single pages. - International Pentecostal Holiness Church

One Body,
Many Members!
By Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr.
T
he next time you walk through the doors of your local church, look
around you. What is the average age, gender and race among members
of your church? Would you say your church embraces and models
diversity? Or is everyone … the same?
More than 40 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We
must face the sad fact that at the 11 o’clock hour on Sunday morning
when we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in
America … and the most segregated school is Sunday School.” Sadly, that statement
still holds true to some degree today. According to a recent study by the Pew Forum,
“The [American] Protestant population is characterized by significant
internal diversity and fragmentation, encompassing hundreds of different
denominations loosely grouped around three fairly distinct religious
traditions––evangelical Protestant churches (26.3 percent of the overall
adult population), mainline Protestant churches (18.1 percent) and
historically black Protestant churches (6.9 percent).” Although America
is seen as a “melting pot” of cultures, the 21st-century American church
is still largely segregated––not just by race, but by age, culture, and other
congregational preferences.
The early church was marked not only by their beliefs, but also by their
diversity. When Pentecost arrives in Acts 2, the crowd is amazed because
they hear the Gospel in their native languages. They proclaim in verses 9-11
(NIV): “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the
parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism);
Cretans and Arabs––we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
In Acts 8, persecution prompts the believers to scatter, which results in the spreading
of the Gospel to all parts of the known world. Because of this, Philip has a divine
encounter with an Ethiopian, Peter preaches to Cornelius and his household, and Paul
shares the Gospel in the cities of Europe, including the marketplace in Athens. Jews and
Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, slave and free––individuals from all walks of life
were accepted and welcomed by the early church.
This principle of diversity is a guiding light of the IPHC as we carry out our Godgiven
mandate for 21st-century ministry! We must remember that regardless of our
differences, the same Holy Spirit is present in our midst and at work in our lives. As
people who are committed to living missionally, we must be authentic followers of
Christ, we must embrace the diversity of His kingdom, and we must keep diversity at the
forefront of our mission.
With nearly 4 million members in 103 countries, the IPHC is a naturally diverse
group. As I travel the globe and continue to meet pastors and church leaders from around
the world, I am amazed at the diversity among
our churches. Some of our fastest growing
ministries and most influential churches thrive
in highly diverse, non-traditional settings.
Our largest congregation, Redemption
World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C.,
(17,500 members) is 40 percent Caucasian
and 60 percent African-American in
constituency and leadership. Mission: M25
works with the overlooked and neglected of
the world, literally going into the “highways
and byways” to share the Gospel with those
who have lost hope. Mercy Movement seeks
to raise awareness of, and ultimately eliminate,
human trafficking by exposing operations
in cities across the U.S. Our Coffee House
Ministry plants coffee houses across the globe,
providing a non-threatening environment
for people to commune with others and
hear the Gospel while being fed. People to
People Ministries provides food, clothes and
schooling for children around the world, as
well as providing humanitarian aid when
natural disasters strike. And let us not forget
our missionaries, who are in 100 countries and
counting, sharing the Gospel with people of
all races, tribes, tongues, creeds and cultures.
In Revelation 5:9, we
hear the songs of praise to
the Lamb who “purchased
men for God from every tribe
and language and people and
nation” (NIV). As the time
draws nearer for the Lord’s
return, let us continue to be
diligent in reaching out to
those who need the healing
and liberating message of the
Gospel. The time has come for
us to step out of our comfort
zones, cultural norms and
complacency. Whether it’s a homeless mother,
a tattooed teenager, or a tribal leader––all need
to experience the Gospel firsthand.
Scott Williams, author of the book Church
Diversity, says, “The bottom line is this: it’s no
longer acceptable for God’s chosen vessel, the
local church, to be one of the most segregated
institutions in the world.”
God has entrusted us with a sacred
mission. Let us not grow weary in reaching
out to the lost––no matter their color,
clothing, creed or culture. The IPHC is
committed to Live, Move, and Be!
We will – LIVE IN HIM!
We will – MOVE FOR HIM!
We will – BE LIKE HIM!
iphc.org/experience | February 2012 5