holiness in the modern world
“The Word (Jesus) became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.” John 1:14
Vibrant ministry is fiercely local, so it doesn’t look the same in different communities. And you won’t have a church that makes sense to the neighbors without making some changes. Here you’ll find some observations and recommendations.
I used to believe that every church should be multiethnic, but my first day of seminary teaching in 2011 showed me the limits of that view. One of my students was ministering in a hamlet truly lacking racial and economic diversity. Another served in an urban center where diversity was already the norm, and another …
Continue reading "Should Every Church Be Multiethnic? A Border-Crossing Perspective"
Over the years, as I have taught about the social and cultural dynamics that limit church diversity, I have often heard thoughtful resistance from people I respect. They care about their Christian responsibilities and love people, but they are not convinced that the demographics of their congregations and communities really matter. Ministry is demanding enough, …
If your church wants to welcome poor or working class families, have you considered providing nutritious food along with your activities for children and youth? A few years ago, I was listening to the child of an immigrant family recite Bible verses during AWANA on a Wednesday night. She had studied at home. She was …
Continue reading "Accessibility for the Poor: Veggies, Protein, and the Bread of Life"
Ever been priced out of church? We have, and we’re not even poor. My husband and I used to live in the DC suburbs with four teenaged boys. In that affluent region, we both worked in ministry occupations, so although margin was pretty thin in our monthly budget, our income was sufficient for our needs. …
Continue reading "Accessibility for the Poor: Priced Out of Youth Discipleship?"
How well does your church welcome and retain working-class or poor people? If you have tried, you know that it takes more than compassion and good intentions. In this series about accessibility, I’ll offer suggestions related to transportation, student ministries, and food for crossing that socioeconomic border effectively. The topic of this first post is …
Continue reading "Accessibility for the Poor: Getting to Church Is Half the Battle"
VIBRANCY 