It’s spaghetti night! The most anticipated night of my week. The girls will be coming over in just a bit. Amy’s bringing the sparkling grape juice this time. There’s a knock on the door. Yay!
One at a time, the girls file in. We have small group with our church tonight, so we only have two hours to talk, which is just not enough time for three girls! Amy goes first. “What’s on your heart, girl?” Generally it’s the same thing. Then Lillian chats, and now she’s crying. My turn. When I finish, they encourage me to choose one thing to work on rather than ten!
And from this deep friendship birthed a book, United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity.
Black, White, Chinese. That’s what my friends and I used to jokingly call each other every time we met together to eat and chat about our lives. I am black, Amy is white, and Lillian is Chinese.
We met together off and on for several years pouring out our hearts, sharing the deepest parts of our souls, and praying earnestly for our various needs. We were (and remain) the best of friends. We didn’t set out to meet because we were ethnically diverse—it didn’t cross our minds at first. But as we continued to meet, we gloried in God’s creativity in making us as three people so very different yet so much the same because of the cross of Christ. Our friendship was a sweet display to the world of the gospel that makes us united.
United does not dwell on negative or discouraging aspects of our culture; instead I share what it would look like practically if we pursued diversity.
There is a richness in knowing—really knowing—someone who is different from you. God thought it important to let us know in His Word that every tribe and tongue and nation who is in Christ will be present and reflected on the last day, worshiping together. Shouldn’t we reflect the last day before He returns?
United was written to cast a vision for diversity in the church, but also in all of life. I spend the first section sharing about my own journey and testimony. The second section highlights the benefits of diverse friendships through taking a closer look at my friendship with Amy and Lillian and how the Lord used it in our lives. I also write about the theology of race and our adoption into one family, the church. Finally, I realize that the pursuit of diversity can be difficult, so I write about the hindrances and yet the hope we have in the gospel to unit all tribes and tongues and nations.
GIVEAWAY – 5 COPIES OF MY BOOK: I am thrilled to be giving away five copies of my new book this week – United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity.
To be entered to win simply leave a comment sharing why you believe this is an important topic for today.
To read the Introduction and first chapter of the book for free, click here
To purchase a copy for you, a friend, your pastor, just click here.
Hope you enjoy learning more through this video:
Look for more information about United and this great vision of diversity that we can all have in a second post this week.
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This giveaway has ended. Winners were selected randomly, will be contacted via email and are listed by comment number from this week’s posts. Congratulations to those who won!
Leave a Comment#2 (Monday’s post) – Susan Smith
#38 (Monday’s post) – Cheryl
#75 (Monday’s post) – Lindsey Woolard
#13 (Wednesday’s post) – Nicole Stone
#23 (Wednesday’s post) – RJ