The Color of Church: A Biblical and Practical Paradigm for Multiracial Churches

by Rodney M. Woo

In this thought-provoking book, Rodney Woo establishes a biblical foundation for multiracial ministry, provides a clear picture of the current reality of the relationship amongst the races in our society and churches, and offers practical guidance to help implement multiethnic ministry. Woo takes the reader step-by-step through the multiracial transformation of a congregation. As pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church in Alief, Texas for over seventeen years, Dr. Woo led this church from an all-Anglo declining congregation in a transitional neighborhood into a multiracial congregation that is now more than sixty-five percent nonwhite with more than forty-four different countries represented. The Color of Church unfolds the story of how God has helped Wilcrest understand the biblical principles of a multiracial church that He progressively revealed in Scripture. Each chapter parallels the biblical model or mandate and the Wilcrest transformation story from a uniracial to a multiracial congregation. In 1992, Wilcrest had 180-200 people in worship of which 98% were anglo. Today, the congregation of 450-550 is represented by 44 different countries with an anglo population of less than 40%. The Color of Church adopts the definition that a multiracial congregation is composed of racially diverse believers united by their faith in Christ, who make disciples of all the nations in the anticipation of the ultimate racial reunion around the throne of God.

Genres: Theology

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot overstate how insightful and influential this book is. Grounded deeply in Scripture and filled with application and example, any church considering the multi racial model or interested in what that's like or the challenges associated with it NEEDS to read this.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a racially homogeneous church or a multiracial church the right way? That's a question I had never though until recently, when I began to attend a small church whose demographic, while not multiracial by the statistical definition (no more than 20% of regular attendees comprise of a single ethnicity), is fairly diverse and has quite a few interracial couples and kids who were adopted by parents of a different race.

Rodney Woo writes this book from both a Scriptural basis as well as the story of transforming his congregation from a largely homogeneous Caucasian population to one with representation from over 40 countries over the span of 15 years. The Scriptural support for a multiracial church family is strong; we started as one people and were scattered during the tower of Babel because of our pride. We got a taste of racial unity during Pentecost, and it'll finally consummate during the new heaven and earth described in Revelation. As Woo moved from the theological to the practical over the course of the book, I found myself agreeing with many of his points, relating to the various concerns and opposition that some of his flock voiced, and thinking to myself how I could apply such principles in the church I attend given my ethnicity, age, life stage, and experiences.

I had only a few concerns about the book, mainly with the analogy of Moses and the Israelites' exodus and crossing over the Red Sea, Jordan, and into Canaan as an illustration for a divine mandate to cross racial barriers. I also am uncertain exactly how prominent Woo believes the call for racial integration in the life of the church should be. Is it elevated to the importance of other church values, such as Gospel, Community, and Mission? For a brief moment, I even wondered if inviting my non-believing caucasian co-workers to Woo's church would have been implicitly frowned upon for the sake of keeping the congregation diverse. And having grown up in a Chinese American church who loves the Lord and loves each other, I still cannot personally reach the conclusion that the multiracial church is the only right way.

Nevertheless, this book was an encouragement to make yourself colorblind when it comes to evangelism, outreach, and church growth. Whether you make racial diversity a formal part of your church's vision like Woo's Wilcrest Baptist Church, or God is bringing other ethnicities into your congregation with no apparent effort, The Color Of Church is full of good biblical and practical insight. After all, every tribe, tongue, and nation will be worshiping God together in the end.

[Marilyn]

Awesome book!