Multiethnic church planting has been a topic of discussion and desire for church planters for many years, but particularly after the last year and the racial unrest that our country has experienced, multiethnic church planting becomes all the more relevant.  If you have spent any time around Stadia, you know that we are passionate about seeing more churches started and talk all the time about the reason why we need more churches.  But why should we start multiethnic churches?

Reason #1 – It’s Biblical

From the very beginning of creation in Genesis, God creates man and woman in his image. He looks at man and calls his handiwork very good. As Christ followers we are to recognize the very good handiwork and image of God reflected in all men and women. After the fall and man is separated from God, God then makes a covenant with Abraham and tells him that his offspring will be a blessing to all the nations.

The redemption story continues in the New Testament through the life of Jesus breaking down all social, cultural and ethnic barriers that exist. He dines with tax collectors, touches lepers, and speaks with outcasts.  Then after Jesus’ resurrection and the first church begins we see Paul’s continuing in Jesus’ footsteps in his mission to reconcile people to God and to one another. In Galatians he says,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

And finally, the Bible closes with the book of Revelation and the vision of the second coming where every tongue, nation and tribe will be gathered together in worship to the King.

This is an undeniable and beautiful picture of the multiethnic church. And although this is a futuristic vision of what will be fully realized, the kingdom of God here now through the body…the church.  Multiethnic churches provide a glimpse of the future kingdom in the here and now.

Reason #2 – It’s Unavoidable

As a nation, the United States is rapidly changing.  It is projected that the demographics of our country will look radically different within the near future.  Statistics show that by the year 2045 the United States will become minority white with whites comprising 49.7% of the population.  This minority shift will continue to grow in the years following as seen by the graph below.

Although we can look ahead to these changes coming in the near future, it has already completed the shift in the younger generations.  Currently children of color under 15 comprise the majority of the population.  As an organization that sets our vision on ensuring that every child has a church, it becomes all the more unavoidable that we start multiethnic churches to reach the diverse population of children in our country.

Reason #3 – It’s Fruitful

In Romans, Paul writes to a multiethnic church and pleads them to live together, love one another and to sacrifice their preferences for the sake of others.  This shows us that the gospel has implications not just for individual sanctification, but also corporate sanctification.  Starting multiethnic churches is not just about creating communities of diverse people. It’s about cultivating beloved communities of diverse people living in Christ’s example of sacrificial love, doing the kingdom work of being reconciled to God and therefore reconciled to one another.  Because of the diversity in multiethnic churches, there are many opportunities to address preferences and biases. Pressing in to these tensions and challenges bring about fruit in disciples’ lives and in the community as a whole.

In conclusion, starting multiethnic churches is biblical, unavoidable and fruitful. BUT! It is no easy task. Come back next month to see the mistakes to avoid in planting a Multiethnic Church.