The global 21st century church is increasingly confronted with a profound reality: Local communities are more diverse, interconnected, and culturally complex than ever before.
Yet many congregations remain among the most segregated institutions in their communities.
The question is no longer whether diversity will shape our neighborhoods. The question is whether local churches will reflect the reconciling power of the gospel within that reality.
Over the past 25 years, leaders across the United States and increasingly around the world have rediscovered a biblical vision that speaks directly to this moment. The multiethnic church – more specifically local churches that are intentionally multiethnic – has not emerged from sociological observation or contemporary cultural pressure. Rather, it emerges from the teaching of Jesus, the narrative of the early church, and the theological instruction of the apostles.
To be clear, it is a mistake to conflate the multiethnic church with other legitimate expressions of the local Christian ecclesia. For example, immigrant churches (that is, congregations established by and primarily serving one specific people group) and other ethnic-specific but otherwise culturally homogeneous congregations have historically played an essential and honorable role in the mission of God, particularly in providing linguistically accessible and culturally familiar evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, and pastoral care. Yet by definition, these congregations are not multiethnic. Rather, they are culturally or ethnically homogeneous because they gather primarily around a shared language, culture, or identity.
A multiethnic church, by contrast, intentionally gathers people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds into shared worship, leadership, community, and mission within the same local body.1
Since the multiethnic church is indeed rooted in Scripture and modeled in the New Testament, church leaders today must wrestle with two essential questions:
- Why should we plant or otherwise establish healthy multiethnic churches?
- How can we do so?2
Why: The Biblical Mandate
From Genesis to Revelation, scripture reveals God’s heart for the nations. The promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 declares that all peoples of the earth will be blessed through Him. The prophets envision nations streaming toward God. And the apostle John’s vision in Revelation portrays a multitude from every tribe, language, people, and nation worshiping together before the throne.
Despite this sweeping narrative, the development of local churches has not always reflected this biblical reality. Yet the New Testament clearly presents unity across ethnic, economic, and cultural lines as central to the credibility of the gospel.
Three theological insights help clarify the New Testament mandate for the multiethnic church.
Envisioned by Christ (John 17:20-23)
On the night before He died, Christ prayed specifically that future generations of believers would be united as one so that the world would know God’s love and believe. In this way and by this means, Christ stated that His mission would be accomplished through others and, ultimately, that His Father would be glorified. What Jesus intends for us (the local church) is clear: we have been called to be one for the sake of the gospel. It may not be easy, but it is biblical and right. Therefore, we are to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which (we) have been called” (Eph. 4:1 NASB).3
Described by Luke (Acts 11:19-26a; 13:1)
In Acts 11:20, for the first time men of diverse cultural backgrounds intentionally preach the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Luke contrasts them with others who spoke “the word to no one except to Jews alone” (Acts 11:19). It should come as no surprise that “the hand of the Lord was with them,” and considerable numbers came to Christ and into the church. Its leadership team included two men from Africa, one from the Mediterranean, one from Asia Minor, and one from the Middle East (Acts 4:36; 9:11; 13:1). Antioch also became the first church to send missionaries into the world. Significantly, it was here that the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). It is the multiethnic church at Antioch, then, and not the ethnic-specific congregation in Jerusalem, that should serve as our primary model for local church development in the 21st century.
Prescribed by Paul (Romans, Ephesians, etc.)
Throughout his ministry and letters, the Apostle Paul consistently established and instructed churches composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers. These congregations were therefore multiethnic by their very nature. With this in mind, the theme of Paul’s life and much of his writing can be summarized as the unity of the church for the sake of the gospel. For example, in Ephesians 3:6 Paul explains that the “mystery of Christ” is the revelation that Gentiles and Jews would become “fellow heirs… members together of one body” (see also Romans 16:25–27 and Colossians 1:24–27). In Christ, former divisions are dismantled and a new humanity is formed. The church becomes the place where reconciliation is not only proclaimed but embodied (Ephesians 2:11–4:6).
So, Christ envisioned, Luke described, and Paul prescribed. This is the biblical why – the New Testament’s theological foundation for the multiethnic church.
How: Seven Core Commitments
Understanding that the multiethnic church is not just nice but necessary for advancing a credible gospel witness in an increasingly diverse and cynical society, how can healthy multiethnic churches be established? Experience and scripture point to seven core commitments that are intrinsic to building healthy, multiethnic congregations.
Embrace Dependence
Building a multiethnic church is fundamentally a spiritual endeavor. Human strategies alone cannot produce the deep reconciliation required. Jesus reminded His disciples that some challenges require prayer and fasting. In the same way, cultivating unity across cultural lines requires dependence on the Holy Spirit. Prayer, patience, and persistence must define both the process and one’s pastoral calling.
Take Intentional Steps
While the work is spiritual, it is not accidental. Multiethnic churches do not emerge by chance. Intentionality must shape every aspect of church life. Many congregations say they welcome diversity, but often what they mean is that others are welcome as long as they adopt existing cultural patterns. The difference between assimilation and accommodation becomes critical here. Assimilation asks people to minimize their cultural distinctives. Accommodation asks the majority culture to adjust in order to welcome others fully. Healthy multiethnic churches practice accommodation.
Empower Diverse Leadership
What is expected of the body must be modeled by its leadership. From the boardroom to the pulpit, from paid staff to volunteers, it is essential to credibility that leadership throughout the church should reflect the diversity of the congregation being united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Intentionality again matters. Churches must actively cultivate relationships beyond their usual networks. Otherwise, leadership pipelines tend to reproduce monocultural norms and expectations. Diverse leadership communicates belonging in ways words alone cannot.
Develop Cross-Cultural Relationships
Programs do not build unity. Relationships do. Trust grows through genuine friendships formed across cultural lines. These relationships cannot be rushed or manipulated. They develop over time through shared experiences, honest conversations, and mutual respect. In environments where people carry different histories and experiences, such relationships become the foundation of unity.
Pursue Cross-Cultural Competence
Working effectively across cultures requires learning. Leaders and congregations must develop the ability to understand and navigate cultural differences. Cross-cultural competence involves humility, self-awareness, and curiosity. It requires listening carefully and learning from others’ experiences. Much of this competence is learned not through classrooms but through relationships and shared life.
Promote a Spirit of Inclusion
Small details communicate powerful messages. Signage, language, music, and imagery can either signal belonging or reinforce distance. Inclusive environments intentionally communicate that people from many backgrounds are valued and welcomed. At the same time, inclusion does not mean abandoning biblical truth. Rather, it means extending grace and patience to those exploring faith and reconnecting with the church.
Mobilize for Impact
The goal of the multiethnic church is not diversity for its own sake. Nor is it merely symbolic unity. The goal is gospel credibility and mission advancement. When diverse believers unite around Christ, the church becomes a powerful witness to the surrounding community. This unity fuels evangelism, it strengthens the broader body of Christ, and it advances the Great Commission.
A Credible Witness for Our Time
It is no secret that the world today is marked by increasing polarization and division. Ethnic, cultural, and political conflicts often dominate public life. In such a climate, the church has a unique opportunity to display an alternative reality.
When believers from diverse backgrounds choose to walk, work, and worship God together as one, despite the distinctions that often divide the world, they demonstrate the reconciling power of Christ. In doing so, they give visible expression to the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17 and reflect God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In a divided world, then, the multiethnic church becomes one of the most compelling witnesses to the reconciling power of the gospel.
NOTES
1. For a fuller definition of a multiethnic church, visit https://mosaix.info/learn-more.
2. The biblical mandate and seven core commitments of a healthy multiethnic church were first explained in Mark DeYmaz, Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church: Mandate, Commitments, and Practices of a Diverse Congregation (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2007).
3. Mark DeYmaz, Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church: Seven Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010, 2013), 27.
