Christian Leaders Turn to TheNewCulture.org for Help in Building Multi-Ethnic Churches and Ministries

Christian Leaders Turn to TheNewCulture.org for Help in Building Multi-Ethnic Churches and Ministries

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Last week ReNew Partnerships launched TheNewCulture.org--an innovative new website which equips Christian leaders to build multi-ethnic churches and organizations. In its first week the site has received over a thousand visitors from around the world and the praise of many Christian leaders. Chad Brennan, the Director of ReNew Partnerships, explains:

"We have found that most Christian leaders want to see their church or organization become more multi- ethnic but they lack training, resources, and encouragement. Therefore, attempts to build and sustain multi-ethnic communities usually end in failure and frustration. We created TheNewCulture.org to provide an online forum where leaders can find the resources and tools they need to succeed in their efforts."

TheNewCulture.org is being received with enthusiasm by leaders who recognize the danger of continuing to foster ethnically-homogenous Christian organizations in a society that is rapidly becoming multi-ethnic. The U.S. Census Bureau recently projected that in less than 15 years half of all children in the U.S. will be ethnic minorities (Source: U.S. Census News, Aug. 14, 2008). Nearly every major institution and corporation in America is making changes to accommodate the increasing ethnic diversity in our country. However, most Christian organizations have done little to adapt to the changing demographics.

For decades Christian leaders of nearly every denomination and ethnicity have expressed a desire to see more multi-ethnic churches and ministries. It is hard to find a website or brochure of a Christian organization which does not declare, "We welcome people of all ethnicities." But, this open door policy has resulted in very little ethnic integration in Christian organizations. The extensive research of sociologists Curtiss Paul Deyoung, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey, and Karen Chai Kim show that just 7.5 percent of the over 300,000 religious congregations in the United States are racially mixed. (Source: United By Faith, 2003)

If so many Christians want to build multi-ethnic organizations, why isn't it happening? Chad Brennan explains some of the obstacles:

"Christian leaders are finding out the hard way that an open door approach is not enough. Forming a multi- ethnic organization requires prayer, personal sacrifice, education, and a great deal of intentional effort. There are dozens of sensitive topics that must be addressed including prejudice, power sharing, historical injustices, cross-cultural communication, etc. TheNewCulture.org allows leaders to find excellent, bible-based resources on these critical topics and to connect with leaders of multi-ethnic churches and organizations who have experience in navigating through those stormy waters."

For more information about TheNewCulture.org and the on-site training forums facilitated by ReNew Partnerships contact Chad Brennan.

About ReNew Partnerships
ReNew Partnerships is a multi-ethnic, Christian non- profit organization which provides coaching, training, and resources to help Christian leaders effectively embrace the ethnic diversity in their community and build biblical, multi-ethnic churches and ministries. ReNew Partnerships' staff consult and partner with churches, colleges, and ministries from many denominational and ethnic backgrounds.

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