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DIVERSITY

All of the active members of Timothy Urbany's Sunday School Class at Eastborough Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, were white, middle class, and married with children. They were "birds of a feather that flocked together." Urbany longed for his class to be more diverse, more accepting of others, so he invited a Christian friend from work to attend his class to help him evaluate their potential for growth. She was a single, young black woman.

She arrived early, helped herself to a donut and some coffee. She participated in the discussion and did her best to make herself at home.

No one spoke to her.

The next week, Urbany explained to the class who the young lady was and reported to his class, her impressions of the class. They were stunned that none of the members of their loving class reached out to her to make her feel welcome and wanted. It was almost as if they didn't even notice her.

Really, the class's reaction was predictable. Most people naturally tend to gravitate toward people they have something in common with. In many ways, the church isn't much different than lunch time at any middle school. The "pocket protector" kids sit at one table, the jocks at another, and the princesses at another. We tend to cluster with people like us.

And in many ways its OK, but where it isn't OK is if someone doesn't feel valued or welcome because they don't fit our mold and if we don't try to make a connection.

Urbany's class is still fairly homogeneous, but later, they did assimilate a person into their fellowship who closely resembled the lady who previously visited them. They are learning to minister to whomever the Lord gives them, not just people like them. They are learning to show preference to everyone.

—Your Church, Nov/Dec 1998, p. 47 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

James 2:1 NIV "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."

DIVERSITY/EVANGELISM

Today Ron Benrey is a completed Jew, but for years he rebuffed Christian's attempts to evangelize him. After one friend made an unsuccessful attempt at sharing Christ with him, Benrey asked the friend, "Why do you care about my religion."

The man replied, "I hate to see you separated from the Lord, don't your realize that Judaism doesn't work. Read John 14:6. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus."

Benrey was furious, "how dare Christians claim ownership of God!"

It wasn't the friend's message that offended Benrey as much as the approach. Instead of being "polemic" and trampling on Benrey's beliefs, he should have been "apologetic" and invite a change of thinking without insulting the person.

Benrey recommends that witnesses:

1. Speak gently and argue respectively

2. Use explanations that invite discussion and that don't raise hackles

Really, the issue is respect and trust. Respect of other people and their beliefs, and trust that God can speak to them draw them unto Himself. Like He did with Ron Benrey.

—On Mission, July-August 2000, p. 34-35 October 11, 2001 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

1 Peter 3:15 NIV "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, "