2. Introduction
Though the North American culture
represents a composite of many
peoples, many North Americans retain
much of what is considered “ethnic” in
terms of language, culture, traditions,
behavior, and heritage.
- Joe Hernandez, NAMB
3. Overview of Session
Biblical Basis for ethnic ministry
Understanding ethnic America
The cultures of ethnic America
Missiological Issues
Strategies for ethnic ministries
4. Theological/Biblical Basis for
Reaching Ethnic America
Every ethnic group is included in the mandate
to disciple the nations
All cultures are tainted by sin
The gospel is effective to save in any culture
The presence of God is found in all cultures
5. Understanding Ethnic America
Ethnic ministry often plays off of the
heart language of the group
Assimilation
– Absorbs the ethnic in stages
– Introduces ethnic elements into the
dominant culture
– There is great diversity of language and
behavior within an ethnic group
Accurate demographics is crucial
6. Demographic Sources
U.S.Census Chamber of Commerce
statistics
School
Magazine Marketing
Boards/Districts and Research
Public Utilities Departments
University sociology Secular Media
departments Internet – Accessing
libraries, universities,
Lending Institutions etc. for databases
Marketing reports Ethnic Associations and
Newspapers media
7. Look at Demographics for
Current population Traffic patterns
by ethnicity Housing patterns
Population growth Immigration patterns
projections Internal migration
Sociocultural patterns
composition and Community profile/
location of needs assessment
sociocultural groups
8. Focus Your Demographic Study
Age distribution Education
Language, usage and Employment
proficiencies Income
Birth rates Urban/rural
Country of birth realities
Concentration in tracts Religious heritage
Socioeconomic levels Family size
and distribution
9. The Cultures of Ethnic America
Recognize the uniqueness of each
– Approach without judgment, appreciating the
uniqueness of the whole
Study the culture for core values and
behaviors
– Group or individual oriented (China – US)
– Public or private oriented (Italy – Japan)
Accuracy of cultural understanding is crucial
to effective evangelism
10. Missiological Issues in Reaching
Ethnic America
Homogeneous unit principle
– Tension: appreciate uniqueness, but want to retain
the freedom to move beyond their culture
Multiculturalism
– NA culture is a blend of many cultures which retain
some of their distinctives
Indigenous issue – leadership from the group
Contextualization – permission giving by
outside agent is key
Sponsorship/partnership – several factors to
consider
11. Signs of Multiculturalism
Leadership reflecting several ethnicities
Worship/Preaching/Music that blends several
cultural elements into a varied but seamless
whole
Leadership style and governance that reflects
and accommodates several cultural
understandings
Primarily implemented at a denominational
level
12. Keys to Effective Ethnic Planting
Avoid paternalism, rather partnership
Address cultural differences between planter and
mentor
Obtain facilities based on fit and location, not solely
on convenience and economics
Financing a plant require dealing with the tension
between full funding and total self-support
Communications become problematic when crossing
cultural boundaries
Form/style issues are exacerbated by different
cultural understandings
13. Strategies for Ethnic Ministries
Follow a formal planting guideline –
carry out the project with as much
excellence as if it were a same-culture
plant
Address the special issues that come
up in a cross-cultural plant
14. Issues in Cross-cultural Planting
Avoiding extended dependence on the
sponsoring church
Developing indigenous leaders from the new
church
Encouraging connectedness with the
denomination and the particular network of
churches addressing that ethnic group
Developing stewardship for the world
community, and especially of that ethnicity