I love to ask the question, “If you could be physically present for any story in the Bible, which story would you like to see?” Hearing about peoples’ favorite Bible stories, what they love, and why they would want to be present gives me a small glimpse of their heart.

When I respond to this question, my answer is always the same. I would love to be present for Creation. There are so many things that I love about the Creation story. I love to think about the immeasurable power of God as He spoke the universe into existence. What must it have been like to be there? To see creatures of various sizes and shapes being formed. To see the sea and sky separating as God created the heavens. To see the earth take shape as God molded land into mountains, like a sculptor turning clay into a delicate vase. 

As I think about Creation, the one word that stands out among the others is BEAUTY! God’s creation is simply beautiful. An aspect of His beauty, displayed in Creation, is diversity. The vibrant red petals of a rose are beautiful because they contrast with the lush green bush. A sunset is a beautiful explosion of colors painted across the warm summer sky. When the various elements of creation come together, they reflect the beautiful, creative character of God. 

Today, as we think about missions and mobilization, the beauty of diversity is nearly absent. 

In 2014, when I attended a missions training program in Colorado, I was shocked by the lack of diversity. No one else in the school looked like me. In some ways I felt lonely, as my initial exposure to missions felt like walking into a room where I didn’t belong. After some time, I mustered the courage to ask the director of the school, “What is the least-represented demographic in missions?” He took some time, looked at me, and responded with, “You. Young. Single. African-American male.” Seven years later, now married and a little older, I have found this still to be true. 

I know diversity is so much more than African-American representation in missions, but as an African-American, I can only speak from my perspective. African-Americans represent less than 1% of domestic and foreign missionaries. According to an article in Christianity today, out of the 3,700 career missionaries sent out by IMB, only 13 (.3%) were African American. 

Diversity is a beautiful and powerful force that we are missing in the missions world that would punctuate our Gospel message, encourage the Global Church, and reflect the heart of God.

Diversity in missions punctuates our Gospel Message

We are sent out with the foundation that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12). It is only through Jesus Christ that we are reconciled back to God. This is true for me, for you, for all Americans, Africans, Asians, Latinos, Arabs, Europeans, etc. For all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we are all in need of a Savior (Rom. 3:23-24). 

During my time in East Africa and other parts of the world, I’ve heard many people say, “I like your message but I can not become a Christian. Christianity is the white man’s religion.” We all know this is not true. The Gospel is for everyone, and some of the most influential Church Fathers, including Tertullian, Cyprian, Clement, and Augustine, were from Africa. 

However, those who expressed this sentiment demonstrate a felt association of the Gospel and the Church with white missionaries. And in many of these countries, experiences with white missionaries have not always been positive. 

As we realize this specific challenge that we face in the missionary world today, we have the amazing opportunity to show the world that the Gospel is not just the “white man’s religion.” The Gospel we proclaim not only reconciles us back to God, but reconciles us back to each other (Eph. 2:14-18). The beauty of unity at the center of diversity is a powerful testimony to our Gospel message! As people from every nation are sent out into the world, we have the opportunity to proclaim the good news of God’s grace in every language, to all tribes, showing the world that in Christ Jesus, all ethnicities can come together as one (Gal. 3:28). 

Diversity in missions encourages the Global Church

There are many reasons why there is a lack of diversity in missions today, but I believe that one of the main reasons is because not everyone across the Global Church sees themselves as missionaries. For many believers around the world, missions is “the Western Church’s thing. Not our thing.” I’ve heard so many people express this idea as I spent years in mobilization. This, too, breaks my heart. 

When Jesus gave the command to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20), He did not just address the disciples at that time, nor the Western Church. This is a command for the Global Church. The task of accomplishing the Great Commission was never meant to be accomplished by one group of people.  

Nor was the task of accomplishing the Great Commission only to be enjoyed by one group of people. There is a joy in joining our Heavenly Father as He is reconciling the world back to Himself (2 Cor. 5:18-19). There is a joy in experiencing the grace of God as He empowers us with His Spirit, in seeing the power of God bring dead people back to life in Jesus Christ, and in experiencing the faithfulness of God as He provides for us and comforts us in difficult times. The privilege of being ambassadors of Christ, bringing this message of reconciliation to the world, was never meant to be enjoyed by just the Western Church. This is a privilege for every follower of Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). 

As we seek diversity in missions, we have the opportunity to reflect this truth. One of the most effective mobilization tools that I had while serving in East Africa was my black skin and curly hair. East Africans were able to look at me and think, “Wait. You’re a missionary. You look like me. I thought missions was just for white people. If you look like me and you can be a missionary, then I can be a missionary, too.” May our mission agencies reflect the Global Church we represent and the diversity of people we are trying to reach. 

Diversity in missions reflects the heart of God

In Revelation, we read that there will be “a great multitude of people that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…”’ (Rev. 7:9). This will happen. This is where we are headed. This is the heart of God expressed throughout the Bible. And since this is God’s heart, shouldn’t this be our heart, too? And shouldn’t our mission agencies reflect the rich diversity of God’s Kingdom?

At that moment in eternity, we will be surrounded by people who look like me and you. We will be surrounded by people who are taller, shorter, bigger, and smaller. At that moment, we will be surrounded by people who have lighter skin and darker skin, thicker hair and thinner hair. At that moment, as we are clothed in white robes with palm branches in our hands we will join together in unison lifting our voices up in praise to our God in every language. We will cry out in a loud voice, “ Wokovu ni wa Mungu wetu aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi, na kwa Mwana-Kondoo.” “الخلاص لإلهنا الجالس على العرش وللحمل” “उद्धार हमारे परमेश्वर का है जो सिंहासन पर विराजमान है, और मेम्ने का है.” Which translates to: “ Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10).

What a beautiful picture of God’s grace!

Written by: Gabe H.