Recently, Exponential sat down to talk with Mosaix Global Network executive director, Mark DeYmaz, to learn about the Second Annual National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference in Long Beach, Calif., including potential takeaways for church planters attending the conference with hopes of launching multi-ethnic congregations. The upcoming gathering (one week away, Nov. 5-6) marks the second year for the Multi-Ethnic Church Conference, the first held in November 2010. This year, the speaker lineup includes John Perkins, Choco De Jesus, Soong-Chan Rah, David Anderson, Eugene Cho and many more.
Mark, tell us the basics. How many tracks, workshops, sessions?
The conference features 15 tracks (including one track which will be translated into Spanish and French on site); 60 total workshops; five plenary sessions plus an additional worship service for the city of Long Beach on Wednesday night following the conference; and 68 speakers (19 plenary, most of whom will also lead a workshop).
How many people are you estimating being on site?
As of today, we have just crossed 800 in registrations. We were hoping for 600, maybe 700 at the outside. The tremendous response with still more than a week to go has us considering what to do if in fact the conference in essence sells out.
It’s been three years since Mosaix hosted the National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference. This upcoming gathering will be the second one. What made you say, “We need to do this again”?
The first conference was an overwhelming success, and looking back is now recognized as marking the midway point in the pioneer stage of the multi-ethnic church movement. Coming out of it, there was a natural assumption that we would make it an annual event. However, the movement needed more time to develop. Consequently, Mosaix returned in 2011 and 2012 to grassroots organizing by creating web-based resources, publishing its first eBook, hosting two national retreats in the United States and a national conference in Sydney, Australia.
In partnership with Mosaix, Leadership Network launched a two-year learning community focused on the multi-ethnic church involving 12 churches and 30 leaders. With growing interest, receptivity and practitioners engaged, we determined like a ship approaching land to do another sounding in 2013—thus, the second National Multi-Ethnic Church Conference.
Looking back at the first conference in 2010, do you find that more leaders are interested in planting and growing multi-ethnic churches today?
Absolutely. No question about it. Increasingly, local church pastors and planters, network and denominational leaders, organizations and evangelical conference organizers alike are recognizing the biblical mandate of the multi-ethnic local church and are beginning to adjust and engage. Coupled with changing demographics, they are recognizing that they must (at the very least) reflect the communities in which they exist, not only to survive, but to thrive in an increasingly diverse society.
