Criteria for Inclusion in this Directory
Every church reflects the ethnicity of many of its members. So, to some extent every
church congregation is an "ethnic" church. But 99% of European-American and African-American
churches will be excluded from this directory. Even with strict criteria, there
will (eventually) be well over 2,000 churches in the directory.
This directory includes Christian church congregations that focus on a particular
ethnic people group, or groups. Usually the congregation will have a primary emphasis
on first or second-generation immigrants throughout the
year.
The approval process is somewhat subjective. Since we have personal experience with
very few of these churches, we are depending on reference materials and web sites
and especially people like you to help us locate appropriate ethnic churches for
this directory.
Criteria for Inclusion in the Ethnic Church Directory
- Local Christian church congregation of any size that meets at least twice per month
- See definition below. Ministry organizations and denominations will not be included in this directory. A separate directory for ethnic ministry organizations is a potential
project though.
- Beliefs and teaching - Basic Christian teaching is a minimum. See
Statement of Faith
below. Are they leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus/Isa/Yeshua/Yesus?
- Focus on a specific ethnic people group or groups - Most of these churches are working with first and second generation
immigrants. The ethnic focus must be throughout
the year. The basic question is "Are they reaching the nations?"
And, preferably, do they have a strategic role for unreached or barely-reached people
groups in the home country?
Are they reaching people for whom there is a significant cultural barrier keeping
them from participation in the average church in the area (of any race or style)?
See people group definition below. - Geography (just the United States and Canada)
Definitions
Adapted from
Joshua Project, a widely-respected Christian mission reference.
People Group or Ethnic People Group
"For evangelization purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the
Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of
understanding or acceptance." In many parts of the world lack of understandability
serves as the main barrier and it is appropriate to define people group primarily
by language with the possibility of sub-divisions based on dialect or cultural variations.
In other parts of the world, most notably in portions of South Asia, acceptance
is a greater barrier than understandability. In these regions, caste, religious
tradition, location, common histories and legends, plus language may be used to
define the boundaries of each people group. Joshua Project uses the terms "people",
"people group" and "ethnic people" synonymously. However, others may distinguish
between the terms.
Click here for further explanation.
Source: From 1982 Lausanne Committee Chicago meeting and Joshua Project.
Church Congregation
A gathering of followers of Christ. Does not imply a building or specific location.
A fellowship of believers committed to spiritual growth and mutual encouragement.
Starting these fellowships is often called church planting.
Source: USCWM and Patrick Johnstone
(Operation World)
Statement of Faith
- We believe the Bible to be inspired,
the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God,
eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His
vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection,
in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power
and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry
of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly
life.
- We believe in the resurrection of
both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and
they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity
of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Statement of Faith
Source:
As used by National Religious Broadcasters, an organization with members from a
wide variety of Christian backgrounds.
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