SPECIAL REPORT: Spread vision, bathe it in prayer, multiethnic church pastor advises

GARLAND?Let the leadership catch the vision. Then let it trickle down to the congregation. Don’t force it. And bathe it in prayer.

That’s the advice Tony Mathews, pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship in Garland, has for pastors who sense God leading their churches toward ethnic diversity.

“Of course, it would be different if one is planting a church. But in an existing church, a pastor must meet initially with his leadership. Let the leadership catch that vision. ? Do it in a strategic, systematic way,” said Mathews, author of the book “There’s More Than One Color in the Pew” and vice president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Pastors’ Conference.

Mathews’ has shepherded North Garland for 14 years. He is black; his associate pastor is white. The assistant minister is black. The missionary-in-residence is from India. The music team and the deacons are ethnically diverse.

North Garland is surrounded by mostly white neighborhoods, yet Mathews senses a biblical imperative, he said, to reflect the body of Christ in all ways, including ethnic diversity. His church members travel there from about 10 Dallas-area cities, he said.

“From a biblical perspective, a multicultural church reflects the heart of God,” Mathews said. “The Lord has made all of us in his image and when we as a church reflect that, we are demonstrating the common fatherhood we have in God.”

Scripture passages such as John 4, which tells of Jesus revealing himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, teach the importance of being “inclusive in a very responsible way,” Mathews said.

Transitioning a church is no small or quick task. Leadership and music are the two most critical issues in a multicultural context, Mathews contends.

In fact, “The number-one priority is to diversify the staff,” Mathews said.

Also, he said, how music is presented must reflect the congregation.

Not all churches will be ethnically diverse because of location or demographics, but even those congregations can intentionally bridge ethnic divides, Mathews explained.

For example, pastors can intentionally seek out friendships from among pastors who serve in other cultural settings. A white, suburban church might occasionally “exchange” worship services with an urban African-American church, Mathews suggested.

Also, Mathews said, such churches could host diversity banquets during which the various cultures represented are celebrated and respected.

“It’s a way to increase cultural competence,” Mathews noted.

Furthermore, churches from different cultures can partner for quarterly or annual ministry projects.

Whatever the context, “If we just love people and meet their needs, the Lord will bring people to us. Diversity will happen,” Mathews said. “It’s the loving people and touching people where they are wounded that is essential, because hurt has no barriers.”