As the discussion about outreach to the Latino community moves forward, an important reminder needs to be stated: this is about people. Outreach is about people. It’s not about numbers. It’s not about methods. It’s about techniques.
Outreach is about forming relationships with people. That’s especially true when reaching out to Latinos, for the typical Latino tends to focus much more on relationships than the mainstream U.S. culture does.
Let me repeat some of the advice I gave Josh the other day (in the comments):
- Be aware of the Latinos around you. It’s a bit like when I started dating a girl in high school that drove a Chevy Impala. Suddenly I was seeing Impalas everywhere, where I hadn’t paid attention to them before.
- Be intentional about speaking with the Latinos around you. Introduce yourself to the girl at Dollar General. Make sure you learn your waitress’ name. Go to high school athletic events and speak with the parents in the stands.
- Once you have a minimal relationship with some Latinos, ask them if there’s anything you could be praying about. This question rarely comes across as offensive, and many people are grateful for the interest.
- Tactfully broach the subject of ministry with some of the Latinos you’ve gotten to know. Something like, “If our church were to do something for the Latino community here in Smallville, what would be the best thing we could do?”
The first part of outreach is going to be service and ministry. What’s the old saying? “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” It applies to much of church work.
So, we have to make this about people. Serving people. Getting to know people. Helping them get to know Jesus.
“What can ‘our’ church do for ‘you’ Latinos?
Well meaning. Unintentional. Misguided. Racism.
Ok, Kevin, you’ve crossed the line from disagreeable to ridiculous. There’s nothing racist about that, unless you make it that way. Which makes you a bit of a racist, right?
Now, if you’re not trying to nitpick, you read that and realize, “Oh, that’s the same sort of question you would ask a college student if you wanted to start a college ministry. Or someone in the military. Or a teacher. Or a firefighter. Or a policeman.”
No it’s not nit picky.
Say it to your wife…. and then step away as she swings on you.
This whole series seems racist to me because there is an implication that Latinos are different than “people”.
As a church, what is purpose in trying to reach out specifically to Latino’s? Why wouldn’t your church reach out to everybody? If you reach out to everyone, then it is easy to find a non racist way of saying it.
The non-racist way of saying it is “I am trying to build a church that will serve my community…. will you please help me?
Kevin,
There comes a time when you have to stop answering a man who is wise in his own eyes. Feel free to comment on this blog. I’m done trying to answer.
Grace and peace,
Tim
OK, but …
“When I was in graduate school, many moons ago, a friend and I would sit in the library and discuss different theological ideas (that’s right… we knew how to have a good time!). We gradually developed some unspoken ground rules: in order to further our discussions, each was allowed to voice unprocessed ideas, even to play “devil’s advocate” at times, as we explored new ground and re-explored known territory. That’s what I want to do here in the Kitchen of Half-Baked Thoughts. The ideas presented here do not necessarily reflect the views of the one presenting them. I won’t knowingly state things I don’t believe, but I will throw out possibilities and conjectures, hoping to draw firmer conclusions from the ensuing discussions.”
>>—Archer—->
Tim: C. Kevin Archer reminds me of some of the people I knew back in graduate school whose talk never walked. One of the churches composed of a lot of those recently closed in Dallas.
Kevin has apologized to me privately.
I apologize
C. Kevin Archer: Apology accepted and may the grace of our saviour be with us all as we struggle to find our way to serve him better and more effectively.