california-west coast ministry
DESCRIPTION
A presentation that accompanies a discussion on evangelizing California and the West Coast, while at the same time being more culturally aware in our ministries.TRANSCRIPT
Ministry on the West Coast
Jovan Payes Recharge 2011
Where to Start?
We have the same issues
we live. we love. we sin. we die.
California alone is home to 38,648,000 souls.
Ministry in the most populated region of the United States of America.
Add Oregon (3.8 million) and Washington (6.7 million), and that number reaches 49.1 million souls.
Los Angeles (4,094,764)
San Diego (1,376,173)
San Jose (1,023,083)
San Francisco (856,095)
Fresno (502,303)
Long Beach (494,709)
Sacramento (486,189)
Oakland (430,666)
Santa Ana (357,754)
Anaheim (353,643)
Portland, Oregon
583,776 souls
Seattle, Washington
608,660 souls
California alone is the 59th
largest geographical region in the world; larger than Paraguay but smaller than Iraq.
Add Oregon (9th largest) and Washington, and the West Coast is collectively the 46th
largest geographical region in the world; larger than Madagascar, and barely smaller than the Ukraine.
Demographics
Religion
Immigrant Cultures
Blue Collar
White Collar
Politics
Marriage Issues
Education
The enormity of our region makes our work different.
Numbers 13 speaks to our fears and temptations for disbelief in the face of great obstacles.
The testimony of Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14) calls us to remember that following the Lord is not about us…
It is about Him and His Power
and Faithfulness.
It is not About the Numbers
I recommend you visit www.fhu.edu/go for wonderful ways to Go and minister to our communities.
We go because we have a “wonderful message” to share.
No matter who you are
No matter what you have done
There is room for you in the
family of God.
We preach Jesus Christ and Him Crucified because it is here that the facts of Christianity are revealed.
But we live in subjection to God, because it is there that onlookers will see God’s people, and in turn see the love of God demonstrated.
We are to minister through teaching and equipping members of the church.
We are to minister though benevolent acts of love upon our brethren and our community.
We are to minister by receiving others as Christ has received us.
Being all things to all men
Hawaii
and
“Black Suit”
Multicultural Churches:
Melting Pot v. Tossed Salad
Tossed Salad
Source: Dr. Blackwelder, FHU
Recognize God as “multicultural”
Learn to celebrate differences
Move from cognitive to emotional comfort
Develop a need-based perspective
Be intentional in choices
Source: Dr. Blackwelder, FHU
Multi-linguistic Churches:
Subsidized v. Organized
Organized
Integrational – accommodations are made to allow for a few obvious linguistic and cultural differences
Multi-congregational – sharing of facilities, but in the same time and/or space. Groups are largely autonomous.
Intercultural (or multi-cultural) – One eldership, one budget, as much interaction as possible
Multi-modal – blends all of the above to some degree; esp. good in a ethnically diverse community
Source: Dr. Blackwelder, FHU
We need to be mission minded at the local level
We must find the local needs of our communities and find biblical solutions
to them.
We may need to learn new languages in order to reach our community.
We must not let the government be an excuse to run from being a benevolent
people.
We must learn how to raise the bar on reaching out in meaningful ways.
We must learn to reach those with whom we share a closer cultural
background.
The church overcame a world of cultural diversity.
We are built to thrive in a culturally diverse world.
We are called to faithfulness.