anyone Can Imagine

Pastor Bill Hybels… "So now, 30 years later, as I read this book, I recognize that a true biblically functioning community must include being multiethnic. My heart beats so fast for that vision today. I marvel at how naïve and pragmatic I was 30 years ago." more »

Book: Divided By Faith by Emerson and Smith

"We stand at a divide. White evangelicals’ cultural tools and racial isolation direct them to see the world individualistically and as a series of discrete incidents. They also direct them to desire a color-blind society. Black evangelicals tend to see the racial world very differently. Ironically, evangelicalism’s cultural tools lead people in different social and geographical realities to assess the race problem in divergent and nonreconciliatory ways. This large gulf in understanding is perhaps part of the race problem’s core, and most certainly contributes to the entrenchment of the racialized society." more »

Article: A Study on Race in the NT by William Larkin

"Racial/ethnic prejudice was a definite factor in ancient life and thought. Relations among the ethnic groups in an ever expanding Roman empire was a problem to be constantly addressed. And for Christianity with its gospel for all peoples, the barriers of prejudice spawned by pride, fear, and the desire to dominate had to be broken through if the church was to be a faithful expression of the truths on which it was founded." more »

Talk: Acts 11 by Mark DeYmaz

Mark DeYmaz walks through chapters 8 through 11 in the book of Acts and how it "dawns on the early church that the Gospel was not just for the Jews". He explains the importance of Acts 11:20 as a point when a diverse group of church leaders choose to reach out to the Gentiles with intentionality. Part 1 » Part 2 »

Book: More Than Equals by Perkins and Rice

"Yes, deep reconciliation will produce justice, and new relationships between the races. Yes this will lead Christians to become a bright light in the public square. But I have become convinced that God is not very interested in the church healing the race problem. I believe it is more true that God is using race to heal the church." more »

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