Copyright 2005 Dr. T. B.

Neil, Alberta, Canada

All rights reserved under international copyright laws. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the author. Contents may not be changed and remain the property of Genesis Institute. Printed and bound in Canada by PageMaster Publication Service Inc. ISBN 0-9731992-6-1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................... 2 BEM Strategic Thinking for Multi-Cultural Evangelism ...................... 2 The Strategy of God........................................................................... 3 Strategy of the New Commission Observed ...................................... 3 Collective Strategies of the Apostles ................................................. 4 Temperaments the Apostles Recognized .......................................... 6 Customs were Respected and not Insulted ....................................... 6 Apostolic Cross-culture Communication Strategies in Evangelism ... 7 No Racial Distinction in the Historical Apostolic Faith........................ 9 Twentieth Century Apostolic .............................................................. 9 Impacting the Black Communities.................................................... 12 Strategies for Addressing Differences ............................................. 14 No Inferior Church............................................................................ 14 There are no Differences ................................................................. 15 Bridging the Gap in Cross-culture Evangelism ................................ 15 The Open Door Invitation ................................................................. 16 Counted all Lost to Save the Lost Stranger ..................................... 17 Redemptive Reconciliation............................................................... 18 Racial Reconciliation........................................................................ 18 How to Build a Cultural Diverse Church........................................... 20 The Congregation Biblical Model ..................................................... 20 Multicultural Heaven Seen in Revelation ......................................... 22 Universal Call ................................................................................... 24 Taking Down Walls .......................................................................... 26 Hosting Ethnic Visitors in the Congregation..................................... 27 Dominant Congregations Obligation to Multiculturalism .................. 28 Practicing and Teaching Your Congregation Cultural Sensitivity .... 29 Do we Have an All-Nation Church? ................................................. 33 Should be ......................................................................................... 35 Pastoral Counseling the Culturally Different Members .................... 42 Culturally Different Pastors .............................................................. 47 Objectives for Ushers....................................................................... 49 Mission Minded Congregation as Ambassadors.............................. 53 Is Christ Divided? ............................................................................. 54 Cultural Challenges for Christianity Today....................................... 58 Communication Impact (Minority Perceptions) ................................ 59 System Impact on Minorities ............................................................ 60 The Hurtful Impact of Cultural Intolerance in the Church................. 60 Discrimination................................................................................... 60 Psychological Impact on Minorities .................................................. 61

Multicultural Evangelism

Introduction Black Evangelism Ministry (BEM) have successfully audited its own structure and is pleased to share the review of itself as a ministry in the black communities. This review examined the phases of growth and development. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were adequately identified and addressed for future growth. The dominant culture leadership must be very instrumental in assisting and allowing full autonomy of BEM to charter its evangelistic course into the black communities. The first phase of the review was called Retrospective look at BEM. The other phases precipitated from the first and subsequent meetings on the BEM evangelism impact across the dominant culture fellowship. We can all be proud of BEM leadership in keeping BEM focused. BEM Strategic Thinking for Multi-Cultural Evangelism BEM Mission Imperative The bible authorized two levels of evangelism. The first was exclusive and the last inclusive.
The First Commission Mt 10-11 The first was: Israel Exclusive National Jewish Cultural Selective The Second Commission Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-18; Lu 24:43-48 The second was: Whole world Inclusive International Gentiles & Jews Multicultural Composite
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Multicultural Evangelism

Tribal Messengers were Jews Geographic Racial Limited in vision Restricted mission Uni-lingual One culture

All creatures Jews & Gentiles Demographic Inter-racial Global in vision Unrestricted mission Multi-lingual Multi-cultural

The Strategy of God Jews elevated to ambassadors (2 Co 5:20). The four gospels were addressing twelve men of Jewish descent to become ambassadors to other nations. This means crossing culture to deliver a message to strangers. 1. Go teach all nations (Mt 28:19) 2. Go into all the world to every creature (Mk 16:15) 3. Go to all nations (Lu 24:47) The command changed the twelve with the second commission. They must have strategic means to tell all nations the good news. Scripture said they were obedient to their charge (Mk 16:20). Strategy of the New Commission Observed The disciples had knowledge of Jewish and Gentile differences. These differences were not upheld to the detriment of the gospel mandate:

Multicultural Evangelism

They traveled outside to foreign missions. Jewish Period

Acts 1-6:15 Gospel to Jews only Peters ministry 1. Jews saved

Transition Period
Acts 7:1; 10 & 11 Cornelius entrance Peter & Phillips ministry 1. Jews saved 2. Samaritan saved 3. African saved 4. Italians saved 5. Pauls ministry at Antioch

Gentile & Jews Period

Acts 12 28

Paul & Barnabas ministry 1. All of Asia 2. All of Europe 3. All of Jerusalem

During the Jewish period Galileans ministered exclusively to their national brothers only. Pentecost had a global context. They spoke in tongues. The transition period experienced cross-culture evangelism. Peter, and Phillip reached out to an African and Italian. Collective Strategies of the Apostles 1. Peter - Building a church without walls a. Kingdom interest takes precedence to cultural (Ac 11:17-18) i. Would not withstand God b. Strangers are welcomed into the faith (Ac 10:12-13, 14-47) c. Strangers are accepted into one experience as Jews (Ac 10:45-48) d. Strangers are fully accredited in the faith (Ac 11:113) e. Strangers are fully accepted (Ac 11:35)
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Multicultural Evangelism

2. Phillip Pioneering culturally sensitive communities a. Phillip placed the need above sacred creed (Ac 8:525) b. Phillip crossed cultural chasm, Samaria (Ac 8:5-25) c. Phillip reaching out to an African (Ac 8:26-40) 3. Paul Accepting the challenge of intercity evangelism a. Paul accepting the challenge of intercity cultural evangelism (Ac 13:1-13) b. Pauls open door acceptance of strangers into the faith (Ac 14:27-28) c. Paul fully persuaded, willing, committed, and able ministering to strangers (Ac 13:46) d. Paul defended building a culturally diverse church (Ac 15) e. Paul pioneered work in urban cultural communities (Ac 16-28) f. Paul mentored all the Gentile churches and built schools (Ac 19) i. 52 AD 1 Thessalonians ii. 53 AD 2 Thessalonians iii. 57 AD - 1, 2 Corinthians iv. 58 AD Romans v. 62 AD Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians vi. 63 AD Acts vii. 65 AD 1 Timothy viii. 67 AD Titus, 2 Timothy ix. 68 AD Hebrews g. Paul pioneered and planted churches in Asia i. Romans ii. Corinthians iii. Galatians iv. Ephesians v. Philippians vi. Colossians vii. Thessalonica