During a television interview, a Latin American diplomat was asked, “What’s your country’s favorite pastime?” He answered, “Bull fighting.” The reporter remarked in disgust, “Revolting!” “No,” he returned, “that’s our second favorite!”
What would the watching world say characterizes our churches? Are we seen as people who “play church” as a pastime or are we known as a unified Body seeking to revolutionize our world for the better?
Fourteen years ago I was invited to serve CB Northwest in the Spanish language ministries. God has blessed CBNW with many new and growing Hispanic ministries, but we know God is calling us to reach a variety of other nationalities and cultures. These are also our neighbors. I believe there are more churches than I am aware of who are rising to the challenge.
Faith Community Church of Portland has decided to face differences head on. They are adapting their ministry to reach four different and distinct cultures that often exist outside churches. These include at-risk youth, people in recovery, the Arts community and the many Russian-speaking immigrants in Portland and Vancouver, WA.
Pastor Bob Rathbun says, “At this point our Slavic ministry is developing most quickly. Our building now hosts a remodeled Slavic Service Center. This center includes a doctor’s office, language and citizenship classes, a new culture class called ‘Succeeding in America’ and a food program that distributes about 1,000 pounds of food each week. Our Alcoholics Anonymous program has Russian translation available. Our Job Club helps people find employment and the Sunday worship services have Russian translation available. The church is in the process of remodeling its basement and kitchen to make it into a youth Coffee House for both Slavic and at-risk youth.”
On another front, Sellwood Baptist is promoting a weekly Bible study with Brazilians living in Portland. Rev. Mike Wilson (formerly with CBI, Brazil) has been able to utilize both his Portuguese and cultural familiarity to open doors to another distinctive, though small segment of the community. At least at first, newcomers find comfort and safety when they find cultural ties with their national heritage. This in turn provides a significant means of bringing Christ to bear on their needs and lives. Almost every revolution begins with a small, but committed core.
Our newest residents come with a plethora of needs, many of which can be met through the gifts and resources at our disposal. God gives us these to create a revolution, to bring the liberating power of salvation to a needy world. “They won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” is more than a cliché.
What are we willing to do to provide community to the disenfranchised? Will we provide protection to children and youth who are officially or practically orphaned? Is there room in our agenda for those inflicted by HIV or STDs? These are just several examples of many practical areas of ministry that must not be avoided.
“Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, and go to visit you?” (Matt. 25:37-40). Now is an excellent time to decide if church is just a pastime or if it takes on revolutionary characteristics.
