Is there a Biblical Mandate for Multi-Racial Youth Ministry

I say yes!!! One of the biggest influences in my christian life over the last few years has been the introduction of the idea of a multi-racial church. My question though, is there a Biblical mandate clearly stated in scripture that encourages local churches to be multi-ethnic, multi-economic, and multi-racial. I think there is. But I want to know what you think.

Right now, especially if you are in urban or suburban ministry, your students are growing up in a much more diverse community than we have ever imagined. They walk through the doors of their schools and learn in the context of great cultural and racial diversity. Then, they walk through the doors of our churches and they are ushered straight back to the 60's. Yeah, you're right, it's not that bad. But I guarantee that there is much, much less diversity in your church than there is in the community where your church is located.

Do this if you have some free time and about $80. Find out the exact government stats for the 1 mile and 5 mile radius of your church. Being a local church, isn't it at least reasonable to think that your church demographic should be at least similar to the surrounding area? Is it? Not mine, not most of yours. Of course, this isn't true of every church in America... there's always the exception. But, it is by far the majority.

In conclusion to today's rant... The church should be setting the tone of the racial issues in America, not fueling them. Wake up folks, we have a black President. Like him or not, this man clearly defines multi-culturalism. The world is changing and becoming more and more diverse and I'm afraid we in the church will do what comes naturally to us... dig our feet in the sand and worry about it in twenty years or so. Yeah, that's been working out great for us so far! Oh and by the way, Christian music isn't cool anymore either.