Every Thursday in June, we’re sharing reflections from some of the Grace DC members who participated in our March panel on cultural intelligence. This week, Kelly shares why being part of a church that is paying attention to cultural and cross-cultural issues is important to her:
The great commission calls us to make disciples of all nations and that is why a diverse church is important to me. As we seek to spread the Gospel, Jesus said that one way people will know we belong to him is by our love for one another. In a world where people often divide by race, class, political views, or education, it is noticeable when people cross these divisions in the name of Jesus.
I’ve seen the power of this in my own life. My hometown is pretty starkly segregated. Aside from a few areas, you just don’t see white people. Ever. A few years ago a black pastor and a white pastor decided to plant a church together and I had an opportunity to hear them speak about their experience. They explained that people from the neighborhood were so startled to see white people mulling around on Sunday mornings, that they would come inside the church just to see what on earth was going on in there. Through coming into the church, many people came to know Christ.
This is the power of having a community that looks different from the divided world around us—it can help draw people to the gospel. So while there are other reasons why cultural intelligence is important to me, spreading the gospel is the main one!