Kainos Movement 2015 Conference Lab Sessions: Multi-Ethnic Leadership with Dr. John Bryson and High-Definition Leadership with Pastor Derwin Gray
Previous Kainos Movement 2015 Conference posts:
The following posts will feature my notes from the strong collection of Kainos 2015 pastors, nonprofit leaders, and sociologists who prophetically spoke into our segregated American culture. Our prayer,
hope, and striving is that Emmaus City will be a transcultural and
multi-ethnic church in Worcester, of Worcester, and for Worcester. As we
move forward, we have much to gain from these men and women who have gone before us and lead the way in Jesus' name.
Kainos 2015 Lab Session: Pursuing Multi-Ethnic Leadership
Dr. John Bryson
Co-Founder and Pastor of Fellowship Memphis
Doctorate in Leadership, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Fellowship Associates Church Planting Coach
Do we lay down our rights for the sake of the whole? When we pursue being God's multi-cultural, multi-class, multi-ethnic family, we will have to confront consumerism, preference, and the other idols our often monocultural lives feed us consciously and subconsciously.
According to Romans 1:5-6, in light of the gospel, we are under obligation to all people to share Jesus with them.
For Paul, the ekklesia was for Jews and Gentiles together. God's multi-ethnic family was intended to live together, serve together, and worship together. The gospel does not give us the right to choose who to give the gospel to.
We are under obligation to join Jesus in building His multiethnic church.
Sometimes you need to get silly, so foolish with God you pray for things that are completely unexpected. Because we have been given the grace of God in Christ, there is nothing we can't ask for.
(1) Build and plant a multi-ethnic leadership team – pray them in
Do we lay down our rights for the sake of the whole? When we pursue being God's multi-cultural, multi-class, multi-ethnic family, we will have to confront consumerism, preference, and the other idols our often monocultural lives feed us consciously and subconsciously.
And remember, we can't solve racism. It's a sin issue and
sin will be with us until Jesus returns. New people are being born. Instead, we
confront the sin of racism as we showcase Jesus' redemption and reorient
people's hearts and minds in light of His good news that He reigns and He calls
people from all races equally to be His family.
A servant leader needs to always be a learner of other cultures and their history. We should be raising the racial IQ of our congregations. People who continue to remain in or stubbornly hold on to a low racial IQ will continue to hurt each other and society at large. Don't be color blind. Appreciate all color. When distance is removed and people are in relationship to be learners of Jesus and each other, God's compassion occurs. And just like Jesus' life and ministry, the gospel takes root in relationship to your views of ethnicity when your dinner table changes.
A servant leader needs to always be a learner of other cultures and their history. We should be raising the racial IQ of our congregations. People who continue to remain in or stubbornly hold on to a low racial IQ will continue to hurt each other and society at large. Don't be color blind. Appreciate all color. When distance is removed and people are in relationship to be learners of Jesus and each other, God's compassion occurs. And just like Jesus' life and ministry, the gospel takes root in relationship to your views of ethnicity when your dinner table changes.
But remember, this will take time. For the first three years
of life with Fellowship Memphis, we did not see the fruit of our prayers. It
was in years 5-10 that our dreams began to come to life. That's when our
elders, our leadership team, our staff, and our congregation became radically
diverse.
You have to walk the Nehemiah outline:
(1) Begin with a broken heart for all people
(2) Pray for repentance for yourself and your church
(3) Move toward God's call
Then you will hear yourself and your people say, "I can't go back to being part of a monoracial church."
You have to walk the Nehemiah outline:
(1) Begin with a broken heart for all people
(2) Pray for repentance for yourself and your church
(3) Move toward God's call
Then you will hear yourself and your people say, "I can't go back to being part of a monoracial church."
Kainos 2015 Lab Session: High-Definition Leadership
Pastor Derwin Gray
According to Romans 1:5-6, in light of the gospel, we are under obligation to all people to share Jesus with them.
For Paul, the ekklesia was for Jews and Gentiles together. God's multi-ethnic family was intended to live together, serve together, and worship together. The gospel does not give us the right to choose who to give the gospel to.
We are under obligation to join Jesus in building His multiethnic church.
Sometimes you need to get silly, so foolish with God you pray for things that are completely unexpected. Because we have been given the grace of God in Christ, there is nothing we can't ask for.
(1) Build and plant a multi-ethnic leadership team – pray them in
(2) Listen to other people's stories – ask and care
(3) Develop a diverse collection of songs that sing the gospel across cultures and ethnicities
(4) Develop a thick skin, a soft heart, and a sharp mind
(5) Develop a powerful prayer life
Get education and experience. All leadership is autobiography. Do you live a multi-ethnic life? Replicate Jesus because you will replicate yourself in your church. Reveal where you see the church going and growing by your words and deeds.
Love God completely. Love yourself correctly. Love people compassionately. Practice the presence of people. And if you want to be a multi-ethnic leader, get more "Pentecostal" or "Spirit-filled and Spirit-led" in your prayers, your preaching, and your faith practice. Theological inbreeding leads to theological deformity. Keep growing.
– Sully
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