Korean Baptists overcome cultural barriers
San Jose, California

Senior Pastor Darrell "Bo" Tiger leads the singing for the Native American service at Korean Baptist. photo by michael macor

As part of a growing trend in North America, ethnic churches are widening their focus to include outreach to other cultures. At first, we were ethnically focused only on Koreans, says Sungkook Kim, pastor of the Korean Baptist Church of San Jose in California. Now more than three decades old, Korean Baptist is the largest Korean-speaking Southern Baptist congregation in northern California.

But when approached by a Native American congregation and an Arabic congregation, Korean Baptist went out of its way to accommodate the two groups. This was a good opportunity to help others. And it works both ways, says Sungkook. We help them, and they help us to see God working beyond the Korean ethnic group.

The Arabic congregation eventually moved to other premises, but Korean Baptist still houses a Native American church as well as two new church plants that are reaching out to Koreans and other Asians.

Over the years, Korean Baptist has established a hearts-in/hands-off model of ministry that works well for them. Pastor Kim outlined three important principles his church has practiced in cross-cultural outreach:

Church planting is the method of choice
Church planting is the most effective way of expanding the ministry, says Sungkook. Even if a church is small, Sungkook believes in planting churches wherever possible instead of starting ministries. When Korean Baptist realized they were having little or no influence on second-generation Koreans, they took action. Instead of adding a more modern English-speaking worship service to their existing church, they established another independent church devoted to the Korean population that speaks English.

Sisters Jennifer, 6 (back right), and Michelle Kang,10 (front), enjoy a laugh during a church-wide fellowship lunch. Nessa Kim, 6 (back left), enjoys her lunch. PHOTO BY michael macor

Mutual respect is guaranteed
Find the personleaderwho shares the dream and trust him absolutely, says Sungkook. We always assume a helping policy, not a governing policy. In the past they have paid the full salary of the new churchs pastor for a few years, until the church was able to take over, but they have a hands-off policy when it comes to governance. The only requirement that is non-negotiable with Korean Baptist is that the new church affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. Not to make them conform, he says. But to ensure we have like faith, and so they can benefit from the Conventionas we haveand then help the Convention as they grow.

Communication is key
Korean Baptist doesnt keep a list of written rules of conduct. Rules are binding, says Sungkook. Instead, they consider their three church plants as family, not guests. The mission pastors are invited to attend regular staff meetings and to voice their concerns. There is no top-down control, he adds. Communication flows from the mission church to the mother church. We dont have to understand their entire program. In a way, its none of our business. We dont govern their programs; they tell us what they need, and we try to help. Leaders of Korean Baptist are quick to relocate or postpone one of their own programs if they feel a program of one of the mission churches has priority.

Pastor Kim recognizes that, when it comes to church, one size doesnt fit all. The four independent congregations who share the facilities of Korean Baptist have the same ministry goals but different styles of outreach. Some use Sunday school, some use home groups, some sing hymns, some sing choruses, some speak Korean, some speak English. But all are focused on taking the message of hope in Jesus Christ to people within their circle of influence.

Tabitha Tanner, a summer missionary from Georgia, helps the Potters House with its annual potted plant outreach. The church gave geraniums to local businesses. PHOTO BY THE POTTERS HOUSE

Potters House investments
West Bank, British Columbia

Investing over the long term is a well-known formula for success in finance. Kevin Madden, pastor of The Potters House Community Church in Westbank, British Columbia, believes long-term investments in people bring a greater dividend.

After serving as an associate pastor in Kamloops, British Columbia, Kevin heard the call to plant a brand new church. When Kevin, wife Alicia, and young son Noah arrived in the city of Westbank, population 30,000, in February 2000, they didnt know a soul.

During their first year, they spent much time in prayer, wanting to give the new church the best possible start so that it would endure.

We wanted to connect with people, says Kevin. But we also wanted to gain long-term credibility in the community. We believed that using servant evangelisma no-strings-attached ministrywas the best way to go.

Potters House made some initial inroads this way:
1. Potted plantsa creative way to introduce themselves and gain credibility.

They targeted the business community and personally delivered 200 free geraniums in small clay pots to local businesses their first summer. A raffia ribbon around the pot held a small card with the church logo and a cheerful message. When they returned the following summer with 300 plants for distribution, many businesses proudly displayed last years plant that had been lovingly tended.

The Chamber of Commerce has expressed its admiration for Potters House and its community spirit.

Members of The Potters House Community Church distributed 2,500 water bottles labeled with the churchs information to spectators at the Canada Day Parade. The parade is the towns biggest event. The event helped increase name recognition. PHOTO BY the potters house

2. Water bottlesa reusable water bottle with the church logo and name and relevant scripture is an ad that keeps on giving.

Potters House freely distributed 2,500 reusable water bottles at the towns biggest annual event, the Canada Day Parade. Many more have been given out at the beach. Westbank is located on 70-mile-long Okanogan Lake, in the heart of the Okanogan Valley where tourism and fruit production are the biggest industries. Kevin has seen dozens of their reusable bottles at local soccer games and other sporting events. Our name recognition is very high, says Kevin. Its hard to find someone in the community who hasnt heard of us.

3. Trash pickupdoing the jobs no one wants earns respect.

Westbank is not incorporated as a city so responsibilities such as keeping roadways and ditches clean fall through the bureaucratic cracks.

Volunteers from Potters House picked up trash and did many other random acts of kindness in the community in an effort to bank some credits in preparation for the official launch of weekly services.

We feel led to invest in some things that may not bring quick returns, explains Kevin. We are committed to the long term. We are generating a positive attitude about church. It relies on the concept of looking for where God is working.

Kevin likes the idea that anybody, no matter how shy he or she is, can hand someone a water bottle, or pick up trash, to become part of the process of leading someone to faith in Christ. Servant evangelism is ineffective unless you go to the next step and communicate the gospel, says Kevin.

He believes evangelism is a process, not an event. People are at various levels in the process. If they move to the next step, youre evangelizing. Closing the deal is only one part of it. Walls are brought down by acts of kindness.

In preparation for their official launch, Kevin and Alicia hosted home Bible studies and led people to faith in Christ. When Potters House had its first weekly service in October 2001, 70 people attended. Fifteen of those were new faces, and one of them became a believer during the service.

In Canada, where many established Southern Baptist churches have fewer than 100 members, where evangelicals are viewed with suspicion and in a local area saturated with Jehovahs Witnesses, that was a great beginning!

Matthew Party Outreach
Clarksburg, Maryland

Jesus ate with sinners. This scandalized the Pharisees. Whom do we eat with?

Many believers find themselves so immersed in the church and the Christian subculture that they no longer have any non-believing friends. When it comes to sharing their faith, they dont know where to begin. The thought of talking about spiritual things with strangers is too daunting.

The goal of the Matthew Party was to give members of Greenridge Baptist Church a chance to invite nonbelievers into their homes for dinner and lots of fellowship. PHOTO BY michael keeza

Leaders at Greenridge Baptist Church in Clarksburg, Maryland, offered a suggestion to their members last summer. Those who tried it were delighted with the results. Rob Eby, one of the churchs three pastors, challenged people to host a Matthew Party in their home or backyard.

In Matthew, chapter nine, Jesus meets a reviled tax collector named Matthew, and, to the shock and dismay of the religious elite, Jesus goes home with him for dinner. Many other sinners dine with them, and while the Pharisees are shaking their heads in disgust and plotting ways to end Jesus ministry, these sinners are having an encounter that changes them forever.

Canceling one of its Sunday evening services, the church encouraged members to use that time to build relationships: Plan a dinner, put on some music, invite a mix of Christian and non-Christian friends. Somewhere in the middle of the meal and laughter, Jesus will show up!

Rob Eby recommended planning games as well as food. Robs first choice was soccer. He also suggested board games like Trivial Pursuit, Mad Gab and Pictionary to get people laughing and talking. The purpose of this event was to give church people ideas on how to build new relationships, some of which naturally would lead to deeper issues as they progressed. Rob knows many people who love to entertain but who are intimidated by the idea of sharing the gospel and asking for a decision. Robs goal was to show that if people willingly opened their home and threw a party, Jesus would honor that, and new doors would open up as relationships were formed in a casual, non-threatening setting.

Robs tips for hosting a Matthew party:
1. Some couples should partner up and split the responsibilities. For example, one pair could tidy their home and set the table while the other couple prepares or buys the food and brings it over ready to serve. The thought of both cleaning and cooking is enough to convince busy people to opt out.

2. Pray about whom to invite before the first call is made. Keep the group small, between six and 10.

3. Create a relaxed atmosphere. Smooth music, soft lighting and delicious aromas can enhance the ambiance.

4. Try for a comfortable ratio of Christians to non-ChristiansRob suggested a 50/50 splitso the conversation flows, and your guests have an opportunity to meet your church friends.

5. Although the goal is bridge building, if the opportunity arises to discuss spiritual concerns, welcome it.

6. If any are interested, invite them to visit your church. Many people have no idea they are welcome at a church outside their background or experience. They might just be waiting for a personal invitation.

Greenridge Baptist hosted a Friendship Sunday after the summer, so people had a special event to which they could invite new friends. That Sunday was a few days after September 11, 2001. Greenridge is close to Germantown, a suburb of Washing-ton, D.C., so the tragedy at the Pentagon was huge for everyone in the area. The sermon that day was titled, Where was God September 11? Some of those who attended had been invited to a Matthew Party, and hearing the gospel in such a timely manner was all they needed to give their lives to Christ.

Connie Cavanaugh is a writer and speaker living in Cochrane, Alberta.