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http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?988

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The multiethnic, multicongregational church is a church that has adopted the challenge of biblical justice and mission in the context of cultural diversity, racial tensions, increased pluralism, and multiple linguistic and cultural complexities to build symbiotic relationships and harmony between diverse groups, intent on bringing biblical reconciliation between them. The foundation for this display of the Kingdom of God is the reconciling power of the cross of Christ that brings people to obedience to the vision of God for all humanity. The multiethnic and multicongregational church provides for both autonomy and interdependency.

Paul Hiebert offers the following definition of the multiethnic church:

A multiethnic church is a church in which there is 1) an attitude and practice of accepting people of all ethnic, class and national origins as equal and fully participating members {191} and ministers in the fellowship of the church; and 2) the manifestation of this attitude and practice by the involvement of people from different ethnic, social and national communities as members in the church (Hiebert 1996).

The First Baptist Church of Flushing is an integrative congregation committed to seeing various ethnic peoples come together to have a strong influence on one another’s lives and upon the structure of the church. It lives out its life and ministry in a community of rapid ethnic change. In the years from 1980 to 1987 the Asian community, many of whom are Chinese and Korean, grew from ten to fifty percent of the total population. During this same period the Caucasian community dropped from eighty to thirty-five percent and many of these whites are Jewish. The Hindu and Islamic peoples are also a significant part of our neighborhood with numerous temples and Islamic Centers. The Hispanic, African-American, and West Indian communities are also present among us. Our congregation faces the challenge of not only a transitional community but also a multilingual community.

The ministry of First Baptist Church is committed to justice and mercy. This is demonstrated in its varied holistic mercy and social ministries in the community. A well-staffed Pastoral Counseling Center has touched the diverse community with professionally trained counselors who serve clients in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Through the years the congregation has provided legal services for immigrants, an English Language Institute for ESL training, Chinese language instruction for second-generation Chinese, a food pantry, clothing and housing assistance, ministry to children and spouses with loved ones in prison, and pregnancy counseling as an alternative to abortion.

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