""It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning."" Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1960. This quote remains true and begs the question “How do we heal the church divide?”
Mario Melendez presents an engaging introduction to the experiences of multi-ethnic believers and a path by which church leaders increase engagement and service to these diverse communities. Finding a model in Saint Timothy, Melendez reveals that multi-ethnic believers have always played a crucial role in Christian fellowship. Having experienced the mixing of their parents' heritage during their upbringing, third cultures kids are invaluable cultural and religious ambassadors. Embracing the unique gifts of third culture congregants and leaders, churches can embody the kaleidescope of their communities and bring about healing amongst the people of God. Church clergy and lay leaders, as well as members of multi-ethnic households and those looking to increase the engagement of diverse groups within their congregation will find Third Culture Faithful an inspiring call to action.
By:
Mario Melendez
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 220mm,
Width: 154mm,
Spine: 10mm
Weight: 259g
ISBN: 9781538147269
ISBN 10: 1538147262
Pages: 154
Publication Date: 15 December 2020
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Descriptive Outline Introduction The introduction will highlight the noted division of the church in 1960 and the continued division in 2019. Second, I will introduce the statistics of immigration, interracial marriage, and trans-racial adoption. Third, I will propose reaching these Third-Culture Kid’s as a “Timothy” for the sake of growing and healing the church. To support the data, I will integrate stories of conversations between ministers of varying ethnicities, couples with mixed children, and TCK ministers. I will give my personal life story and the stories of many other third culture people, to reveal the ministerial struggles and the ministerial potential of this growing segment of the population. The Psychology of Third Culture Syndrome In the 1950’s John and Ruth Useem, after studying the children of expat Americans, proposed the term “Third culture Kid and Third Culture Syndrome.” In this chapter I will quickly survey the history of third culture syndrome, and the major markers. These markers not only highlight who has the psychological third culture syndrome, but also introduce the benefits and challenges of living with third culture syndrome. Your Third Culture Parishioner Moving from the psychological study, consideration will be given to common home life, language, and thinking attributes of the TCK. The aim of this chapter is to give stories and testimonies of how preconceived notions can quite often be wrong. Furthermore, these stories will help the reader to grow empathy for those stuck in the third culture. Your Ministry for the Third Culture Kid In this chapter Paul’s ministry to Timothy (a half Jewish & half Greek disciple) will provide application for the modern church. The aim of this chapter is to utilize social-scientific criticism as a means of inspecting Paul’s ministry to Timothy, a half Jewish & Greek disciple, as an application for modern ministry to TCK’s.[1] First, an inspection into Paul’s willingness to take on a disciple of mixed background should inspire monoethnic ministers to seek out such disciples (Acts 16:1–5). Second, Paul’s advocation of Timothy to the churches should inspire ministers to advocate for the third cultured who often do not fully fit into the norm of many churches or organizations (1 Cor 4:16–17, Phil 2:19–24). Likewise, Paul’s advocation to Timothy to be more “Jewish,” should encourage ministers to help the TKC to be proud of their cultures and to serve those they represent (Acts 16:3). Making the Most of the Third Culture Kid The final chapter is a reflection upon Paul’s statement in 1 Cor 9:22 where he declared that he “became all things to all men, so as to reach some.” As I matured in the faith and in biblical studies, I realized that God made TCK’s, like me, the embodiment of Paul’s statement. This chapter is a call for ministries to understand and seek out third culture kids to serve as ministers. This also is a call for third culture ministers to be proud of their cultures and to serve those they represent. Points of Application The conclusion reflects upon the previous stories and data for the purpose of providing a quick survey of application points. Furthermore, this section should aid those who return to the text for quick reflection. [1] Stanley E. Porter, ed., Dictionary of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation (New York: Routledge, 2007), 337–40.
Mario Manuel Catalino Melendez is Filipino and Cajun French and grew up around the deaf community. He is the Augie Henry Chair of Old Testament and assistant professor of Old Testament and Biblical Studies at Oklahoma Baptist University. He has also served as a minority ministry strategist, Hispanic youth intern, and bible study writer for a refugee church, as well as lecturing on the topic of multi-ethnic ministry. He is a participant in the Hispanic Theological Educators section of the Evangelical Bible Society. He has served as a multi-ethnic ministry consultant in English, Asian, and Hispanic churches in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Reviews for Third Culture Faithful: Empowered Ministry for Multi-Ethnic Believers and Congregations
Despite American society being more diverse than ever, many churches remain monoethnic. Third Culture Faithful focuses on the role multiethnic Christians play in helping to change this troubling reality. Melendez excels at explaining how third culture people can help to strengthen the church and serve as bridges between different ethnocultural groups. --Matthew Akers, associate dean of doctoral studies, director of the Hispanic Institute, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary Mario Melendez has produced a must-read for church leaders and members with a true desire for ethnic diversity. Melendez offers biblical insight into how to reach and develop the leadership potential in third culture people to grow a biblically sound, yet culturally diverse church. --Lee E. Brand Jr., dean of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary of Memphis, Tennesse This is a much needed resource for every church leader. The question of how to bridge cultural gaps with the gospel has never been so important. Third Culture Faithful gives practical steps that any church can take to reach their community with the gospel. --Josh Carter, senior pastor of Hyland Heights Baptist Church Unfortunately, the church has adopted racial categories in which a large percentage of the population simply do not fit, causing many to people to feel like they have no place among the people of God. Melendez--who is himself of Filipino, Cajun French, Spanish, and French descent--shows a better way to minister to and empower ""third culture"" people. A paradigm shifting resource! --Miguel Echevarria, assistant professor, director of Hispanic Leadership Development, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
