South Florida is a unique culture. There are 84 nationalities in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) and probably a similar number in Dade County (Miami). I’ve been told that 70% of the homes in Miami-Dade do not speak English in the home. While this may present a cause of concern to many, it is reality and this change in the culture brings unique challenges to the culture of the Church.
For a long time, South Florida was a fairly homogeneous region. But, then a tsunami of change occurred led by refugees from other lands who didn’t speak the same homogeneous language, go to the same homogeneous places or do the same homogeneous things.
The churches that were “institutions” saw their neighborhoods changing rapidly and many faced serious decline as they clung to the old methodology. The message to new people became “to join us, you must become like us.” To non-anglo, non-english speaker this message is equal to “whites only.”
Churches could change their methodology (adopt a new strategy with new target groups) or they could change their leading edge. The church that maintains methodology as its leading edge is still sending the message “come join a homogeneous group.” No matter what their methodology becomes, the group is going to be identified by external similarities. Pastors who are caught up in this kind of leadership are going to be trapped into building the structure of a church rather than the life of a church.
So, what leading edge is working? Let me ask it another way: Did Jesus call us to build an institution or a body? In John’s gospel, Jesus said to his disciples that the world would know we belong to him (and are different) by how we “love one another.” In Acts, the religious elite marveled that these uneducated, dirty, low-rent, fishermen “had been with Jesus.”
People are created to be in, and have, vital relationships. South Florida is a great example of this. There is a large Hispanic and African-American influence in this culture. Those cultures place a much higher value on relationships than structure. Their influence can be difficult at times: no one is punctual and people have no concept of personal space. But, is that really a bad thing?
For those who cannot adapt to this culture and cling to the institutional structure of the Church as their leading edge (“be like us to be a part of us”), they will be frustrated and miserable. But, those who will lead with love, compassion and friendship, they will see a vibrant ministry. Is not this how Jesus met his would-be followers? When he encountered the profligate woman at the well (John 4), He began that relationship with Grace. He, first, built a relationship that created the avenue for Truth. She responded positively to the doctrine because she knew that the messenger loved her enough to be truthful.
What will be the leading edge of your church that is first to make contact with others?
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