Challenges of the Ethnic Millennium
Continued, page 4 of 5
It is estimated that by 2010 nearly 35 million people in America will be foreign-born. These foreign-born Americans and their children are shaping the "Ethnic Millennium" and changing America through their hidden but thriving market power. Companies or organizations that ignore their power will be left behind.
Successful organizations are adapting the adage, "Know thy market." Technology has made it possible to locate and analyze the various ethnic populations. Identifying cultural differences among various groups (and subgroups) makes it possible to design products that are culturally relevant and tailored to their individual interests and needs. Taking the care to understand each group, helps the organization to avoid inadvertent or careless mistakes that may offend the various segments.
The church needs have the same wisdom as businesses in addressing these important groups. Just like successful businesses, we need to research the demographics, lifestyles and interests of the groups we want to reach. We need to go among the people, to make our message culturally relevant. Most important, we must raise up, equip, and empower leader from the ethnic harvest. Pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders must play the role of mentors.
Today, too many ministry strategies are still being designed with no grassroots input. Too many administrative decisions are being made without any knowledge of how they impact the local church or ethnic communities. Too often, we are still trying to fit the ethnic groups we reach into one massive program after another. We must be wiser, tailoring our programs, materials and approaches to the heart of the people we want to reach.
We need to develop new approaches to information gathering, so we can better understand cultural issues of language, religion, family patterns, gender roles, education and aspiration which affect congregationalizing of ethnic people groups.
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