Embracing Differences

It is senseless to ignore cultural differences. Though we've been baptized into one body, God has created us uniquely different. It’s amazing! We talk different, look different, eat different foods and react differently to situations, but the worship of our Savior blends us and makes us all alike!

Again, it is hard to ignore our cultural differences. I am a black church planter from the inner city of East Oakland. My dad planted a church 50 years ago and I served with him for over twenty years working in many different areas of ministry. I saw a lot of churches planted but didn’t know God was preparing me then; that it was my audition to be a church planter.

Something you need to know about me—church planting is like nothing I’m used to, but everything I’ve dreamed. God having me be part of something of His from birth is bigger than I could imagine. Church Planting speaks to my heart. It says water, nurture, till the soil and watch it grow. It’s beyond my control but doesn't release the responsibility of good farming. I'm investing in tough, comfortable work boots because that’s the uniform of urban farmers. God is doing something special in Oakland. When I look around and see men and women that love this city and feel called to serve it, I’m happy about what God is doing. These are troubled times but seeing God work in our city is exciting.

Something else exciting is happening with our church plant in our city—a blending of cultures. In Easter 2017, we will launch a new church! A church made up of people that are different. People that talk different, look different, eat different foods and react to situations differently. A group of people that by other standards, have no business being together. I can’t explain how all this happened but this I know: if people will know that we can live together, embracing all our differences, it has to be modeled by God’s Church. These are tough times but exciting times. I’m looking to God to walk us through this, for the sake of Christ’s church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Read more from World Impact Associate Bernard Emerson.