How To Diversify Your Church: A Guide PART IV

Creator: Lyubov Ivanova | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

I hope you were able to tune in for parts I, II, and III of this series.  If not, click each one of those three links and catch yourself up so the rest of this will make sense. 

10. GENERAL IDEA: Offer Diverse Programming

SPECIFICS: Like anything in the world, what you offer drives who attends. For example, if you desire barbecue, you go to the best local barbecue joint. If you desire delicious pho, you go to the best Vietnamese restaurant in town. So, when it comes time to look for Christian programming, you will go to the church that offers what is most interesting to you. Therefore, play around with your offerings. If you generally offer new programming in the fall and spring, then try to mix up what you are planning.

I will give you some examples.

Considering offering the community a Christian hip hop workout class each week. Of course, you need to make sure you have a teacher who can do justice to this type of workout–please don’t put someone who cannot dance/has no rhythm/doesn’t understand hip hop in this position. There is something so powerful about connecting with others through dance and music. Music can breakdown walls like nothing else.

Or, if you already offer a hip hop workout class, consider offering free movement classes at the church set to a diverse range of worship music. Again, please get a teacher who knows what they are doing. This type of class can be invaluable to lifting the spirits of your community and helping many different cultures connect with one another.

Or, if you already have workout classes at your church, then try to move into a different lane. Perhaps you have someone in your church who is a gifted flutist. So, consider offering the community discounted or free flute lessons.

Or, if music lessons already occur at your church, then consider offering an evening of free childcare for the surrounding community who perhaps is already struggling.

Or, if you’re already offering childcare, then perhaps you may wish to offer an evening of teaching English as a Second language each week to reach out to the local immigrant community in your area.

Or, why not offer community cooking classes each week? You could highlight a different country’s food each week (reach out to your community to see if there are local restauranteurs who would want to come). You could teach cooking classes for soul food, Korean food, Italian food, etc. This would be a great way to bring different cultures together as many people are interested in how to cook other culture’s foods.

Make sure that regardless of what new programming you decide to offer, you also use this also as an opportunity to build great relationships and draw people into the broader church community. Do not neglect my former advice. Be respectful, have a willingness to learn and have open ears, don’t demean, and don’t expect people coming to your events to assimilate to your church’s way of being and doing. And don’t try to be someone who you are not. If you a horrible hip hop dancer, no problem. Own that. Put words to it. People will respect you if you are trying to love, not if you are trying to snatch aspects of their culture away from them and cram them into your own culture’s mould.

Make it clear in your advertisements that all are welcome to your events. Then, make sure you over-communicate with the church members running your event that you wish for them to welcome–with open arms–anyone who comes. Purposefully advertise in more diverse areas. I know this seems obvious, but it needs to be stated. If you are hoping to diversify, but then advertise your events in homogenous areas, you might as well be spitting in the wind.

And of course, do not neglect prayer. This, like the rest, must be covered in prayer.

One important note as you begin the work of racial reconciliation in your church: It is critical that we, as a Church, acknowledge the atrociously racist history of some American churches.  

Here’s a great example of this. In this photo, the KKK is welcomed to a Baptist Church service in Portland, Oregon, 1922. (Oregon Historical Society, OrHi 51017.) “This image shows a photograph from the early 1920s, probably in Portland, in which robed and hooded Ku Klux Klan members share a stage with members of the Royal Riders of the Red Robe, a Klan auxiliary for foreign-born white Protestants. A large banner reading “Jesus Saves” occupies a prominent position on the wall at the rear of the stage and testifies to the strong role that Protestantism played in the KKK philosophy of “100 percent Americanism,” says Dane Bevan, © Oregon Historical Society, 2004.

I wish I could say that this picture was a stand-alone congregation.  Yet, we all know this not to be true.  In fact, James Henry Thronwell said the following in a famous 1861 sermon, “As long as that [African] race, in its comparative degradation, co-exists side by side with the white, bondage is its normal condition.”  Thornwell regularly touted slavery and white supremacy as a Christian value of his as he preached to his 3,000 member congregation at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., where he was the senior pastor in the years leading up to the Civil War. 

Many churches of all denominations participated in this segregation. (Gratefully, similarly, many denominations have since denounced white supremacy and racism as well. This is, therefore, not meant to point out any one denomination, for it was widespread among all.)

This racism was prevalent in the days of slavery. In fact, slaves were never allowed access to the entire Bible.  In its place was something called a “Slave Bible” which had all references to freedom and escape from slavery eliminated. Meanwhile, passages that encouraged obedience and submission were emphasized. In other words, slaveowners used God’s holy word to manipulate and subjugate fellow human beings. The editors included only 10 percent of the Old Testament and half of the New Testament in an effort to deceive and abuse their fellow man.

(Bible printed for reading to slaves, London 1807. Passages such as the Book of Exodus are removed. Original book: Law & Gilbert; digitisation: Oxford University/Google.)

No wonder there has been division in the church for centuries. 

Satan thrives on division. He loves it so much because he recognizes that it hurts our witness for Christ. He sees that our lack of genuine love for one another turns people off from ever drawing close to God. Therefore, it is on us to actively fight to change the landscape of our churches.

And yes, I’m talking to all churches. All-white churches need to diversify. All-black churches need to diversify. All-latino churches need to diversify. All-asian churches need to diversify. Etcetera. You get my point. Even if your church is semi-diverse right now, you likely could diversify even further!

If you hear nothing else from my entire post, hear this: The church in America may have had its roots in segregation, but we do not have to continue it. The Gospel is a GLOBAL gospel that, quite frankly, had it’s origins in the Middle East (Hello Eden! Hello Canaan! Hello Jerusalem!) It’s America that is on the Struggle Bus.

How is it that the Church of God (the God who says His entire definition of Himself IS love) continues to be a point of separation and not unity? 1 Corinthians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (ESV) Meanwhile, 1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (ESV)

Colossians 3:14 says, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (ESV)

If we can’t get it together, then we will continue to struggle reaching those who don’t yet know Christ.  They are able to see that our ‘brand’ of love is only as good as our comfort level.  They aren’t seeing this type of love:  “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV) 

If you are scared of taking the first steps, don’t ever forget 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (ESV). As you love, the fear will be extinguished. 

And don’t ever forget, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8 ESV). 

The kingdom has never been about our personal comfort levels, but how we can glorify God.

We’ve got work to do, Church.  Let’s get to it.

P.S. As I said, this four part guide is not an exhaustive list.  I would love to hear from y’all: Have you seen other tactics and methods work to diversify your own church? I would be honored to hear about it in the comments. I look forward to hearing your responses. 

(In the meantime, come connect with me on twitter and let’s keep the conversation going: https://twitter.com/authorlizhouse )

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How To Diversify Your Church: A Guide PART III

Creator: Lyubov Ivanova | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

If you missed part I, click here.  If you missed part II, click here. Otherwise, this list won’t make sense. 

Alright, let’s continue onward regarding some specific steps you can take to begin the process of diversifying your church.

7. GENERAL IDEA: Be aware of your approach.  Gentleness goes a long way. 

SPECIFICS: 

I want to first address White individuals.  We need to be realistic.  The majority of individuals in America are White. According to the 2019 US Census, approximately 76% of Americans were White, 18.5% Latino, 13%  Black, 1.5% Native American, 5.9% Asian, less than .5% Pacific Islander,  and 2.5% two or more races. 

Due to this majority status of White individuals, that means that the majority of minorities in this country have spent their whole lives assimilating to a majority “White way” of doing things in their jobs, interactions in broader society, in school, etc.  Many have become incredibly skilled at interacting with all ethnicities, shifting their approach where necessary. 

Many less White individuals have developed this same skill.  Due to the fact that White individuals are the majority in this country, many have simply continued to persist in their White cultural norms, belief systems, and ways of being and doing. Many White individuals have never even walked into a room in America where they were the minority. (Some have, but only while in other countries. I’m talking about in your own home country if you are American.) This is in direct opposition to most minorities, who regularly walk into rooms where they are the only one of their particular ethnicity. 

White church-goers need to be humbly aware that the ‘White way’ is not always the ‘right way’ just because we are in a country that often chooses the ‘White way’ as the default. 

If we want to genuinely connect with other ethnicities, we need to be very, very good listeners. We need to hear with our hearts and not just our ears.  Here is a critical point that you cannot miss: we cannot come barrelling in ready to share our viewpoints.  Keep your viewpoint to yourself for a while.  Just listen. I’m serious. Unless someone directly asks you for your perspective, keep it to yourself.  Ask tons of questions that show that you are willing to learn and just want to connect with others.  You’re not there to ‘fix them’ or ‘change them’; you are just there to be friends.

 I make this point in particular because all minorities have experienced the phenomenon of the “White Savior.”  What does this mean? It means that often, when White individuals come into minority spaces, they try to ‘fix everything’ to change it to the White norms of doing things.  Minorities can be especially wary of a group of White individuals showing up, as their experiences have taught them that as soon as White individuals arrive, they are there to tell the minorities all the ‘wrong ways’ they have been doing things for centuries. 

 This is not Christ’s approach. The Gospel is a global gospel, so there is no right or wrong except what is explicit in Scripture. So, like I said, as your church starts to do the hard work of diversifying, ensure that in White conversations with minority individuals, please remain humble and listen with open ears and hearts. 

This can also go the opposite direction, so I need to be clear that I am not only addressing White individuals here.  Due to centuries of racism and maltreatment, this can cause many minorities to develop callous hearts towards White individuals for good cause. There is zero judgment here if this is the place you are in mentally right now. Yet, I want to gently encourage you that despite the root of the pain our life, we are not given a free pass not to forgive. The way of Christ is always forgiveness. (That does not mean I am advocating for lack of boundaries. If someone is toxic, you may need to love “from a distance” for awhile. You definitely need to pray for them [ie: pray for your enemies and those who persecute you]) But, also–excluding these toxic situations–if you are an ethnic minority, then take an honest look at your heart. Is it open? Are you willing to listen and be a true friend to someone new? Are you willing to learn new ways of doing things, or are you entrenched in your own culture’s norms? Have you hardened your heart towards your White brothers and sisters because of what others have done? Ask Christ to help you forgive.

Be gentle. Be tender. 

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” 

Please remember that in all your interactions.

8. GENERAL IDEA: There is no right way.

SPECIFICS:  All churches can get so caught up in their way of doing things that they alienate people who do church in a different way. Be cautious when you come together.  Be aware of your unintentional biases. 

Transformation Church, in Tulsa Oklahoma, has a great idea that I think could go a long way.  Once a month, they cancel their own services.  They encourage all of their members to visit other churches in the area.  They want to communicate several things:  

1. Our church is not the ‘best church.’ Every church has its own strengths and weaknesses.  As such, visiting other churches allow the members to experience different ways of being and doing.
2. We need to connect as a larger Body of Christ.  So, attending other churches in the community help us all connect as one massive Body in the city that can bring about larger change. 
3. Getting together with others helps improve our services as well, as we bring back new ideas and thoughts of how to run our own services.
4. Sometimes, it’s okay to share church members.  Some church members will come to our church as a result of our visit.  Sometimes, our members will leave and join another church as a result of their visit.  This creates a constant melting pot in all the churches versus stagnation.

One of the biggest criticisms I hear from non-Believers about the church is that they (non-Believers) do a better job at loving people than the church does.  They see our segregation and are not impressed with the love of our God as a result.  When we communicate love and multiculturalism outside our churches, it can draw non-Believers inside as they see us choosing to exhibit the attitudes of Christ. 

9. GENERAL IDEA: Serve towards reconciliation.

We don’t just talk about racial reconciliation, we serve towards it.

SPECIFICS:  Who are you choosing to serve as church? Are you specifically willing to serve in different communities than your own? If you’re located in a poor, rural area, are you willing to serve in a rich, suburban area? If you’re located in a rich, suburban area, are you willing to serve in a poor, urban area?  If your community is primarily Latino, are you willing to serve the local Black community? If your community is primarily Black, are you willing to serve your White brothers and sisters? If your community is primarily White, are you willing to serve your Asian brothers and sisters? 

Serving softens our hearts like nothing else in God’s kingdom. Serving creates moments when we look more like our Savior than ourselves. ( “For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price in exchange for the salvation of many.” (Mark 10:45 TPT)) When we can choose to serve in true humility, not believing ourselves to be ‘better than’ others, then the radical love of Christ is sent forth. 

But remember this important caveat: when you are serving, you are humble, not believing yourself to be above those you are serving. You need to enter the act of service with a strong recognition you all are on equal grounding.  Perhaps dig into the recesses of your mind and remember a time that you, yourself, needed a helping hand.  I’m guessing you had people help you in a way that felt great!  I’m also guessing you had people help you in a way that made you feel gross afterwards. Remind yourself of which approach helped and which hurt. 

Generally speaking, Great Approaches To Help include these concepts: 

1. Start any act of service by simply sitting down and getting to know someone.  Find your commonalities.  You both need to see the humanity in each other.  Don’t skip this step.  Many ‘service days’ simply show up and get immediately to work, believing that getting the most work done is of utmost importance.  While important, it’s not to be placed at the expense of the feelings of those you are serving.  Plan ahead your service schedule to include an opportunity for fellowship at the beginning of service. Include it again at break time or at the end of the day.
2. Invite the people you are serving (ahead of time) to join alongside you (if appropriate.)  For example, if you are offering to fix someone’s house, then offer to work alongside them. This not only gives them ultimate say-so in what repairs are done on the house, but also gives them the sense of pride of ownership that they are working on their own house, and you all are simply extra workers there to assist them in what they are already doing.  Make sure you allow them a voice to explain what they would like done on their house.  Ask them if they want to be the ‘point person’ for anyone who has questions throughout the day, or if they would prefer a member of the team be the ‘point person.’ 

Now,  this would not be appropriate if the person you are assisting is very sick or otherwise incapacitated and unable to help.  Use discretion.   

3. Allow a reciprocal relationship of serving to occur.  I remember when I was in high school, I went to Mexico for a week to build a house for a family.  The organization I was working with did an excellent job at including the family in the building process. They were there the whole time building alongside us.  Yet, when lunchtime came, they also got ready to fix us an entire meal.  There were at least forty of us, and I immediately balked at the idea!  I could not fathom how expensive it was to prepare the enormous feast that was being prepared right in front of our eyes.  I wanted to shout that they did not have to do that! In fact, please don’t do it!  I was wrong. Not only was their desire to feed us strongly based in their own cultural values, but their ability to fix us lunch everyday created a reciprocal relationship.  It made them feel like they weren’t just taking-taking-taking…instead, they also had something to give.  And, in fact, from their perspective, being able to feed the forty of us for a week was a much lesser gift than we were giving them–a new home. 
4. Remember there are multiple ways of ‘doing things.’  I know I keep harping on this point, but if you are ever going to be successful in becoming multicultural, remembering this point is of utmost importance. Thus, when you get ready to serve, ask their opinion regarding how they would like the service to be completed.  Ask as many questions as possible.  If you are there to serve a meal to their community, ask things like: 1. Where would it be best to set up? 2. Where would it be best to have fellowship with your community? 3. Would you like music to be played? If so, what is your preference? 4. Would you prefer to play games, or do you prefer we just stick to feeding the community? 5. Who is generally ‘in charge’ in this area? Would they still like to be in charge while we are here or would you prefer we ‘take charge’? 6. What do you all normally do to distribute food? 7. Are you guys open to ________, or do you prefer we do it like this _________ ?  We can never forget that communities almost always have their own norms, and it can be considered disrespectful if we come in and completely disregard what they are comfortable doing.

Conversely, generally speaking, Gross Approaches To “Help” include these concepts: 

1. Coming in and immediately getting to work.  Keeping your interaction with the community to a minimum and just sticking to the ‘plan.’  In most minority cultures, this approach is considered to be pretty sterile at best, and offensive at worst.
2. Coming in and assuming that your way is best and barreling past anyone who suggests something different.  Or, coming in and ignoring the body language of those around you. Most likely, they are communicating that they are not a fan of what you’re doing, but you’re ignoring it. 
3. Coming in as the ‘expert’ in all things. Being rigid and unwilling to be flexible.
4. Not being aware of cultural norms.  For example, most minority cultures place a heavy emphasis on respect for the elders of the church.  If you come in and brush aside the elderly in favor of whatever you’re doing, you’re going to build walls, not tear them down. 
5. Sending people who really aren’t equipped to do it. Yes, I do think that willing servants is what God calls us to be. I also think that He stretches us beyond our limits.  He often asks us to do things that scare us. But that doesn’t mean that if you feel terrified, and judgey, and triggered by crime that you should go join a prison ministry! There are some people that are just not going to be equipped for the specific service you are doing. They would be better utilized elsewhere, so let them do that so that you don’t do more damage to people already hurting. After all, how loved would someone in jail feel if the ‘servants’ come in and don’t want to talk, or pray, or hug anyone because they are not in the mind-space to do it?

…Tune in tomorrow for the fourth and final part of this series…

(In the meantime, come connect with me on twitter and let’s keep the conversation going: https://twitter.com/authorlizhouse )

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How To Diversify Your Church: A Guide PART I

Creator: Lyubov Ivanova | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

About a decade ago, my husband and I attended predominately White church. This was not our first choice, to be frank. We visited once, and were put-off by the lack of diversity. Yet, after visiting several other churches in the area, the Spirit drew us back here.  So, after a three-Sunday-commitment, we dove head first into membership at a church whose racial makeup–at the time–was approximately 90% White and 10% Ethnic Minority. 

Yet, within the next five years, we were witnesses to a miracle.  After the church had spent decades praying for diversification, they saw a rapid change in ethnic makeup.  Decades-long prayers were answered like rapid-fire after the church made some critical changes. 

Today, that church represents people from more than forty nations. 

Watching this diversification revitalized my hope that the Church of Christ can absolutely be a place of unity, despite what recent American history has previously dictated. I hope hearing about it encourages you–and spurs you to action–too. These same changes can be utilized in your own congregations. 

But, before we get too deeply into the specifics, I need to make a critical point. I assume you already know this, since you clicked on my blogpost, but just in case you don’t, it has to be said: We are living in disobedience to Christ’s vision and desires when our churches continue to remain segregated.  

How do I know this with such piercing clarity?  Revelation 7:9 says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…”

He will have all nations/tribes/people living in harmony in heaven…worshipping alongside one another…ministering alongside one another. Therefore, why would He not want that on earth? 

Let me be blunt: If your church is not currently living out a multi-lingual, multi-cultural reality, then there is work to do. 

Here are some beginning ideas of how to get it done. (This is in no way an exhaustive list. However, these principles are intended to help you get started.)

1. GENERAL IDEA: Prayer.

I cannot emphasize this enough. It is, after all, point number one for a reason. The elder boards, all pastors, all church staff, and congregants need to be regularly praying that their local church would be a place that reflects heaven.  We need to actively work alongside Christ in this goal.

Regular prayer is the most critical portion of this entire post. If you neglect this portion, then you are purposely leaving out the direction of the Holy Spirit for your church’s diversification.  Not only that, you are leaving His power at the door as well, which will be critical for the implementation phase.  

SPECIFICS:  

So, when does this prayer become critical?  On a scheduled basis.  Let’s be real; things that are not planned for are often forgotten or neglected.  That is simply human nature, especially in organizations that are always busy and juggling too many balls.   The desire to diversify may be firm in your heart, but without a specific intention to keep it at the forefront, it will fall through the cracks. 

Therefore, if your staff meets every single month, then the opening prayer needs to always include a small portion of that prayer that prays for the diversification of your Body.  Communicate with your administrative assistant to add “prayer for diversification” to the permanent meeting template.

If your elder board meets monthly, one of the items on the agenda always needs to include prayer for diversification. Have the secretary add it to the permanent agenda.

Does your church have a prayer guide or a weekly bulletin?  Add a small permanent portion that includes an exhortation to the congregation to be praying for a church that is composed of those described in Revelation 7:9.

2. GENERAL IDEA: Communication from the pulpit.

What is being communicated from the pulpit?  It is clear to your congregants that your church highly values a diverse congregation?  You may have said something once, a year ago, but what if someone missed that Sunday…would they still know it’s a church-wide value? 

SPECIFICS: 

Similarly to the above suggestion, regularity is key.  Every quarter, ensure you include a portion of your opening statements that discuss your core values as a church.  For example, you could say something to the effect of, “You know, we are a church that highly values diversity.  It is something we regularly pray about, in fact.  Will you join us in praying?  Will you commit to praying that God would bring many different tribes, tongues, and nations to our church?  We desire to show the world what it looks like when all different skin colors love one another the way that Christ loved us. That we sacrifice for one another, care for one another, and are in close relationship with one another.  We want the world to see that healing and reconciliation is always possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we believe the Church should lead the way of love for the rest of the world to see and desire to have a part of.”

If your church is located in an area of the country that is firmly entrenched in centuries-long racism, then your approach may be a bit different.  Perhaps hearing from you in particular won’t do much.  So, pray fervently and without ceasing, and then begin simply reading God’s Word.  God’s Word has been described as “…alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)  Allow God to do the hard work of dividing soul and spirit. 

Plan ahead to read through a certain book of the Bible, like the book of Acts.  Each week, read a new chapter aloud.  When you get to Acts 10:34-35, allow the Holy Spirit to do His work when you read: “ Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.’”  

Or, read through the book of Revelation and when you get to 7:9-10, allow God to move your congregation’s hearts when He says, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” 

Perhaps the discussion of Jews vs. Gentiles in Romans could help turn a stony heart. 

 Allow the Holy Spirit to do what He does best: convict. 

Accept that change could be slow-moving. Be willing to play the long-game. Accept that you will probably receive push-back. That is okay, too. Change can be scary. As Andy Mineo once said, in his song, Uncomfortable, “God, prepare me for the war; Comfort be the thing that’ll make a king fall. Eyes on the Lord, gotta grip that blade of the Sword. Tell me, how you plan on gettin’ swole if you don’t ever get sore?”  (If you aren’t aware, “gettin’ swole” means growing large muscles.) Now, here is an interesting fact about muscles. Muscles only grow when you tear them. This is called muscle hypertrophy, which is when the body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which subsequently increases the mass and size of the muscles. Growing is painful, but healthy.

Whatever you do, don’t stop praying.  God will accomplish His will in your congregation.

3. GENERAL IDEA: Worship

What does your praise and worship look like?  Is it only one style?  Whether you realize it or not, worship communicates loudly what is acceptable versus not at your church.  

I will speak in generalities here: Different cultures often worship in different styles. If your church is only offering one style of worship, you may be unintentionally alienating others who connect with God in a different manner.  Even more insidious is when we are callous or unconcerned with the different worship styles of others and just expect them to assimilate to ‘our style.’  How does that communicate love for our brother?  How does that communicate a warm welcome to our sister?  

Can you imagine what starts to happen when worship styles are diversified?  Suddenly, almost anyone who walks in the door can connect with God in a way that reaches them on a soul level. 

Lest you errantly believe this is not biblical, let’s remember what Paul said in regards to his own freedom and how he chose to use it. He said, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. …I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (Excerpts from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV)  

In other words, Paul is shifting how he is approaching different people in order to win as many people for the Gospel as possible.  

SPECIFICS: 

Diversify, diversify, diversify.  Begin to incorporate new styles each Sunday.  

Now, we all know that ‘church folk’ can easily get their panties in a twist, so it’s fine to go slowly with this.  Feel free to stick with your original style for most of the songs.  Yet, try to incorporate one new song each week.  For example, you could try a hymn one week so those who worship in a more traditional manner will feel welcome.  Perhaps you try a song the next week that has one verse in another language, such as Spanish (while the rest of the song is still in English.)  Or one week you might try a contemporary Christian song if your usual schtick is Gospel. Or maybe you mix in a Gospel song with a strong beat if your usual schtick is contemporary Christian.  

Some of you might be shaking your head as if I just suggested prancing a unicorn up the center aisle. Okay, I see you.  If your congregants are really entrenched in tradition, then try to incorporate one new song per month or one per quarter. Gradual changes usually go over better than an all-at-once approach for traditional settings.  You are aiming at teaching your congregants that there are a multiplicity of ways of worshipping; You are not attempting to completely alienate them.  After all, the goal is inclusive worship which means you still want current members to continue to feel welcome as well.  You are simply attempting to draw others into the welcoming atmosphere also.  

Now, you may be wondering how in the world you are going to do this, especially if you’re a smaller church without as many resources.  This may be particularly true if Suzie Q normally leads worship, and she only knows how to play xyz genre.  

Well, get creative!  Perhaps you use a youtube video on a projector one week that has someone leading worship with a new style.  Or maybe you have a youth congregant in your church who is musically gifted who would love the opportunity to worship in a different manner.  Or, perhaps you expose Suzie Q to different styles and ask her to have faith enough to stretch herself.  

Either way, worship may just be the most critical step of all–besides prayer– towards diversification of a church.    

Worship is the primary way in which many congregants connect with God, so as soon as it is opened up to everyone’s styles, you now have opened your congregation up to diversification in the midst of God.  Do not forget that Psalm 22: 3 WEB says, “But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.”  (emphasis added)

If this is where we can have communion with God, then isn’t it important that everyone can easily access this connection?  

I don’t ever want to imply that all people can’t connect with God in any style of praise, because they can.  This is especially true because worship is about God, not about us.The Holy Spirit can and does connect in worship with people no matter the style. 

 Yet, if you’re honest with yourself, if a whole service was done in polka music, you may have a harder time focusing on connecting to God than if the whole service was done in the style of Elevation Worship.  Or, if you’re like me, then a whole service done in the style of Chris Tomlin will distract me, versus if a whole service is done in the style of Maverick City Music. All styles are wonderful ways of connecting with God, but some styles distract one set of people while other styles distract another set. 

Offering a multiplicity of options ensures everyone can worship equally and distraction-free.

Whatever approach you take, do not neglect praying about it.  This will be especially critical if you have very stubborn congregants who do.not.like.change. Allow God to lead you… 

…Tune in tomorrow for part II...

(In the meantime, come connect with me on twitter and let’s keep the conversation going: https://twitter.com/authorlizhouse )

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