John Fuder > Quotes

“CORE VALUES FOR MULTI-ETHNIC MINISTRY What were the foundational pillars upon which we stood? The gospel, not marketing, is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). No matter what their color or culture, people are the same in their basic human need for grace, forgiveness, purpose, and hope (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:23). Every community with ethnic diversity needs at least one church that seeks to declare and model to its nonbelieving neighbors that we are one in Christ at the foot of the cross (Rev. 7:9-12). The rich need the poor more than the poor need the rich (Luke 6:20–23). Revivals begin in have-not communities more often than in have communities (1 Cor. 1:26). A church that showed the world great diversity coupled with great love for one another would bring great glory to God and great joy to the world (John 13:35). We wanted to become that church.”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry

“I truly believe that if we are to have any voice in the community we need to first love the community. We need to show them that we care.”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry

“Protestants use a different vocabulary to describe the continuously needed restoring and refreshing in the church. Our two favorite words are “reform,” indicating the kind of reformation of faith and life according to Scripture which took place in the sixteenth century, and “revival,” denoting an altogether supernatural visitation of a church or community by God, bringing conviction, repentance, confession, the conversion of sinners and the recovery of backsliders. “Reformation” usually stresses the power of the Word of God, and “revival” the power of the Spirit of God, in his work of restoring the church. Perhaps we should keep the word “renewal” to describe a movement which combines revival by God’s Spirit with reformation by his Word. Since the Word is the Spirit’s sword, there is bound to be something lopsided about contemplating either without the other.14”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry

“Nobody on the outside thought it would work … and on the inside we were not too sure either. In our limited circle of awareness, we did not know of another single church that had done what we were attempting to do—to take an established white church and have it become and stay a multi-ethnic ministry. But we did believe it was right, that it was God’s calling on our lives and consistent with His Word and His purpose for the Church. It was then that we heard those words from our association’s national office, “You’ll lose half of your people and two-thirds of your funding.” Admittedly, a sense of desperation helped the risk-taking part of this. After all, almost anything is better than death. Some of us in leadership argued, “If we’re going to die anyway, why not go out being biblical and attempting to look like the church that Jesus called us to be!”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry

“God’s work does not begin when we show up; it is already well underway. A big part of our job is to slow down and observe where He is already at work and join Him there.12”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry

“(1) If God moves your heart to make a difference, He will see you through even though you may not feel the most qualified, and (2) Some of your best ministry leaders may come from the fruits of your current ministry programs.”
― John Dr. Fuder, A Heart for the Community: New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry