From the Coordinator: Diverse Missionaries Expand Our Witness

It should come as no surprise that a missions agency would be interested in issues related to diversity. A big part of our job is to help train missionaries to grow in cultural competencies to reach the different peoples of the world. However, I have been asked why we are putting so much emphasis on diversity. Are we trying to be diverse for diversity’s sake? Are we simply following the world? The simple answer is no. We are motivated by different reasons in our desire to see our mission reflect the diversity of the Church.

First, we believe the beauty of the kingdom of God is expressed in people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, washed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, worshipping our God (Rev. 7:9). The more diverse our mission, the better we reflect God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

Second, we believe that a powerful apologetic to the universal nature of our faith is expressed in the diversity of our community. In our diversity we communicate that Christianity is not the religion of a single nation or race, but is for all people. And, as we minister in places where there is ethnic conflict and hostility, we’re able to bring hope of reconciliation and peace as we model unity in diversity through the gospel.

Finally, we are aware of the demographic shift in our country toward greater diversity and anticipate the same in our churches. Our call to pray for and mobilize an additional 1 percent of the members of the PCA includes our brothers and sisters of all ethnicities. Therefore, we seek to serve well our whole denomination in all its diversity.

The PCA’s Ad Interim Committee on Racial and Ethnic Reconciliation report expresses well our heart at MTW: “Theologically, our goal is not to seek diversity as an end in itself because this would be too small an endeavor relative to God’s mission. Rather the great end of this pursuit is doxology through diversity. Our goal should be to glorify our Savior by cultivating a cross-cultural community that maintains a cross-cultural witness to the grace and glory of God. When rightly considered, the Christian life and community should be a symphonic expression of the ‘breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ’ (Eph. 3:18).”

Join with us in praying that God would raise up an additional 1 percent of the PCA, of all ethnicities, so that we can better reflect every tribe, tongue, and nation in the kingdom of God.

Sign up for the quarterly Pray 9:38 Newsletter to pray for missionary mobilization at mtw.org/pray. Or visit mtw.org/1 to learn more about the 1% Campaign.